Note: I want to say something. If you have other stories you're waiting on for updates, it would be better to use your power stones on the stories or fanfics you want. It's fine if only this author uses my power stones on this fanfic ๐คญ
Of course, that doesn't mean I'm forbidding you from using power stones on this fanfic, but I just feel it would be a pity...
As for whether anyone else finds this template fanfic or not... Honestly, this author doesn't care much about popularity. Besides, I know this story is still rather sloppy. So as long as I know someone is still reading this story, I'll keep going here.
Also, the author usually reads your comments and replies in their free time. So don't hesitate to ask questions or point out anything that's missing or wrong (some suggestions are welcome too).
Now then... please enjoy the reading.
***
"H-hey... wa... ke... up..."
"Wa... ke... up..."
A faint, droning voice reached her, but opening her eyes felt strangely heavy, until...
โShe met a pair of golden-brown eyes.
Sylara, the Elf princess, and the owner of those golden-brown eyes stared at each other in silence.
The scent of fresh grass mixed with something sweet, like a potion that had just been brewed, hung in the air around her, and the sound of trickling water came from somewhere.
Then the owner of the golden-brown eyes blurted out.
"...You're awake?"
"Then what are you looking at right now?"
"Ahem!"
She coughed at once to cover her embarrassment. She felt a bit foolish for asking something so obvious, so she had to say something to cover the awkwardness.
"G-good that you're awake. Anyway, there are a lot of things I want to ask you."
"..."
Seeing her effort, Sylara said nothing to expose her.
But... she looked at the figure with curiosity.
A human with a rather striking appearance. More precisely, a girl who gave off the impression of a witch.
Yes... a witch.
Honestly, Sylara had seen human witches before. But this girl in front of her, though she seemed a little tomboyish, somehow looked natural dressed like this because of her nimble, energetic build.
Despite her manner, which was far from "graceful," her wavy blonde hair was quite beautiful and clean. Her golden-brown eyes gave off an impression of purity and innocence.
She wore a black wide-brimmed conical witch's hat decorated with a large white ribbon and lace accents.
Her outfit was a white collared blouse under a black vest-style dress (a pinafore), layered with a white lace apron at the waist.
In conclusion... this girl was rather cute.
Besides, humans usually gave her an unpleasant impression, but this girl... felt different.
In fact, she felt like she wanted to get closer to her.
"Huh? Why are you staring at me?"
โBut her rude way of speaking ruined all of that.
Sylara's expression didn't change. But she still opened her lips.
"It's nothing. I just wanted to say... although I don't know where this is, thank you very much for saving me and some of my friends."
"...Oh?" The girl blinked, surprised for a moment.
"Is something wrong?"
"Aren't you supposed to be arrogant and look down on humans, like I read in books? For example, 'Tch, even though I don't want to, I'll thank you, you human,' or something like that."
"..."
Hearing that, Sylara was at a loss for words.
Actually, it wasn't wrong. Most Elves were indeed like that, herself included, though she didn't show it openly.
But toward the human girl in front of her... for some reason she didn't want to behave that way.
Still, it seemed improper to dwell on it, so she only replied softly.
"The books you read don't fit."
"Huh? Really?"
"Yes.... But allow me to introduce myself. My name is Sylara van Thalorien," Sylara said immediately, because she didn't want to discuss her race's personality any further.
"Sylara vanโwhat? Why is your name so hard to say?" The girl felt her tongue twist. "Well, never mind. I'll just call you Syla to make it easier. As for my name..."
The girl grinned broadly and proudly announced her name. "I'm Kirisame Marisa. Just an ordinary magician!"
"...Then, Miss Marisa. Could you explain where we are?"
"Huh? You don't know this place?"
Hearing the girl's tone, as if she hadn't expected the question, Sylara wondered... was this a special place?
"No. Where is this?"
"Hehehe, then listen carefully!"
Kirisame Marisa took a fitting pose and began to explain in an energetic voice, swinging one hand through the air as if casting a spell on something invisible.
"Got a problem with youkai? Lost something? Or need a special magical concoction? Then come to this place! Because the Kirisame Magic Shop is ready to solve anything!"
"...Okay."
Sylara fell silent for a moment, and her lips twitched.
Kirisame Magic Shop? Just from the name and the way she introduced the place, it already felt less than convincing.
Also... was there really a shop with a name like that in their Elven lands?
Kirisame Marisa seemed to notice that Sylara didn't care much either, and it left her slightly annoyed and helpless at the same time.
With an indifferent shrug, she repeated herself.
"Well, my bad. The Kirisame Magic Shop is just where I live. Actually, you're all in the territory I guard right now, specifically the Forest of Magic."
But that explanation only raised more questions for Sylara.
A territory she guarded? The Forest of Magic?
Only now did she look around more clearly.
The trees here grew too densely for an ordinary forest, and their leaves gave off a soft greenish glow, as if they held magic in their very veins. A thin mist hung low among the huge roots. It didn't feel at all like the battlefield they had just been on.
Noticing her confusion, Kirisame Marisa touched her own forehead.
