ch70

‘This is troublesome.’

Gal and Pallas stood facing each other, neither willing to yield an inch.

Gal, showing no particular emotion, his expressionless face only amplifying his arrogance.

Pallas, radiating murderous intent yet maintaining a ki flow as smooth as still water.

‘If those two fight, it’ll be a disaster.’

This was the Great Temple, located in the very heart of Poheln, the most prosperous and densely populated city of mankind.

The symbolism of the Great Temple, a place of worship, in the center of a densely populated city, and the unstable Grand Barrier Deus Ex Machina.

If these two were to truly start fighting, regardless of who won or lost, there were numerous variables that could lead to catastrophic damage.

‘…Pallas seems to have worked incredibly hard in the meantime.’

Before leaving the forest, Pallas, even if Gal restricted himself by taking on the form of an Elf instead of his true dragon form, wouldn’t have been a match at all.

But now, even beneath the loose-fitting martial robes, one could sense a body honed through rigorous training.

A protective ki field surrounded him like armor, without him even consciously activating it.

Every step, every breath, every gesture was executed with remarkable perfection.

The manipulation of ki to control the meridians, down to the finest hair on his fingertips, was flawless.

It meant that the essence, energy, and spirit originating from within him had achieved the Three Flowers Convergence, reaching a state of harmony.

Not just raw power, but a state where the philosophy of the martial arts he revered had finally harmonized with his being, becoming one – the Harmonious Realm.

A realm known as Hwa-gyeong.

It wasn’t a state that could be reached simply by acquiring elixirs through the power of prestigious families or by merely understanding martial arts intellectually.

Even considering his extraordinary birth as a High Elf, how could reaching Hwa-gyeong at the age of 18 be easy?

He must have endured excruciating efforts during the long period they hadn’t met.

And even having reached such an exalted state, there was no hint of looking down on his opponent.

Unlike Saras, who underestimated Gal’s power and provoked him, only to panic and become flustered when his trump card was thwarted, Pallas, while outwardly expressing anger, was calmly calculating the means by which he could win.

He was the image of a complete martial artist.

How could I, who knew of Pallas’s past struggles, not feel deeply moved?

However, separate from the pride I felt for my brother, remembering his reckless youth, the situation itself was serious.

It would be one thing if Pallas were instantly subdued by Gal, even if it hurt his pride, but the current Pallas couldn’t be easily subdued unless Gal became serious, and the clash of two such powerful beings would undoubtedly have a significant impact on the surroundings.

The problem was that neither of them were the type to listen to reason.

Gal, of course, wouldn’t listen to anyone, and for some reason, Pallas was so enraged that he was defying Saras, who had been granted full authority by Demis.

The atmosphere, which had almost softened, tightened again, and all eyes were focused on their movements.

“…Araya…? What is going on?”

A familiar, questioning voice reached my ears after a long time.

Turning towards the source of the sound, I saw Aliya staring at me with an expression as if she had seen a ghost, much like Dube had when he first encountered me outside the fortress walls.

She must have gone through some hardships, because traces of weariness were visible on her beautiful face.

Did something difficult happen because I wasn’t around?

“Ah, Aliya. I apologize for arriving late without any contact. But could you wait a moment? There’s a bit of a problem.”

Still, perhaps because Aliya’s sudden appearance and my apology momentarily diverted their attention, the sharp tension in the air eased slightly.

I couldn’t miss this opening created by Aliya’s unintentional assistance.

“Pallas, calm down. If you two fight here, everyone will get caught up in it.”

I could feel Pallas’s focus wavering due to the change in the surrounding atmosphere and my words that had slipped into the gap.

Pallas glared at Gal, but slowly retreated.

Gal simply watched him indifferently, without taking any particular action, but Pallas, after one last glare at Gal, turned his gaze to me.

…Why does he look angry at me too?

“Araya.”

“Uh… yeah?”

“Everyone was worried about you.”

“…Yeah.”

I couldn’t think of a logical response to his voice, which was trying its best to suppress a multitude of emotions, so I simply agreed quietly.

“No matter how great you are, you can’t solve everything. You know that, right?”

“Yeah.”

“…If you’re going to act in places where we can’t reach you and without contacting us, you need to be more careful. Am I wrong?”

“…You’re right.”

There’s no use in regretting it after you’re dead.

I had come to believe that nothing in the world could threaten me anymore, so I ventured into unknown territory with the carefree attitude of going on a picnic, without even the most basic safety measures, and I did learn a rather painful lesson.

Was it because my expression turned a little sour?

Pallas’s face, which had been barely holding back his anger, softened slightly, and he asked in a somewhat gentler tone.

“So, what the hell happened during that time? If you were fine, why didn’t you return sooner, and why did you return with the person who attacked you? Depending on your answer, if I can’t trust your subjective judgment, I might have to drag you back to Elven Road.”

“Um… that is.”

I looked around.

Due to my sudden return and the confrontation with Gal, the place was filled not only with Elves, but also with priests, paladins, and those who had come to escort Aliya.

…And Dube, that guy, was watching it all with great interest from the corner.

