episode_0193

As a result of the terrain destruction caused by the clash between me and the , coupled with the rapid growth of the corrupted World Tree causing terrain changes, the surrounding elf villages that were originally located there were completely destroyed. Most of the elves were experiencing unexpected homelessness.

In the midst of all this, I decided to use one of the few remaining elf villages as the meeting place for the dwarves and elves.

And I conveyed this fact to the dwarves dwelling underground through the elves’ spirit magic.

As a result, the dwarves came above ground, crossed the elven territory, and arrived here.

“Yo, Eidelf. And Dain is here too.”

“Long time no see…, but it hasn’t even been a few days, so does that even fit?”

Dain said with a hearty laugh.

Since Dain is the first dwarf I’ve met since coming to the Western Continent, I feel a lot of affection for him in many ways.

And the dwarf representative standing next to Dain, Eidelf, stroked his beard and said.

“To think you’d really do it. I had already confirmed your strength once…, but to think you’d actually subjugate the ….”

“I keep my word.”

“Haha, that’s true.”

Eidelf laughed heartily.

Then he stopped laughing and looked at me with a serious expression.

“We dwarves are a race that never forgets favors. You and your companions who saved our homeland from the are like our own kin. If there is anything you want to ask for, come and ask us anytime. We will do anything we can.”

“That’s good. Don’t go back on your word later.”

“Hahahahaha~!!”

After a brief conversation with the dwarves, I immediately started talking with the elves.

Well, the elves’ story was simple.

They apologized for being harmed by the , invading the dwarves’ territory, or attacking them, and the elves said that they would definitely repay the debt. In response, the dwarves wanted the underground resources located beneath the elven territory.

Of course, since the dwarves are greedy, I mediated in the middle whenever they tried to cross the line.

And after all the talks were finished.

“Leon. There’s something I need to tell you.”

“?”

Dain spoke to me personally.

“What’s going on?”

“We only recently heard about this news ourselves…. You know, that place where we first met.”

“Ah…, we first met in the orcs’ territory.”

“Yeah. Do you remember that I was with other comrades besides me back then?”

Of course, I remember.

Was it about four people? Or three? They were in a group, trying to see if there were any underground resources that dwarves could use in the area where the orcs had disappeared, and they said they were planning and setting up a plan to expand the underground tunnels.

“I remember, but why?”

“After meeting you, I was the only one who went with you to the underground city because you asked us to guide you there.”

“That’s right. The rest said they would finish the work.”

“After that, the elves attacked, and the other comrades were brainwashed by the , so I couldn’t afford to pay attention to them…, but they came back a few days ago.”

Is that so? But why are you telling me this?

I sent him a look to stop beating around the bush and get to the point, and he cleared his throat and said.

“While investigating the orc territory, my comrades said they met a large tiger with white fur.”

“!!”

A large tiger with white fur.

A White Tiger?

Yeah, I thought it was strange that there was no news. Was it with the dwarves?

But something felt off.

If it was with the dwarves, it would have known where I was heading, so if it were the White Tiger, it would have rushed to where I am. Even if it couldn’t come to me right away due to unavoidable circumstances, if everything was finished, it should have come here with the dwarves by now.

That would be the most natural thing to do….

There was no sign of the White Tiger among the group of dwarves.

“Tell me quickly. What happened to the White Tiger. What on earth happened?”

In other words, there is only one conclusion that can be drawn.

“…I heard they were attacked by something.”

All I knew was that the White Tiger was attacked by something.

* * *

Swish! Whoosh!!

“~!!!”

“Sorry, Levia. Endure it even if it’s uncomfortable!”

“Y, Yes~!!”

Levia, who was blushing, hugged me even tighter, perhaps because of the speed.

Because of that, Levia’s unusual chest was pressed against my face as if crushing it…, but I ran forward, repeating to myself that it couldn’t be helped.

Behind me, Baekryeon and Seolrin were running, using both beastification and bloodlust, to match my speed.

Especially Baekryeon’s face was completely stiff.

“It’s over there.”

At my words, Baekryeon put all her strength into speeding up and arrived there before me.

“Oh, Mother….”

“It seems like…, a fierce battle took place?”

It’s less than when I and the were fighting each other, but there were considerable traces of battle left here as well.

“Who on earth did this to White Tiger-nim….”

“Well…. I heard that the dwarves were caught up in the attack and fainted before they could properly confirm it.”

