Ch.319105. I Don’t Know This Person (3)

As befitting a world-class corporation, they meticulously sorted through each task Eliya needed to complete based on the information she provided.

…They even managed to deduce what she had deliberately concealed.

“The Basrante Mountains, is it?”

The sacred ground and headquarters of the Black Star Cult.

Even if not entirely, it was an undeniable fact that the area served as both their operational and protected territory.

“But historically, wasn’t E.P. Company at odds with Enbrave and their nation, engaged in bloody conflicts with each other?”

Eliya, who had a considerable interest in history, developed some questions after learning from them that she belonged to Enbrave.

The two were historically deep-rooted enemy groups.

Their animosity reached its peak during the Alchemy Dispute that lasted from the 19th century to the late 20th century.

The reason the Enbrave family left the Western Continent to settle in the New World was because they had suffered comprehensive defeats in conflicts with the Esdina Alchemy Association Guild, the predecessor of E.P. Company.

In essence, they had to flee to the New World like defeated soldiers.

As a result, countless bloodlines, tribes, nations, and commercial guilds involved in the conflict went bankrupt, collapsed… and some even became extinct.

The victorious Esdina Alchemy Association Guild brought down everyone except those who swore loyalty.

“…Yes. That’s how it was.”

The silver-haired elf.

Despite appearing only a few years older than her, this elf had apparently lived through ten, perhaps even a hundred times more years than she had.

“Esdina, or more precisely, Eras Esdina, was born with a fate where everything she attempted was destined to fail.”

“Everything she attempted?”

“Including everything she dreamed of and desired, I should say.”

As an empress, she wanted to have children, but each time she either miscarried or the child became a cold corpse before reaching 100 days.

Even her husband, the emperor, was confined after being branded a tyrant for trying to defend her.

“That part was his own doing. He had dealings with a demon.”

“A demon, you say?”

“…Yes.”

For hundreds of years afterward, she continued to flee, labeled as a historical criminal, villain, evil woman, and great witch.

She would infiltrate the shadows of certain nations and organizations, manipulating them from within.

Yet inevitably, every organization she joined would collapse like bubbles, disappear, or sink—too many instances to count.

Later, she herself led such organizations, but even those efforts were thwarted.

“The only thing that remained was the Esdina family, her bloodline.”

The count’s family seemed to rebound when she became empress, but ultimately collapsed along with her downfall.

However, since the head of the Esdina family at that time was a man from a branch line, they avoided complete annihilation.

Even then, during Eras’s time as Empress of the Berk Empire, they had strictly distanced themselves from her on the previous family head’s orders, so their punishment was reduced to mere confiscation of status and property.

Afterward, they maintained their lineage through commerce, operating from the shadows of history.

Eventually, in the early 18th century, they reunited with Eras Esdina.

“So she was a princess of the mid-period Berk Empire, is that right?”

“Yes.”

Eliya continued to receive various pieces of knowledge from Geornia.

And also about that being called Kariel.

“The Black Star Cult originated from a magic school called the Ensia School, or the Endor School. You know that, right?”

A few days later.

Seated in a sturdy vehicle facing Geornia, Eliya listened to her explanation.

Due to the considerable noise of the moving car, Geornia’s voice naturally rose.

“That place has changed a lot from what it was originally. In the beginning, it was a promising magic school dedicated to the pursuit of truth and spreading proper principles to the world based on that knowledge.”

But after several centuries, they had become nothing short of a fanatical group.

The influence of the 4th School Master cannot be ignored in this regard.

“He, who was also the 1st Cult Leader, completely changed the nature of that place.”

It’s said that even Eras, known as the Immortal Witch in that era, joined hands with them.

And what they opposed was the Berk Empire, which was dominated by the Enbrave family.

“But that’s all ancient history now.”

“Hmm…”

“The origin of the Explorers’ Guild you belong to also stems from one of Kariel’s disciples, as I understand it.”

“So… that wasn’t just a baseless rumor.”

“It’s explicitly written in his memoirs. The later generations just concealed it out of concern for potential problems.”

The same goes for how Peisran, a magic kingdom, came to be known as a traditional swordsmanship nation.

“Did you know that King Alteria of the Lutanian Federation was his son?”

“…Really?”

King Alteria.

Or Alteria I.

The great king known for establishing Lutania’s identity.

A ruler invariably counted among the top five when discussing Lutania’s golden age.

Always ranked first among these great figures.

He corrected the scattered identity and dignity of the people, and integrated even the minor islands to unify the Kingdom of Lutania into a federation.

…And even now, those who settled in the New World still proudly identify themselves as Lutanians.

Despite the mainland spitting curses at them.

While Alteria I was so great, the situation became somewhat dire under Alteria II.

However, even that was remedied by the emergence of rulers no less illustrious than Alteria I during the reigns of Alteria III and IV, which is why present-day Lutania is still referred to as a nation monopolizing the blessings of the sun and moon.

Later, the Great Berk Empire devoured two-thirds of the Western Continent and even stood against the central empire, being praised as the successor to the ancient Empire of Vera.

But while that empire collapsed and fragmented…

…what of Lutania?

