When he was young, Yura learned some battle skills of The Lands Between from his father, aspiring to become a great samurai.
But as he grew up and experienced various battles, his ideals were completely changed.
He didn't have much ambition himself, belonging to the relatively laid-back type of person.
Now, he only wanted to live a quiet and stable life.
As for repairing the Elden Ring and becoming the Elden Lord, he knew he didn't have the ability and wouldn't even consider it.
He would most likely find a safe and undisturbed place with his Finger Maiden and live there permanently.
"Oh, enough about me, madam. What about you? Are you just going to wander around The Lands Between like this?"
Yura thought about the beautiful days ahead, then quickly changed the subject and asked The Gloam-eyed Queen.
As a samurai who had long walked the edge of death, he possessed a keen perception of danger and power.
When he first saw The Gloam-eyed Queen, he felt the powerful aura emanating from her.
It was this aura that made him curious as to why such a powerful being would wander through this world.
"Me? I am looking for my daughter. She was brainwashed by Marika and 'voluntarily' became Kindling. If you encounter her on your journey, please be sure to tell me."
The Gloam-eyed Queen said this while condensing a metal scale and handing it to Yura, requesting:
"Kindling will appear beside the Tarnished. If you are fortunate enough to meet her, just hold the scale and tell me."
"Your daughter... Kindling?" Yura asked, somewhat puzzled.
The Gloam-eyed Queen nodded and continued,
"Kindling is the key to becoming Elden Lord. To ascend to the throne, one must first burn down the Erdtree and eliminate the remnants of the old law.
"Only Kindling can fully ignite the Erdtree, but the cost is her life. I think that, if possible, I am willing to become the Kindling to ignite the Erdtree in her place!"
The Gloam-eyed Queen's voice revealed firmness and determination, as if she were willing to sacrifice everything to protect her daughter.
The Finger Maiden, who had been silent and expressionless beside her, heard this, and an unusual glint flashed through her eyes.
Yura looked at The Gloam-eyed Queen, a feeling of admiration welling up in his heart.
"You are a great mother. I will respect your choice!"
Yura tightly gripped the scale in his hand, feeling its warmth and texture.
He carefully placed the scale close to his body, indicating that if he had the chance, he would definitely help.
After the three of them enjoyed the delicious roasted whole lamb, Yura, with tears in his eyes, emptied his father's accumulated Runes and battle skill knowledge.
Only then did he manage to buy a small tent, large enough for two people to rest, along with some basic living supplies, from The Gloam-eyed Queen, the cunning merchant.
However, before he could invite the Finger Maiden to sleep beside him,
the Finger Maiden had already returned to the Roundtable Hold to rest.
The Roundtable Hold is a small subspace created by the Erdtree.
It provides a relatively safe area for the Tarnished's Finger Maiden and particularly outstanding Tarnished to rest.
This prevents the Finger Maiden from affecting the Tarnished's performance while they are fighting.
Here, the Tarnished can temporarily escape external dangers and pressures, recovering their physical and mental strength.
"Cherish your Grace, and don't die too many times. The Grace of the Tarnished is not infinite. The more you die, the less potential you have, and eventually, you will be abandoned by the Golden Order!"
The Gloam-eyed Queen's voice carried a hint of seriousness and concern.
Yura nodded silently, found a comfortable spot in the tent, and slept in his clothes.
Within his field of vision, he could see a golden line pointing directly toward Stormveil Castle in the distance.
This was the guidance of Grace and also his direction forward.
Countless Tarnished would follow the guidance of Grace, pressing onward toward that place until someone successfully obtained the Great Rune there.
...
...
The night passed without incident. The next morning, sunlight filtered through the gaps in the leaves, casting dappled patterns of light and shadow across the ground.
Yura opened his eyes, feeling the fresh air and peaceful atmosphere.
He got up, stretched his body, then organized his equipment, ready to continue his journey.
At this time, The Gloam-eyed Queen had already mounted her spectral steed, seemingly about to leave.
Yura walked over to The Gloam-eyed Queen and bid her farewell:
"Thank you for your help, The Gloam-eyed Queen. I hope we can meet again."
The Gloam-eyed Queen smiled and nodded.
"Good luck, Yura. May you find your own path."
With that, she spurred her spectral steed and left the camp.
Yura watched his departing back, a feeling of gratitude welling up in his heart.
Although it had only been a brief encounter, The Gloam-eyed Queen left a deep impression on him.
Yura took a deep breath, adjusted his mindset, came to the Site of Grace, summoned his Finger Maiden, and set off in the opposite direction of Grace to find a home for the two of them.
The Gloam-eyed Queen rode her steed straight ahead, entering the Chapel of Anticipation.
It looked like a heavily fortified stronghold. At this moment, it had not yet fallen into ruin, and its magnificent decorations made it appear exceptionally luxurious.
Inside, there were still a large number of Golden Nobles maintaining order—or rather, waiting for the return of the First Elden Lord, Godfrey, waiting for the First Elden Lord to lead them back to the Royal Capital.
Finger Maidens and Tarnished constantly appeared in pairs throughout the surrounding open spaces, then quickly departed under the guidance of their Finger Maidens.
If they didn't leave quickly, they might very well be killed first by the Golden Nobles stationed there.
After all, the Tarnished had all come to compete for the title of Elden Lord, making them the greatest enemies of the Golden Lineage.
These Golden Nobles would not tolerate the Tarnished. Their attitude toward them had always been to kill as many as possible.
The Gloam-eyed Queen slowly entered the front hall of the chapel.
The defensive barrier at the entrance instantly dispelled his spectral steed.
The Gloam-eyed Queen could only walk in, strolling among the magnificent decorations as she made her way toward the depths of the building.
The Golden Nobles he passed immediately lowered their heads after glancing at The Gloam-eyed Queen, then quickly hid themselves in shadowy corners beyond The Gloam-eyed Queen's sight.
In the deepest part of the chapel, The Gloam-eyed Queen saw their return passage.
It was a crack radiating golden light, with dense fog swirling within it, yet The Gloam-eyed Queen could feel that it connected to the world beyond The Lands Between.
"Take me to see your world!"
The Gloam-eyed Queen stepped into the crack.
Then, The Gloam-eyed Queen entered a world filled with mist.
Countless passages, like the roots of a giant tree, spread throughout the void, connecting countless worlds.
The Gloam-eyed Queen took out the old man's soul and followed the coordinates imprinted upon it, feeling his way through the dense fog.
When she opened her eyes, she saw Eastern-style buildings in the distance.
"Ha ha, the Land of Reeds. It's really not surprising at all!"
⭐ Enjoying the story?
You can read ahead and support the translations by joining my Patreon! Your support helps me update faster and take on more projects. Thank you for reading!
Read up to 50 chapters ahead!
patreon.com/AminaSim