Ch.120War’s Wind (1)

A Deep Forest Shrouded in Green Darkness.

A scene different from the past unfolded before Durin’s eyes. A rock bearing the traces of time. A small wooden box placed upon it. Though it seemed abandoned, the aura of death surrounding it drew Durin in.

The second sacred relic preserved by the World Tree.

By obtaining the power of a god, they could drive the angels out of the Eastern Continent and establish balance with the Central region. When one considered it, the lengthy war that Heaven waged against the Demon Realm had been a situation where they couldn’t afford to expend their full strength.

Just as the Demon Realm had fractured, the angels who monopolized Heaven had also split apart—something confirmed during the war.

Of course, the power gap was so great that demons couldn’t truly perceive it.

The angels’ arrogance, the desperate struggle of the previous generation of demons, and the internal divisions within each race.

These perfectly aligned events made one realize once more that this was truly an era ordained by fate. The stage was set. The god did not desire an era sinking into stability. Durin addressed fate and the Creator God who might be watching from somewhere.

“Someday, I will return to the heavens.”

This was the goal half-forgotten by demons living in the present, and the fervent wish desperately hoped for by ancestors who had fought in the past.

Only the fighting spirit remained, continuing until now, so it was time for Durin, who had confirmed the past, to reignite that aspiration. Durin, the Regent of the Demon Realm and successor to the ancestors, stretched out his hand.

“The child who had to be cut down. The successor.”

It was the same as when obtaining the first sacred relic. The aura of death surged out at once, pouncing on Durin. A sticky death energy burrowed into the demon’s body. It resonated with the wrist sleeping within.

-You have carried this duty for a long time.

A voice whispered in his ear. A delicate sadness washed over Durin. It felt as if someone had brushed past him.

-Is it not heavy?

“It is lighter than the pain you endured.”

-Power arranged for the successor. You can endure it anytime.

A gentle voice enveloped Durin.

-Tantalos. The last fragment left by that child. I speak to the successor raised by the last star that will return to Heaven.

“Speak, please.”

-If the twisted wrist symbolized authority, the severed ankle symbolizes devotion. Do you willingly wish to live in contact with this harsh land?

The goddess asked. The Regent of the Demon Realm answered without hesitation.

“I have already dedicated my all to the Demon Realm.”

-A demon’s instinct is the desire for strength. Devotion and sacrifice stand at the opposite end.

“That strength does not end with physical training. Glory. The desire for a brilliant future also moves demons.”

The exiled beings who always repeated the same words before war. It wasn’t simply a desire for victory. It was the last bastion remaining for those who had been driven out.

“That meaningless deaths would not continue. A form created from the hope that their battles would be remembered by future generations.”

-Perhaps a hope that would not have been desired had we continued to dwell in heaven.

“That is our glory.”

Red fighting spirit flowed from Durin’s outstretched hand. A fragment of power that a demon named Tantalos had scattered long ago. It finally reconnected with the goddess in the human realm. Black death accepted him.

New power was inscribed on the worn gauntlet.

-Dedicate your remaining life. If you do so, I will give you infinite glory.

“I abandoned my glory long ago. I only strive for the future generations yet to be born.”

-How pitiful.

In that moment, a form took shape. In the darkest, deepest forest in the world. Death revealed itself at its center. A white form appeared within the black energy. It was a woman’s naked body. Though faint, Durin could make out her expression.

-Durin. Successor of Tantalos and my child who will lead the future.

Her touch trembled. Looking at the child she could not embrace, the goddess endured her sorrow.

-Please, find strength for those who have perished.

“As the goddess wishes.”

-I’m sorry. That such a request is the best I can do.

Her physical form scattered. The hand reaching toward Durin returned to the severed ankle. Only fragments stained by the traces of time remained quietly in place. The Regent of the Demon Realm was not swayed by emotion. He strode purposefully toward the vanished god of demons.

“Someday, back to our homeland.”

The aura of death enveloped him. The goddess’s blessing accompanied him.

If the wrist controlled death, the ankle allowed one to bear death’s weight. When the Regent of the Demon Realm, who had only been accompanied by abstract power until now, spread his gauntlet, red fighting spirit and black death rose together. It was like a form of blue flame. At last, he was reborn as a being who could wield power close to the god of death.

“The time has come.”

