Chapter 187

[Translator – Night][Proofreader – Gun]

Chapter 187: Key (3)

A wise and compassionate nature.

A beautiful beauty that perfectly fits the term reincarnation of a goddess.

Even if all the world’s descriptors were attached, it would be impossible to fully express her charm.

The messenger conveying the voice of the gods, the spiritual leader of the Knights of Light, the saint Nephrodite Iris.

Considered extremely noble by all who live beyond the empire on this land, most did not know her true nature, hidden behind a bright halo.

Who could have guessed?

She, who always prayed to the gods for the prosperity of humans and the blessings of the continent, in fact, is not human, but a white elf.

“Was it three years ago? I still vividly remember the day I first met Garnian.”

She murmured quietly, a strange smile on her lips.

“At that time, you warmly welcomed us, who had come to Pruina.”

At this, Garnian’s brows furrowed slightly.

He did not treat her lightly enough for the word “welcome” to be appropriate.

Due to the white elves’ tendency to fiercely guard against outsiders, Garnian revealed himself first and tried to stop her.

Furthermore, he threw a strong warning that even if she approached further, she could be killed, but she did not care.

At that time, Garnian saw two humans.

The saint Nephrodite and a knight with blonde hair whose name he did not know.

“Thinking back to that moment still makes my heart race. If I hadn’t revealed that I was a white elf, without even hearing the circumstances, you would have killed us. Isn’t that right?”

Garnian neither nodded nor denied.

The energy of one’s own people was not something that could be hidden on the inside just because it was hidden on the outside.

He already knew that she was a white elf from the moment they first met.

“Roles, duties, responsibilities. It may sound cruel to see it differently. Even though it feels like something forced upon me by someone else, and yet, feeling like there is no one else but me who can do it, I have no choice but to do it.”

The key guarding the secrets of the gods, and the guardian protecting that key.

For the past 300 years, it had been Garnian’s role, performed with unwavering dedication.

“Is that why? I’ve often thought that I resemble Garnian a lot. Yet there were also clear differences. If I thought everyone should follow me for one purpose, Garnian was willing to sacrifice only himself for one purpose.”

Nephrodite’s gaze was still directed not at Garnian, but at Hastia.

“Still, it’s undeniable that our paths are the same. The key holding the secret of the gods… In order to maintain the peace now reconstructed under the order of light, we must continue to protect that secret.”

“I will not listen to anything further.”

As if not to be swayed by her persuasion, he interrupted her,

“I followed you, Nephrodite, for one reason only. To pass the power of the key sealed within Hastia to you. You said that with it, we could prevent the threats to the continent.”

“Yes.”

“You said it would free us from the long-standing wish of the white elf tribe.”

“That’s right.”

“You clearly said that it would free Hastia as a normal elf, not as a key, didn’t you?”

“Yes. My feelings about that haven’t changed.”

Despite Garnian’s repeated questions, she calmly replied.

“But why…”

On the other hand, Garnian’s eyes were filled with anger and were reddened from being bloodshot.

“Do you have that in your hand?”

In her right hand, which is as beautiful as dried powder, there was a mysterious dagger gripped.

“There is such saying, isn’t there? True freedom is obtained at the moment of death. Being free from all the suffering and hardships experienced in life and embracing peace is what true freedom can be called.”

There was a subtle laughter in her voice.

“I will free her by death.”

Then, as if to announce what to do next, she withdrew her hand holding the dagger.

“Nephrodite!!”

The guardian’s fierce shout echoed throughout the space.

“Have you deceived us from the beginning?”

“I did not deceive you. At least, my sincere intention was to protect everyone from the impending threat.”

Even his body, which had not trembled in the severe cold of the polar regions, could not help but be helpless in the face of cruel betrayal.

Without hesitation, Garnian immediately rushed towards Nephrodite.

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“…!”

From the moment he took the first step, sensing something amiss, he stopped in his tracks.

The floor erupted with a light of white mana like rising smoke.

Garnian instantly realized what it was—a hidden trap activated silently like a hidden enchantment.

“A restriction barrier?”

“I forgot to warn you about that. I should have just told you to stay quietly in your place, I’m sorry!”

Driven by anger, Garnian’s emotions faded away.

Nevertheless, he had no intention of giving up, immediately harnessing the dormant power within his body without any hesitation.

-Woosh

With the addition of snow elemental magic and the unique aura of the elves, a fierce snowstorm swept around.

-Crack

With this, part of the magic circle began to glow brightly, emitting a sharp sound.

“Even simply releasing power can destroy the barrier, what an impressive achievement.”

“…!”

Suddenly, at the familiar voice from behind, Garnian quickly turned his head.

“What can we do then? If we have to resort to such cowardly methods.”

-Swish

As the blade cut through the air, Garnian’s legs gave way and he collapsed.

Blood trickled from his lips, his eyes reddened from anger and vigor.

Before him, fallen, was a high-ranking knight named Mihan, sporting a meaningful smile as he gripped the sword.

