Ch. 215 - An Old Story (12)

Chapter 215: An Old Story (12)

The next day arrived. 

The custom uniform made for Baek Yu-Seol was weaved quite quickly, but perhaps because he was still much smaller than a full-grown adult, he didn’t feel particularly satisfied when he looked at himself in the mirror.

Even though it was a uniform, the design itself wasn’t much different from Stella’s cadet uniform. The overall blue color and the numerous ornaments attached were a bit annoying, but as expected from noble houses, the uniform itself was stylish.

“Hmm.”

When he put on the mask as well, it seemed to provide decent camouflage.

Someone as sensitive to mana as Duke Isaac Morph might notice his unusual constitution, but such people weren’t common.

“Let’s go....”

Though Baek Yu-Seol felt quite troubled, he decided to bury all his worries deep inside for now.

Worrying wouldn’t change anything anyway.

Morph Dukedom.

Morfran Forest.

Although the area was fairly small, the territory, where the legendary magical beast was sealed by the great Morph, the disciple of the Progenitor Mage, was off-limits to anyone other than Morph’s direct descendants.

To maintain the seal on the magical beast, the ice magic of the Morph bloodline was essential, and they protected this place for a thousand years, blocking outsiders from entering due to the danger.

And now, a thousand years after the sealing of the magical beast.

For the first time, Morfran Forest had no choice but to allow an external force onto its land.

Along with the Red Sun Knights of Adolevit, many mages from the Mage Association and the Magic Tower participated. They were presumably called by Hong Si-Hwa.

“Nice to meet you. I am Hong Si-Hwa from Adolevit.”

“I am Alec Bylen from the Mage Association.”

“I am Kasak, the vice tower master of the Blue Crystal Magic Tower. It is an honor to meet you.”

“I am Director Verdon of the World Mage Organization.”

“Nice to meet you. I am Duke Isaac Morph.”

The meeting between the Adolevit Magic Knights in red uniforms and the Morph Knights in blue uniforms.

Since this meeting wasn’t conducted properly, the Morph knights glared at the Adolevit soldiers with menacing eyes.

Their impressions were completely different.

Baek Yu-Seol stood at the back, quietly observing Hong Si-Hwa. The atmosphere was different from the playful one ten years later; now she exuded a much stronger air of calmness and composure.

Isaac and Hong Si-Hwa shook hands and entered the command tent. 

After the mages from the association and the Magic Tower, as well as Isaac’s aide Wilhelm, went in, Baek Yu-Seol cautiously followed.

Wilhelm didn’t look pleased to see him, but perhaps because of Isaac’s orders, he didn’t say much.

The atmosphere inside the command tent was tense and cold. Amidst the two countries' knights glaring at each other as if they wanted to kill, he quietly stood behind Isaac.

“First of all... I want to apologize for forcibly bringing our troops into the Morph Dukedom.”

“I also think it’s truly regrettable.”

“According to the calculations of the Constellation Tripod from the Red Sun Tower, the barrier sealing the magical beast will weaken in less than a month.”

The Red Sun Tower of Adolevit.

It was known as a candidate for the 'Great Tower' following the Full Moon Tower, which was one of the world’s most outstanding magical institutions. It was famous for their unique magical calculation method called the Constellation Tripod.

“Even though the seal was placed by the great Morph, the disciple of the Progenitor Mage, and maintained by the excellent magic of the Morph family, it’s a miracle that it has lasted for a thousand years with just one barrier.”

Their computational power, capable of calculating everything from ancient magic to future magic, was so extraordinary it could be called otherworldly. 

According to their information, the magical beast in Morfran Forest would awaken in a month.

It was quite a funny story. 

They believed their thoughts and calculations were correct, and pushed forward independently, and even caused great harm to the Morph Dukedom in the process.

“... Princess Hong Si-Hwa.”

Isaac Morph spoke to her with a stern expression.

"If this goes wrong, you will have to bear significant diplomatic responsibility.”

“Of course.”

Hong Si-Hwa replied nonchalantly and gestured behind her.

Two Adolevit aides appeared and spread a magical scroll on the table, revealing a holographic panorama of Morfran Forest.

