Chapter 25

Chapter 25

25. Lucian Belmore (2)

“···Are you going to kill me?”

Are you going to kill?

Benrik blankly looked at the overturned boy.

The emotions settled on the face were diverse.

Shame, fear, terror, expectation, humiliation etc.

Drenor said he entirely entrusts Lucian’s disposition to Benrik but in fact, the given choices were not that many.

Benrik glanced up at the highly risen tree.

Though it seems hidden Benrik could feel it.

The killing intent the fairy-kin warriors, that is the rangers are emitting.

There is not even a bit of hope.

Even if Benrik does not kill the possibility that the guy who lost a place to go can live is almost none. Whether the maze forest or wherever thrown it was clear he would become a cold corpse not long after.

This is the determined conclusion.

‘If I clean it up it is simple.’

How many people suffered damage because of this one guy. Recalling the dawn confronting Giles resentment still boiled inside.

···But.

When Benrik who was sitting on the tree stump raised his body, the boy’s body flinched greatly.

Benrik approached the sitting Lucian and answered the question a little while ago.

“I won’t kill.” “Really···?” “Yes.”

For now.

There was something catching in the heart to make a decision emotionally.

Drenor Vinter.

The gaze that sly knight looked at him with was bothering.

He who long served the principled Margrave of Bromwood,

Without any reason, just because the mood struck.

Skipping all legitimate procedures, entrusts the disposition of a noble to a thirteen-year-old commoner?

No matter how much he thought it did not make sense.

‘There is a reason.’

Until he finds out that reason he intends to watch first without acting rashly.

“Yes, because killing you has nothing beneficial to me.”

Above all Benrik knew several methods to make one suffer enough to die without killing a person.

“Then are you releasing me?”

He doesn’t know how he reaches the conclusion of releasing.

“If you want I can release you right now.” “···! Then···!” “Instead remember. The moment you take even one step out of this village there will be nothing protecting you.”

At Benrik’s words Lucian turns his head as if unable to understand.

“What is that···.”

Then when eyes met with the fairy-kin warrior wearing a giant great bow on the back, he is startled and lowers his eyes.

Puff, the shoulders of the boy who lowered his head trembled.

Lucian who no longer has the wall of status he had believed in, nor the great support of the family now did not even have a place to go.

“I am saying it because I can see how noble-like and excellent a life you lived.”

He might meet the fleeing Giles, or perhaps meet a servant or maid he previously abused and drove out.

Even without going that far right now the colleagues and relatives of the escort team who died this time if they see the child in front would try to tear and kill.

“How, shall I release? I am also curious how long you will last.”

The boy who was like a mute who ate honey shook his head while trembling. Benrik untied the rope that was tightly binding Lucian.

“As much as possible act as if present or not. Don’t be an eyesore.” “······I understand.” “Don’t forget to earn your keep too.” “Earn···keep···?”

Lucian tilted his head sideways.

“I said. The reason I don’t kill you is because there is nothing beneficial to me. Whether knowledge I don’t know, or skill, or hidden emergency funds you have to prove that there is value in keeping you alive by emptying them.” “···Huh.”

Immediately the boy’s expression was dyed bizarrely.

Lucian who lived his whole life being upheld.

Value was not something a noble like himself had to prove. It was something the lower things had to show somehow to catch his eye.

But now, a commoner kid who would just have passed ten was saying to himself.

Prove your usefulness.

To this Lucian Belmore.

There was instinctive rejection and a sense of humiliation rising from deep in the chest.

‘Dare···.’

The words that rose to the throat did not come out of the mouth.

‘···I am not a noble now.’

Neither family, nor status, nor family.

There was nothing protecting him now.

Except this kid in front.

“······I understand.”

***

Around evening, he received the great elder’s invitation.

“Hodge.”

When going to the village entrance together with the fairy-kin guide Hodge who was waiting for Benrik wore a gentle smile.

“Benrik. You are busy. It is not easy to see the face.” “Perhaps because I am a capable mercenary who solved the kidnapping incident they don’t leave me alone.”

At Benrik’s joke Hodge burst into a hearty laugh.

“Is the leg a bit okay?” “Leg? Why my leg?”

He opens his eyes round as if nothing and shows jumping in place.

Benrik also laughed along.

Anyway, who would say not a mercenary the bluff is ingrained in the body.

