episode_0076

What I Want to Protect

“So, Revo-nim and I parted ways. I was to lead the fairies with Kelly, and Revo-nim was to save more lives. Kelly and I have been researching various things here, still searching for what we can do for the fairies.”

“Hmm… I see. It’s the first time I’ve learned history so completely, so it was fascinating to hear. But what about this Kelly person?”

“Ah, she’s sleeping right now. I do research from morning until evening, and Kelly takes over from night until dawn. We inherited the technology of another fairy group that left for a different region before being disturbed by the Alraunes, and we’re currently researching what else can be done with the inherited technology.”

“Uh… besides that… how did she become extremely long-lived…?”

“Ah, Kelly told me later that her desire to live was so strong that the World Tree recognized it and forcibly granted her extreme longevity. According to acquaintances, her desire to live was stronger than that of all other fairies…”

“…. I… I see.”

I let out a hollow laugh, roughly guessing just how strong Kelly the fairy’s desire to live must have been, for the World Tree to forcibly grant her extreme longevity. Did she struggle so desperately just to live?

“Hmm… still, Zeke-nim’s story and mine are much better.”

“Hey, you really say the darndest things….”

“Hohoho… the Saintess is right. I’m not with the one I once adored… but aren’t you, Saintess, still with the one you love?”

“Oh my. Fufufu…. You know a thing or two.”

Aria smiled and praised Akada when Akada didn’t deny her words but rather defended them. Hearing that, I felt like Akada was envious of us.

“You won’t let go of Zeke-nim no matter what, will you, Saintess?”

“Of course. Especially if someone tries to harm Zeke-nim, or if someone appears who Zeke-nim truly dislikes, I will crush them without hesitation. Even if it’s a god.”

“Oh my. Revo-nim crushed the World Tree without much effort… Do you think you can do that, Saintess?”

Hearing Akada’s words, I remembered that Aria had indeed struggled to block the World Tree’s fist, unlike Revo. When Akada compared Revo, whose power difference was vastly superior, to herself, Aria let out a small laugh and said,

“Certainly, I was weaker at that time, but even so, I couldn’t block the strong attacks of the World Tree. However, I have a way to become as strong as Revo-nim, and I will protect Zeke-nim even if I have to burn my life away. I will not let any god underestimate Zeke-nim.”

“But even a god…”

“Hohahahahaha!!!”

Aria kept saying she would even kill a god, and I was flustered. At that moment, Akada suddenly started laughing as if truly amused, and seeing Akada laugh so happily, I scratched my head and said,

“Chief-nim, why are you doing this too?”

“I’m envious. I didn’t even have that kind of courage and couldn’t approach others, barely managing to return… but you, Saintess, are full of such courage… And I already knew that the Saintess was very strong. Didn’t I tell you that I witnessed with my own eyes the scene where the Saintess killed the World Tree with a brilliant light? That’s why I asked that question, curious about how strong even the Saintess’s will was.”

“…. Getting your acknowledgment doesn’t give me any feeling.”

“That’s true. But didn’t the Saintess defeat the World Tree because Zeke-nim disliked it?”

“Hm? Ah, yes. Aria killed the World Tree because I didn’t like it destroying this world that I wanted to explore.”

“Zeke-nim loving this world, conversely, also means that the Saintess will protect this world. So, it’s reassuring. Now that Revo-nim cannot come to this world, I was worried about who could stop a great disaster if another one like the World Tree were to occur. It’s not as if I haven’t tried to find a solution myself… but as long as someone so strong and good-hearted exists in this world, I can rest assured.”

When Akada smiled and told us that we could rest assured, I was a little flustered. How did we end up becoming the protectors of this world…? We didn’t defeat the World Tree to be treated like this… Ah, right.

“Chief-nim. When we fought, the World Tree’s back had burn-like wounds. Does Revo-nim perhaps use fire abilities?”

“Oh? There were burn wounds? That’s strange… Revo-nim only removed the World Tree’s vines with brute force. He only burst the torn vines, but he didn’t use fire on its back….”

“…That means someone else was fighting the World Tree besides us… Well… since we’ve already defeated the World Tree, I guess we don’t need to worry about it, right?”

“Hrmmm… Then I’m even more relieved! To think there’s someone else who wants to protect this world! Oh, right! You don’t have anywhere to sleep, do you? The sun has set, so it’ll be dangerous to go out. How about you stay and sleep here?”

At the mention of the sun setting, I opened the window and looked outside. Indeed, the sun had already set, making the road very dark, perhaps because the conversation had dragged on. It wouldn’t be a problem since I’ve often slept in forests, but… resting for a bit might be good, right?

“Go-”

“Understood. Instead, the room must be separate from yours, and it must be a space where Zeke-nim and I can sleep together.”

“….?”

As Aria suddenly said ‘Good’ and then spoke her conditions without hesitation, Akada and I were flustered. No, I was even more flustered. I was sure Aria would immediately refuse to let me sleep in someone else’s house, so why on earth did she accept Akada’s offer…? As I stood dumbfounded, Aria smiled brightly and whispered to me.

