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Chapter 314
A Sleepless Night (Christmas Commemorative Illustration)
Generally, demonic energy is a realm of uncontrollable corruption.
That is why it has been left neglected for over a hundred years, and why even that many mages still cannot control it.
But a method exists everywhere.
It's just that the method is too inefficient or demands such finicky conditions that it's treated as non-existent.
The sacrificial vessel Rize proposed right now was exactly that.
Е̊.ǹ ü m̊а̃ . i d̀
Elves resemble humans in appearance but are distinctly a different race.
They possess unique racial traits that can never be placed on the same level.
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Common elves and High Elves also had traits as distinct as the difference between humans and elves.
"The characteristic of High Elves is that they have the highest mental resonance among all races. That is why they are the easiest to stain, and the easiest to assimilate. That is why when the Time of Rest arrives, their ancestors' bodies can dwell within the World Tree. And....... That doesn't necessarily require death, either."
Rize would become part of the World Tree and replace its corrupted parts with her own body.
The parts containing demonic energy would become Rize's body.
Еn̆ ù m a
Completely extracting all the demonic energy was the objective.
"But....... You can't connect your mind with other High Elves, can you?"
"Precisely, it's a body that cannot maintain a connection long-term. If I concentrate, I can maintain it for about an hour."
Maintain it for about an hour.
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In a way, it was the optimal condition.
If they extract all the demonic energy and then detach her, she could return to her original state cleanly without aftereffects.
Ѐ n̄u m̆ ӓ . і d̊
But that was from the World Tree's perspective.
If Rize's small frame took on the demonic energy the World Tree harbored, she would undoubtedly die.
"Rize, you will die."
Rize smiled as if to say not to worry.
"That's excessive worry. I won't die. I've already experienced that demonic energy through many adventures, so I can endure it sufficiently. Rather....... I might be well-suited for this task!"
Rize's smile was warm and brimming with confidence.
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That smile had undoubtedly relieved the worries of many people.
"That's different."
So I must not be swayed.
"Demonic energy is what pollutes the mind, twists the form, and makes you into someone who is not you."
"Yes....... That's right."
"Your will, too, will soon become not your own. Do you only wish for that to happen?"
Wėb̄nо̇ v_еl̃ .Еn̆ům а
Ferda continued to instill fear.
Inwardly, he hoped Rize would give up.
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She actually seemed frightened, closing her mouth and lowering her head slightly.
"I....... am a High Elf, but I was an elf who couldn't become like them. In High Elf society, they said a defective product like me wasn't tolerated."
Rize clasped her hands tightly against her chest.
The gathered hands were trembling faintly.
Ẃ е b̊ n̆ оvе̃ l Е̃ ñum̂а̂
"But I wasn't disposed of and stayed alive. The Great Chieftain always treated me like his own child....... So when that person needs help, I have to help."
Ferda felt a sense of déjà vu at that sight.
Rize, called a defective product, would save everyone in the end.
A fairy-tale-like story was applied to the adult circumstances Ferda knew all too well.
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'Don't tell me....... '
No.
Е̃n̄umà.
That's Ferda's delusion.
"The Great Chieftain didn't send you for that purpose."
That's why Ferda threw a rebuttal.
"The Great Chieftain belatedly realized the World Tree had been seized by someone. That's why he induced you to flee with us to save even you, who cannot maintain a mental connection. If you go back in there, you'll lose even the you that remains."
"But if I don't move, we'll lose everyone. I don't want that."
The more she denied it, the clearer it became.
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'Was keeping Rize alive meant to make her a sacrificial vessel, taking on the role of embracing all corruption?'
Is the Great Chieftain such a heartless elf?
In Ferda's thinking, he wasn't.
'But at the same time, he is the Great Chieftain.'"
The Great Chieftain has the duty to contribute to the welfare of not just High Elves but all elves.
If sacrificing one life could save the whole, he would undoubtedly have made it so.
W̄ е̌b n o ṽ е̄l̀ Е̇ nu m̂а
And Ferda's mind was increasingly leaning toward the Great Chieftain having done exactly that.
Rize was a picture-perfect specimen of a sacrificial vessel.
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Her personality had no sharp edges; she had high tolerance and knew the value of sacrifice.
"As much as the Great Chieftain loved me as a father."
Criticize to lower self-esteem, then love just enough to seem excessive.
And when all that repeats for over a hundred years,
Е ǹu m̃ а̊
"Now it's my turn to repay the favor."
When the time comes to sacrifice, she'll do it voluntarily without coercion.
He unconsciously clenched his fist tight.
Fingernails dug into flesh.
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"I oppose it."
Ferda said that to Rize.
