Chapter 58 …
“Blue Deer…?”
Eila looked at Nairien, then back at Desawa.
Desawa smiled wryly.
“I didn’t expect the spirit to appear in person.”
[As if I didn’t know.]
Nairien replied curtly, but Desawa didn’t even blink and continued.
“You must already know from the Crescent Moon that the double gate has been opened. We cannot leave the forest, nor can we act outside the bounds of the covenant.”
Desawa reached into his robe and pulled something out.
“Ah.”
It was the emblem of the demon clan that Eila had found under Roland’s bed.
“Thanks to your cooperation, Eila, we were able to handle this. Thank you.”
“No, I was only trying to help a friend…”
Eila looked at the emblem for a moment, then lifted her gaze to Desawa.
“Come to think of it, if this was something the Sage could have handled, it would have been nice if Roland hadn’t had to suffer through those nightmares in the first place.”
There was a cold edge to Eila’s voice. She had seen how tormented Roland was by his nightmares.
And yet, they just watched and ignored it?
[That’s too cruel.]
Sorine, standing nearby, stepped forward.
“According to the covenant, we are forbidden from speaking directly to humans outside the forest. Except when teaching.”
[Frustrating lot.]
“Isn’t it a bit much for the Crescent Moon, which is betting everything on Solarun, to say that?”
[Hmph, and yet… look at this adorable child we have now. Our prized one.]
Nairien’s blue hair enveloped Eila like a cloud.
“Whoa!” Eila exclaimed.
“But… you keep saying ‘Crescent Moon,’ ‘Blue Deer’… what does that mean?”
“It’s the lineage of the spirits. Humans are all humans, but they form nations or organizations, right? Spirits are the same. We belong to the Blue Deer lineage, and Solarun belongs to the Crescent Moon lineage.”
“So not all spirits are the same.”
Eila had thought spirits formed a single kingdom—but apparently not.
“Do they oppose each other, then?”
“No, not at all.”
As Desawa tried to explain, a gaunt Shironti standing nearby cut him off.
“Let’s skip the unnecessary details. Time is short. The Blue Deer wishes to seek cooperation with Solarun. We intend to reseal Lakthara, who has been freed now that the double gate has opened.”
[…….]
Nairien wore a displeased expression but remained silent, while Eila raised one hand slightly.
“What is the double gate? Reseal? Lakthara?”
Desawa waved his hand.
“This will take some time to explain. Let’s have some tea. We cannot talk while keeping you standing as guests.”
Desawa turned to lead the way, then looked back over his shoulder.
“And Crescent Moon… isn’t it your doing that Solarun is so flamboyantly surrounded by the Crescent Moon’s aura?”
Through Desawa’s eyes, the cloud-like blue hair surrounding Eila and the large shining crescent behind her head were clearly visible.
Anyone connected to spirits would see it.
But Eila, unable to see her own aura, was bewildered. Nairien just snorted and turned her head sharply.
Fish Ornament
The simple tea setting in the forest was incredibly pleasant.
The cups carved from wood felt soft against the hands and lips, and the tea, though Eila had never tasted it before, was aromatic.
The apple pie, baked a simple brown without lavish decoration, was surprisingly delicious with just one bite.
The combination of tart-sweet apples, thick pastry, and cream was exquisite.
Eating something delicious quickly brought happiness. The afternoon sunlight filtering through the forest was golden, and the leaves shimmered like silver.
Though the scenery was beautiful, the conversation was somewhat heavy, but Eila organized her thoughts.
Exhaling, she set down her wooden cup.
“Let me summarize what I’ve heard. First: the first seal, called the double gate, inside the royal palace has opened, and a demon called Lakthara has been freed. Second: that demon is trying to break the second seal to regain its power. Third: so it wants to cooperate with the Crescent Moon. Is that correct?”
Desawa nodded and asked as Eila counted on her fingers.
“Shall I add more cream to your pie?”
Eila nodded. As Desawa poured cream generously over the pie, she asked:
“What can I do?”
“Just break the traps the demons have set, as you did this time.”
Eila cut the pie with her fork.
“The Sages cannot handle it themselves?”
“They deal with those who enter the forest, but most humans haven’t entered it.”
“Have you asked the royal palace for help?”
Desawa gave a wry smile.
“Nowadays, our relationship isn’t very cooperative.”
“But if you’re seeking help from the Crescent Moon, shouldn’t you ask the spirits?”
Eila glanced at Nairien, who said:
[Do as Eila wishes.]
Eila pondered, then asked Nairien:
“Could Lakthara have been the Crown Princess?”
Nairien gave a strange smile.
[It can’t be said there’s no connection.]
“Then I’ll do it.”
Eila spoke, then looked at Desawa. For some reason, the forest sage looked worried.
“The Crescent Moon plays with humans too much. Are you being toyed with?”
“…I know it likes the dramatic.”
Eila’s words only deepened the worry on Desawa’s face. She smiled reassuringly.
“But it’s okay. There are many things to be grateful for, too.”
“That’s a relief, then…”
[Annoying. Solarun is ours.]
“That kind of statement—”
Nairien hugged Eila tightly. For a moment, Eila felt breathless.
[We have no interest in trivial humans like you. Do you know how our hearts raced when we first saw Solarun? To abandon the emperor’s throne for love and flee with a commoner! Unheard of! In a thousand years, no human has ever done such a thing. Solarun still runs forward. Our choice was not wrong.]
For a moment, Eila felt as if she had been hit on the back of the head.
‘Whoa! Impulsiveness is really a family trait!!’
Wait, wait.
Well, that makes sense.
I mean… the Crown Prince falls in love with a commoner, abandons the throne, and runs away for love?
‘Isn’t that insane?’
Then it made sense why Helen had mourned her ex.
‘Wow?’
And me too?!
‘So it’s just reckless bloodline, huh?’
Eila looked at Nairien.
If the spirits hadn’t saved Solarun, it never would have started. It would have just ended in death.
Not only her ancestors but previous generations had also done reckless things, yet the spirits had always watched over them.
They were not playing with Solarun—they enjoyed and rejoiced in its recklessness.
“…They love us and protect us so we don’t die.”
And themselves too.
“Thank you, Nairien.”
Eila thanked her sincerely.
Nairien, eyes wide in surprise, blushed, grabbed her hair and cheeks with both hands, and disappeared with a [Ah, really.]
“Eh? Nairien??”
Eila looked around in shock as the sages murmured.
“Did you see that just now?”
“To embarrass a spirit…”
“I was embarrassed just watching.”
“Classic Solarun.”
Eila’s cheeks flushed, but she cleared her throat and looked back at the sages.
“It’s fine to remove the demon traps, but I can’t just go around doing that all the time.”
“Your presence is sufficient, Eila.”
“Besides, it seems the Crown Prince himself has become the target.”
Hearing this, Eila wondered how much the sages knew about Roland.
Did they know about his magic?
‘But I can’t ask.’
Eila stayed silent, and Sorine took a necklace from his robe and handed it to her.
A blue gemstone was set in a round pendant.
“This is called the Third Eye. Wearing it allows you to detect demons and humans under demon control.”
“Thank you.”
It would be good to know who the enemy was.
Then Shironti took a nameplate from his robe.
An emblem was engraved—on the front, a familiar tree emblem, and on the back, a deer emblem she had never seen before.
“This is our nameplate. With it, you are protected in the forest, and in human society, you can receive help wherever the deer emblem is displayed.”
“Thank you.”
Eila accepted the nameplate carefully and asked:
“But who exactly broke the seal?”
A brief silence passed. Eila lifted her head, and Shironti said:
“The former empress.”
