Chapter 96
26. Hospitalization (1)
Occasionally.
Thi s w a s c op ie d f r o m k i n g mtl . or g
To Flowerseorin, certain scenes would flash through her mind like images in a dream.
But they weren’t dreams. They were messages sent by the World Tree.
The World Tree would convey snippets of events happening near its domain to Flowerseorin, asking her to resolve them.
However, since she rarely engaged in external activities, Flowerseorin would instruct the High Elf Knights to handle most of the matters…
‘…Ugh!’
A strong image flashed through Flowerseorin’s mind as she lay in the White Castle trying to sleep.
It was… an alien and painful image, unlike any she had seen before.
The space of the divine beast.
The fourth layer… no, the third layer.
Even the elves found the third layer full of mysteries.
The divine beasts were wailing.
Suffering, agonizing, shedding tears towards the sky.
‘This, this is…!’
Flowerseorin gritted her teeth, enduring the torrent of emotions swirling in her mind.
The overwhelming despair, fear, anger, and sorrow weighed down on her heart, something no ordinary human or elf could endure…
But she was the most noble of the High Elves, the queen of fairies.
Biting her lip until it bled, she managed to endure.
‘Dark mana…’
Flowerseorin stared blankly into the air.
A distress signal from the space of the divine beasts. Yet, Flowerseorin couldn’t tell whose distress signal it was.
‘What on earth…’
She didn’t know who was sending the distress signal, but the crucial point was that dark mana was detected in the divine beast’s barrier.
‘Hurry, I must inform the knights of this.’
How, by what means.
Three Archmages had combined their power to create the barrier, making it impenetrable. How had someone infiltrated the space of the divine beasts…?
If the image that had entered her mind was true, a great disaster could occur.
Not only would the students of Stella be in danger, but all the divine beasts would be corrupted as well.
Re-opening a barrier once closed was extremely difficult, but they had to gather all remaining strength to send warriors inside.
‘How did this happen…’
Flowerseorin stumbled through her bedroom, drenched in cold sweat. The lonely moonlight shone through the curtains, casting her silhouette one last time.
The belief and mission to protect all the precious fairies cradled in the arms of the World Tree weighed heavily on Flowerseorin’s shoulders.
* * *
Shhh…
The wind blew.
The wind blowing in the space of the divine beasts was not a natural phenomenon. It was merely an artificial phenomenon pretending to be natural.
The wind blowing was created by Red Spring March, who had created this space.
As she stepped, the black mana that had been blooming everywhere slowly turned pink and purified. This alone consumed a tremendous amount of energy… but it was alright.
If it was for her children, she was willing to fall asleep again.
Step, step.
Wherever Red Spring March’s footsteps landed, plum blossoms bloomed, turning all the black into pink.
Walking was not difficult.
The return journey might be a bit grueling… but that didn’t matter.
Uuuuu…!!
Kririk…!
The divine beasts corrupted by dark mana were writhing in pain. Sadly… she was too weak in her current state to help them all.
She could only suppress them to prevent them from going berserk.
Red Spring March looked up.
The third layer.
She thought of the human who had dashed towards the location where the source of dark mana had appeared.
A boy, absurdly weak and fragile.
A boy she once thought had less value than a handful of dust.
However, despite knowing his own frailty, he immediately ran towards the place upon realizing that dark mages had invaded.
Even though he knew he couldn’t win, he acted as if opposing the dark mages was his mission.
…How could he do such a thing?
His life could crumble away at any moment, yet how could he dash there without hesitation?
Whoosh…!
Passing through the barrier, Red Spring March arrived at the third layer and furrowed her brows. She hadn’t left the fifteenth layer, where her main body resided, for so long that a slight dizziness hit her.
But she didn’t show it and walked on.
The scene was… already silent.
The dark mage had shattered into pieces, and the young humans who had risked their lives to fight were lying unconscious.
In the middle of the horrific scene, a boy named Baek Yu-seol was leaning against a rock with his eyes closed.
He must have fainted after exhausting all his strength.
T h i s w a s c o p ie d f r o m k i n g mtl . o rg
Red Spring March approached him, holding him in her arms, and infused her energy into him.
‘Prove that you can even risk your life for the divine beasts.’
She had placed an unreasonable demand on the boy.
To risk his life.
Anyone in the world would cherish their own life the most.
So the boy was puzzled.
She thought he was puzzled because he had no confidence in proving it.
However.
The boy immediately proved it when given the chance.
