How To Live As A Third Son Of A Failure [EN]: Chapter 59

Living as the Third Son of a Failed Novel – Chapter 59

* * *

Fizzle….

Molten lava, threatening to melt everything, surged and splattered.

Simultaneously, black ash billowed up, scattering like mist and obscuring the view.

Amidst this ruinous atmosphere, Rahelna’s presence, looking down at me, overwhelmed everything.

‘Explain.’

Rahelna’s voice, projected earlier, tried to dominate my mind.

It instilled a compulsion to confess everything truthfully, without resistance.

[Focus. I can’t protect your mind entirely.]

Aphen warned, noticing this.

I barely managed to pull myself together and bit my lip hard.

The bitter taste of blood cleared my vision.

However, the oppressive weight, as if someone were forcefully pressing down on my shoulders, remained. But I struggled against it, straightening my kneeling legs.

Then, I met Rahelna’s eyes.

Looking straight into her burning blue eyes, I opened my mouth.

“Remember the covenant.”

Slowly but clearly, I finished speaking, putting strength into each word.

Rahelna’s fierce gaze flickered momentarily upon hearing my words.

What was she recalling?

It wasn’t hard to guess.

It was certainly mercy.

The Emperor’s act of not destroying the race and guaranteeing them the territory of the Great Forest could certainly be called merciful.

However, that territory was infinitely smaller than what the alien races had previously enjoyed, and eventually, a new conflict began.

Druids and Elves.

The war between the two similar yet different races over the Great Forest eventually ended in the Elves’ victory, and just before the Druid race was about to be wiped out.

“Survive.”

Kerwyn stepped in.

She smuggled out and protected the very few remaining Druids.

Following that, she received a promise to live quietly in hiding before releasing them as free beings.

The very few Druids who survived in this way lived like mice in the deep mountains of the continent.

Many Druids were killed when their identities were revealed, but there were certainly those who had survived to this day, hundreds of years later.

Like Rahelna Grantree.

[Covenant.]

“Yes.”

[With whom are you speaking of a covenant?]

Rahelna’s voice echoed in my head.

At the same time, she took a step forward.

As if drawing a circle, the giant wolf slowly began to circle me. It was as if she was testing me.

“Kerwyn Aphen.”

Rahelna’s steps stopped abruptly at my words.

After a moment, her voice pierced my mind again.

[What is your relationship with her?]

Adding an honorific and referring to her as ‘her’ meant that she remembered the covenant with Kerwyn.

More importantly, what kind of relationship should I say we have?

Employer and employee? Contractor and contractor?

Anyway, what’s important now is that there is a covenant between Kerwyn Aphen and the Druids.

“A person who fulfills her will.”

[Will?]

I nodded to Rahelna, who asked as if wondering what I meant.

“Literally, I am a person who has inherited her will.”

[How can I believe that?]

“Look at the sword.”

I slowly held out Aphen, which I was holding in my hand. Rahelna stared down at the sword for a moment.

Swish….

The blue energy that had been emitted earlier swirled around again.

After that, the giant wolf disappeared without a trace, and what reappeared was her original form.

‘Hoo.’

The oppressive feeling that the giant wolf had exuded disappeared, and I could breathe a sigh of relief.

However, the background that dominated the surroundings remained the same. This meant that the spell had not yet been lifted.

“……”

Rahelna, who had returned to her human form, slowly approached me.

At first glance, it was a defenseless attitude. But it was because she was sure that I couldn’t harm her no matter what I did.

As Rahelna stood before me, she reached out her hand towards Aphen.

The moment her hand touched Aphen, her eyebrows twitched for a moment.

But that was only for a moment. Soon, she stroked Aphen and smiled faintly.

“I thought it was emitting a mysterious energy.”

“……”

“But to think it was her daughter.”

She clearly recognized Aphen.

Relieved, I nodded.

“Do you believe me now?”

“Yes. There is no more definite proof than this.”

The first hurdle was cleared.

