Elqueeness [EN]: Chapter 278

The Elquines, Spirit King [Revised Edition] – Episode 278 (278/608)

Episode 278

“…What the…”

Time seemed to stop, as if the world around her had frozen. Despite harboring no positive feelings for this man, her defenses were melting away like snow. It felt as though she had been unwittingly drawn here, her instincts overriding her will and running wild. Lazen noticed the wavering in her eyes once again, and his smile deepened.

“Now I understand. You came here looking for me. That’s what it was.”

The gaze was intensely heated, openly displaying greed, obsession, and possessiveness. These were all unfamiliar emotions to the young Alisa, making it difficult for her to confront them directly. Fortunately for her, Lazen noticed her tension and quickly composed himself. As his gaze calmed, Alisa finally found it easier to breathe.

“You must be very confused. I’m truly sorry for not recognizing you sooner. I almost hurt you with my own hands. It sounds like an excuse, but I never imagined you would appear here alone. I was sure you would be under surveillance.”

“…Surveillance?”

“How did you manage to slip out of there alone? Are you hurt anywhere?”

“What are you talking about…?”

“It’s alright. You can relax now. I will protect you. Nothing will threaten you anymore.”

His tone was reassuring, but Alisa was bewildered, unable to understand. He seemed to be saying strange things from the start, as if there was some misunderstanding. Sensing him trying to approach, Alisa had Muldin erect a barrier. When a thorny fence blocked his path, Lazen looked perplexed.

“Didn’t you understand me? Don’t be wary. I am on your side. So…”

“Wait a moment. I don’t know what you’re talking about. On my side? Protecting me? What do you mean by that? Why would I need your protection?”

“Are you being held captive?”

“I am being held captive, by you people.”

“No, that’s not what I mean. I’m asking if the Imperial Army is coercing you.”

“The Imperial Army is coercing me? What are you talking about?”

“You can be honest with me. I came here to help you. I heard that the Emperor forced you to participate in this civil war to exploit your abilities. I will rescue you from there…”

“I volunteered?”

“What?”

The uninterrupted flow of his voice halted for the first time. Alisa spoke clearly to the bewildered Lazen.

“I chose to participate in this civil war. Isana and the others were against it, but I insisted. I don’t know why you’re saying such things. Is that the Duke’s plan? Spreading false rumors to damage the Imperial Army’s reputation?”

Lazen frowned and turned to the dark knights beside him, seeking clarification. They exchanged glances, momentarily flustered, before answering.

“It seems she has been brainwashed.”

“Brainwashed?”

“Isn’t it in women’s nature to scream and faint at the sight of blood? There’s no way a girl like her would willingly throw herself into a bloody war. They must have manipulated her into believing that. Perhaps that’s why they haven’t imprisoned her.”

His tone was calm as he explained, but the knights’ shoulders were tense. Lazen noticed this and narrowed his eyes.

“Who says it’s in our nature?”

Alisa heard their words clearly. She cried out, aghast.

“In this empire, do only men cook while women just eat? If we faint at the sight of blood, how do we butcher chickens and cut meat? What nonsense are you spouting!”

“No, I mean… noblewomen generally…”

“Then say ‘some noblewomen’! Why are you talking as if it’s a trait inherent to all women? I’ll have you know, even those noblewomen you’re thinking of wouldn’t have grown up that way if they had been raised in different environments! I’m a noblewoman, but I don’t care about blood at all.”

Blood wasn’t the only thing. Having grown up in a village where monsters periodically attacked, she had seen many gruesome corpses. After she started summoning Muldin, she actively participated in battles, wanting to save even one more person. She believed it was her duty, given her power. Ultimately, that led the villagers to treat her even more like a monster, and she was pushed to the front lines in the final subjugation battle. But she had never regretted her actions.

“I chose to participate because I wanted to help my people, according to my beliefs! Brainwashing, my foot! That’s what the Duke did to Duke Cael! Like looking in a mirror, they assume others do what they do! That’s what I call small-minded, you idiots!”

The knights, speechless, clamped their mouths shut. Some of them glared at Alisa with anger. Lazen, who had been carefully observing them, gradually wore a cold expression.

“Did you deceive me, perhaps?”

“…”

“Explain yourselves properly. Was it the Duke’s order? What did he command?”

In that moment, the atmosphere shifted. The dark knights quickly exchanged glances and immediately changed their stance. Alisa was the first to realize it. She could clearly feel a sharp intent directed at her.

“Muldin! Defend!”

At Alisa’s cry, massive tree branches rose up. The gnarled trunks and roots blocked the approaching knights. However, the dark knights were not easy opponents. As skilled knights, they swiftly evaded the obstacles and closed the distance to Alisa. Their drawn swords rapidly approached.

“Die!”

When she came to her senses, five knights were charging at her simultaneously. She instinctively knew it was too late to take any other action. Alisa reflexively squeezed her eyes shut.

“Deploy! Wall of Protection!”

*Kwaang!* [Sound of impact]

“…!”

What happened next was unexpected. A transparent glass wall formed around Alisa, and the charging knights were thrown back. She knew who had done it, thanks to the voice she had heard just before. It was Lazen.

