Chapter 121 : Chapter 121
Chapter 121
“Pff, cough……!”
Aquila Reschenhardt choked as he tried to swallow his coffee, breaking into a fit of coughing.
It was because a name he had never expected to hear at this point had suddenly popped up.
‘Mr. Ark? Well now, to share a name with the protagonist of this world… that is hardly a fortunate fate…….’
Naturally, however, he did not assume that the person being called was Ark Batchel.
After all, every one of the man’s appearances so far had been elusive, as though he were constantly being pursued—brief encounters followed by abrupt disappearances. Though it had been Ark Batchel who suggested they meet again, Aquila had never imagined him openly strolling through the streets of Banahan.
Surely, even now, he must be hiding somewhere, secretly observing Aquila’s movements……
“Mr. Ark! Over here, over here!”
“That is quite the enthusiastic welcome.”
But that voice followed right behind Bejiana.
Aquila snapped his head around.
And then he saw him.
A man clad in a long robe, with thick, unkempt black hair.
“You…….”
“Stand back.”
Before Aquila could draw the Spirit Tree Branch, the two swordsmen stepped forward faster than he could react.
Heinen gripped the hilt of the weapon strapped to his back, while Porzelin had already drawn his blade halfway from its scabbard. The two stood in front of Aquila, shielding him as they regarded Ark Batchel with caution.
“Uh, wh-what……?”
Ridim and Bejiana, who had been about to call Ark over after spotting him in the street, froze with their raised arms still suspended in the air.
The sharp aura radiating from the two swordsmen was anything but ordinary.
Heinen and Porzelin were tense.
The opponent before them—the young man with shaggy black hair—had covered the empty side of his face with a black eyepatch, unlike when they had encountered him at the central plaza of Denimarad or at the forest’s boundary. Yet even so, there was not a single opening in his bearing.
“I do not know what brings you before us this time, but……”
Heinen’s expression hardened as he prepared to issue a warning.
“How rude!”
A sudden roar split the standoff.
Their attention had been so focused on Ark Batchel that they failed to notice there was another figure standing behind him.
A tall silhouette cloaked entirely in a dark green robe, hood drawn deep enough to obscure the face.
That figure raised their voice once more.
“To brandish weapons and scatter killing intent without so much as a word—what insolence is this, humans!”
Then the figure stepped forward, positioning themselves in front of Ark Batchel as if to shield him.
He was tall—nearly two meters, perhaps just shy of it.
More than that, the tone and voice.
Aquila knew that voice well.
No, not merely from hearing it in passing.
In a previous cycle, he had spoken with him directly—had even traveled alongside him.
‘Lev… Lorne……?’
Aquila’s eyes widened slowly in disbelief.
The man who had taken them all in with visible displeasure continued, clearly intending to deliver a thorough reprimand.
“And to draw weapons in the very heart of what ought to be peaceful Banahan! You must be out of your mind! To think that I momentarily felt pleased at the sight of you based on your appearance—”
“Lev. It is fine.”
It was Ark Batchel who gently grasped his shoulder, cutting him off.
He shook his head a few times.
“I know them.”
“What? Then that makes it even worse! To point weapons at those whose faces you recognize—such conduct is the height of discourtesy!”
Ark Batchel shook his head again.
“No. They are not—”
“You, you…… lunatic.”
His words halted, colliding with Aquila’s low mutter.
“Human. What did you just say……?”
Levlorne, whose hearing surpassed that of ordinary men, shifted his gaze at last—not toward the two swordsmen, but past them.
Then he flinched.
Between the strands of unkempt black hair that hung over Aquila’s face, his eyes held no warmth whatsoever.
“……Ark Batchel, you crazy bastard.”
When Aquila finally spat out the curse, Heinen and Porzelin turned around in shock, as if to confirm whether they had truly heard him correctly.
What they saw was a face carved from eternal snow—far colder than they had ever seen before.
“Are you in your right mind?”
Aquila spoke in a voice devoid of temperature, stepping between Heinen and Porzelin.
They tried to stop him, but he gestured them back and took several steps forward.
“You had no one else to drag in, so you dragged in that? What is your scheme this time? Or are you that confident in your ability?”
As Aquila strode forward, Levlorne attempted to block his path as well, but Ark caught his arm and lowered it.
When Ark Batchel stepped forward, the distance between them narrowed further.
“He will be a valuable force in what lies ahead of us. You know that as well.”
Aquila’s voice remained quiet.
By what lay ahead, he meant the subjugation of the Demonic Dragon.
He was not denying Levlorne’s strength.
However—
Only two steps apart.
From that distance, Aquila cast a sideways glance beneath the hood.
His eyes met amethyst irises in an instant.
Ding!
[Information regarding the keyword ‘Levlorne’ is now unlocked!]
[Levlorne — Descendant of High Elf blood, Solemn Pilgrim, Massacre, Eternal Curse of Blood.
Records prior to the 30th cycle:
Originating from the ‘Eternal Valley’ deep within the Washerd Forest, they are warriors said to be capable of shooting down even a swiftly flying Wyvern with a single arrow. If one forms a bond with them, they can be recruited as companions at the earliest stage……
……The amount of information is too vast to load at once!
