novelraw Chapter 168 : Chapter 168
Chapter 168 : Chapter 168
Chapter 168
As his consciousness gradually recovered, his senses returned.
Something heavy and cold was pressing down on his body.
His breath came in short gasps, and the pressure made it difficult to move.
When he slowly opened his eyes, the first thing he saw was Rundel’s face, drenched in sweat.
Rundel, wielding a longsword he had never seen before instead of his usual dagger, was blocking Aether.
“Rundel…?”
Killian called his name.
His voice was submerged, as if wandering through a fog.
“Finally awake?”
Hoo.
Rundel, meeting his eyes, gasped for breath.
He, who had been at ease even when Killian had brought out three Carpe Illusions, opened his mouth with a fatigued face.
“You were in a state of Oblivio.”
“…!!”
At the word Oblivio, memories flashed through his mind.
The Total Solar Eclipse completed with blue mana.
The Violet Magic Tower manifested with violet mana.
The Green Zone formed with green mana.
When all his full-powered Carpe Illusions were thwarted by Rundel’s mana.
‘Something leaked out.’
At the same time, his consciousness had been cut off.
He had no further memory of it.
“I went berserk.”
He muttered, realizing.
How dangerous he was in that state.
A wave of helplessness washed over him, being in a state where he couldn’t even control his own power.
“My apologies, Rundel.”
“I never thought I’d hear those words from you.”
Rundel let out a small laugh and continued.
“There’s nothing to be sorry for. It was a situation you couldn’t control. But still…”
Pausing to catch his breath, he chanted something.
Swoosh.
The longsword he was holding disappeared somewhere.
It seemed to be a sword he summoned from a subspace.
“That’s enough for today. If we push any further, you’ll really die.”
“…”
He knew in his head that Rundel was right.
But he also knew better than anyone that he didn’t have the luxury of time.
“There’s no time.”
Two vassal states led by the princes were advancing on Eurasia.
In such a situation, he, the Annihilation Squad Leader, couldn't even wield his sword in a proper state.
‘I have to get stronger. So I can overcome the curses.’
So as not to be a burden to Eurasia in the upcoming war.
“To continuously face our limits. Wasn’t that our goal from the beginning?”
“…”
Looking into Killian’s eyes, Rundel closed his mouth.
He knew it too.
Why Killian Eurasia was pushing himself to such an extent.
And that he felt fear in facing the state of Oblivio.
But he was also a human who had not escaped the bounds of mortality.
“Just because I’m an 8-star doesn’t mean I don’t feel fatigue.”
Rundel calmly explained his condition.
He had consumed a considerable amount of mana to subdue Killian who had fallen into Oblivio, and because he had recklessly unleashed several Ke and Shik, he needed a few days of proper rest.
“Then, even if I have to do it alone…”
“That’s not an option. I will not tolerate leaving a dangerous individual who could go berserk at any moment alone in the forest.”
Rundel was firm.
“That’s enough for today. What you need now is rest.”
At that, Killian quietly frowned.
‘This is troublesome.’
Every moment was precious, but it seemed he would have to waste several days doing nothing.
‘I’ll have to resort to training using images.’
It wouldn't be as good as wielding a sword himself, but it should be enough to alleviate the pressure.
As if noticing Killian’s thoughts, Rundel spoke again, gently.
“And the Queen has summoned you.”
“The Queen?”
Killian asked with a puzzled expression.
“Yes. I was planning to go with you after today’s training.”
He told him to go alone, as it would be ridiculous to show his current state to the queen.
‘A sudden summons. She said she wouldn’t interfere with my training with Rundel.’
Like other women, she too had shown signs of not being able to escape Hazard’s charm.
He briefly wondered why such a queen would call for him, but nothing came to mind.
“Alright. Let’s talk after I get back.”
Taking his sword, Killian headed towards the hut that led to where the queen resided.
“…”
After Killian disappeared, Rundel let out a long sigh.
He looked down at his own torn hands.
“Healing.”
Whooosh.
Even with magic, the wounds didn't heal completely, and blood slowly trickled down.
It seemed he would have to visit the temple once.
“I almost died.”
He hadn't told Killian, but the rampage just now wasn't solely composed of mana.
“The curse of Grotesquery and the Authority of the Gods... I was really chosen as a sparring partner for a nasty one.”
Killian’s condition was more dangerous than he realized.
Not just his mana, but his mind and body had reached their limits.
Rundel quietly placed a hand on his chest.
His heart was beating fast, as if it would burst.
Had he ever felt such a sense of mortal danger since reaching the 8-star level?
“I still have a long way to go, it seems.”
Laughing hollowly, Rundel walked in the direction of the temple.
***
When Killian faced the queen, the first thing that caught his eye was a certain creature.
“…”
Hazard was enjoying the queen’s touch as usual, but its appearance was different from normal.
The four-legged beast, which had grown quite large and could now pass for a wolf.
[Yong~]
Had become an obese lizard flapping two wings.
Green was sparsely mixed in with its black scales, and its bulging belly was pure white.
On its head, in addition to green and black, a red horn was growing.
The Polymorph that had been cast with Sharle’s magic tool, which had been fine until now, had for some reason been suddenly dispelled.
“Why are you…”
[Yong-yong.]
At Killian’s reaction, Hazard turned its head as if embarrassed.
“Hoh. Seeing your reaction, you knew after all.”
Ashirian de Silvana, the queen of the Elves, said while stroking Hazard’s belly.
“What is the meaning of this?”
“The meaning of this, you ask.”
After observing Killian’s reaction for a moment, she smiled with interest.
