Chapter 72. Condition for a Follower Family (3)
When I opened my eyes.
A familiar world unfolded before my eyes.
A place where the ground was clear and translucent like a water surface. A space where obsidian-like darkness spread endlessly across the sky.
Needless to say, it was the World of Impermanence.
‘When my body in reality faints, I enter the World of Impermanence.’
This was a fact I learned for the first time.
Come to think of it, since becoming Enoch, I had never lost consciousness and fainted before. It was natural that this was the first discovery.
But my consciousness comes here when I faint.
‘Then, from now on, without needing to bother concentrating my mind, can I come here if I just hit my head hard once?’
Around the time I was having such useless thoughts.
With a single roar, the World of Impermanence changed.
Rumble.
The endless ground rotated greatly. Large shadows rose from various places on the translucent black ground.
Those that quickly took shape were soon covered in color and light, creating a space from some past.
I looked at the scene unfolding before my eyes.
The Fortress where the Empire's last Sword Saint resided.
There, the Sword Saint was seated on a throne.
He was welcoming countless Beast-kin.
Representing the countless group of Beast-kin in the Fortress, one Beast-kin woman stepped forward and opened her mouth.
“Lord of this land and Sword Saint.”
With pointed red wolf ears rising from her head and a fiery red tail. A young and beautiful Beast-kin woman with clever eyes shining like rubies.
However, her white cheeks and skin were scratched, and her light clothing was torn here and there. She looked terribly messy, enough to be pitiable.
Such was her state, yet she quietly knelt on one knee before the Sword Saint.
“As the Great Chieftain of the Beast-kin, I have something to say.”
“Speak. Lycaon.”
My eyes widened slightly.
‘Lycaon’ is Sirocco’s family name.
Well, I had roughly guessed it just by seeing the wolf ears and tail, but if that's truly the case, then that young female Chieftain kneeling before the Sword Saint right now is……
‘Sirocco’s distant ancestor?’
To think that the Lycaon family line was the Chieftain's even back when the Empire's last Sword Saint lived!
Meanwhile, she calmly continued speaking.
“The territory on this land where the Sword Saint has accepted us, due to the surrounding rugged rocky mountain ranges and Magical Beasts that continue to appear even after the Magical Beast War. It is truly a place difficult for the Empire's hands and eyes to easily reach.”
Lycaon’s ancestor, the female Chieftain of the Beast-kin, looked up at the Empire's last Sword Saint and quietly added.
“However, the ‘Pursuers’ dispatched by the Empire to kill our brethren are different.”
“Pursuers?”
“That is correct.”
The Chieftain, casually glancing at the battle wounds on her body, calmly explained.
“They are high-ranking mages dispatched by the Empire to eliminate us. Even for me or the tribe's warriors, facing them was an impossible task.”
Behind her, the other Beast-kin silently bowed their heads.
As she said.
The ‘Pursuers’ dispatched by the Empire were astonishingly strong, and also cruel.
It was a situation where ‘mages with a different level of strength’ were pursuing them and indiscriminately slaughtering them.
Because of this, the female Chieftain of the Lycaon family, for survival, gathered the various Beast-kin scattered throughout the Empire into one according to tradition.
She ascended to the position of Great Chieftain of the unified tribe.
After leading the last Beast-kin and resisting like that, she ultimately felt her limit and fled to the Sword Saint's territory.
There was no Beast-kin who didn't know such facts.
Lycaon’s female Chieftain's shoulders trembled slightly. It was a mixture of anger and powerlessness.
“Currently, the Empire is eliminating everything related to our Beast-kin. As soon as the news reaches them, the Pursuers will soon raid this place as well.”
“So?”
“Because we who were being pursued by such individuals have all fled here, if they pursue us, they might cause immense harm to the innocent residents who originally lived in this territory.”
The female Chieftain quietly bowed her head.
“Although the Sword Saint has graciously protected us. Innocent victims might increase due to us. Such concerns are the will of me and my entire tribe.”
As if waiting for an answer. Still kneeling on one knee before the Sword Saint, the female Chieftain leaned on her unique magic gear and bowed her head.
The Sword Saint, looking down at her, replied curtly.
“I clearly said that I would not let anyone harm my territorial residents.”
“I remember. However, the opponents are some of the Empire’s best mages with such strong power, and they might use cunning tricks.”
The female Chieftain’s sharp gaze lowered slightly.
