45 – Past, Present, and Future
Made of a transparent material like glass, the figure attached to the bark of the world tree was undoubtedly a spider.
The size was roughly that of a person’s face.
Suddenly, Aqua, who had transformed into the form of a lizard, approached the creature and pretended to sniff the air.
With the sudden approach, the material of the spider, which had looked like glass, immediately transformed into something like a mirror.
Aqua was surprised as he saw his own reflection in the spider and used his front legs to touch his face.
Wind, too, transformed into a small whirlwind and began to circle around the spider, inspecting every nook and cranny.
Then, the surface of the spider, which had looked like a mirror, suddenly transformed into a stained glass, with a variety of colors.
Lark, in his human form, walked up from the ground and shielded the sunlight with one hand, gazing at the mysterious creature he had never seen before.
It may be the first time for the spirits, but I know what it is.
It was what Viblea told me in my childhood memories of Eos.
A time spirit, one of the few beings among the countless spirits without a rank.
“Aitas.”
It was the only spirit I made a contract with Viblea.
When I called its name, it turned transparent like glass again and transformed into the form of a rooster, flapping its wings vigorously as it descended to the ground.
It transformed into a variety of colors again, running around me like it had discovered a pretty hen, and then it changed its material like a mirror, this time into the shape of a plump hammer.
“….”
Then it transformed back into a glass material and stood upright next to my leg. The two small palms pressed against its belly.
With its eyes closed, it slightly moistened its upper body and leaned against me, as if asking me to stroke its belly.
Perhaps because I had inherited Viblea’s power, it seemed to feel a great intimacy with me.
That’s why, just by scratching its hard belly a few times, the contract was quickly concluded.
Suddenly, a yellowish energy began to circulate in the sky.
It was time to go back.
“Oh, have you come…?”
Ardor was pleasantly surprised to see the appearance of the prince in the midst of the enemy lines.
And Ardor was so surprised that he unintentionally used honorifics.
What should he say first?
Before his dilemma could be resolved, the prince spoke first.
“Swear allegiance to me.”
“….”
Ardor was once again taken aback.
What kind of oath could the prince possibly want?
“Surely, it can’t be an oath regarding mana…”
A mage was someone who unleashed magic through their own belief alone.
That’s why an oath involving mana was never taken lightly.
If one were to lie and deceive oneself, not only would they lose the ability to use magic, but their mana could go out of control, causing their body to explode and result in instant death.
“….”
That was why he couldn’t find an answer for a while.
If the prince demanded an oath regarding mana, then it was no different from becoming a slave to the great master of the tower.
“If it’s an oath…”
“Of course, an oath regarding mana.”
A smile adorned the face of the prince, but there was an overwhelming presence that made one instinctively avert their gaze, as piercing as his green eyes.
Clearly, it was the result of the composure that only someone who held their life in their hands could possess.
It was not an unexpected turn of events, but still, hearing it was like a bolt from the blue.
He just wanted to change the thread he was holding onto from Duke Shurein to the prince.
He had no intention of being treated like a useless beggar and being miserably pushed around like a slave.
“If that’s the case, I’d rather die-“
“Do you want to die?”
“….”
As he thought about it quietly.
He didn’t really want to die.
It was too late to throw everything away now, as he had achieved so much.
But instead of being treated like a slave and suffering like a madman under this prince who seemed anything but ordinary, wouldn’t it be better to die…?
“Most of the elves think you’re dead.”
“Most of them…”
If that was the case, then it meant that a few elves were definitely aware of their survival.
For example, it would be the king or powerful individuals like princes and princesses.
Ardor rolled his eyes diligently.
“Well, in any case, it’s definitely something to be grateful for that he saved me…”
The moment the Crown Prince refused to speak, it was unnecessary to question whether the high-ranking elves would move.
“Damn it.”
Would he live as a slave, or become a target for execution as terrible as the one he saw earlier?
Despite boasting exceptional skills in profit calculation, this time it wasn’t an easy calculation for him.
“The Matap wasn’t intentionally destroyed. It only changed its appearance slightly, but what’s inside remains almost the same.”
“Slightly? Just slightly?”
It was an unbelievable statement.
Didn’t several floors collapse and the walls twist miserably?
In the face of Arduor, whose face turned red with rising anger, the Crown Prince calmly spoke as if he knew his heart well.
“I don’t intend to treat you harshly.”
Pushed by the close, intense gaze, Arduor took a step back.
Somehow, his calculations weren’t going well.
