CHAPTER 117

The sound of someone crying spread from somewhere in the mansion.

The voice of the weeping woman was mournful.

Even though she could no longer breathe, only dry tear marks remained around the eyes of the woman who was crying bitterly.

It seemed that the sorrow contained in the tears could not fully express the pain of losing a child.

"Sir Auguste."

A broken window.

Teaware scattered everywhere.

But unlike the chaotic surroundings, the tea in the teacup had a brilliant green color.

"From now on, we will take charge of the scene."

The captain of the security guards turned around at the voice.

A splendid golden armor adorned with engravings.

That armor was only worn by the Emperor's Guards.

"······Crimes occurring in the capital are the responsibility of our Imperial Guards."

"Of course, I understand that."

The middle-aged man standing in front of the captain of the Security Guards took out a small piece of parchment from his pocket with a slight smile.

Golden bull.

[T/L: 금인칙서 - A golden bull or chrysobull was a decree issued by emperors and monarchs in Europe during the Middle Ages and Renaissance.]

Unfolding the Golden Bull that only the Emperor of the Empire could issue, the middle-aged man nodded and spoke.

"But since it's a direct order from His Majesty, there's nothing you can do about it."

"Everyone in the Empire knows that His Majesty is currently ill."

The middle-aged man wearing the Imperial Guard's armor.

He shrugged his shoulders with exaggerated gestures upon hearing Auguste's words.

"What nonsense is this? I clearly met His Majesty this morning."

"······."

Auguste bit his lip, looking at the man blabbering nonsense.

The captain of the Imperial Guard, who should be protecting the emperor, was instead shaking and waving his name.

As Auguste's anger became apparent, the momentum of the imperial guards who noticed his anger began to sharpen.

"By the order of His Majesty, transfer investigative authority immediately. Auguste, Captain of the Imperial Security Guards."

However, even amid the escalating tension, the middle-aged man merely rolled up the unfolded parchment.

With a faint smirk on his lips.

"From now on, the Imperial Guards will take charge of the scene here."

A justification heavier than a sword.

Before the noble golden armor, Auguste could only bow his head with a sense of anger.

Inside the still dark mansion, there was nothing but the sorrowful cries of a mother who had lost her child.

※※※※

"But how are we going to stop them?"

Snow that sinks down to your ankles.

The group wandering through the deep forest continued forward, holding the reins.

However, even though his steps were moving forward, Vlad's eyes were focused on the man with the gray hood.

"If we keep looting wagons, won't the tea sell? I heard it's doing really well."

Although it was unclear exactly who he was, he seemed to be related to the imperial family. 

Moreover, as someone who recognized the swordsmanship of the voice, it was natural for Vlad to show curiosity towards him.

At the age of 18, he was still at an age where he sought experience and knowledge.

"Well, you're right that we couldn't stop them from selling."

The man in the gray hood looked at Vlad with a bitter smile.

The Security Guards, whose hands and feet had been cut off, couldn't uproot the deeply entrenched spider webs within the empire.

"So I just swung at the beehive."

"What do you mean?"

"The hive. We need to find out what's inside."

If they couldn't unearth what was hidden deep inside, they had to draw it out.

Knowing that, Auguste was using himself as bait to plunder Bitskaya's carriage.

"By the way, didn't the count request assistance from the Dragon Slayer Knights?"

"I heard that."

Although it was just a young knight named Vlad who was dragged out against his initial intentions, still, the young knight before him provided him with the one piece of information he desired.

It was information about the fallen dragon that had taken up residence in the beehive.

'He requested assistance directly from the Dragulia family, without going through the Imperial family…'

It wasn't uncommon for local lords to seek assistance from the Dragon Slayer Knights to resolve difficult matters.

However, in all matters, there were protocols and procedures, and Auguste had never heard of the Bitskaya family following those procedures.

"Why the Dragon Slayer Knights?"

"No reason

."

While the young knight in front of him might be curious about everything in the world, sometimes it was better not to know.

If the fallen dragon is biting its leash as he suspected, then simply knowing about it will make him very angry.

"Look over there, Captain! Isn't that...?"

"....Wow."

While engaged in conversation with Auguste, Vlad involuntarily opened his mouth upon hearing Gott's cry.

"Why is it so big?"

There was a forest.

A forest that retained its greenery even in winter.

Though blanketed in white by falling snow, warmth that even the cold snow couldn't diminish emanated from the forest ahead.

"That's the forest of the elves."

The forest of the elves, hidden deep and not easily accessible to anyone.

Vlad couldn't help but gape at the seemingly endless horizon of green before him.

"Is that the World Tree?"

"Yes."

The forest of the elves. Ausrina.

A massive tree towering above the green sea was looking down at Vlad.

※※※※

Someone's office filled with sunlight.

Covered entirely in brown wood, the platinum blonde hair of the girl sparkled in the sunlight.

"Oppa."

"Yes, priestess."

Though there was a chair, the platinum blonde girl chose to sit on the edge of the desk, her thin eyebrows furrowed as if displeased with Baradis's response.

"...Fine."

She spoke dismissively, but she knew it was inevitable.

Yet, despite that, an unavoidable sense of disappointment welled up in her heart, puffing out her cheeks slightly.

