Chapter 1057 — Book 2: Chapter 255: Chaos plus chaos (4)
12 min read ·
The forest was truly vast.
The trees were shooting high into the air, so high that people would question how such a forest would exist at the end of a desert. They were also as thick as multiple adults standing together.
“Wiesha-nim. What is going on?”
The Elf they met at the start of the forest sounded a bit angry at Wiesha.
Furthermore, he could not hide his wariness toward Cale’s side.
“It is too long to explain. We first need to go to the guardian.”
“What do you mea-”
The Elf frowned and Wiesha frowned as she opened her mouth to respond.
“Pendrick.”
“Yes sir.”
Pendrick took off his hood and stepped forward.
“!”
The Elf’s wary eyes clouded over.
“Is this a new ally?”
Wiesha hesitated for a bit before answering.
“…Yes.”
“Mm.”
However, the Elf remained cautious.
Cale opened his mouth again.
“Raon.”
– I got it, human!
Raon removed his invisibility.
He puffed up his chubby belly as he waved to the Elf.
“Hi there, Elf! I am the great and mighty Raon Miru!”
Cale was satisfied with how confident Raon was acting.
All of the Elves that Raon had met until now had shown extreme goodwill toward Dragons and Raon.
They were almost like fans.
This was the reason Raon had no reservations right now.
“Hmm?”
However, the young Dragon tilted his head.
“You, you-”
The Elf’s reaction was weird.
His hand holding a wooden spear started shaking and he looked at Wiesha in shock.
“Did you betray-”
‘As I expected.’
The Elf in front of them was showing fear, concern, and anger toward Raon. There were no positive emotions at all.
Cale had never seen such an Elf before.
“Oh no.”
Wiesha looked at Cale as if to ask why he acted so rashly. Of course, Cale had thought things through.
‘It’ll become more complicated if we reveal our identities inside the secret base later.’
There would be a lot of individuals to convince.
In that case, he would rather convince the guard to go through without any issues.
“We-”
However, Cale started to speak again because he didn't want things to get rowdy.
“Ah!”
But there was someone even faster than Cale.
It was naturally Raon.
The Dragon confidently answered.
"Don’t worry!”
Raon was quite sharp so he knew what he had to do in such a situation.
‘If it is our human!’
He knew how Cale would act and confidently shouted.
“Hey Elf, you don’t need to be afraid!”
Raon Miru sounded majestic.”
“I am going to smack the Dragon Lord on the back of his head!”
“…….”
Cale was at a loss for words.
“Meeeeeow!”
Hong stepped forward.
“You can't say it that way, nya!”
He then added on.
“It is not just the back of the head, nya! Front, side, back, we're going to smack them all, nya!”
He then confidently pointed to Cale.
“This is our boss, nya!”
‘What is up with this?’
Cale's mind was getting dizzy.
On ignored Cale's reaction and sighed before calming Hong and Raon down. She then spoke calmly to the Elf.
“We are an organization of approximately 100 humans, Beast people, and Dragons. We are currently preparing to fight against the Dragon Lord and are requesting a visit because we think it would be beneficial to discuss things with you. We are also here because Wiesha-nim mentioned that there is a way to reach the foundation of this world. I apologize if you were shocked by our sudden visit.”
‘…And what is this?’
Cale looked at On with a blank look on his face. On leisurely wagged her tail before walking over to Hong and Raon.
“S, so cool!”
"As expected of my noona!”
Cale watched Hong and Raon praising On before turning back to look at the Elf.
“…….”
The Elf truly looked confused.
‘How should I explain this to this guy…’ Cale was contemplating when Choi Han tapped him on the shoulder.
“Umm.”
He looked toward where Choi Han was pointing.
An Elf was revealing herself from the darkness.
The Elf that was blanking out snapped back to his senses and Wiesha commented.
“…You must have contacted them immediately.”
The Elf was apologetic to Wiesha as he answered.
“I contacted the base immediately after seeing that you were not alone, Wiesha-nim.”
“I see.”
She looked toward the approaching figure.
“Usually one of the warriors comes but I did not expect the Guardian to personally show up.”
For some odd reason, her tone sounded a bit sarcastic.
Crunch.
The Elf approaching through the grass barefoot was a middle-aged woman.
“Wiesha. I did not come because I suspect you.”
The Elf pointed behind her.
“Ryan’s castle defenses have suddenly become much stricter. The strength of the patrols has increased as well. I was worried because I heard you were coming with a lot of people so I came out.”
Wiesha shook her head.
“Liar.”
The Elf just ignored the White Snake's cold gaze.
She then looked at the group that came with Wiesha.
Cale was also quietly observing her.
‘The Guardian.’
Wiesha had told him about the Guardian.
