Chapter 73 : Chapter 73

Chapter 73 - Resurrection

Enad was an observer.

Although he was restoring the crumbling mind and body with the Path of the Beast.

It wasn't to the point where he had to pour all his focus into it.

It wasn't a task that required such devotion in the first place.

His body was at ease.

Naturally, his field of vision widened.

With his widened vision, he saw all five of them.

The Youngest Son and the Forest Witch went without saying.

And with Kio right outside, if he poured his consciousness through the shadows, he could also see Cailin and Halsin.

But what he needed to focus on wasn't the heart hunt.

Though it was fun to watch, the tense situation was right here.

[…An uninvited guest has arrived.]

He could tell by turning his senses outward.

He could tell just by listening, without needing to go that far.

A disturbance in the silence.

The situation outside could be defined as such.

Assassins who arrived in silence, leaving a chill in their wake, tried to break through the commotion.

Dozens of thick and thin roots boiling up from the ground stopped their quiet charge.

[This is not a very safe situation.]

The judgment was made quickly.

He could see that the breathing mixed in with the commotion was growing increasingly rough.

[If that young one is breached, it’s our turn next.]

The Youngest Son’s condition was dangerous.

He couldn't even hear my voice and was completely lost in his own world.

Even though we were in the same body.

[…What in the world is happening inside that head.]

It was impossible to even fathom.

That was why it was dangerous.

Since he had turned all his focus inward, he was that much more vulnerable to external attacks.

It was clear that even being pricked by a single needle would cause a seizure.

[Do I have no choice but to help?]

I clicked my tongue.

Having to look after another snot-nosed kid after this one….

[No. This might be better. At least that one isn’t dying to die.]

I infused consciousness into the bone marrow I had just created.

It soon separated from the Youngest Son's body and crawled along the floor according to my will.

When I got outside.

[…It’s more serious than I thought.]

The harshness of the battle became more apparent.

[I can feel his training well, but is holding on the best he can do?]

The roots on the ground moved ceaselessly like the legs of a cephalopod.

Flexibly yet quickly.

Sometimes rigidly.

They twisted and tangled with each other, lashing out like whips.

They blocked arrows and struck back, holding the front line.

However.

Twang—

A bowstring, pulled and returned to its place.

Buried in the commotion, no sound was heard.

It was too much for the young man to keep up with simply by feel.

[That’s why you need help.]

The bone marrow, leaping like a live fish, snatched the arrow beautifully.

“…Young Master?”

[It’s Enad. I’m on your side for now, so don’t make me explain.]

The bone marrow, which had instantly climbed onto his shoulder, spoke directly into his mind.

[The Young Master is busy breaking the Curse of the Forest right now. If you fall, not only the witch but he will die, and I will die too.]

“……”

His shoulders became incredibly heavy with responsibility.

Tap. Tap.

The bone marrow lightly patted him, as if giving both the poison and the antidote.

[That’s why I’m here, isn’t it? I’ll help you with all my might, if only because I don’t want to die.]

“…Are you really not the Young Master?”

[I told you I’m not. Shut your mouth and look ahead. Here they come again.]

He saw an arrow.

His pupils instantly constricted, focusing on the arrowhead.

His neck twisted naturally.

The ink-black arrow only pierced the innocent empty air.

[Not defense, but evasion. Focus all the roots on attacking and your body on evasion.]

“H-how do I do that?”

[Are you some kind of fixed cannon? I’ll lend you my magic, so move like before. And don’t stop the roots.]

He gritted his teeth.

Even as the sound of grinding teeth was heard, arrows flew relentlessly.

[They’re waiting for your magic and stamina to run out. You have to counterattack too.]

“I know that in my head!”

He answered with a shout, his feet never resting.

He rolled, jumped, and fell, dodging arrows and controlling the roots.

Gathering the tips into a sharp point like a spear.

“Hmph!”

He thrust it forward.

Puuuk—

A wooden spear pierced precisely through the center of a chest.

A corpse was made in an instant.

[You’re doing well.]

“Thank you for the compliment, but the next part will be the real problem.]

[Why is that.]

“The curse of the Dark Elves. It’s absolutely not something to be taken lightly. Especially with those numbers.”

[We’ll see about that.]

The bone marrow Enad was clinging to his shoulder.

The Dark Elves who had been clinging to the trees put away their bows and scattered.

