LIGHTNOVELWORLD Chapter 80
Chapter
“What, what the….”
All that remained in my clasped hand was the warmth of Rionne. The figure of Rionne, who had just been in my embrace, had vanished without a trace.
It was surely not a dream. Her lingering sensation still graced my lips.
*Crackle crackle─────────!!*
My mind went blank, overwhelmed with fury that felt like it could incinerate my very soul. As my rationality slipped away, I realized that Undine and Tsukiyo were clinging to me, attempting to restrain me.
[Stop! Don’t do something you’ll regret! Hurry!]
“Calm down, for now!”
Yet, for some reason, even as they clung to me, they struggled to keep Enok under control. Undine gnawed her lip as she braced against the whirling torrent of power.
[Ugh…! Why is this guy so strong just because he’s got crazy eyes!?]
It was impossible to suppress him in such a short time. The spirit quickly discerned the situation and shouted with all its might.
[If you’re not going to kill Rionne with your own hands, then quit it, you thick-headed fool!]
*Thud-* Suddenly, the overwhelming tide of power receded shockingly fast. The courtyard fell silent as if nothing had happened, and Undine exhaled a sigh of relief.
[Phew, that was a close call.]
“What’s happening right now?”
Enok approached Undine, as if he might grab her by the collar, his eyes sharp and wide.
[Wow…! Really hurt, you know? After all these years, you do something like this?]
“What’s going on?”
The moment of grievance was brief. Undine, trembling before Enok’s almost erupting gaze, began to explain.
[…Just wait a bit. You’ll know as soon as you see it anyway.]
“What’s ‘a bit’? How long is that supposed to be…!”
At that moment, the scattered rays of light began to gather once more, slowly piling up in the center of the courtyard.
Enok shut his mouth and watched the scene unfold.
Like snow accumulating, the light coalesced and soared skyward. From that pillar of light, reaching even the clouds, beams burst forth and solidified into the branches of a tree.
“Rionne?”
I could instinctively feel it. That gigantic tree of light was Rionne.
“What in the world….”
It was hard to comprehend the situation. Why was Rionne suddenly turning into a tree?
A curse from someone? Was there something I didn’t know?
The more I tried to connect the dots, the more my breath quickened. The fear of potentially losing someone. I hadn’t realized that feeling was like this.
If I had known, I wouldn’t have pushed things this far. Had Rionne felt this same dread every time I was in danger?
As my trembling hands reached out to touch the tree, Undine grumbled, breaking the silence.
[Wow, that escalated quicker than I thought. I figured it’d take quite a while even for Rionne.]
“…This isn’t something bad, right?”
[Of course, it isn’t, you dense idiot. You’ve gone through something similar too, right? It’s just a transformation.]
“This is a transformation?”
No, I could assertively state that it absolutely was not. I had indeed scattered my body and reformed it with Ki, but this situation was entirely different.
[It’s similar, I tell you, similar. For someone who’s a demigod, the physical body isn’t needed, so when you get rid of the unnecessary body, the soul’s appearance is what’s revealed outwardly.]
“So this is Rionne’s soul? This tree?”
[Would it be?]
Clicking her tongue, Undine was replaced by Tsukiyo, who stared blankly up at the tree.
“This is a cocoon. Just as a butterfly prepares for metamorphosis in a cocoon, this Elf will gradually accept enlightenment and create their own divine body.”
“Ah….”
So that means Rionne wouldn’t live her life as a tree. What a relief.
There were so many things I wanted to try, so many conversations I wanted to share. An ending where she had suddenly become a tree was just too cruel. I couldn’t accept such a conclusion.
As Enok absentmindedly stroked the cocoon, those who had momentarily frozen in shock began to approach cautiously.
Yonia, Arcane, Piloti, Deru, Hiter, and more. The numerous Elves had been enthusiastic spectators, cheering when Enok kissed Rionne and screaming when he went on a rampage.
Thinking about it, that kiss was probably closer to a public engagement ceremony, right? With that thought, Yonia lightly patted Enok on the shoulder.
“Hey, congratulations.”
“Thanks.”
“Why are you reacting like this? Not good?”
“I don’t know. It felt good, but now it just feels weird.”
The joyful feeling had fluttered away from his shocked heart. While it might return with time, for now, that was just how it was.
“It might have turned out well, actually.”
“Huh?”
“If it had gone as it was, I don’t think we could’ve left.”
A long-awaited dream had come true. Could I really just up and leave right after that?
“True. So does that mean we leave like this?”
“Yeah. I’ll come back once Rionne wakes up.”
“And when do you think that will be? You’ll just come by every day, right?”
At Yonia’s words, Tsukiyo clicked her tongue.
“Once she wakes up, the whole continent will know about it. When the Sword God transcended to demigod status, the sky of the entire continent split for a week, remember?”
“Oh, then you’ll just have to see it when it happens, right?”
Naturally, Yonia had to stay with the Elf Union. So she asked Tsukiyo, hoping to make plans for the next step.
“How long does it normally take?”
“Nobody really knows. Some take decades, some wake up in just a few days.”
