episode_0001

There are quite a few species in the world that live apart from humans.

Some races do not even make their existence known, so humans often do not know about them.

The Atran people were one of those races.

‘Atran people’

They are famous for their excellent healing ability based on their enormous vitality.

The enormous vitality soon led to longevity, and the Atran people lived long enough to die after several centuries.

However, that only applies when you die a natural death.

The uninvited guest who came today was strong enough to control the fate of their species.

The center of the forest village where the Atran people live.

The ominous black wings gave off an ominous glow.

The man flying in the air looked down at the Atran people on the ground.

“Hey, that’s the Larun tribe!”

The Atran elder shouted.

The Larun people, like the Atran people, were a race unknown to humans.

However, it was also a race so strong that it was surprising that it was unknown.

When comparing pure combat power, no other race in the world can match it.

So, this rumor circulated among those who knew the identity of the Larun people.

‘They are a living disaster.’

Disaster has come to the Atran village.

“Who is the highest person here?”

Lepurn, a warrior of the Larun tribe, asked as he slowly came down to the ground.

The elder, who was trembling with fear, struggled to move forward.

“It’s me. Warrior of the Larun tribe… .”

“There is something I want from you.”

When the elder heard those words, his heart sank.

“What do you want?”

“Send me one of your Atran people.”

“Huh, how… … !”

The elder could not contain his astonishment.

I don’t know why I need my people, but

The person being offered was practically a sacrifice.

‘A sacrifice in exchange for not destroying our village… .’

gulp-

Lepuren looked at the nervous elder and opened his mouth with an indifferent expression.

“If you hand over one of your races, I will recharge you with a Belian Crystal.”

“How can you do that?”

How does the author know about the existence of the Belian Crystal?

The elder looked at him with blank eyes, as if he were an idiot.

“Would you accept it?”

“Now, just give me a moment… Could you give it to me?”

Lepurn nodded, and the elder, who had received a reprieve, struggled alone among his anxious compatriots.

‘How does the author know of the existence of the Belian Crystal…? .’

Belian Edit.

It had such a deep history that it would not be an exaggeration to say that it was part of the history of the Atran people.

It was a kind of barrier and sacred object that made the forest village where they lived invisible to outsiders.

It was all thanks to the Belian Crystal that he was able to enjoy a long and peaceful life until now.

‘But, the author knew that… .’

The elder glanced at Lepuren and their eyes met.

I was startled and sighed softly.

‘Whoa…’ You know that the Velian Crystal is reaching its full capacity. ‘How on earth?’

Belian crystals have been around for a long time, but they are not permanent.

The mysterious energy within it is what makes the Belian Crystal spin.

however… .

‘The mysterious energy is already running out. If we keep going like this… The village’s barrier will be broken in my hands.’

If that happens, people who didn’t know about their existence will invade.

This was inevitable.

‘Because we have no power.’

The Atran people have excellent healing abilities and the privilege of longevity… .

There was just one flaw.

A huge flaw is the lack of combat power.

‘Even if insignificant humans invade, we have no choice but to suffer in vain.’

That’s how I was born… .

Until now, I have survived thanks to the barrier of the Belian Crystal… .

When it ended, it was a fate that could not guarantee the future.

“Elder, what does this all mean?”

“Elder! Are you saying we have to send one of our family members? That can never happen!”

“Keuung… .”

The elder was depressed.

‘First of all, it is unlikely that the author’s words are false.’

I daresay, that Larun warrior came to negotiate, not to rob.

And that too peacefully.

‘If the author shows his sincerity even once, we could be on the verge of extinction. There would be no need to lie… .’

In any case, when viewed objectively, the conditions presented by the Larun warrior were attractive.

‘There’s no room to charge the crystal, or even just one more charge… ‘Because I can buy more time.’

The increased time will delay the predicted misfortune.

Wouldn’t it be a perfect scenario if we could find a way to recharge the crystals inside it?

“Elder! This really doesn’t make sense… ”

“Everyone be quiet. The author’s suggestion is not that bad.”

“Elder!”

The Atran people rebelled against his words.

However, the elder also had a clear cause… .

“Doesn’t everyone know that the Belian Crystal that protects this place is doing its best!”

“… … .”

This was something they had been concerned about for a long time, so they could not refute this.

