Chapter 739

Chapter 739

I Can Use a Bit of Strength (1)

Ghislain had examined the Rotten Forest with great caution because something about it had raised his suspicions.

‘This couldn’t be done with black magic alone.’

Black magic was certainly filled with resentment and malice, but it was still an attribute that existed in this world.

However, the energy now pervading the forest carried a darkness even more fundamental like that of an alien force entirely incompatible with this world.

‘The Salvation Church.’

Only the priests of the Salvation Church could wield such energy, the kind that could never mix with this world, like oil and water.

That unholy energy was merging with black magic to rapidly corrupt the forest.

It was no wonder the elves hadn't noticed. The trace left by the Salvation Church merely amplified the power of the black magic.

Since both were inherently negative energies, their sources would naturally feel similar. Even a Transcendent would have a hard time detecting the difference when they're blended like this.

But Ghislain, being a high-level black mage who had reached the realm of wielding the Power of Will, could sense the world's dissonance.

That was how he had detected the presence of the Salvation Church’s energy.

‘Yeah, I figured it’d be something like this.’

The war between the elves and orcs had gone on for so long that it could be overlooked. But once a black mage got involved, suspicions naturally arose.

The Salvation Church had been stirring up trouble all across the world, there was no way their hands wouldn’t have reached toward the elves as well.

And sure enough, those bastards were now approaching the northern forest.

Shhhhhk...

The forest's decay began to accelerate. It was reacting to the approaching massive energy.

As the surroundings suddenly started rotting away at a rapid pace, Ereneth was startled.

She stumbled back several steps and shouted,

“W-what is this? Why is the forest suddenly like this?”

It felt as though darkness was closing in from all directions. That’s how quickly the forest was deteriorating.

Ereneth turned to Ghislain and asked,

“What on earth is going on?! What did you do?”

“The enemies are coming.”

“Enemies? You mean those black mages?”

“No, it’s someone else. But the black mages and orcs are likely following them.”

“What are you talking about? Who are these enemies?”

“High priests of the Salvation Church.”

“...”

Ereneth’s expression went blank for a moment. The name of the Salvation Church had come out of nowhere.

This had been a conflict between elves and orcs. The black mages were simply a third party that had interfered.

If the Salvation Church were involved, there’s no way the Great Chieftain or the elders wouldn’t have known.

Ereneth scoffed in disbelief and said in a mocking tone,

“Humans are said to be frighteningly good at lying, but seeing it for myself, it’s not all that impressive. Aren’t you a little too clumsy with your lies?”

Ghislain had no way to convince Ereneth at this moment. The darkness that was approaching could only be seen and felt by him.

And that darkness would arrive here soon.

Ghislain turned to Ereneth and said,

“There’s no time. Go back now. Go back and tell them to prepare for war.”

He slowly began drawing up his mana. Several powerful presences were approaching this place.

But it wasn’t only darkness that was drawing near.

Fwoooosh!

Along with the spirits, elves appeared. They had finally sensed something wrong in the forest and had tracked Ghislain.

The elf who had been pursuing Ghislain from the beginning, an elder shouted,

“Ereneth! What is going on here!”

“I-I…”

Ereneth, flustered, looked between the elder and Ghislain. The elder, with a cold expression, addressed Ghislain.

“Was it you? Are you the one who did this to the forest? Where are the other black mages?”

“…”

Ghislain furrowed his brow. It was irritating, but not incomprehensible. After all, they knew nothing.

However, there was no time to slowly explain and clear up misunderstandings.

His tone turned cold as well.

“It wasn’t me.”

“Then what is happening here?”

“Priests of the Demonic Abyss are on their way.”

“W-what?”

“The center of the forest will likely be the safest. Gather all the elves there. And prepare for battle.”

“You bastard! What nonsense are you spouting! Stop this madness at once!”

Boom!

A massive spirit rushed toward Ghislain. At that moment, he dissolved into darkness and dispersed.

“This wretch again!”

As Ghislain vanished, the elder expanded the spirit’s aura even further. He was determined to catch Ghislain right here.

Then, from within the darkness, Ghislain’s voice echoed.

“Get out of here now. They’re almost here.”

“Still playing tricks…”

The elder began to speak but then looked up at the sky. At last, he too sensed the massive presence approaching.

“W-what is this…”

His face went blank.

A thick darkness was surging in from the distance. It was overwhelmingly ominous and terrifying.

As an elf, one who lived in harmony with nature, he could feel it even more clearly.

It was a force completely at odds with the laws of this world.

“Could it really be that figures of the Demonic Abyss have come here?”

As the elder halted his attack, the darkness gathered and Ghislain reappeared.

“That’s right. So, get out of here. Gather all the elves. Behind them, a horde of black mages and orcs will surely be coming.”

“Wh-what about you…”

“I’ll hold them off as long as I can. Now go. You’re just getting in the way.”

The elder gulped and silently stared at Ghislain for a moment.

The fact that he was still eluding capture and roaming freely in this forest proved that he indeed possessed considerable skill.

What was unclear, however, was why a human who had nothing to do with them was stepping up like this.

But figuring out his motives could wait until later. For now, they had to accept this human’s goodwill.

“Let’s fall back. We must alert everyone and prepare for battle.”