“Decades? That’s a long time. You’ll have to come around now and then, okay? Just try to forget and not visit.”
Decades…? Enok frowned, feeling his breath catch.
He nodded at the suggestion to come by often. After all, he would have to return for a revenge match with Hiter.
“Ugh.”
Why did Rionne have to find enlightenment now? If only she had waited until later.
Where on earth did she gain this enlightenment?
As Enok grumbled, Undine chuckled to herself.
[It was the first kiss in nine hundred years; surely she could find some enlightenment. Wow, just think about it—when it comes to that first night, she might just ascend outright!]
I guess that could happen.
*
Leaving behind the farewells of the many Elves, Enok halted his steps in the midst of the forest.
“Uhh… Where is Demisto?”
I was sure I had bought a map before, but now, where did it go?
“Don’t look at me, Dad. I don’t know either.”
[Tsukiyo, do you realize your way of speaking is really strange? Why don’t you just do one thing?]
“…What’s wrong with my way of speaking?”
A useless cat who offered no help, and a fox spirit who didn’t know the way either.
After pondering, Enok stepped forward without hesitation.
“Well, if I keep going, I’ll figure it out eventually.”
If I didn’t, I could just ask someone.
*
Three months passed.
I had heard it would take a month to reach. At my speed, which was far quicker than an average person’s, I took three months? Just how lost was I?
I let out a wry smile as I looked up at the massive castle walls.
[…But I’ve managed to arrive. I thought Demisto was some secret hideout or something.]
“Something is off. I didn’t get this lost before.”
Enok tilted his head, boldly trying to scale the castle walls when he was stopped.
[You do realize that the person you intend to meet is the Lord’s son, right? Wouldn’t that be a nuisance?]
“Ah.”
[So Tsukiyo, you should come down too.]
As I waited in line at the castle gates, it wasn’t long before my turn came.
“Identification.”
I casually tossed the mercenary guild tag to the bored guard, and the looks I received were quite something.
“You little….”
As the guard twisted his face into a grimace, he met my gaze and quickly averted his eyes.
“Ugh….”
The guard wasn’t new to his job; just a glance told him I was someone he shouldn’t cross.
“Haha, what’s your name…? Enok. Hmm. Huh? Enok?”
The guard’s eyes widened as he quickly scanned my figure.
“Hw, who are you here to meet…?”
“Ah.”
Looking at Eri, she sighed deeply.
[It’s Zikfrein Le Demisto. At this point, shouldn’t you have memorized it? I feel like I’ve asked you seven times.]
“Ah, right. Zikfrein.”
“Hi, hi…!”
Upon hearing the name Zikfrein, the guard jumped in shock.
“Y-You’re the Duke’s son…!”
“…What?”
“I failed to recognize an esteemed guest!”
The guard’s loud voice drew all sorts of eyes towards us.
“Duke’s son?”
“That person is the Duke’s son?”
“Oh, looks much younger than I expected!”
“But why do they call him the Duke’s son?”
“Apparently, his left eye sees through the world’s truths?”
Whispers filled the air. The guard started making a fuss, calling his supervisor, and soon the captain of the guard rushed out, clamoring to escort Enok and his party.
“Wow…! Duke’s son! What a cool title! With a dad like mine, you’d think I’d have at least a few titles like that!”
“…….”
[I didn’t say a word.]
Enok’s lips trembled slightly.
What kind of idiot gave me a ridiculous title like “Duke’s Son of the Evil Eye.” I’d love to meet that person.
[Honestly, whether it’s the Thunder King or the Duke’s Son…]
“…….”
*
“Wow…! Lord Estor! No, Duke’s son!”
It was a familiar face. Even though I wanted to knock them out to make them unrecognizable, I held back for the moment.
“Hmm? Do we know each other?”
“At least for now.”
“At least for now? That might hurt my feelings. Haha!”
The familiar knight laughed heartily as he extended his hand to Tsukiyo.
“I am Jatum, the captain of Zikfrein’s escort knights.”
Jatum, who took a light handshake with Tsukiyo, puffed out his chest proudly.
“You must have heard about it on your way here, but how do you like the title Duke’s Son? Isn’t it cool? I came up with it after contemplating for three whole days and nights to thank you for granting me enlightenment last time…”
“It was you?!”
“Excuse me?”
Having felt a rare shame bestowed upon me, I thought I might want to give them a punch.
Just a punch should suffice, right?
“Uh… Duke’s son? Why do you look like that…?”
I felt like the Heavenly Carnage Thunder God Technique might be more suitable here.
*
“Ugh… Why do you hate such a splendid title…? Isn’t it wonderful? Duke’s Son.”
Enok raised his fist. Jatum flinched.
“Anyway, welcome to Demisto. Unfortunately, you’ve come at a rather bad time.”
“A bad time?”
“Well… I’m not sure how you’ll take this, but… they’re coming out.”
“Coming out? What’s coming out?”
Ugh… Jatum hesitated for a moment before whispering.
“They’re ghosts. Ghosts.”
“Yikes…!”
Tsukiyo’s face turned ashen.