“Fufufu… Zeke-nim. This Aria knows everything… You need ample space to transcribe your records about Karizan into your exploration journal, don’t you? Right?”

“…. Uh… now that I think about it, that’s true…”

“Fufufu… I know everything about Zeke-nim, so don’t worry~”

‘…. And that’s what makes it a little scary…?’

“Hohoho~ Then perhaps Zeke-nim’s exploration journal. Could you lend it to me? I can copy the contents separately….”

“I’ll do that. Zeke-nim’s exploration journal is precious. Even more so if it’s unfinished. So, I will do this.”

Aria snatched the exploration journal I was about to take out, then pulled paper and a pen from her backpack and said. Akada, scratching her head in embarrassment, then said to us,

“Hohoho… Understood. Then… I’ll leave it to you….”

“You just don’t like other people seeing what I’ve written, do you?”

“Fufufu~ That’s why, if Zeke-nim’s exploration journal is ever completed, I was planning to immediately give Zeke-nim a copy of its contents. You can just show that copy to others~”

…. Just how far does Aria’s jealousy go…? No, should I even call this jealousy…? I still couldn’t understand Aria’s overbearing personality. Still, she doesn’t do that to me… No, she unconsciously does do that to me, actually….

“Anyway, the guest room is to your right once you exit this room. Well, I should go back to my research now~ I have ongoing research, you see~”

“Ah, yes. Thank you. Oh, Chief-nim. We’ll be leaving in the morning, so we might not see you. If Kelly-nim takes over as chief at night…”

“That’s right. Then I should say goodbye now. It was a pleasure, Zeke-nim. And Saintess.”

“Yes. For us too.”

The moment I extended my hand to shake Akada’s, Aria reached out her hand faster than me and shook Akada’s hand. Her jealousy is truly strong… After exchanging greetings with Akada, we entered the room Akada had shown us and immediately started doing our own things. I was writing down the compiled contents in the exploration journal, and Aria was…

“Wow…..”

“Oh? It’s Zeke-nim, as expected! To finish the records faster than me!”

“…. No… I’m not done yet…”

While I was writing down records on half a page, Aria had already copied half the contents of my exploration journal. As expected, it must be because her physical abilities are extraordinary… No, even so, how could she write so fast and yet her handwriting wasn’t smudged at all…? I continued to record in the exploration journal all night, astonished by Aria’s newly discovered ability. After finishing the records and copying, we lay down on the bed. But then…

“Hey, Aria…”

“Fufufufufufu…..”

“Could you… not breathe like that and hug me so tightly…? It’s uncomfortable, you know…?”

“No can do…. It’s been such a long time since I’ve lain on the same bed with Zeke-nim… I absolutely can’t miss out on such a delightful time….!!”

“….”

I stopped trying to think about Aria’s nature, which I had forgotten. I almost lost sleep because of it, but thankfully I was able to sleep until morning. Waking up to the morning sun, I sighed, rubbing my stiff arm, probably because Aria had hugged me.

‘Haaaah…. My whole body is stiff for the first time in ages…. Is it because of the bed…? No, was a bed originally furniture that made your body so stiff, damn it….’

“Hyaaaawn…. Did you sleep well, Zeke-nim…. Fufufu… It really seems like I sleep well only when I’m in the same bed as Zeke-nim~”

“…. Thanks to you, I feel like I’m dying a little…. Alright, Aria. Let’s pack our bags. We need to go to the next place now. Only then can we conquer this Kryton region….!!”

My entire body, which had been stiff just moments ago, relaxed instantly at the thought of soon conquering the Kryton region, and I quickly began to pack my bags. Aria, too, stretched her body and began to tidy her belongings.

“Good. All packed. Let’s go, Aria.”

“Yes~”

Having packed everything, we exited through the door and walked past the empty streets out of the village. Our bodies began to return to their original size, and once they did, I unfolded the map and headed towards Kroa Spring, with Aria following behind me. About an hour after we left, the fairies of Karizan village woke up and went about their daily lives. By evening, everyone had returned home, and Akada was looking at the copy of my exploration journal that Aria had left behind.

“Hmm~ Zeke-nim, honestly… looking at this copy, I can get a sense of what you’ve experienced… Indeed… such a culture has developed outside. It’s fascinating that fairies were also involved in trade culture… Where… Oh?”

Akada began to read the copy of Zeke’s exploration journal with interest. But at that moment, she found something strange and frowned. She then pulled a map from the bookshelf, spread it on the desk, and pondered.

‘Something’s strange… Zeke-nim’s record… What is it? Something’s off… Or is it not? Just a feeling…!!!’

Akada felt a sense of unease from Zeke’s records, unable to grasp what its true nature was. At that moment, she realized something and frantically began to search through the bookshelf. When a scroll came out, she started to spread this map on the desk. Then, she picked up a pen and began to mark something on the map.

“The location of Boska… and Ogfoslia in Kartun… plus this forest…?! What… what is this?!”