“Five of them are heading for Hexa!”

Still, he couldn't turn his body.

The Dark Elves, who had maintained only silence, were now murmuring.

They clasped their hands, making gloomy sounds.

A lavender-colored aura, the same as their skin, flowed out like smoke.

The ancient tree that grows in darkness.

It was the curse of the Dark Elves who worshiped the World Tree that grows by moonlight.

[Ignore it.]

“You’re telling me to turn my back on a curse?”

[Yes. Even if you turn your back, I will face it.]

“…I understand.”

[Run.]

Paaak—!!

He kicked off the ground.

He ran towards the five who were trying to invade Hexa.

The Dark Elves were momentarily surprised but then smiled triumphantly.

To turn one’s back in battle, and in front of a curse at that.

“You might as well close your eyes. It’ll be less painful then.”

The lavender aura solidified like a crystal above their hands.

A shaft was formed, a point was formed, and fletching was formed.

The arrow of the curse.

Its tip pointed at the human running with his back turned.

“Mad Arrow.”

The body thrown to protect his mother would instead kill his mother.

Because this curse would make it so.

But there was no one who would stand by and watch that happen.

[Not a chance.]

The bone marrow once again grasped the arrow.

Laughter erupted from among the Dark Elves.

“Foolish thing. Do you think the curse will be neutralized just because you’re not pierced?”

[Kehehehet….]

The Magic Sword laughed back.

Crack—

The curse arrow shattered in its grasp.

It broke into pieces, shattered, and was clumped together in the fleshless hand.

As it crumbled into a fine powder.

The laughter of the Dark Elves also began to crumble.

“M-more! Fire more!”

Mad Arrows filled the not-so-wide sky.

Falling purple arrows.

Each and every one was a curse, a madness.

But what needed to be stopped was limited.

Other bone marrows branched out from the main one like fine roots.

Bone marrow gave birth to bone marrow, and dozens of hands caught the Mad Arrows.

[A curse for a magic sword. You might as well throw a bone to a dog. Foolish things.]

I returned his words.

With a curse added for good measure.

“Huh…?”

Puk—

A Dark Elf’s eyes looked down.

Something had pierced his chest, just like his dead comrade a moment ago.

Only, it wasn't a tree root.

It was a Mad Arrow. The arrow of the curse.

[I’m busy, so don’t bother me and go play among yourselves.]

The Dark Elves, except for the five, turned their arrowheads on each other.

Their eyes couldn't stay in one place, and madness moved their bodies.

The end for the remaining five was not much different.

“Th-this bastard…!”

“You shouldn’t enter someone else’s house without permission.”

Hexa was a dwelling that used the trees whole without uprooting them.

The house itself was a weapon to him.

For instance, the small fences and the vines that climbed the exterior walls.

“Die.”

A green rope, created in an instant, bound their limbs.

They were tied up meticulously like a gift box, with the rope even connecting to their necks.

If it stopped here, it would be bondage.

But if the link was tightened further.

Tududuk—

The neck bones of the five Dark Elves were lightly snapped.

Even so, the life force of the elves was tenacious.

“Did you think… it would end with us….”

Enough to leave a final word as they died.

“…Lord Enad.”

[It’s no use asking me. Your detection range is wider.]

“I wasn’t asking. I was telling you to prepare.”

[Ah.]

With a single exclamation, the bone marrow turned its body.

It looked at the same place as Kio.

[…What in the world is that.]

A frame that surpassed Hexa.

A whole body covered in incredibly hard ancient wood.

Its bright yellow eyes resembled the moon.

“It’s an Ancient Tree Spirit. It seems the Dark Elves summoned it by sacrificing themselves before they died.”

[Damn it. You’re of the wood attribute, you can win against it, right?]

“I can’t guarantee it. I’m sorry to say this, but it has a power that even you, Lord Enad, have never seen before—”

Kiiiiik—

The door of Hexa opened.

It was opened from the inside.

From inside Hexa.

“…Mother…?”

The Forest Witch walked out.

***

The General Manager of the Treasury’s modest office.

It was filled with people.

All of them were the Youngest Son’s people.

The General Manager silently looked at them.

A past war hero demoted to Gatekeeper.

A Grade 1 agent from the Intelligence Department.

The greatest merchant in the East.

Finally, some unknown guy and some unknown person in a robe.

