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The conversation with the High Elf, Edelin, flowed without interruption.

Actually, to be precise, it would be better to say that only conversations that didn’t take long continued endlessly.

What we heard from Edelin was nothing more than what we had repeatedly heard many times before regarding the situation in the Great Forest and the demands of our High Elf and the Grand Elder of the Great Forest from us—namely, repeated warnings about Friel Arielte.

The framework of the conversation had become tedious and repetitive to the point of being boring.

The only new element introduced by Edelin this time was a bit of information regarding a certain someone who would become a formidable adversary for Shione and me.

Shione’s hair fluttered in the warm breeze as she listened quietly to Edelin’s words.

Her thick, shoulder-length hair, which seemed heavy enough to cover her collarbones, swayed as she absentmindedly tidied it up.

Yet, the moment the topic of demons was mentioned, the atmosphere grew cold. Calmly, Shione asked Edelin a question.

“Are you saying that half-demons are plotting in the Great Forest, and not just one, but several of them?”

“Indeed. Those who have received magic from demons are quite troublesome for us as well. In the end, they will take decisive action according to the future foretold by prophecy.”

“Action… do you mean they will summon that demon filled with venom and deception—”

“Correct.”

“Hmm…”

It seems that the Great Forest was increasingly chaotic, not only due to humans casually bowing down and praying to demons but also because horned beings were making a ruckus as well.

The hybrid that appeared in the Count’s House had already thrown himself under the castle wall in a bid to break down one of the gates.

That fellow had quite the fiery personality. To think there are now several of them causing a ruckus… it’s really becoming a bother.

“The main issue is those half-demons. Our capable forest guardians are trying their best to scour the forest to hunt them down, but…”

Shione’s tone became serious.

“They are excellent at cutting off their tails and escaping, as well as concealing their magical powers, meaning we are often left empty-handed.”

“…”

“To surely track them down and stop their schemes, we need the power of the Count’s House.”

A power that only exists to eradicate demons.

“We must find and stop them before they summon that demon filled with venom and deceit. Even if we were to fail in stopping them, if you assist us, we would at least buy time to prepare for their invasion.”

Shione’s innate ability, which was ingrained in her bloodline from birth, excelled at discovering the energy of demons.

“The World Tree has spoken. In accordance with destiny, the Great Forest is destined to meet its end due to the fierce resistance of the elves. However, if we involve the Kalia Marquis Family and the Shianella Count Family, we can twist our fate.”

Since I encountered her.

“And among them, Ray. It has been said that your existence can most significantly alter our fate. Therefore—”

Shione explained.

Since she had called me a beast and transformed me into a human, it became necessary for her to shatter the demon’s horn.

“The original fate, which has begun to falter due to your existence upon this land, let us twist it even more.”

Edelin stated.

Thus, it’s resolved. Not just the demons, but let’s also break those crude horns of the hybrids and cause some disruption.

*

Once the story concluded, Edelin mentioned she had something else to attend to and began to leave.

Whether she had to do something with the World Tree, she slipped out of the vast garden toward the divine tree, and soon disappeared. Left in the garden were only Shione, me, and the spirits.

I cast a glance at Shione.

“Haah…”

My mistress didn’t show it, but she seemed quite exhausted after conversing with the Grand Elder.

I mean, in this place, a position like that can be seen as equivalent to a kingdom and its king. Her divine presence helped in summoning Tania, and even to Shione, who is inexperienced in magic, it must have seemed impressive.

I thought we were exchanging pleasantries smoothly, but it seemed it was a result of her brain working overtime while lying in the carriage.

I chuckled lightly and addressed Shione.

“Since I told you to return with Fletta, who should be inside that building, let’s take our time and stroll around the garden a bit more.”

Having sat for a while and rested enough, a leisurely walk wouldn’t be a problem at all. A little garden appreciation should be fine.

As I said that, Shione, who was sighing deeply, looked up at me.

“Still, a lot of time has already passed. Wouldn’t it be a bit inconsiderate to keep them waiting?”

“What does it matter? Who knows when we’ll get to come here again? And such a wonderfully maintained garden probably isn’t common in the continent either.”

“True…”

Shione nodded.

Honestly, this garden created and maintained entirely by a Grand Elder is prettier than the castle’s garden, which must have cost a fortune to landscape and maintain. The wide expanse of flowers and the beautiful color combinations unique to the High Elves are hard to replicate.

Moreover, where else could you see spirits flying around the garden as if it were their home? Even I, who know nothing about plants, found this garden quite impressive.

The only problem was that…

Suddenly—

Shione swiftly grabbed my hand and intertwined our fingers.

“Then let’s start over there.”

She began to drag me along her own way.

“Ah! Ray, look at that! That flower only grows in the southern archipelago. Hmm… could it be that it’s thriving near the World Tree?”

“Ah, yes.”

“Oh, and that one too! That one grows near the Kalia Marquis Family in the northern part of the kingdom…”

“I see.”

“Are you really listening properly?”

“Isn’t that the story about a precious flower that only grows in the north?”

“Hmm, indeed. So that one is—”

“…”

She started rattling off a description of the flowers at her own pace.

While I had been sighing earlier, where was she getting the energy to talk so much now?

Time was just passing as I let myself be dragged along. Quietly, Tania, who had been following closely behind with a firm grip on Cotton Puff, called out to me.

“Hey, Park Shin-woo.”

—Myeong!

“No, you take it easy.”

