Survival 150

Prev I TOC I Next

“For heaven’s sake, how long do I have to wait?”

The inside of the sandworm wasn’t exactly terrifying, but it was certainly unpleasant.

The darkness was something I was familiar with as a phantom thief, so that was fine.

But the smell and the sticky saliva!

Seeing it stain the butler’s outfit I had meticulously maintained made my blood boil.

“It was a gift from the Speda family!”

A simple jacket, a pleated shirt, and a blue jeweled brooch.

A design that was neat yet elegantly tailored.

An outfit that perfectly matched Luciana, known for her cold beauty.

But to get rid of this unpleasant smell, even a whole day of washing wouldn’t be enough.

As I sighed, another sigh overlapped with mine.

-Ha. Swallowed by an unknown creature, and yet you’re so composed.

-Have you forgotten that I’m from the West?

-West, my foot! You’re from the Evildon Empire! Stop talking nonsense!

It was indeed a strange situation.

Despite being attacked by a sandworm, we were casually exchanging trivial banter.

But instead of explaining, I just shrugged.

-No need to worry so much. I made a deal with the owner of this creature.

-A deal? What have you done this time?

^You’ll find out soon.

Since we were communicating telepathically, Bathory didn’t know the details.

I gave him a mischievous smile.

At that moment.

“Guh, bleegh~!”

A wild monster wouldn’t normally vomit like that.

The creature spat out its prey from its mouth and then hid its massive body back underground.

Caught off guard by the sudden movement, I staggered and fell to the ground.

Being forcibly dragged out from a narrow gap left me feeling nauseous and uncomfortable.

“O…”

“Are you alright?! Sandworms can’t be finely controlled, you know…”

In front of me was a flustered boy.

He looked like he had seen a deity and didn’t know what to do… No, more accurately, he seemed anxious.

-Well, I did give him a proper lesson in manners.

I looked at the boy with satisfaction.

His gaze and attitude were somewhat rebellious, but having faced divine punishment, he had no room for defiance deep in his heart.

That too could be called faith, couldn’t it?

“So, why are you here, Your Eminence?”

“Hoho, my steps bring disaster; I have only one purpose, don’t I?”

But for things to go smoothly, some oiling was necessary.

The Tamer was also a follower of the Disaster Cult.

Filled with hatred for the world, they worship the disaster that would bring its end.

I carefully chose the words that would appeal to him, aligning with the desires of the disciples for destruction, with a pinch of provocation.

“The rotten world isn’t just in the central region. No, it’s even worse here. Fighting over the World Tree, after all.”

If the central region is torn between the emperor’s faction and the nobles’ faction, the southern region sees different races clashing.

All for one thing: the sacred World Tree.

At those words, the boy, who had been crestfallen, suddenly lit up.

“Oh, are you here to burn down the World Tree…?”

“There’s no way.”

I clicked my tongue at the boy in front of me, who had drawn an excessively twisted conclusion.

Thanks to the mana contained within the World Tree, the surrounding area was a dense jungle with abundant water sources and underground resources.

Is that all?

[Elf Holy Doctrine]

[We were born from the holy fruit of the World Tree…]

[Dwarf Blacksmith’s Manual]

[Especially, the World Tree is a massive and inexhaustible source of fuel created by the fire god, and it could easily be called an angel….]

[Beastmen Shaman’s Common Knowledge]

[The fruit of the Great Mother Tree is the remedy for all ailments…]

Even a quick search through the game’s records reveals that this massive tree is not just any tree. 

To some, it is an object of worship comparable to a god or a disaster. 

Literally a sacred place and a strategic point. 

That is why humans, beastmen, elves, and dwarves are all fighting over it.

‘Burning that down? I don’t want to end up like the Sea Dragon Pearl.’

I wanted to avoid being chased by the Daimon Duke’s family, elves, dwarves, and beastmen. 

It would lead to a pursuit on a different level than anything before, with countless assassins and thrilling night encounters.

However, right now, I am simply ‘Frost Mane,’ the vessel of ‘the Calamity of Many Faces.’

Smiling broadly at the Tamer, whose eyes sparkled with anticipation, I extended my hand.

“I understand what you desire from the disaster.”

“Then, I will mobilize all the monsters under my command…”

“But!”

With a single shout, I quelled his sparkling eyes and burning enthusiasm.

“The Calamity of Many Faces does not desire that.”

“…What?”

“Burn it down? Why would you do that?”

“To completely ruin the South…”

As expected of an executive, he saw it clearly.

Even disregarding the difficulty, destroying the World Tree would indeed devastate the southern ecosystem.

