Chapter 87 : Chapter 87

Chapter 087 : A Lie Greater Than Truth (5)

There was still time until tomorrow morning when the Archduke’s mages were set to return.

I didn’t need to think twice about how to spend the waiting hours.

At the Sylphiroa village hall, Linda and I, led by the village chief’s hand, were treated with overwhelming hospitality.

The wide dining table was laden with food, as if the village had emptied its entire pantry for us.

“Here, try this, Sir Bihen! It’s a chicken caught this morning and simmered to perfection. Look at how the meat just falls apart!”

“This is a liquor distilled from the sap of the Spirit Tree. Only a tiny batch is made once a year. It’s unparalleled for purifying toxins in the body.”

All sorts of dishes kept coming, one after another.

Besides the village officials eagerly recommending food while sticking close to us, the reception room was packed with people outside, all crowding to catch a glimpse of me.

You’d think food could hardly go down my throat in such a situation… or so I thought.

‘…Not bad at all.’

I’m a picky eater by nature.

My grandmother, the only one who ever sat with me at the table, went through no small trouble dealing with my finicky tastes.

When I first enlisted, the mere smell of military rations made me so nauseous I seriously considered deserting.

It’s a bit embarrassing to admit, but if I, of all people, found the food decent, it’d be no exaggeration to call it a delicacy for most.

“Your skills are impressive. My stomach’s having quite the feast,” I said.

I threw in some flattery while thanking the chief.

Even I was surprised by my own words.

Who knew I had this kind of charm? It must be the good food.

“I’m so glad it suits your taste. All this is thanks to the fruits of Sylphinus’s efforts,” the chief replied.”

“Sylphinus? Does a magical order study cooking too?”

I didn’t bother hiding my surprise.

Magic and cooking—what an odd combination.

The chief, with a knowing smile, responded as if he understood my reaction.

“The Great Spirit Sylphinu once said this: Magic is merely a part of actions meant to benefit the human world. Thus, those born with mana must live with a profound sense of duty and vigilance, dedicating themselves to the world’s betterment.”

“….”

“Sylphinus studies everything needed for humans to live happily—eating, sleeping, loving.”

Suddenly, a glint sparked in the chief’s eyes.

He rested his elbows on the table, his hands clasped firmly under his chin, exuding determination.

“Developing the ultimate cuisine that satisfies both the palate and the heart—that’s a mission of Sylphinus, no less significant than practical magic research.”

I swallowed hard.

Sylphinus.

Conwell must be proud just for embracing them.

For the first time in this life or my past one, I felt a pang of envy for the people of Conwell—no, the entire Kingdom.

The chief added calmly, “Sylphinus has been able to carry out this mission thanks to Lady Adeline. She drastically reduced Sylphiroa’s tribute taxes under the pretext of contributing to Conwell’s public good. She’s truly our benefactor.”

Adeline, again.

At this point, it almost feels like divine intervention that she doesn’t hold military power, as if it’s fate’s way of balancing the world.

“Hehe, I’m super close with Adeline-unnie!”

It was Linda, sitting beside me.

Her tongue was practically tripping over itself.

Her cheeks were flushed red, and after eagerly downing drinks, she was clearly drunk.

“Right, unnie? Aren’t we, like, super close?”

She twirled her finger in the air, her eyes completely glazed over.

The chief, sitting across from us, smiled indulgently at Linda’s drunken antics, as if watching a granddaughter’s playful mischief.

“Haha. The Theodore family is one of the top three noble houses in the Kingdom. His Lordship is an imperial kinsman and once served as the King’s Grand Tutor. To think the young lady born to such a family would personally visit Sylphiroa—it’s an honor beyond words.”

He openly glanced between Linda and me, his eyes now carrying a peculiar glint, unlike before.

Clearing his throat slightly, he continued,“The Theodore family is our steadfast ally. We treat you with utmost respect for Lady Adeline’s sake, nothing more. I have no ulterior motives.”

At that moment, before he could finish, Linda slammed her forehead onto the table with a loud thud.

The room fell silent, all eyes turning to her.

Unfazed, she kept banging her forehead lightly, muttering,“It’s over, it’s over. Done for…”

“What’s wrong?” I asked.

