章節 214: Chapter 373

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***

The trees and plants of the Wantaramo Forest were also crying out. The trees twisted and oozed sap, while the plants shed leaves and emitted a noxious smell.

With Sheila having lost her authority, the Wantaramo Forest was now connected to Myla's body.

[Ahhhh!]

Jin and Arya frowned at the displeasing screams that were scratching their eardrums, and Sheila, along with the Felinoid tribesmen, came out of hiding.

[Sister! Cough! Please, save me!]

Without shame or pride, Myla begged for her life as she looked upon Sheila. Despite writhing in excruciating pain and lying flat on the ground, she begged while tears streamed down her face.

Sheila's two pupils gazed down at Myla with a somber glow.

[I was your sister, friend, parent to you. Furthermore, I was also the queen of you and our kin.]

[I was wrong…]

[I've always been lenient with you. Even in the moment you decided to betray me, I didn't hold a grudge. After inciting our people to take away my authority and becoming their leader, I never hated you.]

[Sister! Sister!]

At that moment, Myla seemed to glimpse hope in Sheila. She had the appearance of a dependable older sister who forgave her foolish younger sister, as always.

[I'll give back your control over the forest, Sister! I'm begging you, just spare me…]

[I will forgive your attempt to harm me.]

Myla lifted her head, meeting Sheila's gaze, her expression drenched in awe, as if beholding light for the first time.

However, Sheila looked at her for a while and then spoke.

[But endangering the forest and our kin is unforgivable.]

[Sister...?]

[Goodbye, my beloved sister.]

As Sheila finished speaking, her appearance underwent a rapid transformation.

The alluringly gleaming wings vanished like melting snow, and her small, fairy-like body swelled up red.

Soon, she took on a human-like form and emitted a red light.

Then, Sheila gently raised Myla with both hands, who was writhing on the ground in despair.

[No, please!]

Myla struggled, but she couldn't escape Sheila's grip.

Hoo...

Sheila blew a gentle breath towards Myla, as if scattering dandelion seeds. As the breath touched Myla, her body shattered like a snowflake.

Aaaaah! Myla's final scream rode the wind, dispersing into the air. The luminous red particles that once formed Myla left traces in every direction.

The forest stopped crying when Sheila's grip became empty.

The twisted trees regained their original forms, and the plants emitted their sweet fragrance once more. The darkened sky cleared as the clouds dissipated, revealing the pale yellow dawn moon.

The abundant corpses on the ground were swallowed by the earth, disappearing without a trace in an instant. In less than a minute, the place where they stood had become an unbelievably pristine scene, as if there had never been a battle.

For a while, Sheila stared at her empty hands without saying a word.

She was glimpsing at 'her past' through the deceased Myla.

[Jin Runcandel.]

Sheila turned around to look at Jin.

"Yes."

[The name written on this Drink of Regal Hymn originally belonged to me.]

Jin accepted the Drink of Regal Hymn and looked at the name once again.

(Drink of Regal Hymn – Shil Damiro)

The name of the person who brewed this liquor to leave behind a story. It was none other than the former name of Sheila, the queen of the fairy descendants.

Jin didn't reply and gazed at the Drink of Regal Hymn silently.

And he recalled one conversation he had with Sheila earlier.

-[Myla. It seems that she, along with other children, disliked the idea of keeping the promise with Solderet. They think that all the descendants of the fairy race are making unnecessary sacrifices. Or they think I harbor meaningless hopes.]

-So, are they practically dethroning you and allowing Myla to take control of the forest, Ms. Sheila?

-[Yes. Waiting for you is too uncertain, and the rewards are unclear. However, there are those who are willing to provide everything we want with just a little information. In some ways, betrayal is a natural course of action.]

-What do the descendants of the fairy tribe want?

-[To reclaim our original forms.]

Original forms.

The beings of the Wantaramo Forest were not originally 'descendants' but the fairies itself.

[I hope there is something in this wine that can help you.]

Pong...!

Sheila opened the lid.

Then, using the lid as a cup, she filled it with the wine and extended it to Jin. Amidst the intoxicating fragrance wafting through the air, the shadow force within the cup began to shimmer.

Jin and Valeria started drinking from the cup alternately.

Unlike the Drink of Regal Hymn that Jin had drunk when he encountered Shuri, there were no singing voices.

Instead of singing, they heard the sound of someone sobbing sorrowfully. It was the sound of Sheila crying as she brewed the wine before losing her name.

After a while, they were able to immerse themselves in the story contained within the fourth tomb of Temar.

***

The Primordial Forest.

A mysterious place where fairies lived.

After drinking the Drink of Regal Hymn, Jin and Valeria could distinctly realize that the place they stood in was none other than that land.

Despite never having been there before and never even seen a picture of the Primordial Forest, the power of the records contained in the Drink of Regal Hymn made them feel as if they had known about the Primordial Forest from the very beginning.

