Chapter 261

Chapter 261

***

In the elves' kingdom there was no day and night. It was always night. But whether it was day or night it was equally bright as if a full moon had risen. In other words, distinguishing day and night didn't have much meaning.

Fairies flew around like fireflies, and they transmitted words spoken by nature, or news of the world. Things like anxiety, fear, joy, and being moved.

Of course Rickart couldn't hear those sounds. Was it because the existence called human itself had fallen, or, because the innate nature was different.

Whether it was a hypothesis, a theory, or truly fact couldn't be known, but existences like elves and orcs, goblins, fairies, and dryads had a different starting point itself from humans.

Therefore, Rickart and Caldebert were fundamentally foreigners in the elves' kingdom. Not guests, and not freeloaders either.

Nevertheless they were provided beds, and were wearing clothes made of elves' silk that surpassed the finest silk made by humans.

It wasn't made of silkworm threads but by kneading fairies' excrement and powder, boiling it, and extracting threads. So a sense of weight was hardly felt, and the touch against the skin was like a mother's hand.

Even though elves never deviate from principles and have clear boundaries, providing these things to Rickart and Caldebert who were merely foreigners and not even guests, was purely because of Hushike.

A strange tension flowed. Because, the transaction relationship with the elves for both Rickart and Caldebert was now over. The only thing left was Hushike.

"Will they attack if we take Hushike and leave the kingdom?"

Rickart asked. The room the group was currently in wasn't simply exotic, but unrealistic. Should one say it felt like being inside a very large tree. Anyway it was warm even though no fire was lit.

"Let's defeat the dragon."

Half-lying on the bed like a patient due to old age Caldebert answered. However, no matter how much special loyalty and affection Rickart had for him, it was an opinion hard to readily accept.

"I have never actually seen a dragon. Didn't even think they existed. But, even if it's only half of the legend wouldn't fighting it be too much? It's not even our business."

Honestly Rickart had no interest in what happened to the World Tree, and it didn't matter. Having met Caldebert he just needed to leave now, but not being able to leave Hushike behind was the problem.

Just, if a conflict occurred in the process of taking Hushike he might have to use his sword, but Rickart didn't have the confidence to cut down the elf warriors he had fought together with.

But fighting a dragon? This was truly......

Rickart looked back at Hushike. She was leaning against the window, whispering something with the fairies. He looked back at Caldebert again and asked.

"Do you know about dragons?"

"The one who passed down knowledge to me was a dragon. Met it while stabilizing the Eastern Frontier and excavating ancient relics and knowledge. 'The Ruler of Storms' Augustus Rikituss."

Rickart tilted his head frowning at the name he had heard somewhere. And soon remembered. Augustus Rikituss was a name engraved on a stone statue on the way to the Eastern Frontier.

And a massive shadow briefly glimpsed in a waterspout when lightning struck in the stormy sea on the way to Hellskald Island flashed through his mind.

"......Sounds like the name of an emperor of some ancient Empire."

"Correct. The ancient Empire was a nation established by dragons. Sometimes directly, sometimes indirectly. Strictly speaking humans and dragons are both originally natives of this world. The dragons wished to protect themselves from the otherworldly existences coming down from the World Tree. At that time humans were too weak so there was a need to foster strength. Things like magic and metallurgy handling steel, writing, social structure, politics and religion, military, all originated from dragons. Not all dragons participated, it was a work pushed by several dragons including Ricitus. But it failed in the end. Because humans became excessively too strong unnecessarily. Enough to even kill dragons. So there was a need to strike a balance again."

"......"

Felt like he just heard some tremendous story, but it was so tremendous that it rather didn't sink in.

People only knew that there was an ancient Empire in the past. Their knowledge or legacy was only passed down fragmentarily, and nothing was known in detail about how it was established and why it fell.

But he had just heard that truth directly from Caldebert's mouth.

"But there's no need to care about such massive stories. What we need to care about is our own salvation."

