174. Gods are not friends with humans.
* * *
About 300 years ago, Great Forest.
At that time, Gabriel was still a child. And in the middle of the day, humans used to be seen near the Great Forest. Ibriel watched with wonder as human adventurers came and went to the Great Forest.
There was a time when I thought that I should go outside the great forest and see the human world. Once upon a time, Evellel asked an elf who had her eyes on the outside of the great grove.
“Teacher is always looking north.”
“I’m thinking of going out into the world someday.”
When the elf with the last name Erje said that, Ibriel, who was still a child, was puzzled.
“Aren’t you the bloodline to lead the elves? Why are you going out to the outside world?”
“Whoops, it’s because I can see more.”
It was then that, for the first time, Ibriel realized that elves could go out into the world.
“What do you plan to do when you go out into the world?”
“Well? I will build the top. In the human world, you can buy anything with gold. Travel and adventure are possible.”
“Golden… ?”
It was a word that was not easily understood. If it’s gold, isn’t it just an ornament?
“Above all, if you build a top, you can travel all over the world.”
“… okay. Then who will take care of the world tree?”
“Briel, why do you think all elves have to take care of the world tree?”
At that water, Gabriel blinked.
It was a word not easily understood. That’s because we are the children of the World Tree. However, Gabriel couldn’t say that at the time.
The elf with the surname Herze left the Great Forest.
Soon there was an invasion of adventurers. Humans blinded by gold were cruel. In the process, Gabriel lost family and friends.
From that day on, she dreamed of taking revenge on humans.
The elder of the Great Forest asked the ruler of the human realm to control humans. However, the effect was not great.
Indeed, the adventurers’ invasion stopped only after the demonic invasion began.
When the demonic invasion began, humans asked everyone on the continent to fight together.
The hypocrisy was disgusting.
An aggressor is stumped by another aggressor. He wanted the elves to fight together. And the elves helped humans fight against the demons in that war. While there were rumors of a war going on in the outside world, the Great Forest was at least peaceful.
The Great Forest played the role of a natural breakwater made up of numerous trees. The elves who went out to the outside world returned and the war was over.
On the day she first encountered the outside world, she realized that the world wasn’t just made up of forests.
A land parched by the scorching sun, a city of humans large and small, and a city of dwarves made up of endless horizons and labyrinths.
On the day he came back after encountering all of this, a question arose deep in Eve’s heart.
Why do elves have to stay confined in the Great Forest?
Because protecting the World Tree is your destiny?
Why should we protect the World Tree?
For whom should a closed society exist?
After such a long question, Gabriel made a resolution. I will lead my people to the outside world.
However, he himself was an apostle who guarded the World Tree and its temple. Even while he was doing his duty, time flew by.
Late one night, a vampire came to her.
“Aren’t you embarrassed? A life confined to this land while protecting the world tree? I know how it feels because I have been deceived by the Queen.”
Introducing herself as the Thirteenth Apostle, she told of a time when she was tricked by the Queen of Vampires.
“Take my hand.”
It was an opportunity that may not be available in a lifetime. If I missed this opportunity, I might have to be confined to the closed society of Daesurim for the rest of my life.
The worry didn’t last long.
Gabriel took her outstretched hand. And I received the skill ball she gave me.
“To destroy this society that deceived you with your own power.”
* * *
Reus held his breath and did not take his eyes off his enemies. The situation was the worst.
The brave Lanter was killed in an attack.
No matter how strong a warrior was, he couldn’t fly in the sky.
There, the opponent is a magician who casts insects. All in all, the battlefield was a forest, and it was a place where bugs gathered endlessly.
What you can do in this situation… . All you have to do is secure a retreat route so that your comrades can safely retreat.
I forgot about living alone for a long time.
The existence of friends, comrades fighting together, and even the joy I felt when laughing and chatting with them.
Trojan War.
In a war that lasted more than 10 years, I lost my best friend on the battlefield.
After that, I lived alone for a long time, soaked in sadness. On that battlefield, Reus was questioned every time.