“Then I will ask. Is the covenant still valid?”

The covenant between Kerwyn and the Druids.

[To assist the benefactor of the race by any means necessary.]

Rahelna closed her eyes as if recalling that solemn promise engraved in fate.

After a moment.

She slowly opened her closed eyes and opened her mouth.

“It is not valid.”

I was blocked at the second hurdle.

It was an unexpected answer. The covenant was not valid? There was no time limit, was there?

“Why?”

Her gaze turned cold at my question.

“The covenant is only valid as long as she is alive. Therefore, no matter how much you have inherited her will, we no longer have any obligation.”

Ah. Since Kerwyn, the subject of the covenant, was dead, there was no obligation?

Buzz-! Buzz-! Buzz-!

Aphen also vibrated repeatedly, showing a violent reaction.

Feeling relieved, I shook my head.

“No. Kerwyn is alive.”

Her face was filled with suspicion at my words.

“Alive?”

“Yes.”

“Hundreds of years have passed.”

“I know. But she is definitely still alive.”

Buzz! Buzz! Buzz!

At my and Aphen’s vehement denial, her eyes eventually began to widen.

“Are you telling the truth?”

“Definitely.”

Rahelna had no choice but to nod at my confident words.

“I have many stories to hear.”

She nodded slightly and waved her hand. As her loose sleeves fluttered, energy was emitted and engulfed the surroundings.

Swish….

It was a moment after blinking.

“……”

The intensity of the boiling lava.

The spectacle of black ash that had been thick like fog.

Everything disappeared like a dream in an instant, and the surroundings returned to their original state, overgrown with bushes.

* * *

Following Rahelna’s words to follow her, I moved my steps to chase after her.

Roos and Ilia were being carried in the mouths of two large bears that had appeared out of nowhere.

Not only that, but the pack of a dozen wolves that had gathered around us were leading the way as if they were escorting us.

It was quite a strange experience.

Druids were certainly a race that was similar to yet different from Elves.

Having a close relationship with nature was a common trait. But while Elves dealt with plants and elemental magic, Druids were able to handle animals and witchcraft.

How long had we been walking?

Soon, a log house that seemed to be Rahelna’s residence came into view.

It was a house in a location that couldn’t go unnoticed. But the fact that there were no rumors about it meant that it was also the power of magic.

“Good work. Everyone, go back now.”

With a warm smile, Rahelna gestured, and the bears and wolves scattered and disappeared.

“They listen well.”

“They are good children.”

After that, I followed Rahelna into the house.

There was nothing particularly special about the interior. It was just a simple and nature-friendly structure.

After waiting in what appeared to be Rahelna’s study, she brought out warm tea.

The tense atmosphere that I had been worried about was gone, and I felt a little relieved.

Rahelna, sitting demurely, took a sip of tea and opened her mouth.

“When was the last time you saw her?”

“Well, about a year ago?”

“How was she?”

“She is in good health.”

Her lifespan will soon be over, but there’s no need to say that.

“I can’t believe it.”

“It’s true.”

“If that’s the case…”

“Yes?”

Suddenly, Rahelna trailed off and hesitated.

“If it’s okay…”

“What do you want to say?”

“I really want to see her again, so if it’s okay, could you guide me later?”

What, that shyness.

It’s not like she thinks of Kerwyn as an idol, is it really something to say while covering her face with a teacup?

Well, from Rahelna’s point of view, Kerwyn may be an object of admiration, so let’s just say that.

“Anytime, if everything is settled.”

“Really?”

I couldn’t help but laugh at Rahelna’s expression.

“There’s no reason why it wouldn’t be. But that’s only if things go well.”

“Okay, I understand.”

She nodded slightly, trying to hide her joy.

“By the way, how have you been living here?”

“There’s nothing special. I raised fruit trees, read books, and protected the mountains.”

Suddenly, I imagined her watering the trees.

As if guessing what I was thinking, Rahelna gave a faint smile.

“If I ask, the wild animals will do it for me, so there’s almost nothing for me to do.”

