ALL NOVEL Chapter 53
Chapter
It was definitely an ominous day. The bowls were breaking by themselves, and my little toe nearly got smashed against the dining table. Thanks to that, the table got ruined and had to be replaced.
“I don’t have a good feeling about this.”
[When did you ever? You’re gradually getting used to it, right?]
Undine sat atop Rionne’s head, scratching her belly. To be fair, it seems like her whining about Enok has decreased a bit lately. From every 3 minutes to every 10 minutes. That’s a full one-third reduction!
Since that little brat left, the forest has become quite peaceful. The animals that were being bullied have regained their happiness, and the trees that used to break down every other day are now standing strong.
It must have been like this for all the years living in the forest with Rionne, but without that little brat around, there’s a feeling of emptiness. It’s true that you don’t realize what you have until it’s gone. Even objects are like that; with people, it’s even more significant.
Still, I didn’t wish for this kind of peace.
“Enok…!”
Rionne, who had been sitting dazed, suddenly sprang up, unleashing a powerful surge I hadn’t seen in a while.
All the trees in the forest responded to her fury. An elf wielding a sword split the space as branches rallied to tear at the shreds of air.
What lay beyond was horrifying. Hollow eye sockets peeked through the cracks of a broken white mask. The long wounds around it were signs of a battle.
It was only natural that Rionne would lose her cool. Undine thought quietly to herself.
‘The continent is going to turn upside down.’
Of course, she’d be caught up in it too. That little brat might be disrespectful, but she’s still my little brat. How dare a nameless little thing…!
[I’ll help you, Rionne.]
That brat sometimes gets called the ‘Tyrant of the Forest,’ right? In that case, she needs to show what a tyrant from the previous generation was like.
***
It’s tough. Anyone watching would be amazed.
Kuwaaaah—! Crashhhhh—!!
Seeing Rionne this angry with a clear mind was a first. I had just vague guesses about her strength, but I never imagined it would be to this extent.
The sight of the Nameless man unable to fight back and just getting beaten was quite striking. It’s only natural that someone you thought would never lose would have their limbs torn apart in such a one-sided way.
“Are—are you okay…?”
Yonia gently tugged at my sleeve. My body, which had been rigid, finally began to loosen a bit.
“Yeah. It’s actually not that bad.”
By the way, it’s strange. Whenever I try to look at Rionne, it’s as if there’s a fog over her, making her figure look blurry. Just a light mist that makes her slightly visible, but barely so. If I try to look closely, it feels like my head is going to split open.
I instinctively felt it. This is the difference in levels. Someone like that would drive an ordinary person insane the moment they laid eyes on her. This is Rionne becoming serious… I couldn’t help but be in awe.
“It looks like it’s nearing the end. Hah…, I really am relieved. I thought something terrible was going to happen.”
I nodded at Yonia’s words.
“I thought a moderately strong opponent would show up, but they turned out to be stronger than I expected.”
“I’d like to tell you to be careful, but honestly, it can’t be helped if a Grandmaster just comes out of nowhere.”
“Yeah.”
It felt like I could start unraveling this mental structure soon. But there was one problem: if I unravel it, I die. If I replace my heart with a plasma ring and unravel it, that would just mean my heart disappears.
“Hmm?”
Isn’t this a serious issue? I can’t maintain the plasma ring permanently yet.
As Enok pondered gravely, a massive water spirit emerged.
It was Undine’s true form. I had seen this appearance once during the Monster Wave. At her gesture, countless little water spirits began to unleash an attack.
It was only natural for the Nameless man, who had been endlessly regenerating, to turn into mincemeat. Even though it was a bit gross to see him wriggling, Undine diluted him by spinning him into a massive drop of water, completely erasing his existence.
[Enok…!]
As soon as Rionne confirmed he had met his end, she rushed over. The enormous shape formed by entwined tree trunks slowly faded, and the space where she had passed began to recover gently.
“W-what should we do…? Our Enok…! Is your eye okay…? Just wait a moment!”
In an instant, Rionne appeared before Enok, examining his body. Then, she waved her hands urgently, summoning a small spirit flying over.
[Wow… How come you always end up getting hurt?]
Undine, grumbling, gathered a stream of water filled with healing energy.
“Wait a moment.”
[Huh?]
“Don’t heal my eyes.”
[Huh…?]
