Episode 516
Was that monster tree the essence of Kusset in the first place?
Or was it that he had no choice but to fall into that state in order to live a long life?
There is no clear evidence, but I somehow felt that it might be the latter.
Of course, this raises a fundamental question as to how a person can become a tree… … .
If you think of it as a type of black magic that is almost out of practice now, then it’s a good fit.
In modern times, black magic and demonology are used almost synonymously, and because of that, their professional study is also forbidden.
This means that because the empire openly persecuted them, development was bound to be slow or, on the contrary, decline, and that technology and records were bound to become useless as time passed.
In other words, unlike general magic, black magic was at its peak during ancient times and its level would have been much higher.
And since Kuset is a figure from the past, it wouldn’t be strange if he already had knowledge of black magic that was already out of use.
The man caught spoke in a calm tone.
“What brings you here? You must know why I came all the way to this gloomy forest. Let me give you a hint. Try to remember the first thing you said.”
[… Right. Has it already been a hundred years?]
Kkeukkeukkeuk… Kuset, who had been laughing with a voice full of phlegm, continued speaking.
[Are the other Guardians still safe?]
“Bariel is dead. I don’t know about the rest. This is the first place we’ve visited.”
[That’s too bad.]
The two were having a conversation that made no sense to them.
One of the black elves standing nearby suddenly screamed and ran towards the man in question.
He was the one I was watching, because he was a guy who would shake his body intermittently as if he was mentally unstable.
The Black Elf’s charge was quite fierce, but the man caught didn’t even look in its direction.
Hurrah!
And at some point, the body of the black fairy that was running was engulfed in flames.
“… … !”
The flames grew fiercely and engulfed the black elf’s body in an instant.
The black fairy rolled around in pain as her whole body burned, trying to put out the flames, but the more she did, the more intense the flames became.
What was strange was that even though it was rolling on the grassy ground, there was no sign of it catching fire.
The dry, crisp winter grass was the perfect fuel for the fire to spread.
What this means is simple.
‘Elemental magic… … .’
That also means that it was developed without even a single word, without any opening remarks… … .
As far as I know, only authors who are called great magicians in the empire are capable of that level of skill.
Only then was I able to deduce his identity based on his distinctive appearance.
‘Red the Red Mage… … .’
He is the leader of the Seven-Colored Archmage, and was called the protector of the imperial family or the strongest man in the empire before the appearance of the Iron-Blooded Duke.
Among the seven magics, he is the greatest authority on red magic, that is, elemental magic focused on destructive power, and he has also been the one who has kept the position of red, the color of beginning, since the founding of the world.
‘Why on earth is the Imperial Archmage in Badniker?’
Now that I think about it, the place where the great wizard Asad always stays is actually Badniker.
While I was being dumbfounded, the movements of the charred black elf gradually subsided.
Red tilted his head and asked.
“What is this?”
[I’m sorry. Sometimes there are defective products like that. I’d rather kill them.]
“You’ve been doing this for hundreds of years and you’re still getting defective products? You don’t seem to have much talent for experiments.”
[… … .]
“Kusset, I came here today not only to report the death of another Guardian. You know that, don’t you?”
[Is this the death of the Demon King?]
Red nodded.
“The situation has changed drastically. Even if you are in hiding, there is no way you wouldn’t have heard of this… … I came to see you in person because I was curious as to why you haven’t sent me any message.”
[The vacant position of the Demon King was immediately filled by Edonis. He is now called the Awakening King, I think? He named his newly established nation Setitus. It was quite a meaningful name.]
“joy.”
Red said, snorting.
“It’s none of my business whether it’s Setitus or whatever. You know very well that that’s not what we should be focusing on right now, right? The Demon King is dead? Kuset… The achievement that you and I, we so desperately wanted, was achieved by the former leader of the Dark Church. Compared to that fact, the fact that the green tongue has been replaced by a purple hand gesture is not that important.”
[… … .]