The long period of hardship was over. Even now, countless demons were sacrificing themselves for Durin on the southern front, and in the east, the Dark Order’s knights were rampaging. There was no need to remain in the space the World Tree had prepared as an ideal.

“Open the way, World Tree.”

The world brightened. It wasn’t warm. The sunlight was still blocked by dark clouds. It would be illuminating the angels who had descended somewhere in the Central region.

From past to present. Heaven had always been that way. They paid no attention to lands that didn’t believe in them. Perhaps if beings called heroes hadn’t existed, the world they cared for would have been limited to the Papal Territory.

“I must see what comes next.”

“Only one sacred relic remains. It would be the goddess’s head buried beneath the Papal Territory.”

The World Tree had waited silently while he received the sacred relic’s selection. The green woman was smiling.

“Go. The path you must take lies there.”

“Didn’t you want to hold me back?”

“Though Tantalos’s scent remains on you, you are not Tantalos. As you said, you are merely the successor.”

At the same time, bitterness seeped through.

“I couldn’t properly convey my thanks for protecting me, or my apology back then.”

“During all those long years?”

“Simply because I liked it. I didn’t want to bring up what happened then because I liked it.”

Step by step. She approached, treading on the grass. Looking up at the tall Durin, she spoke almost in a whisper.

“But I realize once more. That one should convey all feelings when together.”

“……”

“So only now do I call out. Tantalos. I was truly glad you were here. Thank you for being with me. I’m sorry I couldn’t look after you when you left. All I could do was arrange for you to face the sacred relics again someday when you returned.”

There were no tears. The sadness did not deepen further. The sacred relic and the World Tree were depicting emotions that were the same yet different. All were directed toward Durin. They could not reach the Regent who cared only for the Demon Realm, but they emptied themselves with body and soul.

“Have I… held you too long?”

The World Tree distanced herself. With her head bowed low, she adjusted so that her remaining emotions would no longer be directed at him.

“Go. Follow your will. Fate will guide you.”

Saaaaa-

The wind blew. The forest path began to open. Beyond that pleasant coolness, a battlefield was probably waiting. The harshness of reality that could not be felt in an ideal world.

“Let’s meet again later.”

Durin summoned a demonic warhorse. Ominous demonic energy pushed away the life force. The aura of death began to engulf the surroundings.

“Again?”

But it did not tear through the forest. Death did not take companions. Rather, it shone to allow the life force to shine even more powerfully. Vitality blooming in suffocating fear.

“Did you say ‘again’?”

“Do you dislike it?”

“How could I? I just wonder.”

The World Tree approached, pushing back death.

“You have no reason to come back here.”

“I don’t. But…”

Durin met the World Tree’s wavering eyes.

“Tantalos would have returned. He quite liked this place.”

“Ah, aah…”

“When I was a lower demon. He clearly said so. That he would return someday.”

Tears that hadn’t fallen now dropped. The World Tree trembled on the spot before finally covering her face with her hands.

“He too was one who couldn’t express his feelings. That’s why he lived that way in the Demon Realm.”

Durin let out a chuckle. It was a pure emotion that couldn’t be seen until now. One who reflected on his past savored the pleasure flowing from memories.

“I am Durin, Regent of the Demon Realm, but I am also Tantalos’s successor. Someday I will bring you to my master’s side. You may not see his face in life, but you could at least see his gravestone.”

Seeing the conclusion of unfinished business. It was one of the duties Durin had taken on. A reward for an old soldier worn out from countless battles. A way to pay proper respect to the one who had entrusted the Demon Realm to him.

“I wonder what expression you’ll make when that day comes.”

Durin spurred his horse and galloped down the path the World Tree had opened. He disappeared with the sound of hoofbeats.

The space where past and present had intersected became isolated from the world once more. It became a forest solely for the World Tree. A place of waiting prepared for Tantalos who would someday return. But now there was no longing.

“The day we meet again…”

The World Tree closed her eyes and joyfully awaited the day when happiness would come.

#

“The Holy Knights are being reinforced endlessly at the border.”

“The Dark Order’s support troops are no longer enough.”

“If necessary, we must step forward ourselves. How else can we stop them?”

The Elven Forest. Arminkerkishi.

Asha, the leader of the pointy-ears, was racking his brain. With the plan for collusion completely twisted, resistance was the only path, and the war situation was flowing in an increasingly negative direction.

