episode_0163

How long has it been?

It feels like I covered a distance that would have taken several days by carriage to reach in almost a week.

‘Well.. I just ran all day.’

＇Are you planning to arrive tomorrow?＇

We have just crossed {Romak Village}, which is halfway between {Royal Academy} and {Dirlin Village}.

Sigh.

I give a signal to Belze who is following me with a small hand gesture.

Taaa…

Belze already seemed quite daunting, so we decided to spend the night here today.

Gurgling.. Gurgling..

Stinging..

As the sun sets, I take a moment to listen to the cries of insects that fill the forest.

The fact that the bugs were crying so much was a sign that there were no monsters nearby, so it was a more restful night.

Rattling..

We light a bonfire using the firewood we collected and prepare for camping.

＂I caught it..＂

dump..

As always, it was Belje who caught all kinds of food without saying anything anymore.

＇What kind of monster is it?＇

＇There is only lean meat, so no information is visible..＇

‘Birds?’

＂Thank you..＂

Belze was quite used to eating food now.

“Now.. here.”

As soon as the meat I cooked is handed to you, you start eating it slowly, one bite at a time.

On the one hand, it felt sad to see him trying to eat while looking at me while making a painful expression on the inside.

I knew she wouldn’t be able to move forward if I didn’t try something like this, so I continued eating in silence.

Even if it’s cruel… it has to be done.

＇Chicken taste.?＇

Through the journey we have been on together so far, we have become vaguely aware of the signs of Belze’s runaway symptoms.

It was another magic stone, the monster’s magic stone, that existed in Belze’s body and was not able to accept the black-brown magic power.

I guess that the {Piece of Gluttony} stored in the [Subspace Ring] is probably an important medium that plays that role.

The symptom that appeared in order to accept {Piece of Gluttony} was Belje’s binge drinking.

Rattling..

“Belje, eat this too.”

The good news is…

The symptoms are somewhat alleviated by consuming the magical power of others.

The wolf beastmen are a race that has learned how to become stronger by consuming the magic stones of monsters, so they seemed to have no qualms about eating magic stones.

After being handed the bag containing the magic stones, Belze began to eat them one by one with a somewhat sullen expression on his face.

Ahh… ahh…

The sound of the hard magic stone being broken into small pieces like cookies… sounds more bloody.

On the other hand, Belze felt like there was something empty in his heart.

Of course, I know that Dahyin’s actions so far are for her own benefit, but…

When I took a step closer… he tended to gradually move away, as if he was ignoring it.

I wondered if he would look at me again if I showed him that I had improved like this, but the further away I got, the further away I got. There was no sign of it narrowing down.

Damn it!! fault..

A bonfire burning brightly.

Belze’s expression was cowering like a wet puppy.

Even though I know that I’m deliberately keeping my distance from Belze, my heart aches more and more every time I see that expression.

It’s not that I’m avoiding Belze because I hate her or feel rejected.

only..

It’s been quite a while since I broke up with her, and we’ve reunited for the first time in a long time.

We have grown in many ways.

When Belze lost his temper and attacked me…

At some point, I felt confused as she, who I felt was only a friend, was recognized as a woman.

More voluptuous? chest.

Belze’s bare skin is more clearly visible than the area of clothing he is wearing.

This was because I was concerned about her actions that approached without hesitation.

In this situation…

Even though I knew I shouldn’t think like this, once I recognized it, I couldn’t let go of it easily.

become aware of it unconsciously.

That may be why he was trying to exclude her approach.

Because I hated myself for feeling this way, even at this very moment.

On the other hand..

Belze, unaware of Dahin’s feelings, mistakenly thought that Dahuin was trying to stay away from him because she hated him.

Little by little, those feelings began to build up and form a lump in Belze’s heart.

Belze, who was staring at Da-hein’s absent-minded thought, gently reaches out his hand to swat the bug that climbed onto his shoulder.

Sigh..

Taaa…

I pushed away Belze’s suddenly approaching hand without realizing it.

Belze’s eyes as he looked at me began to twinkle to the point where I felt sorry.

＂Well, let’s take a break..＂

Belze becomes more solemn…

I feel so heartbroken.

I even feel like it’s painful.

He almost burst into tears, saying that he now hates himself so much that even touching him gives him goosebumps…

Belze did not have the shame to do such a thing, so he just kept this bitter feeling in his heart even today.

＇It hurts.. Dahyun.＇

＇Please look at me…＇

midnight..

Belje quietly sheds tears as he looks at Da-hein, who has already fallen asleep.

