novelraw Chapter 139
Chapter 139
Chapter 139: Invasion
Leaving Robin and Sigbard at the house, Aelin headed toward the World Tree.
More precisely, to the Elders’ council chamber where matters of great importance to the clan were decided.
Inside the World Tree stood the elves’ most important facilities.
It was possible because it was larger than most castles.
‘Since both of them liked it, that makes me proud.’
Seeing their eyes sparkle as they looked upon the hometown she loved made her feel rewarded.
Thanks to that, her gloomy mood had improved.
Her steps were slow as she climbed the stairs leading into the World Tree.
Even so, she could not stop.
There were things she had to do, even if she did not want to.
Creeeak.
When she opened the wooden door within the tree, seven elves were seated inside.
Their gazes fixed on Aelin all at once.
Among them, the elf seated at the head spoke.
“Has your dalliance ended, Aelin.”
“It’s still far from over, Elder.”
“I thought you had finally made friends, but I did not expect you to bring humans.”
“If we distinguish carefully, they’re a human and a barbarian.”
After greeting the other elders as well, Aelin leaned against the wall.
Though there were seats, she did not sit—an act of trivial defiance.
“Isn’t it interesting? Among Lady Elysia’s companions, there were also a human and a barbarian.”
“There is no need to follow her fate just because you inherited Elysia’s power.”
“Isn’t the end of becoming a sacrifice the same?”
“Aelin, mind your words.”
A frigid voice and gaze.
She had hated this suffocating oppression since childhood.
Perhaps that was why her interest had turned outward even more.
“It was Elysia’s own will to sacrifice herself for our clan.”
“I’m sure it was.”
“There is no one in Evendel who does not know that you share Elysia’s will.”
She had never once declared with her own mouth that she would do so.
Still, it was not wrong.
She loved this beautiful city where she was born and raised, and if it was to protect this place, she would willingly follow.
“It has already been ten years since Mother World Tree bore a new child. Any longer would be dangerous.”
“And if nothing changes even after I become nourishment?”
“Then another shall become nourishment.”
“Then I should pray it ends with me alone.”
Elves were born from the World Tree and lived without aging.
After living a life close to eternity and enjoying their time fully, they themselves became nourishment for the World Tree and ended their lives.
Then a new child would bud, and on rare occasions, inherit the strength, memories, or disposition of the one who became nourishment.
Elysia, the hero of the elves.
Aelin was the elf born after Elysia became nourishment.
Naturally, she received the attention of all elves.
Whether she wanted it or not, it was not something Aelin could choose.
“We have not been idly playing either. You know that.”
The perfect cycle. A problem had arisen within it, and they had tried in many ways to resolve it, but all had failed.
There was only one proposal they had not attempted.
“Would it hurt to at least pretend to consider the teacher’s suggestion?”
“You call it reasonable to offer magic stones to our sacred Mother?”
“They’re not just magic stones—they’re purified magic stones. If demonic energy is purified upon approaching her in the first place, wouldn’t it be fine?”
“Aelin!”
The elders rose in outrage, slamming the table.
‘For old men, they’re quite energetic.’
“You’ve been tainted by Brandok. We should have separated you from him long ago.”
“Don’t forget that many guardians returned alive thanks to the teacher.”
The elder glared at Aelin, then sighed and turned his head away.
“In three days. Make your preparations by then.”
“…….”
“You saw it yourself—the Demon Tribe has appeared nearby. We can delay no longer.”
Aelin left the council chamber without answering.
Only then did the suffocating weight on her chest begin to wash away little by little.
When she had been a child who knew nothing, the World Tree had felt nothing but warm. Now, every time she came here, it felt cruel.
“How should I spend these remaining three days so they’ll be remembered as well spent.”
Muttering pointless words to herself, she had just about reached the house.
A bright line shot up into the sky.
After the explosion, she saw a human and a barbarian hurl themselves toward the falling flames.
Whoong. Whoong. Whooong.
Spinning rapidly as it sliced through the air, the rod collided with a fireball.
The blazing fire extinguished like a candle and scattered into the air.
“Watch your back!”
The flame flying toward Sigbard’s back split in half.
Robin swung his sword without pause.
Saaahk.
The two eliminated every flame falling nearby.
Fortunately, Aelin’s house was safe, but they could not block everything.
Boom!
In a distant area, explosions erupted here and there after the first impact.