"Oh, I forgot to mention." She looked at Sylara with a smile. "I'm not a human of this world. In other words, I'm from another world."
"...What?"
***
In this world, the term "Outsider" was basically known only to powerful beings such as Rank SSS or Transcendents. At the very least, information about Outsiders could also be accessed by high-ranking people.
But that term was known to only a handful. So even though she was a royal princess, unfortunately... Sylara wasn't one of them.
That didn't mean they were unfamiliar with beings from other worlds, though. In fact, quite a few beings from other worlds or dimensions had decided to settle in this world for various reasons, such as their homeland having been destroyed, or having been captured when Hunters conquered dungeons.
So although Kirisame Marisa's origin was unexpected... Sylara wasn't too surprised.
The other Elves, however, were a different story. They were shocked, and one of them immediately stammered.
"A-are you a Transcendent being?"
"A what?" Kirisame Marisa was confused.
"...You don't know about Transcendent beings?"
"No. Is that the name of some kind of edible mushroom?" Kirisame Marisa became even more confused.
"No! Why would it be a mushroom?!"
The Elf was frustrated. It wasn't just him. The others were also baffled by the human girl's ignorance. She had never even heard of Transcendent beings!
Only Sylara tried to explain...
"Sorry, we've confused you. In short, we want to know... are you strong?"
"Strong?" Kirisame Marisa blinked, then grinned broadly until her slightly protruding fangs were clearly visible. "Oh, you want to know if I'm strong? Isn't it obvious just from looking at me? Hehehe, so your eyes aren't so bad after all!"
"..."
"What's with those doubtful looks?!"
"N-no, it's nothing."
It felt a bit absurd to imagine the human girl in front of them as a Transcendent being.
But that didn't mean they looked down on her. After all, this girl was the one who had helped them and healed their injuries.
The thing that still puzzled them was this: there had been no sign of [mana] being used or anything like it, so how had this girl healed them?...
Even Sylara felt that something about the girl in front of her was off. She could only guess that Kirisame Marisa might have some kind of potent healing potion.
Forget that for now... there was something else they wanted to ask.
"What about the humans who were chasing us?"
The question made them wait for her reply.
If the human girl in front of them had somehow beaten or driven off a Rank S, that meant Kirisame Marisa's strength was equal to a Rank S+ they could recruit!
But her innocent response left them stunned.
"The humans who were chasing you?" Kirisame Marisa blinked. "Was there any?"
"Y-you didn't see any other humans enter this place?"
"No, no." Kirisame Marisa scratched her head. "On the contrary, you're the ones who came into my place. I haven't seen any race other than you, the elves."
"H-how could this happen..."
Everyone seemed shaken by that. Don't tell me they had suddenly been teleported somewhere else after touching that ancient ruin?!
But Sylara frowned and thought hard.
There was no way they had teleported just because of a ruin. Besides, she could still sense that she remained within Elven territory...
"Hey, hey, it's only been you asking questions this whole time. Now it's my turn." Kirisame Marisa spoke casually as she crouched and stirred something in a small cauldron that had appeared nearby at some point. "Do you need something from that ruin?"
The question broke Sylara's train of thought. The Elf princess's pupils narrowed and all the elves tensed.
"You know about that ruin?"
"Yes, isn't it obvious?" Kirisame Marisa was a little amused. "For your information, that ruin you touched or whatever... you're inside it right now, you know."
"What...?"
The statement left them speechless, mouths hanging open.
"S-sorry, we're in that ruin now?! T-this doesn't make sense!"
As if responding to the Elf's panic, Kirisame Marisa nodded enthusiastically and replied.
"Yes! Exactly right! It doesn't make sense! No one should be able to enter this place!"
What was with this girl?!
They stared at Kirisame Marisa in disbelief.
This human girl apparently didn't understand why they had been able to enter this ruin either!
"Isn't this just a ruin? How could there be living beings in a place like this?"
"Hey, that's rude!" Kirisame Marisa looked annoyed, then sighed. "But it's natural for you to think that. Seen from the outside, it probably looks like just a pile of stones, buildings, or earth? I don't know, since I'm not the one who arranged all that..."
She muttered the last part softly.
But paying no mind to the Elves' reactions, she simply scratched her head and continued her explanation.
"Anyway, the mess you see from the outside doesn't match what's inside. That ruin is really just a disguise. The real thing is a city and several forests ruled by someone else, well... though you could probably count the residents on your fingers."
The statement left them speechless.
A city?
Forests?
Good heavens, it turned out it wasn't an ancient ruin at all!
But Sylara frowned and asked hesitantly.
"Judging from your attitude... besides outsiders not being allowed in, it seems you yourself can't leave this place?"
"..." Kirisame Marisa was stunned. "Oh! You're pretty sharp! That's right. When I first arrived in this world, I had the bad luck to appear in this place, even though I wanted to explore this new world!"
"...Why can't you do that?" As she asked this, Sylara already had a hunch.
"Haah... isn't it obvious?" Kirisame Marisa looked a little irritated.