“You only need to send one person. It must be a noble sacrifice for the greater good.”

“… Who is going to take that one person? No one would want to die. Elder.”

“I guess so… . However, what if it is already obvious that one will die?”

“No way… !”

When those who remembered who it was looked at the elder, he nodded and said the name.

“Camiel. If it’s that kid, it’ll be okay.”

“Camiel. You don’t have to do this?”

“Hyung… … .”

An orchard where fruit picking is in full swing.

A man older than Camiel snatched his basket.

“Please return it.”

“Hands down. Because I will take it. Are you telling me not to do something like this unconditionally? And your father too… That’s too much.”

He shook his head and said:

“Anyway, if you ask me to do something like this in the future, leave it to me or someone else. that… Are you feeling okay?”

“… … Yes.”

Kamiel smiles slightly.

However, the man did not believe him.

It was a lie too obvious to believe.

‘Camiel. Poor guy… .’

The man looked at Camiel pitifully.

Clear, sky-blue eyes appeared through blinking eyelids.

Her white hair down to her waist was tied with a string.

His pale skin was a testament to his health.

“Brother, why are you like that?”

“Well, it’s nothing.”

The man gave an awkward laugh.

Kamiel was a famous person in the village.

Of course, in a bad way.

When Kamiel was young, he fell ill with a disease that was rare even among the Atran tribe.

The name of the disease is ‘rotten tree’.

Trees symbolized vitality.

However, the sound of something being rotten means that it is directly related to imminent death.

The disease called rotten wood gave the long-lived Atran people a short life.

‘maybe… ‘It’s because of lack of vitality, right?’

The life force of the Atran people is largely divided into two types.

Innate vitality, acquired vitality.

First, the latter is the vitality used for treatment, and no matter how much you use, it refills over time.

So, it was the former that was related to lifespan.

Innate vitality literally means the vitality that one is born with.

The capacity is far superior to that of acquired vitality, but the downside is that recovery is impossible.

In other words, the more your innate vitality is consumed, the shorter your lifespan becomes.

‘It is said that all people suffering from rotten wood disease die young due to a lack of innate vitality… .’

Only you knew when you would die.

In any case, because of this, the village people were considerate of Camiel, knowingly or unknowingly.

‘Because he’s a poor child… .’

Like now, Camiel was always excluded from doing the clan duties his father had asked him to do, or from difficult work in any case.

Because it would be difficult if you asked someone to do something pointless and then ended up dying.

“… I lost my job.”

Camiel, who was left alone, muttered.

It was something his father told him to do… .

My brother, who knew it a little while ago, came and intercepted it.

Of course, I know it was done out of good intentions, but… … .

‘I can do this too.’

I’ve felt this for a long time, but the village people tend to be overprotective of themselves.

When everyone is busy and you don’t want to be alone and do something,

Someone always showed up, stole the work, told me to leave this to someone else, and left.

‘Is it because I’m a rotten tree?’

Kamiel also knows his situation well. I know, but… .

I think it’s unfair to not let him do anything when he’s not going to die right away.

Kamiel’s shoulders slumped as a feeling of helplessness enveloped his entire body.

“… If this happens, there’s nothing you can do. I have to go home, ha… .”

Kamiel stopped speaking and raised his head.

Fruits growing on straight tree branches.

This fruit called ‘Aranz’ is the staple food of the Atran people.

The problem is that you need a special tool to do this.

All the tools were in the basket that had been stolen a moment ago.

“As expected… Okay, I’m not arguing.”

No matter how hard I try to hold it with my hand, the fruit shows no sign of falling.

‘I can’t believe I can’t even get dinner… .’

My father handed me a basket and told me to pick up some food for dinner.

However, my brother took it away, so I had no choice but to return home empty-handed… … . really… .

‘My brother probably brought it by now.’

He would have picked all the fruit and delivered it to Camiel’s house.

Because it’s been like that all this time.

Kamiel entered the house with a distraught expression for some reason.

“Camiel.”

“Father… … .”

His father was standing holding a basket full of arantz.

The silence in the house tightens Camiel’s breathing.

Chin, Katan threw the basket in front of his son. And then he asks.

“What is this?”

“… … Sorry.”

“I definitely told you to pick this up. But why did this basket come before you?”

