Book 15 Chapter 49

To the city of water,

What? Give me back my body (7)

The land of fairies, the Idea Peninsula.

Elders representing the Blue, Black, and White fairies gathered in one place at <Reltaron>, one of the highest sanctuaries, and this was called the Clan Council (支派會議).

This city, which the <Beings> had established as their first military stronghold, was powered by heat, and its operating principle itself was a divine providence beyond human perception.

"It has been decided. The Grande family is hereby excommunicated (破門) from the nine clans."

The fairies had as ancestors nine seers who were the first to join the liberation front, following the <Beings>.

The lineage descended from those seers soon formed clans, creating great power today, and that was the origin of the nine clans.

The fairies were proud to be descendants of the first liberated people. That pride soon led them to praise themselves as 'first descendants' and to despise other races.

"Blue fairies again?"

One of the five White fairy elders stroked his white beard in an antiquated manner and spoke. They are the White fairies, who have the largest number of clans.

"I don't know how many times the Blue fairies have caused trouble."

"You who are connected to water have lived too close to humans. To those impure beings."

The Black fairy elder, who had dark skin and was the only one present, spoke. Descended from the first high priest, they were in charge of the high priest clan for generations.

"Please do not expand an individual's deviation into a collective problem."

A middle-aged woman with hair the color of the sea drew a line. She is one of the three elders of the Blue fairies.

"It is already a matter concluded by excommunication. When excommunicated, all rights are confiscated, and the family itself is expelled from fairy society. Since the highest penalty has been imposed, it is no longer a matter for further debate. Granat Island is also already being managed by the Clan Council."

This is why, in this era, disturbances caused by the [King's Flesh] primarily occurred among humans and demi-humans.

Excommunication (破門).

It meant complete expulsion from fairy society, and naturally, collective punishment was applied.

When expelled from fairy society, they had to cut off the elongated part of their ears, a mark of circumcision, before leaving.

Those ears were not merely long ears.

A symbol of being the chosen people (選民), completely distinct from other races.

Therefore, fairies feared excommunication more than execution, and most obeyed the Clan Council's martial law order regarding the [King's Flesh] with awe.

"Your contribution to this matter is truly great, Shimian, the errant (流浪) Judge."

The girl, Judge Shimian, lightly nodded her head.

There was no need for excessive gestures like bowing deeply.

For a Judge was a theocratic leader, equivalent to the representative elders of each clan… perhaps even possessing greater influence.

"This matter was not done by my strength alone, Shimian. And my contribution was utterly meager. If it weren't for the help of Rista Alter Shirpang and her companions… an unavoidable tragedy would have occurred."

At Shimian's remarks, made while biting her lip, the elders nodded one by one, with murmurs.

"Is it that Fae-Warrior?"

"It is that Fae-Warrior."

Fairies detested and despised the human race itself, but Fae-Warriors were different.

Although they might be fakes, they are those who follow in the footsteps of the ancient Eldia Knights.

Though born under an unworthy ancestor, their great mindset is equal to that of fairies and deserves respect.

"But ultimately, the true successors who follow the fake Eldia Knights are our Paladins."

The Paladin system began when the <Beings> bestowed special armaments upon the fairies who had shown the greatest performance in the mythical era wars. Its history is fundamentally different from the Fae-Warrior training system created by the Dragon race.

"Speaking of Fae-Warriors, according to recent urgent news, two parties were annihilated on the front lines against the great demon race."

"What!"

"That can't be possible!"

Hero parties are formed only with the highest combat power of humanity of the time. All mages were Gladoss (4-star), and the other members were no exception.

"Their opponents are those called the New Heaven Kaditpol Knights, who, despite being Abyss seeds, audaciously and impiously imitate the Holy Elminae Knights."

"……!"

"And also… this isn't confirmed information, but it is said that one of them identified himself as Bikhkisa."

Bikhkisa? Bikhkisa?

The interior of the Clan Council's meeting hall became boisterous.

"Bakhkisa?"

"Did I hear wrong?"

"Who is that? Is he not the Paladin recorded as the strongest Paladin of all time?"

However, it was known that he failed in the battle to subjugate the worst mercenary group, the Slayers, and went missing after the Judge he served died.

"It's a lie! It must be nonsense spread arbitrarily by those human bastards!"

"Yes, that can't be right!"

"But if that is true, and Bikhkisa has returned by borrowing the power of the Abyss, it would be an unforgivable matter. It would be the greatest shame for us, the chosen people."

A silence as if cold water had been poured fell over the meeting hall.

For a moment, only the sound of their sighing breaths could be heard.

The Black fairy elder, chairman of the Clan Council, broke the fierce silence.

"Resolve to convene all Judges dispatched across the peninsula to collect the [King's Flesh]."

"Do you mean all the other two as well?"

"Of course. And you, Shimian, the errant Judge, are to immediately convene the Judgement Corps with accompanying Paladins."

Everyone present swallowed dryly. Only Shimian nodded her head firmly.

The Judgement Corps (士師團)!

This, meaning the unit led by a Judge, was a highly elite formation modeled directly after the military organization of the ancient mythical era.

300 heavy infantry, permitted to form the Holtlanx formation, would advance to the front lines under the command of the Judges and Paladins.

The Hero parties, which had been groups of individuals for a long time, were later reorganized into Fae-Warrior legions by Cheongseong Mirngardia, and that too was modeled after this.