“Ah, I see.”

Well, even if I don’t know, she is like an empress who has dominated all the mountains in this area.

“We help each other. I protect the children, and the children help me.”

“But the rumors are quite widespread.”

“Rumors?”

“There are many rumors of seeing a giant white wolf. Not only that, but you have established yourself as a sacred animal of Leydin.”

“I guess it’s time to move my residence.”

Rahelna smiled and repeatedly poured tea into the empty cup.

“It’s been a long time since I’ve had a conversation like this. But the fact that the other person is a human is ironic.”

“Don’t you have any contact with other Druids?”

“Very rarely. There are too few of us, and we are scattered all over the continent. Besides, I have a rather unique personality.”

“What do you mean by unique?”

“Most of my kind hate humans.”

“……”

You tried to kill me right away because I was human?

As if reading my thoughts, Rahelna shrugged.

“This is good. If it were another of my kind, they would have tried to kill you without asking any questions.”

“……”

“It’s a natural feeling since we lost the war and were deprived of our homes. But as time has passed, it has become much diluted now.”

“I see.”

“Besides, I was young at the time of the Race Wars. I was just starting to walk. So I don’t have much ill feeling towards humans.”

I was reminded of Rahelna’s age.

“Anyway.”

Rahelna cleared her throat lightly, took a sip of tea, and opened her mouth again.

“I understand that you are fulfilling her will. So what is the reason you came to me, even mentioning the covenant?”

Guessing that she was getting to the point, I straightened my posture.

“I have to go to the Great Forest.”

It was a short word.

But Rahelna frowned at the same time as she heard my words.

“To the Great Forest?”

“Yes.”

“Why?”

“I have to meet the Elves.”

Rahelna tilted her head.

“Are you out of your mind?”

“I am very sane and upright.”

“You’re not going on a sightseeing trip.”

“I need to find out about spirits.”

“I don’t want to play riddles.”

At her intention to tell her everything directly, I hesitated for a moment.

‘Can I tell her everything?’

The conclusion after a brief thought.

Even if it’s not everything from beginning to end, shouldn’t I at least give her the gist of it?

Above all, it seemed like she had great reverence for Kerwyn, so I thought there wouldn’t be a problem.

“A war will soon sweep across the continent again.”

“……”

“Many people will die. Kerwyn doesn’t want that.”

“……”

“So I have to stop it. And one of the clues to stop it is about spirits.”

As I finished speaking, Rahelna was lost in thought. After a moment, she sighed deeply and nodded.

“I see. There is no one as proficient in spirits as the Elves, so that’s a natural story.”

“Yes.”

“But you are too reckless.”

Rahelna’s lips curled up slightly.

“A human and a Druid are going to the Great Forest, the territory of the Elves.”

“Is it difficult?”

“If you want to have extensive knowledge of spirits, you have to be at least an elder. It’s like if goblins and orcs joined hands and appeared where your human king lives, what will happen?”

“……Is it that bad?”

“Yes.”

That means it’s completely impossible?

I thought there would be a way if you were a Druid.

“But it may not be completely impossible.”

“Yes?”

“You have a cause.”

If it’s a cause, is it Kerwyn?

“It was entirely thanks to her influence that the Great Forest was created. Even if it’s not as much as us, who were pushed out of that place, the Elves owe her a lot.”

“I see.”

“But too much time has passed.”

“The Druids remained in the covenant, but not the Elves.”

“Yes. They have lifespans as long as ours, so I can only hope they have a good memory.”

“Okay. I’ll do the persuading, so will you guide me?”

“I don’t mind that. But let me be clear. I can’t take responsibility for your safety.”

That means a fight could break out.

Well, I don’t mind. I can prepare for that. But I can’t solve the guide on my own, so I came to Rahelna.

“I understand. Then can I assume that you will guide me?”

“If you promise to take me to her after the work is done.”

“Yes. I will take you there when everything is over. But until then, you must help me with my work.”

“Okay.”