Chapter 193

The Spirit King of Wood was sneering. Her inner self was twisted and distorted to the point where even the other Spirit Kings would recoil in disgust. She loathed, hated, and wanted to annihilate humans, but due to her position, she couldn’t do so and had to hold back.

Of course, Airi, who had no way of knowing this, was flustered, her mind going blank. Among the Spirit Kings she had contracted with, this one had been the most familiar. Even after everything was over, this Spirit King had continued to send squirrels and mountain birds to her side, speaking kindly to her.

[Wait a minute…]

[If it weren’t for the command, I wouldn’t have made a contract with a brat like you. No, I wouldn’t have made a contract with such filthy creatures as humans. Well, you’re a bit better than the average human, but that’s about it. That’s not enough reason for me to trample on my principles and make a contract with you.]

The Spirit King Peresa of Wood manipulated tree roots to target the necks of everyone present. To her, humans were nothing but impurities that defiled her forest. To her, humans—no, any beings capable of speech, whether elves or whatever—were always like this. Noisy, violent, unruly, and annoying creatures that spread blood everywhere.

“Ugh…”

Gallahad of the Black Round Table, who was the first to be caught, could still move, but his strength wasn’t enough to tear apart the tree roots binding him.

“Grrr… Gallahad…! Where are you…! I can’t feel you on my back! Where did you go!”

Agravain, who was caught afterward, had the strength to tear apart the tree roots, but without Gallahad’s orders, he couldn’t do anything. To make matters worse, Peresa, who had noticed their relationship, used the tree roots to gag Gallahad, and they were quickly subdued. Of course, the roots binding Agravain were rotting, but regenerating a few roots was easier for Peresa than rolling dice.

“First, I’ll deal with the kids spreading poison. Next will be you. Well, since you’re acquaintances of my acquaintances, I won’t make you suffer too much.”

The newly sprouted tree roots then attacked Werner’s group. Each root was strong enough to easily pierce through castle walls. Not suffering too much only meant their lives wouldn’t be in danger, not that they wouldn’t suffer broken bones.

The first to be caught was Airi. Still in shock from Peresa’s rejection, she was helplessly caught while the others, including Werner, managed to dodge the attacks.

The second to be caught was Glacia, who had been aiming for the Spirit King of Wood from behind. When the Spirit King threatened Werner, Glacia didn’t hesitate to try and cut her down. But only a fool wouldn’t notice the presence approaching from behind, and she was caught just as easily.

“Damn it, this bitch…!”

Werner finally exploded with the anger he had been holding back. Continuously changing the forest’s terrain to make them lose their way, firing dangerous weapons that tore their palms, and on top of that, her condescending attitude towards humans—she was the epitome of annoyance.

“Hey, elf, do you know someone named Garitos?”

“Hmm… Sorry, but I’ve never heard that name before.”

“Today, you will die by his will.”

“Hmph, so you turn on me just because I played a little prank. Truly, you’re a spitting image of your mother. You’ve inherited her annoying personality, making me dislike you even more, kid.”

“I’m not your kid.”

Werner attached a giant blade to his right arm and charged forward. But his body, already heavily poisoned, couldn’t dodge the tree roots rushing towards him.

“Hmph, the Iron Spirit King farts around and even makes contracts… The dignity of the Spirit Kings has truly fallen. The Light Spirit King died trying to stop a war, the Darkness Spirit King abandoned his power and status, the Wind Spirit King died for someone who didn’t even love him, the Earth Spirit King died admitting his own mistakes, and now the Water and Iron Spirit Kings are making contracts with mere humans… What a bunch of pathetic fools.”

As she belittled the other Spirit Kings, the voice of Valena, the Spirit King of Water, echoed in Lorcha’s mind.

[Child, quickly deal with that arrogant one. I’ll lend you more of my power.]

“Fangs of the Dragon, tear her apart and feed her.”

Dozens of giant shark teeth appeared in midair and pierced through Peresa’s body. If she were human, she would have died instantly. But the holes in her body were quickly filled with tree roots and leaves, and soon, her wounds healed as if nothing had happened.

“Valena, you’ve made a contract with quite an interesting brat. But that’s as far as it goes. Don’t you have any pride? Kneeling before a mere human.”

Valena quietly sought Lorcha’s consent, then spoke through her.

“Peresa, my friend, have you still not washed away that wound? It’s been 500 years; I thought you would have recovered by now. Still so immature, just like your appearance.”

Enraged by those words, Peresa began emitting an even more menacing aura, threatening everyone around her. Of course, Armadura, the Iron Spirit King, who saw this, also sought Werner’s consent and spoke through him.

“Still all brawn and no brains. Your personality is no different from a child’s. Still unable to forget the past, you’ve imprisoned yourself, using excuses like gardening to run away. You’re still acting like a kid, which is why we treat you like a fool. Grow up and become an adult, you wooden hag.”

Hearing all this, Peresa was furious. The wounds left by humans 500 years ago still burned as fresh as the day they were made. She believed those wounds would never heal, and so she had no intention of forgiving those who touched them.

“Alright, let’s end this now.”

All the magic of the forest gathered around her.

“I’ll stop with the warnings now. It’s better if I just annihilate all of you here. For me and for you… It’s the quickest way to escape the pain.”

At that moment, a black blade flew from somewhere and cut through the roots binding Werner, Airi, and Glacia. Their bodies weren’t cut, only the roots were severed.

“What was that just now…”

Recognizing the familiar presence of that magic, Werner and Lorcha bit their lips.

“First, we need to stop that rampaging kid…”

In any case, the annoying bindings were gone. But the new problem was that even the four of them—Werner, Airi, Glacia, and Lorcha—would have a tough time against the Spirit King of Wood.

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Damian coughed up blood.

Lancelot, who was watching the scene, expressed his confusion.

“Why did you suddenly throw away your weapon in the middle of the fight?”

But Media, who knew the answer, smiled bitterly.

“What a tearful one-sided love. Even if he’s the one getting hurt, he throws away his weapon to protect his parents first.”

Squar remained silent, her expression stiff.

A deep wound in his abdomen, cards embedded all over his body, and holy flames burning his back. Among these, the holy flames were as deadly to black sorcerers who had made contracts with demons as salt is to a snail. These wounds were the result of attacks that surged in when Damian suddenly threw away his weapon, leaving himself open.

“Even if you do this, no one will understand you. Yet you’re still so earnest?”

“… I’ve never acted seeking anyone’s approval. I’ve never acted seeking someone’s love. I simply follow the teachings I’ve received.”

His father had told him:

[Damian, if I die, you’ll be the head of this family. You must protect your siblings. Understood?]

His mother had told him:

[Our son, a man doesn’t cry over such trivial things. No matter how hard it gets, you can endure it bravely without crying, right? I’m sorry for always leaving you alone. Just hang in there a little longer.]

Someone who was like an older brother to him had said:

[A man’s life is about setting priorities. And protecting what’s most important. Even if it means boldly abandoning other things.]

“Life is about setting priorities… For the sake of first and second place… I can boldly abandon last place.”