“This is quite... unpleasant.”

Morfran Forest was strictly off-limits to outsiders and was practically the heart of the Morph Dukedom.

Yet, they had meticulously mapped out all the terrain and features of Morfran Forest.

This was not only rude but also a serious issue that could cause significant diplomatic friction. However, Hong Si-Hwa merely bowed her head slightly in apology.

“I apologize. The Adolevit Royal Family decided to treat this matter with utmost seriousness.”

“I also need to treat Adolevit’s rudeness with utmost seriousness. After this matter is settled, we will meet again in an official capacity.”

“Yes, I understand.”

Was the extermination of the magical beast important enough to incur such losses?

Or did she not even care about Isaac's words?

Hong Si-Hwa’s voice was so devoid of emotion that it was impossible to discern her intentions.

“In fact, we should have discussed this matter earlier.”

“What do you mean?”

“We have concerns about the very existence of this beast…”

Just as the strategic meeting was about to escalate into a battle of nerves.

'Hmm?’

Baek Yu-Seol sensed something strange from outside the tent and turned his head. Naturally, he couldn’t see anything since he didn’t have the ability to see through things.

But thanks to the extraordinary sensory ability granted by the blessing of Silver Autumn Moon, he could sense something that no one else here could perceive. 

Because this aura…

.... It's a dark mage, isn't it?'

And yet no one else was even twitching. Clearly, no one had noticed it.

'This is the sensory ability of a Class 7 level...'

Distinguishing a dark mage with modern magic was nearly impossible, and even he wouldn’t be able to do it without the cheat functions of the Sentient Spec. 

But to be able to perceive it with just his senses…

'That’s not the important thing right now.'

He looked at Isaac. He was fervently arguing with Hong Si-Hwa, his face filled with anger.

“So, you’re saying that the Morph family deliberately didn't kill the magical beast and sealed it to use it as a 'weapon of war'... Is that what you want to say?"

“Yes, that’s correct. According to our calculations, you have long had the ability to kill the magical beast.”

“This is absurd. The thousand-year-old magical beast, ‘White Tiger Fire Spirit,’ cannot be killed. It has nine lives and will resurrect! Even the great Morph could only manage to seal it, and our family has protected this place for a thousand years to prevent the beast from awakening. And now, a weapon of war? This is absurd.”

Isaac seemed genuinely furious with Hong Si-Hwa.

Though they hadn’t spent much time together, Baek Yu-Seol had never seen him this angry.

“Ha, really... Did you all follow along because you think the same way?”

Isaac Morph cast a glance at the mages and representatives from the World Mage Organization and the various magic towers.

However, they remained silent, their expressions hard and unresponsive.

In other words, they agreed with Hong Si-Hwa.

“This is maddening.”

Isaac rubbed his forehead and removed his spectacles.

Estimated to be a Level 9 Danger, the legendary magical beast, the White Tiger Fire Spirit, had overthrown many nations and killed numerous rare Class 8 mages a thousand years ago, earning its reputation as a 'global threat.' It was his ancestor, the great Morph, who sealed this being.

Yet, even Morph could not find a way to kill the Fire Spirit completely, passing down the duty of sealing it and protecting the world from the magical beast through countless generations.

Now, to hear that they are suggesting it was sealed for use as a weapon of war was laughable.

“... You all have made a wrong choice. Mark my words. If you wake the White Tiger Fire Spirit from its seal, you will not like the outcome.”

“We have thoroughly investigated the White Tiger Fire Spirit and have come fully prepared. There’s no need to worry.”

Confidence or arrogance 

Isaac ran his large hand over his forehead, barely suppressing a sigh.

This was the first time in his life he had faced such a situation. How did his ancestors handle moments like this?

If the great Morph, or at least his wise father, were alive... What would they say?

‘The situation is worse than I thought.’

Watching Isaac Morphe’s turmoil, hn quietly exited the command tent. The battle of nerves had mostly ended, and the strategic meeting was about to begin.