According to Dain, the White Tiger suddenly appeared to his comrades and immediately asked for me.

In that instant, a sudden attack came, and the dwarves fainted from the aftermath, and when they woke up, only the traces of a miserable battle remained.

“…This is.”

“? Mino?”

And Pyeongcheon Daeseong, who had been chasing me, frowned after briefly looking at the traces of the battle.

Then, she passed me and approached the traces of the battle, carefully examining them.

“…As expected.”

“Mino, did you find anything?”

“Yes. Master. Demonic energy is scattered.”

“…Demonic energy?”

What’s that?

“The power used by the monsters living in the island nation that you have to cross the sea from Jo is called ‘demonic energy’. And here…, there are traces of demonic energy and…. traces of my younger sibling.”

“!”

If it’s Pyeongcheon Daeseong’s younger sibling…. Does that mean that one of the other Great Sages is involved?

“Is it you guys again? How much do you have to do as you please to be satisfied.”

At Pyeongcheon Daeseong’s words, Seolrin, who had already been severely harmed by Bokhae Daeseong, frowned and glared at Pyeongcheon Daeseong.

And Baekryeon, who was trembling as she looked at the traces of the battle, jumped up and headed towards her after hearing Pyeongcheon Daeseong’s words.

“Uh, Mother! What about White Tiger-nim!! Is she alive!!”

“I don’t know.”

Pyeongcheon Daeseong replied coldly to Baekryeon’s question. Except for her master, Leon, she doesn’t care what happens to the rest, so her question was meaningless to Pyeongcheon Daeseong….

“Don’t you have anything to say?”

“As I said before, one of the attackers is probably a user of ‘demonic energy’. From that distant island nation that you have to cross the sea from the very end of the Eastern Continent to get here…. It’s a little awkward to think that they came all the way here just to kill one guardian beast.”

She answered Leon’s question immediately.

“In other words…. Mino, you’re saying that the White Tiger is probably alive?”

“I don’t know the purpose, but looking at the traces of the battle…. It seems like Mihura helped.”

“Mihura?”

“I think he’s called Tongpung Daeseong by humans….”

Tongpung Daeseong….

“It’s a little different from the fighting style of Mihura’s younger sibling that I know. You could say it’s restrained…. Looking at it, it’s closer to engaging in combat for suppression rather than killing…, that’s what I think.”

“Okay, thanks for letting me know.”

After hearing Pyeongcheon Daeseong’s words, I immediately approached Baekryeon.

“Baekryeon.”

“D, Young Master….”

“Let’s go.”

“A, Are you helping…?”

I met Baekryeon’s trembling eyes and nodded.

“As you know, we’ve already subjugated two fragments of the Demon King. It’s time to take a little…, time to relax.”

After saying that, I tapped my shadow for a moment.

“Are you okay with that?”

“I’m just going to follow whatever the Hero wants.”

Lucy, who was hiding in my shadow, answered, only slightly showing her face.

“But, before we go, would you like to stop by the Holy Kingdom?”

“Why the Holy Kingdom?”

“Well…. It’s on the way anyway?”

“….”

“In the first place, isn’t it strange for a nun to ask the Hero to go to the Holy Kingdom?”

Well, that’s true, but….

It feels a little strange when you say it.

I swallowed the rest of my words and just stared at her. Then Lucy awkwardly turned her gaze away and said.

“W, Well…. I’m also worried about our Queen…. As the Hero knows, our Queen isn’t in very good shape, right?”

“…Ah.”

Although it’s confidential, the Saintess in the current Holy Kingdom, Batory, is a Blood Demon. Despite having a body with extreme incompatibility with divine power, she is faithfully active as a believer, and her sincerity is no different from ruining her own body.

Because of this, Lucy, a Blood Demon, has a history of trying to kill me for her Queen, Batory.

“But….”

I glanced at Baekryeon.

Now that the last family member left in the world has gone missing, can she stay calm?

“I’m okay, Young Master.”

“…Are you sure?”

“Well…. Of course…. It would be a lie if I said I wasn’t worried at all…, but White Tiger-nim endured to the end even in that vicious Red Ogre’s torture. So I definitely…, think that she will be okay this time too….”

“…Okay, I understand.”

The direction has been decided.

The Eastern Continent, beyond that, Tayo Country.

I’m going to that place that only exists as a setting in the game.