“I shouldn’t have stepped in back then… Sir Bihen, you think I’m some kind of monster woman deep down, don’t you? I know it all… That wretched Sindy, I’ll fold her in half when I get back…”

What is she even talking about?

Just then, the chief signaled to the women serving the meal.

Linda was dragged away, her slurred protests echoing faintly as she went.

“Hahaha… I’ve heard Lord Theodore was quite the lively character in his youth. It seems the young lady takes after him in that regard,” the chief said.

I quietly wiped my mouth with a cloth on the table.

“I should take my leave as well. Before tomorrow, I’d like some time alone, so I’d appreciate it if you could arrange that, Chief.”

---

Stepping outside the village hall, I breathed in the fresh air.

It felt like my lungs were finally free.

‘The scenery’s nice.’

Thanks to the magical decorations scattered throughout the village, Sylphiroa took on an even more mystical and elegant atmosphere at night.

Along the wooden palisades encircling the village, long poles were set at regular intervals, each topped with Mana Stones that softly illuminated the boundary between the Blue Mist Forest and the village.

Step, step.

I walked while gazing at the sky.

Starlight and Mana Stones painted Sylphiroa’s night in different hues.

It was a mesmerizing sight, the kind that made me feel like mana might spontaneously well up inside me.

Before I knew it, I was near the Spirit Tree.

It seemed every path in the village was designed to lead to this massive tree.

‘Hm?’

I paused my steps.

From a distance, I heard the sound of chattering.

Children were lined up neatly in front of the Spirit Tree, with Kevin, whom I’d seen earlier, standing beside them.

“Kids, let’s keep our voices down a bit. Remember what I said? We have an important guest resting.”

“Sir Bihen Benkou!”

“That’s right. For the sake of the kind person who came to protect Sylphiroa, what should we do?”

“Shh!”

“Good. Now, who’s next?”

Following Kevin’s instructions, the children took turns standing before the Spirit Tree, clasping their hands.

The kids, who had been giggling moments ago, adopted a surprisingly reverent demeanor in that moment.

Once the brief ritual ended, the children were led away quietly by a woman around Kevin’s age.

Left alone, Kevin gazed up at the Spirit Tree, lost in contemplation.

I deliberately made my presence known as his prayer seemed to conclude.

“Oh… Sir Bihen. I didn’t realize you were here,” Kevin said.

“Was I interrupting?”

“Not at all. I was just about to wrap up.”

“Do you also teach the children?”

Kevin’s eyes widened, and he scratched the back of his neck sheepishly. “You saw that? Guiding Sylphiroa’s children and leading them on the right path is exactly what Sylphinus is meant to do. I find great fulfillment in it.”

I’ve never had a teacher, so I wouldn’t know, but one thing was clear: I was starting to envy even the children of Sylphiroa.

Feeling awkward, I turned my head.

Before me stood the towering Spirit Tree, its grandeur even more striking up close.

“…I noticed earlier, the kids were praying or something in front of this. What was that about?”

“They reflect on the day and pledge to strive harder tomorrow before the Great Spirit Sylphinu. I did it every day when I was young, and even now, I do it whenever I get the chance. It makes you approach important tasks with greater sincerity—especially in times like these…”

I silently stared at the Spirit Tree.

They say the Great Spirit Sylphinu entered eternal rest here.

“In a way, Sylphinu is like a god to the people of Sylphiroa.”

“More like a prophet than a god. They preferred to be called that by the humans who revered them. Sylphinu always stayed close to us, living among us.”

Suddenly, I recalled the ancient history of the Empire.

There was a time when gods roamed the Empire too.

Records of them were completely erased three hundred years ago when the Igraine dynasty first rose, on the grounds that the existence of gods hindered and oppressed the Empire’s progress and its people’s well-being.

‘If the Empire’s gods had been like Sylphinu, staying close to humanity instead of lording over them…’

No use dwelling on hypotheticals.

As I got lost in pointless thoughts, Kevin spoke candidly beside me.

“…Well, they’re not much different from a god. Thanks to the unified prayers of Sylphiroa’s people, a miracle happened—your arrival, Sir Bihen. The same goes for Captain Kendrick and the Black Rose Mercenaries. We’re truly grateful.”

I came here of my own will.

No divine intervention was involved.

Of course, I didn’t say that out loud.

