episode_0047

After requesting a brief stop for rest, about an hour had passed.

The carriage had arrived at a small station.

It seemed like they were taking a break here before continuing on their journey.

“Wow, they’re still doing business even at this hour.”

Despite the fact that the sun had long set, the market at the station was quite lively.

Most of the customers stopping by here seemed to be people passing through in the early hours of the morning.

As I got off the carriage and looked around for a moment, a white rabbit’s ear followed me from behind.

It kept twitching as if searching for something.

“What are you looking for?”

“A laundry room.”

“Well, it’s because of the dirty clothes…”

“Oh, please be quiet… I’m begging you…”

Alicia pleaded with a trembling voice.

I had thought about teasing her a little more, but I felt sorry for her and couldn’t tease her any longer.

“We’ll be leaving in 3 hours anyway. There’s no time to drop off laundry.”

“Ah…”

“You can just hand wash them. Use magic to dry them.”

“I can’t use magic right now. My magic fan broke, so…”

“If it’s the fan, just buy a new one.”

“It’s not that simple. I need a fan that fits my body perfectly.”

“You’re so picky.”

Right, that was the setting.

To match her noble lady background, she had a very sensitive personality.

“So, you’re just going to keep carrying them without washing? They’ll start to smell.”

“Oh, I know. So, for now, I’ll use a temporary fan… Hmm.”

Alicia stopped in front of a general store, furrowing her brow.

Staffs, wands, and more…

There were plenty of magical tools that looked convincing, but they were all poorly performing.

Even to someone like me who was unfamiliar with magic.

Alicia, who had been to the Magic Tower, was not impressed.

“Ugh… What is this…”

“Just buy anything. You’ll use it once and throw it away anyway.”

“I can’t waste my sacred magic on such cheap items. Let’s go to the next store.”

“All the stores here are the same. Just use this one.”

“…?”

As I tossed a ring, it spun in the air and landed on Alicia’s palm.

Alicia hesitated for a moment, as if unwilling, then she tried it on her finger and her eyes widened.

“Is this a high-grade magic stone? How can such a small stone have this much magical power?”

“Interested?”

“Not really. It doesn’t seem to suit my body.”

Wipe the drool off your mouth and speak.

“But the craftsman who made this ring is named Tam.”

“I’ll introduce you…”

“Really?!”

Alicia must have realized as soon as she saw the ring.

The craftsman who made this could process any magic stone for her.

No matter how demanding and sensitive the conditions were, Tam could meet them.

He was the craftsman Alicia needed.

“Take some magic lessons. If you’re satisfied, then I’ll tell you.”

“Ah!”

Of course, it couldn’t be done with just bare hands.

“Is it tasty?”

“…”

Silence was the only response from the undecided Mijung.

Feeding her blood like this had become a routine.

I hadn’t expected to be with her for so long.

I had planned to gain some benefits, get a good companion, and then sell her off.

But somehow, after awakening and gaining a valuable ally, she had become an essential member that I couldn’t part with.

“Sniff, sniff.”

Alicia, carrying her bag, looked at us in surprise.

She still seemed unfamiliar with traveling with a vampire.

She would get used to it soon, as she would see this kind of scene often in the future.

“I thought you were a slave…”

“I am a slave.”

“For a slave, you seem quite familiar. The deep trust in you from the vampire’s eyes is evident.”

“Vampire… No.”

“Huh?”

“…Mijeong. My name.”

It seemed that being constantly referred to as a vampire didn’t sit well with Mijeong.

After Mijeong removed her mouth from my neck, she spoke with a serious tone.

Seemingly dumbfounded, Alicia couldn’t respond and froze in place.

“The more I see, the more fascinating it is. How does a vampire follow a human so well…”

“If you’re done, give me back the ring.”

“Oh, right. Here. Well done.”

As if she had forgotten, Alicia quickly stood up and took out the ring from her pocket to return it.

It seems like the laundry was done well.

I don’t have to worry about the musty smell from my luggage.

Thank goodness.

“Have you eaten?”

“No. What are you doing up so early…”

“It’s better to eat something.”

“I’ll eat when we arrive.”

“Do you know where you’re going?”

“Oh, right. Where are we going?”

Finally, Alicia looked at me directly and asked.

I thought she knew the destination when she got on the carriage.

But it turns out she just hopped on without knowing where I was going.

“Elvengard.”

“…”

The destination is Elvengard, the homeland of the elves.

Alicia’s expression gradually twisted upon hearing my answer.

It couldn’t be helped.

Elves have a strained relationship with humans.

Strictly speaking, elves have strained relationships with almost all races.

Due to their long lifespan and affinity for magic, elves tend to look down on and belittle other races.

Even their culture is quite different from other races.