Therefore,

‘I can’t let that happen.’

Tilting my head lazily,

I mixed a bit of a plausible lie with a spoonful of truth.

“Heh. You see only one thing and not the other. The disaster has decreed that the World Tree is both a blessing and a greater disaster than itself.”

“What does that mean…?”

“Aah. You still haven’t grasped the will of the gods?”

Tsk tsk.

I clicked my tongue loudly enough for the Tamer to hear.

You’re wrong, and I’m absolutely right.

Because I am acting in the name of the god!

“The World Tree is targeted by all races: beastmen, elves, dwarves, without distinction. So, it was said that it is better to leave the seed of that conflict for a long time. It causes more chaos than themselves.”

“Such profound meaning… I never expected that.”

The blonde boy drooped his shoulders after being reprimanded.

Moreover, when I added that ‘our Disaster Cult’ would also be destroyed if we did something unnecessary, it was enough to see dark clouds forming over the boy’s head.

At that moment.

-Frost Mane, did I hear that correctly? That seems quite unlike you, more like sophistry.

-What do you mean?

-If we go by what you said, it would take too long. And it also involves uncertainty. If you truly want the South’s destruction, it seems more appropriate to burn the World Tree as the boy suggested. Isn’t the ugliness of humans when deprived of something they rely on sufficient?

-Heh, sharp as always.

Bathory was right.

Indeed, there were many points to refute.

If you think about it rationally, it’s complete nonsense.

I’m responding with illogical reasoning, questioning why we should bother with those who would collapse on their own anyway, losing sight of the Disaster Cult’s goal of world destruction.

If we followed my logic, the recent attack on the crown prince would also be something we shouldn’t have done.

However.

-But Bathory, that’s why you’re not suited for politics.

-What, what did you say?!

-How can you try to persuade someone by attaching a rational reason to everything? The living proof of it is right in front of you.

Suddenly demanding belief in a new god led to rising anger and rebellion.

The fear that struck when their monsters were slaughtered.

And finally, the faith that is like salvation to them.

What they need for persuasion is not reason, but the deep emotions and faith within their hearts.

Moreover,

Persuasion, threats, deceit, and schemes are essentially siblings born from the same womb.

Just by subtly scratching that boundary and mixing in some fear, it was enough.

Lastly,

Thinking of a moderate method for the crazy folks who believe in the Disaster Cult is foolish from the start.

‘But it seems there’s been more interference lately.’

I slightly furrowed my brow as I looked at the shadow.

Of course, I’m in the position of a subordinate, but it was troublesome if this kept happening.

-Haa. Lady Luciana understands ten things when you tell her one, but Bathory, you…

-Ugh! Don’t compare us! As a warrior’s descendant, there’s no difference between us!

Bathory expressed his anger by shaking the shadow noticeably.

Still, it was enough that she would keep her mouth shut for a while.

For some reason,

‘Bathory seemed to have a rivalry with Luciana.’

“In that case, shouldn’t you just wait to maintain the status quo?”

“Ugh. I’d like to, but I’ve been feeling an unsettling energy recently.”

He came to check on the situation with the beastmen, to be exact.

‘I originally planned to do that, but the situation seems strange.’

I let the boy, who was nodding at my plausible words, be and fell into thought for a moment.

It’s not strange for the beastmen to attack humans in the first place…

‘It’s better to check the situation with the elves first.’

I wondered what kind of persuasion had been used, making the elves, who had been avoiding each other, cooperate militarily with the beastmen on this scale at this timing.

I thought I should find out the reason first.

“I was thinking of acting alone, but if there’s a member of the Disaster Cult, it will be easier to move. Follow me.”

“W-where are you going?”

“To the elf village.”

“…But I just betrayed them earlier.”

I glared intently at the boy who suddenly turned pale.

Well, what are you going to do if you don’t like it?

Maybe because he’s still young, or perhaps because he’s not fully socialized, the boy always added a word or two at the end of his sentences.

Still fuming, I gave a subtle glance at the shadow to make it visible to him.

The startled ‘Tamer’ quickly began to babble.

“…B-but it was their fault in the first place. They threatened the cult leader’s life, so I attacked them to protect him.”

“That’s an excellent answer.”

“Uh, y-yes…”

Slowly scanning the map, I retraced my memories.

‘The elf village should be around here.’

It wasn’t marked on the map, but for an experienced player like me, it was a piece of cake. 

Especially since it was the residence of an important character in the main story, there was no way I wouldn’t know. 

‘I’ll be seeing that face again after a long time.’ 