What? Weren’t they on the same side? Alisa turned to Lazen with a bewildered expression. She saw him extending his hand with an icy, cold face.

“Did you just attack my partner in front of me?”

Alisa involuntarily swallowed hard at the words that fell from Lazen’s lips, his gaze filled with rage as he glared at the dark knights.

“My partner.”

She had suspected it might be possible since he mentioned the Blue Moon. A ruler destined to be bound to a partner star. Perhaps he was the one with that fate. Even so, she had tried to ignore it, but hearing the word spoken so openly filled her with indescribable emotions. It felt like waking up from a dream and being forced to face reality.

“How dare you!”

At Lazen’s shout, the dark knights gripped their swords. Alisa realized that they had changed their target. Sure enough, the knights leaped off the ground and charged at Lazen this time. By then, Lazen was already casting a spell. He rapidly formed hand seals along with the incantation, bringing his hands together in a diamond shape. A strong air pressure began to build between them.

“Fury of Altima, destruction of Necra. Dwell within my body, and let it be the vessel to wield that power. In this moment, I am fury, I am destruction.”

The pressure around him intensified with each word added to the incantation. Lazen’s hair fluttered, and a fierce wind began to blow, as if a storm was brewing around him. The knights, who had tried to strike Lazen before the magic was completed, could not even approach him.

“Kugh! What is this!”

“Fortia is Mildesi, the eternal flame opens its eyes. There is a beginning, but there is no end. Fallen souls descend, and curses bloom into flowers of hatred. 100 Esna’s Deka, 2 Tuss’s Ellog, 5 Exa’s Lihecto.”

Bright light began to erupt from within his hands. The inside, overflowing with magical power, was entirely red, like molten iron had been poured in. Something could be seen wriggling slightly inside. The knights involuntarily watched the movement. Then, with a shuddering convulsion, a massive eye opened within the red pit.

“Hiiiik!”

The knights’ bodies stiffened at the sight of the sharp pupils, reminiscent of a reptile. At that moment, the final phrase echoed from Lazen’s lips.

“The guardian opens its eyes. Let him open the gates of hell! Punish them, Flame Spear!”

As the activation words fell, the swirling wind began to expand as if it would explode. The magic was fully completed.

“R-Run away!”

The horrified knights hurriedly turned to flee. But a massive flame was already erupting from Lazen’s hands. The knights were swallowed by the flames without even screaming.

*Kwajik! Kwaaaang!* [Sounds of explosion and fire]

The noise was deafening, and a hot wind swept through. The intense heat reached even Alisa, who was far away. Alisa blinked blankly. It had only been a brief burst of fire, but the surroundings were filled with black soot. The ash scattering in the air made the view hazy. Not a single one of the five knights could be seen. They had clearly been burned without leaving even a corpse. It was truly an awe-inspiring power.

‘Oh my god…’

Lapis only provided auxiliary magic (and even then, only if El asked), so it was the first time she had ever seen such a large-scale offensive magic. As she exclaimed in admiration, she met Lazen’s eyes, who looked slightly tired. Alisa reflexively tensed up.

“Are you hurt?”

“Uh, no.”

“I see. That’s a relief.”

His face, genuinely relieved, looked surprisingly innocent. Perhaps he wasn’t as old as he seemed. Alisa carefully examined Lazen’s appearance. He had killed the Duke’s knights, so he was clearly not an enemy, and he had also tried to save her. The mention of a partner was unsettling, but her wariness had lessened considerably. A face she hadn’t found particularly interesting before now caught her eye. She had only thought his hair color was unique, but his eyelashes were also a deep pink, like his hair. Every time he blinked, it was as if tiny flower petals were falling and dancing. She somehow liked that.

“What exactly are you…?”

Just as Alisa, curious, was about to ask Lazen a question, a sudden chill ran down her spine. Alisa wrapped her arms around herself.

“Are you alright?”

Lazen looked puzzled at the stiff Alisa. But his face soon hardened as well. A sword suddenly flew towards him.

“…!”

*Kwaang!* [Sound of impact] Lazen hastily created a barrier, barely managing to block the sword. But that wasn’t the end of it. This time, another attack followed from a different direction. And it wasn’t just one or two. As he blocked the relentless barrage of blades, Lazen quickly looked around. Figures in black cloaks were charging at him, appearing out of nowhere. There were more than ten of them at a glance.

“…There were even infiltrators.”

It wasn’t difficult to assess the situation. Lazen clicked his tongue inwardly. He thought he knew why they had struck so suddenly. They were trying to prevent him from using magic.

Magic was a power that could only be used by forming hand seals and chanting incantations. The more powerful the magic, the greater the mana consumption, and the longer the incantation that had to be memorized. Accurate posture and pronunciation were fundamental rules. It was difficult to find the time to do that in close combat, unless there was distance between them.

The more skilled and excellent the opponent, the harder it became to create an opening. The reason the magic had succeeded a moment ago was because Lazen had cast the spell before being attacked. It was nearly impossible to use powerful magic in the current situation, where he was busy deflecting swords. Lazen had to focus solely on dodging the relentless barrage of blades. It was fortunate that he had basic physical strength and reflexes to support him.