Instead, I silently looked up at the Spirit Tree.

‘…’

I didn’t feel the need to activate Ghost Eye to check again.

What does it matter if there’s no mana?

Even if Sylphinu is a fiction, it doesn’t change anything.

The miracle woven by nature’s mystery and coincidence is, in itself, a splendid guardian deity for Sylphiroa.

That’s enough.

---

Deep into the night.

The Black Rose Mercenaries gathered in the heart of the Blue Mist Forest.

They had volunteered to patrol the village’s borders that night.

“Everyone here?”

Kendrick scanned his subordinates, who nodded in unison.

“…Let’s go.”

Without a word, they began moving.

Their shadows, cast under the moonlight, swayed silently and stealthily.

How far had they gone?

When they suddenly reached a wide clearing, the group stopped as if by unspoken agreement.

Kendrick, at the forefront, cautiously surveyed the surroundings.

Beads of sweat dripped heavily from his brow.

“No one’s around…?”

The forest was open on all sides.

His voice echoed back abruptly.

“Captain, something’s off, isn’t it? I’ve been getting chills for a while now, like…”

“Could it be… something went wrong?”

Then it happened.

Grrrrrr—

A low growl scraped at the ears of the Black Rose Mercenaries.

They all felt a shiver run down their spines.

Without hesitation, they drew their weapons in a startled frenzy.

“A Demonic Beast…!”

“Why are Demonic Beasts here?! Form a defensive line!”

Beyond the bushes, a rustling sound accompanied swaying branches.

As all eyes fixed on the spot, a beast slowly emerged from the thick shadows, baring its sharp teeth.

“That’s…”

Kendrick and the mercenaries furrowed their brows simultaneously.

Shock spread across their faces.

“What… what the hell is that?”

Its grotesque face, like a mix of wolf and boar, gleamed with blood-red eyes.

Its body seemed to waver, as if it were both solid and intangible, rippling like black mist.

“It looks like a beast-type Demonic Beast… but I’ve never seen anything like it.”

One mercenary muttered, voicing what everyone was thinking.

It was a Demonic Beast unlike any they’d ever encountered.

Typically, beast-type Demonic Beasts were reanimated corpses of animals infused with demonic energy.

This one was different.

There were no signs of decay. Its fluid, shadow-like body exuded an indescribable eeriness.

“Could it be… some kind of Dark Magic summoning Demonic Beasts?”

“What nonsense. Never heard of such a thing. If that were possible, the world would be crawling with Demonic Beasts. And this is the Blue Mist Forest—Dark Magic shouldn’t even work here.”

“But if not that, then how…?”

As they stood frozen, facing the sudden Demonic Beast in tense silence, a voice broke through.

“Keke, no need to be so on edge. They won’t bite unless I tell them to. My babies are so well-behaved.”

From behind the mysterious Demonic Beast, a man emerged with slow steps.

Kendrick narrowed his eyes.

“…Sir Yeats.”

“Wow, first off, props.”

Yeats clapped his hands, the sound eerie in the air.

“Impressive work. I’m genuinely shocked, you know? Man, how do you guys handle things so perfectly? I should’ve hired the Black Rose Mercenaries from the start.”

“What are those Demonic Beasts?”

“Huh? Who was that? Which one of you opened your mouth?”

“…”

“You lot just answer when asked and gasp in awe, got it? You filthy human garbage.”

“…Yes.”

“That’s better.”

The atmosphere shifted with Yeats’s erratic tone.

Humming a tune as if his mood had lifted, he strolled leisurely around them.

The mercenaries’ anxious gazes followed him.

“Well, fine… I suppose you’re curious. I was a bit harsh. Alright, since I’m in a good mood, I’ll let you in.”

Yeats lightly flicked his hand through the air.

Between his index and middle fingers appeared a yellowed piece of paper, covered densely with red letters that looked like they were written in blood, forming intricate patterns.

“These are Demonic Beasts from the Empire. An eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth, right? Before the sun rises tomorrow, Bihen Benkou will be torn to shreds.”

Yeats raised the paper to his face, his lips curling into a twisted grin.

“The Spirit Tree as a grave? Quite the luxury for an Imperial, don’t you think?”

Tip: Tap/click the left or right side of the screen to go to previous/next chapter.