Vol 7 Chapter 41

"Then can I hear the answer today too?"

"Yes. Actually, what those behind both of you asked me about is all the same issue."

Joy appeared on Kion-hyung's face before instantly transforming into seriousness.

"I'm ready to hear the answer."

Ilumine smiled slightly and looked at hyung with interested eyes.

"Indeed, this time's Chosen of Goddess Skaga is truly interesting. Yes. To answer you first, the identity of the dark force gradually growing stronger in the north of the continent is the power of darkness slowly reviving as an ancient seal weakens. It once covered the continent before."

"Ah..."

Like Kapros, hyung, who would already know how the demon god might be reviving through quest videos, let out an ambiguous groan.

"Seeing your unsurprised expression, it seems you already knew somewhat from the goddess. That the goddess, who must fully feel the gravity of the current situation, asked me for advice and help means she must be asking whether we will stand on the same side or not. Our elves' answer to that is that we accept giving advice but immediate alliance is difficult."

"Accept advice but alliance is difficult..."

After mulling over the long-awaited answer, hyung made a somewhat satisfied expression.

"Is that what I should relay?"

"Yes. Also tell her that we currently cannot move easily due to external issues."

Having just learned why Ilumine and the elves couldn't leave this place, Kapros found those words quite meaningful. Ilumine turned her head toward him next.

"The Flame Dragon wanted to seek our counsel on whether to move regarding the anomaly, did he not?"

"Yes."

"Go and tell the Flame Dragon. My opinion as El Karana Ilumine of the elf race is that if you don't want to repeat the same history as the past, you should either move from the start, or not move at all until the end."

Either move from the start or don't move at all if you don't want to repeat the same history... This too sounded simple but meaningful. Kapros nodded to show he understood.

"I understand."

Ding!

As the Flame Dragon Kor's request quest text changed and 1 was completed, 2 had automatically appeared below.

'So will 3 appear when 2 is completed?'

He couldn't know since information about exactly what other races existed in this world hadn't been revealed.

Anyway, he would need to finish this quest quickly to complete Superior's fifth memory quest.... These sub-quests sure were long. While inwardly calculating with a sigh, Ilumine looked back and forth between him and hyung as she bid them farewell.

"With this everything is finished. Though it was a brief meeting, I hope it was a beneficial time where you could obtain what you wanted."

"No, thank you instead."

"Thank you, Ilumine."

After Kion-hyung's greeting, when Kapros also gave his thanks, Ilumine smiled slightly and glanced at the staff at his waist.

"...Indeed, I look forward to what's to come."

"Pardon?"

When Kion-hyung asked in confusion, thinking the words were meant for him, Ilumine didn't particularly correct that misunderstanding.

"Child."

"...Yes?"

Again, Kapros's response was a beat late.

"You are human, and the Lord's successor, but also my disciple."

Though Kapros wanted to ask when exactly he had agreed to become Ilumine's disciple for her to say such things, seeing her eyes carrying much more force than usual made him think these words weren't meant as a joke.

"...That's true."

"Yes. It's good that you know that fact well."

The force in Ilumine's eyes softened somewhat.

"I like you more than expected. Don't lose anywhere."

It was quite a fierce encouragement, completely opposite to her beautiful face. Kapros nodded with bewilderment at why Ilumine was acting this way. Then Ilumine smiled and gave them leave to go.

"I want to rest now, so please leave. If fate allows, we'll meet again soon. May the peace of fresh greenery remain with you. Farewell."

"Thank you."

After bidding goodbye to Ilumine who lowered her eyes looking quite tired indeed, when they came outside with hyung, they could see at a glance the wide open forest where the sun was still high.

"Whew. Though it seemed like it would drag on, she ended it decisively. Hahaha!"

"..."

"What are you thinking about so hard, Kar?"

At hyung's question, Kapros stopped thinking about Ilumine and Superior and shook his head.

"No. Nothing. So now we cross the desert back to Bala?"

"Yeah. We have to. It's a shame since I really like how quiet it is here and the houses are pretty."

Hyung clicked his tongue while looking at the elf houses visible in the distance.

"I'm definitely going to build and live in a house like that someday. If not in reality, then in MIST! Hey, Kar, did you just smile? Are you laughing at hyung's grand dream?"

Though Kapros had smiled faintly just because hyung somehow seemed cute acting unlike his age, Kion-hyung apparently thought he was being mocked.

"No."

"What do you mean no. You kid. Just know that when hyung builds a house later, you won't be invited to the housewarming. Huh? Smiling again? This hyung is a man who does what he says he'll do."

While having such light conversation with hyung as they left the elf village, Kapros occasionally looked at the Superior staff at his waist. The staff that usually glowed faintly enough that others wouldn't notice wasn't glowing at all now.

'Superior...'

He would definitely need to talk when they had time after reaching Bala. That way they could somewhat align their views on the memories just seen and gain information.

With such thoughts, his footsteps gradually quickened.

They left the elf village where they had stayed for several days and headed back toward Bala.

"Kwon Cheon-woo-ssi. So you were eating alone here."

"Director Nam?"

Nam Mugeon put on the face of an ordinary man who had coincidentally met a known subordinate in the company cafeteria and would eat together as he set his tray down in the seat across from Kwon Cheon-woo.