The boy was puzzled not because he lacked confidence, but because he didn’t know how to prove it.
A human who could risk his life for the divine beasts.
T h is was c o p i ed f ro m k i n gm t l . o r g
That was a very rare and intriguing kind of human to Red Spring March, who had lived for countless years.
‘How could a human be like that.’
With most of her knowledge and memories sealed, she couldn’t understand Baek Yu-seol.
T h i s w a s c o p i ed fro m ki n g m t l. o r g
It was a pity.
She thought she had finally met a trustworthy human after so long.
But to prove his belief, he ended up risking his life.
However…
‘…You really did it.’
The boy truly defeated the dark mage, and with the host gone, the scattered dark mana was naturally being purified.
Baek Yu-seol had sufficiently proven his value and had become the benefactor who protected her and the divine beasts.
Thi s w as c o p ie d f ro m k i n g m t l.o rg
‘Though my current power is insignificant…’
Red Spring March took out a small orb from her bosom and pressed it into Baek Yu-seol’s chest.
It was the heart of a beloved divine beast that had returned to her after losing its soul long ago.
Now, this heart that had lost its master would beat once more for some spirit Baek Yu-seol loved.
She gently stroked his forehead.
Shhh!
As the pink energy seeped in, Baek Yu-seol’s body shuddered slightly but didn’t wake.
Perhaps… the rebound was severe enough that he wouldn’t wake for a while, but he would endure.
One of the rarest blessings among the Twelve Divine Moons, the ‘Blessing of Red Spring March,’ was being inscribed onto him.
‘This should be sufficient recompense.’
Perhaps it was too much strain.
Expending energy to purify the dark mana, and then bestowing a blessing…
But it was alright.
A human of this caliber was worth bestowing a blessing upon.
—ロ
While Red Spring March was bestowing her power, someone woke up first.
A girl with slightly reddish silver hair, Hong Bi-yeon.
She stared blankly at Red Spring March, then widened her eyes in shock.
Red Spring March gave her a sideways smile and playfully put her finger to her lips.
‘Keep it a secret.’
Unable to defy the majesty of the Twelve Divine Moons, Hong Bi-yeon nodded blankly.
Whish…!
Soon, Red Spring March vanished like the wind from that spot.
“What in the world…”
Only Hong Bi-yeon, who had witnessed the unbelievable sight, stood there dumbfounded.
* * *
——I •
A throbbing headache.
Flame clutched her head, barely able to breathe. Her lungs felt like they were being torn apart, making even the simplest, most natural act of breathing painful.
‘Ugh, how do I breathe…’
An overwhelming sense of fatigue enveloped Flame, as if she had sprinted through a marathon.
But she felt a strong instinct that she mustn’t lose consciousness again, so she forced her eyes open.
‘Can’t feel any mana at all.’
Perhaps it was the aftereffect of using a magic level higher than usual. Her mana hadn’t recovered at all.
‘…The dark mage, Maizen Tiren?’
Why was she still alive? A chilling thought crossed Flame’s mind, and she forced herself to sit up, bracing her creaking joints.
In front of Flame stood a girl, staggering but firmly standing on her own two feet… no, a woman.
Hong Bi-yeon Adolevit.
She looked blankly at something, then turned her head to look down at Flame.
“…You woke up.”
“What… what happened, ugh…”
As soon as she opened her mouth, a splitting headache made her feel like vomiting blood. Even in her previous life, when she had spent nights drinking whiskey and wine, the pain hadn’t been this severe.
Th i s w a s c o p i e d f r om k i n g m t l. o r g
Forcing herself to endure the pain, she turned her gaze to where Hong Bi-yeon had been looking. There, Baek Yu-seol was sleeping against a rock, and Ma Yuseong lay on the ground, covered in wounds.
Thi s w a s c op i e d f r om ki n gm t l . or g
And in front of them, the core of dark mana was shining.
It was… the energy that burst out when a powerful dark mage was killed, similar to the corpse of a dark mage.
“Could it be…”
Instinctively looking at Hong Bi-yeon, she nodded silently.
The dark mage, Maizen Tiren, was dead.
Probably by Baek Yu-seol and Ma Yuseong.
‘Oh my… how is this even possible?’
Flame knew Ma Yuseong had god-tier abilities and that Baek Yu-seol was a returner, but still, this was quite shocking.
She hadn’t expected them to defeat an estimated 6-risk dark mage.
