< Chapter 78 - Forest of Eternity #2 >
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There were no exclamation or question marks visible between the tall trees, but Uther and Cordelia were able to quickly locate the owner of the voice.
Because of the branches blocking out the sky, it was dressed so conspicuously in the overall dark forest.
“Elf?”
“I’ll go first!”
The shouting Yuder spread his supernatural power.
Instead of chasing after Uther, who had disappeared before her eyes, Cordelia continued to run, staring straight ahead.
Platinum blonde hair and white armor.
In contrast to the elven woman who stood out because of her overall white appearance, several humanoid monsters that were difficult to distinguish because they were all black caught my eye.
What Cordelia herself can do at this moment.
Cordelia didn’t think this time either. She used her magic intuitively.
“Light!”
Simple light magic.
However, since the amount of magical power was unusual, the intensity of the light was also strong. It did not stop at dispelling the darkness of the forest, but rather engulfed the surroundings in light as if a flash grenade had exploded.
“Ahh!”
The woman, who was blinded by the light, screamed with her eyes tightly shut, and so did the monsters.
And then Uther showed up.
Yuder, who had his back to the light, clearly identified the location and type of enemy in the pure white world.
‘Elf woman.’
White armor.
Platinum blonde hair tied up in a bride bun style.
Very white skin.
A face as beautiful as Cordelia’s, somehow reminiscent of Belencia.
But what was important was not the beauty of the exterior. Uther saw the golden emblem painted on the white armor.
It was the emblem of the Prime royal family.
‘High Elf Royalty!’
Keltur, who became the Skeleton King after the fall of the elves, also wore armor with that emblem.
And monsters.
His entire body was covered in black smoke, and green flames were burning where his eyes should be.
Probably a Shade type monster.
Then there was nothing more to measure.
Yuder grabbed the arm of the elf princess who was struggling and screaming with her eyes closed, pulled her tight, and threw her down as she fell into his arms.
“Huh?”
But there was no sound of it hitting the ground. Perhaps Cordelia had caught it with her telekinesis.
So instead of looking back, Uder kicked his feet and swung his sword at the nearest Shade.
Tsuk!
The pitch-black sword energy cut through Shade’s neck. The black smoke dispersed immediately, and Uder swung his sword again, cutting through the bastard’s upper body.
phut!
Black smoke exploded. But by then, Yuder had already flung himself somewhere else. He barely opened his eyes and cut Shade’s waist, which was burning green flowers, with a sharp roundhouse kick, and then swung his sword toward the three men gathered in the distance, releasing black energy.
Tsukaak-!
The sharp, massive sword slashed through the shades and trees simultaneously. With a rumble, the huge tree fell to the side, its branches and other trees snapping in the process, making an even louder noise.
And then Uther realized.
The fighting style has changed.
He was using martial arts as if he were swordsmanship.
‘Velencia!’
She is the sword spirit of the Ultimate One.
It was her influence.
As he became one with Sword Origin, the experiences and swordsmanship of Velencia were naturally absorbed into him.
‘Now, wait a minute. Belencia is one with Sword Origin.’
And he himself is one with that sword origin.
For a moment, he felt very strange, but he soon came to his senses. Now was not the time to think about such things.
There were still shades left.
“Uder!”
Just then, Cordelia’s voice was heard, and three arrows of light – no, three spears of light – pierced the hearts of the remaining Shades.
An angel’s ring glittered above Cordelia’s head, her wings spread wide.
“Hey! You’re thinking weird!”
When Cordelia suddenly shouted, Uther flinched and instead of answering, he unleashed a black gust of wind and a golden whirlwind, completely dispersing the black smoke around him. If the smoke remained, the Shades could be revived.
‘Who, did you know by looking at the eyes?’
Or is it, as always, the intuition of a beast?
Anyway, Uder shook his head to clear his mind of distracting thoughts and finished off the shades perfectly.
[High elf royalty.]
“uh?”
