Raon blinked as he looked down at the baby fox.
"Are you telling me to leave?"
"Yes! Right now!"
The baby fox scratched the ground with its front paw as it shouted.
'It's Merlin, right...?'
If it were the usual Merlin, she would have immediately said she missed me upon making eye contact, but instead, she was telling me to leave Sepia immediately. Raon swallowed nervously at the strange tension.
"Explain what you mean in detail..."
Just as he was about to ask Merlin, he sensed the presence of elves behind him. Their voices were getting louder, indicating they were coming this way.
"Let's go inside first... huh?"
Raon stopped as he tried to pick up the baby fox to go inside. The baby fox, possessed by Merlin, slipped through his hands like a phantom.
'Come to think of it...'
He hadn't properly examined the situation due to the surprise of Merlin being here, but the baby fox didn't have the presence of the living. It felt like he was looking at a spirit.
"There's no time for this... Anyway, get out! Return to Zieghart..."
Merlin couldn't finish what she wanted to say and dissipated into a light mist.
"What the...?"
Raon narrowed his eyes as he watched Merlin disappear.
'Did she take that form to break through the barrier?'
He turned to ask Wrath.
-Grrrr....
Wrath seemed to be foaming at the mouth in surprise at Merlin's appearance. He was of no help at all.
'It must be because of the barrier.'
Rimmer and Erian had said that only those invited by the elves could enter Sepia.
Unless the barrier was completely destroyed, sneaking in quietly wasn't something even Merlin could do in a short time.
Seeing the bushes move on their own, it seemed she used a method to transform an animal into a spirit.
'The sudden disappearance must be due to exhaustion.'
Impressive.
Creating a new method in a day to bypass Sepia's barrier showed Merlin's magical skills and obsession, which felt both frightening and impressive.
But why...?
Why did she tell me to leave?
'Are the Five Demons attacking?'
He couldn't think of any other reason. It seemed most likely to be Eden among the Five Demons.
'Even if it's Eden, attacking Sepia... Ah!'
Raon bit his lip and clenched his fist.
'Could it be timed with the Purification Ceremony?'
No, it's definitely targeted.
Attacking just a day after Sterin began the Purification Ceremony meant they knew the timing.
It meant they were confident they could win without him.
Raon quickly sorted his thoughts and headed to the Guardians' quarters where Leylan was. As he opened the door and entered, the Guardians who were about to eat stared at him blankly.
Their gazes were sharp, perhaps because their meal was interrupted or because they were fully on guard.
-Sniff!
Wrath, who had fainted, sniffed and poked his head up.
-Is it food?
Ignoring the stares of Wrath and the elves, Raon approached Leylan and Erian's table.
"Raon. Will you eat too? As the Spirit King's Contractor, I can serve you."
Erian now called him by name and offered him a seat.
"It's not that, have there been any strange occurrences outside of Sepia?"
"Outside? You mean the Great Forest?"
"Yes."
"I just came back from a reconnaissance, but there was nothing special."
He shook his head, saying he went before having his meal.
"Can you check once more?"
"Raon."
Leylan shook her head and stood up. Her gaze towards him was sharp.
"Erian and we have been on guard until the Guardian settled into the ceremony, then we completed the reconnaissance of the Great Forest. We are having our first meal in two days and trying to catch our breath, and now this interruption..."
"Raon, is that your intuition as the Spirit King's Contractor?"
Erian put down his fork and interrupted Leylan.
"Erian!"
"Quiet. That kid hasn't eaten or slept either."
Leylan glared at him as if asking why, but Erian muttered that Raon was the same.
"Spirit King..."
Raon bit his lip thinly as he looked into Erian's sunken eyes.
'A persistent guy.'
Erian was a stubborn guy to the point of being tiresome. But now, he had to use that.
"Yes. It's my intuition."
"Good."
Erian nodded and stood up.
"If you say so, we should go."
"Erian!"