T h i s was c o p i ed f ro m k i n g m t l . o r g
“Ha, unbelievable…”
They were really extraordinary individuals.
‘That guy… he always pretended to be sick, but when something serious happened, he always jumped in and solved it.’
Was it because he was strong?
No.
It was because he was a returner and had a sense of duty.
He had put in the effort to make the impossible possible, creating this miracle.
Miracles don’t come to you; you have to reach out and seize them.
—ロ
“What…?”
“I’m… not dead…?”
One by one, the students began to wake up. For some reason, all the dark mana nearby had disappeared, and the corrupted divine beasts were purified.
Of course, not all dark mana had been purified, and there were still divine beasts in the distance that had turned black and were rampaging.
…Whoosh!!
T h i s was c o p ie d f ro m k i n g m tl . o r g
Green beams of light burst forth from all directions, and the divine beasts started to assimilate back into nature.
That was true fairy magic, incomparably purer and more serene than Flame’s nature magic.
The rescue team from the World Tree had arrived.
No matter what Baek Yu-seol had done, Maizen Tiren was dead, and the rescue team had arrived in time.
Everyone was safe.
The future wasn’t distorted.
Realizing this, Flame finally felt relieved, her legs giving out as she slumped to the ground.
‘I survived…’
It was only then that she truly felt she had survived.
* * *
Cradle of the Heavenly Spirit Tree, Heavenly Flower Cradle.
At the very top, in the residence of the Elf King, the ‘White Castle,’ all buildings and furniture were made of plants. Other elves’ residences were also made of plants, but the Elf King’s castle was a display of rare plants.
A table made from quince hit by lightning seventeen times, a tapestry woven from 5,000-year-old pine cones, a dreamcatcher embroidered with the energy of vigorous herbs, a mood lamp and chandelier made from self-luminous Spirit Trees, a partition made from Haewondak trees, and more.
It was impressive that it could be so luxurious without a single jewel or artwork.
Flowerseorin had no time to admire the palace. Simply walking through the palace was a burden to those around her.
-Your Majesty, the rescue team is successfully rescuing the students of Stella. Additionally, the First Heavenly Spirit Knights are directly subduing the rampaging divine beasts and sending them back to their original positions.
“…It’s being handled swiftly and well.”
In the empty office, Flowerseorin received the report through long-distance communication.
-Yes. The students of Stella voluntarily subdued the dark mage. The dark mage’s body disintegrated, so we couldn’t identify them. We’ll have to question the students who fought the dark mage later.
Th i s w a s co p i e d f r o m k i n gm tl .or g
“I see.”
Flowerseorin let out a deep sigh.
It was a relief that everything was resolved well.
The biggest concern was the corruption of the divine beasts, but the second was the diplomatic issue.
If they failed to protect the students of the most powerful neutral organization, Stella Academy, while peacefully interacting with them at the Cradle of the Heavenly Spirit Tree, they would face global criticism.
Elders of the Heavenly Flower Cradle and kings of other World Trees, who coveted the title of ‘King of Fairies,’ would seize the opportunity to create political trouble.
“…Are all the students safe, without exception?”
-Yes. Less than twenty students engaged in the battle. Even after that, they were so energetic that some were still searching for uncontracted divine beasts. It was quite troublesome…
“Haha, just like Stella, so many unruly students.”
-Yes. But since they’re the benefactors who protected our divine beasts, we didn’t stop them.
“Well done. I’d like to personally commend the students who participated in the battle… Have we contacted the headmaster of Stella?”
-He wishes to speak with you directly as soon as possible.
“Hmm… understood.”
What should she say to the headmaster? As someone who liked to have connections with the elves, Eltemon Eltrine wouldn’t nitpick about this incident, but she felt quite apologetic and thought of preparing a gift as a token of apology.
Then, suddenly.
Flowerseorin recalled the ‘memory’ she had read earlier.
An entity filled with the energy of her old friend, Spirit Leafanel…
Though its face was obscured, it was undoubtedly wearing Stella’s uniform.
It was likely that he participated in this Familiar Contract Ceremony.
‘If I look at them one by one, I might find out…’
But if she did that, her curse could spread to over a thousand students.
Her resentment deepened by the day, but she couldn’t create more victims.
‘Next time, when the opportunity arises. I’ll catch him then.’
Suppressing her rising resentment towards the hateful culprit, Flowerseorin contained her emotions.
She longed for the day they would meet face-to-face.
End of Chapter