Chapter 6: The Call of Nature
Crack-!
The boulder I launched, infused with mana, struck the grotesque pincers of the Great Venompede, jamming its jaws.
“…Damn it.”
But that was all.
No damage was done.
I couldn’t hide my dazed expression.
“No, well done!”
Elinore didn’t miss the brief opening and swung his fist at the boulder lodged in the pincers.
For someone of his skill, such a fleeting moment could be a turning point that altered the course of the battle.
“Hup!”
Elinore poured an immense amount of mana into the cracked boulder.
And then.
Boom-!!
A green flash blazed, and the boulder exploded into dozens, hundreds of fragments.
Straight into the creature’s gaping maw.
“Kieek-!!”
The boulder in its mouth shattered, devastating the armor around its head and its insides.
A golden opportunity had arrived.
Elinore immediately thrust his fist into the tattered pincers, and green flashes sparked relentlessly inside the creature’s jaws.
“Kikikik-!!”
Now, the Great Venompede writhed, trying to burrow back into the ground, while Elinore fought to stop it.
The creature desperately shoved its head into the earth, trying to drag its body inside.
“Krheng-!!”
“Kieek-!!”
“Kuoarrr-!!”
“Good job, Claude. Let’s move quickly.”
With the roars of demonic beasts echoing from all directions, we abandoned pursuing the creature and hurried toward the northern valley at the forest’s edge.
“Magridon’s getting serious.”
A shadow wolf that lunged from the bushes was sent flying by Elinore’s fist.
The creatures attacking us weren’t particularly strong, but their numbers were growing exponentially.
“We can’t keep fighting them. At this rate, we need to go to the masters of the forest.”
“Masters of the forest?”
“Yes, we need to speed up. Claude, get on my back. They’ll surely help you.”
With me on his back, Elinore sprinted at an even greater speed than before.
I realized how much he had been holding back for my sake when his full speed made it impossible to keep my eyes open against the rushing wind.
He swung from branches like a monkey, leaped between trees using vines, repeating the process several times.
“I told you before… that we survived thanks to Jinred, didn’t I?”
When the howls of demonic beasts were no longer audible, Elinore spoke while moving.
“Back then, there was a place he and we fought to protect until the very end. The final battleground.”
“Are we heading there now?”
“Yes, the deepest part of the Ulian forest. An untainted garden. And… the home of the forest’s masters.”
Thud-
With a heavy sound, Elinore’s feet landed on the damp earth.
“Since the demon awoke, it’s recovering its strength rapidly. Right now, only shadow wolves are chasing us, but by the time we reach the forest’s edge, who knows what kind of monsters will appear.”
“Is it too much even for your power, Elinore?”
“My strength isn’t suited for fighting while protecting someone. To get you out of this forest, we need the help of the ancient divine beasts who’ve lived here from the beginning.”
“…”
By now, slivers of white moonlight filtered through the dense black branches overhead.
This place felt much warmer than where we had been.
Upon arriving, Elinore slowed his pace, carefully inspecting the surrounding bushes, trees, and rocks for signs of something.
As he searched for traces, I, clinging to his back, also scanned the surroundings.
There were no twisted or mutated branches here, and the dense grove of towering trees made it hard to spot anything easily.
But then.
“…?!”
A silvery mane glimmered faintly between the thick trees.
“Ah, Sleipnir…”
I didn’t know what he was muttering, but Elinore seemed to have seen it too.
We cautiously moved through the trees toward it.
“Oh…!”
Beyond, we saw something in the form of a horse with eight legs.
A shimmering silver mane floated in the air.
A horse with brown scales, as if clad in armor, was leisurely drinking from a spring.
‘Sleipnir.’
From Elinore’s words, it seemed to be the creature’s name.
Its glossy body gleamed under the moonlight.
So beautiful it stole my breath, it slowly approached us.
Sleipnir silently observed us before turning its head.
Clip-clop- Clip-clop-
As Sleipnir turned and walked, Elinore and I hurriedly followed.
***
Sleipnir crossed damp dirt paths and walked over piles of fallen leaves.
Elinore seemed to commune with Sleipnir as they moved, his expression darkening and brightening repeatedly during their silent exchange.
“Claude, there’s good news and bad news.”
Elinore carefully relayed what he had learned.
“First, the path out of the forest is blocked.”
Monsters were gathering at the forest’s edge, and a powerful barrier of hellfire had formed near the route we intended to take.
Elinore alone might have broken through, but with me in tow, it would be impossible.
“But your safety can likely be ensured. Some divine beasts may not take kindly to you, but they all seem to agree that you mustn’t be handed over to the demons.”
According to Elinore, the discussion was about whether it was safer to seal Father’s Book here or send it with me to the Ice Fortress.
The divine beasts were sharply divided on the matter.
Without considering my opinion.
‘Right now, I’m in no position to speak up about Father’s Book or my own fate.’
There was no helping it.
“We’ll hear the details when we arrive. It seems we’re almost there.”
“Yes.”
The anger and helplessness rising within me fueled my desire to learn magic.
I resolved to use this humiliation as kindling for my hatred and determination against the demons.
‘If I can learn magic and grow stronger, I’d give up anything. I can take it all back later.’