"I've been forbidden from traveling by the person who rules this place. I was told to guard this forest. Normally I'd ignore it, but since she helped me... it felt wrong to refuse her."
Honestly, if it was only a matter of repaying a favor, she could do that in other ways. Besides, even that ruler hadn't forced her to stay.
But she couldn't... because that person was too gentle and kind-hearted, like a mother. If she refused her request, she felt she would be wracked with guilt.
Ugh, damn it! It was all because she was too kind!
"..."
They all fell silent.
But Sylara had begun to guess... The one who controlled this ruin and was able to hold Kirisame Marisa back was most likely the Transcendent being the court magician had spoken of.
But if this place really was guarded by a Transcendent being, then by her explanation they shouldn't have been allowed to enter, unless...
"Hm... judging from the situation, it seems you've all been given permission, so it's no wonder you could get in here."
"Could you take us to meet her?"
"Hm?"
"Please." Sylara's voice was slightly weak even though she spoke formally. "Allow me to meet her, the ruler of this ruin."
"..." Kirisame Marisa fell silent for a moment, then said indifferently. "I don't mind, but..."
She tilted her head.
"Why should I go to the trouble?"
"...Pardon?"
Everyone was a little startled by Kirisame Marisa's indifferent tone, especially seeing her start to lounge against one of the large walls nearby while she kept brewing something.
"I had plenty of things I wanted to ask you elves from this world, but looking at you... compared to the people who came here before, the information you bring probably isn't very interesting..."
Yes, because she was forbidden to leave and had to guard the Forest of Magic, Kirisame Marisa could at least listen to stories from outsiders.
Even though that didn't suit her free-spirited nature and her dislike of sitting still, it was all she could do, because the boredom of this place was nearly killing her.
As for the term Transcendent being or whatever?
Hah! Why would she need to know the complicated terms of this world? She could always ask the God of Wisdom if she wanted to.
"Well, since you've been allowed in, sooner or later you'll probably meet her, so just be patient," Kirisame Marisa said, waving her hand carelessly.
"Wait!"
"Hm?"
"You said before that someone had already come to this place..."
"Ah, did I say that?" Kirisame Marisa tried to remember, then nodded, but for some reason her expression changed slightly. "Yes, before you, a human came here and..."
The corner of her mouth twitched slightly, but she reluctantly continued. "The ruler of this place likes him very much."
"..."
Hearing that, they grew a little anxious, Sylara included.
Could that Transcendent being, though it wasn't yet certain she was one, already be "bound" to that human?
But Sylara stayed calm and continued. "Is that human still here?"
"Of course not. But unlike some people, me included, he's been given permission to come and go from this place, so every now and then he comes to visit..."
As she explained, the girl's expression turned slightly sour because she was jealous! Damn it, she wanted something like that too!
But that explanation only made Sylara feel more uneasy.
In a hurry, she was about to beg Kirisame Marisa to take them to meet the ruler of this placeโ
But the girl suddenly frowned and turned toward a certain direction, her ears seeming to catch something no one else could hear.
"Huh? We were just talking about him, and it seems he's already back."
"H-him?" One of the elves was a little confused.
"Who else?" Kirisame Marisa shrugged. "The human almost everyone in this place likes. He's back and it looks like..."
She narrowed her eyes toward a faint light that had begun to appear between the trees far ahead of them.
"He's brought some people with him."
***
๐๐๐๐!
An extremely bright light appeared in the middle of a lush forest with countless trees and very dense grass.
Once the light subsided, a group of more than thirty people appeared.
Among them, the one who seemed to be the leader was a handsome, white-haired, silver-eyed man wearing glasses and a robe emblazoned with a golden portal.
The leader from Aethergate Towerโone of the famous towersโArchmage Fellow Davric.
There were also several others who looked similar to him, while some wore modern suits and hunter gear.
Archmage Fellow Davric narrowed his eyes as he surveyed the surroundings, then said flatly.
"Who would have thought the God of Wisdom lived in Elven territory. I almost thought you were plotting to assassinate us in this place, Frost Assassin."
That statement made everyone turn their attention to the masked youth who was the reason they were all here.
Hair as white as snow. Although the mask revealed only his right eye, a sapphire blue, everyone remained wary of him.
"Ara~ How pitiful, my Lux, hated by everyone... But isn't this good? That way, no one can take you away from me. You're only mine now~"
The teasing, enchanting words broke everyone's wariness.
A tiny figure who looked like a fallen angel.
The beauty of a young girl so great it felt almost unreal.
She wore a night-colored gown that seemed to be made of darkness itself.
Her skin was pale like porcelain that had never been touched by sunlight, and her long, glossy black hair flowed down to her waist like a waterfall of darkness.
Her beautiful purple eyes could enchant anyone in an instant, but now her gaze was fixed only on the youth in front of her, her body floating as she wrapped her arms around his neck from behind.
While some shivered at the very dark aura she gave off, a few looked at her with near-fanatical admiration...
