112. The Great Forest (3)
“A star has come…! The end!! Is… here…!”
The elf, who suddenly shot up like they had been shocked by electricity, screamed something incomprehensible at a deafening volume—something about the end times—and then collapsed like a puppet with its strings cut.
…Uh. So, what I did just now was… I just touched them, right? So then…
What the hell is going on here? For some reason, there was mana inside the elf, and then it suddenly got absorbed, and they jolted upright before flopping down again.
Anyway, it didn’t seem like it was my fault. Something clearly happened when I touched them, but it’s not like I did anything wrong, right? While I was rationalizing it that way, I heard the sound of many footsteps thundering toward me from a distance.
The near-silent footfalls of the elf caretakers, the heavier thud of Ethan’s boots, the light but somehow unsteady steps of the grass-scented girl…
And then there was that weighty, but not sluggish rhythm—the kind that brought peace of mind. That sound was his.
“Did something happen?! Why would anyone mention the end?!”
“What’s going on! Are we under attack?!”
“Hoyeon! Are you alright?!”
As expected, Dogeon was the only one truly thinking of me. Other elves came flapping over in all kinds of ridiculous manners asking what happened, but none of them compared—Dogeon really was the best.
“I’m fine, and I have no idea what happened. I swear on Mother's name, all I did was touch them and this happened.”
I threw that out preemptively, drawing the line before the church lot started getting annoying. This way, they wouldn’t dare mess with me.
Saying something that would automatically make them garbage if they argued made the church folks hesitate to touch the subject, and they just observed the situation cautiously.
“Uh… pulse is normal, and they seem to have come out of the deep sleep… What on earth happened? And why would they say something like ‘the end’...?”
“They must’ve had a nightmare or something. Now, is that all?”
Cecilia, in a panic, used some mana to check the condition of the one who had just convulsed. Thankfully, both for me and the elf, they had simply shifted from the coma to a normal sleep state. That was a relief.
Thank goodness. I didn’t screw it up this time.
“It’s good that it was nothing serious. Someone suddenly shouting about the end… had us thinking something terrible happened. But you’re saying all you did was touch them?”
Dogeon was clearly worried about me, but it looked like he was also curious about how that happened. I had explained it directly, but I guess seeing is believing.
“Yes. If you really don’t believe me, shall I do it again?”
“Huh? No, there’s no need for tha─”
Ah, I can’t hear you~. Dogeon looked a bit skeptical, so I’d just have to show him directly. Even as he flailed his hands and insisted there was no need, I had already made up my mind.
Just in time, I spotted a young elf girl nearby and reached out to her. Ethan and Cecilia both went pale, summoning spirits and whatever else to prepare for what might happen next.
And they call themselves believers—where’s the faith? Look, it’s just like this...
“…Ah, urgh. Oh, star above… I haven’t finished my assignment!! Please give me a bit more time!!! Plea…se…”
As expected, she raved dramatically about stars and whatnot, then collapsed from exhaustion. The mana embedded in her body was conveniently extracted as well.
“See that? I really only touched her. What exactly did you think I was?”
I gave the elf who had slumped into my arms a gentle push so she would fall back to her original spot. Ethan and Cecilia, who had finally come to their senses, checked her condition and confirmed she was fine.
“…It’s true. Just a touch and she came out of the coma… What in the world is going on…?”
“I don’t know. But I do know this much. Lady Hoyeon, would you be willing to go around and touch each of the elves here just once?”
Cecilia still looked too flustered to think, but Ethan’s mind seemed to be working. He politely asked me if I could awaken everyone present.
“…I wouldn’t mind, but you know? I’m more curious whether the child standing next to you will give me permission.”
I let a little smugness show, working out a bit of the annoyance that had piled up from being stalked all this time. Dogeon gave me a somewhat chastising look, but he didn’t say anything.
“Uh… ah, yes. I’d appreciate it as well! Please… save our people from this sleep…!”
Cecilia became more desperate, kneeling down to beg. Now that’s more like it. It’s way more satisfying to help someone who asks sincerely. I was going to help anyway, but now I’d do it with a little more care.
Yes, I’d do it one by one. Originally, I’d planned to just tap their foreheads with both hands or something, but that would seem too half-hearted.
“Hmm, very well. If you’re that sincere. Dogeon? This might take a while… is that alright?”
It wasn’t exactly what he had said to me before, but it was close enough to return the favor.
“If Lady Hoyeon is doing it, how could I possibly object? Just… please don’t overdo it. You might get hurt.”
