How the Illegitimate Child of the Returning Sword Family Lives
Episode 244
Naga’s Forest (4)
“Hilda… is no longer human.”
Wellington described Hilda like this.
At first glance, there was even a hint of fear in his eyes.
The moment they heard the word ‘Hilda’, some of the Nagas who were watching this side were so startled that they even hid in the pond.
Julius and Princess Plum also read the atmosphere and focused on Wellington’s words.
There’s something.
I had a strong feeling about that.
“What do you mean? Explain it to me clearly.”
“First, I think I need to explain this place. Theo, do you know what the Nagas do?”
Theo turned his gaze towards the pond.
A few of the outcasts stared at him and muttered.
“I smell a dragon.”
“The smell of an ancient dragon.”
“The smell of Ragnar.”
“A human who smells familiar.”
“King! Dragon King!”
They showed absolute favor to Theo, who had awakened the dragon’s factor.
I guess that’s because I’m a lower-level dragon that originated from the ancient dragon.
If it had not been for this, it might have been difficult to be summoned here even without Wellington’s help.
‘By the way, where did Rodrigo go?’
However, I tried to ask for her help because I thought it would be less favorable than if Lordbroke showed up in person, but she has not been seen since some time.
I called out to him in my spirit but there was no answer.
It’s definitely around here.
It didn’t seem like anything was happening.
“I know them as a race that governs the mystery of sublimation.”
“Yes. They are also a guardian race that guards the mysteries here at the request of the <Guardian>. Their brains are so outstanding that they are called the race of wise men, and they are here for this very reason.”
“I understand that the mystery here is an altar that can lead to the Pantheon. Is that correct?”
“That’s right. Fortunately, it seems Ragnar has investigated it in depth.”
Wellington sighed in relief, thinking there was no need to explain further, and continued.
“Hilda and Master… … no, Master Farel suppressed the leader of the Naga tribe who was guarding the altar with overwhelming force and began to use the Naga tribe as his workers.”
A momentary sadness crossed Wellington’s face as he excluded the word ‘master.’
Theo felt a little uneasy.
This was because the dragons he had seen so far did not originally have the tendency to oppress or do anything to anyone.
Hilda was originally a selector and served as the head of the household, so she can do whatever she wants.
This was because Deungryong was a person who always had consideration and concern for others.
This is exactly why my relationship with Kyle, who had absolute monarchical tendencies, went wrong.
Is there any other reason that could change Denglong’s mind?
“However, it’s not like Hilda and Farrell originally intended to exploit the Naga tribe. Although they did occupy the area by force at first, they were willing to pay a sufficient price for it, and even promised them some vested interests after the ceremony.”
“I guess the Naga tribe refused.”
At that moment, Julius spoke with his arms crossed.
“Because they are originally a race that pursues freedom.”
Wellington nodded heavily.
“What Captain Baek Gap-yong said is correct. We were just too ignorant about the Naga tribe.”
“When making contact with a new race or clan, the first condition is to acknowledge and respect their culture. Ragnar, who always tries to fight against discrimination against the northerners, is actually showing the opposite… … Huh!”
“But isn’t Ragnar also a member of the Paedo clan? So I thought it would be like that this time too.”
“There’s a hint of cynicism in it.”
“I’m telling you the truth. You must remember why Ragnar has been condemned by everyone for so long.”
“I don’t really want to argue over something like this. So. What happened after that?”
“After that, it was as you expected.”
As the days passed, conflicts between Hilda and Naga became more frequent.
Hilda must go through a lot of preparations to perform the sublimation ritual, but to do so, she must sacrifice the life force of the Naga Forest.
Of course, this was something I, as a member of the Naga tribe, could never just watch.
The forest was their home, passed down from generation to generation since their ancestors.
It’s enough to make you explode with anger just by recklessly digging into the mystery, so wouldn’t it be natural to rise up if it were to destroy the foundation as well?
So the conflict occurred.
“From then on, the oppression of the Naga tribe began… … With the visits of the many great families who learned of the situation here and the preparations for the ceremony being delayed, Lady Hilda began to become increasingly impatient. And-”
“I guess you were pushing yourself too hard.”
Theo somehow felt like he was picturing the situation.
Hilda was the type of person who would get impatient if she couldn’t get what she wanted right away.
Wasn’t that the reason why there was such a fuss over accepting him as a disciple?
“That’s right. The ritual started, and everything went awry.”
Wellington squeezed his eyes shut.
The situation at that time was still vivid in my mind.
A ritual that instantly turned the once vibrant Naga Forest into a place of death.
An iron gate that rose tens of meters high and pierced the altar.
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-Sublimation gate.
That’s exactly what Denglong called it.
The door that had been tightly closed opened slightly as Hilda shouted some unknown words.
In the darkness between the open door, dozens or hundreds of eyes of unknown identity appeared and looked in this direction.
