episode_0065

by admin

A long time ago.

A time when the ether was not technology and energy, but evidence of pure faith.

The world was full of war and chaos.

An era where we live according to the rules set by the beast gods.

In a corner of the chaos, there was a cave where the beastmen lived.

Upright

Scruffy ocher-colored cat ears.

A very small and fragile beastman girl.

The world around her was always a cave shrouded in darkness.

A damp and smelly cave.

A cave filled with murals praying for a peaceful world.

‘What’s outside the cave?’

The girl stood at the entrance of the cave and spoke to the old woman, a beastman shaman. For her, who was abandoned by her parents, the old witch doctor was her only teacher and parent.

“Shaman, I can hear a sound outside the cave! What race is it? What are they talking about?”

“Child who resembles muddy ground, don’t come near.”

“Why?”

“The arrows of the fairy tribe are flying from beyond the mountains.”

“What if I lower my head like lightning?”

“The giants came with a large spear and stomped on it with their big feet.”

“What if I roll over and avoid it?”

The girl’s bold answer.

She always answered like this.

The old shaman woman laughed and said.

“Then the underground fairies living underground will jump up and strike down their greatswords.”

“What if you tickle me and run away while I’m laughing?”

“Night will come before you know it, and the vampire will be holding a scary sword.”

“What if I wait until morning when they fall asleep?”

“Humans are coming in like a cloud, holding daggers. They’ll probably sell you as a foot-wiping slave… ”

“Don’t sell them as slaves… I’m very smart, so what if I ask you to listen to me?”

“… ”

The old woman answered as smoothly as a stream. She eventually remained silent in response to the girl’s question, but then spoke with a bitter expression.

“The races are different, and the power received from the World Tree is different. So they never listen to you.”

“… Then, what if ‘we’ all go out together?”

The old woman now completely closed her eyes and spoke in despair.

“Even if they are of the same race, they have different thoughts and perspectives. So they also never listen to you. The only real story we can share is ‘fear’.”

“… ”

The beast people were very fearful and suspicious.

To them, this world was a hell full of hostility.

The only safe place in this world was inside a cave.

‘If this world were as cozy and peaceful as a cave… !’

The beast people were born with weak physical strength.

Unlike other races that could emit ether with various weapons, the only thing the beastmen could do with ether was swing a stick to emit light like a candle.

So the world of the beast people consisted only of caves. To forget about it, I pursued peace by creating an imaginary world on the cave wall.

In vain.

It’s vain.

A story no one listens to.

A story about people who don’t know the world and wish for peace in the world.

“… ”

“… Are you a child who resembles muddy ground?”

A girl who was silent for a long time.

She eventually trotted out of the cave.

The scruffy ocher-colored cat’s ears were perking up.

‘I want to get out of the cave full of illusions and fears and see the real world. The beast people… And I want to talk to more races.’

This is not a tall tale from those who have not seen the world.

A story that everyone can hear and sing about peace.

“… ”

The girl turned around and said goodbye to the old woman who was her teacher and parent.

“Then, I will find out and come back.”

“… What do you mean?”

“We… A ‘story’ that the beast people can share.”

Looking forward to tomorrow.

can be with you.

Shining like [gold]… story.

The little girl went on an adventure to find the same story as [Golden], and in the process, she met two girls who had left the safety of their village like her.

And the kind man who supported them… I met a ‘prophet’. He always showed the three girls the direction to take.

-All of this chaos is because of what’s happening around the World Tree. You guys can definitely overcome them.

An era of chaos.

Three girls gathered together to pursue each other’s dreams.

Following the guidance of the ‘Prophet’, they headed towards the World Tree.

But sometimes… The ‘Prophet’ would mutter strange things.

-… This is totally raw Peach Sisters. So, am I Zhuge Liang?

-… ? Who is it? that?

-… It’s nothing.

Hilde and I looked at the huge hole in the floor with devastated eyes.

“… ”

A boss who disappeared into a hole.

[Priest of Strife], Offnir dug the ground with his front paws, which looked like a mantis’s, dug a hole and ran away. Then, vibrating the hundreds of horns that sprouted from its body, it swam away into an underground area filled with dirt and rocks.