‘Why am I standing on this battlefield? Why do I have nothing to do with war… .’
What does he have to do with the most beautiful woman? I wanted to end the war.
Reus attended Hector’s funeral. There he met the Trojan princess Polyxene.
It was believed that a marriage between the two would end the war. But in the end, he was hit by a poisoned arrow shot by Paris in the heel.
When he opened his eyes, he was in another world.
And I had to adapt to this world. As the quest ordered, he entered the academy.
The people I met there were Ethan and Arthur.
I was dumbfounded every time I saw Arthur laughing stupidly. I admired Ethan, who broke through the crisis in amazing ways every time.
At first, I thought it was a child who had never experienced a proper war. However, after meeting them, my closed heart seemed to open little by little.
‘I have withdrawn a lot after meeting these guys.’
As I met them, I changed without realizing it. The deep distrust of humans gradually softened.
The past life was passing by like a kaleidoscope.
Reus lowered his spear and took a deep breath. Countless swarms of insects were swarming in the air. It was only then that I saw the tired faces of my colleagues.
Arthur and Ethan grew up faster than he did.
I still don’t know why I fell into this world. I don’t know why this world called me.
Suddenly, Reus realized that he was tired. You may have to pursue a secret that will never be solved.
‘In addition, I have already died once.’
The decision was quick.
If he secured an escape route, his comrades would be able to survive.
“Ethan, Arthur… . I’ll take over here. It’s enough for me alone to get rid of those bugs.”
[The goddess of the sea cries out.]
[The most beautiful goddess shakes her head.]
[The goddess of wisdom is silent about your choice.]
Numerous messages flew into his judgment. Resigning, Reus fixed his spear.
Then someone put a hand on his shoulder.
“Don’t be mean. Reus.”
A swordsman with black hair and black eyes. At one time, he was at odds with him, but now he is a colleague who can be trusted and followed more than anyone else. It was Ethan.
Reus’ eyes met and he smiled. Edan took a step forward and dropped his sword.
“You should spit out the death flag in moderation. kid.”
death flag?
I was puzzled by the words I didn’t know, but I didn’t have time to think deeply. Once again, the battle-lined bugs were gathering.
“I won’t let you pretend to be cool by yourself.”
“Heh, that’s a pity. I tried to catch them all by myself and accumulate some achievements.”
“Hey, you crazy bastard.”
A silvery-white flame rose from Edan’s whole body.
Did you say it was the 8th formula of the Linchester swordsmanship?
Ethan was definitely growing up fast. Even compared to himself, who received all kinds of gifts from many gods, he was getting ahead.
If they could not secure a retreat, they had no choice but to fight to the end. Deciding to fight alongside Edan, Reus muttered lowly.
“Goddess… . Sing your anger.”
Reus, who had memorized the starting language, raised his armor and shield. The opponent was watching Ethan and Reus as if they were interested.
“Ethan, is there a way?”
“I always leave at least the number of trumps.”
“… yes i believe Take out that trump number and look at it.”
It was Ethan who broke through the problem in an amazing way every time.
‘If you’re like that, I can trust you.’
Ethan took a deep breath and released his mana. Powerful magic power spread out in all directions along the circuit of the whole body.
“Letea! I’ll open a barrier!”
In an instant, I felt my vision change.
And the three of them were standing on the endlessly stretched frozen soil. Arthur looked around.
“Ethan, what is this… ?”
“Arthur, Reus, one of my trump numbers. Please don’t freeze to death.”
As soon as the words were finished, a blizzard raged. The fierce blizzard did not discriminate between allies and enemies.
“Crazy. Did you mean not to freeze to death?”
It was frozen ground that was cold enough to numb your limbs. No matter how strong a warrior was in a place like this, he wouldn’t be able to last long.
“That’s why I also said I didn’t want to use this method.”
Reus laughed at Edan’s reply. Also, this guy came with an unexpected method.
‘Permafrost… . It’s the spirit king’s barrier… .’
Gabriel narrowed his brows.
He had heard that a swordsman named Edan dealt with the Spirit King. Because Mine told me so.
