episode_0035

Before I knew it, the surroundings were full of spirits.

The souls of the elves quietly staring in the direction from which the monster came.

The gaze was directed somewhere beyond the monster.

“Where are you looking?”

“I feel like there’s something behind there.”

“Hehe…I guess so.”

Old Paramon seemed to know something too.

Are you feeling the same way as the elves?

The battle was in full swing, but none of the souls looked at the monster.

“The real enemy is not a monster.”

It was like that just by looking at it.

The battle was so one-sided that it could even be called a massacre.

Old Paramon looked beyond.

“The real enemies are demons, beasts, and undead…”

“….”

“Even if you kill the undead, they will not die. There’s nothing more to say, Demon Beast.”

Old Paramon was explaining how strong the demons were, but it didn’t reach my ears.

It didn’t feel like that.

There was no soul who sympathized with the words of inspiration.

“Is there anything else besides that? For example…something that would make the elves angry?”

“Um…”

Even while fighting, the elves looked peaceful.

No one was scared when they saw the monster, and no elf expressed their anger at the monster.

There was even an elf shooting a bow while talking to his companion next to him.

However, the faces of the spirits were frighteningly cold.

The expression that Heoju used when he was perched on the World Tree and shook its branches.

Something felt strange.

“….If I had to guess, there could be a necromancer. Is there something stuck?”

“Yes. The elf elders are very angry.”

A soul looked at me at my words.

His face was still cold.

“Elderly?”

– …..

One by one, the eyes of the souls shifted to me.

Instead of anger, I felt sorry for them.

That’s exactly the facial expression a person makes when they have no shame.

“Try saying it. Because I’m here to help the elderly.”

The elders in the cemetery were just like this.

Their excitement was strong, as if there was something more left to do.

“What is so sad that you’re just staring at me?”

A soul from a place where battles with monsters are in full swing.

Their faces were especially cold.

“If it’s upsetting the elders…is the necromancer doing something to the World Tree again?”

Nod.

It seemed like that wasn’t the only thing.

There was one more thing that made me feel angry.

“…”

The spirits moved their mouths as if they were trying to say something, but I couldn’t see what they were saying.

For a moment, the mouth appeared blurred.

It is not common for the soul to suddenly become clouded.

“….Would you like to say it one more time?”

This time even the face appeared blurry.

The condition of all souls was similar.

This is not a problem with my spiritual eyes.

I’ve seen something like this before.

Just before attaining Buddhahood and when problems arise with the soul being bound.

“World Tree…!”

I urgently turned my head.

It was not the direction of the World Tree, but the direction of the elves.

Even in a one-sided battle, the misfortune cast upon the elves did not disappear.

If the battle is going the way it should be, there shouldn’t be this kind of deep corruption.

Why didn’t I realize this sooner?

Regardless of the distance from the monster, all elves were surrounded by gates.

“Young Master! I have to go to the World Tree right away!”

My spirit stopped my body from jumping out.

“Wait a moment.”

“Now is the time…”

“When do you plan to run?”

My body was floating.

“Luckily, I guess I came at the right time.”

“Old man Clocell!”

“Go to the place where the World Tree is.”

The wind hit my whole body.

At this speed, you will be able to reach the World Tree in an instant.

Hwiik –

The trees disappeared behind and the surrounding scenery flowed quickly.

“…!”

Until just now, I thought I was feeling uncomfortable due to wind resistance.

But that wasn’t it.

Every part of my body was burning as if something hot had touched it.

“eup….”

I also felt a stabbing pain.

The World Tree that was getting closer also felt strange.

An acrid smell passed my nose, and it felt like something was burning.

And someone had collapsed underneath it.

“Romenel….!”

Both Romenel and the World Tree were in a mess.

The amulets attached to the gold string were charred black, and Romenel was sighing as if he had lost his mind.

“Ugh…”

Now that I’m closer, I think I’ll know for sure.

This smell was that of a ghost that had been burned to death.

Judging from the concentration, it was not just one or two.

“I will treat you.”

Old Closel took out a potion and poured it into Romenel’s mouth.

But it can’t be effective.

Because I wasn’t physically injured.

“I don’t even want to hide it anymore.”

The curse was running wild.

Fortunately, it hasn’t taken shape as it hasn’t been that long since it started, but it’s probably only a matter of time from now on.