“…Now in the Empire, only the Sword Saint treats us as people.”
Beast-kin who were the same as ordinary people in all aspects, except for the ears or horns on their heads, and tails.
But that tiny difference, which was just that, had now turned into a symbol of the ‘cursed ones’ who might turn into Magical Beasts at any moment in the Empire.
“The Empire is merciless. Innocent people who were related to us Beast-kin were also implicated and killed together. The entire tribe is already exhausted by their close friends and neighbors, who were completely innocent, being murdered.”
The female Chieftain closed her eyes as if resigned.
“Sword Saint. Although it has only been a few days since we came here, many tribe members were deeply moved by such treatment from the Lord. Therefore, if our staying here becomes a threat to the Sword Saint, we wish to refrain even more….”
“You Beast-kin.”
The Sword Saint interrupted her words and spoke curtly.
“I heard there is a tradition you follow in choosing those you will truly follow, including the election of a Chieftain.”
The Sword Saint grabbed the sword he was leaning on at the throne and spoke.
“Speak.”
The Chieftain hesitated for a moment, then stated lowly.
“……It is a public duel.”
Instantly, I realized the Sword Saint's intention.
Although not much about the Beast-kin was revealed in the original story, I definitely knew this much.
‘It was said that the Beast-kin had a custom of holding public duels to confirm whether those they would follow possessed sufficient capability.’
Even though they were Beast-kin who had perished in the original story, the reason I was thoroughly knowledgeable about these old traditions of the Beast-kin was obvious. None other than……
‘Because the condition for recruiting Sirocco in the original story was precisely to win a 1-on-1 match against her, according to Beast-kin tradition!’
Click.
“If proof is needed for you.”
The Sword Saint slowly belted his sword and stood up.
“Proceed according to your traditions.”
Even while receiving the gazes of the Chieftain and the Beast-kin, mixed with worry, the Sword Saint stood without moving from his spot.
Seeing the Sword Saint’s unwavering appearance, the Chieftain soon bowed her head and made up her mind.
Thud.
The Chieftain raised her unique magic gear before her chest, closed her eyes, and respectfully bowed to the Sword Saint.
“…Then.”
Before anyone knew it, dazzling red magic circles had unfolded around the Chieftain's ankles, wrapping around them.
The female Chieftain instinctively revealed her fangs like a wolf preparing for a fight. Her eyes were imbued with the spirit of a warrior resolved for battle.
And the next moment─
The Chieftain had reached the Sword Saint's eyes.
She surged towards him explosively, leaving afterimages, to the extent that her pushing off the ground was barely visible.
Before the Sword Saint's eyes, which she reached in the blink of an eye, the Chieftain pulled back her unique magic gear greatly for an attack.
A strike from unavoidable range targeted the Sword Saint, who stood tall without even drawing his sword.
But that was all.
Before she could even attempt anything further there.
Thwack!
The Sword Saint, extending one arm, strongly grabbed the chin of the female Chieftain who was surging towards him.
…!
The female Chieftain's eyes widened greatly in astonishment.
The Sword Saint slammed her onto the ground just like that.
CRASH!
With a tremendous roar, the stone tiles on the Fortress floor shattered, sending fragments and dust flying.
The Chieftain, suppressed by the Sword Saint in an instant.
He hadn't even drawn his sword.
At the result of the duel, which was unbelievable even seeing it with their own eyes, the atmosphere of the surrounding onlookers froze completely.
“You understand, don’t you.”
While clutching the female Chieftain’s soft chin with one hand like that, the Sword Saint quietly opened his mouth.
“What you are worried about will not happen.”
He spoke lowly.
“Trust me and follow.”
The Beast-kin’s female Chieftain smiled faintly.
“…Willingly.”
With that as the last.
The Empire’s last Beast-kin slowly knelt on one knee and bowed their heads towards the Sword Saint.
Towards the last hope they would follow.
My vision began to fade.
Once again, white messages appeared.
? Achievement Unlocked : 「As the Flame that Opens the Future」
? Notification : Achieved achievements are used as content currency for the ‘World of Impermanence’ to be unlocked later
***
Just as I woke up from the World of Impermanence.
The place I was lying was a simple bed prepared in a Beast-kin village tent.
It seemed I had been moved here when I fainted.
‘It feels like the things I saw in the World of Impermanence were like a short dream I had while I was unconscious.’
Of course, that couldn't possibly be the case, but it probably means I've adapted to the Inner World that much.