While human, dwarves, and other races have cultures that feel like distant lands, elves feel like aliens.

Their food culture is also unique.

I’ve gotten used to it and find it quite edible, but for beginners, it might be hard to stomach.

“Well, you’ll get used to the food there. If you’re trying something new, the laurel leaf jelly or pine bark stew might be the most palatable…”

“I’ll go eat quickly!”

In a rush, Alicia’s face turned pale and she hurriedly ran off.

We’re about to depart soon.

She might not make it back before the carriage leaves.

I’d rather it be that way.

“I hope she doesn’t get kicked out when she goes there. I suddenly feel worried.”

The vague reasons for going to Elvengard are threefold.

First, to meet the oracle of the World Tree, Mia, and hear the prophecy.

The prophecy of the World Tree is quite abstract and may not be very helpful.

Still, if I can know even a little about the future, there’s no reason not to listen.

I’m better at knowing the future than anyone else.

Second, to train.

Elvengard’s atmosphere is filled with mana, making it an environment where magic power is replenished just by breathing.

It’s the perfect environment for training while using magic power to the fullest.

And third…

“Make way! It’s urgent! Urgent!”

Bang.

The station door opened roughly, and a man holding the reins staggered inside.

He took off his mask, leaned against the fountain, and drank water in a hurry.

With fair skin, blonde hair, and long ears.

An elf.

And judging by his attire, he’s definitely a messenger delivering official orders or news.

Moreover, he came from the direction of Elvengard.

What urgent news could a messenger have to deliver at this hour…?

I can’t think of anything other than war or disaster.

Approaching the man after leaving Mijeong, I ask, “What’s going on?”

“Ugh, who… are you?”

“I’m heading to Elvengard. Is there something happening in Elvengard?”

“······.”

He averts his gaze from me and closes his mouth.

After a moment of contemplation, he looks straight at me and speaks.

“Hmm. There’s no point in hiding it. It would be best not to go towards Elvengard.”

“Why?”

“I can’t go into details because it’s confidential, but Elvengard is currently in a state of national emergency. A massive fire has broken out, putting Elvengard at risk of complete destruction.”

This was more serious than I had imagined.

“Elvengard is on fire?!”

“Yes. We need to hurry.”

Elvengard is engulfed in flames.

A sense of foreboding already looms over me.

Because in the past 12 cycles, there has never been a single instance of a fire breaking out in Elvengard.

There are two possibilities.

Either the messenger lied to me.

Or a new variable has emerged in the 13th cycle, causing a real fire.

Most likely, it’s the latter.

“What should we do when we get there?”

“We need to assess the situation and put out the fire.”

“Excuse me?”

Ignoring the bewildered Alicia, I quickly get on the carriage with Mijung.

It took some time to convince the stubborn carriage driver who refused to go due to the news of Elvengard being on fire.

If we don’t hurry, a disaster will occur with Elven refugees flooding out.

“How do we put out the fire?”

Reluctantly getting on the carriage, Alicia asks.

It’s a valid question.

Originally, Elvengard is a forest with dense mana in the air, making it unlikely for fires to easily break out.

The fact that a fire broke out there means it’s definitely not a natural occurrence.

Moreover, the elves, known for having many archmages, failed to contain the initial blaze.

This means that whether we sprinkle water or use magic, extinguishing the fire is close to impossible.

“There’s a suspect believed to have started the fire.”

“Who is it?”

“The Archlord, Ifrit.”

As far as I know, there’s only one being capable of causing such a massive arson.

The Lord of Fire, Ifrit.

If his flames, which consume mana, have grown to the point of engulfing Elvengard, it’s understandable.

However, if asked why Ifrit would commit such an act, I have no answer.

While he’s known for his fiery temper, he’s not one to engage in such dangerous acts.

Perhaps he’s being controlled by someone else.

“Could it be Kali already…?”

There’s no shortage of suspicions.

The third reason why I’m heading to Elvengard.

That’s to prevent the corruption of the World Tree that will occur in six months.

In the past 12 cycles, the World Tree has inevitably corrupted and transformed into the Tree of Death without fail.

The corrupted World Tree sheds all its green leaves and is covered in white flower petals.

And the moment those flowers bloom.

Seeds of a plague spread in all directions, causing countless cities to perish.

The culprit is one of the Four Kings, Kali.

A former druid.

Using the abilities of a druid, she corrupted the World Tree, controlling it to turn into the Tree of Death.

“Has Kali arrived six months early?”

The power to control a deity as revered as the World Tree is formidable.

If it’s Kali, causing a single spirit to go berserk would be child’s play.

If the Archlord Ifrit is being controlled by Kali, who arrived six months early?

“There’s a way to stop it.”

Capturing Kali will end the rampage.

We must act quickly.