Since Baek Yu-Seol wouldn't actually participate in the battle, there was no need for him to attend the strategy meeting. It wouldn’t hurt to listen, but there was something he needed to confirm immediately.

‘What are those dark mages planning here?’

Like cockroaches, they always show up everywhere.

It was necessary to figure out their intentions.

***

Flame and Eisel. How much time had passed since the two girls lost consciousness?

When they finally woke up and looked at each other, they couldn’t help but scream.

- Aaaah!!

- Kyaaah! Crazy girl, why are you screaming all of a sudden!

- A ghost!

- You’re a ghost too!

- Eh...?

Seeing Flame’s translucent body, Eisel screamed, and only then did she inspect her own body.

- Wha-what? It’s true...?

The bodies of the two girls had become translucent, resembling ghosts, which sent chills down their spines.

- This is…

- It seems we really did successfully travel to the past.

Flame said this while gazing blankly at the large mansion in front of them. Finally noticing it, Eisel’s eyes widened.

- Ah…

In her memories. In her nostalgia.

The lost home.

Now, it was vividly right in front of her eyes. It was not an illusion or a fake, but the real Morph Mansion.

- It’s really... the past... 10 years ago. We have returned to that time.

- … Hey, are you okay?

As Flame carefully asked Eisel, who was staring at the mansion in a daze, she smiled gently and answered.

"Of course! I don't plan on wasting this precious time being sentimental. Let's go quickly."

"Where to?"

"Well, first of all..."

She hesitated before speaking.

"I want to find my father."

"Yes. I think that's a good idea too."

They came here to learn the truth about her father, so it was a natural decision.

So they headed straight towards the mansion, but something unusually noticeable caught their attention.

It was Eisel.

Young Eisel.

“Huh...”

She seemed anxious as she walked around nervously before slipping over the wall and hiding in the forest.

"Wait. That’s a place you're not supposed to go...!"

As Eisel belatedly shouted in panic, Flame said with disbelief.

"Isn't that you when you were younger? You should remember it."

"Uh, yes... Probably..."

She tried desperately to recall her childhood, but how clearly can one remember things from when they were seven years old?

Only the important scenes would flash by like blurry afterimages.

"We should follow her!"

"Is that okay?"

"Yes! That’s Morfran Forest. It’s incredibly dangerous and not a place you can just enter... Wait, hold on..."

As she spoke, something seemed to click in Eisel’s mind, and she started to think hard.

"Surely..."

"That little kid is really fast."

Flame was able to fly without the need to walk or run thanks to their ghostly bodies, led Eisel swiftly in pursuit of young Eisel. Eisel, however, seemed preoccupied with her thoughts.

"Ahhh!"

"Huh? What was that?"

… The scream of young Eisel echoed. Flying quickly to the scene, they found young Eisel being chased by a giant wolf demon.

“This is crazy!”

Flame instinctively pulled out her staff to cast a spell, but realized there was no mana in her body.

Desperate, she tried to physically tackle the wolf, but passed right through it, unable to make contact.

"What is this...!"

They hadn’t known young Eisel faced such a danger. It wasn’t recorded in the original novel.

“This is really dangerous...!”

"Wait. If the past me dies here, then there’s no way the present me can exist, right?"

Something seemed to dawn on Eisel as she spoke calmly.

“Yes, I remember now. There was a time like this. I got lost in the forest and was chased by a terrifying wolf demon. That nightmare-like day..."

As young Eisel was frantically fleeing, she tripped over a rock and the wolf pounced on her. 

In the moment of life-or-death.

Suddenly!

… A hero appeared. A hero wearing a tacky mask.

Even after ten years, she had never forgotten that masked hero, whose face and name she didn’t know.

That man appeared and easily grabbed the wolf by the scruff of its neck, subduing it with one hand.

But then…

"Is that...?"

"Could it be...?"

They looked from one angle to another, rolled forward, and even did backflips to get different perspectives.

"Isn't that just Baek Yu-Seol...?"

Except for the mask. He was unmistakably Baek Yu-Seol.

"... Seems like it?"

What in the world is going on? 

When a figure resembling Baek Yu-Seol appeared ten years in the past, they fell into confusion.

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