Their footprints didn't leave any mark on the grass-covered ground, and their voices didn't reach the individuals present within the records.

In a sense, Jin and Valeria were observing the forest as 'observers.'

And for some reason...

As soon as Valeria entered this place, she felt a longing as if someone was cutting out her chest, like when she lost the Grey Owl Mercenaries. Unbearable sadness clawed at her heart.

As a result, she had no choice but to sit down for a while, gasping for breath.

"Valeria."

"I'm fine."

Valeria stood up after a while, and the two of them resumed walking together.

While walking, they felt that information about the 'Primordial Forest' from the records flowed into their minds.

Currently, this forest was ruled by the current fairy queen, Luet Damiro Yul.

"Is that person Luet Damiro Yul?"

As they reached deeper into the forest, Valeria spoke while looking at a fairy standing there.

Red hair, a cold and angry expression. Jin and Valeria stood next to her.

Jin examined her closely and then shook his head.

"No, she's not the one I saw in the recording device of the third tomb. She seems to be a different fairy."

Before long, the two of them were able to learn the name of that fairy.

'Shil.'

Another fairy came out of the deep forest, calling out her name.

Luet Damiro Yul. She had come to this place to meet her sister, Shil Damiro, who looked very angry.

'My queen.'

As Shil kneeled on one knee, Luet lowered her head.

'There's no need to be that formal, Shil.'

Upon Luet's words, Shil got to her feet.

'Elder sister.'

'Speak, dear sister.'

Luet and Shil stared at each other in silence for a while.

Before this meeting, the two of them had a big argument for the first time in their lives.

Luet seemed to convey an expression of understanding, while Shil's eyes carried the disbelief of not being able to understand her elder sister.

'Are you really planning to involve yourself in human affairs?'

Eventually, as Shil began to speak, Luet nodded her head.

'Okay.'

Shil muttered, biting her lower lip.

She couldn't understand her elder sister's choice, and the other fairies who followed Shil felt the same way.

'Do we really have to do that? If we don't step forward, Zipfel won't attack us.'

'Shil, Zipfel attacked us from the moment they started manipulating history.'

'No, that's just your thinking, elder sister. Zipfel wants us to step back and let humans solve their problems.'

'Why are you so sure of that?'

Shil didn't answer that question.

'...Elder sister, think carefully. Even if we offer help, do you really think Runcandel can defeat Zipfel? Will they be grateful?'

'That's not an important issue.'

'No, there's no more important issue than this! The lives of our entire tribe are at stake. Your wrong judgment could lead to the deaths of our tribe members!'

As Shil yelled vehemently, Luet closed her eyes.

'You're putting our tribe in danger, elder sister. More than half of our tribesmen oppose this decision, don't you wonder why?'

'I know.'

'If you know, then change your decision now.'

'Shil.'

Luet opened her eyes again and looked at her younger sister.

'Individuals can make wrong choices. But a queen must always make the right choice.'

'Elder sister.'

'You'll understand someday when you become a queen. Why do I have no choice but to make this decision…'

Shil couldn't accept those words.

'Honestly, elder sister. You just fell in love with the patriarch of Runcandel. That's why you're risking our entire tribe to help Temar Runcandel and to make a good impression on him.'

'Do you really think that way?'

'I can't trust you anymore.'

With a sigh, Luet said,

'...So. Because you no longer trust me, you've brought so many of our tribe members here to corner me, Shil.'

As Luet finished speaking, other fairies revealed themselves in the dark corners of the forest.

They were fairies who shared Shil's thoughts.

All of them had hostility directed at Luet, and they held sharply honed daggers.

'Will you kill me and become the new queen?'

'If my elder sister doesn't give in, I might have to.'

Shil answered, glaring at Luet.

Luet's gaze toward her sister remained as composed as it had been from the beginning.

Shil believed that her elder sister would eventually step back.

She thought the Luet she knew wasn't someone who would stubbornly hold onto her decisions even when her own tribe went this far.

Luet had always excelled Shil in every aspect of life. Shil had always disliked her sister, who had risen to the throne she had desired so much.

Yet, she still had faith in her. She believed that her elder sister would always make the right choice for the fairy tribe.

That's why it was so impossible to believe, to accept the recent decision made by Luet.

'You can't do this.'

'Are you going to change your decision?'

Luet shook her head.

'No, if this is the ending you desire... then kill me.'

Luet began to approach Shil.

Shil drew a dagger from her bosom and pressed it against Luet's throat.

However, Luet kept moving forward, even with the blade against her neck. Shil gritted her teeth as her mind grew blank.

Damn it...!

With a clattering sound, Shil eventually dropped the dagger to the ground.

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章節 215: Chapter 374

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It was because of belief.

