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Chapter 107: Mystery (4)

“Why do you look so serious? I was joking. It’s impossible to get something like a dragon heart, right?”

The last sighting of a dragon was over a decade ago.

It was rumored to have made its lair somewhere in the mountains, but no one knew the exact location.

“But you’re saying it’s possible.”

“Well, yes, but….”

“That’s enough.”

Ketal grinned.

Although it was unfortunate that it couldn’t be used immediately, the fact that they had obtained the mystery remained unchanged.

Gradually, they could increase the amount of mystery they had.

‘We know the method now.’

If something like a dragon heart existed, it was possible.

A dragon heart.

What a stirring phrase.

As Ketal’s expression reflected this thought, Arkamis’s face grew uneasy.

‘…He did take it as a joke, right?’

“In any case, thank you again. Arkamis, I truly appreciate it.”

Ketal expressed his gratitude sincerely, and Arkamis waved it off awkwardly.

“No, thank you. It was quite an experience.”

The alchemy had been completed without any major issues.

Whether it was due to the release of tension or fatigue, Arkamis momentarily swayed.

“Oh….”

“You must be tired.”

For the past few days, Arkamis had forsaken food and sleep to focus solely on alchemy.

The exhaustion seemed to hit all at once as Arkamis staggered up the stairs.

“I need… to rest a bit. Ketal. Let’s talk again tomorrow.”

“Alright. See you tomorrow.”

Ketal left, satisfied, and Arkamis went to catch up on much-needed sleep.

That night.

It was a dark, cloudy night with the moonlight completely obscured, making it impossible to see even an inch ahead.

People had returned home early to prepare dinner and go to bed.

A very peaceful everyday life.

And a bit away from that routine, on the path leading to the capital, space was torn apart.

Crack.

From the ripped space, something filthy began to ooze out.

Darker and dirtier shadows started to emerge, hidden by the night.

* * *

“You’re here?”

The next day, Arkamis greeted Ketal energetically.

The rest seemed to have done wonders for her as she looked refreshed.

“You look well.”

“Thanks to you. Nothing went wrong while I was away, right?”

“There were no issues. It has settled within me stably.”

“That’s a relief. Usually, things like this tend to show problems after some time. I should have checked by your side, but I was too tired to think straight.”

Arkamis roughly confirmed how things had been since then and found no problems at all.

“It seems to have worked perfectly.”

“Thank you once again.”

Ketal beamed.

Arkamis had done a lot for him.

He had learned alchemy and awakened to the mystery.

According to Milena, Arkamis was the only one in this world capable of such a feat.

Even if she wasn’t the only one, it didn’t change the fact that it was a rare and incredible skill. Who would share such a remarkable technique with a barbarian seeing it for the first time?

Without her, Ketal might not have gained the mystery for a long time.

“You can have all the remaining fragments. It’s the least I can do to repay you.”

“Really? Are you sure?”

“Of course.”

Ketal nodded, and Arkamis smiled brightly.

“Thank you! Oh, what a relief. Without those, I might not have been able to achieve my goal.”

She sighed in genuine relief.

Ketal asked curiously.

“May I ask what your goal is?”

“Oh.”

Arkamis hesitated.

“…My goal?”

“Yes.”

“Hmm….”

Arkamis groaned as if pondering.

“It’s nothing grand. Just a personal matter.”

“You don’t have to say if it’s difficult.”

“No, it’s not that. I’m just a bit embarrassed.”

Arkamis, who had been hesitating, clenched her small fist as if making a decision.

“You’ve given me such valuable materials. I should tell you what I’m using them for. Sit down.”

“Oh.”

The story of a character revealing their hidden secrets after building a connection was very exciting.

Ketal sat across from Arkamis.

Arkamis spoke with a serious face.

“Ketal. I’m an elf.”

“I know that much.”

“But I’m not an ordinary elf.”

“Is that so? I can’t tell.”

Ketal tilted his head.

He had seen other elves before, but there didn’t seem to be a significant difference between them and Arkamis.

“You wouldn’t know. It’s a difference only elves can recognize. I’m a special elf among the elves.”

“…Is that so?”

“…Why are you looking at me like that?”

“No, it’s nothing.”

Ketal shook his head.

This was a fantasy world.

She could really be special.

Arkamis continued her explanation.

“That’s why I went to the Empire. I thought I could achieve my goal with the largest force among humans.”

Arkamis paused to catch her breath.

Ketal waited quietly.

Just as she was about to say something.

“Huh?”

Arkamis’s eyes widened.

“Oh, what? Hold on.”

She hurriedly stood up.

“What’s wrong?”

“No. Just a moment. Didn’t you feel that?”

“I didn’t notice anything.”

To Ketal, nothing seemed different.

