Chapter 362: Trash Elune (3)
‘Very good. It’s very good.’
I felt as if my heart had been cleared with light. I had no choice but to once again reinstate my loyalties to the great goddess of Benignore.
As expected, if you build up your virtue, you would surely get something in return one day.
A smile popped out of me.
Who could believe that a semi-mythic quest that had never been seen would occur by only raising my right hand?
As I slightly raised my right hand while maintaining a serious expression, a pleasant sound began to be heard. This was obviously the happiest part of my day.
[Quest of the semi-mythical grade is completed.]
[Raise your right hand (1/1)]
[Quest Completion Reward]
[Bomb of Light Potion Recipe]
[High Elf’s Tears with Divine Power (0/1) Leaf of the World Tree (0/1)]
[Catalyst for the Light Alchemist Only (Semi-mythic).]
Several other catalysts were listed. Some of them were definitely what I already possessed.
Of course, the two most important ones were missing, but looking at the atmosphere, it felt like Elena already had what I needed. It was very likely that she also owned the leaf of the World Tree.
Otherwise, there would be no reason for our Goddess to throw out such a useless card.
‘If I did this by myself, I would never succeed.’
The recipe itself was very complicated before the fact that the World Tree leaves were used as ingredients.
There was a lot more to worry about than I had initially thought, and this was not something I could create by risking a hundred attempts.
If I tried to do something, I would have lost all the precious catalysts.
‘It would have taken several years.’
Even techniques I had never used were being described in detail.
In general, it was common to use magical power when dealing with alchemy circles or catalysts. For example, it could be explained as putting the oil called magic power into a car called alchemy.
However, the alchemy of light from the venerable Goddess Benignore was not magic power, but holy oil and fuel. There was a significant difference from what I was accustomed to.
‘It was just a guess. I was really right.’
This was a bit different, but I didn’t even think it would work out so well that I couldn’t help but try. It was only natural for me to pray out of thanks once more. I had learned that our goddess always did watch over me.
‘This is it! This is it!’
This also somewhat proved my hypothesis. This continent was being protected by several gods, and they communicated their will through the medium of quests.
Intervening too deeply was, of course, forbidden, and they would get penalized for wrongdoing.
Perhaps the bastard Altanus, who returned Kim Hyunsung, was likely to have suffered an unimaginable penalty. I could imagine that the Goddess Benignore had suffered through the same thing as well.
Of course, I couldn’t care less about that now. What mattered was that I could reap the benefits.
As I kept smiling, Elena began to look at me with curiosity. I hurriedly spoke up.
“I received a revelation.”
The most appropriate, beautiful, and sure word. There was nothing more reassuring to her than this.
“What?”
“I think it would be better to walk slowly while we talk about it. Oh, and what I need right now are high elf tears with divine power and leaves of the World Tree. Maybe you…”
“Everyone in the Eberian Kingdom has a World Tree leaf. I’ve known that it has no effect…”
“If Elena-nim can drop a few tears in it, I can convert it into a catalyst I can use.”
“Lee Kiyoung-nim, I think I know what this is related to, but it’s so sudden it’s hard to follow. Just explain a little bit slowly…”
“I will explain this later. One thing I can say for sure is that I have received a revelation from Goddess Benignore. I think I can see why Elena-nim and I have met. Yes. I’m sure of it.”
Basically, I met her so I could use her. However, I couldn’t just tell Elena that Elune had ratted her out. Instead, it would be better if I were to tempt her.
“W-What…”
“Elena-nim is someone… I need…”
“Yes…”
“No, it’s nothing.”
“…”
I had thrown out the bait of temptation – it was too late to back out now.
Although I didn’t express it in words, I turned to look at her quietly. I knew she could discern what the suggestive expression on my face meant – she had turned as red as a beetroot.
Oh, she definitely knew it.
Her ears were trembling as if she was nervous. However, strange emotions had come to her face.
‘A feeling of immorality? Achievement?’
It seemed to me that she felt guilty, too, though the joy on her face obviously overrode that.
