Chapter 365

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Jin's gaze, peering into the depths of the forest, quickly turned cold.

"As you say, descendants of the Fairy tribe seem to be wicked."

Shahak-!

As Jin spoke, he swung his sword, slicing through the tree. The blade moved smoothly, cutting through the wood. Lulu, who was inside the tree, was also cut, but that wasn't the real Lulu; it was just a malicious illusion.

As the illusion of Lulu disappeared, a trap in the form of a magic circle was revealed in its place. If the two had approached carelessly, the trap would have been triggered.

Kik, kik, kik, kik-!

From deep within the forest, a sinister laughter echoed. Jin and Valeria stood there with expressionless faces, waiting silently for the figure to appear.

[Aren't you deceived?]

Piriring, Piriring, Piriring...!

From the darkness beyond the forest came a sparkling figure, accompanied by cheerful sounds.

It was the sound of a descendant of the Fairy tribe fluttering its wings. The Fairy that revealed themselves had a beautiful appearance that contrasted completely with the unpleasant laughter they had been emitting.

Small, radiant, adorable wings, a face so cute you'd want to reach out and touch it, a lovable expression brimming with mischief.

Of course, Jin and Valeria's gazes at the newly appeared descendant of the Fairy tribe was filled with nothing but a chilling aura.

[H-Hello? You weren't upset by the prank, were you?]

The Fairy tribe's descendant scratched their head as they spoke.

"Where are the Felinoid tribesmen?"

[Why so hasty? Shouldn't we introduce ourselves first. Hello again! I'm Myla, the younger sister of the Fairy tribe Queen.]

Jin and Valeria stared at Myla without responding.

[...Aren't you happy to see me? Humans who stumbled upon this forest and happened to meet me used to shout excitedly about encountering something mystical.]

"The Felinoid tribesmen, where are they?"

Jin asked again in a low voice, to which Myla chuckled.

[The Felinoid tribe is well protected by me and my kin. They were in such a pitiable state, coming to the Wantaramo Forest all injured. I couldn't just leave them!]

Myla continued, looking at Jin.

[But, Chiron Runcandel's youngest son, Jin Runcandel. Don't you think you lack manners? I revealed my name first, yet your neck is high to the end? Should I bend it for you? Including the human beside you.]

"You pull pranks like that and yet you expect me to be courteous?"

[Well, what about it? I didn't really hurt Lulu. Those childs are a bit too naive. Despite that, I treated them.]

Myla pouted her lips.

Then, seemingly disappointed by the lack of reaction to her cute gestures, she tilted her head.

She even made a few more charming movements, but all Jin and Valeria could think about how they would have attacked this annoying fairy immediately if it weren't for the Felinoid tribe.

[...Fine, I understand. You seem like you'd strike me down if I played pranks one more time. I'll introduce you to the Felinoid tribe. Follow me.]

Myla started to fly back into the forest, leading the way.

Interestingly, whenever Myla moved, the forest transformed. Objects like trees and rocks moved organically, as if they were living beings, following Myla's path.

As they walked, Jin and Valeria couldn't help but be on edge. It was only natural given their lack of trust in Myla. They thought that traps could suddenly appear, or an attack could commence at any moment.

[Hmph, don't worry. I won't play pranks on you anymore. It is the first time I have seen boring humans like you guys.]

When there was no response to that remark, Myla remained silent until they reached their destination. The three of them entered the deep forest in silence for about an hour.

Fortunately, there were no more traps.

[We're here.]

They arrived at a place where thousands of trees were twisted and entwined strangely, forming a massive cave.

[Come on out, kids.]

As Myla spoke, a sudden dazzling light poured out from inside the cave.

It was the light generated by the thousands of Fairy tribe's descendants exiting the cave all at once. Despite their mischievous nature, it was a magnificent sight.

Piriring, Piriring, Piriring! In an instant, the entire area was filled with Fairy tribe's descendants, giggling as they surrounded Jin and Valeria.

The last to emerge from the cave were the Felinoid tribesmen and a Fairy tribe's descendant with wings about twice as large as the others.

"Lulu!"

[Jin Runcandel!]

Lulu and Miru.

In the Felinoid tribe's cave, the twins who had guarded the barrier against the Spectres until the very end.

Seeing them, Jin felt a weight lifted off his chest, but at the same time, he was overwhelmed by a sense of unease.

"...Where is Mr. Neru?"

Lulu smiled as she saw Jin worried about whether Neru had died while defending the barrier until the end.

[Neru led the rest of the tribe and hid elsewhere. Me and Miru entrusted ourselves to the Fairy tribe. At that time, everyone got hurt quite a bit, but fortunately, no one died.]

Only then did Jin smile.

Everyone had managed to escape safely from the cave.

"I am glad everyone survived."

Jin bowed and took Lulu and Miru's hands.

[Oh, what a touching reunion. I truly can't bear to watch without tears. Don't you agree? Your Majesty?]

Myla said as she sat down beside Lulu, Miru, and the Fairy tribe's descendant with the largest wings.

She is the Queen of descendants of the Fairy tribe, and unlike Myla, she exuded an air of sophistication.

"I am Jin Runcandel."

[You can call me Sheila.]

Sheila was Myla's older sister and the Fairy tribe queen.

