Vol 6 Chapter 60

"Kar. Is that guy really an elf? He looks extremely suspicious?"

Kapros smiled slightly and nodded.

"Yes. He's an elf I've met before."

"So even though he's met you before, he's not even acknowledging it? Wow. What heartless guys."

The muttering that not all elves were like that, and it was probably just this elf, clearly went unheard by the indignant Hyung.

Following Kil Razil's quick pace was still quite demanding. After weaving through the dense forest, they finally arrived at the elven village Kapros was visiting for the second time, where beautiful houses that seemed to have suddenly appeared from a painting welcomed them.

Young elf children poked their heads out here and there, showing curiosity at the human guests they hadn't seen in a while, and adult elves were also watching them from a distance. The houses freely built on tree branches or on the ground were small and cozy like houses from fairy tales, making one feel incredibly peaceful just by looking at them.

Kion-hyung, forgetting his earlier grumbling since entering the village, nearly fell behind several times while appreciating the scenery with a purely amazed expression.

"This is no joke. I want to live in a place like this someday too."

When they crossed the village and emerged into the forest on the other side, Hyung said this for the first time. His eyes, which usually seemed full of energy, were sparkling extraordinarily, as if he had truly fallen in love with the elven village.

"But I couldn't bring my beloved horse to a place like this, could I? Besides, I have quite a few dependents... It seems like it would cost a lot to build a house in a place like this too."

Seeing Hyung, who rarely talked about his home, muttering about reality with regret made Kapros smile slightly as he realized that Hyung was also just an ordinary office worker outside the game. There probably wasn't anyone less office worker-like than Hyung.

Kil Razil, completely indifferent to whatever they were chattering about behind him, headed toward Ilumine's cave while lightly stepping on stones and tree branches. When they reached the bottom of the cliff where the scattered sand disappeared and rocks appeared, he stopped and turned to face them.

"This is the place."

"Though we've met before, I'm indebted to you again. Thank you."

When Kapros removed his hood and greeted him, Kil Razil slightly raised the corner of his mouth.

"Not at all. It is my honor to guide you again, Disciple of Ilumine."

"..."

Though it was fortunate that he seemed to remember Kapros, why did the title have to be Disciple of Ilumine... As soon as he heard that cringe-worthy title, the title written in his information window became severely burdensome. Kion-hyung also looked between Kil Razil and Kapros with puzzled eyes for a moment before seeming to realize that "Disciple of Ilumine" referred to Kapros, and made an expression as if trying to hold back laughter.

"Then, I shall see you later."

After throwing out words that would cause others turmoil, Kil Razil jumped up to the tree branches with tremendous leaping power as before and disappeared, jumping between trees here and there in an instant.

"Kar. When did you get an elf master?"

Hyung finally asked openly while laughing.

"Ilumine... From what I can piece together, they're an NPC living here, right?"

"Yeah."

As Kapros nodded in agreement, Hyung chuckled again while heavily patting his back.

"So the person inside is the one who took your disciple title? Uahahaha. You having someone's disciple title somehow seems both unsuitable and subtly suitable at the same time. The title is quite cu-cute, should I say. Hahahaha."

Instead of countering the joke, Kapros decided to teach Hyung the reality.

"The person you're meeting is probably that elf too."

When Kapros quietly answered, Hyung tilted his head.

"Huh?"

"Ilumine can be considered the representative of the elf race. So the leader of the other race that you need to meet is probably Ilumine too."

"Ah... really? I see. So that's why you brought me here too."

Hyung scratched his head, still not understanding why Kapros was explaining such an obvious fact. Kapros smiled quietly while entering the cave first.

"But Hyung, Ilumine has quite a bad personality."

"Wh-what?"

Though Hyung chased after him shouting "No, Kar. What do you mean by that? Are you mad at me for laughing earlier? Huh? Answer me, Kar!" the smile wouldn't leave Kapros's face.

It was truly an anticipatory moment to see what price Ilumine - who had really irritated him when they first met but later ended the quest by giving him the title of Ilumine's Disciple - would demand from Kion-hyung to complete the quest.

They stepped into the cave interior where Ilumine lived. Seeing the familiar fork in the path, it was gradually starting to feel real that they would meet Ilumine again.

'It feels strange even though it hasn't been long since we met and parted.'

After walking a few more minutes through the increasingly narrow path, suddenly all the space opened up and a massive cavern appeared, large enough to cause dizziness. Though Kapros was prepared and didn't feel dizzy, Hyung momentarily staggered like someone who had lost their sense of direction before regaining his balance.

"Ugh, damn. That startled me. What is this place...?"

While Hyung was just blinking as his voice echoed, Kapros directed his gaze toward the blonde elf sitting in a white dress in the middle of the cavern.

"Ilumine. It's been a while."

Hearing Kapros's voice, Kion-hyung followed his gaze and stood frozen with his mouth open. Ilumine, still sitting in the same posture with her mysteriously long blonde hair scattered like a painting on the floor, smiled while looking straight at them.