Most of all, the fact that I wanted her seemed to make her happy. Perhaps she thought that she had finally beaten Jung Hayan. Though it felt to me like a mistress happy at being able to steal the man away from his wife, I didn’t feel like it was strange at all.
However, I also wanted her to be slightly aware of the fact that what she was feeling was wrong. Seeing her staring up at me, her lips tightly closed, was kind of cute.
There was no need for words. She was holding my wrist tightly enough.
Her whole body was trembling, and she had on a very nervous face. Her ears had drooped down, but she was still smiling.
At first glance, she may seem guilty, but it would soon turn into a pleasant tension. As expected, I could see her quietly nodding. She obviously thought that she had won, that I had finally recognized her feelings.
The time itself had become very generous, thanks to the efforts of our Goddess Benignore. At this point, I wondered if it would be okay to make a little move.
Honestly, being moderately relaxed made me feel like I was just camping, not stuck in some monster’s body.
‘It wouldn’t be bad to get trapped at least once more.’
I could feel her pulling my arm slowly.
She turned her head as if asking me to look at her and stopped, but cutely enough, she had pressed her body back together. I took a step back, and she took a step forward.
“So, you’ve r-realized it.”
“…”
“I-I already knew. In fact, I had realized it for a long time, but I was pretending n-not to know. Of course, I wasn’t sure, but I… I think I can know everything now.”
“…”
“Of course, I know that there is someone Lee Kiyoung already loves…”
“It’s a little bit sudden, but… Elena, this isn’t what I just said.”
“No. I know Lee Kiyoung already k-knows. I’m sure.”
‘Would you look at her?’
She seemed quite determined. Her trembling legs and trembling ears were really fun to watch.
Seeing that she was saying this despite my blatant excuses, it seemed that greed had risen in her for the fruit that refused to fall.
“You already know. T-The reason you can’t take another step right now is obviously because of guilt. B-Because you are too kind.”
‘Right. I’m kind.’
“Lee Kiyoung has said… People are connected with a red string. At that time, I thought you and Jung Hayan-nim were connected, but now I have realized that it’s different. Yes. Definitely. Please look straight at me, Lee Kiyoung. It’s not Jung Hayan… that is your fate. Please…”
‘Whoa.’
I thought that I would have to goad her, but it turned out that the opposite had happened – she was encouraging me.
“This is not something to be talked about here. We don’t have time for this. More importantly, Elena, you seem a little excited. If you calm down a little bit…”
“No. It’s because we’re here that I can tell you. I can tell you because it is now. Please look straight at me. Please do not avoid my eyes and look straight at me.”
She had even begun to cry. I felt tempted to harvest some of those tears, but I knew it didn’t feel like the right time now.
“Please look at me. I hope you don’t hide your emotions. I want you to be honest and express it as it is.”
“But…”
“I know you feel guilty. But. But…”
“…”
“Hug me.”
“…”
“Hug me.”
Now Elena just looked desperate. I had never imagined that she would act so aggressively. This only proved my point – that she acted more on impulse than anything else.
Of course, I could see how brave she was.
Elena had recently turned into a bit of an active personality, but the 200 years she was trapped in the kingdom had probably helped with this development.
‘She doesn’t seem to care if the fruit is poisoned.’
Her ears were trembling. I could see her coming up and bringing her lips closer.
Of course, I just pretended to refuse, but I didn’t. Our lips touched in an instant.
[Heroic-grade forced quest is activated.]
[For unknown reasons, the forced quest of the heroic level was canceled.]
I flinched at the uninvited visitor who had come for a second, but it was obvious as to what happened next. Perhaps Elena had even noticed. The fruit she wanted so much wasn’t as sweet as she thought.
As time passed and I was sleeping, the sound of her sniffling from inside of the monster echoed.
Of course, I didn’t worry about it.
As always, I knew she was going to rationalize herself eventually.
This was unavoidable.
[Legendary-grade forced quest is activated.]
[For an unknown reason, the legendary-grade forced quest was canceled.]
I didn’t know if I was just thinking it, but for some reason, I felt as if someone else was crying, too.