Akada’s face turned pale, and she began to pull out more maps from the bookshelf, one by one. She started marking them just as before, and Akada was greatly shocked by what she saw.

“G-good heavens… Was the World Tree a victim too?! This… this pattern… Then all that history was….”

“Oh my… What I worried about has happened after all. How truly regrettable, Chief Akada.”

“….?! *Cough*….”

*Click-clack.* The moment Akada turned her head towards the sudden unfamiliar voice, something glowing pierced Akada’s abdomen. Akada, whose abdomen was pierced, spewed blood from her mouth and the hole in her stomach, then collapsed on the spot. Someone approached Akada slowly, their shoes making a clicking sound.

“Ugh…. Ugh… *Cough*…. *Gasp*……”

“If you hadn’t known too much, this bloody situation wouldn’t have happened… It’s so sad, Akada. To have to kill someone like this….”

“Haaah… Haaah… Ha… Hahaha… It’s you, isn’t it…? And what? You say killing someone is a sad thing…?”

Akada slowly clutched her pierced abdomen with her hand and crawled to the wall, then turned her body to lean against the wall, breathing heavily, as she watched the person approaching her. Then, by the light of the fire warming a cauldron, Akada confirmed that her attacker was a female fairy with long yellow hair, dressed in white priestly robes, and she let out a small laugh, saying,

“Hah… It was you after all… Or rather, ‘you all,’ shouldn’t I say…? You say killing is a sad thing…? You all… Haaah… Haaah…. How many lives have you sacrificed…?”

“Oh my… It seems you’ve noticed that much….”

“The reason the World Tree changed… the reason the nation of Boska was founded… Haaah… Haaah…. It all had hidden reasons… Kartun too, and the elves too… You were the ones who manipulated some Alraunes to monitor us… No… more precisely, you manipulated the Alraunes, not the fairies, out of fear that I, having gained extreme longevity, would notice your plans….”

“Yes. We did that to monitor you. Truly… don’t you know too much?”

“Is that so…? With just this map, even an ant would know this… Well… it’s true that there aren’t many beings in this world capable of such thoughts… But do you think your plans will fail if you kill me…? *Gasp*!!!”

As Akada continued to force a smile and tried to explain the plan, the fairy in priestly robes shot a beam of light from her palm, and the beam shot from her palm once again pierced Akada’s abdomen. Akada then spat out blood again from her mouth.

“Aren’t you talking too much? Are you begging me to kill you quickly?”

“No, well… I just wanted to say that as long as there’s a strong black priest in this world who doesn’t even fear gods, your plans will fail….”

“Hmm… I see. Anyway… Since you might have done something, we’ll have to destroy this place too.”

“Haaah…. Do you think I’d let that happen? Haaah… Haaah… Why do you think I crawled here, enduring the pain? I’m not interested in your face, you know?”

“What do you mean….?!”

“Heh… hehe….”

As Akada began to cackle, a magic circle suddenly began to engrave itself on the wall behind Akada. As the glowing blue lines perfectly formed the magic circle, and then the entire village of Karizan began to glow blue in addition to the magic circle, the fairy in priestly robes was greatly flustered.

“Wh-what is this….”

“Don’t worry, I’ll expose all your plans…”

“What?!”

“Haaah… Haaah… That stone Revo-nim gave me before he left… it was a coordinate stone, wasn’t it…? I just need to move Karizan to a place you know nothing about. The entire place, except for you.”

“…!!! Area Teleportation?!”

“Ah… my benefactor told me this… To a being with no answer… I don’t know what ‘yeot’ is, but… anyway, to give them double that… Your plans aren’t for the world, but….”

“Th-this witch!!!!!”

“It’s just your self-deception and twisted self-love….”

As Akada scoffed at her, the fairy in priestly robes became enraged and began to rush towards Akada. Then, as Akada’s scoffing ended and the entire village of Karizan, excluding herself, moved somewhere, the fairy left alone in the empty forest began to wail into the void. And Akada, realizing that Karizan had safely moved somewhere, slowly closed her eyes and thought,

‘Ah… I promised not to be lonely… But still, I’ll never see Revo-nim again… It’s a little sad… But well… I’ll probably meet him in the afterlife someday… Let’s talk then… I want to proudly tell him that I sacrificed my life and did something for my beloved kin… But… I might get scolded, right? Hehehe….’

“A-Akada!! What on earth is this…!!!!”

Kelly, greatly startled by Karizan suddenly moving somewhere, frantically flung open the door to Akada’s workshop. Kelly was flustered seeing Akada’s workshop drenched in blood, then was greatly shocked to see Akada collapsed on the floor with two holes in her abdomen.

“A-Akada?! AKADA!!!!”

Kelly rushed desperately to Akada, but feeling Akada’s skin cold, she realized that Akada had already become a cold corpse. Realizing that Akada was already dead, Kelly simply embraced Akada, shedding tears and wailing.

“AKADAAAAAA!!!!!”