But Arkamis’s face was filled with unmistakable shock.

“…Why is that descending to this world?”

Her gaze was fixed on the outside, towards the Denian Kingdom.

* * *

“Yaaawn.”

A guard stationed at the northern gate of the capital yawned widely.

He scratched his belly and looked down the road with sleepy eyes.

His superior clicked his tongue in disapproval.

“Stay focused. The captain will give you a scolding if he finds out.”

“But it’s boring, sir.”

“That’s true.”

The superior didn’t deny it.

The human world was relatively peaceful.

Of course, not every region was like that.

The Empire was still moving to conquer the continent, and strange events were happening everywhere.

But those were isolated incidents.

Most of the human world was very peaceful.

In fact, because of the Empire’s movements, all minor conflicts had ceased, making it the most peaceful time in decades.

The world was becoming strange, but it wasn’t a tangible reality for them.

The Denian Kingdom was no different.

The world’s chaos was nothing more than a topic for bar conversations.

The guard blinked his sleepy eyes.

‘I wish someone would come.’

As if answering his wish, someone was approaching from afar.

“There’s a visitor.”

“Yes, sir.”

The guards straightened up.

As the person approached, the guard’s eyes widened.

The reason was simple.

The person’s face was incredibly beautiful.

Though her attire was plain, her beauty was undeniable.

She looked like she could be a princess from somewhere.

Their bodies tensed up unconsciously.

They straightened their posture and tried to look as dignified as possible.

The woman smiled.

“Oh my, you must be the guards.”

“What brings you here?”

The guard spoke in a fawning voice.

The face of the guard next to him twisted momentarily.

“It’s just that…”

The woman waved her delicate finger.

“This is the Denian Kingdom, right?”

“Yes, that’s correct.”

“Phew, I came to the right place. I was a bit worried.”

“Are you a traveler?”

“Yes, you could say that.”

The woman smiled.

The guard’s face turned blank for a moment at that smile.

Such a beautiful woman, appearing suddenly without any escort, was clearly unusual.

But they didn’t realize it.

As if mesmerized by a succubus, they were captivated by the woman.

“Then, guards, I have a favor to ask.”

“Please, go ahead.”

The guard spoke enthusiastically.

He was ready to grant whatever she asked.

Even if she demanded half his wealth, he would comply.

The woman lazily extended her finger. It touched the guard’s head.

Even though it was obviously strange, the guard smiled broadly, delighted by her touch.

And that was his final expression.

“Please die.”

Crack.

His head was crushed.

The guard’s body fell.

The remaining guard’s face hardened.

“…Huh?”

The woman extended her finger and tapped the guard’s chest.

Crunch.

His armor crumpled.

The guard spat blood and collapsed.

“Mmmm.”

The woman smiled in satisfaction above the two gruesome corpses.

“Ah, this feeling. So satisfying.”

Stretching, she looked at the enormous gate before her.

“Oh. I should have asked them to open the gate before killing them.”

Well, it didn’t matter.

Muttering softly to herself, she walked slowly forward.

As she approached the gate, her appearance began to melt away.

She shed her false form, revealing her true self to the world.

Violet ram’s horns.

White pupils.

Bronzed skin, as if burned by the sun.

The demon smirked as she placed her hand on the gate.

With a thunderous noise, the gate shattered.

* * *

“They’ve come!”

The priest, who had been praying in the royal palace, screamed.

“An evil presence has descended!”

Barbosa frowned.

“It’s really happening.”

The revelation of the Earth Goddess.

Prepare for evil.

Though it was an imperfect revelation that did not specify when or where the evil would appear, it was still a divine message.

Naturally, Barbosa had been preparing for this.

He shouted with a serious expression.

“Where at the border?”

“N-not the border!”

The priest, pale as a sheet, replied.

“It’s in the capital! Right here!”

“What?”

Barbosa’s eyes widened.

“Impossible! There was no sign of a descent!”

The descent of evil was not something that happened easily.

There were always signs, significant waves of power.

It was impossible for the priests to miss it happening so close.

They had naturally assumed it would appear outside the borders and had positioned all their forces there.

And now it appeared in the capital?

“B-but…”

“…I understand.”

Barbosa gritted his teeth.

What was done was done.

The important thing now was to prepare for it.

“What level of demon is it?”

The only fortunate point was that since it had appeared without any signs, it shouldn’t be a very powerful demon.

The priests and knights remaining in the capital should be sufficient to handle it.

But the priest’s next words made Barbosa’s face turn as pale as the priest’s.

“It’s a demon with a name!”

“W-what!”

A demon with a name!

But before Barbosa could compose himself, the priest spoke even more terrifying words.

Barbosa wished this were all just a bad dream.

“And it’s not just one! There are two! Two named demons have descended!”