Please press !
Special Note: High Elves do not slaughter. However, if this principle is ignored and blood is shed repeatedly, the blood-soaked soul begins to awaken to massacre.]
‘……A valuable force?’
As Aquila reviewed the keyword information that had surfaced, his expression hardened further.
A being who cherished peace and loved this land—the descendant of High Elf blood.
Long before the Delvion Empire unified this continent seven hundred years ago, the High Elves had voluntarily migrated eastward, detesting war and conflict.
They did not kill.
They lived on fruits, water, and flowers—never touching meat.
Some praised them as the most beautiful and powerful warriors upon the earth.
Aquila disagreed.
‘Massacres. They are massacres.’
The moment their hands were stained with blood repeatedly, a price would be exacted for defiling the most beautiful creations shaped by this world’s Creator.
The peace engraved upon their souls would distort, and they would slowly grow intoxicated with blood.
And when that reached its extreme, High Elves began slaughtering all living beings.
From that moment on, they became several times stronger than their original selves—steadfast allies transforming in an instant into the worst of enemies.
There was no way to restore them.
There was no method to erase ink that had seeped into a blank page.
Either Levlorne died, or they did.
When Aquila had first met Levlorne, he had not known this. After learning the truth, he had tried everything to save him.
In the end, he gave up.
And so he decided:
Never bring him out of the forest.
Let him remain within its freshness until his lifespan ended—or until the world perished and all life destroyed itself.
‘……I cannot witness that horrific hellscape again.’
Though many cycles had passed, recalling the blood-soaked smile still sent a chill through a corner of his heart.
Among the list of those Aquila refused to recruit—the so-called “Do Not Take as Party Members” list—Levlorne ranked near the top.
And yet Ark Batchel had brought him out of the Washerd Forest.
Even knowing that the place he was destined to head toward was the battlefield.
“I do not know what your goal is…….”
Aquila lowered his voice, then frowned.
‘……Wait. Did I not mention Levlorne in the 29th cycle? Could it be that he does not know?’
He did not know how much Ark Batchel was aware of.
Granted, Ark Batchel was now a Sword Master. If Levlorne were to become a blood-starved beast, perhaps he could be subdued more easily than before.
Still, the greatest issue was that an event that never should have occurred had now been set in motion by Ark Batchel’s hand.
“If your goal is to defeat the enemy and clear it, then naturally our goals align.”
Ark Batchel continued calmly.
“But my final objective must go one step further than that.”
“Further?”
Aquila, still unfamiliar with the word “clear” coming from his mouth, asked back.
Ark stepped closer, whispering so softly that only Aquila could hear.
“To kill all the gods.”
“……What?”
Aquila lifted his head in shock.
“I see. So you are…….”
As though he had realized something, Levlorne’s hostility melted away, his expression shifting.
“Um, excuse me! Even I realize that it takes considerable courage to interject in a situation like this—”
Aquila did not have time to respond.
Bejiana timidly raised her hand and glanced toward the Adventurers’ Guild building.
“I believe the two who went inside earlier are coming out now. Am I right?”
Porzelin and Heinen, who had been watching the standoff in tension, finally turned their heads.
Indeed, Dalia and Merdin were exiting.
And for some reason, Kelson followed behind them.
They spoke briefly outside, then looked around—soon spotting Aquila’s group across from the line—and began walking toward them.
“Keh!”
The sound came from Ridim, who had remained quiet until now.
Kelson was approaching together with Merdin and Dalia.
“Y-you two know each other, right? How that is the case—well, that is beside the point. Then there is no need for introductions, correct? May we go now? I am very curious what your relationship is, but that man looks like he is heading this way.”
Rattling off his words at high speed, Ridim tugged at Bejiana’s sleeve and slowly retreated.
He clearly disliked Kelson immensely.
“I still have so many questions…… Ah! Do not pull me, Ridim!”
“We have to go! I do not even want to make eye contact. Hurry!”
“I said I understand! In that case, the five of you may converse among yourselves—we shall take our leave! If possible, we would like to see you briefly before departing tomorrow, sir! Until then!”
After finally mentioning the name of the inn, Bejiana bowed deeply together with Ridim before hastily leaving.
“Ah, yes. Tomorrow, farewell—”
Before Aquila could properly return their farewell—
“Tch. Illegal explorers. Still just as quick to run away.”
An unfamiliar voice cut in.
It was Kelson, having arrived just as Bejiana and Ridim left.
The rough-featured man turned his gaze particularly toward Heinen.
“You are a Temple Knight, are you not? I have an urgent request from the Guild—”
“Human.”
Levlorne interrupted him, disregarding his words.
Then he pulled back the hood he had worn low until now.
Skin dark as the shadows of the forest.
Yet what stood out was not the amethyst eyes, nor the loosely tied long ash-gray hair.
“Form a party with us.”
One of his pointed ears—the very symbol of the elves—had been completely severed.