(EP-298.2) Master #2
298 – Master of the Forest #2
━Half-fairy Theo Gospel from beyond the wall. What would I even do with your life? In this land, your life is only as valuable as fertilizer for a blooming flower.
“I see.”
It was a bit harsh to hear that my life held such little value, but at least it seed like it didn’t want to devour .
Considering its massive size, eating soone like probably wouldn’t even make a difference.
But then, what does it usually eat?
To maintain that huge body, it must need more food than an elephant…
Clack!
Suddenly, a loud sound echoed as its hard fangs collided with each other.
━Half-fairy! How rude of you to think such things! Unlike those of today, I need nothing to sustain my life. That is what an Immortal is!
“Immortal?”
The more we talked, the more strange keywords co up.
* * *
As I had suspected, Angala was an ancient being.
From the size of a human palm to a length that was now impossible to asure, its age was unfathomable.
━The world was once the era of great beasts, spirits, fairies, and gods. Now, I live in this narrow pond, but back then, I had many disciples.
Angala began telling stories I hadn’t even asked.
Perhaps it was excited to have soone listening to its stories, but if this would help negotiations, I could certainly play along.
I feigned interest and asked.
“If you had disciples, that ans you taught them sothing, right?”
━Indeed. I taught all kinds of magic and sorcery. Today, it’s called ‘magic.’ In truth, they were part of the teachings to beco an immortal, a transcendent being. There were also many nymphs. Yujinoi… teol…
I see.
Now that I think about it, even the Demon King Solomon used to say that magic was not the goal, but rely a tool—a tool to reach the principles of this world. If Angala had lived since the era of spirits, how old could it possibly be?
At that mont, the great Angala said.
━Theo Gospel from beyond the wall. You seem to have quite a talent for cultivating virtue and the path of transcendence. Why don’t you learn from ?
“Really?”
━Yes. In an age when fairies have fallen, you’re good enough to understand what I’m saying. There are usually more steps, but… I’m in urgent need of an errand boy.
“Oh.”
━And just because soone listens to doesn’t an I teach them. Even Solomon sought my teachings, but I refused. I saw through the evil in his heart, and in the end, I was right.
“Hm…”
━500 years—no, 400 years should be enough for you to learn. During that ti, you can clean the pond, run errands for , and do a few other things here and there…
Even though I had been responding with simple exclamations up until now, I couldn’t just let this slide.
“Um, Angala-nim, I’m sorry to interrupt, but I can’t live that long.”
The great Angala seed genuinely surprised by my words.
━Why not? Fairies live as long as ancient trees? Even though you’re only half-fairy, you should be able to live for at least 500 years.
“Well, my body is… a bit special…”
As I began to explain, I felt a soft breeze coming from sowhere. I realized it was Angala’s breath.
It was slling —reading my information through my scent.
A few seconds passed.
Then after what it felt like an eternity, as if all the ti I had ever lived was condensed into that mont of silence.
Angala spoke in a voice that seed tinged with longing and bitterness.
━I see. So that’s what it is. You carry a familiar scent—one is the hateful stench of Solomon, and the other… the scent of my dear friend…
Dear friend?
Just as I was about to ask what it ant by that….
━I’ve changed my mind. I can’t let you go. You will beco nourishnt for the evening primroses here.
Swoosh!
A sudden attack rushed toward .
Countless legs ca at like blades, closing in from all sides like tightening gears. I quickly chanted to defend myself against the onslaught.
─Mana Shield!
Kaga-ga-gak, clank!
If I had let my guard down for even a mont, I would have ended up like the bones scattered around this pond.
“What are you doing all of a sudden?!”
I angrily yelled but Angala remained silent.
━…….
It remained silent, now nothing more than a rciless monster filled with the sa bloodlust I had seen in so many other monsters.
“Tch.”
It had figured out I was related to Solomon, causing the sudden change of heart.
As an immortal who had cultivated so unknown art for a long ti, whether it was magic or the secret to immortality, it was entirely possible for it to discern my identity simply by my scent.
I had underestimated the centipede.
However, what truly bothered was the ‘dear friend’.
The strange sense of familiarity I’d felt ever since entering this forest—I was on the cusp on unraveling this peculiar feeling.
“If I win, you’ll have to answer my questions. And I’ll be taking the evening primrose too.”
━That attitude is the problem. When that jerk brought the corpse and wept before , I should’ve just bitten his neck….
Reviews
All reviews (0)