Episode 511
I thought as I followed the dark elf.
That’s what I said, but of course beating that guy up can’t be the goal.
It’s not like I’m mindlessly chasing after the Black Fairy.
Actually, I wasn’t thinking about anything at the time I was chasing him, but as I was moving my feet, a few useful excuses came to mind.
Anyway, once you catch him and beat him up, if you are questioned, just say something like this.
It seemed like an outsider had intruded into Badniker’s premises, so I took a look and subdued them…
This is an excellent excuse that Assad or the Council of Elders, who know my personality, could not help but think of.
The problem is when that guy leaves the forest on the property and enters the Butterfly Forest.
In this case, there is nothing you can do since Keian warned you in advance.
I emphasized it over and over again whenever I had the chance, so there’s no way you can make excuses like you forgot… … .
So it means you have to catch that dog quickly.
‘It doesn’t seem like he’s using light weapons, so why is he so fast?’
Actually, I’m at a level where I wouldn’t fall behind in light combat, but there are too many obstacles around me right now.
Overgrown, tangled trees and roots blocking my path.
Of course, you could ignore these things and just use your lightness to your heart’s content, but if you did, Badniker Manor would become a mess.
‘What is that guy’s movement?’
The black elf was galloping through the forest full of obstacles like that.
How should I put this?
The flight speed itself may be much faster than that of a bird freely flying through the sky, but in terms of precise movements, it feels like it falls behind even a flying insect?
There is no creature that can fly as freely as a fly.
‘I think I’ve used this analogy before.’
I focused on the movements of the black fairy while thinking about such trivial things.
The Black Elf would gently drift along if there were trees in its path, would grab onto branches and use their elasticity and bounce, and would even use protruding roots or rocks as footholds.
‘Ah. That’s not how to walk or run.’
If I had to say, it was the way of moving the body… … that is, the method of moving the body.
‘… I think I might be able to do it.’
It feels strange.
Somehow, I felt like I could understand, accept, and apply that movement.
Papat.
That’s what actually happened.
Although he hit the tree lightly, the branch he was holding on to broke, and cracks spread in the rock he trampled on.
I was able to imitate it to some extent.
At the same time, I began to realize that these movements were also one of the innate gestures of the ancient fairies.
Of course, I didn’t instinctively realize the location of hard trees, soft ground, and rocks that were good to step on like that guy…
I followed the path the black elf had taken, as if I was reproducing the movements that had unfolded before me.
The distance naturally narrowed.
Because the ground where the Black Fairy has stepped once, the trees have become somewhat flat and the grass that has grown to the tip has left cracked marks, making it somewhat easier to move.
Thanks to that, I was able to catch the black fairy at the wall leading to the Butterfly Forest.
“Where are you running away to?”
Just before he can climb over the fence, he grabs him by the scruff of the neck and throws him to the ground.
The black fairy rolled on the ground for a moment, then immediately kicked off the ground and swung her dagger at me.
Since the chase usually ends in a fight, I responded as if I had anticipated the Black Elf’s movements.
After dodging the dagger that was swinging viciously like a snake several times, he immediately grabbed the right arm and swung it upward when he found an opening.
Boom.
Even though his arm was twisted in an impossible direction, he didn’t even groan.
Is that a corpse doll?
Like Lupeto who fought in Ulkua?
I don’t think so. The moment I grabbed his wrist, I could clearly feel his pulse.
Since it wasn’t too late to ask right after subduing her, I grabbed the black elf by the collar again and threw her towards the ground.
Kuung… … !
While the guy on the floor was spitting out air as if he was coughing up blood, I snatched the dagger he was swinging and aimed it at his Adam’s apple.
“…Are you coming to your senses?”
“… … .”
Is this the expression of a subdued person?
It didn’t look like the expression of a guy with a broken arm.
He was still staring into space with a blank expression, looking more like a doll than a person.
Of course, as I said before, it has a pulse and you can feel it breathing, so you can’t say it’s a doll.
I said it again.
“I’m going to ask you a few questions. If you don’t answer, or if I judge you to be lying, I’ll cut off a finger. Wow. You’ve got ten chances? Please think about it slowly.”
“… … .”
“First question. What are you?”
“… … .”
Because he didn’t answer, I immediately cut off one of his fingers.
Squeak.
“… … .”
The black elf did not respond until blood flowed from her severed finger.
“Second. Why were you spying on us?”
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“… … .”