Through several world-dominating wars and the Great War, they were always among the victorious nations, a great empire that controlled the hegemony of the world and the era.

Despite having such limited territory.

“But why isn’t this fact widely known?”

King Alteria was believed to have been conceived by his mother through a fairy’s revelation.

Naturally, even Lutanians didn’t readily believe this…

But King Alteria often spoke of receiving much help from his father, always feeling his presence and drawing inspiration from him.

This was also the reason for the establishment of the Bright Public Assembly, one of the Reformed Irenis Church factions in Lutania.

In reality, it was the fruit of political machinations and agitation to escape the excessive interference of the Irenis Church, using that as justification and pretext.

…But once established, everything made sense.

True to being a reformed church, their doctrines included content that Alteria had passed down as gospel, which contained remarkably sensible principles both in that era and the present.

“The Endraig royal family holds a formidable position as absolute monarchs. Although they have now receded into the background of history, having adopted a constitutional monarchy instead of an absolute one… their influence remains among the most powerful in the world.”

A rare bloodline born as dragon descendants who also inherited fairy blood.

“…Still, it seems they lack notable figures at present, so perhaps their current situation is fitting.”

Royals who are more like celebrities than politicians.

But one never knows.

Which of their descendants might rise to prominence again.

“……”

In this way,

Eliya was able to hear stories about Kariel and his descendants…

But her fundamental doubts remained unresolved.

A few days later,

They had reached the entrance to the Basrante Mountains.

And greeting them were several people dressed in black, old-fashioned magic robes from the Black Star Cult’s base, welcoming Eliya’s party’s vehicle.

====

Despite the complicated days in many ways,

Eliya was able to easily obtain permission to enter the mountain range.

From what she heard, the world was in such a dangerous situation, yet apparently no one in the Enbrave family in the New World could properly use their bloodline power?

Therefore, the world was now desperately searching for someone of the Enbrave bloodline.

Or if not from that bloodline, anyone who could use similar powers…

And that’s how Eliya herself was discovered.

…It still feels surreal.

“……”

She and her companions combed through the surroundings meticulously, but couldn’t find any special location.

In the end, despite climbing up and down the mountainside and peaks several times,

…nothing worthwhile turned up.

“How long will this continue…”

This had been going on for a month already.

Perhaps it was because she was getting tired and momentarily distracted.

“Huh?”

Crack!

The ground beneath her feet collapsed, and Eliya fell helplessly down a bottomless cliff.

Amidst desperate cries calling her name that passed like death throes,

—!!

She lost consciousness from the massive impact.

Without even a moment to realize what had happened.

====

“Get up, wench.”

She was struck in the side.

While she clutched her ribs and whimpered from the intense pain,

“Stop the theatrics.”

Cold sweat followed by nervous sweat streamed down at the harsh voice.

‘What, what is this?!’

What’s going on?

Fear overwhelmed bewilderment.

Her body instinctively curled up, and her shoulders stiffened beyond rigidity to the point of paralysis, making even breathing difficult.

“Stop this nonsense.”

Another kick brought pain that overcame all panic.

“Aaaagh!”

She screamed as if dying from what was merely a tap.

“Trash.”

The harsh insult made Eliya’s indignation rise, and she immediately lifted her head.

“W-who are you to s-speak so r-rudely…”

Black hair and crimson eyes.

But the black marks scattered between those crimson eyes made him look extremely sinister and dangerous.

“Who am I? Did you come here without knowing? Ha!”

He snorted with an overbearing tone and lightly folded his arms.

However, the black windbreaker he wore… inadvertently hinted at his origin.

‘Someone from the Eastern Continent, perhaps Asia?’

It’s an outfit she’d seen in movies.

But…

That unique atmosphere.

The ferocious aura that seemed to strangle rather than merely choke… was simply unbearable for Eliya.

“Even if you belong to our sect, if you speak like that, you’ll die.”

“C-can’t you at least t-tell me what’s g-going on! Ah! Aaah!”

She shouted desperately.

Otherwise, her mouth would either seal itself shut or her teeth would shatter from chattering.

As crazy as it sounds, Eliya wasn’t in her right mind at the moment.

Just having him nearby made her feel like her mind would explode.

“This is absurd.”

Such an impudent one.

Though he gritted his teeth,

He eventually told her who he was, as she had requested.

“Bright Fire Treading Heaven, World-Covering Transformation.”

The man uttered expressions that were both famous and somehow familiar.

In history, he was often referred to simply as the Heaven Trampler.

Though it wasn’t a language she knew, it was quite a famous expression.

“Heaven-Defying… Demon?”

At Eliya’s inadvertent words, his face contorted like a malevolent deity.

“You knew and still dared to utter such blasphemy?”

“N-no, no, no! I didn’t know! Not until you said it! I didn’t know anything!”

Heaven-Defying Demon Cheonjaha.

If this madman wasn’t spouting nonsense…

Eliya was now face to face with an absolute ruler of an era who had not just dominated but trampled it.

And she had no idea how she had ended up in this situation.

How on earth had things come to this?

Eliya couldn’t comprehend the situation at all.