Chapter 291

4.

Pshhh.

Seonghyun, having emerged from the opened capsule, thought while stretching his body lightly.

‘I just can't seem to find them.’

After meeting Taukhan.

Because he had heard from Serena that the Sword Saint was coming.

He had hurried more.

But in the forest, he could no longer see any traces of the natives.

Even with Noctrinium's incredible detection ability, it was said that not even a trace could be found.

Honestly, there were so few traces that he wondered if they had already been attacked by the demon tribe.

‘Hmm. Where could they be?’

He hadn't searched over a wide area yet.

He thought he might get a better idea tomorrow.

For now, he figured he could sleep, wake up, go to work tomorrow, and then search.

Thinking this, Seonghyun washed up, ate, and then went to sleep.

Yoo Mina didn't seem to know anything either.

So he really had no choice but to roll up his sleeves and search himself.

Still, this kind of exploration was quite fun, so he didn't feel frustrated.

The news that the Sword Saint would arrive in four days, no, three days now, could have made him a bit anxious.

But instead, he was feeling a thrill and finding it enjoyable in its own way.

And so, the next day dawned, and Seonghyun followed his usual routine of going for a run, showering, and finishing breakfast.

He immediately entered the capsule.

“Son, do well~”

“Yes, of course.”

“What about mom's daughter?”

“Our daughter is already doing so well~”

At those words, Yoo Mina pouted a little.

But she just accepted it and likewise entered her capsule.

After Seonghyun logged in.

He went to work at the magic tower as always.

While he was handling his duties well, as if he had already adapted to his third day at work.

There was a summons from the captain of the escort knights.

Wondering what it was about, he went directly to the escort knight captain's office.

“I heard you were looking for me.”

“Hello?”

“Huh?”

And the person he met there was none other than Serena.

Serena, who had appeared out of nowhere, and the captain, who had an expression that said 'good timing'.

He understood as soon as he saw it.

“Should I go and escort the Archmage Serena?”

“Hahaha, that's right.”

“I'll be in your care today as well.”

Seonghyun nodded as he looked at Serena greeting him.

He wanted to patrol and see if there were any mages imbued with demonic energy.

But it couldn't be helped.

And so, Serena and Seonghyun went outside just like on the first day.

From what he heard.

“There are fewer materials needed today, so we’ll finish earlier than last time.”

“Ah, I see.”

“Yeah, they’re materials needed to get work done quickly because of that damn Sword Saint.”

At those words, Seonghyun asked Serena.

“Because of the Sword Saint?”

“Ah, I guess you wouldn’t know? The Sword Saint is coming to the magic tower this time? In four days? I think there are about 3 days left. That’s why I need to get things done beforehand… what a nuisance, right?”

“I see.”

“Hm? Are you a fan of the Sword Saint too, since you’re a knight? I heard outsiders aren't really into that.”

Serena said, reacting to Seonghyun’s lukewarm response.

Seonghyun replied with a slight smirk.

“I am not a fan.”

“Right? Then don’t bother being a fan. He’s a very shady fellow.”

It was believable that Serena would say something like that.

Seonghyun had heard things as well.

However, since he didn't know the details.

Seonghyun asked as if he were curious.

“Is the Sword Saint shady?”

“Yeah, very. This is something I can’t really say just anywhere, but…”

As Serena spoke, she scanned the fields to see if anyone else was around.

Then she said to Seonghyun.

“There are even rumors that the reason he went out of his way to make his younger brother king was so he could control him. Anyone in a high position in the Rieskan Kingdom probably knows.”

“Oh-ho.”

So the Sword Saint was royalty.

Seonghyun nodded upon hearing this unexpected story.

But Serena’s mouth didn't stop there.

“Besides, it’s suspicious that he was the first one to step up and take the hero as soon as he was born.”

“Hmm, that he took the hero?”

“Yeah, he took him saying he would make him his disciple, and there were often cases of his previous disciples going missing. They’re pretty famous anecdotes.”

“Missing?”

“Yeah, I don’t know what happened, but ten of his disciples after that completely disappeared. There are some disciples left, but those ten have not appeared since.”

At those words, Seonghyun thought that the Sword Saint was truly a man with many dark corners.

The disappearance of his disciples.

‘Don't tell me he made them into weapons imbued with demonic energy?’

He thought he heard that the souls of strong warriors were needed.

He had thought, 'no way', but it seemed possible if it was the Sword Saint.

And so, he gathered the materials while hearing various stories from Serena.

5.

A place that would have originally been the natives' home.

In an area untouched by the light of the bright sun, humans that seemed to be made of shadows emerged from a stone chamber as if they were oozing out.

Then they muttered in annoyed voices.

“Damn it, we’re short on sacrifices.”

“We need a warrior, a warrior.”

“Those natives would have been perfect…”

“They all ran off and can’t be seen…”

The two of them scowled in frustration.

If only they hadn’t been so leisurely, they could have captured them all.

All because there was an interloper.

They had let them get away.

The two members of the demon tribe recalled that moment.

The image of the old woman, called the great shaman, who, unlike them, wielded a rather sacred power of nature when the moonlight was full.

“If it weren't for that old woman, hundreds would still be left.”

“A pity, a pity. Those native bastards, their race itself is different from ordinary humans, so each and every one of them could have the strength of a warrior.”

“We can't find where they've hidden.”

“And we can't just freely emit demonic energy since we're near the city.”

The members of the demon tribe muttered in frustration.

Then they thought of their other comrade and said.

“Well, he said he’d look for them.”

“We just have to wait, I guess.”

If they had hidden in the city, they couldn't find them.

He heard that there were a few natives scattered throughout the city.

