Chapter 99: Ha Tae-ryung’s Divine Art (2)

Chapter 99: Ha Tae-ryung’s Divine Art (2)

As the boy vanished from sight, Florin snapped out of her daze and regained her composure.

"Celestia...!"

"Eung."

Something surged within her chest.

How long had it been since she heard that voice? She was certain it was the voice she longed to hear, even in her dreams.

"How... How did you manage to regain consciousness...?"

"He... saved... my heart..."

Ah, just as she suspected.

The boy had indeed saved Celestia. She should have expressed her gratitude, but she disappeared before Florin could do so.

Where on earth did he vanish to?

"So glad to see you after such a long time."

"Eung... I'm glad too..."

Celestia weakly smiled and reached out her hand towards Florin. However, her form grew increasingly hazy, as if lacking strength.

"I... wanted... to see you..."

Florin tightly held her hand. Even as Celestia drifted off to sleep, she radiated a bright smile.

It was the same smile Florin had seen before.

Tears streamed down Florins face as she spoke.

There was no way to express this joy; even finding the words felt difficult.

Apart from shedding tears and laughing, she couldn't do much else.

She had so many questions.

Why did you leave me and fall into a deep slumber?

How did you manage to awaken?

There was so much she wanted to say.

Many things had happened during their separation.

Florin had become the queen of the elves and familiars, yet she was met with cautious gazes... and she had been cursed, unable to partake in any external activities.

Countless jumbled thoughts swirled in her mind, but as sleepiness overcame Celestia, she closed her eyes.

"I... am... too... sleepy..."

"Ah..."

Due to an overwhelming desire to express herself, she found himself unable to utter a single word.

Could there be anything more foolish than this?

Longing for a deeper conversation, they were hindered by circumstances that prevented them from even holding hands.

A profound sense of regret welled up in her chest, yet she made a conscious effort to suppress those emotions and embraced Celestia instead.

-.......

Celestia had drifted off to sleep unnoticed, her figure now resembling a faint, translucent shimmer of sunlight.

Florin gently laid her body on top of a pillar. It was undeniably adorable to witness Celestias persistent attempts to find solace in sleep, like a shrimp seeking refuge.

Only after Celestia had succumbed to slumber did she manage to regain some composure and organize her thoughts.

"Who is that boy exactly...?"

Perhaps Celestias weakened heart would necessitate an extended period of rest.

The situation prevented her from inquiring about the boy's true identity.

Numerous questions plagued her mind.

How did the boy come to know of this place?

Even if he was aware, how did he manage to gain entry?

Assuming he had entered, how did he become aware of Celestias longing for a heart?

And even if he had known, how did he acquire the means to procure a heart?

"Ah..."

Frustration mounted as she realized there was no way of knowing.

It felt suffocating.

Unconsciously, her lips pressed together, and in that very moment, a chill ran down her entire being.

"Is the mask... gone?"

Upon reflection, she recalled having removed her mask earlier to inhale the dawn's refreshing air, placing it delicately in her embrace.

And that boy, without a doubt, met her gaze.

In essence, he had fallen victim to the curse... Yet something felt peculiar.

Individuals ensnared by this "enchanting curse" were incapable of rejecting her; such an act became ingrained in their souls as a forbidden taboo.

However, the boy took a step back.

The reason behind his retreat was surprisingly simple, easily discerned even by Florin.

There was also a grim future where Florin and Edna would never meet, and she was condemned to carry the curse for eternity.

While the actual future remained uncertain, he realized that he couldn't rely on such uncertainties and had to take matters into his own hands to release Florin from the curse.

"Well... I need another chance to meet her."

It wasn't as if he could simply arrange a meeting, and he had no idea how to utilize the Blessing of the Yeonhong Chunsamwol to remove the enchanting curse.

Nonetheless, it wasn't too late to consider Florins situation later.

At that moment, the place Celestia had sent him was of utmost importance.

"It's surprisingly ordinary."

While it lacked the mystical quality of Celestias garden, he had hoped for a somewhat intriguing location, but it turned out to be just... a cave.

Not just any cave, but one filled with descending passages.

However, it wasn't impassable, so he hastened hus steps, moving further down into the cave.

Flicker!

As he reached the very bottom, the torches hanging on the walls lit up one by one, illuminating the path ahead.

At the end of the narrow corridor, reminiscent of a mine, an old wooden door awaited them, emanating a faint magical aura.

Celestias presence confirmed.

As he approached, a voice resounded, and the door opened with ease.

It seemed to be thanks to Celestias necklace.

Stepping inside, he discovered a space that served as a storage area, with few items present.

Stacks of weathered bottles and old books were neatly arranged on shelves.

The desk, chair, and bed showed signs of someone having lived there, but they appeared too worn out for practical use.

However, the swords and books, surprisingly, were in remarkably good condition, allowing for effortless reading.

What caught the eye above all else was the gleaming silver sword positioned at the center of the warehouse.

Despite his attempt to approach, an intangible barrier surrounded it, obstructing his path and refusing to let him draw near.

He even held Celestias pendant to it, but there was no response.

It seemed as if it had been safeguarded, rendering it untouchable.

"I'll have to inquire about this from Celestia later."

However, what he truly desired was to find books pertaining to the mana leakage.

While the shelves were mostly filled with magical tomes, a closer inspection revealed a single handwritten manuscript nestled deep within.

[Regarding the Mana Accumulation Retardation]

[Author: Ha Tae-ryung]

The writing had a modest simplicity, and the title was concise.

As Baek Yu-Seol ran his fingers across the pages, he could discern their coarse texture.

Upon opening the book, he found it lacked an introduction and instead delved directly into the narrative.

[From the moment of birth, all lives embark on a journey towards death. Yet, my existence was different. From the instant I set forth, my destination lay just before me.

Someone said, "You shall perish before reaching the age of twenty."

The Mana Accumulation Retardationa rare condition bestowed upon only one individual per generation.

Unfortunate as it was, I had fallen prey to this unique trait.

Historically, those burdened with the Mana Accumulation Retardation met an untimely demise, and many presumed I would be no exception.

Yet, look at me now.

Despite surpassing the age of forty, I continued to live, albeit with death looming ever closer.

Curse it all, if only I had realized the truth about my body sooner, I might have prolonged my life.

Or perhaps, it was for the better.

With little time remaining, I found the courage to face my mortality and even dared to challenge those who held dominion at the pinnacle of humanity... ]

Initially, Baek Yu-Seol believed these writings were intended solely as a personal journal, not meant for others to peruse.

However, as he progressed to the next chapter, he discarded that notion entirely.

[Perhaps, even after my own demise, someone with the same inherent condition as mine will be born. If that someone happens to be you, congratulations.

By reading this text, you will be able to prolong your lifespan.

I have diligently recorded the findings of my research on the "Mana Accumulation Retardation" here.

Or rather, it would be more appropriate to refer to it as the culmination of my efforts.

The Mana Accumulation Retardation defies the grasp of any medical, scientific, or magical intervention.

Our physical bodies exist beyond the confines of conventional magic.

As the sole beings in a world governed by mana, we stand apart by contradicting its very essence.

Our choices do not involve scouring for elusive elixirs, seeking the counsel of esteemed authorities, or invoking unknown deities.

Rather, it boils down to self-trust and relentless self-discipline.

That is all there is to it.

To persevere with the Mana Accumulation Retardation, one must strive to become resolute and unwavering in their pursuit of strength.]