[I'm sure Myla must have played some irritating pranks on the way here, so please accept my apology on her behalf.]

[Apology? Why apologize? In fact, strictly speaking, they are intruders. Truth be told, there wouldn't be a problem if we just killed them.]

[They came to rescue the Felinoid tribe, did they not, Myla? Furthermore, the Felinoid tribe sought my permission and left traces.]

[Although they haven't informed us that the one who can read those traces might be a Record Mage.]

Myla's taunting voice caused Valeria's eyes to shift slightly to the left.

The Fairy tribe and the Felinoid tribe hadn't noticed this behavior from Valeria, who was growing anxious due to their presence, but Jin saw right through it.

And Jin himself, like Valeria, was a bit taken aback.

'How did Myla recognize that Valeria is a Record Mage? Did she see it when Valeria used Record Magic at the forest entrance? Moreover, I never informed Lulu and Miru about Valeria's existence.'

Piriring, Piriring, Piriring...

Jin could see that descendants of the fairy tribe gathered nearby were talking about something after hearing Myla. But they were unable to understand their language.

[Jin.]

"Yes, Ms. Lulu."

[As we entrusted ourselves to the Fairy tribe descendants' land, we left two types of traces. So that you could find us...]

The two types of traces Lulu and Miru left were meant to be found by both those with and without Record Magic abilities.

Valeria's tracking speed was excessively fast. The usual traces they left behind couldn't even be touched by Seven-colored Peacock, so Valeria's tracking speed clearly far surpassed the ordinary range.

According to Lulu and Miru's thinking, Valeria couldn't have found them so quickly without possessing Record Magic.

Therefore, they assumed Valeria to be a Record Mage and tried to confirm one thing.

Whether the tracker was Jin's ally or not.

Just as Valeria had initially assumed, in the latter case, they had plans to utilize the power of the Fairy tribe descendants to eliminate the tracker.

When Lulu explained this, Jin nodded his head, and Valeria appeared to be lost in thought.

"If I'm not Jin's ally, then what could be the reason you wanted to kill me?"

[Because there are things that someone unrelated to Solderet's contractor shouldn't see when they inspect the traces.]

It was Sheila, the Fairy tribe descendant queen, who spoke in Lulu's stead.

Jin, using his intuition, could guess what Sheila meant.

'The fourth tomb of Temar is located here. Lulu and Miru naturally led me to the fourth tomb during their escape, unlike other Felinoid tribe members, and fled to the Wantaramo Forest.'

It was the correct assumption.

The Fairy tribe descendants knew the path that led to Temar's fourth tomb.

A moment of silence passed.

Myla wore a slightly displeased expression, as if she didn't like how easily Sheila was giving away such information.

[Human, what is your relationship with Jin Runcandel?]

As Valeria was about to answer Sheila's sudden question, Jin spoke up instead.

"She's my companion. Someone I trust more than anyone in the world."

[In that case, I, Sheila, the queen of the Fairy tribe's descendants, shall keep our long-standing promise with Solderet. Furthermore, I must express gratitude to the Felinoid tribe's Lulu and Miru, long-time friends who have helped me keep that promise.]

Whoosh...!

Sheila's wings emitted an even more intense light.

That was a symbol of the utmost authority in the Wantaramo Forest, and all other Fairy tribe descendants, including Myla, descended to the ground and respectfully lowered their heads toward Sheila.

Indeed, it was a scene that portrayed the majestic presence befitting the queen of the Fairy tribe descendants.

[Jin Runcandel and his companion mage, and my friends, follow me. The tomb is within the cave. Finally, after a thousand years, we can lay down the heavy burden that we've carried.]

Sheila started fluttering her wings towards the cave formed by twisted and entwined trees.

Jin and his companions followed her into the cave. Until they had all entered the cave, the Fairy tribe descendants outside dared not lift their heads.

Of course, Jin assumed that Sheila's authority as the Queen of the Fairy tribe's descendants would be absolute, given the sight of the Fairy tribe descendants' respect. But in reality, it wasn't the case.

[Lulu, Miru. You two probably noticed during your time here.]

Creak, creak, groan!

Suddenly, the trees twisted and intertwined, blocking the entrance of the cave.

When Jin turned around, he saw Myla smiling through the narrowing gap.

[Myla betrayed me long ago.]

The cave entrance was not blocked by Sheila.

In title, she was still the queen, but the actual power and the control over the Wantaramo Forest had already been transferred to Myla and the other Fairy tribe descendants.

[Yes, I was feeling it. Sheila...]

[Myla has no intention of keeping her promise with Solderet. That's why she planned to trap me whenever she got the chance. I didn't expect her to go so far as to trap the thousand-year contractor as well, though.]

In the abrupt change of circumstances, Jin and Valeria remained unfazed. Given Myla's behavior and attitude, it was something they could have easily anticipated.

[Soon, the humans in contact with Myla will come to Wantaramo, I suppose.]

[Who are they?]

[Zipfel, there's no force other than them that could satisfy her inflated ambitions.]

Sheila smiled faintly. Her wings, shining intensely in the darkness, appeared somewhat forlorn.

"Ms. Sheila, it seems you have a plan. To purposely keep us trapped even after knowing Myla's betrayal."