Swish.
I placed my hand on my head.
Perhaps because my head felt feverish while I was collapsed, a cold wet towel had been placed on my head.
I roughly figured out the time by the sun beyond the tent window.
I hadn't lost consciousness for long.
That was a relief, at least.
Because there was still something I needed to finish.
“Have you come to your senses, Young Master.”
Just then, a clear voice echoed.
Turning my head, I saw Lien standing politely beside the bed. I replied curtly.
“Yes. For now.”
“That’s a relief.”
The reason Lien was speaking so formally was obvious. For a moment, I looked outside through the window in the tent.
As expected, the area outside the tent was full of signs of many people coming and going.
Roughly looking at the location, it seemed to be a temporary medical station not far from the village's central square.
“The Order’s Healer contacted us saying they would visit soon. Until then, I will change the wet towel for you.”
Lien came closer, holding the towel.
Like that, the maid touched my forehead, naturally brought her lips to my ear, and whispered softly.
“…I’ll speak briefly, because someone nearby might hear.”
Her silver-blue eyes, glancing sideways at Enoch from up close, shone coldly.
“If you overwork the Young Master’s body like this even one more time, I will absolutely not forgive you.”
The reason Lien had remained quiet despite Enoch’s injuries for a while was simply because she judged that his physical condition wasn't a situation where she could press him. But the essence of the contract I had with her still hasn't changed.
And in fact, she wasn't wrong. Because this faint, if it's a result of anything, is the result of continuously taking on missions without rest and working like crazy up until now.
I said nonchalantly.
“I’ll try. Fainting isn’t my hobby either, you know.”
At my answer, Lien's gaze turned slightly cold. And the moment she was about to say something more.
Just then, a voice was heard from outside.
“Excuse me! You are Young Master Enoch Elsyde, right!”
From the entrance of the tent, a young female mage dressed in a neat white nun's habit entered.
Her age was perhaps about the same as mine. Perhaps because she had run diligently, her cheeks were flushed red.
She seemed to have run quite urgently, breathing heavily, and quickly approached Enoch.
“My apologies for the late introduction! I am Lily, a Healer belonging to 「The Order」 and a formal nun, dispatched for relief and medical support activities in this mission.”
I looked at her and nodded my head.
「The Order」
Like the Main Houses that oversee each magical field such as ‘Combat’, ‘Engineering’, and ‘Art’, it is a focal point for mages with talents in the particularly rare ‘Healing-type Magic’.
In other words, 「The Order」 can be said to be a massive force where the most skilled Healers in the Empire are affiliated.
Most of the Healing-type mages are ascetics who serve the ‘Goddess’. If there is a major characteristic, it is that they are a quite unique group composed of nuns.
“I heard about your condition from the maid just now! May I begin the healing right away?”
As I nodded, she immediately knelt on the bare floor and gently took one of my hands that was on the bed.
Then she brought a medical artifact, made in the shape of a small metal stick, towards Enoch.
The tiny magic stone embedded at its tip hummed, gathering mana and emitting light. Like that, a healing-type magic circle emerged from her unique magic gear.
Watching that, I chuckled softly.
Up until now, I couldn't receive treatment for my injuries from a Healer belonging to the family, fearing that my being possessed might be exposed.
‘But if they belong to The Order, it's a much better option for receiving treatment in many ways.’
Thus, if she is a Healer belonging to The Order rather than the family, she would have no knowledge whatsoever about Enoch, who had been confined and shut away in a corner of the room until now.
Unlike a Healer belonging to the family who might have seen him even occasionally. Even if they sensed something strange by some chance, they wouldn't have the ability to determine whether it was possession or something else.
‘But, if by some extremely remote chance, they notice that I am in a state of being possessed….’
To dispel the pointless worry that suddenly arose, I briefly looked behind the nun who was diligently healing me, knowing nothing.
However, the next moment.
Looking behind the nun who introduced herself as Lily, I had to suppress the chill that ran down my spine for a moment.
Lien was quietly looking down at the nun who was examining Enoch, from behind her, with cold eyes.
…….
I swallowed dry spit without realizing it.
It seemed I wasn't the only one thinking about the situation that might occur ‘by some remote chance’.
“…Huh? That’s a little strange?”
Just then. The nun, Lily, who had just finished deploying the healing magic she had been using for a while, tilted her head once while touching Enoch’s arm that she was treating.