"Salvation...... Does such a thing really exist?"

"Of course. As I said there are people waiting for you in that faraway place."

"But without memories what emotional exchange can I have with them?"

"That's why Hushike is important. Because that child grew up eating your memories. Achieving salvation is not easy. But if you steadily unravel it step by step you can definitely achieve it."

"......Setting me aside, what is your salvation, Caldebert?"

"Ricky, you receiving salvation."

Rickart ended up chuckling softly. Because though he knew it was sincere it sounded like a joke. The current Rickart, Ricky didn't know that by saving others he could simultaneously save himself. He was rather cynical and skeptical about it.

Looking at such Rickart Caldebert merely smiled warmly rather than feeling it was a pity. Because he had clearly witnessed it in the reincarnation through a dream. Ricky's true nature that was.

Rickart looked back at Hushike once again. In the middle of whispering and conversing with fairies Hushike felt the gaze, looked at Rickart, and smiled.

At that time, someone called the group from outside.

"Uh...... Champion?"

It was Edex's voice. Rickart got up from his seat, pushed aside something like vine stalks that wasn't a normal door, and looked outside. Edex was standing there.

"What's the matter?"

Rickart asked but the boy elf had a somewhat hesitant appearance. Seemed he had something to say, but Edex managed to barely speak with difficulty.

"Um...... It seems the priests intent to forcibly take her away. Hushike I mean. I came to inform you of that. I think you should slip away now."

"......"

Just hearing the words it was an urgent situation but Rickart stared blankly at Edex.

"Are you okay?"

"With what?"

"I know elves live strictly faithful to their duties. But you have deviated from that duty now, and it's a kind of betrayal right. Won't you be punished separately?"

"Duty...... Even so, Hushike is my friend you know. The Champion saved me. If my friend and benefactor suffer because I kept my duty...... Well, I don't really know."

At that time Elline who was at the corner of the building poked his head out and said.

"We two will escort you until you leave the kingdom. Let's get out quickly."

Rickart grasped the situation quickly, but making a judgment quickly was hard. Looking around the room Caldebert and Hushike were already preparing to leave.

And Caldebert picked up Rickart's sword, handed it to him and said.

"Act as your heart follows. Even if you lived like an evil spirit, I know your soul is purer than anyone else's."

Rickart received the sword, thought for a moment, then looking back at Edex and Elline again he said.

"We are fine. We can get out on our own. What happened now never happened. Live peacefully. Don't worry about us. Thanks for letting us know."

"But it seems it's already too late to turn back."

Edex said looking back somewhere. The kingdom's residents were standing still staring blankly this way. Given the characteristics of elves with good eyesight and hearing, it was clear they saw and heard everything that just happened.

If it were the original Rickart he would have killed the witnesses right away, but he didn't did so now. Damn it, can't be helped.

"Let's go together."

"Okay."

Elline led a horse over. Caldebert whose mobility was still somewhat uncomfortable rode the horse. Looking up the sun and moon couldn't be seen so it couldn't be known if it was day or night.

Following the guidance of Elline and Edex Rickart tried to hastily leave the kingdom. However other elves were staring blankly from here and there. Because they weren't watchmen, hunters, or warriors, they were merely just spectating blankly.

Since everything to be caught was already caught secretly slipping away practically had no meaning.

They were just blatantly leaving, but sure enough around the time they were crossing that uniquely large wooden bridge Alimantar and several high elves accompanied by warriors came looking.

"Stop."

Alimantar said. But because he spoke so quietly, Rickart couldn't hear it. Because his hearing wasn't as good as an elf's.

So Alimantar pondered whether he should shoot an arrow right away or not, but someone beside him told him.

"His ears are short so it seems he couldn't hear."

So only around the time Rickart's group had almost completely crossed the bridge did Alimantar shout loudly.

"I said stop!"

Only then did Rickart look back.

"These are the most elite watchmen and warriors, so even if you ride a horse you won't be able to shake them off in the forest. Leave the Goddess behind. Then we will let you two go."