“In the end, Edonis achieved a god-killing that had been impossible for tens of thousands of years. It’s no different from him shouting to us that his way was the right way.”
[Does that mean my method is wrong?]
“Isn’t that right now?”
Kusset let out a low laugh once again.
[That is not yet proven. I told you a long time ago… that my plan would take a very long time.]
“I think I said something like that a thousand years ago. Your brilliant plan will take a few hundred more years? This black elf doll game, I don’t think it will have much effect.”
[You think so? You have already witnessed the masterpiece I have painstakingly created over a thousand years.]
Red, who had been silent for a moment, brought up a name that he could not easily reveal.
“Is it Delak Badniker?”
[Yes. My child who took the position of the strongest in the empire from you.]
“That’s surprising. You consider Iron Blood Lord as your child?”
[A being born from my blood and the seeds I planted. Let me ask you the opposite. What else can we call such a being, if not a child?]
“How is the test subject?”
Red said in a sarcastic voice.
“At least, if you want to call your child a masterpiece, it would be more appropriate to call him that.”
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[… … .]
“Kuset… Longevity isn’t necessarily a good thing. As far as I know, the only person who lived for over a thousand years and still had their wits about them was Taon Grudd. One day, he gave me some advice. If you want to live a long and healthy life, don’t tighten your mind too much, but rather loosen it up. I didn’t really follow his advice, but looking at you, I can kind of understand what he meant.”
[Why did you come all the way to my territory to sneer at me? Haven’t we already transcended the concepts of morality and ethics? Have you forgotten that you swore an oath to become a monster for one purpose? Did you come to me today to fight… Bloodthirsty One… … .]
Kuset’s voice rang ominously, and the entire forest seemed to tremble slightly.
I heard the sound of birds flying out from somewhere, and it felt strangely creepy on my arms to hear such a sound in the middle of the night. It also had to do with the fact that the forest had been strangely quiet up until now.
“If the goal was to fight, they would have made a surprise attack.”
[… … .]
“I respect the ways of all Guardians. I tolerated the Imperial Household’s mischief towards their bloodline, and I don’t care what you do with the Dark Elf. I just want to distinguish between truth and lies.”
[True or false?]
“Isn’t Delak Badnikker already out of your control?”
[… … .]
“I don’t know the exact time, but at some point, that man was no longer a being that you could do as you wished. Well, in that sense, it might be more appropriate to call him a child rather than a test subject. There’s also a saying that a child is someone who doesn’t do as you wish.”
[I will admit that. But Iron Blood’s life goal is to destroy the Demon King. For now, that is enough.]
“hmm.”
Then, out of the blue, Kuset changed the subject.
[I heard that the situation in the imperial family is not good either. What do you think of the new Seven Colors?]
“Are you talking about Coralis? It’s a bit of a stretch to say the least, but it’s the best option for now, so there’s nothing we can do. The other seven colors were all similarly shabby at first, so we just have to wait and see.”
[Do you think we still have time? The time of prophecy is near. You must have sensed it intuitively. In the next ten years… I predict that within five years, the empire will be engulfed in war. Whether it be Setitus, established by the Awakening King, or another Demon Lord… the conflict will come sooner or later.]
“You’re making predictions that anyone can make while weighing them.”
Pick-smiled Red opened his mouth with eyes that seemed to be staring into the distance.
“Kuset… For a thousand years, you were locked away in this dark place, turning your body into a tree to survive. In the dark, you ruled and influenced Badnikker, and worked to ensure that the legend of ‘Kuset the Dark Elf’ never died out. Your sincerity was not in vain. You ensured that your name was passed down for a thousand years… … . In some worlds, such a condition is said to be the first rule for sitting on the throne.”
[… … .]
“I wonder. Did you really get what you wanted that way? Did you gather enough divinity, and do you think you can become a god now? I ask because it seems like you achieved the condition, even if it was a twisted method. If the conflict is just around the corner, as you say, then isn’t it time for you to stop crouching?”
[Yes. Preparations are going well. I too must regain my physical body and go out into the world.]