The belief that her older sister would always make the "right choice" as a queen made her lay down her dagger.

Shil clenched her teeth as she stared at the fallen dagger. Fresh crimson droplets were dripping from Luet's neck.

The fairies who followed Shil also reluctantly lowered their swords, as if they had no other choice. Everyone seemed very disappointed with Shil.

'Shil, my younger sister.'

Shil simply stared at the fallen dagger without responding.

'For now, it might be difficult for you to accept no matter how I explain. However, I believe you will come to understand my choice someday. Now go home.'

Shil turned around and left.

As Shil began to leave, the fairies also started moving, seemingly without any other option.

'Ha.'

Luet let out a sigh as she watched the forest beyond which Shil and her kin had departed. It was a sigh mixed with restlessness and a sense of relief.

The relief didn't stem from the fact that she hadn't been stabbed by her sister and kin's blades.

'Fairy culture is truly amusing. They draw their swords, seemingly ready to kill the queen, but with a few words, they just turn and leave... Haha.'

From the darkness of the forest behind Luet, a person revealed themselves and spoke.

The individual's face wasn't clearly visible due to a pressed-down hood, but they wore a black robe adorned with the Runcandel's black sword emblem.

'Lokia.'

Luet turned around and called out the person's name.

Lokia Ganesto.

She was one of the ten great knights of Runcandel, an unparalleled mage when it came to pure magic.

'In Runcandel, no, even in the human world, it's unimaginable. Still, I am glad though. If they had really intended to harm you, I would have killed every single one without exception.'

As Lokia said and giggled, Luet's eyes narrowed.

'Is this situation amusing to you?'

'Yes, it's amusing and cute. It felt like watching children playing war games. Well, Ms. Luet, you were quite impressive. You didn't stop even when a sword was at your throat. No, was it because you trusted her that much?'

'Think as you please.'

'Honestly, if the blade that touched your neck had gone in just half a fingernail more, I would have immediately killed her. I had endured it in my own way, but if I had killed her, I'd probably have earned your resentment, Ms. Luet.'

Lokia continued speaking with a faint smile.

'However, earning Ms. Luet's resentment is better than arousing the wrath of our patriarch. From now on, don't undertake such reckless actions without consulting the patriarch. If I hadn't taken it upon myself to be your escort…'

'I never asked for an escort.'

'That's the problem. That's why I, being perceptive, followed along. Anyway, if I hadn't been your escort and if the fleeing fairies had actually stabbed you, then the patriarch would have been furious. It wouldn't have ended with just some of the rebels being killed.'

'Temar is a good person.'

'Of course, he is. But can someone continue to be good even after losing their own people? The patriarch of Runcandel wouldn't be such a pushover. In my opinion, you really put the entire fairy tribe in danger just now. Just like your sister said.'

Luet had nothing to say.

Lokia patted her head affectionately, as if finding her adorable.

'Let's go back. Oh, and starting today, you are the head butler of Runcandel. The patriarch has given me the order to inform you about this.'

***

After that day, Shil and the fairies following her left the Primordial Forest.

And they were forgotten.

Starting with five members of the fairy tribe on March 4th, 797, within a few years the existence of all fairies in the world had been forgotten.

It was because Runcandel had been defeated.

Even though they were forgotten, their forms still remained in the world. Yet, they weren't really alive.

Their forms were.

To others, the form of forgotten fairies appeared dark and eerie, like shadows. But no one paid them any mind. Whether walking through bustling cities or passing through forests filled with all sorts of wildlife, no one noticed them.

No one cared about the forgotten fairies turned into ghosts.

They were as insignificant as passing winds, completely unnoticed.

Even the fact that Shil and the forgotten fairies were milling about was simply an instinct; they couldn't even communicate with each other.

It is impossible to hear, read, or remember the words or text of the unforgotten beings.

Feeling emotions was the same. The forgotten fairies drifted through time like an empty shell, with emotions replaced by a sense of emptiness, like air flowing.

That's how forgotten beings look like. Existing but not, unable to have any impact on the world, unable to communicate with anyone.

There could be no punishment more dreadful than this.

The fairies, along with those crushed by Zipfel's power, were paying a cruel price.

'Oh.'

In the midst of such meaningless time that couldn't be measured.

Shil and the fairies heard a voice.

Hearing a voice...

A phenomenon that would have been utterly ordinary before being forgotten now caused the two eyes of the forgotten fairies to open for the first time.

They opened their eyes and saw their transformed, darkened appearance. They grasped the dire situation they were in as their consciousness returned, and shivered from the rapidly escalating despair.

All of this led them to turn their heads in the direction from which the voice, 'Oh', had come.

And what appeared before Shil and the fairies' eyes was a woman even darker and bigger than their shadow-like forms.

'There are so many orphans.'

The woman looked at the fairies with great interest.