I walked, thinking only of my goal.
As we neared our destination, my eyes widened.
“Th-this place…!”
Moments ago, we were in a desolate forest, but I suddenly realized I was in an entirely different space.
“It’s Sleipnir’s power. This is the heart of the forest, Telaria. The true sanctuary of the divine beasts.”
Elinore approached my side.
“Ah…!”
Aside from the chirping of insects, the place was utterly silent, with enormous trees, plants, and even insects.
The pristine heart of nature.
Colorful fireflies flitted between dark trees, casting vibrant hues.
Clip-clop- Clip-clop-
Sleipnir, its silver mane flowing, looked at us from the center before turning and moving its eight legs briskly.
“Let’s go, Claude. They’re waiting for you.”
“Yes.”
Step, step.
As we approached Sleipnir, a massive circular hall opened beneath the great forest.
At its edges, divine beasts radiated various colors, exuding majesty.
A golden tiger.
A rainbow-colored serpent.
A black-blue boar.
A gray eagle.
And a silver stallion.
“An uninvited guest has arrived.”
The gray eagle openly expressed her displeasure.
Her sharp tone already conveyed her irritability.
“…”
“Hmph.”
Sleipnir glared at the eagle as if scolding her, but the eagle casually ignored it.
I sensed this wouldn’t be easy.
“It’s been a long time, divine beasts.”
Elinore bowed to them, and I followed, lowering my head deeply.
“Yes, it’s been a while, Elinore. Raise your head.”
A compassionate yet strong male voice.
The golden tiger gazed at Elinore and me with meaningful eyes.
“It’s been a while for you too.”
The tiger narrowed its eyes, staring at me.
I was startled for a moment but realized it was looking at the book, not me, stirring mixed feelings.
Was Father’s Book all that mattered to them?
I swallowed my confusion and let it dissipate.
“Let me introduce him. Claude.”
Elinore looked at me calmly and began the introductions.
The divine beast of dominion, the golden tiger, Garvas.
The divine beast of barriers, the rainbow serpent, Lumanis.
The divine beast of battle, the black-blue boar, Valuzer.
The divine beast of sealing, the gray eagle, Dilayzer.
The divine beast of vigilance, the silver stallion, Sleipnir.
Beings who amassed spiritual energy in the forest since before the Demon War.
“…Greetings. My name is Claude.”
I lowered my eyes slightly and greeted them cautiously.
It was still unclear who was friendly or displeased with my presence.
“That Magridon has been resurrected!!”
“Yes, that’s…”
“This time, we’ll crush that bastard!”
Their temperaments were so varied, I couldn’t gauge how to respond.
“I never liked Jinred’s methods! We should’ve obliterated him back then!!”
“Ahem.”
The black-blue boar, Valuzer, snorted aggressively, ready to charge at Magridon.
The golden tiger, Garvas, cleared his throat, giving Valuzer a stern look, who then glanced at me with a slightly apologetic expression.
“Not that I disliked Jinred, kid. Our ways of handling things just didn’t align.”
“Yes, child.”
Garvas looked at me warmly.
“We’ve heard from Sleipnir and understand the situation, so don’t mind too much.”
“Yes.”
“Until now, the consensus leaned toward sealing the book.”
To them, Father’s Book was both the cause of summoning demons and the key to the Great Demon’s seal.
A ticking time bomb that must never fall into demonic hands.
But to me, it was the only lifeline for my revenge.
“If the book is sealed, the demons that have awakened won’t be able to take it, and they’ll retreat to hell, sparing the continent from invasion, right?”
If that were the case, I was willing to give up the book and seal it permanently.
But.
“No, that’s not true.”
The only way to stop demons that have already appeared is to seal or destroy them.
Sealing the book would only delay the Great Demon’s release and reduce the number of mages, praying demons lose interest in this place.
“Then I don’t want to seal the book. I want to learn magic-”
“Ha! Kid, do you want to play hero like your father?”
The gray eagle, Dilayzer, mocked me.
“Don’t be too hard on the child.”
At the same time, the rainbow serpent, Lumanis, scolded Dilayzer, defending me, while Dilayzer and Valuzer raised their voices.
The hall quickly descended into chaos.
“Enough!”
The atmosphere calmed only when Garvas' thunderous roar echoed.
“I’m sorry.”
Garvas apologized immediately.
“No, it’s fine.”
“Hmm.”
Garvas looked thoughtful before continuing.
“I understand your thoughts, but the book’s significance to the world is too great to entrust to you now.”
“But I…”
“No. Your opinion doesn’t matter. Unless Jinred himself returns, this isn’t something someone who hasn’t experienced the great war can decide.”
His tone was gentle, but his response was coldly resolute.
The surrounding divine beasts looked amused, and Dilayzer spread her massive wings, interjecting.
“The moment your father sacrificed us for his honor, that book stopped being yours. If we decided to take and seal it now, could you stop us?”
I faced Dilayzer, suppressing my fear.
“You know nothing, so don’t raise your voice. Don’t arrogantly assume we haven’t considered what’s in your head.”
“…”
“Yes, stay quiet before we hold you accountable for your father’s sins.”
Her sharp beak and fierce eyes seemed ready to tear me apart.
Her words pierced my heart.