Vol 3 Chapter 6

"Ah..."

'Finally...!'

Kapros was so moved by the thought that the hardships of the past month were finally bearing fruit that he missed what Siravi Ren was saying next.

"...please."

"Pardon?"

"Shouldn't you know at least a little about your destination before you go? I asked you to wait a moment as it would be better if you listened before leaving. It should be enough time for Edenia to prepare the potion for you."

As Kapros slowly nodded, Edenia smiled beside him and quietly rose from her seat, walking gracefully towards the cabinet where the potions were kept. As he watched her, Siravi Ren's voice continued to be heard.

"Do you know about the Demon God War from 500 years ago?"

The Demon God War... Did they mean that war from the quest? Kapros nodded, and Siravi Ren continued as if they had expected as much.

"Of course you would. Humans were the cause of that war, and it was also humans who ended the chaos."

If it weren't for this quest, Kapros naturally wouldn't have known, but he decided not to mention that.

"Due to that war, the nature of the continent changed completely, and our race lost our original homeland and had to endure great trials. More than half of our race, who live much longer than humans, were reduced in number afterward, so I believe you can imagine how great the damage was. Anyway, the one who brought about a miracle that allowed us to rise again was El Karana, Lady Ilumine."

"...What is El Karana?"

Kapros asked, thinking it best to leave no information unknown, and Siravi Ren smiled.

"El Karana is the title of a position like my wandering soul, which translates to 'Daughter of God' in human language. It refers to a being who has inherited the power of El Rama, the nature god we believe in and love."

Although he didn't fully understand, Kapros strongly felt that this El Karana was a great being and would play a significant role in his current quest. It felt like a step beyond the quests so far, which had only required finding nearby dungeons.

"And Lady Ilumine, 500 years ago, was also one who left after receiving a revelation from El Rama and was with those who resolved the war... those whom humans now revere as heroes."

Hmm? This was a story Kapros hadn't heard before.

Among everything he had seen and heard while carrying out the quests so far, the existence of an elf named Ilumine couldn't be found anywhere. It wasn't in the final battle scene he had seen twice, nor had he heard anything special about it from other quest performers. Glancing at Kran, he saw that he too wore an expression indicating this was the first time he had heard of this.

At that moment, the clattering sound from behind stopped, as if Edenia had finished what she was doing, and she came out holding small potion bottles filled with sloshing blue liquid in both hands.

"Everything is ready. I've prepared plenty just in case it's not enough. Here, take them."

"Thank you very much."

Kapros carefully received the potions, feeling a bit moved.

"I wish I could guide you myself, but I'm actually here for other business, so I don't think I can. When you enter the village, my friends will guide you well. I hope you arrive safely at your destination."

With Siravi Ren's farewell, Kapros headed towards the desert in good spirits, only to belatedly realize a major flaw in the potion that he hadn't anticipated. The potion tasted terribly bad.

The feeling of having to drink a potion with an indescribably horrible taste in the middle of an unpleasant desert where one's feet sank with every step was the worst. Even knowing there was no other way, he almost wanted to refuse. The fact that Kapros, who prided himself on his patience, had such thoughts meant that anyone who drank it would have thought the same, unless their taste buds were numb.

And so, they finally arrived at the elven forest hidden beyond the desert. Until now, Kapros had never once thought it was difficult while traveling through many areas of MIST, but this time, despite not encountering a single monster, it seemed it would be remembered as the most challenging place. It was all because of that potion. What on earth could it be made of to taste like that?

The real quest hadn't even begun yet, but this made Kapros feel that this third Superior quest would be much more difficult than the previous ones.

He glanced up at the impossibly tall trees blocking the sunlight. They had been inside for quite a while now. Although they were lost, unlike usual, they weren't anxious, thanks to the dreamlike paradise-like scenery. The beautifully harmonious sight of various trees and grasses was so surreal that he couldn't get enough of it. As he walked, savoring the scenery that seemed to relax his tired mind, Kran suddenly spoke.

"Kap, can you see that? Over there..."

At those words, Kapros raised his head and saw something that looked like white ground shimmering in the distance. What could that be?

"It's not forest... it looks like a path."

'A path?'

At Kran's words, Kapros squinted, and indeed, it started to look like a path with little grass.

'It is... a path.'

"Is it really a path?"

As Kran asked, furrowing his brow as if unsure, Kapros nodded in affirmation.

"Yes. It seems we've come to the right place. I think we'll be there soon."

The existence of a path meant that something had been treading and passing through there for a long time. And naturally, there would be a dwelling not far from there.

As they walked close to where they had seen it, a small path just wide enough for one person to walk on revealed itself.

"Great! Now we just have to follow this, right? Yes! We can finally see the end!"

Seeing Kran smile brightly with joy, Kapros was about to silently raise the corners of his mouth when suddenly he felt a piercing gaze from somewhere.

'Someone is here.'

Naturally tensing his body, he quickly looked up to where he felt the gaze coming from, and saw a shadow on top of the towering trees instantly leap down towards them.

"Kran!"