We need to figure out where the curse begins.

I didn’t even know if I would be able to pinpoint its location now.

As soon as I touched the bell, a sound rang in my head.

“….”

The sound of the beast.

At first glance, it seemed like a human voice.

Despair, fear, pain.

It was a feeling so clear that it made my heart ache.

rattle –

It wasn’t the illusion of bewitching people that Heo Joo showed last time.

A terrible grudge contained in a curse that has not yet taken shape.

These were the occasions for creating resentment.

rattle –

“Tsk tsk….”

It’s not a fortune teller.

It felt like I was criticizing the World Tree.

The offense that came out of his mouth was clearly blaming the World Tree.

“If you guide me properly, I will end up like this…”

The stronger the river, the stronger the smell.

The smell seemed to be coming from my body, which felt hot.

My whole body ached and I felt a burning sensation in my throat.

“I screamed so hard that my throat hurts…”

I feel like I’ve been screaming for days and days.

The owner of this pain must have already become hoarse.

Even your mind will not be sound.

For a moment, I felt very annoyed.

It wasn’t the emotion I was expressing.

It seemed like something that didn’t have to happen happened because of this.

It seemed like it was a problem between Romenel and the World Tree.

rattle –

The problem must be resolved while the gold string and amulet are still holding on.

He placed his hand on the World Tree and shook the bell.

rattle –

Another scream passed by my ears.

The scenes that flashed through my mind were gruesome.

An elf blackened by fire.

An elf bleeding to death with his limbs cut off.

Even the elves who are already dead.

rattle –

However, they were not the ones venting resentment.

The moment the image of an elf screaming out of focus came to mind.

My heart was throbbing.

“……”

It was a despair that made me dizzy.

What on earth could I have done to ruin my emotions this much?

Unfortunately, location was more important than emotion at the moment.

A place shimmered like a haze.

A place where you can vaguely see the World Tree.

Monsters were also seen covering the sky black.

It was the direction the spirits were looking at earlier.

“It was because of this elf that I was angry.”

They were placing a curse on the World Tree through the elves.

“….”

Old Closel laid Romenel down on the floor.

“I guess it’s a curse again. Are you planning to send it back this time?”

I shook my head.

“It’s impossible this time.”

The medium through which the curse was still cast was an elf.

If it were a completed curse like last time, if the curse were to be reversed now, the elf would have to take responsibility for everything alone.

When throwing a weapon, there is something to be prepared for the recoil.

It is called an amulet.

Coincidentally, the elf’s current state was itself a meal and an amulet.

Its role is as a conduit for sending curses to the World Tree.

Of course, the end was an elf.

“If I die, the necromancer will take it…”

It was an incredibly cruel method.

“There is an elf who creates the resentment necessary for the curse.”

“…I understand roughly. We have to save that elf.”

Perhaps because they were inspirations who lived during the war, I was able to understand them quickly.

“We must save them before the curse is complete.”

It wasn’t just a matter of saving one elf.

As the curse grew stronger, all kinds of bad luck was gathering nearby.

You’ll have to wait and see, but for the elves in battle, the situation may have gotten worse.

The World Tree is their source, so in the worst case, it wouldn’t be surprising if they fell like Romenel.

“This is why they aimed for the World Tree.”

“Did you find the location?”

“The location is covered with something. I saw the general outline, but I’m sure the direction is that way.”

“That’s the place you were looking at earlier.”

I could feel Old Man Clausel moving his mana as he prepared to fly again.

“It’s difficult to fly.”

“Is there a problem?”

“The sky was full of monsters.”

Old Closel’s answer was simple.

“Then there must be necromancers there. Let’s leave right away.”

What kind of nonsense is this old man talking about now?

There seemed to be some method, but there were too many of them.

Common sense tells us that there is no way for a sword-wielding knight to fight in the air.

I think Old Man Paramon will do something, but his power will probably be weaker than on the ground.

That means Old Man Clausel has to deal with the monsters alone…

What if you at least get help from the elves?

“Do you know what the absolute laws of air combat are?”

Old Man Closel laughed as he lifted our bodies up into the air.

“Having wings is a disadvantage.”

“….Yes?”

“If you point in the direction like last time, it will fly there.”