"Hello. As I said, it took barely a few months until we met again, child."

"Is that woman... Ilumine?"

[ Lumi... it really is Lumi. ]

Along with Hyung's question, Superior's voice suddenly echoed in Kapros's head. The staff at his waist was glowing with a clear red light, indicating Superior's reaction.

However, upon hearing Ilumine's words, Kapros could only open his mouth wordlessly as he recalled the last thing she had said to him before.

"May the forest's blessing be with you until we meet again. Though it might not take very long."

Had she known in advance that he would return here after such a short time? While he kept opening and closing his mouth, unable to find words to respond, Ilumine turned her gaze toward Kion-hyung.

"The garments you wear are those of the goddess who blesses battle and warriors. Surely she sent you to meet me?"

Ilumine seemed like an omniscient prophet, accurately guessing Hyung's purpose without even hearing it. Not only was Kapros surprised, but Kion-hyung also seemed quite shocked, blinking his eyes before breaking into a grin and nodding.

"That's right. You're quite psychic."

Though the response was typical of Hyung's personality, Kapros worried that Ilumine might be offended by his rough manner of speaking, but she surprisingly appeared amused.

"Psychic? Hohoho. The goddess's current chosen one is quite an interesting human."

"I've heard that a lot. But how did you know?"

"The saying that one shouldn't carelessly ask about others' secrets exists for moments like this."

Shaking her head at Hyung's question, Ilumine gestured for both of them to come closer.

"However, I don't know exactly why you've come to me. Come here and tell me your story so I can know what I need to do."

Ilumine still had not only her angelic appearance but also that refreshingly energetic way of speaking that felt like crystal breaking. Kapros quietly smiled.

After approaching and taking their seats before Ilumine, their eyes quickly met as they wondered who should speak first. Hyung was the one who opened his mouth first.

"I'll start. As you said, I am the High Priest of the Goddess Skaga. The reason I came here is because I heard the goddess's words that came down to the temple. The goddess has been trying to expand her divine power since being released from her seal after 500 years, but she said her power keeps weakening due to a dark force gradually growing stronger from the north. She asked for advice and help regarding the identity of this dark force from the Daughter of the Forest, who has been watching the north from the holy ground of decisive battle for 500 years."

Kapros was secretly impressed seeing Hyung deliver such a long speech so smoothly, unlike his usual delinquent-like image.

'The dark force from the north... must be because of Caesar.'

While nodding his head as he recalled the answer that anyone who had seen the user quest video could guess, Kapros noticed Ilumine's expression changing quite subtly. Her lips, which had been wearing a slight knowing smile, parted after a brief pause.

"Asking for advice and help... is it."

"Yes."

"I can roughly guess why someone who needs no such things would send her chosen one to me. But not right now. Come back tomorrow when I call for you again."

The part about not right now was fine, but somehow the words after that felt like she was telling him to leave. It seemed Kion-hyung felt this too, as his eyes grew round.

"Uh, then I..."

"Of course you should leave first."

"What?"

"What do you mean 'what?' I have tasks for you to complete by tomorrow. Hmm..."

Ilumine, who had paused briefly in thought, clapped her hands with a grin.

"In the forest outside this cave, moonlight silver-blue bellflowers bloom when night falls. However, on full moon nights, these flowers change from their usual silvery color with a hint of blue to a vivid blue. It's no coincidence that tonight is exactly a full moon. Now, go and bring me 100 silver-blue bellflowers by the time I call for you tomorrow."

Hyung's face instantly turned pale. Kapros too couldn't help but be surprised by Ilumine's unexpectedly harsh quest. Though she had done things like suddenly sending people away at night or asking them to learn 6th circle magic in a few days when he was there before, she had never given such a seemingly randomly thought-up grinding quest.

Hyung glared at Ilumine with what seemed like many things to say as his mouth worked silently, but in the end he slumped his shoulders and stood up first, resigned to whatever the quest might be.

"...Kar, sorry. I need to go gather flowers first."

After leaving this brief farewell and patting Kapros's shoulder, Hyung turned and staggered out of the cave, shocked by the suddenly imposed quest.

"Well then, now that we've sent away the one who needed to leave, is it time for us to talk?"

As soon as Hyung had completely left the cave, Ilumine spoke softly with a quiet gaze different from before.

"Why did you give such a quest just now?"

"Well. I don't mind, but he seemed to mind quite a bit."

When Kapros spoke in disbelief to Ilumine who was openly admitting the arbitrary nature of the quest given to Kion-hyung, she gave an utterly irrelevant response.

"What?"

"...Yes. You know well. Lumi."

Almost simultaneously with his question, Kapros's mouth moved once more distinctly, uttering unfamiliar words. He could immediately realize who had made this possible.

The wooden staff glowing brightly at his waist without any attempt to hide its red light. And within it, the hero mage from 500 years ago.

'Superior!'