입양딸 역할을 지나치게 잘해버렸다 166화

Tundra’s time began to run slowly.

“I can see.

How to induce mana.

The mana that burst forth from the heart spread throughout my body, awakening my memories.

“The princess has already shown the way.”

“The green is his body, and all things shall be filled within all things.”

Ah-rin’s sneer became Viola’s earnestness. That earnestness made Tundra even more earnest. Tundra could understand more clearly.

“The princess’s earnestness is my earnestness.

I looked at Bichen through Viola’s eyes.

I dreamt of Bichen, who was barely clinging to life, reviving once more.

“I will save him.

I had to save him.

“That’s the world the princess desires.”

I pierced Bichen’s heart along with the laurel crown. Light began to burst forth from the laurel crown.

Crack~!

Golden light radiated out.

“Break it.

What should I break?

“I don’t know.”

But I had to cut something. It was uncertain what to cut, but I decided to do it.

I saw the powerful chains binding Bichen’s body.

Those chains were invisible to the eyes but wrapped around Bichen’s body with an immense force. I meant to cut those chains.

I had to sever them.

I raised my mana. The chains were invisible to others.

It seemed incredibly thick and sturdy, and Tundra struck with the sword.

In the end, Tundra managed to break it.

“I did it….”

Tundra felt dizzy. The world seemed to spin.

An instinctive sense of foreboding surged, as if I had crossed a forbidden line.

“I’ve gone beyond the taboo.”

Now that I think about it, Elder Elbato had mentioned ‘God’s Will’ several times. “Perhaps I have defied God’s Will.”

That might be a frightening thing. Tundra gazed at Viola amidst the dizziness.

Viola’s figure was firmly imprinted in my memory.

“But I am not afraid.

I saw Viola’s eyes reddened with blood.

“What I truly fear.”

Crossing the taboo and defying God’s Will.

Even if God’s wrath were to fall upon me, I wouldn’t fear such things. “Because it would make the princess sad.”

I avoided the most fearful situation. So now, I was not afraid of anything. Elder Elbato’s voice echoed.

“A miracle… has come.”

And Tundra lost consciousness and collapsed.

*

Among Heron, Hixson, and Kaiser, it was Heron who first arrived at ‘Karenna.’

The thick vines were tightly blocking the entrance.

Heron exhaled roughly and said, “Clear the way.”

The vines did not move. That was his only warning. Elves hurriedly ran to deliver the news.

“The, the forest is disappearing.”

“I, I must inform Harmona.”

The entire vine was disappearing. The elves could not discern what was happening.

They told Harmona what they had seen. “A, a madman has appeared and is walking towards us.”

“The madman’s hand holds a sword that emits cold chill.”

Harmona didn’t initially understand the words. “You mean the entrance opened because he brought a sword?”

“That, that’s not it….”

The entrance was not opening. The vines themselves were disappearing.

In that moment, Harmona felt immense dread.

“This feeling is like….”

Her body trembled. It reminded her of the most fearful moment in her 700-year lifespan. “No way.”

The one who looked down with a proud and cold gaze. The disaster that could not be stopped by the power of the crown or the blessing of Karenna came flooding back to her memory.

Someone revealed themselves.

“Where is my daughter?”

It was Heron. Harmona unconsciously took two steps back.

The only human who had stolen Harmona’s crown.

A monstrous presence that evoked feelings of helplessness now stood before her.

“Is, is Princess Viola….”

Heron glared at Harmona with a chilling gaze. Harmona felt like this place was ‘the Place Where the Eye Shines.’

It wasn’t literally shining, but it felt eerie and terrifying, as if the monster legions from the Place Where the Eye Shines had descended upon the Elf Forest.

The aura radiating from Heron resembled that of the Place Where the Eye Shines.

“She is at Elder Elbato’s giant mushroom house.”

At that moment, someone stepped forward—Zeno. “Duke, it feels like it’s been a while since we last saw each other.”

“Report.”

As the capable butler, Zeno got straight to the point. “The princess is safe.”

At that, the powerful energy surrounding Karenna completely dissipated. The elves and Harmona were at last able to take a deep breath.

After calming Heron, Zeno summarized the situation in a report.

“…and that is how it happened.”

Heron’s gaze turned to Harmona. “You’re lucky.”

“What do you mean by that?”

“If that ring were on your hand, you would have lost your arm.”

Harmona swallowed unconsciously. To ease the flustered Harmona, Zeno explained.

“The one who gifted the ring was Duke Heron. Remember what the princess said earlier, right?”