The Guardian.
A knight or swordsman protecting the Dragon Lord.
That figure was given the title of the Guardian.
‘She’s not the real Guardian.’
Apparently the real Guardian was by the Dragon Lord’s side.
This Elf in front of them was the Elf who claimed she was the true Guardian because the Guardian betrayed the World Tree and sided with the Dragon Lord.
“It must be you.”
And this Elf-
“You must be the human the foundation of this world is looking for.”
Was the only Elf to have communicated with the foundation of this world and received its revelation.
That was the reason she could become the Guardian.
“Cale Henituse. Is that your name?”
Cale smiled as the Guardian looked only at him. He then commented.
“Ma’am, has the foundation of this world been waiting for me?”
The Guardian respectfully lowered her head.
“I was told to escort you in, sir.”
Her eyes sparkled as she raised her head again.
The air around them changed as she said her next words.
“Cale Henituse. The foundation of this world said that the savior of the world would come to see her.”
Wiesha and the Elf… And even all of the Wolves’ eyes opened wide as they looked at Cale.
The Savior.
The weight of that title was not light.
Cale nonchalantly commented in response.
“Savior? That makes me sound so important.”
‘Xiaolen or little Central Plains… And the next world he would talk to, Aipotu…
Cale suddenly felt dreary about his conversation with Aipotu. His face instantly turned unsettled.
However, Cale did not say anything about it and addressed the Guardian.
“Then I should go immediately. Please lead the way.”
There was not much time.
“Of course.”
This was the same for the Guardian.
It was at that moment.
Piiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii——-
A sharp noise shook the entire forest.
It came from the center of the forest.
"What sound is that? I've never heard it before.”
Wiesha looked confused and the Guardian responded with an urgent look on her face.
“We don’t know either. But it looks like Ryan is up to something.”
She quickly headed into the shadows of the forest and motioned to Cale’s group.
“Please follow me quickly. The defenses around the castle become exponentially higher when this alarm goes off. We need to hurry without getting caught.”
Cale then saw Raon tilting his head.
Cale watched everybody quickly moving before he walked up to Raon.
“What is it?”
“Human. This sound is weird. I don’t know the reason, but something feels oddly weird!”
Raon said it was weird but didn't know why he felt that way.
Something like this was rare.
Piiiiiiiiiiiiii—-
The endless sound was similar to that of a sharp horn.
“…….”
Cale realized one other thing. Someone else, in addition to Raon, had stopped moving.
“Choi Han?”
Choi Han was not moving.
“What is it?”
“I, it’s nothing, Cale-nim.”
He shook his head.
However, Cale continued to stare at him and he quietly explained what he felt, almost as if he was whispering.
“I faintly heard cries mixed in that sound.”
"Cries?”
“Yes, Cale-nim.”
Choi Han supposedly heard a cry that the White Snake, the Elves, a Dark Elf, and even Gashan did not hear. Cale did not ignore it. Raon and Choi Han… If both of them heard it, something was definitely there.
“That cry sounded like something I heard before-”
“From where?”
Choi Han hesitated at Cale’s question before answering.
“…Cale-nim, do you remember the black despair?”
Cale’s face instantly stiffened.
It was as stiff as Choi Han’s face now.
The black despair.
That was the liquid that the black mages of the Alchemists’ Bell Tower made when they fought against the Mogoru Empire in the past.
It was an item that added something to dead mana.
The despair, grudges, anger, and chagrin of the dead…
Those negative emotions were compressed to the point that it made that black liquid burst out terrible cries.
It was aptly named the black despair.
Choi Han had fought against the black despair and the Mogoru Empire’s Imperial Prince, Adin, to find the hope within the despair and develop his aura and his true nature.
“It is not the black despair but I can faintly hear the cries I heard during that time.”
Basically, he was saying that the cries full of despair could be heard from this sharp noise.
At least to Choi Han.
Choi Han understood the attribute of despair better than the Elves, Beast people, or really anybody else here.
Piiiiiiiiiiiiii—-
Cale looked toward Ryan's castle.
‘What is going on over there?’
He scowled and then noticed Lock, who was hiding his anxiety while looking at Choi Han’s back.
“Commander Cale-nim?”
Cale pushed aside that question and had to walk.
He quickly started moving following Wiesha calling for him.
The most important thing was to meet the foundation of this world.
* * *
At the capital of the Holy Empire… This was the spot that should originally be shining the brightest, but unfortunately, it was now called the second brightest place.
The master of this place, Emperor Alt's eyes clouded over.
“…You said there was an explosion at the temple?”
“Yes, your Majesty.”
Emperor Alt’s eyes shone oddly after hearing the individual answer with her head down.
