Chapter 125
『 Let me meet the heir’s Guardian. 』
The Elders’ Council rushed here immediately after hearing about Epethes, demanding to meet the Guardian of the heir.
Their objective was clear: to verify his true form. Naturally, Kalph flatly refused their request.
“What right do you have to make such a demand?”
“We’re not asking for something unreasonable, are we? As the Elders’ Council, we have to ascertain just what kind of divine beast the Guardian of Acacia is, especially since he uses magic.”
“That’s exactly overstepping. Revealing his true form is up to Prince Sei, the contractor. Don’t waste our time and leave.”
“Surely this applies to the Knights as well?”
“What do you mean?”
“No hidden meaning. Surely the honorable Knights aren’t thinking of monopolizing this information?”
“Ha…”
Kalph suppressed a bitter laugh, flames flickering in his eyes.
“Where does this absurd suspicion come from? Is it your idea, elder Redom?”
“Don’t be so sharp. I’m merely speaking out of concern.”
“Concern?”
“Who doesn’t know that the Knights see our Elders’ Council as a thorn in their side? Even news of Semeion, who once acted as a mediator, has been cut off. I couldn’t help but worry that this might be an attempt to oust us completely.”
“… Elder Redom.”
“If that’s not the case, then I don’t understand why you neglect to reach out to Semeion when there are surely ways to contact him. It’s a simple task that would only require the Knights to take the initiative.”
At those words, calph let out a sigh and rubbed his forehead. His complexion had grown noticeably worse, as if fatigue had descended on him all at once.
“Why don’t you consider going to see them yourselves?”
“Because it would be pointless, wouldn’t it? They refuse to meet us…”
“Do you even understand why?”
Kalph’s eyes narrowed even further, his gaze twisting with disdain. When the Elders’ Council fell silent, he let out a bitter laugh.
“Those kids can’t even enter the territory. They’ve given up the safety of the protected zones and are living in the dangerous outskirts. And yet, you demand only what’s convenient for you?”
“We didn’t drive them out—”
“Neglect and abandonment are forms of abuse too. And you, who pressured them, dare to claim you didn’t drive them away? Don’t spout nonsense.”
At this point, I couldn’t quite follow the conversation. It was clear there was some backstory I didn’t know, but I hadn’t yet pieced it together.
“Who was it that spread the rumor that the maple tree was cursed in the first place?”
But the moment those words were spoken, the story shifted from something distant to something uncomfortably close. If my memory was correct, the maple tree symbolized Talis’s affinity.
“Cursed? The maple tree was cursed?”
If this weren’t an event long past and instead a conversation happening right before my eyes, I wouldn’t have been able to hold myself back from interrupting. But all I could do now was continue watching the recorded exchange.
“That incident happened in the previous generation.”
“And you’ve left it uncorrected to this day. So how is that any different?”
“… Well, it’s not entirely wrong, is it? There’s no other way to explain such a troublesome hereditary disease than to call it a curse.”
“Elder Redom!”
Even at Kalph’s sharp rebuke, Redom remained unfazed, not so much as blinking. The faint smile on his lips didn’t waver either.
“Turning a blind eye to the truth doesn’t solve anything. We’ve made continuous efforts to embrace them, but it was their choice to reject us and live on the outskirts. And now they refuse to cooperate in important matters concerning their kin, using their circumstances as an excuse. Frankly, it’s infuriating.”
“… Are you talking about that wretched treatment that only caused pain? Refusing something that’s completely ineffective and agonizing—is that wrong?”
“How can you be so sure it was ineffective? They never finished the course of treatment.”
“Of course. Everyone died before they could.”
“That’s a misleading statement. They didn’t die because of the treatment but because their condition had progressed too far. You’re well aware that it worsens at that stage regardless of whether they receive treatment.”
For the first time, Redom’s usually composed expression cooled to something sharp and icy. Kalph, unable to retort, simply bit his lip in silence.
“Sir Knight Kalph, I urge you to broaden your perspective. Those in leadership cannot afford to view matters from a single standpoint. Everyone has tragic stories and unfortunate circumstances if you look closely enough. Yet personal sympathies have no place in governance.”
“Are you saying this is about my personal sympathies?”
“Wasn’t your late father a peer of his? And quite close, as I understand it. Can you confidently claim that your judgment is entirely free of personal sentiment?”