๐๐ฎ๐ฟ๐ธ๐ป๐ฒ๐๐ ๐ฆ๐ฝ๐ถ๐ฟ๐ถ๐, ๐ฅ๐ฒ๐๐๐ถ๐ฎ ๐๐๐ต๐ฑ๐ผ๐น๐น.
Honestly... Archmage Fellow Davric still couldn't figure out how the Yozakura Family had managed to make a Darkness Spirit their protector.
And it wasn't an ordinary Darkness Spirit, but one whose purity rivaled the Great Spirits of the Holy Spirit Empire, which were literally no weaker than Rank SS+!
What made the people here feel so jealous and bitter, though, was that besides being quite close to the head of the Yozakura family, the Frost Assassin was also very familiar with that Darkness Spirit!
Several people wore gloomy expressions at this. They were representatives of Obsidian Towerโthe tower that always formed contracts with Darkness Spiritsโyet even their tower didn't have a Darkness Spirit of such purity! That was why they disliked the Frost Assassin so much for having drawn her attention!
Even Archmage Zevrahn Coldwhisper, the one who led Obsidian Tower, looked coldly at the Frost Assassin...
"Miss Restia, please mind your behavior."
Just then, an elegant woman in a black suit, with sapphire blue eyes and blonde hair tied in a ponytail, spoke calmly, though her gaze was very cold.
"Fufu~ You're too tense, Miss Artemisia."
Even as she said so, she still wouldn't let go of Lux's neck.
"..." Artemisia's gaze grew even sharper.
Fortunatelyโ
"I don't care whether you suspect me or not."
Just then, Lux looked at them all, specifically the people who could essentially be called emissaries of the World Organization.
"I only brought you to meet the God of Wisdom, as agreed. What happens after that is no longer my concern."
"We understand that perfectly, Mr. Frost."
A rather friendly man's voice sounded.
He was sturdy, in his fifties, with a neat graying beard, wearing a midnight blue robe scattered with small star patterns. At his waist hung a personal notebook bound with a chain, the mark of his highest office.
Great Perrin Kaelstrom, a Rank SSS who guarded the largest library of humankind, the Grand Athenaeum of Kael.
In status, he was equal to Grand Marshal Valerian Brightblade, the strongest human.
The presence of someone so important here was, of course, for the sake of meeting the God of Wisdom himself.
"Don't worry. On my word, no one will dare doubt what you say."
"..."
Archmage Fellow Davric said nothing to that statement.
Although he de facto represented the World Organization, he knew that ever since the old man had joined them, his authority had essentially been suppressed.
Setting aside the burden of the World Organization, the people present could be said to represent their respective backgrounds.
๐๐ฒ๐๐ต๐ฒ๐ฟ๐ด๐ฎ๐๐ฒ ๐ง๐ผ๐๐ฒ๐ฟ.
๐ข๐ฏ๐๐ถ๐ฑ๐ถ๐ฎ๐ป ๐ง๐ผ๐๐ฒ๐ฟ.
๐ง๐ต๐ฒ ๐๐ฟ๐ฎ๐ป๐ฑ ๐๐๐ต๐ฒ๐ป๐ฎ๐ฒ๐๐บ ๐ผ๐ณ ๐๐ฎ๐ฒ๐น.
And lastly, ๐๐ต๐ฒ ๐๐๐ป๐๐ฒ๐ฟ ๐๐๐๐ผ๐ฐ๐ถ๐ฎ๐๐ถ๐ผ๐ป.
Among the four, the Hunter Association appeared to be the weakest, since it was led by Artemisia, who was only Rank S.
The reason Artemisia had been chosen to represent the Hunter Association was that her composure in the face of all kinds of problems was extraordinary.
Even when facing several Rank SS, the woman showed no sign of nervousness. Besides, her appearance was also very pleasing to the eye, so it was no wonder she had been chosen.
And honestly... Lux hadn't expected it either. In less than a year, Artemisia had been entrusted with such responsibility by the Hunter Association.
Besides, unlike Artemisia's group, which consisted of just one Rank S and a few Rank B or Aโ
Aethergate Tower and Obsidian Tower had each brought about three Rank S in their parties.
And the Grand Athenaeum of Kael?
Besides Great Perrin Kaelstrom, a Rank SSS, he had brought only one other person, whose strength was merely Rank A.
Everyone felt it was a little strange that Great Perrin Kaelstrom had brought only one person, and only a Rank A at that, but they didn't think much of it because their main goal right now was to meet the God of Wisdom.
Except... Lux.
Only he paid attention to the person Great Perrin Kaelstrom had brought.
The reason... for some reason, he felt like he had seen them before.
But... when had he seen them?
As if sensing Lux watching, the robed figure instinctively pulled their hood down deeper, as if trying to hide.
Lux narrowed his eyes, but didn't try to examine them further.
"So, what should we do next? Just wait like this?"
"Yes."
"..."
Everyone's lips twitched slightly, but then suddenly circles of bright light appeared and enveloped them all.
Some were startled, but after sensing that the light wasn't harmful, they calmed down at once.