***

‘I never thought I’d come here again..’

The place where Ver, {a sculpture of sloth}, was reborn…

After a long journey, I was able to arrive at the {Banesheer} family mansion.

Due to the loss of {Extria}, the {Banesheer} family has now been demoted to an ordinary noble family rather than a ducal family, but since this mansion is their property, it seems to have been left as it was back then.

Tread.. plod..

A somber feeling that doesn’t even feel like you’re popular passes over your skin.

The reason I didn’t go to the {Royal Academy} right away was because I heard that one of the only two {Extria} in {Alysseum Kingdom} was located somewhere in the {Banesheer} family mansion.

As if a war broke out because of a single fruit of {Extria} in {Fornon Castle}.

If my guess was correct… I was sure there would still be clues left here somewhere.

＇If you used {Extria} in {Fornon Castle} to awaken {Piece of Greed}…＇

＇He must have used the {Banesheer} family to awaken {Piece of Sloth}.’

‘I hope the evidence still remains..’

I look at Belze who was quietly following me.

＂Belze… Do you still remember his magic power?＂

A mysterious being that exuded black-purple magical power.

Even though it is a painful memory, I ask for her help because I definitely need it.

Nod…

Velze nodded quietly and began to smell the inside of the {Banesheer} mansion.

All that’s left around is…

Footprints that look like someone has already walked through them.

It seemed like an official from {Alysseum Kingdom} had confirmed the disappearance of {Extria}.

Sniff…

For a moment, Belze’s eyes changed sharply and he soon began to take on a very wary look.

In response to Belze’s sharp actions, I also wear titanium slime on both arms and legs, fully armed, and ready for battle.

＇In {monomous senses}… I didn’t feel any magic power.’

＂Belze…what’s going on?＂

The voice began to spread throughout the mansion as if it were an echo.

＂It smells.. me.＂

Belze may have used {magic circulation} to strengthen the muscles of his entire body, but he moved forward looking quite menacing.

I smell the surroundings and follow Belze, who is very wary.

Of course, I knew that this was a situation where I couldn’t let down my guard, so I activated {Shield}, {Magic Circulation}, and {Sixth Sense} to make myself as sensitive as possible.

After walking for a while, the stairs leading down to the basement were revealed.

As you go deeper into the place, you will see a large door.

‘Footprints are gathered this way..’

It looked quite cluttered, with traces of many people entering.

Good profit..

I opened the door without hesitation.

The door opens with a loud noise as if it might fall off at any moment… and the moment I look inside.

I came across the rotted remains of {Extria}.

‘Is this… {Extria} in full bloom?’

Literally “annihilation”.

For a moment, I was surprised at the sight of {Extria}, who died so horribly that it could never return and the words irreversible were appropriate… I started looking here and there to find traces of it.

‘There’s definitely something left.’

After looking around for a while, Belze seemed to have caught something and made me head there.

What she found was none other than a huge bronze vessel containing something.

The awful stench is strangely familiar.

Dark and sticky.

This sticky, yet ominous, black-purple slime that I’m sure I’ve touched somewhere before.

‘no way..?’

Then a memory suddenly came to mind.

This was a vessel containing the traces of the demons who were called the tragedy of the past… {Winter Festival}.

＇Obviously… they said all the {demon}’s magic stones have disappeared.’

Just in case, I take out the Magic Stone I had from the [Subspace Ring].

The black-purple magic stone contained in the bottle continues to emit sticky mucus, giving it an unpleasant texture.

＇As expected.. it’s the same slime.＇

In other words, bitter..

It could be assumed that the mysterious demon attack that occurred during the {Winter Festival} was aimed at civilizing the {Extria} of the {Banesheer} family.

Like {Exstria} in {Fornon Castle} that Martina controlled.

Since there was already such evidence, it was no different from certainty.

＇Using the thousands of people who gathered during the {Winter Festival} to create {Mine}… ＇

＇The one who killed so many people in order to supply {Extria} with a huge amount of magical power… Berin, Berrin’s mother?’

At that moment, I remembered the fruit of {Extria} that Berlin showed me when he woke up {Piece of Sloth}.

After discovering the unbelievable truth, I began to fall into deep thought for a moment.

‘that day..’

＇The host who encouraged me to win the entry ticket… definitely thought I would wear the [Subspace Ring]…’

I could tell that my existence had already been exposed to that mysterious being for quite some time.

＇Then.. since when?＇

I couldn’t tell the starting point of when I was exposed to that mysterious being.

＇What if you approached me knowing that my magical power amplifies the power of {pieces}?