Chapter 107 : Chapter 107
Chapter 107
A fireball larger than a human head.
Though the sound of magic striking its target rang out, there was neither the scent of burning nor the sight of flames blazing.
“That is rather violent for a greeting.”
Ark Batchel brushed aside the smoke as if it were nothing and stepped forward.
He stood unharmed, without even a scorch mark. Judging by the sword in his hand, he had likely cleaved apart Aquila’s spell.
Frowning, Aquila leveled the Spirit Tree Branch at him.
“Who was it that told me to use an attack spell instead of binding magic?”
“That would be me. It seems you still have the habit of taking others’ advice quite well.”
“You, on the other hand, seem to have grown all your mouth and nothing else.”
At Aquila’s words, Ark tugged at the corner of his lips.
It was a smile Aquila knew well.
Yet familiarity did not make the man before him trustworthy.
Aquila’s cold gaze bore straight into Ark.
“Why did you send me here? I cannot fathom your scheme in the slightest.”
“You will. If it is you.”
“No. I thought I had grasped it, more or less—but after what just happened, I understand nothing at all.”
With a furrowed brow, Aquila cast a sidelong glance at the scattered black fragments.
Behind Ark lay the devastation left by the colossal silver beast, its corpse, and the remnants of the corrupted soul.
If this place had been artificially constructed, repairs might have been possible.
But a forest was a forest.
He could not even begin to estimate how long it would take for the trees to grow back.
Turning his gaze back, Aquila flicked the tip of the Spirit Tree Branch.
“What was that thing? I do not know how much you remember, but it is not something that should appear at this point.”
Ark fell silent.
This time, however, Aquila did not wait.
Golden formulas flared in his grasp once more, and a spear formed of ice materialized.
With a casual motion, he launched it at Ark.
It was not a warning.
The ice spear flew straight for Ark’s throat.
WHIZZ! CLANG!
Ark struck the spell aside with his sword.
When Aquila moved to cast again, Ark finally sighed and spoke.
“……You are right. Originally, it was a monster that should have appeared around the middle of the journey. This time, it surfaced far too early.”
“What I want to ask is—”
“Why I summoned you to this distant eastern land when it was a matter I could have resolved myself. That is what you are wondering. Though I imagine there are many more questions you would like to ask.”
Ark cut him off.
As though he knew every question Aquila wished to voice.
That familiar tone and expression only deepened the crease between Aquila’s brows.
The irritating part was that Ark was correct.
As for the Demonic Dragon, Aquila had already gathered the ingredients for poison and had been seeking an opportunity to deal with it first. Passing that matter on had not been strange.
But if Ark had known Fenrir would appear here, he could have handled it himself.
Especially if he had anticipated even the corrupted soul emerging from within—and could dispatch it so easily.
Clicking his tongue silently, Aquila spoke the thought aloud.
“Fine. If you intended to come late and dispose of that thing anyway, you could have handled it from the beginning. Whether you deal with it or I do, the outcome is the same. Why go to the trouble?”
Ark shook his head.
“You had to begin it.”
“What?”
“You had to be the one to defeat Fenrir. That is why I called you.”
Ark’s tone was calm.
As though he had uttered not a single lie.
And Aquila knew that when Ark spoke in that tone, he never lied.
Still—what did that amount to?
It was merely a statement with no explanation attached.
“You look unconvinced. But what I said is important.”
Removing the Eye That Sees the Hidden from his eye, Ark studied Aquila quietly.
One eye was a tranquil blue.
The other remained an empty white, as though no light could ever enter it.
“If I had stepped in, it would not have begun.”
“Ha. What nonsense—wait.”
Aquila had been about to retort sharply, but he halted.
Then, as realization dawned, his eyes slowly widened.
“You mean you cannot start the scenario? You, of all people?”
Ark Batchel was the protagonist of this world.
The path he walked was the very center of the story, and wherever he stepped, the narrative began.
Even without the player—now bearing the name Aquila Reschenhardt.
That was why Aquila had always sought Ark Batchel at the beginning of every cycle.
His role was to stand beside Ark and guide the main scenario to completion, clearing every quest.
That was Aquila’s assigned mission.
It was the structure of this world.
Yet now Ark was speaking as though he had cast that structure aside.
His words meant that even if Ark Batchel entered this forest, the scenario titled ‘The Silver Demonic Beast at the Forest’s Boundary’ would not trigger.
The protagonist of this world, no less.
Ark gave no answer this time.
And that silence was answer enough.
“W-what nonsense…….”
Aquila’s mind raced.
How could such a thing even be possible?
‘Is it because this Ark Batchel crossed over from the previous cycle? Because he leapt beyond a loop unknown even to the gods, and is therefore treated as an error?’
Aquila tightened his grip on the Spirit Tree Branch.
‘If that is so, then what about me—who carries all my memories and continues to circle this world……?’
Expressionless, Ark slid his sword back into its sheath.
“It is time for me to go. We will meet again anyway.”
“What? Who is sending you—”
“Please wait.”
As Aquila began to kindle Mana once more, Heinen stepped forward and blocked him with one arm.