“Oh, what about that rotting tree?”
[The role that this old tree played will be taken over by my daughter. It is an honorable thing for a sinner. The child also rejoices, realizing that her sins have been forgiven.]
“My daughter… ahh.”
Red nodded after thinking for a moment.
“Is that Lissera Digos? But wasn’t that guy once a candidate you were considering as your replacement body?”
[That’s right. But it’s different now. A more suitable body than that child has appeared.]
“Could that be the Iron Blood?”
[No. Delak is the most central figure in our plan. Even if I were to take his body, I don’t know if he would be able to do as well.]
“That’s a pretty generous assessment. These days, the public sentiment toward the Iron Blood Army isn’t what it used to be.”
[It’s just a trivial reaction from those who are overjoyed or saddened by trivial news. Even now, Delak is performing activities that even you cannot imagine.]
“Well then, that’s good.”
Red asked again.
“If not Delak, who are you considering?”
[He is a being with considerable potential. He was born with a bloodline stronger than the genetic factors of the Black Elf, and since he is not under protection, he is not lacking in aiming for the throne. He also has considerable physical talent… … The problem was whether he could fully accept my soul, but now that he has finished growing, he should be able to.]
“okay?”
[Of course, I don’t know if you will understand this task. I also prefer to resolve things peacefully, so I have explained our situation in detail like this… … First, I would like to thank you.]
“hmm?”
[If you hadn’t come today, I wouldn’t have noticed its presence.]
“Ah… Well, I guess you must have felt my presence and been more alert than usual. By the way, I thought you were talking a lot, which is unusual for you… … .”
At that moment, the wooden body of Kusette and the red mage Red looked at me at the same time.
“I guess the candidate was that rat who was eavesdropping on the conversation.”
‘Heh heh.’
I couldn’t help but laugh out loud as I listened to the conversation.
So, thanks to Red’s visit, I was able to learn the secrets of the Black Elf and the Badnikker, but it ultimately led to my hiding being discovered.
It’s a one-time thing, but for some reason, in the current situation, the disadvantages feel much greater.
‘Somehow, the tone of voice was too friendly from the middle.’
It felt like they were explaining their situation one by one to help a third party understand it.
In fact, since I had anticipated this development from the moment Red appeared, I was able to show up without being too flustered.
I fell from the tree and shook the leaves off my body as I spoke.
“Hello. It’s quite chilly, perhaps because it’s a winter night. Be careful not to catch a cold.”
[That’s the physical candidate I just mentioned. What do you think?]
“Is that the Golden Fairy Luan? She’s definitely the right age and her body is mature enough. But I heard that the Iron Blood Lord cherishes her as his youngest child. Do you think she can handle it?”
[Of course Delak will understand me. Not right away, but someday. It takes some time for a child to understand the true intentions of his parents.]
“Ah. I don’t want to grow old… … .”
I found myself muttering under my breath as I listened to Kusette’s barking.
“When you get old, you end up talking nonsense like that. I don’t want to live long. I’ll just live to be two hundred years old and then die without regrets.”
[… … .]
“Grandpa Kuset… Why would a gentleman who has lived long enough still have any regrets and live like that? I will leave the rest to my descendants and go to eternal rest. I will take care of my own body, so don’t worry about it. It is late, so I will go now. Sleep well, and goodbye. Goodbye to the red-haired man.”
I was bowing my head like a polite youngest nephew and was about to leave naturally when I heard a conversation behind me.
[I have a favor to ask.]
“what?”
[Capture that child alive, preferably unharmed. It shouldn’t be difficult for you.]
“That’s true, but why would I do that?”
[I will do anything for a favor. And you have a rough idea of what I will do after I get my hands on that body, right? Respect it, since it is for the sake of our oath.]
“… … .”
Then, Red’s sigh was heard, and immediately afterwards, a strong presence was felt from behind, just as when he first appeared.
It’s a huge presence like a forest fire.
‘Sigh.’
I ran into the dark forest, swearing.
