00851 Meanwhile, Same Time: Seven —————————- —————————–=
What is the background to Odin’s rise to become the best clan leading the southern continent?
Most people talk about the meeting between Eldora, the leader of Odin, and Melinus, who is called a prophet and respected, but if you look closely, it is not necessarily the only story. For example, just as the Northern Continent refers to ten special users as the Ten Gang, there is a similar group in the Southern Continent.
When Eldora was first summoned to the Hall Plain about six years ago, she was just a young girl. No matter how high the potential the user is, what can a child of only fourteen do in this barren world?
The one who appeared as a savior at that time was Melinus, who had already gained fame in the southern continent. Coincidentally, Melinus, who was in charge of taking care of prospective users, saw Eldora, who had just arrived, and immediately recognized its potential and took on the role of protector. In other words, I decided to take him in and raise him myself.
In this way, Eldora began to fully reveal her potential under the protection of the prophet. Actually, Eldora does one thing. All I did was go where Melinus told me to go and do what I was told. But that didn’t mean she moved like a puppet. This is because Melinus was always careful not to let Eldora feel that way. She showed respect at all times and everywhere, and when she had to do something, she provided sufficient explanations to justify her actions.
The clever Eldora understood the meaning and faithfully lived up to expectations. On the contrary, if it went well, it was good, because there was nothing bad about following Melinus’ words.
So, as two years passed, Eldora was suddenly standing in the eye of the storm on the southern continent. The blonde girl’s name slowly began to appear among users, and more and more people were paying close attention to Eldora’s every move.
Of course, this was also Melinus’ intention. Melinus wisely responded to the attention of users, which could easily lead to jealousy, through two methods.
First, it did not pursue private interests, but acted strictly for the public good. From Sosa to Ambassador, whenever the Southern Continent was in trouble, Eldora always took the lead in solving the problem. For example, an alliance with a closed fairy could be made to open the fairy forest, or, more closely, the attack and discovery of an orc castle.
Then, users on the southern continent also began to gradually become enthusiastic about Eldora’s actions. In fact, aside from the benefits to themselves, the story of a slender and pretty girl meeting an old wise man, having a romantic adventure, and building a power felt like a kind of fantasy literature. In this way, Eldora was already receiving attention similar to that of a public figure.
And secondly, rather than operating solely in a maverick manner, he gathered reputable users as colleagues. Like any other continent, the Southern Continent also had several famous users, and Melinus actively recruited them through various methods, such as calling people he knew or visiting them in person to persuade them. There was even a dramatic incident where he fought a duel with Eldora and became a teammate.
In any case, when people who were famous in one region, whether individuals or forces, came together, it also became a subject of great interest. Eldora treated them not as his subordinates, but as equal colleagues. When something important happened, he always sat around a round table and discussed it without distinction between superiors and subordinates, and always led the ambassador to the right decision.
Users in the southern continent refer to the group as the Knights Of The Round Table.
*
Although the place Olivia mentioned was not a short distance from Ragnarok, the expedition’s march could be said to have been relatively smooth. The stabilization zone was already gone, and even after entering the semi-stabilization zone, there was no real threat. Excluding Olivia, the guide, most of the thirteen knights, including Eldora and Melinus, are Secret Class members, so unless you are a monster, you won’t even blink an eye.
In addition, because Eldora continued to force his way out of a desire to quickly find the scabbard, the expedition was able to reach the destination earlier than planned. Still, as if she couldn’t ignore Ian’s repeated requests for rest, Eldora stopped for a moment on the mountainside. In fact, it didn’t really matter if it was a melee class, but Ian was the only non-combat user among the Knights of the Round Table, so some consideration was necessary.
Akirov looked around with a relatively relaxed expression and walked towards Olivia, who was resting against a large rock.
“Elphin Road. “I think I heard you say we’re almost there.”
“Yes, you just have to get over that place.”