The individual who was known as Inquisitor 5 of the twenty four Inquisitors…
Inquisitor 1's loyal subordinate… Her dignified voice echoed through the palace.
“The location of the explosion was the building the Pope was temporarily residing in. Apparently the explosion was loud enough for one of the walls to break.”
The only ones to hear this were the Emperor and his trusted subordinates.
“Hoooo.”
A smile appeared on the Emperor's face.
He looked down at the Inquisitors and asked.
“Did the overload finally start?”
Pope Casillia… The Emperor’s most annoying political enemy…
The Emperor knew that she was a Dragon half-blood.
Furthermore, he also knew that her death was not far away.
“Probably.”
Inquisitor 5 raised her head.
The Emperor and the Inquisitor looked at each other.
The Elf started to speak.
“We believe that inside the Dragon half-blood's body, her Dragon blood overloaded. Wouldn’t her human body be unable to withstand the Dragon blood soon and break down?”
A smile appeared on Inquisitor 5's face as she spoke calmly.
The Emperor’s smile became even wider.
“That’s great.”
His eyes filled with greed.
“There will soon be a new balance.”
He looked toward the ceiling of the palace. He didn’t know the meaning behind the splendid decorations, but at least they were extremely beautiful and grand.
“Inquisitor 1 is someone who should be the center of the church.”
Inquisitor 5 responded to Emperor Alt.
“And the church will do the church’s work while you, your Majesty, as the Emperor and the center of the Empire, should take care of the human issues.”
The two of them exchanged glances.
“I'm glad that we understand each other very well.”
“I agree, your Majesty.”
The smile then disappeared from the Emperor's face.
He spoke in a cold voice.
“You said that the Lord will return soon?”
“Yes, your Majesty.”
“Let’s finish our preparations before then.”
“Of course.”
Inquisitor 5 smiled as she continued to speak.
“The Lord has given permission for this so the preparations should not be hard.”
“Haha, of course.”
The Emperor laughed out loud before quietly whispering.
“The Pope, and all of those things were meant to be trashed anyway.”
Inquisitor 5 laughed as well before leaving the palace.
‘I'm sure she ran over to Inquisitor 1.’
“Tsk.”
Alt clicked his tongue before mumbling to himself.
“The Pope is pitiful too. She has no idea that the Lord has long been aware of their scheme and has been ready to throw them away.”
He nonchalantly asked.
“Has there been no response from the Haru Kingdom?”
“Yes, your Majesty. None at all.”
Alt slightly frowned at his trusted subordinate's response.
“How arrogant. They are basically a destroyed kingdom already.”
He let out a short sigh.
“I'm certain that what happened to the subjugation squad in the Haru Kingdom is because someone is looking after the Haru Kingdom.”
Tap tap. The Emperor tapped on his armrest before speaking in a nonchalant tone.
“I feel like their backing is the Pope and those Dragon half-blood motherfuckers for some reason.”
‘I'm certain that-’
“They will leave chaos in this world before they die.”
The Emperor looked back up at the ceiling.
Normally, such a ceiling would have the image of the creation of the Empire or some heroic moment.
But here were some meaningless designs.
He snorted.
‘Whatever, at least it’s not a picture of people praising Dragons.’
He preferred these meaningless designs.
The Emperor clenched his fists.
‘I'm sucking up to the Dragons right now, but-’
Dragons will not be able to continue ruling over the humans.
“…They will need to take their hands off the human world if they want to be gods.”
Emperor Alt mumbled nonchalantly before giving an order to his trusted subordinate.
“Press the Haru Kingdom's King some more. And call him here.”
“Yes, your Majesty.”
“And once he gets to the Palace, do whatever it takes to get that bastard to talk about his backing.”
The trusted subordinate asked as if to confirm something.
“Will it be fine if he claims that his backing is the church, your Majesty?”
“Yeah.”
A smile appeared on the Emperor's face.
“The order of things is always important. Let's take care of the Pope first.”
If he starts getting rid of things one by one like that…
"Everything will end up in my hands.”
The smile on Alt’s face did not disappear.
* * *
“You can speak with the foundation of this world if you get over there.”
Cale wiped some dust and dirt off himself and looked at a large pit.
The inside of the pit was not dark.
It was full of numerous colors, splendid and beautiful as if he was looking at an aurora.
The Guardian pointed to the inside of the pit and Wiesha spoke with a stiff look on her face.
“…That is the reason I got hurt.”
She warned Cale.
“If you get in there, you may die.”
Cale looked toward Wiesha.
"The inside of that place is a place of balance. It sucks the life force out of any existence that is not in balance.”
Wiesha's warning reached Cale's ears.
—
Translator's Comments
That…doesn't sound good.
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