He wasn’t one to spread rumors easily, but he wasn’t the type to keep secrets faithfully either. The scoundrel.

Despite my efforts to return quietly to the Great Temple, the brief commotion had already caused enough of a stir.

They must have handled it so that it wouldn’t be known outside, but they couldn’t hide the fact that I had been away for more than half a year, even from the people inside the Great Temple.

Moreover, if it became known that the reason was that I had been attacked, it was highly likely to tarnish the authority I had built up until now.

Since the people of the Great Temple had little contact with the outside world, there was little chance that this would leak out, but there was no such thing as absolute certainty in the world.

“…Let’s talk in a quiet place first.”

◈ ◈ ◈

After dismissing everyone, I gathered in the World Room with Pallas, Saras, Anya, Gal, Aliya, and Antirea to talk.

Gal didn’t seem very interested in our conversation, but he was greatly intrigued by the Grand Barrier Deus Ex Machina, which encompassed the entire Poheln area around the World Room, and began to examine every corner of the room.

And Saras, having directly felt the control and authority over Mana that Gal had shown earlier, was watching him with an uneasy expression, monitoring his every move.

“…And that’s how Gal and I ended up here.”

I tried to omit as much of the controversial middle ground as possible, and, considering the reactions of my brothers who were hostile to Gal, I explained the reason for returning to Poheln in a way that was as favorable to Gal as possible.

Gal’s arrogant behavior up until now was infuriating, but I couldn’t let my emotions ruin the preparations for future threats.

“…To think there’s another being in the north that someone like him would have to run away from.”

Saras, though sometimes prone to arrogance, was smart enough to realize how great a being Gal was just from the brief exchange of words.

As such, she, like me, wouldn’t be pleased to know that there were powerful beings whose intentions were unknown.

“Watch your words, Elf. I didn’t run away from the big monkey. I only came because Araya wanted to come here.”

Even while examining the Deus Ex Machina, Gal bristled and corrected her as soon as he heard words that touched his pride.

Saras simply shrugged at his reaction.

Pallas seemed to be deep in thought, with a slightly serious expression.

As Pallas felt a great responsibility to protect the Elves, he seemed to be taking the existence of giants who could even kill dragons seriously.

‘…That’s unexpected.’

Eight years seemed to have been a long time indeed.

Pallas, who had once been somewhat hasty and unstable, now seemed to be developing into a complete guardian of the Elves.

And I made eye contact with Anya, who was watching the heavy atmosphere with a nervous expression, lacking the liveliness she had shown in the forest.

Was it because it had been a long time since we had met, or because she was relieved that I was safe after having been presumed missing?

Neither of us spoke, but Anya’s eyes were filled with joy and happiness.

It was unexpected that even Anya, who had no connection to combat, had come, let alone Saras and Pallas, but I returned her smile, as I too was seeing my sister after a long time.

“And…”

I moved slightly to face Aliya and Antirea.

Aliya, who looked somewhat gaunt even though only half a year had passed, and Antirea, the head disciple of the Harmony Sword Masters, whose left shoulder was missing.

“…It seems something happened while I was away.”

Succubi were inherently stronger than humans.

Moreover, Antirea had lived in the Eastern Continent, a world of the survival of the fittest, for hundreds of years, and had even been taught martial arts by me.

No matter how many stray arrows or swords flew on the battlefield, it was impossible for a mere human of this era to cut off Antirea’s arm by chance.

It was like an infant breaking the arm of a fully grown man.

Something was wrong. Aliya’s dark expression must be due to that as well.

“What happened?”

“This time, the King went on an expedition beyond the southern desert.”

“That was the plan. That’s why I did my best to return before spring was over.”

“We thank you for looking after us and for your concern regarding the Main God.”

“It was something I had promised to do, so there’s no need for formalities. More importantly, what happened?”

“…The King was defeated in the expedition.”

The six Harmony Sword Masters were the goddesses of victory who accompanied the King on every expedition.

I had already guessed to some extent from the appearance of Antirea, who was their leader.

“But how? Even if he wanted to lose, it wouldn’t be easy.”

This era was one where people were well-fed and well-grown, unlike the poorly fed and raised humans of the past, resulting in better physiques and strength.

The land of Poheln was blessed by the power emanating from the World Tree and the Grand Barrier, where planting one seed would yield ten times the harvest.

Agriculture and commerce had begun to flourish, and the accumulated wealth allowed for soldiers to be properly equipped.

There were also veterans who had experienced nearly 100 battles, large and small, through conquest wars.

They were soldiers who had learned martial arts, albeit third-rate martial arts that were only useful in the military, being short-sighted, simple, and only considering immediate, spontaneous coordination between each other.

If it were the environment of the Western Continent 10 years ago, even 20 soldiers from Poheln could have stopped any village, let alone a city, from resisting, unless the Roa intervened.

There were 1,500 such soldiers.

In addition, my direct disciple Prigos was a master who could be considered second-rate in the Central Plains, and there were also six Harmony Sword Masters who belonged to the realm of the absolute.