"Take this with you when you leave."

"Huh?"

Baradis wore a puzzled expression as he looked at the basket the girl held out.

The basket, filled with fruits collected from around the room, shimmered with the light of the luscious fruits, reflecting in the girl's golden eyes.

"It seems like someone might be hungry."

"...Who could be hungry?"

Even as Baradis accepted the basket, he couldn't hide his confusion.

She had always been mischievous even when she was younger, but since becoming a priestess of the World Tree, understanding her had become even more difficult.

"Lord Baradis."

"Yes?"

However, it wasn't the girl who answered the previous question, but someone else.

"While scouting, we spotted humans lurking nearby."

"Drive them away."

A report that he doesn't have to worry about.

However, the elf who came to report seemed troubled as he spoke.

"About that..."

"What is it,"

Baradis's expression was completely different from when facing the girl.

Before anyone knew it, Baradis's face had taken on the demeanor of a composed manager and leader.

"Intruders are looking for you, Lord Baradis."

"....What?"

"More accurately, they claim to have been invited by you, Lord Baradis."

Baradis frowned and looked at the reporter in front of him.

Though not spoken, the elf understood the silent question conveyed through Baradis's eyes and presented a single name he had brought with him.

"The intruder introduced himself as Vlad of Shoara."

"..."

Hearing the reporter's words, Baradis looked down at the basket he had been holding without realizing.

"Did he happen to mention being hungry?"

"Yes?"

Baradis turned to look at the girl.

The girl chuckled, as if urging Baradis to go quickly.

※※※※

"Elves have prisons too."

"It's my first time seeing one."

"Don't they use nails? There aren't even traces of shackles."

While Gott sat gloomily in a corner, Vlad wandered around the elven prison, scanning the area.

"Captain, are you really invited?"

"That's what he said."

"Then is it proper for elves to shoot arrows at invited guests?"

"······But it wasn't right."

Vlad scratched his cheek, looking at the gray-hooded man and Gott.

Having received an invitation, he had expected to enter confidently, but in reality, what greeted them was only deadly arrows and a cold prison.

"You still owe a debt for your life."

"But we did manage to get in, didn't we?"

"Are northerners always this shameless?"

Vlad pretended not to notice the criticism and resentment coming from Auguste and held onto the bars with both hands.

'If it was going to be like this, why invite me in the first place?'

Vlad has a clue about the voice.

Auguste was looking for clues about Absilon.

Since what they both wanted was here in the elves' forest, there was no reason to hesitate.

'...Subtly sharp.'

However, what bothered Vlad wasn't his current situation being trapped in a cell.

A feeling that only people in the back alleys who are sensitive to crises can sense.

From the elves they faced, he sensed that familiar air.

Click-

Vlad leaned closer to the bars, listening to the sound of a door opening ahead.

"Sorry for the inconvenience."

A blue-haired elf with indigo eyes and a stern expression approached, holding a basket in one hand and accompanied by subordinates.

"Vlad of Shoara. Welcome to our forest."

"Do elves usually welcome guests from prison?"

"Well, take this for now."

When it came to ignoring people, Baradis was better at it than Vlad.

"Are you going to get me out of here?"

"Just wait a day while you eat that. There's a procedure to get you out."

Vlad's eyebrows narrowed at the mention of waiting a day or more.

"I hope you understand. These days, everyone is on edge. The procedures to release someone from prison are complex."

"But why is everyone so on edge? It seemed quiet around here."

The overly sharp attitude of the elves.

Vlad felt more than animosity towards humans; he sensed an eerie wariness.

"...The dragon is coming."

It was a story that did not need to be told to humans, yet Baradis calmly explained.

The blue eyes fixed on him.

Those eyes were what the priestess of the World Tree was paying attention to.

Baradis was sure Vlad had a reason for arriving in Ausrina at this time.

"It's soon time for the World Tree to bloom."

"Flowers?"

Upon hearing Baradis's words, Vlad found himself absentmindedly touching Alicia's amber stone. 

In the scene depicted within the stone shown by the girl, In the amber landscape shown by the girl, the red maple tree was clearly in bloom.

"Yes, flowers."

The name of one God.

And the young World Tree, barely rooted, escaping the empire's ambitions.

However, humans were not the only ones targeting young roots and fragrant flowers.

"The sharpest dragon has always targeted the flowers of the World Tree."

The young petals are fragrant, and the youthful roots are tempting.

However, throughout the world, there were countless entities coveting fragrant and tempting things.

Although all the tender and young things in this world surely had the qualifications to bloom flowers.

"I'm sorry to welcome you at a bad time."

".....No, it's okay."

How precarious it was for one world to safely have the possibility of blooming flowers.

"Is there anything I can help you with?"

So, you should protect that moment as it is your duty.

And I swore before my disciplines that I would do so.

"Even if it's just words, thank you."

Human souls are light and their words rotten.

Beings that can never be trusted.

But now the spirits surrounding the blue-eyed knight were speaking.

This person is the one they have blessed.

The white snake on the armor and the mole on the sword said so.

"······."

A memory of a tree carved into amber was reflected in Baradis' eyes.

A nostalgic world tree that can no longer be seen, blooming red flowers.

The knight standing below it surely held a familiar sword.