“This child, it is no ordinary being.”
Her hand was still slowly stroking Hazard’s scales.
[Yooong.]
Hazard glanced at Killian as if embarrassed.
Its eyes, tinged with anxiety, avoided his gaze, perhaps worried its master would be angry.
“No need to react like that, Hazard.”
The queen turned her head towards Killian.
“You shouldn't scold it too much either. It's difficult to hide one's true nature in front of me.”
Swoosh. Swoosh.
She continued to speak softly as she stroked Hazard.
“I am synchronized with Yggdrasil and can sense all the mana in Elvenheim.”
“Then, Sharle’s magic…”
“I simply felt a strange mana from Hazard, so I tried dispelling the formula on the magic tool.”
“…”
It was clear that it wasn't as easy as she made it sound.
But seeing her confident gaze, it didn't seem like a lie.
“Now it is your turn to answer. Why is a dragon, which is known to be extinct, by your side?”
Swoosh.
Green mana rose in her two eyes.
She was preparing in advance in case he told a lie.
“It’s a long story, but that’s probably not what’s important right now.”
The queen nodded lightly.
“Did you not need Elvenheim’s help?”
Her tone was still gentle, but he could feel the sharpness hidden within.
“I was the one who permitted your entry into Elvenheim and your training with Rundel. I would be disappointed if you do not give a proper answer.”
It was, in effect, a threat.
‘Even though she says that, Elvenheim and I are practically allies.’
Even if synchronization with Yggdrasil had become possible, Ashirian de Silvana still hadn't cleared her name of murdering the previous king.
With the Empire eyeing the southern continent and the frontier, Killian was more of a gain than a loss for her, whose support base was not perfect.
The same was true for the opposite position.
‘Well, since I’ve been caught anyway, there’s no use in hiding it.’
“I obtained it from Cornelia’s Secret Repository. At the time, it was in the form of an egg.”
“Indeed, Cornelia’s Secret Repository…”
Judging by the queen’s reaction, it seemed she knew of the existence of the Secret Repository in Cornelia.
“They say you are betrothed to Sharle Cornelia. That pendant must be the engagement gift.”
She said with conviction, looking at the pendant around Killian’s neck.
“I had thought it a cumbersome item for a knight to carry, no matter how much of a magic tool it was.”
“What do you plan to do now?”
“Do not worry. I have no intention of revealing Hazard’s identity. Is a secret not more valuable the fewer people know it?”
“You are truly generous.”
Killian replied, not letting down his guard.
“I would have been pleased if you meant it.”
The queen did not ask further and instead brought up a new topic.
“Is your training going well?”
Killian frowned and answered honestly.
“It is not.”
“It is no easy task to overcome a wall within a wall.”
Their gazes met quietly.
“How about you try synchronizing with Yggdrasil?”
“…?”
“You seem surprised.”
“Yggdrasil holds a meaning beyond that of a Divine Object for the Elves. Even if I was invited, I am an outsider.”
The situation was different from when Yggdrasil was contaminated and they had to turn a blind eye to Killian’s synchronization.
‘What is she plotting?’
Killian looked at the queen with suspicious eyes.
“No need to look so suspicious. I have my own reasons for this.”
The queen smiled lightly, as if she had read Killian’s thoughts.
“We Elves have served the God Silvana for a long time. The Chief Priests of the temple have consistently been chosen only from among the royalty and High Elves.”
She mentioned the current Chief Priest, Pale de Silvana.
“The reason the priests are revered is because they possess the ability to contact the God.”
On the other hand, the king of the Elves, despite not being a priest, conversed with the God by synchronizing with Yggdrasil.
“You are aware of the fact that the connection with the God was severed after you synchronized with Yggdrasil, are you not?”
“I am aware.”
“For me, it is no different from losing my support base.”
It was beginning to become clear what she wanted.
“Do you want me to synchronize again and check its condition?”
The queen nodded.
“It will not be a bad proposal. Yggdrasil is connected to the natural energy throughout Elvenheim.”
The powerful natural energy was, in itself, no different from mana.
“Synchronizing with Yggdrasil will be of great help to you in reaching the next level.”
“Do you trust me?”
“I only trust Rundel, who trusts you.”
The queen replied calmly.
‘The queen is right. Since I have to rest from training with Rundel anyway, this would be a suitable solution. The problem is the risk of going berserk.’
The current Killian could not fully control his mana.
If he went berserk while synchronized with Yggdrasil, unforeseen dangers would follow.
“There is one problem.”
“Let’s hear it.”
Killian told her what had happened with Rundel.
For some reason, the queen burst into laughter at that.
“Fufufu, you have underestimated the power of Elvenheim. Last time, your synchronization was incomplete, so its power was not whole.”
In that moment.
Rumble rumble rumble rumble.
A colossal presence emanated from the queen.
“The kings of the Elves have traditionally achieved the power of the 8-star level for generations.”
The queen added, restraining her presence.
“I have now reached the rank of an 8-star.”
‘So that’s what it meant that there were three 8-stars among the Elves.’
Rundel, who protected the queen, and another guardian whose face he had never seen.
And the queen, who had inherited the rank of her predecessor by synchronizing with Yggdrasil.
‘It’s a similar situation to Cornelia’s Secret Repository.’
Killian nodded.
“I accept.”
The queen smiled with satisfaction and stroked the chin of Hazard, who was beside her.
“I wonder if your master will bring back something amazing this time as well.”
As if feeling good from the queen’s touch.
[Yooooong~]
Hazard stretched out its neck and let out a mighty roar.