Even if it wasn't hundreds, they had to bring back at least those few to make do.

They were severely lacking in materials.

They had to at least meet the quota before the Sword Saint arrived in a few days.

It was annoying.

But they were in a position where they had no choice but to follow orders.

“That Sword Saint bastard, grinding him up wouldn't be enough.”

“Gnash, it can't be helped. When he says he’s found the materials, we'll have to go out to meet him and bring the sacrifices.”

The grumbling members of the demon tribe.

Began to handle the remaining tasks.

As they sprinkled demonic energy over the dozens of piled-up weapons imbued with demonic energy, another demon tribe member sprinkled the dark red blood of the natives over them.

6.

After returning from gathering materials for Serena.

Seonghyun also took on patrol duty.

Saying he was commendable, the captain let him off early again today.

“Good work today!”

“Thank you.”

Seonghyun came out, thanking the captain for letting him go home early again today.

However, he didn't have the happy expression of someone who got off work early.

Normally, it would be natural to show a look of joy and excitement.

Instead, he looked disappointed.

He wasn’t a workaholic.

It was because he couldn't find a mage who felt of demonic energy.

It was truly a shame.

“…I apologize.”

As Seonghyun came outside.

Noctrinium appeared behind him, kneeling on one knee and bowing its head as if in apology.

It meant that it had failed to find the native's settlement in the forest.

“Hmm, it's alright.”

Seonghyun replied and sent Noctrinium to the underworld before anyone could see.

It had only been the second day of searching.

The fact that Noctrinium still hadn't found it meant.

‘I won't be able to find them this way.’

He decided that it couldn't be found through ordinary detection.

Isn't there another way?

Taukhan didn't seem to know.

Just when he was wondering if he should find another native.

Seonghyun could feel a presence approaching from behind him.

The presence was not easily felt, as if they were quite skilled, but still, who was Seonghyun.

-Someone's coming, Seonghyun.

‘Yeah, I felt it too.’

Weren’t there Helena and his other retainers who cherished Seonghyun?

Of course, Seonghyun also noticed right away.

Although he was still inside the city.

He hadn't let his guard down.

As he waited, ready for battle at any moment.

He got a strangely familiar feeling.

As Seonghyun paused for a moment at the feeling that he had seen him recently.

A man with a large build that filled the alley was watching Seonghyun from the alleyway.

“Oh?”

“Ahem.”

As Seonghyun recognized him.

The large man, Taukhan, seemed to signal him to follow.

But the atmosphere was a little different from yesterday.

Not the wary and suspicious look of yesterday, but a timid yet upright appearance.

Just the fact that he had hidden his appearance and come this far was different from what he had shown yesterday.

‘Looks like something’s up?’

After yesterday's meeting.

Whether something special had happened, or if a trigger had been pulled because he had stayed quiet today.

He didn't know for sure.

But the fact that he came to find him was a good sign.

As Seonghyun followed Taukhan into a secluded alley.

Taukhan, while being wary of his surroundings, looked at Seonghyun and spoke.

“See you a-again.”

“Yes, we saw each other yesterday, and here we are again, right?”

“Ahem, Taukhan came because I have something to say.”

Seonghyun remained silent as if to say he understood.

Taukhan said to Seonghyun.

“Lied a little yesterday. The great shaman said to bring you.”

At those faltering words, a strange light appeared in Seonghyun's eyes.

The great shaman.

As expected, it seemed they knew where they had moved to.

As Seonghyun looked at Taukhan with a peculiar gaze.

He couldn't meet Seonghyun's eyes, whether out of guilt or embarrassment.

In any case, now that he had found them.

Isn't that what matters.

Honestly, it wasn't that he couldn't understand Taukhan's feelings.

“Alright.”

“Thank you. Follow me.”

Taukhan said so, and in that moment, he drew upon the power of nature and transformed into the form of a rat, and Seonghyun was a little surprised by the perfect transformation.

‘Is he a druid?’

He had heard that druid-type classes could transform into animals like that.

Seeing it in person was quite fascinating.

As Taukhan, who had made himself small, moved quickly.

Seonghyun also went into stealth and followed Taukhan.

Even as a rat, his speed was considerable.

But he wasn't faster than Seonghyun.

Seonghyun followed the rat-form Taukhan at a moderate pace.

After being guided for a while, Seonghyun felt that they were heading towards a shantytown and finally nodded his head.

‘So most of them came into the city.’

No wonder it was strange that there wasn't a single trace even after he had searched the surrounding area as if catching rats.

To hide a tree, leave it in the forest, was that it?

That was exactly it.

Thinking that the natives had used their heads, he arrived at the shantytown.

Taukhan, who had turned into a rat, returned to his human form, introduced a house in the shantytown, and said.

“Go inside.”

He didn't say much.

It seemed the great shaman was in there.

As Seonghyun entered the place.

He could see that the surroundings were so filled with a green light that it felt momentarily bright.

Should he call them spirits?

Grains of green light were floating and moving in the air, and from somewhere, he could hear a giggling sound.

It was a sight that one couldn't help but be amazed by, a place where the power of nature was rampant.

However, Seonghyun saw something strange there as well.

More than the grains of green nature's energy moving and laughing.

-Sigh, what are those spirits, we're right here.

-Why are they worshiping spirits as the souls of their ancestors?

-Tsk tsk tsk, the great shaman is no god.

-Weren't you also a great shaman? You did the same thing.

-Ugh. Oh? He's looking at us?

-Huh?!

The sight of the old women ghosts chattering amongst themselves.

And in front of those old women ghosts, a living old woman was welcoming Seonghyun.

“Kekeke, you seem surprised to see the souls of our ancestors.”

“...Yes, I was a bit surprised.”