“… … .”

Kamiel’s eyes were sunken and his gaze was directed to the floor.

‘No matter what I say, they’ll say it’s my fault.’

I was used to this kind of scolding by now.

The excuse was that no matter how much he tried to do, it was no use, so someone else did the work for him.

I didn’t say it because I knew it was useless.

“What do you want to be when you grow up? Oh!”

“… … .”

“I don’t know what to do with my duties, so I just throw them away and just sit around leisurely. What on earth can you do? Say it once.”

“Sorry… … .”

sorry. I won’t do that again… etc.

This was the only answer Kamiel could give his father in this situation.

“Giving birth to something like this… . Tsk.”

Katan walked nervously, closed the door, and left.

Kamiel, who was frozen in the same posture as when he was scolded, repeated to himself.

‘Did you say you gave birth to something like this? .’

It’s nothing new because I’ve heard it all the time… I don’t know why my heart feels so uncomfortable.

“Brother, are you okay?”

Kamiel raised his head.

A boy with eyes and hair similar to his own, but with slightly more complexion.

The boy was looking at him worriedly.

“… huh. are you okay. Rather, Cassatt. Where is your mother?”

“You must be sleeping. Should I wake you up?”

“Okay. You should eat dinner and sleep.”

Kamiel bent down and picked up the basket.

“Oh my… .”

Looking at it, one of the Arantz was crushed as if it had been hit when it was thrown to the floor.

Kamiel took only the crushed Arantz out of the basket and held it in his hand.

‘I need to eat this.’

When he went to the dining table, his mother, Myris Cassat, was having a friendly conversation.

“Uh, bro. Come quickly.”

“Ah… Camiel. Are you okay?”

“Yes? What is it?”

“What my father shouted loudly earlier. He originally had an eccentric personality… ”

“… I’m OK. Instead, eat this.”

Kamiel showed a shallow smile and placed Arantz on his plate.

“Cassat. While chatting with the lady next door, your story came up… ”

“Mom! I told you not to talk about me?”

“Hoho, why are you doing this? What’s wrong with bragging about your children?”

“Because it’s embarrassing… .”

Cassatt bit into Aranz as if he was dissatisfied.

Kamiel continued eating quietly, just listening to their conversation.

‘Something like that happened…’ .’

“That… Camiel. Did anything special happen to you today?”

“I’m always like that.”

“Because my brother is usually quiet.”

Cassatt agreed.

For a moment, the topic of Camiel became a hot topic, but only for a short time.

Because I wasn’t interested in Kamiel’s work, which had a monotonous daily life.

Meanwhile, the sound of hinges was heard from the front door.

“Honey, are you here?”

“… … .”

Katan walks over without saying a word, glances at Camiel with sharp eyes, and sits down.

Crunch-

The three people who noticed that he was in a bad mood remained silent.

Miris looked at him and opened her mouth.

“Honey, by the way, what is going on with Kamiel’s marriage?”

“I’m looking for it too. But, who would want to live with a guy like that?”

Every word from his father pierced Kamiel’s heart.

After hearing the bitter words, I lost my appetite, so I put down the Arantz I was eating.

Whether or not you know how your son feels,

Katan continued speaking without even casting a glance in that direction.

“I’m looking for a good bride who can take a guy who wastes food without doing anything. But how many single women are there in our village?”

There was malice in the words.

I am angry because of you, so I have the malice to cut your heart open.

Kamiel felt like he was sitting on a thorn cushion.

Cassatt only watched his father and older brother’s actions, but was so discouraged that he did not try to stop them.

It was the same with Miris.

“I… I’ll just wake up now.”

Kamiel, who wanted to leave this place as quickly as possible, tried to get up… .

“Hey, sit down. Don’t you sit down?!”

“… … .”

“If your body is weak, even what you eat should be strong. But, are you going to leave it behind? Eat it all quickly!”

It was always like this.

Just a little while ago, you said you would only eat rice, but now you are forcing yourself to eat it all… .

Thoughts of irrationality kept lingering in his head, but Kamiel could not rebel against his father.

Eventually, Kamiel sat down again and ate the Arantz in a hurry, trying to finish it all.

“Tsk… They eat greedily.”

“… … .”

It feels like the Arantz I just ate stopped in the middle instead of going over to the top.