Chapter 57 – The End Process (2)
“Captain! We have an urgent message.”
“Hmm, I thought things were quiet for a few days. It was about time to receive some news.”
Ethan moved immediately after hearing the news. After all, it was an order from the captain, the one who elevated him to the backbone and core of the organization, so he had no choice but to comply.
“You need to deliver this letter to Professor Renia at the Rose Hotel. Prepare to leave. I must go there directly.”
Ethan first handed the letter given to him by Irilia to Renia. Meanwhile, he jumped on the leap-ride and headed towards the city closest to the Elf city hidden in the forest, intending to meet Irilia in person.
“This is…”
In the meantime, Renia, who received Irilia’s letter, opened her eyes wide. The contents were shockingly suspicious, but the code written in the letter, known only to Renia and Irilia, served as proof that this letter was genuine.
“Then… is it true that the end, which destroyed the Mythical Era long ago, is starting again!?”
“One could say so. Such events are happening across the continent. The purpose is to once again bring about the destruction of this world, just like in ancient times. Hurry and spread this news to the academic community. We must inform our kingdom as well!”
Renia combined the facts she had researched with what Irilia had learned during her visit to the Elf city and ultimately concluded that the phenomenon of erosion would bring calamity to this world.
And as Irilia wished, she began to mobilize her status and connections to widely publicize this fact. It was the moment when the horrifying phenomenon, which had been spreading quietly, was officially revealed to the people.
“What do we do now? We’ve been investigating the erosion sites for weeks without any results, Professor.”
“We need to find a way, somehow. Do you want to be annihilated in an instant like in the Mythical Era?”
Seeing her clueless disciple Neoru, she clicked her tongue and shook her head.
“I’m returning to the kingdom. We never know when the phenomenon of erosion might strike our kingdom. We need to warn them and think of countermeasures.”
She decided to return to her hometown for the sake of finding a solution with others, as she believed she could do much more there.
‘After all, it won’t be hard for him to hear my news.’
Before leaving Su’an, Renia secretly went to the promised rendezvous point with Irilia, holding a small box close to her chest. Afterward, she buried the letter she left for Irilia in the ground. After all, Irilia’s power was the only method Renia knew that could stop the phenomenon of erosion.
*
“Since you were promoted, you seem to have more leisure now? Your complexion has improved.”
“… You could say that.”
Ethan, who had been waiting, turned upon hearing the familiar voice of the girl. No matter how you looked at it, her eyes held an enchanting quality, and her casual way of speaking was just as enigmatic.
Although she was only dressed in a maid outfit without her apron, it seemed she had already discarded all pretense, lacking the usual courtesy of a maid.
Ethan could not mention that his improved complexion was merely because he hadn’t seen Irilia for a few days.
“Everyone seems to be living peacefully. Even though a major crisis is brewing right now.”
Irilia, who flopped into a chair, chuckled while looking at the city landscape visible below the terrace. As she said, the people were still living their lives, unaware of the looming threat.
“What exactly is going on?”
“It could lead to the end of the world.”
She explained the phenomenon of erosion and what had transpired with the Elves to Ethan. After all, even he couldn’t afford to dismiss such words. It concerned the very world he lived in.
“The world is on the brink of chaos.”
“If you delivered my letter to Renia, she’ll inevitably publicize the facts and bring them to light. But have you found out what I asked you to?”
“Yes. Now I understand why you were searching so hard.”
Chuckling, Irilia asked for the information Ethan had been instructed to gather. With a sigh, he showed her what he had brought.
This was the information collected and organized by Ethan, who had mobilized the intelligence network spread across the continent since his promotion to captain.
“How many of these are actual instances of erosion?”
Irilia made a small sigh while looking over the many incidents that seemed impossible to count. Among the similar cases, there certainly were instances of the erosion phenomenon. To stop it, she would have to travel across the entire continent, which understandably darkened her expression.
“If it is that urgent, are you planning to move immediately?”
“Not just yet. I have things to handle with the Elves.”
Knowing Irilia’s goals, Ethan assumed she would be moving to different locations right away, but she shook her head.
“With the Elves. That makes sense. That’s why you brought this person along.”
Setting down her teacup, Ethan glanced sideways. Standing next to the table like a statue was Arisa, her green eyes sparkling from beneath her hood.
It was impossible not to notice that she was an Elf, especially since she was glaring at Ethan with her curious eyes wide open, keeping a vigil on Irilia.
“Business with the Elves… okay. Elves should stick to Elves. That’s good. In a way, it’s like finding a hometown, isn’t it?”
“That’s a prejudice. And my hometown is the entire world.”
As Ethan nodded in agreement, Irilia frowned instead. She understood with her mind that humans like Ethan were different races and that the Elves were her kin, but it still didn’t resonate in her heart.
‘I have interest in the gatherings of scattered Elves and the seeds of the World Tree, but I have no intention of being bound there.’
Before coming here, Irilia bit her lip upon recalling the words spoken to her by Elder Elnar.
“This is a crisis for all Elves, but at the same time, it is an opportunity for everyone to serve the great High Elf. Surely, they will all respond to the meeting, so please attend and guide us.”
The previously reserved Elder Elnar had bowed before Irilia, pleading for her to lead the Elves who would gather in one place.
“I didn’t come to dominate the Elves.”
Naturally appalled, Irilia set aside everything else and suggested they simply meet to talk about the World Tree. After all, increasing the power that could purify the erosion was undoubtedly beneficial.
“In any case, I need to go meet the Elves in the forest… You keep gathering information. Let the city know if you discover something. I will also send Patrick here to bring back news.”
“Simply to investigate the phenomenon of erosion?”
“Every piece of information related to it. Once the issue is known, the people of this age will certainly seek solutions. There should be no way that solutions do not exist.”
She still held onto hope. Even though her time and its people could not overcome this, she believed that the descendants of this completely different time could succeed.
She didn’t genuinely think that no one could lift the curse that only she could purify.
“Alright, I’ll go and find out.”
Ethan nodded, getting up from his seat. After all, the matter was a threat to his own life, so there was no reason to brush it off lightly.
“Is that person trustworthy?”
“It’s better to be thoroughly calculating than to have vague beliefs. You can trust him.”
Having concluded her long-awaited meeting with Ethan, Irilia remained in the room he left, sinking into her chair as she gazed down at the terrace.
The sunset was already upon them. She planned to spend the night here and leave at first light.
‘As if I needed something to occupy myself with, and it just had to be the task of preventing the world’s destruction. This isn’t suited for me at all.’
Despite moving busily, Irilia still felt somewhat bewildered. The investigation she undertook out of worry had become reality, intensifying her sense of confusion.
“The returning High Elf will help us overcome this, I am certain of it. I have seen that hope.”
“People who are more important than me are those who were born in this age and live in it.”
Since Irilia’s expression did not seem very bright, Arisa, who had been observing her, raised her voice in encouragement.
Understanding her intent, Irilia chuckled, but her response differed.
‘The High Elf has given an answer! She is already strong enough, and we must grow stronger through more training.’
Hearing those words, Arisa’s eyes gleamed with admiration, interpreting Irilia’s statement about the importance of the current generation as a call for further training.
Truthfully, since the last incident, the Elves would follow Irilia’s words unwaveringly, no matter what she said.
Telling them to train diligently for the future was not exactly wrong, so exasperated, Irilia chose to let Arisa misunderstand and turned her head away.