As he spoke with message magic, Cordelia opened her eyes wide and looked back at the elf princess who was lying on the floor – to be exact, Cordelia had used her telekinesis to catch the object that Uther had thrown and placed it roughly on the floor.
[I don’t know your face?]
[The elves of the Eternal Forest all come out as undead anyway. It would be even stranger if they were familiar faces.]
It was just as Uther said.
So instead of worrying any further, Cordelia put down her mad wings and helped the elf princess up, and Uther let out a sigh of relief before approaching the two.
“Are you okay?”
“Common language?”
The elf princess, who answered Cordelia’s question with a question, looked back at Uther and Cordelia with a blank expression, then let out a belated burst of surprise.
“human being!”
She shouted loudly, then suddenly touched Cordelia’s face with both hands – or rather, her ears – and once again expressed her surprise.
“Short! Short ears! Oh… But are they pretty? The book says humans are ugly. Why are they pretty? Aren’t they humans?”
“Oh, that… is a human.”
Cordelia smiled awkwardly in response to the elf princess’s reaction, which she couldn’t tell if it was a compliment or an insult, and winked at Uther.
It meant to tell me to do something quickly.
“Your Highness, we are humans from the Kingdom of Seilun.”
The elf princess turned her head again when Uder raised his voice, and this time she flinched again.
“You’re handsome. Why are you handsome when you’re human?”
“···There are also handsome people.”
It was a strange thing to say to myself, but it was the truth.
“As a bonus, the girl in front of you is the most beautiful and lovely girl among humans······Dispel.”
[Hey! Are you bouncing this off again?!]
Cordelia, with a red face, hurriedly used silence magic, but it was impossible. Uder, who tore the scroll and defended it in one go, continued speaking with a pleased smile.
“You are the most beautiful human being, so don’t think it’s strange.”
“Then… are you like that too?”
“Yes, that’s right! He is the coolest, most manly, and most handsome human among humans!”
Cordelia shouted loudly as if this was her chance. She was thinking that you should experience it too, and that was why she smiled triumphantly, but it was a mistake.
There was a huge, unbridgeable gap between the shamelessness of Uther and Cordelia.
[Cordelia, you’ve always thought of me like that.]
[uh?]
[To Cordelia, am I the most wonderful, manly, and handsome man in the world? Heh.]
[Oh, no! That, that’s not it?]
[Hehe, I’m embarrassed]
Oh my, what’s wrong with that person?
Cordelia almost screamed without realizing it, but she managed to suppress it and sent the message magic as best she could.
[You, you! To you, I am the most beautiful and lovable person in the world······.]
It was a landmine.
Even though I wasn’t sending it out with my voice but with message magic, I was still taking damage.
Moreover, the opponent was Yuder.
[Of course. She is truly the most beautiful and lovely girl in the world.]
A cheeky smile and sparkling eyes.
But why does that look so cool?
[Ugh… my eyes…]
It’s completely ruined.
Cordelia, her brain melting with shame, stumbled and fell to the ground, and the elf princess looked at her with an expression of incomprehension.
“Are you okay? Are you hurt somewhere?”
“No, it’s okay. You don’t have to worry.”
Yuder answered neatly, then closed the distance between himself and the elf princess and politely bowed.
“I am Count August Bayer of the Kingdom of Seilun. This is my fiancée, Count August Chase.”
“Count. Noble. A human noble?”
“Yes.”
While Uther was answering, Cordelia sat up awkwardly and stood next to him, belatedly paying her respects.
“Greetings to the princess.”
Then he pinched Yuder behind his back, but it was no use.
It was Yuder who could laugh and deflect the wizard’s physical attacks.
[it’s annoying!]
Cordelia wanted to stomp her feet and throw a tantrum at any moment, but she was now in front of the elf princess.
After trying hard to hold it in, I focused my consciousness on the elf princess again.
“Hmm, the prettiest and most handsome human.”
Oh really.
Uder, are you crazy?
It was finally time for Cordelia to curse inwardly again.
The elf princess, who seemed to have shaken off all the embarrassment she had felt until now, spoke with a very neat and dignified expression typical of royalty.