“It’s a pity. As a knight of light, I also wished to confront the greatest warrior of the white elf tribe, but what can I do? If this is fate, then so be it.”

Mihan let out a disappointed sigh, but his smile remained intact.

Overwhelmed with humiliation, Garnian trembled.

“What is the meaning of this?”

[Translator – Night]

[Proofreader – Gun]

With a mix of anger and confusion in his eyes, he asked.

“What kind of threat are you talking about that is so formidable even the gods fear it? What are you afraid of that you would dare to uncover the secrets of the gods?”

Instead of answering, Nephrodite, who had risen from her seat, gently stroked the cheek of the peacefully sleeping Hastia atop the altar.

“It’s the mist.”

“The mist?”

“An existence of mist that threatens the light… In this world that rejects and threatens the existing order, it is an absolute negative existence.”

For the first time, a chill was felt in her voice, which had been full of composure.

“As a messenger conveying the voice of the gods and a saint praying for the peace of this land, I cannot simply ignore that existence. Even if it means digging into the sealed records of the ancient era, it must be destroyed.”

“….”

“Only then can his protection continue to bless this land for a longer time…”

Her face, stained with determination, transformed once again from solemnity to a positive expression of reverence and joy.

Then, slowly raising the dagger in her hand, she recited an unknown prayer.

“All of this is for Lord Lumendel…”

With the final prayer dedicated to the gods, she finally plunged the sword down.

-Swish

“…!”

However, her sword stopped abruptly, not completely plunging downward as intended.

No one had used force or magic to restrain her movement.

She simply found herself faced with something entirely unexpected, causing her body to freeze in confusion.

“Where… where is this?”

Hastia, who had somehow awakened from her slumber, was looking around the unfamiliar surroundings.

* * *

300 years ago, after the long and arduous Holy War came to an end, the divine beings issued a decree to the White Elf tribe.

They were to preserve the records of the ancient era and ensure that no one could access them.

The traces of the ancient era, marred by the long war, were to be erased, and the history of the newly created divine era was to be written, the gods said.

To accomplish this, they needed to seal the secrets.

They would seal a specific power within the chosen elf’s body, and when their time was up, another elf would inherit that power, thus ensuring protection from any potential threats through the gods’ blessings.

Accepting the decree, the White Elf tribe had been tirelessly guarding the existence of the key holding the secrets of the gods for the past 300 years.

“…?”

A strange space filled with a bright glow illuminating all around.

Hastia stood alone at its center.

There was nothing visible around her, and the same scenery repeated if she tried to move forward.

‘Is there no one here?’

Hastia, who suddenly gave up searching, stood still in her place.

Loneliness.

Isolation.

It felt as though something had entered her mind.

Although she was protected by everyone, under the mission to guard the secrets of the gods, she had to remain silent for ten years.

She could only communicate briefly with some tribe members through telepathy.

Yet, there was no one she could truly confide in or share her worries with.

“….”

Did the predecessors who performed this role before her also feel this way?

The weight that no one could relieve or empathize with.

If she were to lay it down because she couldn’t bear the burden, it would feel like betraying the many who protected her, so she couldn’t bring herself to do it.

Perhaps it would be better to bury her face and sleep in this state.

What if she fell into a sleep from which she would never awaken?

Then she wouldn’t have to endure the heavy burden of responsibility anymore; she could rest peacefully.

Yes, perhaps that would be better… just closing her eyes and slipping into sleep alone.

Now, no one would have to endure such hardship for herself anymore.

Was it the unfamiliar sense of helplessness emanating from the bright light that led her to succumb?

Hastia closed her eyes, sliding her body onto the floor, never to awaken again, to enjoy eternal freedom.

‘Get up.’

“…!”

At the familiar command echoing in her mind, Hastia immediately opened her eyes.

As if she had never succumbed to lethargy, she quickly rose and scanned her surroundings.

It was a concise yet indifferent command, but it was enough to rouse her from her inertia.

-Swish

In the dazzling space of brilliant light, a strange mist, origin unknown, began to gradually envelop her.

Drawn by its force, Hastia reached out pitifully, but in that moment…

-Clang

Her consciousness shifted to yet another unfamiliar place.

“…!”

Another strange place awakened in this manner.

‘Where… where is this?’

The moment she faced the woman in front of her, who had whispered incomprehensible words to her in her sleep, Hastia screamed in terror.

“Aaaah!”

The same woman who had induced her sleep with words she couldn’t understand.

In her hand was an inexplicable dagger, her expression displaying utter astonishment as if she hadn’t expected this situation at all.

Behind her, there was Garnean, a tribe member, bleeding from the corner of his mouth, and beside him, a knight in a white armor of unknown identity, both looking at her with bewildered eyes.

An utterly inexplicable situation.

Eventually, Hastia’s gaze moved past them to another figure approaching from beyond the open door, clearer than anyone else, like a black dot on white paper.

She already knew who that man was.

‘Cyan?’

[Translator – Night]

[Proofreader – Gun]