…

This could also have been a deception tactic.

I stayed alert and looked closely at the hole… Offnir never made a false fanfare, saying, ‘It was a lie.’

It really jumped out.

‘He really ran away. He ran away without a moment of hesitation, which actually makes me suspicious… ‘

But if you think about it, in a situation where you can’t guarantee victory, it’s okay to jump out before your escape route is blocked or you get injured… It could be said that it was a truly wise decision.

It’s because the person being hit is angry.

“… ”

This was my first time seeing a priest-level boss run away.

In the original work, is an ancient dragon race, and they are arrogant people who call the students and dwarves who attend Academy City ‘inferior races’. The sight of him turning his back and quickly running away like this was unfamiliar.

Is this also an action related to the ‘prophet’?

‘No matter how much you know the future, unless you have experienced it yourself. It must be difficult to be so blindly wary of ‘prophecy’… What on earth did you have to do with the ‘prophet’? ?’

While I was thinking that.

Hilde said, pointing to the traces.

“… Shall I chase you?”

“It won’t work… ☆”

“… I guess so.”

“Yes… ☆”

“Phew… ”

“… ”

We sighed for a while.

‘You wouldn’t know it if the hole was all the way through, but the place it passed was covered with dirt, so you couldn’t chase after it… ‘Lest you say I’m not really a priest of anger, everything I do is a shame.’

It’s even a good idea to create an alter ego to use up the guy’s powers.

Is this guy born [destined] solely to cause trouble?

“… ”

I am in a rage… No, I was thinking about a way to chase down the [Priest of Conflict]. I got caught by this guy while calling myself Zhuge Liang, so I really had to rack my brain like Zhuge Liang.

“Hmm… ☆”

sense…

It is more efficient to figure out the route rather than follow the guy.

It was difficult to follow a straight line as it moved underground, vibrating hundreds of horns, like a state-of-the-art mining machine. It was easier to figure out the path forward and follow the intention.

“… ”

I looked in the direction where Ofnir disappeared underground.

‘If it’s in that direction… The path where the kids fight for a while… No, if we go further, it is the place where Frau’s gang set up their headquarters… ‘

uh.

I think there was something there.

I gently tapped Hilde’s hand to discuss the future.

“Hey… You know─☆”

“… ”

Wow─

“… What’s going on?”

“… ?!”

A warm feeling.

Hilde held my hand as she was tapping it. And then the fingers came wiggling in like the tentacles of a giant sea monster. In an instant, her hand and mine became completely one.

‘Why are you suddenly shaking… ‘

When I came to my senses… My hands have become completely clasped.

Neither of us had completely lost the excitement of the battle, our hearts were still pounding and we were breathing heavily. So my hands were slightly sweaty and damp… It was strangely erotic.

I can feel the throbbing pulse in the hand I hold.

I become aware of the breath escaping from her nose.

You become aware of the scent your hair creates as it moves.

I am aware of the thin sound of breathing escaping between my pink lips.

Hilde.

Be conscious.

Excited─

Let’s be conscious of everything,

My heart starts pounding violently.

Like a broken machine out of control.

The feeling of being broken in every corner of my body is captured in warm blood.

The feeling that travels through my veins melts my cold mind.

Excited─

“… ”

Excited─

According to the pulse of the hand held.

It felt like it was even following my heartbeat.

I look at it with some anticipation.

“… ”

The silver-white eyes we met without fail.

Instinctively, I knew she felt the same way I did.

Excited─

It was frustrating.

Not the hand… My heart became increasingly frustrated.

Because of the heat and pain that came from somewhere…

Grief… ?

“… ?!”

what?

Just barely holding hands… ?

“… ”

uh.

what… what? This atmosphere.

What on earth is this, what atmosphere is this…

‘Now is not the time… !’

Somehow, I can leave this feeling as is… If I gave in to my emotions hastily, I felt like both I and Hilde would regret it.

‘this… You can share it with ordinary friends… It wasn’t the atmosphere… ?’

