20demayo Chapter 306
Chapter 306
“That…”After a long time, Salem finally broke the silence.
“It’s not something that can be said so easily, Sir Arendt. After all, you’re not wrong, but…”
As he continued speaking, Salem’s face turned bright red.
“Since I was born with the destiny of a sorcerer, I have a duty to continue the lineage. Although I have not yet learned anything due to my predecessor’s sudden death… that is why I am here.”
But he stubbornly finished what he wanted to say.
A look of pity crossed Zakar’s face.
It was a rather remarkable story, but Arendt was not easily persuaded.
“Do you think there’s any hope for that?”
Salem, who had been hit where it hurt, stayed silent.
Instead, it was Zakar who stepped forward to refute the question.
“…Since there’s the Unquenchable Heart, isn’t there a possibility?”
“You’re saying you’ll analyze that to figure out how sorcery works?” Thᴇ link to the origɪn of this information rᴇsts ɪn novelhall.com
Arendt tilted his head.
“How, exactly?”
“…”
Zakar also found himself at a loss for words.
Laius, who could no longer stand to watch, asked Lexion.
“Is it very difficult?”
“I couldn’t say it’s easy, not even as a white lie. Well, I can’t say there’s no possibility at all.”
Lexion tilted his head.
“To be honest, I think it’s a waste of time.”
“Yes…?”
Arendt answered Salem plainly, who was at a loss for words at Lexion’s words.
“Because we are at war now.”
Despite the light tone, it was a meaningful statement.
Salem’s face turned blank for a moment.
Zakar and Laius also did not bother to refute that statement.
They just stayed silent and stared blankly at Salem.
After a long while, Salem muttered quietly.
“…Okay.”
“I’m saying that providing you with a place to stay and food isn’t free.”
Arendt continued nonchalantly.
“Your subordinates are all working hard and rolling around, but you’re not.”
“…”
Salem’s head gradually lowered.
Zakar’s expression hardened slightly at the harsh words, but he did not do anything to stop Arendt.
It was because there was no way to refute it from the perspective of the Caerleon Empire.
Arendt’s indifferent voice continued.
“Even if you swing a sword around a bit these days, it’s not something you can get used to in a day. It would be good if you swing it around clumsily and not stab someone next to you, let alone protect yourself.”
“Yes… I’m sorry.”
Salem answered in a tiny voice.
Even if he had ten mouths, he would have nothing to say.
Salem now had no business in the Empire.
To make matters worse, ever since his subordinates caused a commotion right after joining the Empire, he’d practically handed over command to Zakar and Laius.
The fact that he was forgiven for that was enough to make him unable to lift his head up.
“It was originally a promise to grant the right to research artifacts in exchange for cooperating in the war.”
Arendt, with his arms crossed, looked at the spirits hovering around Salem.
“You’ve already caused a major accident once, so it’s safe to say that this is a breach of contract. I told you back then. At that time, you and your subordinates wouldn’t have been able to make any excuses, even if you’d died on the spot.”
Salem remained silent.
Although it was possible to roughly pass over it with Zakar and Arendt’s wit, if the situation had been made public, it would certainly have developed into a huge problem.
“More than anything, you guessed you would be able to start proper research after the war ends. Do you know when the war will end? No, in the first place…”
Arendt said coolly.
“Will you be able to survive until the end of the war?”
A heavy silence lingered after the cold voice.
The spirits simply flapped their wings leisurely, emitting a soft light as if they knew nothing.
That’s what Lexion meant when he said it was a waste of time.
“…”
Salem’s amber eyes turned to the floor.
Although he had a face that showed him wanting to crawl into a hole at any moment, he still couldn’t bring himself to say that he was giving up sorcery.
Because he had a duty as the successor to the race.
Arendt, who was looking down at the boy, added briefly.
“So you have to come up with at least one way to protect your life.”
Salem suddenly raised his head.
“Yes?”
“Don’t make me say it twice.”
Arendt responded with a hint of annoyance.
“Even if we make a hundred concessions and say you hide in the elven kingdom right now with the Unquenchable Heart, is there any guarantee that you’ll be safe there?”
“…”
As the conversation went on, Salem’s expression became increasingly strange.
“In the first place, there was no reason for the Caerleon Empire to hand over the Unquenchable Heart to the Shadow Race simply out of goodwill. The enemy might want that item, so who knows what kind of trouble it would cause if we handed it over to a brat like you?”
“But I have a duty…”
“It’s not your fault that you were born with the mark, so why risk your life?”
Arendt answered dully in a mumbling voice.
“The artifact will later be handed over to the Shadow Race, or they will use it as an excuse to extort more, so it’s none of your business.”
“…”
“Do whatever you want. I wouldn’t have expected much from a child. In the first place, your elder who sent you to a place like this is crazy…”
.
The moment the harsh words came out, Laius covered Arendt’s mouth.