On the contrary, they were all full of anticipation to meet the one called the God of Wisdom.
After all, that was their goal.
Andโ
๐๐๐๐!
The scenery around them changed instantly.
When they blinked, they found themselves standing in a room.
"W-wow, incredible..."
One of them exclaimed in awe.
An atmosphere full of life.
Every wall was transparent glass, with warm sunlight pouring in and forming small pools of light that drifted slowly across the floor whenever the leaves outside swayed in the wind.
Some clear green roots and trees coiled around several pillars of the building, but this didn't make it look shabby. On the contrary, it made the place seem very ancient and full of life.
Between the roots, small white and pale blue flowers bloomed quietly, as if undisturbed by the sudden presence of humans filling the room.
The tremendous life energy made the air they breathed feel so clean and clear that they were startled.
Especially the very clear waterfall not far from them. It was so clear that they could even see their own reflections, and its trickling sounded like deliberately arranged notes, not merely the sound of ordinary falling water.
Most of the building was dominated by green, white, and a faint gold that seemed to radiate an undeniable sacredness.
Even the representatives of Obsidian Tower, who usually found sunlight very bothersome, clicked their tongues in admiration, because merely breathing the air of this place cleared their heads...
"Look how clean this place is. What do you think would happen if I dripped a little darkness here, my Lux~?"
Restia Ashdoll said playfully as she swung her fingers as if about to scratch something into the air, and several people nearby tensed up immediately when they heard it.
"Heh, look who's come back! Someone who forgot themselves after such a long time. And bringing that wicked, ghost-like girl with you, it seems you've just awakened some strange fetish!"
At that moment, everyone was greatly startled by those words.
They all looked up and found a tiny girl, whom they had taken for a child, floating near the ceiling of the room, the hem of her dress fluttering gently even though no wind could be felt.
She had shoulder-length emerald green hair in a spiral curl style that curved outward at the ends. Her large eyes had matching green irises, paired with a face that looked sulky, arrogant, or irritated.
She wore a long-sleeved, tight-fitting black dress with a high collar. The lower part of the dress had four high slits running up to the thighs, so it seemed to float when she flew.
"Fufu~ Look who's here, my Lux. It seems she's an acquaintance of yours~ But I didn't know you had a little child as an acquaintance~" said Restia Ashdoll in a joking tone, but her words... sounded very mocking.
And clearly, the girl was like a cat whose tail had been stepped on. Her expression changed instantly and the air pressure around her felt like it was about to explode!
"Who are you calling a little child?! You're just a Spirit, who do you think you areโ"
Everyone's faces turned tense. Just as several were about to prepare to calm down this girl who seemed to have an anger problemโ
"Enough, Tatsumaki."
"..."
Lux's words cut off the girl's sentence, the girl named Tatsumaki.
Just when people thought the girl would get angry, surprisingly... she didn't.
She only put on an irritated face and turned away while the air pressure around her began to subside.
"Tch, you're lucky this time." Even as she said so, her sharp gaze never left Restia Ashdoll.
"How frightening~" The Darkness Spirit only chuckled softly.
"..."
Lux's expression didn't change, but Archmage Fellow Davric couldn't stay silent any longer.
He approached Tatsumaki and began to speak.
"Judging from your attitude, are you one of the residents of this place?"
"..." Tatsumaki frowned and then asked. "Who are you? Wearing such fancy, covered-up clothes, do you want to show off?"
"..." Everyone was stunned.
This time, even Great Perrin Kaelstrom wanted to laugh at such a disrespectful statement toward one of the Archmages of this world!
Unsurprisingly, the old man burst into hearty laughter!
"Hahaha! You're so entertaining! What was your name again, Miss Tatsumaki, right? Yes, we're not surprised that you don't know about us. Allow me to introduce myself, I am Perrin Kaelstrom. We are representatives of the World Organization."
"World Organization or whatever. What did you come here for?"
"We wish to meet the God of Wisdom."
"Hah!"
But hearing that, Tatsumaki's expression immediately turned disgusted. "You want to meet the God of Wisdom? Are you joking?"
But Great Perrin Kaelstrom wasn't offended. He only laughed lightly and said.
"Unfortunately, we are not joking. There are many other things we wish to ask her. Besides, this also concerns one of your acquaintances over there." He glanced at Lux.
And that successfully silenced Tatsumaki. She stared sharply at Lux and asked.
"...Did you massacre a city?"
"No."
"Then what? Did you kill an emperor?"
"No, I didn't do that." Lux paused for a moment before continuing.
"They're just suspicious about some earlier events and need confirmation about them. The only one who can explain all that..." Lux looked calmly into Tatsumaki's eyes. "Is her."
"..." Tatsumaki stared at him in silence.
Just when everyone thought the girl would refuseโ
"Fine. Besides, even if I didn't want to, it's not like I could stop her."
"So there's no problem if we meet the God of Wisdom?" Great Perrin Kaelstrom smiled broadly.
"Heh, don't get the wrong idea." Tatsumaki's expression looked disgusted. "Be grateful. Honestly, if Enkidu hadn't said that this person, Lux, was with you, my instincts would have treated you as intruders," Tatsumaki said coldly.