Olivia took a deep breath and pointed to the top of the mountain without even looking up. There, a steep mountain path that looked as if it had been cut at an angle with a sharp knife, and a mountain ridge covered in white clouds were euphemistically connected.
Akirov nodded his head a couple of times and continued.
“I see, but then. I wasn’t expecting to be greeted, but why can’t I see other users? “Is it waiting on the other side?”
“… Picking you up? “Who?”
“Who is it? “They are Elfin Clan members.”
“They all evacuated?”
“what? why? “Then who is the guide?”
“We suffered severe damage at the beginning. So I told them to go back. “I can guide you.”
Then Akirov suddenly crossed his arms and showed his characteristic arrogant expression.
“hmm… .”
“why?”
“no. “I take credit for discovering it, but I feel like I’m eating it too raw.”
“oh. “For a knight of Menghua, those words are quite stingy.”
Akirov fired back in a sharp tone, but Olivia responded eloquently. Then, just as Akirov was about to pour out more intense words, he suddenly looked away. Soon, someone quietly emerged through the bushes.
A body covered in leaves, as if it were assimilated into a mountainous landscape, and breasts so full that it looks like the flesh would come out even if you squeezed a fistful of them. And the woman who gave off a mysterious atmosphere with her ears sticking out between the gaps in her hair was none other than the fairy Erwin.
“Tsk.”
Akirov immediately frowned. He was clearly looking at a saboteur. However, as Erwin continued walking, he clicked his tongue and turned away as if he did not want to deal with him any further. As soon as he disappeared between the trees, Olivia giggled. She grins and shakes her head as Erwin approaches her with an apologetic expression on his face.
“Don’t worry. This isn’t the first time this person has done something like that, right? Well, actually, it’s not wrong.”
“no. No one would think that way. “I am deeply grateful to Eldorado Olivia.”
“Thank you for saying that. Hehehe. Anyway, it was really nice timing. “Were you watching?”
“that is… .”
Olivia, who had been talking cheerfully, looked surprised when she saw Erwin hesitating.
“Maybe you need to see me…” ?”
Erwin nodded carefully as if it was the correct answer. Then he calmly looked around and opened his mouth in a lower voice.
“if… .”
“if?”
“Hasn’t Melinus been feeling a little strange lately?”
“… … .”
Olivia stared at Erwin for about three seconds. She then expressed her unspoken feelings by slightly tilting her head.
“well. “Specifically?”
“okay… .”
“why?”
“No, just… . Lately, I’ve often been seen to be nervous, and it seems like I’m a little nervous… .”
“Eh, are you Melinus?”
“yes. “I also sometimes heard him mumbling strange things to himself.”
Olivia said it was a habit she had been doing for a long time. However, when the deep look on Erwin’s face did not disappear, she looked embarrassed and scratched her cheek.
“I don’t know. “If you really care, wouldn’t it be better to ask Eldora rather than me?”
“Sometimes a distant gaze is better than a close gaze.”
Olivia vaguely understood what Erwin meant.
“is it so. Actually, I didn’t feel anything strange, but if Erwin says so, I’ll take a closer look.”
Erwin seemed to have calmed down a bit after that, bowed his head and gently turned around. At that moment, she heard Eldora shout that she was about to leave, and Olivia stood up as well, dusting her butt.
But Olivia didn’t move right away. She stopped for a moment and stared at Erwin’s back as he walked lightly.
*
After the march resumed, the expedition team, who had easily reached the summit, huddled together and looked down.
Beyond the ridge was a wide basin surrounded by mountain ranges, and buildings that were believed to be ancient structures remained broken here and there. The only intact structure is the huge tower that stands alone in the center.
However, it is clear that even the tower has not been able to overcome the power of time. In addition, the sandstorm occasionally passed by, making the place practically a ruin.
“It’s shabbier than I thought.”
As Edward muttered to himself, Olivia waved her index finger.