When your eyes meet one of them.
Wellington felt himself losing consciousness.
It felt like my soul was being sucked into it.
A shock so intense that you feel like you’re going to melt.
If Deungryong hadn’t been there to support him from behind, he might have been in serious trouble.
-You… …not yet. It’s time to see that.
Thinking back now, Deungryong’s voice seemed complicated at the time.
Perhaps at that time he had already sensed failure.
“I don’t know what the beings beyond the sublimation gate said to Lady Hilda. But it seemed to be a rejection… … Lady Hilda was shocked by that and went crazy.”
Theo recalled the time he had climbed to the top of the White Tower and stepped slightly into the Pantheon.
Or maybe it was the time when I was assimilated into the mana stream and met the primal dragon.
At that time, I didn’t know how my mind would have changed if I hadn’t used Nirvana.
But what if Hilda didn’t have those safeguards?
‘There will be nothing left but obsession.’
How many people would come to their senses after seeing something that big?
“The Naga Forest has become a land of death because of the sublimation gates being pulled out. And they try to kill those who come here to replenish their lack of vitality. The Naga Forest… … has already become a magical realm and a strange place in itself.”
Monster.
It meant a strangely changed land.
It was also one of the phenomena that appeared after the mystery went wild.
The Tower of Dawn, the Suin Race Front, the Gentlemen’s Guild, Mulligan. They were all eaten by the Naga Forest.
And I thought perhaps the realm of the strange was gradually expanding.
Because this is absurd to fill the lack of vitality.
‘The allies stationed outside the forest are also at risk.’
“Hilda is bad!”
“This is all because I forced the door open!”
“That guy chased us out!”
The Nagas also showed a lot of anger.
“So what’s going on here?”
If Hilda’s obsession had started, she wouldn’t have let Naga and Wellington go so easily.
“Thanks to Evelyn.”
Theodo and Julius too. Their eyes sparkled at the joy of finally hearing those names.
“Lady Evelyn saved us. I heard later that she had actually been watching us from afar since before the sublimation ritual. However, she couldn’t see any opportunity to jump in, so she took advantage of the moment when Lady Hilda’s energy was greatly reduced.”
“Then this place?”
“This is the old Naga sanctuary that Lady Evelyn prepared. She led us here to escape.”
As Naga Forest is the long-time home of the Naga tribe, there are probably many secret sanctuaries that Hilda doesn’t know about.
Evelyn must have helped them escape there.
But Evelyn was nowhere to be seen.
“But… … Lady Evelyn isn’t here.”
“You were caught… … because of us.”
A shadow fell over Wellington’s eyes.
“Evelyn! We have to save her!”
“Evelyn saved Wellington, who was protected by Hilda!”
“I must repay the favor!”
“Human! Human who smells like the Dragon King! Help me!”
Theo didn’t dare ask how Evelyn came to be captured by Hilda.
Recalling that incident would only serve to stir up the wounds in his heart.
“The story is over.”
Julius stood up from his seat.
“Dragon.”
“Sogaju, Evelyn is the first sword that Sogaju has collected.”
For the first time, Julius was paying respect to Theo.
“I wouldn’t throw away such a precious sword so carelessly… … I believe so. I.”
“Of course I plan to save it. But right now, direction is important.”
Theo turned his gaze towards Wellington.
“Where is Hilda now?”
* * *
Deep cave.
That place, so deep that not a single ray of light can enter, was originally a maternity ward created by the Naga tribe to give birth away from outside disturbances.
But now, most of the Naga people have been driven out and turned into slaves, and this place has become a residence for only Hilda.
Perhaps it is because of the faint vitality that remains here, even as a residual thought.
Hilda’s condition was not that good.
Because I stepped into the sublimation gate once and was bounced back out, it wouldn’t be strange if my body collapsed at any moment.
‘My lord.’
Denglong stood at the threshold of the cave and shut his eyes tightly.
He couldn’t bring himself to cross this line.
If you do that, your remaining life will be sucked out.
In fact, it didn’t really matter to him whether he died or not.
Since I don’t have much life left anyway, if I can sacrifice it for my master, it will be a meaningful ending.
In the first place, his life was saved by his master a long time ago.
but.
But right now, he couldn’t give up this last bit of his life to his master.
It wasn’t because I changed my mind.
I feel so sorry for the owner who is deluded.
It was because he wanted to see his energetic, passionate, and wise master one last time.
‘I’ll finish everything here and leave… … Well, please don’t come back here. Never again.’
Deungryong slowly opened his mouth as he recalled the only successor who had secretly turned a blind eye to his departure.
“Your new body… Are you adjusting well?”
“any.”
A voice that rings out from deep within.
That wasn’t Hilda’s originally.
A voice that has sunk a little deeper.
It was Evelyn’s.