“Where were you running away to? Does Badnicker know about this? What is your purpose?”
The guy didn’t respond until all the fingers on one arm were cut off.
By the time things got to this point, I was starting to get a little fed up.
I thought they were unusual, but the feeling of alienation from any creature I had ever encountered grew stronger.
Is interrogation impossible?
The moment I thought that, the Black Fairy’s mouth opened.
“──… … .”
But no words came out of his open mouth.
The guy who had been licking his lips like a goldfish closed them and then suddenly stopped moving.
“…What are you saying?”
He looked like he had fainted with his eyes open, and no matter how many times I slapped him in the face, he showed no signs of waking up.
It’s a very strange situation.
He’s not dead, nor has he passed out, but he’s just unconscious.
It feels like your body is intact but your soul is gone?
Or maybe they are like trees or shells, alive but seemingly without consciousness.
“…There is no answer.”
First, I got up from my seat and saw the fallen black elf’s intact arm.
I mean, my left arm, where I didn’t cut off my fingers.
The index finger of his left arm was pointing somewhere while being held stiffly… … .
“… … .”
Naturally, I followed that gaze and discovered another black fairy watching me from beyond the wall.
“──… … .”
The black fairy who met eyes only pursed her lips.
This time, I was able to understand what the black fairy kid was trying to say thanks to concentrating while recalling the secrets of the poison technique.
“…Follow me? What the heck.”
Leaving those words behind, the Black Fairy began to slowly walk away towards somewhere.
From now on, it was a crossroads of choice.
The moment I cross the fence, Assad will probably sense my departure… … .
Somehow I had a feeling that if I let go of that black elf now, I would never be able to approach Badnikker’s secret again.
“… Oh. It’s not like I’m doing something I’m told not to do.”
But now, there is nothing we can do.
After making my decision, I climbed over the wall just before the black fairy completely disappeared.
* * *
Butterfly Forest.
This great forest, made up of extremely tall trees, had leaves that were particularly dense and thick, making it difficult for sunlight to penetrate unless it was in an open space.
As I walked through the dark forest in broad daylight, I naturally thought of my training camp days, the priest Juan who had been scheming back then, and the swamp demon king who had eventually descended.
Surely this isn’t going to be another connection to the Demon King, the devil, or the religious sect… ?
Anyway, I walked through the strangely quiet forest, keeping some distance from the black elf.
In broad daylight, it would be easy to encounter beasts or monsters living here, but strangely, there was hardly any sign of such things… … .
At some point the dark elf stopped moving.
“… … .”
The black fairy gave me her characteristically distant gaze.
“What, you bastard. Speak. Are you saying you’ve arrived? Is this the end point? In an age where even demons are out and about, you’re a black elf and mute. I’m so sad that tears are flowing out of my eyes.”
I felt guilty about cursing the mute. I think it was because of the orphan girl Clara.
I glared at the Black Fairy while inwardly apologizing to Clara.
I can’t believe that not being able to communicate can be this frustrating…
Meanwhile, the black fairy who had been looking at me expressionlessly looked up at the large tree next to me.
“… … .”
It was an incredibly large tree.
Although it may not be as tall as the legendary World Tree, the tree’s thickness is comparable to the building I saw in Ulkua.
First of all, it was the thickest and tallest tree I had ever seen in the Butterfly Forest.
There was an entrance under the tree that was either a hole or a cave.
There was no way to know whether the cavity was created by artificially digging the root side or whether it was formed naturally.
Anyway, I know that it has been quite a while since it was formed.
“… … .”
As the Black Elf’s gaze was directed towards the hole under the tree, I could immediately understand what this guy wanted.
I guess it wants me to crawl under there.
“… It’s so dirty and disgusting.”
But now that I’ve come this far, I can’t go back…
I sighed and went down into a fairly large tree hole.
I thought it would be as dark as midnight because there was no room for light to enter, but that wasn’t necessarily the case.
This was because there was a strangely soft light hovering in the interior space.
But somehow, the feeling of this light felt familiar.
‘It’s similar to what I felt in the underground library.’
I walked out of the dark place with a strange sense of foreboding, and soon I saw someone in a slightly wider space.
Unexpectedly, it was Lisera Digos.
“… … .”
It didn’t look like a good look.
It looked as if it was sealed, with its entire body entangled in the tree roots. At first glance, it looked as if it was deeply entangled with the roots, as if it had become one with them.