“If you look down on me, you’ll be in big trouble, right? Even if you look at it like that, it’s quite dangerous. “I never dreamed there would be a trap on the way to the tower.”
“Then I can take the lead from here on out, right?”
When Natalie was about to jump down with a smile, Olivia hurriedly stopped her.
“for a moment. I’ll just guide you here too. All we have to do is take the path that our clan members have cleared. For no reason, I took a different path and then… .”
Natalie pouted her mouth to express her dissatisfaction, but when Eldora stared at her, she immediately retreated with a satisfied look on her face. She said she had already made her way, so there was no need for her to suffer.
Eventually, the expedition team established its formation and began to descend the mountain, with Olivia at the head. When I got downstairs, I saw that the basin was much larger and more complex than it looked from above. The remains of half-destroyed buildings blocked the path everywhere, making it feel like a maze.
However, Olivia, an experienced person, did not hesitate at all. She weaved deftly between the buildings, and before long she stopped about 60 meters from the tower. In front, there was a long, two-meter-high wall blocking the road to the tower.
Olivia walked right in front, patted the wall a few times, tapped it with the back of her hand, and looked back at the expedition team.
“This is the mural I was talking about… .”
At that moment, before he could finish speaking, Ian shot forward like a bullet. Someone said, “It’s triggered again.” He muttered the words, but did not stop him. The reason why Ian, a non-combat user, was able to be selected as one of the Knights of the Round Table was because he had more knowledge related to the ancient Hall Plane than anyone else.
“Shall I take a look too?”
Soon, the expedition team began to look around the mural at a leisurely pace. The walls were full of metaphysical letters reminiscent of oracle bone letters and strange, indescribable drawings.
Most people shook their heads and gave up as soon as they saw it, but as expected, Ian was different. At first, I thought he was just passing the wall at a fast pace, but as he went, he gradually slowed down, and when he almost reached the end, he looked a little surprised.
“what. This… ?”
After a while, Ian spoke with a serious look on his face.
“why? “Have you found out anything?”
A mature, idiotic woman holding a white cross shield slowly approached and asked.
“No, well… .”
Ian tried to evade it, but when he saw the expedition team slowly gathering, he squinted his eyes as if he was troubled.
“I’m curious about the interpretation of the famous scholar Ian?”
When Olivia asked with curiosity in her voice, Ian smiled bitterly and continued speaking.
“no. Elphin Road’s interpretation is also accurate. No, I don’t know if it’s accurate, but it’s almost identical to mine anyway. This mural appears to be about the seal of God. “I also confirmed that a holy relic was drawn.”
Even as he said that, Ian looked at the corner with uneasy eyes. The area I was looking at was the end of the mural, and there were no pictures drawn there.
“iced coffee. It seems like there is a blank space… . “I didn’t think there was any need for interpretation.”
“Not really.”
Ian calmly shook his head at Olivia’s words.
“It is impossible to know where the ancient murals are and what their meaning is. If this place had been left blank, there is a possibility that some kind of meaning would have been given to it. is it so. However, it is up to interpretation. gap… . A space with nothing… . In the air… . vacuity… . nothingness… .”
Erwin, who was staring at Ian with slightly anxious eyes, quietly opened his mouth when he heard the words flowing out as if he was possessed by something.
“It’s a word that seems to refer to death.”
“That’s it.”
At that moment, mate! A strong handclap sounded. Users who had been listening blankly were startled and looked around.
“Yes. If this blank space represents death… ?”
“Oh, right. Now that I think about it, I remember reading it. It was very old material… .”
Ian, who continued talking to himself, suddenly took a deep breath.
“So, if we sum up the opinions of Miss Erwin and I… . This margin is the personification of death, no no. “It could be an abstract expression of death.”
“What do you mean?”
Ian turned around.
“I don’t know much about this either, but… . maybe.”
After a brief pause, he gently lifted his gold-tinted glasses and continued speaking.
“In the terminology here, I think it means Thanatos.”
fantasy,
