The Regressed Mercenary’s Machinations Chapter 751

Episode 751: What a strange being. (3)

Jiselle asked,

“Are you really a spirit lord?”

It was more of a question than a sincere one. Of course, she thought it wasn’t.

But if it were something like a spirit lord… … wouldn’t it be really cool?

Iraniel looked at Jiselle with a bewildered look.

“There’s no way that’s possible, right?”

“……Right?”

“How did you come to know about this… spirit?”

Jiselle shrugged and answered.

“I just happened to get it, and it lives in my consciousness, not in the spirit realm. It uses its power in a similar way to a spirit. It also lost its memories, so it doesn’t know what kind of being it is.”

Iraniel looked closely at Dark. Dark stared at her, then slowly turned his head away.

“You lost your memories? That’s really amazing. Let me take a look.”

Iraniel took Dark and held him with one hand. Dark still had his head turned away, his expression curt.

“How impudent…how dare you lift me up like a decoration.”

Dark grumbled as if to be heard, but no one listened.

Iraniel placed his hand on Dark’s head and murmured softly.

“Spirit of sleep and dreams, hear my call. Open the gates of the hidden world and move between eternity and the moment.”

Paaaaaaa… … .

The sparkling light briefly circled Iraniel’s hand before seeping into Dark’s body.

Dark strongly resisted the power that was digging into his consciousness. Dark was

a being with only will, so his power related to the mind was quite strong. He

was even able to break the illusion magic of a 7th Circle wizard.

“How dare you try to spy on me!”

Even if he lived inside Giselle, the two were completely different beings. Just as Giselle blocked her consciousness so that Dark could not see, Dark could do the same. If

he did not allow it, they would not be able to see into each other’s minds, and even if he did, they would only be able to spy on each other for a moment. This

is because two completely different beings cannot become completely one. If they become one, it is no longer the original existence.

“Hoo…….”

Iraniel made an interesting expression. The opponent’s mental barrier was very strong. If they tried to force it through, they would both suffer great damage.

Iraniel said softly.

“Didn’t you say that you don’t know about your existence? If you allow me, I will briefly examine your subconscious.”

“Huh…….”

Dark turned his head sharply. It meant that he was allowing it. In fact, Dark had also been curious about what kind of existence he was.

Paaaaa… … .

Only then did the dream spirit enter the depths of Dark’s consciousness. It was the same method that Erenes used when he examined the consciousness of the fallen Giselle.

The only difference was that Iraniel had gone deep into Dark’s subconscious.

The subconscious usually contains the ‘world’ of that existence.

Giselle had also shown Dark her own world.

Although it was a desolate wasteland stained with blood, it was a landscape that only Giselle could contain.

However.

‘This can’t be happening… … .’

Iraniel narrowed his eyebrows.

There was nothing inside Dark.

A complete blankness where even silence had disappeared.

No light, no color, no memory, no emotion, nothing existed, literally nothing.

Iraniel looked around several times. Even beasts wouldn’t have this much nothing.

Even if they lost their memories, there should still be a world in their subconscious.

However, this space of the subconscious was closed. A completely blocked world.

Not only the outside, but even the master of consciousness could not enter it.

Iraniel realized only then.

‘Memories are sealed. And… … Very elaborately and tightly.’

Iraniel’s eyes showed a subtle sense of wariness.

Who on earth could have gone to such lengths to hide something?

Crack!

The dream spirits Iraniel had summoned knocked on the wall of darkness. However, the wall was much stronger than he had thought.

It was like a perfectly closed door that could not let even a single ray of light in.

Iraniel narrowed his eyes and put strength into his fingertips.

Kwung!

For a moment, the darkness distorted and a very fine crack appeared, and a faint light spread through the gap.

“Keeeeeek!”

Dark’s eyes shot open and he let out a sharp scream.

“This is……”

Iraniel immediately pulled her hand away. If she had tried harder, Dark’s consciousness would have been in danger.