Everyone raised their eyebrows slightly at the haughty, arrogant statement.
But they were also a little intrigued by the other name Tatsumaki had mentioned.
Enkidu... it seemed that was also another resident of this place.
Whatever the case, they could finally meet the person they wanted to meet.
"Welcome back, Lux. And... welcome also to the guests you've brought this time. Thankfully, this place, which was once so quiet, finally feels alive."
โThat was when they heard a very gentle and friendly voice.
The voice flowed softly, like wind sweeping through leaves in the morning. Calm, gentle, yet somehow it made everyone who heard it feel at peace at once, as if the burdens on their shoulders were being lifted too.
Everyone turned toward the source of the voice.
From somewhere behind the thicket of giant roots coiled around one of the room's main pillars, a woman appeared, or perhaps it would be more fitting to call her a goddess, given the aura she gave off.
She sat on a throne made of roots and stone fused together, at the edge of the clear water, as if the forest around her were deliberately holding its breath for her.
Her hair was long, silvery white at the roots and slowly fading to emerald green at the ends. Part of it was braided loosely and fell over her shoulders, while the rest flowed free, stirred by a wind that came from who knew where.
A single strand of hair stood up on the top of her head, and a small bluish-green ornament resembling a butterfly perched on the side of her head, as if it were truly a tiny living creature that had alighted there, not merely a piece of jewelry.
Her ears were pointed like a fairy's, and her clear green eyes were as calm as a deep lake.
Her white dress fell long and soft, adorned with gold leaf-shaped ornaments at the chest.
A green necklace with a small gem encircled her neck, and her thin sleeves trailed down like morning mist.
The hem of her dress merged with green vines and leaves, as if growing from the forest itself. Her feet were bare, almost touching the surface of the water, and every time the water quivered slightly, its ripples reflected a greenish light across the room.
On her lap sat a small creature wearing a leaf hat. She touched it gently, her faint smile full of affection.
The light that filtered through the leaves reflected and refracted a faint rainbow shimmer around her, making her look like a goddess written by the forest itself.
Her bright emerald green eyes radiated wisdom thousands of years old, yet at the same time remained warm... like looking at a child who had just come home.
And just from observing her appearance... they already knew who was there.
"G-God of Wisdom..." one of the representatives murmured, almost unable to believe it.
Great Perrin Kaelstrom, though he had lived more than a hundred years and witnessed all sorts of wonders of the world, could not hide his awe this time either...
He promptly bowed deeply, followed by nearly everyone behind him.
"It is truly an honor to meet you in person, Your Majesty. I am Perrin Kaelstrom, representingโ"
"There's no need to be so formal."
That gentle interruption stopped Perrin's words.
The woman smiled faintly and stepped closer, her footsteps almost soundless, as if the floor beneath her were reluctant to disturb her serenity. Each step left behind small vines that sprouted for a moment and then vanished back into the floor.
"It's been a long time since I've had this many guests. Usually only Lux comes and goes as he pleases."
Her eyes glanced toward Lux with a look like a mother regarding her mischievous child.
"I heard you're in trouble again."
"..." Lux was silent for a moment before answering quietly. "They need an explanation."
"I see."
She nodded in understanding with a faint smile, as if merely hearing the youth's voice was enough to make her happy.
Then she turned her gaze to the group behind Lux, one by one, as if reading their souls just by looking.
A strange feeling crept over everyone's bodies. It wasn't the sense of oppression they felt when facing Grand Marshal Valerian. It wasn't the fear of facing the strongest human emperor...
This was different.
It was like standing before the root of everything... something far older, far deeper than mere power.
It felt as though... the woman had looked deep inside them.
Not just their faces or their strength, but every small decision they had ever made in their lives.
"My name is Rukkhadevata."
The goddess introduced herself in a simple tone, as if it weren't a name that should make the whole world tremble.
"Some call me the ๐๐ผ๐ฑ ๐ผ๐ณ ๐ช๐ถ๐๐ฑ๐ผ๐บ. Others call me ๐๐ฟ๐ฒ๐ฎ๐๐ฒ๐ฟ ๐๐ผ๐ฟ๐ฑ ๐ฅ๐๐ธ๐ธ๐ต๐ฎ๐ฑ๐ฒ๐๐ฎ๐๐ฎ. I am also called the ๐๐ฒ๐ป๐ฑ๐ฟ๐ผ ๐๐ฟ๐ฐ๐ต๐ผ๐ป, but... I prefer to be called simply by my name."
Then the woman smiled.
A smile that could make anyone feel her love and be enchanted.
"As the one who leads this place, I say to you... welcome to the ๐ฐ๐ถ๐๐ ๐ผ๐ณ ๐ฆ๐๐บ๐ฒ๐ฟ๐."
***
"What do you think, Chief?"
"Hm... how strange. This ruin seems to be protected by some kind of barrier. More precisely, a spatial barrier?"
