Why on earth do I have to carry that chunk of meat around? The answer to that question was “Benefactor.” Hans couldn’t muster any words of rebuttal to that statement.
No matter what anyone says, Lucy was indeed the one who saved Hans’s life. Plus, since he could meditate here, he was finally able to come to terms with himself.
Considering such grace, it would be difficult to refuse Lucy’s request. However, was it really okay to take this little brat into such a dangerous battlefield?
But it seemed like those worries weren’t on Lucy’s mind at all. She was petting Lua’s head. Hans clicked his tongue. Isn’t she supposed to be concerned about her own daughter?
“You’ve finally decided on your path.”
“Th-thank you for everything so far, Mother.”
“And you know? The true name is…”
“Only when I deem it trustable!”
“Are you sending me on an errand or something?”
If you just listened to her tone, it would seem like she was sending her son on a grocery errand. Naturally, Hans wasn’t thrilled about being burdened with the brat, but he didn’t dare voice more than that.
In the past three years, he had built some affection for Lua. In fact, Lua had pounced on him daily, making his gloomy feelings disappear in an instant. This was his repayment.
Eventually, as Hans prepared to step out with Lua, he started walking through the passageway that Lucy had pointed out. The place where the vampires resided was an underground world spread beneath the earth.
“You found a place like this well.”
“Mother called it the Underworld. It’s a place that watches over and records everything on the surface.”
“Just like the Duty of Vampires.”
“Exactly, but… I wanted to go out and experience it for myself.”
With a wistful tone, Lua said that, and Hans quietly closed his mouth. After all, she was just a little kid, so calling her a chunk of meat was a bit harsh, wasn’t it?
After a while of crawling through the tunnel, Hans and Lua finally reached the end. However, it was blocked by a gigantic rock, which posed a problem. Hans sighed.
“Yeah, I knew this would happen.”
“Wait a moment.”
“Are you planning to move the rock?”
“Well… it’s somewhat similar, right?”
Lua nodded and clasped her hands together. As she did, a dark navy light began to flow from her hands, which were crossed like a cross. The rock responded to that light.
Boom!
With a huge noise like a breath, the rock began to shift its massive body. It was like a sliding door. Finally, as it opened completely, bright sunlight poured in.
“Finally out.”
“This is outside.”
“Is this your first time coming out?”
“Yeah. Mother said it was too dangerous recently.”
“Looking at this, it seems like she’s not exactly unworried, huh.”
Nevertheless, Lucy willingly entrusted Lua to Hans. Why? Does she really believe I’ll take good care of her? Suddenly, a heaviness settled in Hans’s heart.
As soon as they exited the tunnel, the scent of the forest welcomed Hans and Lua. Countless weeds reaching up to their waists and gargantuan old trees were literally nature’s friendly curtain.
Hans clicked his tongue. To think they were hiding in a place like this. Even knowing the location, returning wouldn’t be easy. Let alone in a clueless state, it would be even tougher.
“Do you know the rough location of this place?”
“I only know it as the Elven Forest.”
“The Elven Forest… right, I guess it’s better to get hit first.”
Hans didn’t have a good relationship with elves. He had ended the life of the World Tree, which was a symbol of elven existence. Because of this, he had clashed many times, even during his time as the Commander of the Royal Knights.
What about now, when even the shield of the Commander of the Royal Knights had disappeared? Thankfully, Maquenis the Archdruid was maintaining neutrality, but no one knew the situation after three years.
Hans thought it actually worked out for the best. Since he didn’t have a good relationship with the elves, if he resolved this first, the rest could be tackled more easily, right? That was his thought.
“So you’ve finally come out. You’re slower to act than I expected.”
“??”
If he hadn’t run into an unexpected person here. Hans barely maintained his poker face. If it hadn’t been shattered recently and he hadn’t worked hard on training, it probably would’ve broken again without a doubt.
“Maquenis the Archdruid, how are you here…?”
A man who, unlike an elf, showed the signs of time on his face stood in front of Hans, accompanied by several elves. Maquenis, the leader of the elves, smirked and said,
“You seem quite surprised.”
Shall we talk while walking?
*
In truth, the elves and vampires had a cooperative relationship. It was somewhat obvious. The elves kept nature, while the vampires maintained balance. Both were incredibly inflexible.
From the vampires’ perspective, elves were a pleasing race. They didn’t particularly cause massive incidents. However, there had been some conflict due to the previous World Tree issue.
Ultimately, it was Hans who took care of it before the vampires could interfere, leading to it being a non-issue. After hearing all this from Maquenis, Hans clicked his tongue. This is why collusion relationships are…
“So you heard from Lucy that I am alive?”
“Yes. But it was kept secret from everyone.”
“Why?”
“That was the condition.”
“…….”
Of course. Hans sighed. He thought he could easily team up with Clara and Cluna this time, but that seemed not to be the case either. Hans scratched his head.
“I understand what you mean. So, where are they?”
“Are you talking about Cluna and Clara?”
“Yes.”
“They haven’t returned to the Elven Forest.”
“……What?”
That was unexpected news. They hadn’t returned to the Elven Forest? Everyone else had returned. At that moment, Hans was taken aback as Maquenis explained.
“It seems they didn’t believe in your death. Ever since that day, they have been continuously tracking your traces.”
“Three years in such suffering….”
“Three years is nothing to an elf. However… yeah, it might not be the same for them.”
“Ugh….”
Hans sighed again. Cluna and Clara were, in a sense, accomplices in that negligence. Yet, hearing this made Hans’s heart soften. Yeah, first, he needed to find them.
“So you left them alone all this time?”
“No, that’s not the case. We kept track of their location just in case something happened.”
“Thank goodness. Please tell me their location.”
“It’d be wise to do so. We can stop their wandering quickly. However, I have one question to ask.”
“In a situation like this, what is it?”
Maquenis the Archdruid clearly picked up on the intention to finish quickly, yet he took his time. Old memories flooded back. He loved all elves.
Yet, even Maquenis had once longed for the outside world in his youth. Although he didn’t get a good conclusion there, that feeling remained.
‘In the end, feelings have no borders or races.’
It’s truly funny. He hoped that his descendants wouldn’t suffer such pain. Ironically, elves began to fall in love with mere humans like him.
Maquenis wished for Cluna and Clara to also avoid such situations. To him, regardless, they were like daughters. Still, they ultimately chose that path.
Especially Cluna, who had already experienced pain once. How could she choose that path again? The elven archdruid Maquenis couldn’t fathom such thoughts.
But still, if his daughters chose that path, he had no choice but to do his best as a father. Maquenis slowly extended his hand towards the sky. Then, nature responded.
A giant vine sprang from the earth and wrapped around Maquenis’s hand, eventually condensing into a solid staff. Now holding the staff, Maquenis pointed it at Hans and spoke.
“Tell me, what do you plan to do?”
“Hans!!!”
Lua reacted much faster than Hans. But she couldn’t do anything. Before she knew it, the vine coming from the ground had bound Lua’s body. Hans quietly looked at him.
“Are you asking me what I think?”
“That’s correct.”
“It’s always the same.”
“I see, so that’s your answer.”
Maquenis smiled and withdrew his staff at Hans’s unwavering answer. He was like a sturdy old tree, standing firm without caring how much time passed.
He said he would always act the same. If that were true, it would provide shade for those kids to rest. Maquenis the Archdruid withdrew the staff.
‘What the heck is this all of a sudden?’
On the other hand, Hans was managing his shocked feelings. Did he catch on to the fact that I harbored bad feelings? But he was withdrawing too quickly for that. No, I can’t let my guard down.
I need to get information quickly.
And I must leave this place.
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