Considering that the armies and soldiers in each city were generally fortunate if they were equipped with tanned leather armor and bronze swords, there was clearly an overwhelming difference in power that they should never have lost.

“…There was an Algul behind the humans in the south.”

“Algul? That name sounds familiar.”

I tilted my head for a moment at the familiar name, and the answer came quickly.

“It’s the name of an Einherjar of Orcus from the Eastern Continent.”

“Ah- that parricide.”

It was a familiar name; wasn’t that the guy who helped Brewon create the Einherjar and kill Ul Kanadiel?

“…So, you’re saying someone who should be in the East suddenly crossed the sea?”

“His target seems to be my father’s core.”

I looked at the statue depicting the Sky God at the heart of the World’s Room, specifically at the core within it.

“…How did he find out?”

“He seems to have overcome the curse my father left behind and, instead, used its power as a medium to find a connection.”

“…This is just great.”

I hadn’t even resolved the issues with Gal and Terato, and now problems were erupting here as well.

Looking at the history of the Eastern Continent, it was clear that this wasn’t something we could simply regard as a natural cycle and leave alone.

Perhaps Aliya had heard the story about the previous Terato as well.

She seemed to be making a similar judgment to mine.

“…The fact that you visited the Great Temple means you knew of my return, but also that you wanted to borrow the power of my siblings.”

“…Yes. Although, I was surprised to actually see Araya had returned.”

“That was a good decision. If it were just a human war, it would be one thing, but the Elves can’t stand idly by when beings related to the Eastern Continent are involved.”

Aliya nodded at my words, and I turned my gaze to Antirea.

“…You have a rough road ahead of you.”

“My sisters are fine, and I’m still alive, so it’s okay.”

Antirea gave a bitter smile.

But for a Martial Artist, how could losing limbs be a minor thing, even if they weren’t the ones she used?

Even aside from the shift in her center of gravity, she would have to change the way she wielded her martial arts, from the handholds she used to the twisted and deformed meridians caused by her severed limbs.

Everything she had mastered with her complete body had been rendered useless.

“You have perfectly fulfilled your role as Great Senior Sister. Rest and recuperate for a while, and I will find good medicine and correct your distortions.”

Antirea quietly lowered her head.

I quietly sighed.

It never rains but it pours; only bad news keeps coming.

I was worried about what Terato was thinking and what his goal was in the North, but since I couldn’t discern any movements yet, the matter in the South was more urgent.

Rather, it was because Terato hadn’t made any moves that I felt the need to deal with these troublesome matters now.

“I’ll persuade our siblings. Don’t worry and stay put.”

My words seemed to reassure her, and a bit of life returned to Aliya’s gaunt face.

I moved back to where my siblings were, intending to bring up the story of Algul and the Eastern Continent.

“Araya.”

“…Hmm?”

“Something’s been bothering me, and I want to ask.”

“…What is it?”

Pallas spoke with a stiff face, creating a heavy atmosphere, which made me a little nervous.

“What happened to Mother’s Branch and Saras’s talisman?”

“They burned during the fight…”

“Then what about the clothes Atira made for you?”

“…I think… they probably burned too.”

“Probably? You would have changed into the clothes you’re wearing now, wouldn’t you? Couldn’t you tell the condition of your clothes back then?”

Oops. I misspoke.

I tried to change the subject, but Pallas pressed relentlessly.

I could feel the life gradually draining from Pallas’s eyes.

“I thought it was a little strange. There’s no way you would wear something so aesthetically challenged instead of the clothes Atira made for you. Besides, it’s so complicated in design that it’s hard to believe you made it with your own sense.”

“That’s…”

“Aesthetically challenged? I thought it was quite good for a mere creature, but I suppose you are just a mere creature after all. You have terrible taste.”

“I wasn’t asking you.”

“Gal! Just keep your mouth-”

“I, Gal, looked at Araya’s beautiful body and sought to create clothing in the form that felt most theoretically beautiful. Unlike perfect beings like myself, I pitied you mere creatures for having to fill your innate deficiencies with clothing, so I did my best to make it for you.”

“Looking…at my body…?”

“Of course. In fact, unlike other mere creatures, Araya is a being with excellent perfection even in her natural state, so she was able to satisfy my aesthetic sense. Honestly, I didn’t think it was necessary, though.”

“Gal! Please, just-”

“That’s enough.”

Pallas’s words held no emotion.

The light had vanished from Pallas’s eyes, leaving only emptiness.

“I thought it was strange from the moment you started treating Araya like an object, as if she were your possession.”

Pallas’s neck bent at a near-right angle as he looked at Gal, who had been surveying the room.

“Gal Dragon. You are”

A smooth line extended toward Gal.

“A creature that should not exist.”

Pallas lost his reason in anger and lunged at Gal, and a fight was about to break out in the World’s Room, which was already precariously balanced, so Saras, Aliya, and I frantically tried to stop Pallas.

Gal watched the farce with indifferent eyes, as if it had nothing to do with him, and then, as if losing interest, began to examine the room again.

All of this happened on my first day back after half a year in the North.