It was as if fire had suddenly fallen from the sky.
Screams and the acrid smell of burning drifted from all directions.
“Robin! Sigbard!”
Aelin ran toward the two who had landed on the ground.
Her eyes, filled with confusion, fear, and worry, scanned them before settling with relief.
“We have to fight.”
“Huh? What do you mean?”
“It’s magic cast by the Demon Tribe.”
Aelin recalled what Robin had said.
He had become an adventurer to kill the Demon Tribe—but was he not afraid?
Not even a speck of the thought of running crossed Robin’s mind.
Rather, anticipation flickered in him.
As if he were about to fulfill a long-awaited vow.
“Aelin, tell us the way out.”
“I can’t. Something’s happened to the World Tree. I have to go back.”
“What happened?”
“I don’t know for sure, but the fact that magic has invaded Evendel is proof.”
Rrrrrrrrr.
As if supporting her words, the branches of the World Tree trembled.
The entire tree began to quiver faintly, soon shaking visibly.
‘Could it be because of the stone I dropped?’
Robin could not shake the thought that he was the cause of this sudden change.
“Let’s go together. We’ll wait until you’re done.”
Aelin nodded and took the lead.
If one were to name the safest place in Evendel, it was near the World Tree.
She could not let the guests she had brought die.
She knew the two were strong, but this was not a matter for outsiders to step into.
The guardians had likely already been dispatched to eliminate the Demon Tribe.
Piiiuuuuuung.
Something shot up into the sky once more.
Unlike the exploding fireballs, these spread out silently in all directions.
One fell along Aelin’s path.
A gray sphere the size of a carriage slammed into the ground with a thud, tearing into the earth.
“Monster?”
“It’s a Stone Armor. Be careful, everyone.”
The stone-like sphere unfolded, revealing a mouse-like face that stared at them.
The rough, jagged stone was its outer shell.
“Squeak.”
“It’s rolling! Get back!”
Aelin swiftly threw herself to the side.
The Stone Armor curled its body into a sphere and rolled fiercely.
Its speed was faster than a horse—more than enough to close the distance.
Kkwaaak.
Sigbard pulled the rod gripped in both hands back behind his shoulder.
His tightly contracted muscles exploded as he swung the rod.
Bbeoeeok.
The Stone Armor, which had been charging as if to crush a human with ease, was sent flying.
Its outer shell shattered into pieces, revealing a soft surface beneath.
Robin did not miss the opening and thrust his sword at the creature as it was flung away.
Puuk.
Though its muscles were tough, Robin’s blade was wrapped in Fighting Spirit.
As he drove the sword in smoothly to the hilt, the creature trembled violently before toppling to the side.
“A Stone Armor this easily……?”
Aelin’s pupils widened as she alternated her gaze between the limp corpse and the two men.
It was her first time seeing one in person as well.
It was by no means an easy Monster, yet Robin and Sigbard had felled it far too easily.
“It’s a shame we can’t collect the corpse.”
“Its shell isn’t any different from stone—would it even sell for much?”
“Don’t humans buy and sell anything?”
“It’s just heavy. I doubt we’d get much money for it.”
Watching the two exchange words so calmly, Aelin closed her slightly parted lips.
‘I expected them to be strong, but to this extent….’
If she had been alone, it would not have been easy.
She would have aimed for its weak point with her bow, but the damage would not have been significant.
“Aelin, what are you doing.”
“Ah… we should move.”
She quickly regained her senses and began walking.
The path to the World Tree was far from easy.
As if what had happened earlier had only been a taste, the number of Monsters falling from the sky visibly increased.
“Squeak squeak squeak squeak.”
They looked like massive rocks, yet they emitted mouse-like cries as they rolled in from all directions.
With Aelin in the center, Robin and Sigbard cut down the creatures.
But they could not advance like that forever.
Following the Stone Armor, the variety of Monsters with hardened outer shells gradually increased.
On top of that, magic continued to rain down without pause, and Evendel was steadily falling into ruin.
“Robin, Aelin. Go on ahead.”
“Do you have a good idea?”
“Don’t we just need to get to the center?”
The remaining distance was not far.
The World Tree was close enough to reach with just a little more effort.
“I’ll throw you.”
“Sounds good.”
“W-what?”
Sigbard set down his rod, knelt on one knee, and overlapped his hands.
“You have to say something that makes sense. How are you going to throw a pers—.”