"Everyone, follow me."
He told Leylan and the other subordinates to eat after returning and beckoned with his finger.
The elves looked at Erian for a moment before standing up. Their expressions didn't show any complaints, indicating how Erian usually treated his subordinates.
Raon narrowed his eyes as he watched Erian leave the quarters ahead.
'Is he a better guy than I thought?'
At first, he thought Erian was crazy when he attacked on sight, but now he seemed to have his merits.
-That!
Wrath reached out his plump hand towards the fruit pie Erian left behind.
-If you're not eating it, give it to me! I've been starving for two days!
'...Absolutely not.'
If I stop the elves from eating and grab the food, they'll think I'm crazy. Even if I'm starving to death, I can't touch it.
-I'll take responsibility! Just a taste....
'Follow me.'
Raon grabbed Wrath's struggling head and followed Erian.
* * *
"Siyana!"
Rimmer knocked on Siyana's house and shouted for her to open the door.
"I'm, I'm going to sleep! Go away, brother!"
Siyana leaned against the door to prevent Rimmer from entering and shouted.
"Ra, Raon must be hungry! Go and prepare a meal for him."
"He's not a kid, he'll eat if he's hungry. Just open the door!"
Rimmer raised his voice, threatening to force his way in if she didn't open.
"I'm, I'm taking off my clothes to shower!"
Siyana shook her head, insisting he must not come in.
"Ugh..."
Rimmer stopped his hand and stepped back from the door. It was one thing if she were a child, but as an adult, he couldn't just open the door under those circumstances.
"Siyana."
"Why..."
"Don't worry about them."
Rimmer continued, facing the door that seemed too fragile despite his sister leaning against it.
"They're idiots who specialize in thoughtless babbling. I don't know why they mimic the worst traits of humans when they hate them so much."
He clenched his fist, regretting he couldn't pick a fight when Raon was in a trance.
"I know."
Siyana removed her back from the door and bit her lip.
"But they're not wrong."
She muttered the last words quietly so Rimmer couldn't hear.
A High Elf less capable than an ordinary elf, a defect from birth.
The words made her so angry, but the fact that she couldn't refute them was even more frustrating.
'I didn't want to be born like this.'
If I were lazy and didn't make an effort, it would be understandable not to be chosen by the World Tree. But I was born without talent. It's not my fault or anyone else's, yet I'm treated like this because of inherent lack of talent, which is both absurd and despairing.
"Siyana..."
"Brother. Go."
"But..."
"I'm really okay. Go and prepare a meal for Raon."
"Eat with us."
"I have this."
Siyana slightly opened the door and showed a piece of Nadine bread.
"Ha."
Rimmer sighed at the sight of Nadine bread.
"Right. You made that to avoid going outside."
He nodded briefly and turned away.
"I'll come back tomorrow with Raon."
As Rimmer's footsteps faded, Siyana removed the blanket wrapped around her. The area where her face had been was slightly wet.
"Sigh..."
She wiped away the tears from the corner of her eyes with the back of her hand and shook her head.
'It didn't work this time either.'
Seeing Raon achieve enlightenment had motivated her to practice Resonance training, but the world still didn't open its path to her. However, she wasn't disappointed.
'Reality is different from hero tales.'
She had liked hero tales since she was a child.
Reading books or hearing stories about heroes, the protagonist always overcomes crises easily and accumulates many achievements. They are always said to have never given up and achieved victory.
'But...'
The stories never tell how hard those hardships were or how much effort they made.
The world doesn't reflect the effort or hardship, only the success afterward. She realized this from seeing the difference between Raon in the books and Raon in reality.
In Raon's biography, it says he easily defeated all enemies, but his hands and arms were full of scars in reality. I can't even imagine the pain and struggle he endured to reach his current position and become a Grandmaster.
'I don't want to say the cliché "never give up." But...'
I want to try as much as I can.
