novelraw Chapter 138
Chapter 138
Chapter 138: Evendel
Evendel boasted a harmonious beauty blended with nature.
Buildings stood as if flowers, grass, and mushrooms had grown to enormous sizes.
Some houses spiraled upward along the trunks of massive trees, built by making use of naturally formed hollows and branches.
Here and there, lanterns made of crystal hung in the air, said to emit light even at night and illuminate the paths.
“That’s amazing. It can’t be easy to build structures shaped like plants.”
“Hm? What do you mean?”
“The mushroom-shaped building by the roadside. The elves’ architectural skills are remarkable.”
“That’s not a building. It just grew wildly, and we hollowed it out after leaving only the shell.”
Robin did not immediately understand what Aelin had said.
The structures of Evendel were larger than most houses in ordinary cities.
The notion that all those buildings had grown naturally defied common sense.
And weren’t elves a race that loved nature?
They seemed like the kind who would lead the charge in calling for environmental preservation. It was hard to believe they had simply modified giant plants to suit their tastes.
“Aren’t elves a race that loves nature?”
“That’s right. We love nature. So what?”
“Then… is it okay to dig things out and damage them like that?”
As if wondering what he was talking about, Aelin answered calmly.
“We’re part of nature too. It’s only natural for nature to change nature. Otherwise, how would we have built a civilization and lived like this?”
It wasn’t wrong. In fact, it was right a hundred times over.
Still, Robin could not help the shattering of his illusion.
Unlike the tales that had stirred his childhood imagination, real elves were practical.
“Wait a moment. Then is the idea that you only eat vegetables just a fabricated image too?”
“We like vegetables, but we don’t live on grass alone. The stew we ate together before had meat in it.”
He had not realized there had been chunks of meat in the dish Aelin had made.
“Sigbard ate it well.”
“Aelin is an excellent cook.”
Sigbard smacked his lips and gave a thumbs-up.
‘There wasn’t any meat in mine….’
With that, another layer of prejudice about elves peeled away.
After all, there was no better way to confirm the truth than coming to see it in person.
Come to think of it, Aelin had shown such interest in the outside world that she had even published a book in the Empire.
“I’ve never heard of anyone seeing an elf in Valoria, so how did you publish a book?”
“Oh, that? My teacher—.”
Thud.
An elf dropped down from above and blocked Robin’s path.
A man with sharp eyes looked Robin and Sigbard up and down in turn.
“Move, Zariel.”
“So this is what you were up to, giggling around with humans.”
“What I do is my business.”
“You’d be better off sticking to that strange hobby of yours. Like you said, drawing a world map would be more worthwhile.”
Aelin lightly pushed at Zariel’s chest.
He had no intention of escalating things and stepped aside without resistance.
“Remember this. The privileges granted to you won’t last much longer.”
“I know without you saying it.”
Zariel did not stop Aelin as she walked away.
The sudden appearance of Zariel dampened the mood.
Aelin, who had been chattering like an excited child, grew quiet.
Robin and Sigbard were outsiders, after all.
They had no standing to interfere in the affairs of the elves. Since Aelin clearly did not want that either, the two simply observed in silence.
However, when Robin noticed Aelin’s ears droop slightly as she walked ahead, he wanted to lift her spirits.
“What did he mean about drawing a world map?”
“It’s nothing. Just… something like that.”
“What is it? Tell us properly.”
As Robin continued to press her, Aelin hesitantly opened her mouth.
“I was just curious what it would be like to draw this whole world on a single sheet of paper….”
“I’m curious too. I’ve never seen a map that extends beyond the Empire.”
“There isn’t even a map that shows our tribal village. If a world map were made, it would be convenient.”
Seeing the two respond earnestly, Aelin’s eyes widened.
“You don’t think I’m ridiculous?”
“What’s ridiculous about it? There’s nothing wrong with a person having a dream.”
“For someone who’s lived her whole life in the forest, having thoughts like that doesn’t even make sense.”
It was rare for an elf to leave the Great Forest from birth until death.
Aelin had wandered through the Uncharted Area, but she had never been able to go as far as the Empire.
Humans were dangerous beings, and if more of them were to trace her steps and find their dwelling place, it would be troublesome.
As the World Tree weakened, that isolation had only deepened.
Only a select few who received approval were allowed to leave, and even they had to swear an oath that they would accept punishment if they betrayed their kin.
It was not a mere oath of words, but one staked with their lives.
“I have someone from the Demon Tribe that I must kill in the Demon Realm.”
“W-What? A Demon Tribe member?”
“Yes. That’s why I became an adventurer.”
Aelin had only recently come to realize how terrifying the Demon Tribe could be.
She had not known that Robin’s goal was to kill one of them.
Sigbard also spoke of his own goal.
“I will become a great warrior. Greatness comes with hardship and trials. The arduous path Robin walks will surely lead me to greater heights.”
Was it because he was simple, knowing without a shred of doubt the path he must take? Or was it because he was stubborn to the point of ignorance?
There was no wavering in Sigbard’s eyes as he spoke without a hint of jest.
“Others might see it as reckless. But that’s fine. I’ll accomplish it no matter what.”
“Where does that confidence come from?”
“It’s not confidence. I just resolved to do it.”
They were different. The two who had crossed over from the Empire were unlike the surrounding elves.
Without realizing it, Aelin wanted to shout out what she truly wished to do.
She parted her lips slightly, then closed them again.
Setting a goal that could not be achieved was not a dream but greed.
She had already solidified her decision.
That was why the two seemed to shine even brighter to her, and she felt an urge to cheer them on.
“You’re both amazing.”