Harmona recalled the memory. Viola had surely said:

“But what I presented to the queen is the Marguerite Flower Field, which still breathes and continues to flourish. Does this ring, gifted by my precious one, hold less value than your crown?” Harmona’s body trembled.

“So that precious person mentioned by Princess Viola is….”

“Yes, it’s the Duke.”

In that instant, a warm breeze blew through Karenna. The spirits hiding in silence began to sing.

Heron’s aura, which had felt like the Place Where the Eye Shines, softened and became gentle.

“Did Viola say that?”

“Yes, she said it was a gift from a precious person.”

“I see.”

Heron pretended to be nonchalant, but he had completely regained his composure. “Lead me to Elbato’s house.”

After Heron’s figure retreated, Harmona let out a deep sigh. The former Heron was a monster, but the current Heron could hardly be described with the term monster.

“Not even a spirit mage.”

He resonated with the spirits and the forest. He had reached a level where he could move nature with his will.

Facing Heron had felt like confronting a nature so powerful one couldn’t dare to resist.

But now… now it was very different. Ever since the words “precious person” were spoken, it was like that. For a long time, right up until just now, Heron had been a storm. But now, “It feels like the gentle spring breeze.”

It was a sight she had never seen before.

*

Hixson and Kaiser.

And the Baby Deer Mercenaries arrived just a little later than Heron. “Thanks, buddy. Thanks to you, I didn’t get lost.”

Kaiser was an awful navigator, and without Hixson, they wouldn’t have arrived at the Elf Forest so quickly. “Captain, but isn’t it strange?”

“The Elf Forest is a place protected by mysterious forces.”

It looked as if a cave entrance had formed. A huge opening appeared. The smooth cut surface was visible.

Kaiser tilted his head.

“Huh?”

His body trembled. “Which madman did this? Buddy, do you know?”

Hixson’s eyes darkened. “I think I do.”

All the vines had been completely severed. It wasn’t merely cut; it could be said they had been obliterated.

The traces of remarkable swordsmanship that had annihilated the very existence of the vines.

Even that alone was enough to elicit admiration. “It feels like the forest was gripped by fear.”

“Are you an idiot? How can a forest be filled with fear? Buddy, you really need to study more.”

“I don’t want advice from a mercenary king with a brain made entirely of muscle.”

Hikson shook his head and continued. “This forest has a will of its own. Surely it was captured by fear. It seems to be alright now, but…”

“And so? Which madman is it?”

“A madman in love with his daughter.”

Hixson started moving. Kaiser pounded after him.

“Le, let’s go together! I’m lost!”

The Baby Deer Mercenaries also looked around in awe. “I never expected the path to be this clear.”

“It seems Hixson was right. The forest is so terrified that it made the path for us.”

It felt as if the forest had opened up a shortcut for them. Following that path led them to where the elves had gathered. Hixson noticed a familiar face.

“You are Harmona?”

Harmona looked at Hixson, then shifted her gaze to Kaiser. She also spotted the Baby Deer Mercenaries. “So it’s all true.”

With Hixson and Kaiser arriving here, Viola’s words were not lies.

“Has Heron been here?”

“Yes.”

“Considering he’s still alive, it looks like Viola is too.”

“Viola is at Elder Elbato’s house.”

Hixson approached Harmona closely. The Harmona he saw didn’t seem alright.

Her body appeared somewhat drained.

“I can kind of guess what might have happened.”

He patted her shoulder. “Be grateful that Viola is safe, Harmona.”

“…What do you mean by that?”

“If Viola had been hurt….”

Hixson didn’t say any more, but Harmona clearly understood what was implied. ‘Karenna would have perished.’

She heard that, and she could sense it wasn’t a lie. She recognized that the disaster had approached and then vanished.

“Princess Viola… what kind of person is she?”

Meanwhile, Heron, guided by Zeno, arrived at the ‘giant mushroom house.’ Zeno added another explanation just in case.

“Elder Elbato said he only wanted to let Princess Viola in.”

So the others wouldn’t be allowed in. Although Tundra eventually entered, Elder Elbato originally wanted only Viola in the house.

Zeno stared at Heron’s retreating figure.

“Well, I suppose it’s a conversation that doesn’t concern the Duke anyway.”

The door of the giant mushroom house vanished. It appeared the forest had created a giant entrance, and similarly, the house too had formed an entrance.

Elder Elbato’s solemn command or the door of the giant mushroom house couldn’t deter Heron’s steps for even a second.

Heron dashed into Elder Elbato’s house.

He desperately called out his daughter’s name. “Viola.”