I want to try until I reach my limit, if only to see those who criticized me kneel before me as Raon said.
Siyana sat on the floor and closed her eyes. Warmth and coolness flowed simultaneously from her breath, like a breeze spreading deep underground.
* * *
"I'll check the west then."
Raon turned to the right as soon as he exited Sepia's barrier.
"The paths in the Great Forest are complex. You might not be able to return."
Erian frowned, looking concerned.
"It's okay. I remember the paths I've taken once."
"As expected of the Spirit King's Contractor!"
"...."
No matter how much I think, I can't see how that's related to being the Spirit King's Contractor.
"Anyway, I have a bad feeling, so if there's a problem, don't fight and send a signal immediately."
"Got it. I'll check the east. Leylan, you go south."
"Understood."
Leylan nodded briefly and headed south immediately. She seemed full of complaints but focused on the task once out.
"Then, me too."
Raon nodded at Erian and took the Supreme Harmony Steps to the right. He stopped walking only after the presence of Erian and Leylan had completely disappeared.
"Merlin. Merlin."
If it were Merlin, she would definitely be around here, so he called her name softly. But she didn't appear for quite some time.
'What the...?'
Raon frowned as he walked west.
'Did she really overexert herself?'
Considering her usual behavior, it seemed highly likely she overexerted herself and fainted.
'So, I have to find her after all.'
Raon sighed shortly and operated both the Ring of Fire and Glacier simultaneously.
Whoooosh!
His enhanced Aura Perception, having grown further since becoming a Grandmaster, spread like waves of snow flowers in all directions.
His senses, sensitive enough to detect the movements of animals, insects, and even plants, enveloped the Great Forest, but he didn't sense any negative energy or human presence.
'Wrath.'
-There's nothing!
Wrath shook his head.
-There's nothing, and our meal was just interrupted!
He ground his teeth, wondering why things always happened during meal times.
'Really?'
-Have you ever seen me lie? There's nothing, so let's go eat!
If Wrath, who was like an automatic detector, said this, it meant there really was no threat.
"Still, just a little more..."
It seemed he had built up a lot of trust in Merlin.
He trusted Wrath's words but checked up north in case someone appeared through spatial movement before returning to Sepia's entrance.
Erian, Leylan, and the Guardians were already back and waiting.
"You're back quickly."
"Elves are connected to the forest, so the forest tells us if there's a problem even without checking everything."
Leylan shook her head, saying it was as simple as breathing for humans.
Raon nodded as he looked at her.
'Indeed...'
When he first came here, Leylan and the Guardians were already waiting, so it didn't seem like she was wrong.
"So? Did you find anything?"
"There was nothing."
"Your expression isn't good."
Erian nodded slightly as he looked at Raon.
"Do you really have such a bad feeling?"
"Yes."
"Alright."
He turned his gaze to Leylan and beckoned with his finger.
"Strengthen the external perimeter as well."
"What? It's already strengthened enough. Besides, many are guarding near the World Tree..."
"If this place is breached, that area will soon follow. Move as instructed."
"Erian! No, brother!"
Leylan couldn't hold back and grabbed Erian's sleeve.
'Brother?'
Raon blinked as he looked at the two.
'Come to think of it...'
Leylan and Erian had similar names, and there were peculiar parts in their conversations, indicating they were siblings.
"I told you not to call me that during missions."
"This is too much. Why are you listening to that human..."
"Regardless of it being a human's words, does strengthening the perimeter harm us? It's just a bit more effort. Accept it."
He said he'd take all the responsibility and be the first to stand on guard, waving his hand.
"Tch."
Leylan clicked her tongue as she looked back at Raon. The other Guardians who followed her also had displeased expressions.
Raon clicked his tongue as he watched Erian's back as he returned to Sepia.
'The first impression was the worst, but he's decent inside.'
Surprisingly, he's a genuine guy.
Seeing that, he couldn't leave even more. If there was really a big problem, he definitely wanted to help.