Cautiously, Undine glanced at Rionne. Her face was extremely stiff, making Enok feel a bit uneasy too.
“…Enok? What do you mean by that?”
“Nothing, really. I just think this is better.”
I had given this some random name, but it turns out to be quite useful. It felt similar to the magical eye you read about in fairytales. I could see more than with ordinary eyes.
Of course, it’s tough to see with normal eyes. That can’t be helped.
“Enok, please take care of your body… No, it’s okay to heal the wound on your eye, right?”
How could I refuse that pleading look? As I nodded, Undine quickly healed the line-shaped wound on my eye.
Enok met Rionne’s sorrowful gaze. It was a fortunate coincidence. I had something I wanted to say. Just as I was about to open my mouth, Rionne spoke first.
“Was I too hasty?”
When she became much stronger than now. Should I have let her out into the world only after she at least reached the rank of Grandmaster?
With eyes that looked as if they were about to burst into tears, she pressed my cheeks firmly. The small elf’s face fit snugly in my hands. What should I say? How should I shape my feelings into words?
Since it was a question that had no answer, I blurted out the name that people had stuck to me.
“I love you.”
“…Huh?”
“I love you, Rionne.”
Beyond the relationship of a man and woman, I love her very existence. The word love may be a heavy and sticky expression, but it’s the only thing that comes to mind right now.
As I smiled slightly while maintaining eye contact, Rionne’s cheeks flushed a little. Soon, she wrapped her arms around my neck, burying her head in my chest.
“Hah… Our Enok has grown up.”
After being patted for a while, when I raised my head, Rionne gave a gentle smile.
“I love you too. You know how I feel, right? So please take care of yourself. It feels like my heart is being torn apart.”
It seemed like she took it to mean something a bit different, but that doesn’t matter. After all, I didn’t expect anything from her right now.
Instead, by saying that one word, I could move forward. I acknowledge myself, and I mouth those affirmations. That act is akin to a spell chant. A spell chant to manifest the magic of ‘me.’
Where do emotions come from? They drastically contradict the law of conservation of energy I learned from Iris. Strong emotions keep bubbling up endlessly, so what’s this about conservation?
So, using this emotion as a medium, I cast a spell on myself. The circulation of the ring that replaced my heart. Maintaining it relies on this emotion.
The moment the magic reaches its end would be when this feeling dries up. The day I no longer think of Rionne, the day I can face her without feeling anything. If that day ever comes for me, then the ring that once served as my heart will surely stop too. But that’s alright.
I don’t know how to live without her anyway. Even if everything I have disappears, this feeling will remain until my last moment.
So, I give a name to this time. In an endless, pure time that won’t cease as long as my existence remains, as a mortal. I dare call it eternity.
Even if my physical body dies, one great spell will remain engraved in this world forever.
Pathos.
That’s the name of this magic.
***
In the capital of the Labelion Kingdom, Leonat. Everyone knows the secret, but here lies the stronghold of Haken Welt.
Naturally, from the king’s perspective, he’d want to get rid of it right away. But how could he do that at will? Honestly, if the kingdom and Haken Welt clashed, it would be the kingdom that would be at a disadvantage.
But maybe that’s not the case anymore.
“Oh my.”
A shadow fell over Leonat. Horrific roots filled with power wrapped around the entire capital. What would happen if they struck down? No need to wonder.
Boom—!!!
Because I’m seeing it with my own eyes.
The king stood on the terrace, staring blankly at the scene. Just what had happened to make the Swordmaster this furious? Is there a brain missing in their heads? Seriously, why?
Haken Welt’s stronghold was completely wrecked. Something jumped out from the ruins like a grasshopper, but a grasshopper is still just a grasshopper. One of the towering wooden roots crushed down, leaving only a puddle of blood behind.
[Todate, I’m feeling good.]
The elf bringing about devastation stood high above, casually waving her hand. With each wave, several lives senselessly disappeared.
[So I shall bestow mercy.]
Mercy? Is that what you call mercy? The king stealthily hid behind a pillar. He didn’t want to be seen and accidentally receive the Swordmaster’s mercy.
Creeeeak—!!
The king shut his eyes tightly, earnestly clasping his hands together. A prayer he had never made in his life. Yet, if the heavenly deity would protect this little lamb…
“Please, don’t let that thing fall on the palace.”
He was genuinely desperate.
***
“So, you’re the grand king this time?”
Heavenly deity, you little rascal.