Outside the ruin, a group of humans had gathered. Some of them wore modern clothes and some wore hunter gear.
Yes, they were the slave traders who had earlier pursued Princess Sylara and the other Elves.
But now, their attention was focused on the ruin before them.
Perhaps they wouldn't have cared much before, but after learning that this ruin had somehow made Princess Sylara and the other Elves disappear, the bald Rank S man who had earlier chased Sylara, Vezmir, had no choice but to report to the chief of the Chainbinder.
Unexpectedly, upon learning the news, the Chainbinder chief became very interested and appeared in person.
A man with dark hair and white eyes. If not for the scars covering his face, he might have been considered handsome. His right hand was also not a human hand, but an iron prosthetic engraved with runes.
Malgrath Chainbinder, the chief of the Chainbinder slave traders.
"To be protected by a barrier this strong, there must be something important inside."
Malgrath Chainbinder narrowed his eyes. He had no proof, but his instincts told him so.
However, because he was still in Elven territory, he couldn't just barge in recklessly.
Moreover, the reason the Chainbinder group had been able to enter this region was the permission of certain Elven kingdoms hostile to the Tharorien Kingdom.
"Let's report this news to those foolish Elves first. After that, we'll actโ"
"There are other humans? That's unexpected."
The sudden deep, hoarse voice made Malgrath immediately alert.
The Chainbinder soldiers and hunters also tensed at once.
When they turned around, without the sound of any footsteps, two figures were already standing not far from them, as if they had always been there and had only now been noticed.
One was a black-haired figure wearing a white kitsune mask with a beautiful pattern. He wore a blue-gray robe with gray layers and a fur collar.
But what made them all break out in a cold sweat was... the adult woman beside him.
Her body, with proportions so alluring they could stir desire, was plainly visible because of her kimono, a gold-and-silver kimono that was extremely revealing.
Her golden hair looked very beautiful and bright in the sunlight. Her face couldn't be seen because she wore a golden kitsune mask, but they knew the woman must be beautiful and captivating.
Yet they couldn't bring themselves to stare at her so disrespectfully, because they saw nine golden tails behind the woman!
And although Malgrath's knowledge wasn't very broad, he knew one thing...
The more tails a fox creature had, the more formidable its power.
Five tails were roughly strong enough to fight a Rank S...
And the one in front of them had nine!
What did that mean? All the Chainbinder's Rank S could be slaughtered in an instant!
Cold sweat ran down Malgrath's temple. But he tried to stay calm and spoke in his usual tone.
"Forgive us if we've offended you. We'll leave this place at once."
Instead of being offended, the youth seemed interested in their presence.
"You..." The youth in the white kitsune mask tilted his head. "You're the chief of the Chainbinder, aren't you?"
"...That's right, sir. Do you have business with me?"
"Then this is the right time." The youth continued. "I want to make a deal with you."
"...A deal?"
"Yes." He nodded. "And I guarantee, it won't cause any loss to you or your 'acquaintances.'"
***
"[๐ช๐๐ข... ๐ช๐๐ข ๐๐๐ฅ๐๐ ๐ง๐๐๐ ๐ ๐ฌ ๐ง๐๐ง๐๐?!]"
In a certain dimension, an empty space with no sky and no ground, only a dense gray stretching without limit like paper that had never been written on, a vague figure roared in madness.
He looked like a well-preserved middle-aged man, with dull silver hair like the ash of a burned-out star. Around him, fragments of ancient symbols and letters floated slowly, spinning aimlessly like torn book pages scattered in empty air.
From his aura... he was clearly a Transcendent being. But something was plainly missing from him, like an ember that still burned but had lost most of its fuel.
On his forehead was a scar shaped like a cracked crown, bloodless but still emitting a dim light, pulsing weakly like a dying heart.
His old white-and-blue robe was tattered at the edges. The symbols on the fabric slowly faded and vanished, as if the ink that wrote them were being gently erased by an invisible hand.
Behind his head was a halo of light broken in half, yet even that halo turned slowly and incompletely, sometimes flickering out before lighting up again.
His left eye still glowed golden. But his right eye... was filled with empty gray, like a hole staring back at anything that dared to look at it.
And his right eye was where the "๐๐๐ฒ ๐ผ๐ณ ๐ช๐ถ๐๐ฑ๐ผ๐บ" used to reside.
And yes... Transcendent beings knew what happened when the eye was lost.
Not just him, almost all Transcendent beings knew.
Every Transcendent being had their own title, and the title itself symbolized their power.
If their title was lost, it was the same as losing their power!
This was what had enraged the Transcendent being! Because his title had been taken!
Although his raw power as a Transcendent being had not vanished, it was obvious he was no longer in his prime!
And what was more pitiful, he didn't know who had seized his title!
If he still had the Eye of Wisdom, he could have known what happened. Unfortunately... when his title was lost, the Eye of Wisdom had vanished with it!
If other Transcendent beings found out, he would surely become a laughingstock!
Just imagining how he, once revered by other Transcendent beings for his extraordinary "knowledge," had now sunk to the level of a mortal was unbearable, so much so that he wanted to annihilate everything he saw!