“….”
“These are critical times, sir Kalph. Surely you understand the gravity of the situation now that you’ve moved from the Fourth to the Third Knight? This is no time to blur the line between public and personal matters. For the sake of the race, I urge you to make a decision.”
The conversation ended there. It seemed all that needed to be said had been covered, and any further probing felt intrusive. Especially after seeing Kalph’s expression at the end, I couldn’t continue.
“There used to be five Knights, but now there are four.”
Though I had known this already, the reality hit me anew. The peaceful scene before me was nothing more than a fleeting illusion of comfort. Nothing had truly been resolved yet.
And now, it felt as if even that peace was an illusion.
The musty space around me grew increasingly stifling. The cave was as narrow and dark as it had appeared from the outside. Though there were signs that someone had tried to clean and tidy it, it still felt far from sanitary.
Only a few basic items were present—camping-style bedding and a handful of simple tools. To be honest, it was even worse than the shabby shack where Semeion had stayed. At least that place could pass as a home.
“It used to be a bear’s den. We salvaged it after they abandoned it. We just sleep here.”
“Yeah, we spend most of our time just in the forest. We talk to the plants, soak up the sun and breeze plenty. There’s a stream nearby too. It might not look great, but it’s not really inconvenient.”
Seeing my troubled expression, Talis and Irei quickly tried to explain. I sighed and looked at their clothing, noticing both still wore Seoryeong’s attire. The thin fabric indicated it wasn’t what they originally wore, suggesting they went out of their way to get Seoryeong clothes.
In one corner, backpacks were packed and ready. They were clearly prepared to leave at any moment, maybe even planning to leave soon.
“Oh, that…”
Noticing my focus on the backpacks, Talis visibly panicked, confirming my suspicion that they intended to leave once they heard I had awakened.
“It’s too dangerous for just the two of you to go to Seoryeong.”
“Hm, you caught on?”
“Yes.”
“Haha, you got us.”
“Honestly, I want to dissuade you. More areas are overrun by monsters than you might think. The Magic Tower’s involvement has made every place, including your old shelter, unsafe.”
“… That’s alright. It still wouldn’t be as exhausting as here.”
Talis replied with a wry smile, seemingly conceding it was pointless to hide.
“I don’t know how much you’ve heard, but it’s difficult for me to live here. People are quite wary of me.”
“… Is it because of the rumors about maple trees?”
“Hmm, so you knew. Yes, I’m from a bit of a cursed lineage.”
“Talis!”
Irei’s face hardened as he yelled, clearly upset by Talis’s self-deprecating comment.
“I told you not to talk like that!”
“But it’s true.”
Talis shrugged, a cynical smile on his face.
“Every child born ends up devouring their parents—if that’s not a cursed bloodline, what is? Even I find it disturbing.”
“Talis, seriously!”
“Oh, and about the strong red eyes, everyone was just trying to soften the truth for you. It’s not incorrect, but generally not looked upon favorably. The whole maple tree—its eyes, hair, everything becomes red, becoming a symbol of that color.”
Ah, so that’s why he reacted sensitively when I showed interest in his eye color. While I recalled our first meeting, Irei looked at Talis with a pale, angry face. Talis just shrugged again, showing no reaction. His indifferent face carried a familiar sense of resignation. I recognized it easily, as I did the same thing often—putting up defenses before getting hurt.
“Can you explain the situation in more detail?”
“Well… Ugh!”
“Forget what this guy says, Sei. It’s just a family trait.”
Irei began explaining, cutting off Talis by covering his mouth. After holding the struggling Talis in place with a fierce glare, he sighed and spoke up.
“You know how our race weakens temporarily when a child is born, right?”
“Yes, I’ve heard about that.”
“Good, that makes this easier. Usually, it just means a drop in combat ability, without affecting daily life much. But with maple trees, the effect is much stronger. They become so weak that they can barely move, almost bedridden.”
“…!”
“Their immune system also drops significantly, often resulting in not surviving that period. That’s all there is to it. It’s just an inherent trait, not a contagious disease or a curse.”
Our eyes met, and I could see the tension in Irei’s gaze, and even in Talis’s silent expression. They were both keenly watching my reaction.
“I see.”
Given my response, they both seemed slightly deflated, as if expecting a more dramatic reaction from me. My calm acceptance seemed to catch them off guard.