Ch.182182. Cleanup (1)

The conversation with the High Elf, Edelin, proceeded smoothly.

No. To be more precise, it would be better to say that only discussions that didn’t need to be drawn out continued.

The general situation of the Great Forest and what the High Elf, the Great Elder of the forest, wanted from us was nothing more than what Friel Arielt had already repeated to us several times.

The broad framework was something I was thoroughly sick of by now. It could be called a repetition of content so old-fashioned it felt tedious.

The only new information added to this conversation by Edelin was some details about the one who would become the main enemy of Sione and me.

Sione’s hair, which had been quietly listening to Edelin’s words until just now, flutters in the warm breeze.

As her heavy medium-length hair that covered her collarbones and more swayed, Sione casually fixed her hair.

Yet from the moment the conversation turned to demons, her atmosphere had grown cold and settled. She calmly questioned Edelin.

“Are you saying that half-human, half-demons are plotting in the Great Forest, and multiple ones at that?”

“That’s right. Those who have received Magia from demons are quite troublesome even for us to deal with. In the end, in the future seen through the oracle, they even managed to carry out their plans.”

“By plans… you don’t mean they’re handling that demon with the poison and death energy—”

“That’s correct.”

“Hmm…”

It seemed that in the current Great Forest, not only were there humans who unnecessarily bowed to demons and offered prayers, but horned hybrids were also causing trouble.

That half-breed who appeared at the Count’s mansion had thrown himself under the wall just to destroy a single gate.

He was quite a hot-tempered fellow. To think there were not just one or two, but many like him. I can only express how troublesome this has become.

“The half-human, half-demons are especially problematic. Our capable forest keepers are doing their best searching the forest to eliminate them, but… they’re skilled at cutting off their tails and escaping, or concealing their Magia, so we keep coming up empty-handed.”

“…”

“My lady. To track them down for certain and stop their plot, we need the power of the County.”

A power that exists solely to destroy demons.

“Before they summon that demon full of poison and death energy, we must somehow find and stop them first. Well, even if we fail to stop them… if you help us, we can at least buy time to prepare for their invasion.”

The power engraved in Sione’s bloodline from birth had an ability superior to anyone else’s in detecting demonic energy.

“The World Tree has spoken. According to the original fate, the Great Forest would rightfully meet its end this time after the elves’ fierce resistance alone. But by bringing in the Marquisate of Kallia and the County of Sianella, we could twist our fate.”

Now that she had met me.

“And among them all, Ray, and even more so, your existence, my lady, could twist fate the most significantly. So now that things have come to this—”

Sione.

Since I reformed her from a beast cub into a human, she’s been tasked with smashing demon horns satisfyingly.

“The original fate has already begun to deviate by the fact that you are standing on this land. Let’s twist it even more dramatically.”

Edelin said.

Since it’s come to this, let’s satisfyingly break not only demons but also the horns of those crude hybrids with horns and cause some interference.

* * *

When the conversation ended, Edelin said she had something else to do and left first.

Whether she had something to do with the World Tree, she left the vast garden toward the divine tree and soon disappeared from sight. Only I, Sione, and the spirits remained in the garden.

I observed Sione.

“Haah…”

My master didn’t show it, but she seemed quite tired from the conversation with the woman who was the Great Elder.

Well, the position of Great Elder here could be considered equivalent to a king of a country, and the divine power she showed while helping me summon Tania would have been impressive even to Sione, who was unfamiliar with magic.

She seemed to exchange words quite eloquently, but it must have been the result of desperately using her brain, which she hadn’t used at all while lying in the carriage.

I smiled slightly and spoke to Sione.

“Since we were told to return with Lady Pleta who should be in that building from earlier… let’s take our time looking around the rest of the garden before heading back.”

Having rested enough while sitting, I felt a bit drowsy and tired, but walking moderately shouldn’t be a problem, and seeing the garden should be fine.

When I said this, Sione, who had been sighing deeply, raised her head to look at me.

“But quite some time has passed already. Wouldn’t it be inconsiderate to make them wait longer?”

“What does it matter? We don’t know when we’ll come here again. And gardens as well-maintained as this are rare even on the continent.”

“I suppose…”

Sione nodded.

Honestly, this garden, created and maintained entirely by one Great Elder, was prettier than the royal palace garden where they must have spent quite a lot on landscaping and management. The open view provided by the wide flower beds and the beautiful color combinations unique to High Elves weren’t easily imitated.

Besides, where else could you see spirits flying around like they’re at home? This garden was quite impressive even to me, who knew nothing about plants.

The only problem was.

Grip—

Sione suddenly grabbed my hand, interlocking our fingers.

“Then let’s start from over there.”

She began leading me around as she pleased.

“Ah! Ray, look at that. That flower only grows in the southern archipelago. Hmm… I wonder if it can grow like that because it’s near the World Tree?”

“Ah, yes.”

“Oh, and that one too, that one. That grows in the northern part of the kingdom. That is… near the Marquisate of Allenar where we visited before…”

“I see.”

“Are you listening properly?”

“Aren’t you talking about rare flowers that only grow in the north?”

“Hmm hmm. That’s right, and that one—”

“…”

She started explaining about flowers as she pleased.

She had been sighing heavily earlier, but where did she get the energy to talk so intensely now?

As I was being dragged along, going with the flow.

Tania, who had been quietly following behind Sione and me while firmly holding the cotton ball, called out to me.

“Hey, Park Shinwoo.”

—Myeong!

“No, you be quiet for a bit.”

—Myaang!