However, he judged that the brave Lanter was more threatening than that. That’s why, even in raids, the priority to eliminate was given to Lanter.
No matter how brave they are, they can be eliminated by using terrain traps. And his trap worked properly.
‘Maybe I made a mistake.’
However, Edan might be stronger than the 7th ranked hero. No, it was definitely stronger.
In an instant, he drew a swarm of insects and himself into the barrier. It was not easy to even predict how much mana was consumed in the process.
However, the swordsman with black hair was unconcerned. He didn’t look tired at all.
“What kind of magical power is so absurd… .”
“Also… , A blizzard is best for bugs.”
As soon as the words were finished, a fiercer blizzard raged. The wings of the insects were slowing down as the blizzard raged.
It was Gabriel who was impatient.
“Attack right away!”
I couldn’t last long here. In the end, in order to break the barrier, the caster had to be attacked.
‘Linchester swordsmanship, 7th type sword’
Ethan returned the sword to its scabbard. But the next moment, the sword slipped out of the scabbard and cut a long line in front.
The sword with blue magical energy left a long trail ahead. It was difficult for the bugs, whose actions slowed down in the blizzard, to escape the sword.
Wedge-!
Insects that had lost their wings, legs, and bodies fell to the ground in pieces. Edan kicked the ground and cast Blink.
‘The opponent is a prosecutor. You must not allow access.’
Gabrielle stretched out her hand into the air. Something glittered and a long line appeared in the air.
It was a sharp spider web. Its strength is stronger than steel, and a spider’s web that can inflict fatal wounds just by brushing against it.
‘I got caught!’
The moment he brushed the spider web, the sharp line would tear his skin.
But at that moment, silvery-white flames rose from Edan’s body. A silvery-white flame burned the cobwebs.
‘Attack and defense at the same time?’
Ethan and Blink announced the start of the battle. Arthur dug straight into the side. At some point, the two reached the stage where they were exchanging opinions without speaking.
“You use small techniques like bugs.”
“Everyone keep me.”
A huge swarm of insects blocked Edan’s path. At that moment, something flashed from the side. It was golden magic.
The golden magic swept away countless swarms of insects.
And Edan was breaking through the golden magic and popping out.
[The goddess of wisdom admires this battle.]
[The alchemist of the century is watching Ethan.]
[The most beautiful goddess cheers for Edan’s breakthrough power.]
Gabriel backed away. Ethan’s sword narrowly grazed her neck.
But it was not fatal. Rather, he was able to attract the opponent into his territory.
“I got caught in a spider web.”
Cobwebs flew towards Edan from all directions. The spider’s web caught Ethan’s ankles and wrists. A thin line dug into the wrist.
Drops of blood ran down his ankles.
A spider web that cannot be burned even with a torch.
I pretended to be cornered in order to catch my opponent. And I was able to tangle my opponent nicely.
Ethan gritted his teeth and resisted. However, the more he resisted, the deeper the web penetrated Ethan’s body. Ethan let go of the sword. The black blade fell to the floor with a metallic sound.
“This is the end.”
But for some reason, Ethan was still smiling even after being caught. Even if I moved just a little bit, my limbs would fall off.
“You seem to have forgotten one person?”
“… … ?”
Only then did Gabriel look away. I felt a sharp pain in my chest. It felt like something stabbed me in the chest, and it pierced my back and soared.
Quack!
Gabriel opened his eyes wide. A man with brown hair stood in front of him, holding a spear tightly.
“It is over. Spider year.”
At one point, my vision blurred.
Red blood was flowing through the window. Every time the heart pierced by the spear pulsed, blood flowed out.
ah… .
A skill that could never be demonstrated if colleagues did not trust each other.
Death was imminent, but somehow it made me laugh.
Something stirred in the depths of Ibriel’s heart. that was envy
Suddenly, she realized that she had no comrades she could trust and follow.
Evelyn was slowly disintegrating. Kneeling, Ibriel soon fell limp.
A swarm of insects floating in the air began to fall to the floor.