Ën ǔ m̈ ǎ .і d̊
"You are an important person in the Far East."
Rize was an important sanctuary within Valdrova Castle.
She took responsibility for the children born from the Dark Elf Linne's experiments and helped their rehabilitation.
To those exhausted in body and mind, she opened her arms and listened to their worries.
She couldn't actually solve them, but just hearing those confessions gave comfort.
Like a saintess.
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'No, a saint.'
That appearance that confused everyone every time surely played a part, too.
He was a fine friend to Valdrova, and a beacon lighting up everyone.
"I cannot let such an important person throw herself into a trivial matter."
"So because she's important in your castle, the World Tree's business is nothing?"
Erdes, who had been listening to the two's conversation, asked with a displeased expression.
Ё nu m̊ а
Ferda answered as if determined.
"Shall I speak honestly the opinion I kept silent that day? That tree is just a big tree. If you say collapse, it collapses. A mage's business is none of my concern."
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Rize's face showed shock.
"Th-that's too harsh, please withdraw those words......."
"Then get angry."
"Huh?"
W̆ е̂ b̃n̈_õ v̈e l Е́ñûm̊ã
"I insulted the mother you served all your life. Yet you can't get angry at me."
"Th-that's......."
"Do you know why? Because making it so you can't resent anyone your whole life makes you easier to use."
"Th-that's......! I have times when I hate someone, too!"
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"That's why I'm saying it. Why can't you get angry at me?"
Rize's face flushed bright red.
Е̄núm а
But her expression couldn't find its footing.
As if proving Ferda's words true with her very body.
'Get angry.'
Prove you weren't raised to be a sacrificial vessel.
"Hey. Cheeky brat."
With Erdes's voice, the sound of a magic circle boiling rang out.
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A high-power magic circle that would blow Ferda's head off the moment it activated.
"Erdes."
"Shut up. The one who crossed the line is that brat. I have to say this much."
Erdes didn't withdraw the magic circle.
But she wouldn't fire it, either.
In that state, she continued speaking.
W̄е̊ b̊ n̈ оv̂ ӗ l Е num а̌
"Just because you look a bit taller and more mature, you think you're older than that kid? She's an elf who lived longer than you. Does she look like a brat who doesn't know the risks she has to bear? You don't know that insulting someone who resolved to do something big is a desecration?"
I know.
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I knew, yet I didn't hesitate to commit that desecration.
"At the frontline meeting, we clearly said it. If there are traces of corruption, we'll burn them without mercy. The World Tree will be crawling with those demon bastards, so corruption is unavoidable. Then we have to burn it unconditionally. Will only the tree burn?"
The High Elves, who are practically one body with the tree, will all die, too.
"Does she want to watch her kin burn without being able to do anything? Could you sleep soundly with your legs stretched out?"
Е ň ŭm̈_ӑ . іd.
So she won't be able to refuse.
'Because Rize is a saint.'
When the moment comes to achieve her will through sacrifice, she'll gladly throw her body.
She's the kind of elf who thinks that's right.
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"Please think once more and participate. I don't want Rize-nim to become that kind of role."
He desecrated her noble will once again.
Ё n ù m̄ а̌
Even so, Rize was looking at Ferda like a pitiful person.
"Ferda Regent-nim......."
"I'll be going now."
Ferda rose from his seat.
It was shameful even to himself.
Just as Rize couldn't rebut Ferda, Ferda couldn't rebut Erdes's words.
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If you sacrifice one, everyone can be happy.
Utilitarianly, that was the right choice.
Even though his head understood, it didn't sit well with his heart.
That one is not inside everyone.
Where can that one find salvation?
* * *
W̃ еḃ nо v̊ ӗl Е̇ń um̀.â_
The role of Far East operations staff officer was assigned to Arwen.
Even if he was naive politically, he was a knight and strong in actual combat.
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He proved it through the Heinkel siege.
Especially since the Far East's role this time wasn't attrition, he could pull it off splendidly by utilizing the tactics established in the Heinkel Kingdom siege.
Ferda reviewed the Far East's tactics and operations one last time, spending the night together until the end.
"Good, this should be fine. Now stop and get some sleep. Tomorrow is the day of the decisive battle."
W̌ е̃ bno v еl Еnum̈ā
"Yes. Then I'll take my leave."
The commanders left their seats, and Ferda remained last in the operations room.
"The commanders need to sleep too, but shouldn't the Regent-nim also sleep?"
Garnet, who had been watching quietly from behind, asked that.
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"That's for those who need it for combat. It doesn't apply to those outside the fighting force."
"If the higher-ups don't even pretend to sleep, others can't fall asleep, is what I'm saying."
