Chapter 68

Chapter 68

[It is the correct answer.]

In the voice that grazed her mind like a lick, Elpheira finally faced the truth.

What she considered treasures were the dry skeletons of once-valued humans, and the elixir she deemed a gem was a sword piercing the chest of a stone statue.

“Uh... Ugh...!”

She covered her mouth and stepped back. The shock of seeing the statue twisted her insides.

Her heart pounded, and her limbs trembled as she unconsciously moved forward. She wanted to grasp it, catch it, possess it.

An unprecedented temptation, a dreadful desire veiled behind a curtain of deception, was gripping her heart.

But, it couldn’t be.

She was an elf, the noblest race under the sky. Surrendering to the tempting allure above an human corpse was too, too beneath her.

She was a sorceress, the most rational among all professions in the world. Acting impulsively and getting lost in emotions were disgraceful for a sorceress.

So, she must...

[I have many names, but you may call me Salvation. I know the hope you cradle. Ask, and it shall be granted.]

No, you are not my deity.

Elpheira unintentionally took a step forward, but stopped abruptly, startled by the sensation of bones crumbling beneath her feet.

[Draw it. You shall obtain by pulling. I say, and you shall receive what you’ve yearned for all your life. Raise your hand and draw.]

The voice of the statue carried a sense of holiness, a kind not easily resisted by mortal spirits.

Perhaps it was unavoidable. Resisting such a thing might be a meaningless endeavor in itself.

Elpheira couldn’t distinguish whether her surrender was a resignation to temptation or if the temptation itself was whispering through her voice.

As she took one more step forward, a chilling voice penetrated her ears.

Yes, her ears.

“Your words are lies.” (Ivan)

Cool, chilling to cool her feverish head.

Low and resonant, cold. Carrying a prelude, growling like a fierce beast.

In stark contrast to the gentle and sweet voice of the statue resonating in her mind, this voice was clear in her ears.

Yet, because of that, it felt realistic—a voice of a ‘human.’ Crossing the boundary between myth and fantasy, the voice of a mortal descending. Thus, more distinct, reassuring...

“You are sealed by human hands.” (Ivan)

With a dry tone, calmly stating that humans had already defeated it in ancient times.

[Hear my words!!]

“No.” (Ivan)

A visible sanctity darkening the surroundings,

Even though the sword embedded in the statue’s chest seemed to struggle to pull itself out.

The hand holding the hilt, heavy despite being entangled in sacred chains, moved slowly. But with a firm belief.

Detaching each finger, one by one.

[Stop, stop!! You cannot kill me! I am your god!!]

Ignoring the statue’s scream. Unwavering in the dreadful temptation felt just by looking at it.

How could it be possible? If she were in that position, she might have given up.

Facing the majority of pouring malevolence head-on, despite only a single thread of sanctity flowing beyond the broad shoulders, she is now in such agony.

In the low voice heard when Elpheira was trembling, her tremors gradually subsided.

“I’ve encountered those who believe themselves to be gods.” (Ivan)

Crack, crunch. The sound of rocks breaking is heard as sanctity scatters wildly in all directions.

Though not visible beyond the man’s shoulders, some things can be known without seeing.

The man is now killing a god.

“They died.” (Ivan)

No excitement or passion, no sense of honor for the self-imposed task, no satisfaction in achievement—a dry voice that doesn’t convey any of those feelings.

Simply, calmly, as if recounting a past experience, he dryly whispers.

-Crack!!

With a firm grip, he crushed the statue’s head.

“Ah...”

Sacredness bursts out from within the seal, pouring down on this hill with an intense presence that distorts the world.

At every end of the ancient god.

It’s the screams of the immortal, mingled with cries and anguish.

Merely listening to it is the lamentation of the impious, causing deafness and soul contamination.

Elpheira managed to open her mouth and shouted with a cracked voice, “Blood... run! Escape!! That... that...!” (Elpheira)

How to explain? To persuade that man to step back...