“……This is what it would be like.”

She exhaled softly and closed her eyes. However, she had figured out a few things.

For a very brief moment, he faintly sensed the scent of a spirit. And within it… … .

was an indescribable, immense sadness and pain.

Iraniel opened his eyes and said,

“This child… I can’t believe it, but he’s a spirit.”

Jiselle also looked slightly surprised.

“Really? Is he a spirit?”

He didn’t really have a word to refer to him, so he just said spirit, but he didn’t really believe he was a spirit.

He just thought of him as a strange being that was on the edge of a spirit.

However, Iraniel officially acknowledged Dark as a spirit.

“Yes, I don’t know what kind of spirit he was, but I faintly felt the scent that only spirits have. And that… was the scent of countless spirits.”

“Countless… many? What does that mean?”

“It felt like the spirits of all the elements were mixed together. Fire and water, wind and earth, light and darkness. It felt like layers upon layers.”

“But Dark is one?”

“That’s why it’s hard to know. It seems like a spirit that has been tainted or corrupted by something. The wall of consciousness is too thick to know its identity in detail.”

Iraniel shook his head slightly and continued.

“It’s hard to know what kind of being it is right now. It seems like its memories are sealed.”

“Hmm…….”

“I felt a deep sadness and pain for a moment. Something bad must have happened.”

Jiselle looked at Dark and asked.

“Do you have any sad memories?”

“No?

” “Does it hurt

?” “It doesn’t hurt?”

“…….”

Jiselle sighed. As expected, Dark didn’t feel sad. However, if the truth about his subconscious being sealed was revealed, then who knows.

Iraniel smiled at Dark.

“If this child regains his memories, he could become an amazing being. It can’t be a simple coincidence that he contains the energy of many spirits.”

Upon hearing those words, Dark spread his wings and shouted triumphantly.

“Look! This is proof that I am the Spirit King! If I just regain my memories, they’ll all die!”

Iraniel added quietly.

“Of course… even if I regain my memories, I might be nothing. For example, I might be a simple remnant… of a powerful spirit.”

“…….”

Dark closed his mouth at the new hypothesis. The Spirit King was good, but the bad leftovers that someone had discarded were a bit much.

Dark did not accept that hypothesis.

“I would have definitely been a great being. I would have been the king of spirits with all attributes!”

Jiselle asked Iraniel slyly.

“Is there really a spirit similar to that? A spirit with all attributes?”

“As far as I know, there is no such spirit. But who knows? There might be some mysterious being that has not been discovered. Even I don’t know the spirit world perfectly.”

“I see. But you’re saying that it’s definitely a spirit?”

“Yes, at least… the source is definitely a spirit.”

Jiselle nodded. Iraniel was the best in the continent when it came to spirits.

If she said so, there was no reason to doubt her.

‘If I had seen Dark’s original energy, would I have been able to infer more?’

Iraniel did not react sensitively to Dark’s energy like Erenes in the future.

Dark was currently taking shape with Astion’s magic power, not the energy he originally possessed.

Therefore, Iraniel could not know Dark’s energy, which was similar to the Salvation Church but different.

While Jisel was worrying, the spirits next to Yulien quietly approached Dark.

The spirits cautiously looked around Dark and showed interest. Their interest was different from what they showed to others.

It was as if they wanted to become one, trying to get even closer and mix their energy.

Dark, who felt somehow offended by this, shouted.

“Go away! How dare you, a bunch of insignificant spirits, act friendly to the Spirit King!”

The spirits were startled by Dark’s shout and hid behind Yulien. But even so, she couldn’t overcome her curiosity and kept glancing at Dark.

Giselle felt that Dark was much more sharp than usual.

“What’s wrong with you? Why are you so sensitive today?”

“Oh, I don’t know. It’s uncomfortable. I want to go in.”

Dark himself didn’t know why.

It seemed like this forest, the elves, and the spirits were making him depressed. He felt even more depressed when the spirits came closer.