“No, I’m talking with Shinwoo right now. Can’t you wait a little?”

The cotton ball wriggled and shook its head vigorously.

—Kyeong!

“Ah fine! I’ll let you go, okay!”

Whisk!

Tania threw the cotton ball into the air.

Despite the large motion, she threw it gently into the air, showing her small consideration.

—Heng.

“Even Changsik listened to me well when he became top-tier. Is it because you’re low-tier? Tsk…”

…That’s because Changsik got more annoyed by you whenever he made unpleasant sounds.

“Anyway!”

Tania crossed her arms.

As if something was not to her liking, she glared at me with her reddish-black eyes and a sulky expression.

“So, Park Shinwoo. Who’s that silver-haired one beside you?”

Park Shinwoo.

Setting aside the nostalgia I felt hearing my original name from someone else’s mouth after so long.

I raised my right hand, which Sione was gripping tightly, and said:

“My master.”

“Whaaat? Maaaster?”

“Yes. I’m the slave, and she’s the master.”

“Haah…”

Tania looked at me with a gaze full of contempt, as if she was disgusted.

She turned her head sharply to look at Sione.

“Really?”

Though the words she spoke were in Korean, she skillfully used mental communication to convey her meaning to Sione.

Later, when she adapts to this world properly, she’ll naturally use the continental common language. But since she hasn’t been in this unfamiliar world for long, even for a spirit strong in language and communication, it seems a bit difficult to immediately speak a language from another dimension.

Sione nodded at Tania’s question.

“Yes, really. I’m the master… and Ray is my slave and exclusive attendant.”

“Ugh…”

…Since Tania is a spirit who has lived in Korea almost her entire life since she was lowest-tier.

The concept of slavery and exclusive attendants must be quite unfamiliar to her. I understand that, but still…

“Park Shinwoo, you…”

There’s no need to look at me with such a frown.

“You look completely different… and someone who couldn’t even hold a girl’s hand… And now a slave? Exclusive attendant? What on earth have you been doing here?”

“Well…”

I have so much I want to say.

I thought I was going to die, but when I opened my eyes, I was locked in some strange iron cage. There were shackles on my ankles.

Looking at the flood of memories, I was apparently a slave about to be sold as a male knight in some strange world.

Not just this, but all sorts of things that have happened until now flash through my mind like a kaleidoscope.

I felt wronged and had so much I wanted to say.

I weakly told Tania:

“I’ll tell you everything slowly when we get back to the lodging.”

Slowly. I’ll explain everything from beginning to end.

“So… could you please soften your expression?”

Please, can’t you do something about that look like you’re staring at a strange person?

* * *

After somehow resolving the issue with Tania, we finished touring the garden.

We were on our way to the building where Pleta would be.

Sione, who had been carefully observing Tania with narrowed eyes, opened her mouth.

“Ray, so that spirit… is that spirit from long ago that you contracted with?”

“Yes, her name is Tania. She’s a fire spirit.”

“That spirit was originally Ray’s spirit…”

Sione, who vaguely knew what I had done before I died once.

She seemed interested in Tania, but until just now, Tania had been crossing her arms and staring intently at Sione and me, making it clear that she was not in a good mood. Because of this, Sione couldn’t easily speak to her.

“…She’s completely different from the moth. You said she’s a top-tier spirit, right?”

“She’s top-tier. But… she said she’ll drop to high-tier once we go back outside along the path.”

“Even if she drops from top-tier to high-tier, she’ll still remain in that child-like form, right?”

“That’s right.”

“Heh, much better than the moth.”

The cotton ball that had been chased by Tania and was circling in the air to avoid her.

The moment it saw my master mocking it, it puffed up its cotton and shot forward.

—Kyeong!

“Yah…!”

The cotton ball hit Sione’s nose. As it clung to her face and wouldn’t easily come off, a scuffle began between Sione and the cotton ball.

Tania, who had been chasing the cotton ball, looked alternately at Sione, the cotton ball, and me.

Unlike the contemptuous look from before, this time her eyes seemed to be shining brightly for some reason.

I asked indifferently:

“What.”

“…”

“Speak. Why are you approaching with that creepy smile?”

“…!”

Tania spread her arms wide and flew toward me.

I reached out and grabbed her head to prevent her from coming any closer.

“Why…! I just want to hug you since it’s been so long!”

“How embarrassing.”

“Do you know how much Changsik and I missed you? Even Changsik, who’s a top-tier spirit, was crying so much that we could hear it on the wind every day!”

“Yes, yes. It was my fault.”

After roughly patting Tania’s head, I gave her a piggyback ride.

She still seemed a bit unsatisfied, but she appeared willing to let it go since I at least gave her a piggyback.

As we walked quietly.

Once again, the gazes of Sione and the cotton ball converged on us.

Especially Sione’s gaze was fixed intently. She was staring steadily at Tania who was riding on my back.

“Would you like a piggyback ride too, Lady Sione?”

“Really?”

“…Would that be appropriate?”

“…”

I could carry her if I tried, but…

It’s not quite right for a grown adult to give or receive piggyback rides.

As I walked along, exchanging jokes with Sione, we soon arrived in front of a temple-like building.

Now if we return to the House of Arielt with Pleta, we can rest for the remainder of the day.

Just as I opened the door of the building to find Pleta.

The Elder of the House of Arielt, who had been waiting for us near the entrance. The moment her characteristically sleepy eyes turned toward me, or more precisely, toward the small child riding on my back, her gloomy green eyes filled with shock.

“That spirit…?”