Did Hilde and I have a normal relationship in the first place?

no.

Now is not the time to think about this.

Sigh─

I quickly withdrew my hand, remembering the current situation in Academy City. Then Hilde seemed to have noticed something even after she had actually committed it, so she added hastily.

“… Because he seemed to have no energy.”

“… no. It’s okay.”

“… ”

…

The silence that suddenly came.

‘What is this awkward atmosphere… !’

Because the silence was so heavy.

I said while glancing at Hilde’s wound.

“The injured area is… Are you okay?─☆”

“… Is this something you want to say?”

“Still, I’m worried☆”

“… I was worried for a year. And I did it for another 15 days.”

“… ”

“Do you know how I feel now?”

“Yes… ☆ Sorry… ☆”

“…Then that’s it.”

Hilde says this in a slightly sulky voice. However, because I saw the corners of his mouth twitching, I could tell that he was complaining.

As much as it hurt… Because I know it hurts too.

Hilde is a little… He said with a smile.

“… Shame on you.”

“… ”

Took─

She touched my cheek with a slightly bleeding hand.

The warmth of the slightly flowing blood.

It brushes against my cheek and makes it hot.

Rumbling!

We stood in that position for a moment, looking at each other, as a thunderbolt echoed from somewhere.

“… ”

Hilde remained still, smiling. For some reason, I couldn’t even hear her heartbeat, a moment where time seemed to have stopped.

“… ”

『I feel sorry for you.』

A playful word that I never used because I always pretended to be solemn.

Hilde is somehow… He seemed excited that I was in the same position as him.

“… ”

Was it because the warmth from earlier remained at the tips of my fingers?

Suddenly I felt a little pouty… And the excited look looks new.

this.

Can you really share it with ordinary friends? Is that feeling true?

『You guys are trying to hurt my Lala—!』

‘no way… if… If that’s really the case… ?’

Rumbling!

“… !”

Also, the sound of thunder coming from somewhere gives me a sense of reality.

It seemed like showers were scheduled to fall under the cloudy sky.

‘It’s not the time to relax and think like this…’ ‘

With that question in my mind.

Before I knew it, I saw Hilde starting to move again.

‘You look somehow tired… ‘

I said the thought that occurred to me before we clasped our hands together.

“The direction that [Priest of Conflict] went─☆”

“… Yes.”

“I thought this was the direction where the idiot Frau was originally from☆”

“Stupid idiot… ?”

“Ah, the stray cat called me that, so I didn’t know it… ☆”

“… I see. They probably said that Frau was preparing a huge magic circle. It was surprising that he jumped out in the middle and challenged me to a 1:1 match.”

“… I see.”

“… ”

Silence returns again.

But this silence was a comfortable one.

‘Then I guess I’ll have to head there from now on… Judging by the fact that the bombing has already stopped, it looks like the snake tattoo guys among the noble faction have been subdued… ‘

You mentioned a stray cat during the conversation.

I wondered what Freya was going through.

I raised my head and looked toward the ‘Sage’s Room’ in the spire of the Inquiry Library.

Upright

“… ”

Hundreds of pairs of animal ears sticking out of the windows.

Hundreds of inquiry students were sticking their heads out of the windows.

‘What, since when have you been watching…? ?’

To hide my embarrassment, I shouted cheerfully at Mila.

“Sorry~☆ I lost the window… !”

“How… !”

Slap!

But Mila blushed and went inside the window.

“… ?”

“… Senior.”

That was the moment I was embarrassed.

Lothar’s voice was heard from behind.

‘I thought it was a sign of a stray cat, but it turned out to be Rota… ‘Dangerously.’

Lothar was standing there with a blush on his face and hesitation, holding the grimoire.

“That… I came out to help… It’s already over… and… uh… ”

“… ?!”

However, I had no choice but to focus on the grimoire I was holding rather than on Lotta’s words.

My eyes seemed to pop out in shock.

‘Why is it coming out now… ?’

A shabby and unsightly grimoire.

Because it was Rota’s legendary item left behind by the [Golden Witch].

‘It’s something that comes out at the very end… ?!’

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