"I cannot do that, Alimantar. I have no particular ill feelings towards you elves, but there is something I cannot give up and if a conflict arises I will not back down."

"I know how well you fight. However you will not be able to withstand our sniping for a long time."

That was a correct point. Even if Rickart used his sword well if they didn't fight closely that was it.

And the elves were skilled at sniping from afar, and among them the elite personnel Alimantar brought had even more outstanding skills.

"And you two! You have violated Patus! Sin has been asked, therefore you shall not participate in the cycle!"

Patus was a mixed meaning of fate, discipline, law and such. Elves lived according to it, so violating it was the greatest sin. Things like theft or murder didn't even occur in the first place.

"But Priest, if we arbitrarily offer the Goddess as a sacrifice against the other party's will just because we are urgent, does that fit Patus?"

Edex retorted. Then Alimantar was greatly surprised, as if experiencing the most shocking thing in his hundreds of years of living. It was the same for the other elves watching from afar.

They weren't very surprised about Rickart secretly slipping away or causing a sword fight, but answering back to a priest was even more surprising. As if a worker bee defied the queen bee.

More than being angry Alimantar seemed to have a hard time escaping from the mental shock, and it was the same for all other elves except Elline.

"It, it's because the World Tree's energy has weakened. All this is because the World Tree's energy has weakened. There has never been such a thing until now. It is like a branch growing crookedly digging up the ground and harming the roots."

The flesh on Alimantar's cheeks trembled *budeul-budeul*. As a human Rickart saw it as something that could happen, but the elves didn't seem to think so.

Alimantar trembled his hand *deoldeol* and pointed at Rickart's group. And then said as if delivering a sentence.

"Shoot."

Then the elite elves drew their iron bows, aimed at the group and shot.

When they aimed their arrows Rickart hurriedly tried to pull Caldebert down and use the horse as a shield to block, but surprisingly Caldebert's measure was faster.

Caldebert snatched *hwik* the staff Hushike was holding and stretched it straight forward. Then the arrows that left the bowstrings of the iron bows and were rushing rapidly stopped simultaneously.

And, catching fire the arrows instantly changed direction and aimed back at Alimantar and the elves oppositely.

Caldebert stirred the staff and shot out magic fire arrows, and those arrows shot out almost like light and lodged into the nearby buildings.

*Pababababak!*

"Hushike!"

Caldebert shouted. Then Hushike made a hand shape as if grabbing the air, and then flames instantly flared up wildly. As if a fire broke out in the city.

Caldebert swung the staff multiple times to continue growing the fire. Then the kingdom that was like a night with a full moon truly brightened like broad daylight. Shadows fell deep and long.

Then wondering what was going on Alimantar and the elite elves widened their eyes and didn't know what to did. Caldebert looked at them and spoke coldly.

"I am not a good person. I am a person who killed countless people, and ruled them with fire and steel. Choose. Whether you will just let us go, or if you will burn the World Tree right now."

It was a clear threat. But thinking about it, he was someone who seemed soft-hearted when with Rickart but he was by no means an easy figure either. His nickname was also 'The Breaker'.

He was someone who massacred countless natives in the Eastern Frontier to end the war, and didn't hesitate to did whatever it took if necessary. Perhaps that's why Rickart was drawn to him.

As for Alimantar there was no way. All this was done to save a single World Tree, but when Caldebert accurately stabbed the most precious and vulnerable point he had no choice but to let them go.

Caldebert stirred the staff again and withdrew the flames. And then after coldly glaring at the elves, he said to Rickart and the group.

"Let's go."

Rickart blankly watched that figure then ended up chuckling softly. It was because it reminded him of the old days. Someone who was delicate yet brave, and led armies with cold judgment and fiery will. That that was Caldebert.

Whether having memories or not, no matter how much time flowed a person's nature didn't change easily. Both Rickart and Caldebert.