She could understand the feelings of the elf who had left Evendel and willingly chosen hardship.
If they were people like this, wouldn’t it be natural to want to follow them?
Enduring the gazes pouring toward her from all sides, she walked as if nothing was wrong.
The two would likely never have another chance to tour Evendel.
Determined to show them only the most beautiful sights, Aelin guided them with enthusiasm.
* * *
“Was the tour of Evendel alright?”
“I don’t think I’ll ever see a forest this beautiful again.”
“To see the World Tree with my own eyes. Even if I told the warriors of my tribe, they wouldn’t believe me.”
Watching the two heap praise upon it, Aelin smiled proudly.
As the sun set, the three returned to Aelin’s house.
Robin had wondered what an elf’s house would be like, but it was more ordinary than he expected.
It looked like Brandok’s cabin, only with plants covering the roof.
Even so, it was far larger than a typical house, more than enough for the three of them to stay in.
“You must be tired from walking around all day. I have something to take care of, so I’ll head out for a bit. Make yourselves comfortable.”
“When will you be back?”
“It’ll take about an hour.”
Once Aelin left, Robin unpacked his belongings and set down the stone.
Brandok’s request had been to throw this stone into the pond near the World Tree.
‘He said it didn’t necessarily have to be thrown into the water, but it’d be better if it didn’t stand out.’
Sigbard picked up the stone and tossed it lightly in one hand before catching it.
“It feels lighter than before.”
After taking it from him and weighing it in his palm, Robin realized Sigbard was right.
It had become slightly lighter.
The difference was so subtle it would go unnoticed without focus, but it was there.
When he untied the cloth wrapped around the stone, a blue light shimmered.
It was not reflecting light from a crystal—it was emitting its own.
“So it isn’t an ordinary stone. What will you do, Robin.”
“You don’t think he’d ask me to do something that would harm his own kin, do you?”
“So you intend to proceed as planned?”
Robin wrapped the stone in cloth again, hiding its glow.
Brandok’s request still stood.
As long as the elves did not catch them, it would not be difficult.
Even if they were discovered, it likely would not lead to anything serious.
It wasn’t as though they hadn’t encountered other elves while walking through Evendel.
They had treated Aelin politely, yet with a certain expectation.
Thanks to that, they had been served food and allowed to look around freely.
Unless it was a grave crime, they would not turn hostile toward guests brought by Aelin.
‘They’re friendly, but why does it feel unsettling.’
If anything, their excessive courtesy had been slightly uncomfortable.
He had casually asked Aelin about it, but she had brushed it off.
Since it wasn’t something he had any right to press, Robin forced himself to set aside his doubts.
‘Let’s just get this over with.’
In any case, he could not ignore Brandok’s request.
The journey he had shared with the Calimacos Mercenary Band in his childhood was a precious memory, and in a harsh world, they had been Robin’s steadfast support.
Perhaps it was because those he had relied on were now dead.
He had no way to repay them, so at the very least, he wanted to repay Brandok.
Burdened by a sense of debt toward the dead, Robin was more daring than usual.
He was not unaware of that himself. Knowing it made him all the less able to refuse.
Step. Step.
He had memorized the location on their way in.
Robin and Sigbard strode freely through Evendel.
A human and a barbarian. Had word already spread?
Even upon seeing the two, the elves paid them little mind.
“It’s quiet without Aelin.”
“It is. It feels empty.”
“Perhaps elves go to sleep early.”
The number of elves on the streets was noticeably fewer than during the day.
Feeling as though they were walking alone in the forest, they reached their destination.
A tree so enormous it was impossible to guess how many years it had taken to grow that large.
The pond directly before the World Tree was modest in size.
It seemed even smaller in comparison.
Sigbard scanned the surroundings.
“There’s no one nearby.”
Calmly, Robin took out the stone.
Swiftly unwrapping the cloth, he picked up a pebble from the ground with his left hand.
‘Is this how it’s done?’
Tap. Tap. Tap.
Unlike Brandok’s throw, the pebbles Robin tossed did not strike the ground and bounce.
As the pebbles flew with slight intervals between them,
it was still enough time to drop the stone into the pond.
Carefully, he pushed it into the water so that not even a splash would be heard.
The stone slipped beneath the surface without making a sound upon hitting the bottom.
All the tension he had felt just in case proved unnecessary, as he completed the task smoothly.
“It’s done.”
“Let’s wait a moment.”
Why had Brandok made such a request?
Keeping their distance from the pond, Robin and Sigbard watched to see if anything would happen.
“…….”
Nothing happened.
The pond remained as calm as before, and no blue light seeped out.
After waiting ten minutes in silence, they felt both relief and emptiness.
‘Figures. What was I expecting.’
“Let’s go.”
The two slowly retraced their steps.
Evendel’s tranquil night was not dark, illuminated by glittering crystals.
A night road neither too bright nor too dim.
Like fireflies flickering here and there, Evendel’s night held a quiet charm.
As they breathed in the fresh forest air and returned to Aelin’s house,
Whoooooosh.
A somewhat harsh wind blew through.
Evendel’s summers tended to be warm, so the cool breeze was welcome.
And that welcome did not last long.
“Robin.”
There was alarm and fighting spirit in Sigbard’s voice.
There was no need to respond.
He knew why.
Fwoooooooosh.
From beyond Evendel, a bright line shot upward.
Boom.
With an explosion, flames burst outward.
From afar, it dazzled like a flower in bloom, but there was no time to admire it.
The flames began to fall toward Evendel.
“It’s magic.”
Sigbard gripped his rod tightly.
Robin, too, drew his sword and stared at the falling flames.
At the sight of magic, Robin’s eyes sharpened.