Excluding the last two, they were indeed quite famous individuals.

But from those last two, the person who would decide this loan emerged.

“What did you say your name was?”

“It’s… Josephine.”

“Your family name.”

“It’s not something I can reveal.”

“Occupation.”

“I’m a magitech engineer and the owner of a firearms shop in D-District. Currently, I am serving as the temporary head of construction for the Domain of Eclipse.”

“A magitech engineer… you say.”

Something unusual was mixed in.

In the eyes of a conservative, it would be called a risk factor.

He continued.

“Show me your face. I cannot give money to someone whose face I do not even know.”

“……”

Josephine’s words stopped.

But that was only for a moment.

The collateral family member, who had rolled and tumbled among the direct descendants, said,

“That sounds like you’ll grant the loan if I show my face. Is that right?”

“The probability of that will increase slightly.”

“Then I’ll try to raise the probability with other things first. If it seems like it won’t work, I’ll reveal it then.”

“……”

The General Manager’s sharp eyes naturally turned to Jubel.

Why were these people trying to take his money so pushy and so confident?

Nevertheless.

The General Manager smiled inwardly.

“Indeed. The confidence that comes from self-assurance is not something you see in just anyone. I will hear a little more.”

Jubel, who was watching.

The hand behind his back slowly rolled a copper coin.

‘The General Manager is taking a liking to Josephine.’

To endure the General Manager of the Treasury’s paranoia, one had to be brave, to begin with.

One had to know how to shout at the pressures of the world and oneself.

Only those who could say ‘screw you’ even if Millesdusk's General Manager of the Treasury told them to shut up and get lost.

Could continue to sit in this place and speak of their ambitions.

Could earn the chance to persuade.

Josephine knew none of this, but the moment she sat in this seat.

‘I realized what my role is. I don't know why I was so nervous on the way here.’

Josephine spread out the bird’s-eye view and blueprints she had brought in a large bag on the table.

The very things the Construction General Manager had examined with shining eyes.

The General Manager of the Treasury unknowingly read the cursive script on the blueprint.

“Magitech Domain Eclipse….”

“The first in the world, beyond the East. I will bring that honor to Millesdusk and the Fifth Son, a blood relative of Millesdusk. Without fail.”

To do that.

“Sufficient funds are needed, and I intend to obtain them one way or another.”

“…Even if I do not approve it today?”

“Because I will go to the collateral branch families of Millesdusk. Those collateral families will spend money like crazy to get involved in the family’s politics one way or another.”

“……”

“Then all sorts of small fries will get mixed into politics, and it’s obvious that the people from the direct line won’t like that.”

“…You seem to know the nature of the direct and collateral lines suspiciously well.”

“That’s not what’s important.”

“Right. That’s not what’s important. What’s important is.”

His eyes, cold and sharp enough to freeze,

Stared intently into the dark robe.

“Who it is that is going around borrowing money like that.”

The construction head, though temporary, had changed abruptly.

Moreover, even those fussy General Managers had appointed her with unanimous consent.

Such a person.

Is suddenly increasing the construction budget three to four times and going around borrowing money.

Who could that be?

Attention would be drawn, and from the Treasury's perspective, that attention must not get close to the truth.

Because.

“I am the illegitimate daughter of Wisdom.”

The thick hood of the robe was thrown back.

“Because I am Josephine Blue Wisdom.”

“Hah.”

The General Manager let out a short laugh.

His fierce eyes had softened, and the corners of his mouth went up.

“If I, if we, refuse the loan, a Wisdom will go around revealing her identity to the collateral branches. And that rumor will reach Wisdom and cause problems.”

The General Manager lightly clasped his hands on his lap.

“Did I understand that correctly?”

“In addition to that.”

Josephine’s thin index finger straightened.

“The elders of Millesdusk will not be pleased to see a collateral branch tarnish the great achievement of a normalized Eclipse.”

“The responsibility for that will fall on me. Those old geezers. Tsk.”

“The collateral branches will also get to see the new-generation technology of magitech before the direct line. Do you want that?”

“Heh. Of course not.”

The number of spoons increases.

Then, even at a banquet, there would be nothing left to eat.

In that case, it's better to reduce the number of spoons to one and add ingredients to ensure it cannot fail.

The decision was made.

“Magitech Domain Eclipse. Tell me more about it.”

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