His helmet gone, his bare face exposed.
Heinen’s coffee-colored eyes fixed on Aquila.
“Symptoms of Mana Exhaustion are appearing. If you continue to use magic, it will strain your body, Lord Aquila.”
Aquila’s lips had turned pale.
Though the heat had subsided, sweat still ran down his face, and the hand gripping the Spirit Tree Branch trembled visibly.
But Aquila had no time to weigh such matters.
If he let Ark Batchel go like this, the man would simply vanish again.
And after that answer, there were even more questions he needed answered.
“I asked you to ensure that Mana Exhaustion does not occur. Do you remember?”
“You may not realize it, but now is hardly the time to worry about—”
“That time, you survived not only because of Lord Ianpel’s Divine Power, but also because you were fortunate. I cannot guarantee that will be the case now. My Divine Power is not whole.”
Heinen’s gaze was firm.
His voice, firmer still.
“……I do not understand what is happening, but if it will harm your body, then I believe it is best to cease using magic, as Sir Heinen says.”
Porzelin stepped forward to stand before Aquila.
A Sword Master.
She already knew how formidable such a being was.
She had once served under Lexenbert.
Thus, she had no intention of attempting to detain someone who declared so readily that he would withdraw.
Yet her decision was not born solely of fear.
It was for Aquila’s survival.
If Aquila truly resolved to fight, she would join without hesitation.
But not now.
His condition was visibly poor.
Watching Ark warily, Porzelin glanced at Aquila.
Reading the concern directed toward him, Aquila swallowed a sigh.
‘Damn it…….’
He knew he was being reckless.
In his current state, he could not defeat Ark Batchel.
And they had just emerged from a fierce battle.
Though unspoken, everyone was exhausted.
The Blue Scale Descendants who had fainted from the final scream needed to be moved to safety.
Fenrir’s corpse and the black fragments also had to be dealt with.
After staring at Ark with a sharp gaze, Aquila finally lowered the hand holding the Spirit Tree Branch.
“……For now, let us return to Senetalia.”
“Yes. Understood.”
Once he had decided, Aquila did not linger in regret.
He turned immediately and approached the Blue Scale Descendants.
After observing Ark briefly, and seeing no sign that he intended to move, Porzelin hurried after Aquila.
Only Heinen remained where he stood, watching Ark until he left.
Prepared for any unforeseen development.
He knew nothing about Ark.
Ark regarded him quietly before asking,
“How much do you believe in the gods?”
“Pardon?”
“The gods are selfish. Even when they know the outcome, they do not extend their hand. How much do you understand of that?”
“I do not believe in them seeking recompense. I merely—”
“It would be better not to believe.”
Ark smiled faintly.
“And Rancliff worries about you. He would be pleased if you visited him at least once.”
“How do you know that—how do you know that child?”
Heinen’s face twisted.
As before, no proper answer came.
“Well then. Until next time, Aquila.”
Though he had already turned away without hesitation, Ark left that farewell for Aquila, who was surely still listening.
Then, in the blink of an eye, he vanished.
All that remained were black fragments.
And the ravaged forest.
With the trees toppled, the eastern wind blew through the empty spaces, and before long, the sun began to set, ushering in waves of vermilion light.
Heinen placed a hand over the dent in his armor and murmured a brief prayer before walking toward Aquila.
***
Several who had fainted regained consciousness once the corrupted soul was destroyed and the debuff lifted.
But the rest did not awaken and had to be carried back to the village.
Someone summoned those who had remained behind.
Together, they transported the unconscious to Senetalia.
The village was in uproar.
Though they understood from the colossal corpse of the demonic beast that a brutal battle had taken place, what unsettled them more was the palpable fear—an unspoken sense that something dreadful had been confronted.
Some appeared as though their souls had been shaken loose.
Heinen looked upon them with concern, but Aquila shook his head.
“If they remain under the forest’s vitality, they will recover. Their pure souls have merely suffered a temporary blow; they have not been tainted.”
Heinen seemed to have much more he wished to ask, yet, as always, he kept silent and nodded.
In truth, he lacked even the strength to inquire further.
Except for Aquila, who trembled as though on the verge of collapse, Heinen and Porzelin had taken part in carrying the Blue Scale Descendants.
They were utterly exhausted.
“……Whatever it is, let us rest first.”
In Tesser’s stead—one of those who had fainted—a member who had remained in the village expressed gratitude.
Having fought together and repelled the monster, the Blue Scale Descendants now welcomed them as allies rather than strangers to the forest.
Instead of guiding them back to the vacant house near Senetalia’s entrance, they offered them a fine house at the village center.
Yet none of them had the strength to observe what had changed.
After hastily cleansing themselves, they fell into sleep as though collapsing.
Without a sound.
Only silence.
***
The following day.
Aquila did not awaken until late afternoon.
And even then, it was not entirely of his own will.
It was closer to being forced awake.
Ding!
【Note from Joreumi: Wㅞ77ㅓ∀(Wake Up)】
Ding!
【Note from Joreumi: 1O{Nㅏ(Wake up)】
Ding!
It was because the Great Spirit kept triggering message notifications incessantly.