"But Chairman, the 900-strong Judgement Corps is currently the greatest military force the entire fairy race possesses. Are you saying we should send them all to the front lines against the great demon race in this chaotic period due to the [King's Flesh]?"

"If Bikhkisa is truly in that group, isn't it possible there are other fairies as well?"

"!"

"Eradicating that is our clan's mission; it should not be entrusted to other races. Our disgrace must never be recorded in their histories. Our great ancestors must not be insulted in our generation."

* * *

Before the maritime duel arena gained fame, the most famous place in the Chulcheol Archipelago was indeed Artisan's Street.

It was a street where artisans gathered to refine Sea-Iron (海鐵), which boasted the best iron quality along with the Cold-Iron (寒鐵) of the north.

Among those who witnessed the tearful struggle waged by Friede and Rin to protect the people of the Chulcheol Archipelago, there were quite a few Sea-Iron artisans.

"Just in time, a supreme quality Sea-Iron arrived. I will specially give a 50% discount and make the items the priestess and mage desire."

"Ah, then I'll offer a 60% discount…"

"Ahem, this way is a 70% discount."

Immediately, Friede's pipe was successively plunged into the tops of the artisans' heads.

"These crazy tech-freaks wouldn't even think of giving something for free to someone they owe their lives to, would they? Huh? See? That's why they say don't get attached to islanders!"

"Hmph, such a method… then for free!"

"No, it's alright. Sea-Iron isn't cheap."

"Then we will serve you with a 30% discount."

"These crazy bastards!"

Rista stayed on the Chulcheol Archipelago for five days and forged two pairs of gauntlets and greaves from Sea-Iron, which boasted hardness and strength that could even cut iron.

In the meantime, Rin was able to secretly borrow a book she had been reading in <Granat> amidst the chaos and immerse herself in it.

The content of this book, which Friede had translated from 'the language of the gods', was extremely interesting. A dormant state in a cooled condition seemed to have already been used by the <Beings>.

'An ark for the dawn of all worlds, a perpetual cradle of cold, a bulwark to prepare for the true battle…'

Books dealing with the mythical era handled information so vaguely. As if to prevent this information from leaking to anyone.

"But what exactly is the Ark?"

"How would I know?"

"What do we do if you don't know? You're useless."

As Rin narrowed her eyes, Friede blew cigarette smoke into them, and Rin sneezed painfully.

"Agh, ugh, ugh! You're dead!"

"Hey, is a priestess an all-rounder? There are things she doesn't know. The Dragon race doesn't tell humans all the truth."

"Why?"

"I once asked His Holiness the Fire Dragon, and he said that such information could leak to 'humans who are not humans of this world,' or something like that."

"Humans who are not humans of this world? What does that mean?"

"How would I know?"

The true nature of the Ark remained unknown, but the effectiveness of the cooling magic used by Sval seemed to have been proven.

Now, only research was needed.

Most of the knowledge of the magic of accumulation was handled as arcane magic and difficult to learn, so it would suffice to fill that gap with Friede's sorcery, and it seemed they only needed to find the runes and mathematical formulas that 'freeze the entire body' 'just before the caster reaches death.'

"Hoo, I'm already excited at the thought of researching new magic."

She returned to <Granat> to return the book and borrow another, but the fairies had blockaded the island.

Having no choice, she returned and sold the book to the central bookstore on the island. It seemed to have been a remarkable book, worth as much as 3 gold coins.

'I didn't steal it. I just couldn't return it.'

So she just left it at the bookstore after receiving a deposit. Then she could pick up the book directly from this bookstore when she needed it.

'Wouldn't it be convenient to think of this deposit as a reward for defeating villains in the maritime duel arena?'

Rin thus contentedly rationalized her actions.

'I'll use this money to buy books later, hehe.'

Sval glared at Rin with sad eyes and shed tears.

"Kyoo-woo…"

So, the next day, the time for departure arrived. Cecil Durene and the Special Affairs Division members were out to see them off at the pier.

"Mm, Sea-Iron is so good."

At the sight of Rista blushing and rubbing her face against the Sea-Iron gauntlets, all members of the hero party shook their heads.

"Lady Rin!"

As the departure whistle tore through the harbor, Cecil Durene shouted from the pier.

"I, I too, someday…!"

Clenching her fists tightly in front of her chest, as if barely trying to express feelings she couldn't otherwise.

"Can I become like you?"

A mage who, like the ancient primeval great sage Emisa Page, could instantly find and destroy any darkness, and illuminate the world with the light of magic.

"……"

Rin tried to ignore it (she wasn't even sure if the question was for her), but Rista pushed her back to the ship's rail. So she scratched the back of her head annoyedly and said.

"Is there any reason why you couldn't?"

Isn't it just a matter of diligently solving math problems while cutting down on sleep, and diligently training in magic? Why are there such strange questions?

"……!"

But Cecil's tightly clenched lips trembled at that answer.

That was encouragement (激勵).

And advice (助言).

Consolation that 'you are now walking the right path. If you keep walking, you will someday reach the same place as me.'

Therefore, she had to bow deeply to hide the tears welling up in her expression. The sun parrot Taro bobbed its head back and forth above her.

"Thank you, thank you, thank you."

As if annoyed by that, Pipi's eyes flashed fiercely.

"Taro, attention."

Taro flew far away and escaped.