The elves who had followed the elder stepped back. But Ereneth stood her ground, gritting her teeth.

“Ereneth! Come now!”

“…I’m not going.”

“What? What are you saying?”

“I’m going to fight here too.”

“What nonsense! With your abilities, it’s too dangerous!”

At that, Ereneth shouted with a furious expression,

“What’s wrong with my abilities?! I’m plenty strong! I can fight too!”

“Y-you…”

The elder was momentarily stunned, as if a parent caught off guard by a child’s rebellion.

Truthfully, his feelings weren’t far from that.

All elves naturally obeyed their elders. He couldn’t understand why Ereneth was rebelling so vehemently.

Looking at the elder, Ereneth continued speaking.

“That human is the first human friend I’ve ever made! How could I just leave him behind? Is that what we elves call nobility?”

“…”

The elder’s expression remained dazed.

Elves never abandon their kin, not even in the face of death. That was a given.

But that principle had never extended to humans. Though they were reluctantly cooperating due to the Demonic Abyss, elves and humans were not beings meant to form friendships.

Hadn’t they taught exactly that, to keep a distance from humans?

And yet now she was close enough to call one a friend? A stranger with unclear origins, no less.

With a proud expression, Ereneth declared,

“I’m going to fight here with my friend. You’re not seriously telling me to abandon a friend, are you? A friend who’s willing to risk his life for our sake?”

“…”

The elder had nothing to say. Now that Ereneth had declared him a friend, staying to fight was a matter of her honor.

Forcing her to leave would go against the very beliefs they had instilled in her.

Watching the elder, who couldn’t utter a single word, Ghislain let out a faint chuckle.

‘Seriously, she’s cunning.’

The feelings Ereneth had toward Ghislain were no more than curiosity and a hint of fondness, nothing beyond that.

She likely didn’t truly consider him a friend. How could she, when they’d only just met? She just wanted to fight here and make a name for herself.

Of course, that wasn’t the only reason, it wasn’t purely selfish.

She must’ve been at least a little concerned about the human she’d just met.

‘It’s nice that she wants to fight with me, but not here.’

Ghislain had no intention of fighting to the death alone against the incoming army. He planned to fight just enough before making his escape.

But if Ereneth was there, it would be harder to flee at ease.

So, he said to her,

“Ereneth, go with the elder.”

“What? I’m going to fight too! I’m strong, you know!”

“I know. But this isn’t where you should be fighting.”

“…”

“Go fight alongside the other elves. The orc army will swarm in soon enough you’ll have more than enough fighting to do.”

“What about you?!”

“I’ll fight a bit and then run. It’s easier for me to escape when I don’t have to worry about anyone. You know how good I am at running away, right?”

“…”

Ereneth bit her lip. He did have an exceptional talent for escaping.

Even before she had helped him, he had managed to keep slipping away.

Vrrrrmmmm…

Now the darkness was close enough to see clearly with the naked eye. The heavy aura felt like it was pressing down on her chest, making it hard to breathe.

Ghislain gripped his staff tightly and shouted,

“Go! Hurry and get ready!”

At Ghislain’s cry, the elder stepped back and said,

“Ereneth. Fall back. I’ll prepare to fight alongside the Great Chieftain.”

“…”

Ereneth didn’t argue any further. If she insisted on staying, she could endanger the others.

With her usual sullen expression, she said,

“Don’t die. I still have a lot I want to learn about the world out there.”

“Yeah, I’ll hold out as long as I can and run away. So just be ready.”

With that, Ereneth and the elves withdrew.

Ghislain raised his head. The sky above was now entirely covered in darkness.

‘One, two, three, four, five, huh.’

The ones coming now weren’t ordinary. This might be the most dangerous moment since he came to the past.

He’d have to put his life on the line this time.

Honestly, things had been going a bit too smoothly until now. No matter how strong the average people of this era were, his level had been far beyond theirs.

But not now. This time, the energy was enough to make his entire body tingle.

As expected, the true elites of the Demonic Abyss were on a different level.

This kind of tension…it felt exhilarating.

“Looks like I can finally cut loose.”

Unlike the now-excited Ghislain, Astion and Dark inside his consciousness spoke with concern.

— She said she made a friend, right? Just now, she said it was her first human friend?

— That’s not what she meant, you idiot! You’ve totally lost it!

‘Quiet. It’s starting.’

Ghislain smirked as he unleashed his mana. His body was enveloped in a blue glow.

Then, five beams of black light shot down from the sky, all aimed at him.

BOOOOOOOM!

With a thunderous explosion, Ghislain was flung backward. The five beams of black light were also pushed back.

Just a single clash had cracked the ground, sending dust and debris flying in all directions.

The area turned into a wasteland in an instant proof of how powerful the impact had been.

When the dust finally cleared, five middle-aged men in black robes stood in the now-barren clearing.

The one in front looked at Ghislain and asked,

“Who are you? Why is a human with such power here?”

Straightening his posture, Ghislain spat out blood-tinged saliva and answered,

“Out for a walk.”

“…”

The leader glanced around the area for a moment checking if they had perhaps arrived at the wrong location.

But no matter how much he looked, this was indeed their intended destination. That only made it more baffling.

A place shunned by human feet, an elven forest, now so corrupted that nothing could live here.

And yet, a strange human was out here… on a stroll.

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