So he just ran away and entered Giselle’s consciousness.

Iraniel, who was watching her, said,

“For a spirit, you have a strange personality. Usually, the personality of a spirit follows the personality of its summoner, but……”

“……It’s been like that since we first met.”

“Sealed memories can’t be forcibly broken, but someday, if there’s a chance, the seal might be released. I guess we’ll just have to wait for that. Is there anything else you need or are curious about?”

“This is enough. Thanks to your consideration, I got the Holy Stone and my friend got the spirit. My curiosity has also been somewhat resolved. Thank you very much.”

Jisel bowed her head deeply and expressed her gratitude.

After getting everything they could, Jisel and her party rested for a day.

The elves gave them rare fruits and herbs from the forest. Although it didn’t suit the tastes of the mercenaries who preferred meat, they all had a good time.

The next day, as Jisel and her party packed their bags and left, all the elves came out to see them off.

Iraniel smiled at Jisel.

“I hope your journey is successful.”

“Thank you. I’ll come visit you again later.”

Iraniel smiled happily at Jisel, who thought of her as a friend’s home.

Of all the humans she had seen, none were as honest and confident as Jisel.

Unlike other humans, there was not a single bit of slyness or cunning. So, Giselle could not help but like him.

Iraniel’s gaze turned to Deneve.

“You truly have great potential. I hope you use that power properly. I trusted you and entrusted you with the Guardian Stone.”

“Yes! I will do my best so that the Chieftain will not be disappointed!”

Deneve also answered vigorously. Although her divine power had returned to its original state, she gained some confidence from this incident.

As she was about to leave, Giselle saw Erenes with a gloomy expression.

‘Hmm, since when have we been moving together?’

It was certain that they fought together during the Great War. I clearly saw that scene in my dream.

However, she did not know since when Erenes had been with the warriors.

So she just said whatever came to her mind.

“Erenes, do you want to come with me?”

“What, me? Me too?”

“Yes, you wanted to go out. The Chieftain entrusted the guardian stone to us, so you have a good reason to come with us. Don’t you think so?”

At those words, Erenes glanced at Iraniel. He could only go out with Iraniel’s permission.

Iraniel glared at Jisel. How could he make such a suggestion while knowing what Erenes was thinking?

Iraniel shook his head with a bitter smile and said,

“Erenes, you should follow them too.”

“Oh, no. I…”

“It’s okay. I know how you feel. I can’t just hold you in this narrow forest any longer.”

“Lord Iraniel…”

“Go see the world and learn a lot. Those friends will guide you well.”

In fact, Iraniel also knew.

Erenes would have left the forest at some point, even secretly.

In that case, it would have been much better to go with the trustworthy Yulien mercenary group.

Erenes bowed her head with tears in her eyes.

“I will return stronger than I am now, so that I can be active in the war against the Demon Realm.”

Iraniel smiled a little sadly at those words.

“Yes, you can do that.”

In the end, the Demon Realm had become rampant in this era. That meant that a strong elf was needed now.

And the one best suited for that role would be Erenes, who had the greatest fighting talent of all.

Giselle smiled brightly at Iraniel’s permission.

“Welcome to the mercenary corps, youngest.”

“Hmph, I know what the youngest does as the humans say. As a noble elf, I will not do such trivial work.”

A completely different appearance from the future Erenes, haughty and sullen. Giselle found that appearance truly amusing.

Giselle shrugged and answered.

“Is it foolish? Well, then, shall we go get the next holy stone?”

The Yulien mercenary group, joined by Erenes, set out again toward their next destination.

Iraniel watched the Yulien mercenary group leave for a long time.

When they disappeared, she looked down at her hands.

Her hands were much more wrinkled than before.

Iraniel muttered quietly.

“I think it’s time to pass the World Tree on to the next generation.”

And the elf who would take on that important task… … . She

had a feeling that it would be that child who would endure the world’s rough storms and return stronger than anyone else.