No matter what, he had to find the one who had seized his title!
But unfortunately for him, he had no clue at all about who the culprit was.
Just thenโ
ใ"Oh my... such a loud voice and it turns out to be merely a poor being weeping over the loss of his divinity."ใ
"[๐ช๐๐ข ๐๐ฆ ๐ง๐๐๐ง?!]"
The Transcendent being roared in fury at once!
His powerful aura made the dimension he dwelled in tremble, and small cracks appeared in the gray space around him like glass about to shatter.
But the figure seemed unaffected. Of her own accord, she revealed herself.
And at that moment... the Transcendent being's whole body seemed to shudder.
The air in the dimension quivered gently, then a tiny figure floated down, light as a falling petal that knew no gravity, as if the empty dimension had suddenly been given an "up" and a "down" just because of her presence.
Her extremely long silver hair flowed freely behind her, strand by strand dancing as if space itself were breathing.
Among her hair, long blue ribbons fluttered, one tied prettily at the side of her head, the rest billowing like streams of water frozen in the air.
Her clear blue eyes gazed calmly from beneath her exposed forehead, and a small smile curved on her lips, too peaceful for a place so full of rage.
Her loose white robe was layered, thin and palely shimmering, swelling gently around her with no wind to explain its movement. One hand was raised lightly, as if greeting an old guest.
There was no threatening aura about her. Her gentle, extremely beautiful appearance should have left people enchanted to death.
...Yes, enchanted to death, quite literally.
ใ"Please forgive my sudden arrival. Your voice reached even where I was, so I took the liberty of greeting you."ใ
The petite woman smiled beautifully.
So beautifully that it felt unreal, like a moving painting, not a truly living being.
โBut that was precisely what made the Transcendent being lose control.
"[๐ฌ๐ข๐จ ๐จ๐ก๐๐ก๐ฉ๐๐ง๐๐ ๐ฃ๐๐ฆ๐ง, ๐๐๐!]"
As he roared, his aura immediately swirled around the young woman, forming a vortex of dark energy that even tore apart the remnants of the symbols still floating in the air.
But the woman's smile did not change. She only saidโ
ใ"Please, there's no need to be wary. I haven't come to judge you. I only feel that a world that erased your name is a world that has not yet been written properly."ใ
Andโ
๐ฝ๐๐๐!
The woman's body was obliterated in an instant, blood spraying outward. Not even a single bone remained.
Butโ
ใ"Your anger is entirely understandable. Someone who devoted their whole existence to wisdom, only to have it stripped away, certainly deserves to feel betrayed."ใ
The Transcendent being's eyes widened.
Somehow, the petite woman whose body should have exploded was standing again, without a trace of anything, not far from him.
No, more precisely, the bloodstains were still there, but the woman was also still there, whole, as if nothing had ever happened.
What... an immortal being? Or another Transcendent being?
He didn't know, but his instincts told him this woman was dangerous!
The Transcendent being launched another attack and the woman's body seemed to swell and thenโ
BOOM!
โCountless splashes of blood shot out in every direction as her body burst from within!
Butโ
ใ"Go ahead, release it all. I don't mind. Honest anger is far more beautiful than forced wisdom."ใ
โThe woman stood there with no change to her body, her smile and gaze exactly the same as before.
Even after "dying" twice, the woman seemed unbothered and still tried to communicate warmly.
What... what in the world was this being?
The Transcendent being's body trembled slightly.
Although he possessed countless amounts of knowledge, what he was witnessing now... surpassed everything he knew.
"[...๐ช๐ต๐ฎ๐ ๐ฑ๐ผ ๐๐ผ๐ ๐๐ฎ๐ป๐?]"
This time he began to ask with a clear mind, because this woman didn't mind dying several times, which meant she must have something she wanted to convey.
ใ"I would like to make you an offer. I can help rewrite your story, Sir Sage. That title can return to your hands, and those who took it can vanish like erased ink."ใshe said gently.
"[๐ช๐ต๐ฎ๐?]" The Transcendent being was stunned.
ใ"Please, feel free to doubt. Doubt is natural. But I will wait. I am very patient and I always have time."ใ
"[...๐ ๐ฏ๐ฒ๐น๐ถ๐ฒ๐๐ฒ ๐๐ผ๐.]"
ใ"Your decision is the right one and I will not let you regret it. From this moment on, your story is in the most loving hands."ใ
The Transcendent being said nothing.
He only watched the petite woman.
Although this woman's existence seemed to be "rejected" by this world, by a "history" that denied her existence, if she could keep her promise, then perhaps...
ใ"Before we go any further, allow me to introduce myself properly."ใ
The petite woman placed one hand over her chest gracefully, like someone paying respect to a guest.
ใ"My name is Pandora. People call me...ใ
ใ"๐ช๐ถ๐๐ฐ๐ต ๐ผ๐ณ ๐ฉ๐ฎ๐ถ๐ป๐ด๐น๐ผ๐ฟ๐."ใ
***