“Do it in moderation.”
Salem’s eyes widened as he heard words he shouldn’t have heard.
“Ah, what just happened…”
“I’m sorry, Salem. I’ll lecture him later, so please pretend you didn’t hear that,” Laius calmly apologized.
“! Where the hell are you putting your hands?”
Arendt shook off the captain’s hand in irritation and wiped his mouth with his sleeve.
“Hey, kid, if you really want to learn sorcery, there’s something you can do. Use your brain. Are you going to just sit here and wait for the war to end, or are you going to try something?”
Laius, who had just glanced at Arendt with unkind eyes, was relieved.
“That guy has a bad habit when talking, but I agree with him that you need to find a way to protect yourself, not just for the war, but for the future.”
Salem’s eyes began to waver at the captain’s calm words.
“Analyzing artifacts and discovering sorcery is something that even the next generation can do. If that’s what you truly wish to do, I have no intention of dissuading you.”
Laius gazed at the elf boy with a profound gaze.
“If I may venture to say, it seems to me that you have already realized in your heart what you wants.”
It was never Salem’s intention to revive sorcery in the first place.
It was just the wish of the Grand Elder and the entire Shadow Race.
Salem had been unusually concerned with his own usefulness since shortly after arriving in the empire.
He was obsessed with the idea that he had to listen to their wishes.
Arendt saw that from the beginning.
Zakar, who had been watching them, opened his mouth.
“Salem, I know the elders will be offended if they hear this, but I agree with Sir Arendt.”
“Huh?”
“If you are worried about the Grand Elder of the Shadow Race, you don’t have to worry.”
Zakar gave a faint smile to Salem, who asked in a bewildered manner.
“If the Dragon recommends it, what can they do? And judging by the situation, if the Shadow Tribe’s Grand Elder says even a single word about sorcery…”
Zakar’s gaze fell on Arendt.
“Iit seems like Sir Arendt will step forward and make a fuss. You know Sir Arendt’s personality very well, Salem.”
Arendt met the instructor’s eyes and responded sharply.
“Why is it me?”
“You say that, but if you lose your temper, I know you’ll attack him without thinking twice. Even now, Grand Elder Altair’s expression changes whenever you are mentioned.”
Arendt frowned slightly when Zakar responded half-jokingly and half-seriously.
“It seems like your personality has really changed a bit.”
“I see. I’m not sure.”
Arendt felt a little uneasy as he watched Zakar speak so expressionlessly.
He didn’t think Zakar in “The Blue Knight of the Holy Sword” was that sly.
While he was lost in thought for a moment, Salem stayed silent and his eyes were downcast.
He was deep in thought.
The spirits fluttered around him, fluttering their wings gently.
“…”
Salem unconsciously clenched his fist.
If he looked at each and every one of the points, there was no mistake in what was said.
As a representative of the Shadow Race, he could not return to the kingdom, and since he had caused trouble in the palace, he had lost his right to receive the artifact, because this was a diplomatic issue.
‘Furthermore…’
He thought he understood what Arendt meant by his barbed words.
The point was to make sure he had a sure way to protect himself when the opportunity arose.
From now on, it would be chaos.
He couldn’t just ignore those words from someone who was on the verge of death just a short while ago.
“If, really if.”
After a long while, Salem finally spoke with difficulty.
“If I become a spirit master as you said… will I be of any use in this war?”
All Salem could do right now was stay still and be protected.
“What use could a kid possibly be?”
It was Arendt who gave a blunt answer.
When Salem looked at him, Arendt calmly added.
“Still, if you learn how to do something, you’d be able to use it effectively when the time comes, at least with your own skills.”
What that meant was that in the end it was up to one’s own choice.
“You choose your role.”
Although the voice was still emotionless, as he listened quietly, he felt the stress drain from his shoulders.
“…Okay.”
Salem nodded slightly.
“I’m sorry, but please give me a few days. I need some more time to think about it.”
“If you’re going to worry about it, decide before the banquet starts. That way, we’ll have at least some use for you.”
Arendt changed the mood and responded lightly.
Then Salem’s eyes widened.
“Wait a minute, that’s so different from what you just said!”
“The original use depends on the person. Of course, I don’t expect anything from you.”
Arendt shrugged his shoulders.
“But I’m good enough. I’m not like your stupid Grand Elder…”
.
Laius silenced Arendt again.
“I’m sorry. I’ll try to change his bad habits soon.”
Zakar spoke indifferently to Laius.
“…You haven’t given up yet. In fact, you’re amazing.”
There was a hint of sympathy in Zakar’s gaze towards Laius.
Even Salem and Lexion began to look at Laius with pity.
Even if he died and came back to life, it was not easy for people to change.
When he met the gazes of the elves and dragon, a long-forgotten feeling of unease stirred in Laius’ stomach.