“As you guessed, I am the elven princess. But how did the humans recognize me?”
It has been over 300 years since the elves of the Eternal Forest and humans lost contact.
For the elves, who live for over 500 years, and especially for the high elves, who live for a thousand years, it happened within the same generation, but for humans, it was so long ago that they had to go back to their ancestors’ ancestors’ ancestors.
But how did the human immediately recognize the elf princess?
To a valid question, Uder gave a valid answer.
“I knew it when I saw the Prime royal family’s emblem.”
The Prime royal family’s emblem painted on a pure white breastplate.
“Do humans know the emblem of the Elven royal family?”
“Because the Prime royal family is special.”
Because the only high elf royal family that existed within Seilun was the Prime Royal Family.
However, as the saying goes, if the price is the same, it’s better to say it in a way that makes it sound good. Yuder knew very well that if you’re going to say something, it’s better to say it in a way that makes it sound good.
“Because the only noble high elf royal family that continues the direct lineage of the Magic Kingdom of Magellan is the Prime Royal Family. Outside the forest, there are still many who remember the sword spirit of the Fairy Sword.”
[really?]
When Cordelia asked with wide eyes, Uther answered without even looking back.
[Not really.]
The heyday of Velencia was a thousand years ago. If one generation is 30 years, then that would be a whopping 33 generations ago. It was absurd to think that humans, who had already lost much of their ancient history due to the loss of records, would remember her.
But the elves were different.
To the high elves who lived for a thousand years, Velencia would have been like a grandmother or great-grandmother.
And this time, Uder’s prediction was right.
An unmistakable pride appeared on the elf princess’s face.
“I see. Since you have answered my question, it would be polite for me to reveal myself as well.”
In fact, it seemed like saving a life was more important than solving the mystery, but it was the same for both humans and elves that spitting on royalty brought no good.
Uther and Cordelia waited quietly, and the elf princess cleared her throat and spoke.
“I am Lyca Prime, the eldest son of the Prime royal family, the eldest son of King Grave Prime, and first in line to the throne.”
Elf Princess – Cordelia was startled by Lyca’s self-introduction and sent a message magic to Uther.
[First in line to the throne? Then what about Keltur?]
Wasn’t Keltur supposed to be the next king?
[It was not long after Keltur became king… I think something happened in the meantime.]
Furthermore, since they were high elf royalty, they should have appeared as significant undead monsters, but it was the first time that both Uther and Cordelia, who had conquered the Eternal Forest hundreds of times, had heard of them.
‘There’s no way a character who didn’t even appear in the original work will appear again.’
Between now and the fall of the elves of the Eternal Forest, there is a little over a year.
During that one year, the elf princess before my eyes must have met death in one way or another.
‘Surely he shouldn’t have just died… right?’
Princess Laika was being chased by the Shades.
It was certainly a crisis, but still, he was a member of the High Elf royal family. Would he really have died?
‘No, the fact that he was running away in the first place means that he was exhausted.’
Moreover, she was now bare-handed. She was not holding anything that could be considered a weapon.
‘Did you change history so unexpectedly?’
[Someone is coming.]
It was at that very moment. At Cordelia’s words, Uther quickly turned to the direction she was looking, and withdrew his thoughts.
‘This is not the place.’
The place where Princess Laika dies.
That would be the case, because she had others besides Uther and Cordelia who could save her.
“Hehehe!”
“Lloyd!”
A pure white unicorn emerged from the bushes.
With its flawless white fur, slightly blue-tinged mane, and clear blue eyes, it naturally seemed like a holy beast.
“You came looking for me!”
“Hehe.”
The unicorn- Lloyd, who answered while rubbing his face against Princess Lyca’s cheek, soon turned his gaze towards Uther and Cordelia and his eyes began to sparkle.
“Hehehe.”
The guy approached Cordelia with a very kind expression, pushed his face in and pretended to be friendly, then soon started licking Cordelia’s cheek.