As I was giving her an absurd look, Lise slowly opened her closed eyes and looked at me.
I said in a panicked voice.
“It’s been a while.”
“… … .”
Lise looked at me with a blank expression without answering.
I got goosebumps because the symptoms seemed similar to those of the dark elves I had just seen.
“Mr. Lee Se… Are you okay? Why are you standing here like this? The view is bad, and it smells musty. What are those roots? Should I cut them off?”
“…Luan Badnicker.”
Fortunately, you can speak.
While I was clearing my mind, Lise said this.
“…Do I look like a Lisseradios to you?”
“… … .”
I got goosebumps.
When I saw Lise again, she had a strangely different expression on her face than in my memories.
As I frowned and clenched my fist, Lise laughed.
“I’m joking.”
“yes?”
“This body is indeed Lisera Digos.”
I gave him a suspicious look and then blurted out,
“Swimming in the darkest darkness?”
“Snake dragon.”
“Can’t even the seven colors that cross the sky dye it?”
“… The Black Heavenly Magician. What a trivial answer to a question. Is this proof?”
After hearing Lise’s grumbling, I finally realized that the person in front of me was someone I knew.
“I was surprised. The genre has already changed to horror.”
“This is a joke. It’s a small price to pay for making me wait for two years. Accept it sweetly.”
“ah.”
It was only then that I realized that I had somehow broken my promise to Lise.
“sorry.”
There are too many excuses to count, but I apologized first.
Whatever it was, it is true that I never kept my word.
Lee Se laughed after hearing my apology.
“It’s fine. It was just a trivial outing that happened once a month or so. Even without that, it didn’t affect the life of this Lisera Digos at all.”
“Was it so… … .”
No matter how I looked at it, it seemed like he was bluffing, but I felt like the conversation would never end if I kept rambling on, so I chimed in.
“So why are you here? Are you trapped or something? Should I let you out?”
“What are you talking about? I am here of my own free will.”
“You got stuck there of your own free will?”
“okay.”
“why.”
“That’s not something you need to know.”
Lise said with a blank expression.
“I called you here to warn you. Behave well. Don’t stand out.”
From what I heard, it seemed like it was Lise who had controlled the black fairy that had guided us here.
Was there such magic?
I asked, feeling puzzled.
“Who do you want to avoid being noticed by?”
“… … .”
“Cushette?”
“That name.”
“Rise warned in a low voice.
“Don’t call me by my name. What if he overhears? You can’t handle him.”
“… … .”
Although Lise didn’t show it, I sensed fear in her attitude.
It’s amazing.
Even though he was not afraid of his master, the Iron Blood Lord, Lisera Digos clearly harbored a fear of the existence of Kuset.
Lise glared at me for a moment, then closed her eyes again and spoke in a languid tone.
“Did you see the note?”
“I saw it.”
“Yes… … . I wish I had seen you before I came to the main house, but it seems it is already too late. You won’t be able to get out of here until Delak returns. So at the very least, stay quiet. Even if you encounter me, the black elf, or any other strange creatures that you may encounter in the family, pretend not to see them. In particular, try not to wander around at night. If you stay in the iron cage that Asad made, no one will be able to harm you.”
I turned my head in different directions as I listened to Lise’s words.
As I thought about it, I strangely became concerned about Lise’s first words.
“Do I look like a Lisseradios… … .”
“… … .”
“You said this at first, and then you said it was a joke.”
“okay.”
“You’re not joking, are you?”
“… … .”
Lise opened her eyes again, looked at me, and smiled.
“As expected, you’re very perceptive. Sometimes, when I look at you, I can’t tell if you’re stupid or smart.”
“… … .”
“You’re right. But I’m not serious. If I had to say, it’s half a joke.”
Lise quickly said, her smile disappearing.
“Six hundred and seventeen years. I’ve lived a long life. I have few regrets about life. I have no more regrets. But not you. You’re still too young.”
“… … .”
“Let’s go now, Luan Badnicker. Don’t tell anyone what you saw here.”
“… … .”
Don’t say anything.
Don’t call.
Don’t do it.
Stay quiet.
Pretend you didn’t see it… … .
The many words that Lee Se uttered piled up little by little, and eventually pressed a certain button in my head.
“Lise, I have a warning for you.”
“… … ?”
“… Don’t tell me what to do. I really can’t stand that.”
“What?”
While Lise looked at me with a bewildered expression, I also glared at Lise like a boy who had been hit by a storm.