If she were there, no, if she were in this room, she could turn its curse upside down.

Struggling in the swirling wind, Elpheira finally chose the most appropriate words, ones understandable even to human intelligence!

“It’s going to explode!” (Elpheira)

“Hmm.” (Ivan)

Ivan’s gaze fell on Elpheira. He nodded briefly and disappeared from her sight in an instant.

“Eh...?!” (Elpheira)

“Good thing I brought you here.” (Ivan)

Suddenly appearing in front of Elpheira, Ivan wrapped his arms around her waist and turned her back. Just as they were about to leave the room, a click sound reached her ears.

Warm body heat enveloped her lower back. As Elpheira looked up with trembling eyes, the man with the same expression as when she first entered that room stood before her.

“You-you, are you okay...”

“It’s fine.”

Ivan briskly supported Elpheira and changed his steps.

In a half-embrace, Elpheira opened her mouth.

“What, what happened in there...”

“Nothing happened.”

“Well... well... that’s not possible.”

“That’s what happened.”

“If you don’t want to talk about it, then don’t.”

“Sure.”

“Ugh... seriously. Humans...!! They incessantly create problems, perpetually causing me constant concern!”

Ignoring Elpheira’s outburst, Ivan, who had been standing at the end of the ruins, suddenly looked up.

In the deep underground where the veil of magic was lifted, a faint glimmer was visible far above.

“Can you use levitation spells?”

“Of course, I can.”

“Bringing you here was indeed a good decision.”

“.....”

She lowered her head in Ivan’s embrace, hesitated, then grinned.

Suddenly, a thought occurred to her.

Why is it so... ‘warm’? No, this is exactly...?

She cautiously placed her hand on his chest and was startled.

“Why is your body so hot! What did you do in there!”

“Hmm.”

“Not ‘hmm’! Seriously! Is your conversation skill worse because you’re human?”

“It’s okay.”

“Aaah!! Stop saying that!! What’s okay about it!! Did we bet on whose insides would explode first, mine or yours?!”

Elpheira yelled and completed the spell.

Slowly, her body floated.

Ivan glanced once more at the ruins and then lifted his gaze.

The underground river was nearby. If they went to the entrance of the underground river, Elizabeth’s forces might be there. Even if not, the straight path from the river to the university was short.

They had reached a secure area.

“You did well.”

“...More like you did. I didn’t really do anything properly.”

“No. You fulfilled your role.”

Finding the seal and interpreting the ancient language – just that. He never asked for more.

So, precisely what needed to be done was accomplished.

Everything else, such as the safety of this little one, subduing the sealed entity, understanding and dealing with the situation, reconnaissance – all of those were his responsibilities.

Ivan slowly closed his eyes as his vision blurred.

In response to Ivan’s words, Elpheira lowered her head again, hesitated, and then spoke.

“Um, about that. Twelve years ago. That, um. Back then.”

“....”

“Do you remember... if I did something to you back then?”

“....”

“Hello?”

When Elpheira lifted her head, she saw Ivan with closed eyes.

Listening to his regular breathing, she reached up and gently stroked Ivan’s cheek with her hand.

“I was sorry for not being able to say thank you. From today and everything combined, thank you.”

Floating in the underground river, she slowly, still embraced by Ivan, floated across the water without dispelling the levitation spell.

“Thank you for your hard work. Sleep well.”

*

Ivan grasped his head and opened his eyes.

A throbbing headache accompanied a foggy consciousness that arose.

It felt like the hangover after a heavy drinking session, but surprisingly, Ivan is someone who rarely drinks in this era. Therefore, he doesn’t experience hangovers.

He rose from the bed, pushing aside the soft velvet blanket.

“What...?”

Velvet blanket? Bed?

Ivan’s thoughts sank rapidly.

A floor covered with a red plush carpet and a velvet blanket gently draped over the bed.

And at the end, a silhouette lying down.

A woman.

“Hmm.”

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