“Ouch, it tickles.”
Cordelia laughed and pushed Lloyd’s face away, but he kept pushing his face in as if he was joking and licking Cordelia’s cheek.
‘That kid?’
This time, there was no need to count to three seconds. Uder quickly reached out and grabbed Cordelia, while he sent a murderous blast at Lloyd that was more intense than when he had faced the First Sword.
“Huh?”
Seongsugo Nabal and ultimately a beast.
The overwhelming murderous intent made the bastard flinch and take a step back, and Cordelia looked back at Uther with a dumbfounded expression.
[What, are you jealous? Are you jealous?]
A smile spread across Cordelia’s face, while Uther’s earlobes began to turn red.
Yuder was always shameless, but he felt embarrassed in strange places.
[Hehehe, you’re jealous.]
While Cordelia was so happy, Uther cleared his throat and looked back at Princess Lyca.
“It’s a unicorn.”
Even though the unicorn was momentarily scared by Uther’s killing intent and took a step back, it was by no means weak.
In particular, Lloyd in front of me felt like a being of a completely different class from the Bycons I had encountered before.
“He is a friend who has grown up with me since I was little.”
Princess Lyca stroked Lloyd’s fur with a pleased face, seemingly unaware of the murderous intent that Uder had unleashed, then quickly climbed onto his back and spoke.
“But what are the humans doing inside the Forest of Eternity? No, how did they get in?”
Because on the outskirts of the Eternal Forest, there was a barrier blocking access from the outside.
After a moment of thought, Yuder took out the flower he had pinned to his chest and answered.
“I am a human who inherited the swordsmanship of the Fairy Sword, Velencia Prime. In addition to swordsmanship, I was also taught some secret arts.”
“Your Majesty the Fairy Sword?”
“Yes, because he had many human disciples.”
In fact, it was not known whether she actually had any human disciples or not, but since she sat down and chatted with dwarven craftsmen, she must have interacted well with humans as well.
“Hmm… I see. Then what is your purpose in entering the Forest of Eternity?”
“I had no intention of going into the forest. I was just trying to move along the outskirts… but I heard the princess’s voice and came running.”
Princess Lyca looked troubled for a moment at Yuder’s explanation, which was a mixture of lies and truth, but then slowly nodded.
“Is this really all under Orion’s guidance?”
Princess Lyca mentioned the name of Orion, the forest god worshipped by the elves of the Eternal Forest, and continued speaking while looking at Yuder and Cordelia.
“Humans. I need your help. Will you lend me and my knights your strength?”
At the solemn question, Judas and Cordelia almost simultaneously thought the same thing.
At least a legendary quest.
That would be the case, since it was a request for help made directly by a high elf princess who was destined to die within a year.
‘perhaps.’
Wouldn’t saving Princess Lyca lead to saving the elves of the Eternal Forest from their promised downfall?
Of course, the direct cause of the destruction of the elves of the Eternal Forest was the invasion of an external enemy resulting from the collapse of the Kingdom of Seilun.
But that was just then.
“Your Highness, I know it may be presumptuous of you to ask, but could you please tell me what is going on?”
When Cordelia asked with an example, Princess Lyca narrowed her brows slightly and nodded.
“You are not my subjects, so I cannot ask for help in vague terms. So I will tell you. I am currently on an expedition with my knights to defeat Jabbawock, the forest monster that has been a long-standing scar on the Eternal Forest. Join the punitive force and help us defeat Jabbawock.”
If you look at the content itself, it was a typical quest.
But Uther and Cordelia reflexively looked back at each other.
Because a name that could never be overlooked was mentioned.
‘JavaWork? The JavaWork we know?’
Uther nodded at Cordelia’s gaze.
If it really was Java Walk, then Princess Lyca’s death would also be explained.
‘Javawalk, the ever-changing monster.’
One of the seven disasters that brought about the destruction of the Pleiades.
Uther and Cordelia looked back at Princess Lyca.
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< Chapter 78 - Forest of Eternity #2 > End