Though her face wasn't clearly visible in the darkness, the fairies could sense that she was smiling.

And even though they had never met before.

They could even discern her name.

'Helluram…' Shil said.

She had learned the name of witch while performing her duties to record as a fairy before being forgotten.

Upon hearing that, Helluram let out a satisfied laugh. Haha, while her laughter continued, Shil and the fairies held onto hope.

There is someone who recognizes us. There is someone who can help us come back into existence.

For the forgotten fairies, harboring such hope was only natural. Even if the other party was a legendary witch who had caused numerous catastrophes in the world.

'How did you end up like this?'

'Zipfel erased our existence from the world.'

Is it unfair?

'It's unfair.'

'Why?'

'We... We haven't done anything wrong.'

As Shil answered, she felt ashamed.

She couldn't immediately grasp why she was feeling ashamed. So, she pondered for a moment and soon arrived at an answer.

She had abandoned her elder sister and turned away from her kin who fought against Zipfel.

Facing that fact, she felt suffocated. It almost seemed better to have been forgotten, to have felt nothing at all.

Helluram saw through Shil's thoughts. It seemed like she knew the entire story of Shil and the forgotten fairies.

'Your answer is not even worth ridiculing.'

Even faced with such a demeaning remark, Shil and the fairies couldn't retort.

Additionally, they just wanted to appear decent. They wanted to somehow present themselves well to Helluram and regain their existence in the world.

The shame and self-loathing of betraying the queen and kin would eventually fade if they could exist again.

'Do you regret it?'

Shil and the fairies nodded.

'Just a while ago, you claimed you had done nothing wrong, but now you speak of regret. I've a question for you.'

'What is it?'

'Certainly, inevitably. A similar moment will come again. At that time, what kind of choice will audacious beings like you make?'

Helluram made eye contact with Shil.

Magical energy and black aura flowed from her hands. Shadow force, a power known to be wielded only by Solderet and his contractors.

The mana and shadow force intertwined, forming dozens of threads that enveloped the fairies.

Uh, uh...!

The appearances of the fairies wrapped in threads were changing.

Bodies that had turned as dark as shadows were regaining their original colors, and the distinct red hair of the fairy tribe flowed down.

Shil and the fairies could only shed tears as they looked at each other. It felt as if they had returned in their complete forms after millions of years.

However, just as tears had started to trickle down their cheeks. The fairies had to experience their appearances changing once again.

'This... can't be!'

'It can't be like this!'

The fairies' bodies were contorting. The red hair fell out mercilessly like fur from a sick animal, and their harmonious faces transformed grotesquely, resembling monsters.

Their limbs twisted in eerie ways, and a metallic sound echoed from their necks. Their appearances had become so hideous that they looked like decayed corpses, mired in disease.

Then the transformation momentarily stopped.

'This is your true form.'

Helluram remarked briefly and waved her hand once.

Then the threads began to move again, and the appearances of the fairies started to change once more.

Their bodies shrank to the size of a child's head, and tiny wings sprouted from their backs. Peering, peering, the wings made a cute sound as they moved.

It was an appearance that most people would find endearing. However, the fairies felt humiliation.

'How amusing. You had done nothing wrong, yet you regret. Moreover, you were filled with the desire to exist again and now you are also experiencing a luxurious emotion like humiliation.'

'What have you done to us!'

'I gave you an opportunity. An opportunity to exist in the world again.'

Helluram grabbed Shil. And on her back, Helluram attached a specially large pair of wings.

'From now on, you shall be their queen. When the moment similar to what you regretted comes again, I will observe what choices audacious beings like you will make.'

Moments of regret.

Moments when she betrayed her kin and didn't stand against Zipfel.

If a situation like that comes again someday, what choices will Shil and the fairies make? Helluram was precisely curious about that.

'Don't forget this difficult lesson.'

Helluram let go of Shil and continued speaking.

'Furthermore, as you've become so inferior compared to before, you'll have to think diligently to survive. Now, go.'

The fairies couldn't even dare to look at Helluram. As soon as Helluram's words ended, the fairies turned around and flapped their wings.

In this way, they regained their existence and wandered the world once again.

It took several more years until they found a sanctuary called Wantaramo Forest.

Around that time, most of the fairies, except for Sheila, had forgotten much of their memories from when they were true fairies.

They had regained existence only through Helluram's power, not by their "original form".

What had been forgotten wasn't just memories from when they were true fairies.

Except for Shil, no, Sheila, most of the fairies were slowly forgetting even the actions and words that Helluram had bestowed upon them.

Because it was boring.

Life that continued without purpose, meaning, or hope was a series of boredom. So, they found pleasure in killing the humans who happened to venture into the forest and that was enough for them.

Only Sheila pondered their future as their queen.

Sheila's contemplation ended when a human arrived at Wantaramo Forest to deliver Solderet's message.

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