It had been favorable at first. The demon army composed of large monsters and the knights dispatched from the Order easily pushed back the ragtag forces, so victory reports continued endlessly. Since they were blocking human forces without spilling elven blood, some tribal chiefs even suggested withdrawing from the front lines.

‘Aren’t we rather a hindrance?’

‘Let’s focus on releasing supplies obtained through trade with humans. We should spare the blood of our young people.’

Whenever this happened, Asha would inwardly curse. While pretending to worry about the young future, they were essentially concerned with maintaining their own interests. They were willing to accept subjugation to avoid war. These were the same people who had passionately expressed their opinions to Asha when demons first invaded the forest, suggesting collusion with the Holy Army.

Now they were talking about bowing their heads to demons, which could only make him laugh bitterly.

“If we approach with a submissive attitude, they will surely make us slaves.”

“Would the Demon Regent really do that? He is a great one who honors the sacred relic sleeping in the World Tree forest.”

“Great? To them perhaps, but to us as well? To receive good treatment, one must pay a price. The moment demons waged war against Heaven, it was the fate of elves to shed blood.”

To stand against fire, one had to light an equal fire. The end of life compromising adequately with humans under the forest’s protection was approaching. Asha had already made his decision.

“Gather the border guards and all who volunteer as warriors.”

“Great Chief! There will be strong opposition! Our forest is still…”

“Can’t you see the situation in the east? We’re barely holding them back! The moment they collapse, it’s destruction! The forest’s destruction!”

Bang!

Asha struck the table. In the memory of the long-lived Great Chief were recorded numerous massacres perpetrated by the Papal Territory. Merciless blades had erased dozens of minority races. Though they were all children of the same Creator God, death was the only outcome for those who did not follow their god.

“Remember the past. They are those who have been sharpening their swords to kill us since ancient times.”

“It was written in the ancient texts too. When I searched the ancient records by the Regent’s order, I saw countless deaths.”

“This is the future that will come to us the moment we find stability in an era of war. As Great Chief, I absolutely cannot stand by.”

Right on cue, a guard warrior approached. In his hand was a precious sword. It was a relic left by the first warrior who fought for the forest’s sovereignty when the great war to kill the escaped demons ended and the angels’ conquest began.

“I will lead the way first. I will defeat the Holy Knights who have rushed to the border and set an example for the elves.”

“It’s too dangerous!”

“How could I pass such dangerous work to my people? I will overcome this trial together with warriors who will fight alongside me. All our ancestors recorded in the ancient texts did so, and I will follow that path as well.”

Shing!

The white blade surface revealed itself to the world. The sharp sound of metal awakened a race steeped in peace.

War. Having faced the fate they so wanted to avoid, all they could do was meet it with courage.

As ruler and child of the World Tree, Asha declared:

“Prepare for war. Elves will take up swords to survive.”

“G-Great Chief!”

The weak ones gasped. They were afraid because they could see so clearly the path to destruction.

Asha too could not hide the fear seeping from deep in his heart, but he stood up proudly. The desperation that elves could not end in his generation infused strength into the hand holding the sword.

Above all, he was not alone. Even now, countless warriors were fighting outside. They were all demon troops, but at least they didn’t destroy the forest. Rather, they fought in the war with the conviction to protect their land as rulers.

It was ironic.

The Holy Army that should protect the human realm was the invader, and demons were the guardians.

“Elves will no longer maintain neutrality. For the sake of our Mother faith, we will defeat those who seek to reject us.”

The Great Chief looked back. He did not give a glance to the weak leaders of other small tribes.

“Gather the warriors. I will go forth with those who will follow me.”

Fate did not miss this moment.

“It’s the Regent! The Regent has opened the forest path!”

A demon’s cry reached the elves. Asha looked at his guard warriors. They shared their firm resolve through their eyes. Each grabbed their weapons and stepped outside the safety house.

The forest wind blew. A cool energy was with them. It helped them compose themselves before facing the explosive heat. Whether it was the blessing of the World Tree or the mockery sent by the hidden Heaven was unknown, but nothing could stop the momentum of the elves heading to the battlefield.

“Advance! Elven warriors.”

With Asha’s cry, the forest began to shake.

Unlike the elves in ancient texts who merely sought help from others and relied on the World Tree,

They grabbed their weapons themselves and charged.