-My stomach is not fine! Let's go eat right now!
'Hmm...'
Raon looked up at the darkening sky and clicked his tongue briefly.
'I should contact Alice.'
Even if Merlin's words were false, Alice would come to see. He decided to contact her through Dorian as soon as he returned.
-First, let's fill my stomach!
'....'
-Stop ignoring me!
* * *
The great training ground of the Wise Martial Palace bathed in golden sunset.
Denier watched Martha, Burren, and Runaan train with his hands behind his back.
"Martha. Your courage to always take the initiative is commendable, but it means nothing if you don't think about your rear. The enemy is not a scarecrow."
"Yes!"
Martha immediately accepted Denier's teachings and raised her sword in the direction an enemy could counterattack from.
"Burren. Your balance in offense and defense is good. You're an all-rounder who doesn't lean towards either side. But that's not always an advantage. It's better to have a weapon that can surely finish the enemy."
"Understood."
Burren pricked up his ears, determined not to miss any of Denier's advice.
"Runaan. You're the opposite of Martha. You focus too much on defense, making your offense weak. Not all fights are about protecting someone, so try a more offensive stance."
"Yes."
Runaan responded brightly in a subdued tone, adding sharpness to her extending sword strike.
"Martha. When performing that swordsmanship, lower your upper body a bit more. To avoid counterattacks from the enemy..."
Denier was about to correct Martha's posture again when.
Boom!
The door to the training ground swung open as if it would break, and Alice entered.
"I heard you guys are training? Let me join."
Alice quickly inserted herself among the four like joining a gambling table.
"Alice! Welcome!"
Martha approached Alice with sparkling black pearl-like eyes.
"Are you really going to guide us, Alice?"
Burren was also surprised and gaped.
"Aunt."
Alice frowned as she looked at the two.
"I told you to call me aunt..."
"Aunt."
The first to follow her instruction was not Martha or Burren, but Runaan. She hugged Alice and called her aunt again.
"Th-that's right..."
Alice swallowed dryly as she looked at Runaan.
"You too, just call me aunt."
She awkwardly smiled and patted Runaan's head.
"Anyway, it looks fun. I'll guide you a bit."
Alice stood beside Denier, acting as if she didn't care what others thought, and beckoned with her finger.
"Hmm..."
Burren, Martha, and Runaan turned their heads to Denier, who had been teaching them.
"Let's do it."
Denier blinked, indicating it was okay.
Burren, Martha, and Runaan each displayed their swordsmanship, and Alice watched their techniques calmly, unlike her rough entrance.
"Martha. You have a similar personality to mine. The type that can't wait and draws your sword first, right?"
"That's right."
Martha nodded happily.
"That fierce personality can be a disadvantage sometimes, but you can overcome it, so don't worry."
"How do I overcome it?"
"Spar with me."
"Uh..."
She widened her eyes, seemingly not having considered sparring with Alice.
"Next."
Alice gave Martha some advice and then looked at Burren.
"You think too much. To change that, you need a lot of experience. Sparring with me is confirmed!"
"Oh..."
Burren also gaped.
"Runaan, you're too kind. Your swordsmanship considers others before yourself. You need to become a bit more selfish. So, spar with me!"
Alice smiled, suggesting a sparring match with all three.
"We'll spar right away. Prepare as if it's real combat."
"Yes!"
"Got it."
"Okay."
When she beckoned with her finger, Burren, Martha, and Runaan ran to the locker room to equip their gear.
"Sister."
Denier approached Alice and narrowed his eyes.
"What are you thinking?"
"What do you mean?"
"You're not the type to take care of kids. Even your own son..."
"I neglect him because he's my son. Nephews and nieces are cute."
"That doesn't make sense..."
"Forget about me. What are you thinking?"
An eerie glint flashed in Alice's smiling eyes.
"You're not the type to take care of kids either."