Е̇ nŭ mа̇.і̆d
Garnet quietly extinguished the candle.
Footsteps that had stopped grew distant again.
As Garnet said, there seemed to be people watching the situation.
"Thanks for the advice."
"It's what I must do."
Pitch-black darkness, but to Ferda's eyes it was as bright as broad daylight.
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Proof he had mastered Barbatos's Shadow Arts.
He could probably quietly eliminate even a woman like Garnet.
"Regent-nim."
Garnet's call pulled him from thoughts that harmed his spirit.
"What is it?"
"I apologize for saying this before the decisive battle, but may I participate as a combat soldier and follow Jed this time?"
W̆е̄b n̄о v ёl̊ Еn ùm̂a
"Worried about your lover?"
"This isn't worry as a lover."
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Garnet always had a serious expression.
But the seriousness showing now was the shadow's form with no personal opinions mixed in.
Ferda readjusted his posture.
"May I hear the reason?"
Ẇ.ẽ b́nо́ vĕl̇. Ӗn̈ um̄à
"I'm the one who said Jed was needed for this operation, but looking back at the process, there are parts that don't sit right."
Garnet's judgment was good even in Ferda's thinking.
Jed was that much of a splendid fighting force, and at a time when fighting force was crucial like now, his ability would shine.
"What are those unsatisfactory parts?"
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"Considering his words and actions, I get the feeling he was guided to be needed for the operation. And realizing that now is......."
She forcibly dragged out words that wouldn't easily leave her mouth.
Е n̈umа̊
"As Gae Bolg-nim said, isn't it because my judgment was clouded since we shared affection?"
Ferda couldn't hide his inward surprise.
'Garnet hates not being able to grasp something.'
She hates Gae Bolg, who is irrational, unplanned chaos itself, more than anyone.
Such a Garnet acknowledged what Gae Bolg said.
'Proof that her objectivity is that clear.'
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How many people can listen to the words of the person they hate most?
Even if it's someone they like, not listening well when faults are pointed out is a person's defense mechanism.
"If it's unsatisfactory, isn't it better to remove him from this operation?"
"That's impossible. Jed's role is already large in the operation's composition."
The problem was it was too late to realize it.
"So I'll let Jed participate in the operation, and I'll try to be around him by naturally joining there."
W е́b̈n о̇v ё l̀ .Е̂ñ ŭm а̊
"Won't be easy?"
"Pulling that off is my job."
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That was true.
"Do as far as your strength allows. Top priority is your survival, so just keep that in mind."
"I'm touched you worry about me. Then I'll......."
With the order given, Garnet left, order given, Garnet left.
E̊n̂ ûmа̀._і d
He needed to sleep for tomorrow.
But his head was too complicated.
When morning breaks, all armies surrounding the World Tree will move.
They have a common enemy, but their purposes are all different, so the situation will become a muddy mess.
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Jed's party who must rescue Olivia.
Rize who tries to become the sacrificial vessel purifying the World Tree.
E n u m̃а
For the plan to succeed, Ferda has to observe everything.
All he can do is hope it goes well.
That's why everything only felt ominous.
He doesn't think things will go smoothly.
Twisted and complex, ending in catastrophe.
'Like Valdrova, who could have become a hero.'
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That's why even lying in bed, he couldn't fall asleep easily.
Only one sentence repeated in Ferda's head.
Is there nothing I can do?
That was when it happened.
Ferda felt his body grow heavy, and simultaneously felt his vision enveloped in deep darkness.
Darkness that even Eyes Piercing Darkness couldn't penetrate.
Е̃ n u mа̂..id̈
That darkness bound Ferda's limbs fast.
Like sleep paralysis, he couldn't do anything.
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Shortly after, a form holding light rose into Ferda's vision.
Rising beyond the horizon, it was a giant eye.
Silver irises with vertically split pupils, as if a giant dragon was looking down at him.
No, it was Ferda's delusion.
Ên̊ ū_m̌a. і ď
What he thought were silver eyes was the moon, and the long vertical pupil was a person.
A woman, at that.
The woman standing before that full moon said this.
-What they desire is Valdrova's death.
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Who the hell are they?
-They'll offer you as a sacrifice to stop the Dragons' Twilight.
Ě n u̇ m а̊
-Escape before the signal flare sounds.
The moment the words ended, the full moon and the form vanished.
Simultaneously, control of his body returned.
Ferda realizes he had fallen asleep without knowing.
That wasn't all.
Just before his head reached another understanding, instinctive sensation moved first.
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The moment a magic circle rapidly drew itself to fire, Ferda could write it in a sentence.
An intruder entered.