Dogeon always worried too much. It was a wise attitude, sure… but sometimes I wished he could just enjoy the moment as it was.
“Alright, I’ll be careful. You lot standing around doing nothing—what are you waiting for? Get ready to help.”
The elves, who had been frozen like statues in shock, finally scrambled to prepare to assist at my command.
Well then, shall we begin? I wonder how long this will take.
***
Hahaha, Seonhak. Are you still afraid? The very one who struck a blow to that one and led the people beyond the barrier?
No, I’m not teasing. I’m just surprised. When I first heard the stories, I thought you were like another star altogether. And yet, here you are, still so human, insisting on walking a human’s path as a human.
I never imagined that someone with such lofty ideals would be this human! This humble junior truly finds their eyes opened wide.
I never thought you’d be so cornered as to link your mind with your creations just to gather information. Not to mention the part about unfinished assignments…
The “end times,” asking for an extension… I had no idea your mind was still stuck in the academy. You must not have thought it through when you escaped, hmm?
Ah, of course I jest. How many chances does a lesser junior like me get to poke fun at someone as brilliant as you? Haha, don’t get too angry now.
…Good grief, all this noise from outside during our academic exchange. Hard to concentrate like this. That one out there seems to be outside your control, yes?
“By coincidence,” you say… How very human of you. Created by coincidence, huh. So, you’re saying it surpassed its limits without any control at all?
Ah, I’m just talking to myself. Anyway, let’s go back to the jesting. I thought you had created a new type of power, but it turns out you merely degraded something that already existed.
Mana… was it? It’s not much different from watering down fuel. No, it’s true—it’s far too much for ordinary humans to handle.
In that case, why not simply improve the human body? Why cling to a backward physique? Ah, right—you did say you wanted to remain human. I almost forgot.
And that divine power… You didn’t just water it down, you added sawdust too. You were really going all in to kill us, weren’t you? And yet, the fact that it’s harmless to humans—that’s so very you, Seonhak.
Had you stayed, you might already be sailing the cosmos. Ah, but of course—that’s just a hypothetical.
Really now. No matter how brilliant you are, you could use better manners. I am your elder, after all. Would it kill you to add a “” to my name?
…Ahem. I keep getting distracted. Oh, what did I do to the Star’s Child, you ask?
Nothing much. That person’s child seemed uneasy wandering such a cruel and barren land with only a few guards, you see.
Looks like Byeolbi locked it up, but didn’t say not to release it. So I just released a tiny bit. What’s inside seems a little unstable, after all.
No, it wasn’t intentional. I didn’t expect that child to show interest in your creation. Who would’ve thought it’d happen while tailing some strange outsider boy?
Who could’ve known she’d absorb the thing used to put them to sleep?
And what is that boy, you ask? Funny—looks like you and I have something in common for once, Seonhak. I don’t know. What is he? Judging by your question, he’s not your work.
…Well, if you’re letting him be, he must not be dangerous.
Since you’re letting him be.
***
I heard all kinds of nonsense. Stuff like “I’ll fail this semester” or “I’ll have to retake the course.” The voices sounded oddly familiar, but so jumbled I couldn’t make sense of them.
The sun had been high in the sky, but by the time I was finally freed, darkness was beginning to fall over the forest.
Though we’d managed to rouse them from their comas, the elves still hadn’t fully regained their senses and would need to rest a while longer. As Dogeon had worried, no one got hurt.
“…I never imagined serving others could be this exhausting. I owe the maids and my sister back home an apology…”
“Sounds like you had quite the glamorous childhood. Still, I’m glad it ended okay.”
Thankfully, I didn’t have to embarrass myself by telling Dogeon about things like jumping off desks or charging into rivers as a kid.
But it didn’t exactly end without incident. My body was now overflowing with mana. I didn’t know what I could do with it yet, but I felt full of energy.
At this rate, I really might not get tired anymore.
Still, I needed food. My stomach was rumbling, and the timing was perfect for dinner.
“Well then, shall we head to dinner? While the church folks are busy cleaning up, I bet the feast will taste even better.”
Snacks always tasted the best when you were off in a corner while everyone else was running around working. I was reminiscing with a twisted smile when Dogeon threw a comment at me.
“…Lady Hoyeon. Do you realize you sometimes say terrifying things like it’s nothing?”
“That’s scary? Oh please. Hurry up and follow me. Even you’ll get left behind if you’re too slow, got it?”
There was no need to think or figure out where to go. People were already lining up and heading somewhere.
We followed along, spirits high, and arrived at the cafeteria—only to find it full of nothing but greens.
This place was hell.