It was because the pressure of not knowing when he would die in the enemy’s territory weighed heavily on his shoulders.
Moreover, since he had already decided to change sides, he was in a state where rational judgment was even more difficult.
“Are you, are you serious?”
In such a situation, it was inevitable for his heart to waver at the unexpected mercy.
The Crown Prince tilted his head slightly and whispered in his ear.
“If I become Emperor, I will also increase the Imperial support funds.”
After saying that, the Crown Prince opened his palm wide.
“Five times?!!”
The Crown Prince nodded with a smile, as if it was nothing.
There was no need for further hesitation.
Ardor began his oath to the Crown Prince, who was floating in the air.
Dressed only in underwear, sitting on a vine-covered chair on a tall tree.
***
As the crimson sunset blazed, burning away the suppressed grudge.
I bid farewell to the royal family and countless elves and ventured into the forest.
Behind me, there were not only Eleine and Astia, who received gifts from Gartagon, but also ten knights, following from a distance.
Those knights were the problem.
Although it couldn’t be helped, since I used the enslavement necklace on the royal knights.
If by any chance they stumbled and fell, and the necklaces were released, it could be a considerable blow to someone like me, who already had a notorious reputation.
The merit of preventing a war would be overshadowed in an instant by the infamous reputation that could easily be covered up.
So I had to choose between using the death annihilation spell or erasing their memories.
As I approached the line of knights lined up at the border between the forest and the plain, they all turned their heads with uncomfortable expressions and began to glance at me.
“From now on, do nothing. Execute.”
As soon as I said that, Astia next to me shouted in excitement.
Then, a black light began to seep from the knights’ necks.
The enslavement necklaces were forcing their actions.
Still, killing all ten of them seemed a bit much, so I thought of testing the ability of the elemental spirit Itas, who can manipulate time.
According to the knowledge that flowed in through the connected consciousness, Itas could erase the memories of the target.
Of course, there were constraints that prevented me from writing freely.
“Sob…!”
As the spider made of mirror material crawled onto my head, the trembling knight couldn’t help but recoil. However, he offered no resistance.
It was because if he broke his promise, the necklace of obedience would take his life.
As the six-legged Itas placed its two front legs on his forehead, it soon began to pull out a thin, silver thread.
The thread that was being pulled out was none other than the knight’s memories of everything he had seen and heard since leaving the palace.
Of course, my mana was rapidly depleting as well.
After erasing the memories of ten knights, a substantial amount of mana that could easily cause several natural disasters had been depleted.
Leaving the knights who had fainted due to the aftermath of memory loss lying on the ground, I called for the Matapju that had been waiting outside the forest.
Not too far away, it flew through the air, splitting the sky in less than five seconds with a flame shot from a magma golem that had been summoned.
Of course, the sight of inspiration flying in her underwear while igniting flames all over her body was enough to furrow anyone’s brows.
“Your Highness!”
Nevertheless, the sight of her smiling brightly in front of me, with proper respect, was much brighter than before.
“Eos!”
Then, the voice of the white-haired eagle Aquila came from behind.
His attitude was quite cautious.
“Are… are you leaving…?”
Tears welled up in his reddish eyes, as if they were burning with the fiery sunset.
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“I… I am the eagle of Wiblea!”
“….”
The first thought that came to mind was, “What do I do?” But the moment I was about to answer, I felt like I was going to burst into tears, so I forcibly swallowed the words that were about to pop out from behind my front teeth.
“Um, well… I could give you a ride in the future…”
With one shy foot lightly tapping the ground, she looked away as if she were avoiding something. It was a scene that could easily be mistaken for a human.
“N-No, of course I don’t want to give you a ride!”
Embarrassed and screaming alone, Aquila was indeed a very difficult creature to handle.
However.
In a distant memory, there was an indelible longing for this eagle, deeply ingrained in the stories Wibrea had told her son.
“Well then, let’s go together.”
“Yeah!”
I climbed onto Aquila with Elaine and Astia, and we headed towards the Tenafel Territory.
At first, Aquila was arrogant, but when Astia, who wielded a medium sword, rode it, it seemed like it would be better for Aquila to not go together. But when Astia lightly slapped its rear with the scabbard, Aquila flew up in surprise.
***
“What the hell am I supposed to do about this?!”
Glentino shouted loudly, looking at the northern sky where the eagle had disappeared, leaving behind ten unconscious knights.
Caw-caw- caw-caw-
But the only response that came back was the mournful cry of a passing raven.