—Myaang!

“No, I’m talking with Shin-woo right now. Just wait a little longer, okay?”

Cotton Puff wriggled and shook its head vigorously.

—Kkeung!

“Alright! Just let go already!”

With a swift motion, Tania tossed Cotton Puff into the air.

It was a throw that favored her small consideration despite its large motion.

—Heng.

“Even if Changsik reaches the highest level, he still listens to me well. I guess it’s because he’s low tier… tsk…”

…That’s only because you make it more bothersome every time he grumbles.

“Anyway!”

Tania crossed her arms.

She wore a look that expressed she found something unsatisfactory, with her reddish black eyes glaring at me.

“So, Park Shin-woo. Who’s that silver-haired person next to you?”

Park Shin-woo.

Hearing my original name after a while evoked a slight sense of nostalgia within me.

I raised my right hand held firmly by Shione.

“My mistress.”

“What!? Mistress?!”

“Yeah. I’m a slave, and she’s my master.”

“Hah…”

Tania looked at me with disdain, as if she was deeply disappointed.

Then, with a swift turn of her head, she stared at Shione.

“Is it true?”

Though she spoke in Korean, she skillfully used mental resonance to convey her meaning to Shione.

Later on, once she adjusts a bit to this world, she would naturally switch to the common language of the continent. But since it hadn’t been long since she arrived in this strange world, even a spirit strong in language and communication seemed to struggle with speaking a new language immediately.

Shione nodded in response to Tania’s question.

“Yeah, it’s really true. I’m the master, and Ray is my slave and personal attendant.”

“Ugh…”

…Given that Tania has been living a life in Korea since she was low tier, it makes sense that slavery and being a personal attendant would be quite foreign to her. I get it; I understand, but…

“You, Park Shin-woo…”

There’s no need for that disapproving look as if I’ve committed a crime.

“Your appearance has changed completely, and you couldn’t even hold a lady’s hand… and now you’re a slave? A personal attendant? What on earth are you doing wandering around here?”

“Uh, that’s…”

I had plenty to say in reply.

I thought I was going to die, but I woke up to find myself caged in something weird, shackles on my ankles.

Remembering all the bizarre memories, it said I was meant to be sold as a slave in some strange world.

Not to mention, all sorts of events that had occurred so far flashed before my eyes.

I felt quite wronged and had a lot I wanted to say.

I weakly spoke to Tania.

“I’ll tell you everything slowly after we get back to the inn.”

Slowly. I’ll explain it all clearly from start to finish.

“So… could you at least relax that expression?”

Can you please change that strange look you have while staring at that odd person?

*

After somehow managing to deal with Tania, we finished our garden tour.

We were now making our way to the building where Fletta was supposed to be.

Shione, cautiously glancing at Tania with her small eyes, finally spoke.

“Ray, so is that spirit… the one you made a contract with back in the day?”

“Yeah, her name is Tania. She’s a fire spirit.”

“That spirit is originally Ray’s spirit…”

Shione seemed to have faintly realized a bit about what I did before I died.

She was intrigued by Tania but paused to speak with her since Tania had folded her arms and was glaring at us, clearly expressing her distaste.

“…Completely different from the moth. You said she’s a high tier spirit?”

“Indeed.”

“But… once we exit along the pathway, she said she’d fall to a mid-tier spirit.”

“Even if she falls from high tier to mid-tier, she would still remain in such a little childlike form for a while?”

“Indeed.”

“Hey, she’s much better than a moth.”

While Tania was flying around, dodging her here and there, once Cotton Puff noticed my mistress laughing at it, it puffed up in indignation.

—Kkeung!

“Ow…!”

Cotton Puff hit Shione’s nose. As it stuck to her face and wouldn’t fall off easily, a playful tussle ensued between her and the spirit.

Tania, who had been chasing after Cotton Puff, glanced between Shione, Cotton Puff, and me.

Unlike the disdainful look she had just a moment ago, this time I felt her eyes gleaming brightly for some reason.

I asked nonchalantly.

“Why?”

“….”

“Speak up. Why are you approaching us with that creepy grin?”

“……!”

Tania spread her arms wide and flew toward me.

I reached out my hand to stop her from getting too close.

“Why…! I just want to hug you since it’s been a while!”

“What a cringe!”

“Do you have any idea how much Changsik and I have missed you? Even Changsik, being a high tier spirit, would cry and wail about how much he missed you!”

“Okay, okay! I get it!”

After giving Tania’s head a casual pat as she whined, I offered her a piggyback ride.

Although she still seemed unsatisfied, at least with this, she appeared willing to let it pass.

As we continued walking quietly, Shione and Cotton Puff’s gazes met once more.

Especially, Shione’s gaze seemed focused intently on Tania, who was riding on my back.

“Shall I give you a ride too, Shione?”

“Really?”

“…Is that alright?”

“……”

I could give her a ride if she wanted, but…

To be honest, it feels a bit odd for a grown-up to ride on someone’s back.

As we joked around while walking along, we soon arrived in front of a temple-like building.

Now, after returning to the Arielte Family with Fletta, I hoped to rest for the remaining day.

Just as I opened the building’s door to look for Fletta, the elder of the Arielte Family, who had been waiting near the entrance, spotted us. The typical drowsy gaze in her green eyes was directed at me but specifically at the little girl riding on my back. Just then, shock filled her gloomy green eyes.

“That spirit is…?”

 

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