Recalling the one known as the ‘Second Divine Archer,’ I quickened my already fast pace. 

***

“Ha, I’m bored.”

“There you go again. Isn’t it nice and quiet?”

Freesia puffed up in frustration at the words of her fellow high elf. 

Calling it quiet was putting it nicely. 

To her, this place was too silent. 

But setting off on a journey was another matter.

“Freesia, didn’t you just celebrate your 107th birthday? The outside is far more dangerous than you think.”

She sighed, blowing out the air puffed in her cheeks, filled with resentment towards her mother and the village elders.

‘Tch, once I come of age…’

“Hmm… Oh! What happened to the warriors who went on the last external expedition?”

Freesia’s ears perked up with interest.

She was always curious.

About the world outside this village.

The stories the warriors would bring back from beyond the jungle.

Stories that would satisfy the curiosity of a young elf, even just a little.

“Don’t even start. The human they brought in from the beastmen’s side betrayed us. Because of him, healers like me had a tough time.”

Hearing her friend’s next words, Freesia jumped to her feet.

“What?! The warriors?”

“Yes, even the best among them were injured here and there.”

“That’s terrible…!”

The number of elves is small.

Most are skilled with the bow and familiar with spirits, boasting a certain degree of combat prowess.

But there are always others with different roles.

Injuries among the warriors meant the village’s security was compromised.

“Freesia, are you thinking of stepping up?”

“If possible!”

“Don’t. If we high elves step onto the battlefield, everyone will try to stop us.”

“Th-that’s…”

Freesia’s perked ears trembled.

It was true.

Even her mother, who held the title of ‘Divine Archer,’ would surely be furious.

But for the sake of the village’s safety…

While she was lost in such thoughts,

“Don’t worry. While warriors from other villages might have had losses, we had no fatalities.”

“That’s a relief.”

Freesia’s tense expression softened.

Honestly, it would be a lie to say she wasn’t worried.

‘Especially since the strongest person in this village, my mother, isn’t here right now.’

If the beastmen or humans discovered this village, wouldn’t it be disastrous?

Her friend’s reassurance provided some comfort.

“And you know, as long as the Boundary Stones are here, no one outside the village can even recognize its existence…”

-Rumble.

At that moment,

The ground shook violently, and the leaves trembled anxiously.

“Wh-what’s happening?”

“…! Watch out!”

Freesia pulled her friend, who hadn’t yet grasped the situation, closer to her.

Almost immediately,

-Graah!

A strange monster, one that even the warriors patrolling outside had never encountered, suddenly appeared right next to where they were standing.

“Eek! How did a monster get here?!”

“Stay calm. First, go gather the village elders.”

The surprise was brief.

Dealing with the current situation came first.

As she moved her frightened friend behind her, Freesia drew the longbow she had practiced with for so long.

Her youthful appearance now bore a look of determination.

“…Those stubborn high elf elders?”

“It’s an emergency! You’re a high elf too! If not you, then who? Go quickly!”

“What about you?!”

“Someone has to hold it off.”

“…I’ll be back soon!”

The light footsteps quickly faded into the distance.

Left alone, Freesia readied her bow with heightened alertness.

A dry swallow slid down her throat.

It would be a lie to say she wasn’t scared.

However, mixed within her was the exact opposite emotion as well.

“…So this is what a monster looks like.”

Apologizing silently to her friend, who had probably not heard her response as she fled,

Freesia felt a slight thrill.

An external being had come to her, who had never had the chance to leave the village.

The excitement it brought her!

Its elongated body seemed to tower over her height.

It looked like a magnified larva hiding in sawdust.

Freesia squinted her eyes as she retreated behind a tree for cover.

“Hmm. It’s completely different from what the warriors described. They said to shoot the eyes first, but I can’t even see where they are.”

As the monster showed no particular hostility, a few minutes passed in a standoff.

-Graah.

-Thud, thud.

Its mouth opened wide, and two figures dropped in front of her.

“Could it be, this is how we enter the elf village?”

“Heh heh, didn’t I tell you? The Boundary Stones are full of gaps.”

One was a boy, not yet an adult, with a youthful face, and the other was a young man with a relaxed demeanor.

But, their ears were short.

“Wh-who are you?”

“…Oh! I didn’t expect to meet you like this. Pardon my rudeness. You must be a resident of this village.”

The arm of the short-eared stranger made a large, sweeping gesture.

It was so exaggerated that it looked almost comical.

“My name is Frost Mane.”

First a monster, and now these strangers.

Peeking out from behind the tree, Freesia was utterly bewildered by this unprecedented experience.

Prev I TOC I Next