Aelin could not finish her sentence.
Robin grabbed Aelin by the waist and stepped onto Sigbard’s hands.
“Hooop.”
With an explosive surge of his fully drawn muscles, Sigbard launched the two of them.
Like arrows shot from a bow, they were sent flying in an instant, and Sigbard grew distant.
“Kyaaaaaaah!”
Aelin screamed at the top of her lungs.
She was flying through the sky.
No—was she falling?
She was used to moving along trees, but free-falling from such a height was a first.
“Robin! Robin! Robin! Robin!”
In her panic, she called his name countless times.
Clinging to him desperately in fear of falling, she held on like a baby koala refusing to let go of its mother.
The thought that she might die so meaninglessly turned her vision white.
“They won’t kill a princess over a few scratches, right?”
Jijijijik.
Robin’s words did not reach her ears.
Thinking this was how she would meet such a futile end, she squeezed her eyes shut.
In her next life, she hoped to be a free bird.
“Sigbard didn’t just throw us randomly.”
Tak.
The sound of landing jolted Aelin’s thoughts.
Was she dead?
She tentatively stretched out her foot and felt solid ground.
Slowly opening her eyes, she found herself in a familiar place.
A straight line carved into the massive, wall-like bark of the World Tree stopped right before her.
Robin’s sword was embedded there.
“Um, it’s hard to breathe.”
“Huh? Oh! Sorry!”
In her shock, she had wrapped her arms tightly around Robin.
She had clung to him so hard that the back of his neck had reddened.
At once, Robin pulled out his sword and sheathed it.
The World Tree had been wounded.
If the Elders found out, they would be furious—but this was no time to worry about that.
“Do you know where we are?”
Aelin nodded faintly.
Of course she did. It was the Elders’ council chamber she had just left not long ago.
The reason she had come to the World Tree was to meet the Elders.
Now, even the three-day reprieve had vanished.
To save Evendel, she had to become nourishment.
“Aelin!”
The Elders who had been inside the chamber rushed out.
Even amid this chaos, their composed demeanor was just like them.
“You have come. Are you hurt anywhere?”
“No. I’m fine.”
“Good. This is the greatest crisis in Evendel’s history. You know what must be done, do you not?”
“Let me just say goodbye to my friend for a moment.”
“Make it quick.”
Aelin extended her hand toward Robin, who was looking at her in confusion.
“We already hugged earlier. Let’s shake hands and part.”
“You were stammering and gripping my hand pretty tightly too.”
“Ah! It’s the last time—can’t we part on good terms?”
Aelin forcibly grabbed Robin’s hand.
Robin shook it reflexively, unable to understand her.
“It was short, but it was fun. Tell Sigbard and the teacher thank you as well.”
“It’s not like you’re going off to die or anything….”
“That’s right. I am going to die.”
“What?”
At that moment.
Something flew toward them from afar at great speed.
Shuuuuuuung.
A harpy, easily three meters tall, stopped right in front of them.
A man was riding on its back, and he abruptly descended to the ground.
“Detestable elves! After today, elves will vanish from this land!”
‘Demon Tribe?’
Judging by the purple skin and the horn protruding from his forehead, he was undoubtedly of the Demon Tribe.
He extended both hands to cast magic.
Wooooong.
“Everyone, get back!”
Aelin warned them, but it was meaningless.
The Demon Tribe member, who had been grinning triumphantly, could produce only a fizzling sound and smoke from his hands.
No threatening attack followed.
“W-what? Why isn’t it working?”
Rrrrrrrrr.
Once again, the World Tree trembled.
The tree quivered faintly, then its branches lifted slightly as if a person were stretching.
Paaaanng.
The colossal tree. Its leaves shone brightly.
Everyone present was entranced by the sight.
“N-no! My magic… why won’t my magic work!”
“Ask in hell.”
Seogeok.
Robin lightly severed the neck of the Demon Tribe member who had appeared so confidently.
As the head rolled across the ground, the eyes of the Demon Tribe member still held a vacant disbelief.
“Aelin, finish what you were saying earlier. You’re going to die?”
With intense events unfolding one after another, Aelin could not open her mouth for a moment.
“Kieeeek!”
The Monsters that had invaded Evendel writhed in agony as well.
The harpy that had carried the Demon Tribe member fell on its own and burst apart without doing anything.
“Well… I think I might not have to die after all.”
Aelin herself did not understand what was happening.