The two people walked following the fairy-kin’s guidance and chatted.

“But from when were you a mana user? You didn’t say such words.”

Hodge who was awkwardly laughing whether something was shy told the whole story.

“In the mountain range? But why didn’t you say?” “I was going to say then when I pass the Silver Badge promotion examination. Because handling mana is not yet skilled enough to boast.”

Silver Badge promotion examination.

Benrik was an ungraded mercenary who could not even become a Bronze Badge grade mercenary if one insists. Because the issuance of the mercenary badge is impossible until 16 years old when one legally becomes an adult.

‘Still they count the mission cases.’

From some point Benrik was naturally thinking of after the probation period.

“By the way why on earth did you come back then? Do you know how much my heart trembled?” “But in result you lived thanks to me right?” “That···.”

Hodge who was about to refute shook his head as if losing.

“···I cannot deny. I really lived thanks to you. Thank you, Benrik.” “You’re welcome.”

Benrik who received the words while raising his chin slightly glanced at the fairy-kin and whispered.

“But where are we going?”

At that Hodge also shook his head as if he himself does not know the reason.

“I also only heard that the great elder is calling.”

In the midst of the question how much did they walk, the fairy-kin man who was guiding the two people politely took something out from his bosom and handed it.

Two long black cloths.

“Would the two of you cover your eyes with this?”

“Yes?”

When the two people reluctantly met eyes, he said.

“Because the path must not be leaked so please understand.”

On earth where is the destination?

The two people while questioning readily received and tied the blindfolds.

Walking again like that with eyes covered for dozens of minutes.

“You may take them off now.”

Benrik slowly pulled off the blindfold.

The first thing felt was light.

Intense light never felt even once since birth.

However rather than being dazzling a comfort as if nestling the body in a warm cradle embraced the body.

A giant tree of a size that cannot all be described with the words literally enormous was emitting light. Pure white light flowed along each and every tree grain one large leaf vein one vein.

“Wow···.”

Benrik burst into admiration without knowing. At the same time he realized the identity of the tree. He had no choice but to know.

‘Mother Tree···.’

The origin and guardian deity of the fairy-kin.

Baan’s words that it reached the sky were truth without a single exaggeration. The world tree really pierced the clouds and rose up to there.

It was a size that could only be said to be literally overwhelming.

It was then that someone approached beside Benrik who was standing blankly and bursting into admiration.

“Were you surprised? Didn’t this body say, how big the Mother Tree is. Now you know it is not a lie.”

The girl who lightly grabbed the end of the fluttering dress raised her chin as if to show. The girl with skin as pure white as snow and the dress suited extremely well.

Asserting Benrik had never seen a person this beautiful since birth.

“···Who?” “Hmm? You don’t recognize again? Did you really hurt your head?”

This way of speaking surely.

“Baan?” “That is so, this body is Baelonian Lunagrif. Now seeing are your eyes not good?”

“···This I was really quite surprised a lot.” “Hmm?” “I was surprised because you are too pretty.”

At Benrik’s words Baan was startled and flustered.

“W-what···! Uh, the young guy ahem. You have the talent to surprise people···! Though this body is not an appearance that falls short anywhere, ahem···.”

It was when the girl whose cheeks turned bright red was clearing her throat.

A sign of people was felt from behind.

The fairy-kin warriors and elders led by the great elder, and the village residents.

‘Come to think of it what about Hodge?’

The Hodge who came together was not seen. While Benrik was looking around, Leliont said in a stiff voice.

“The man who came together was sent to the banquet hall first. The reason I called you separately like this is because there are words I want to say.” “Yes? Only to me?”

At Benrik’s asking back the great elder Leliont nodded his head.

“I carefully examined you for the past few days. Because I was asked by Drenor to look into your constitution. Would you extend your hand for a moment?”

“The hand?”

When Benrik extended his hand the great elder put two fingers on the wrist.

Immediately after the same cozy energy felt from the world tree a little while ago circulated one round through Benrik’s body along the hand.

Benrik watched that appearance with a curious expression.

‘It seems like taking the pulse.’

Actually the result was not different either.

“···As expected.”

The great elder who muttered as if sighing diagnosed.

“To say the conclusion first you cannot learn the mana operation method.”

Benrik opened his eyes wide and looked at the great elder.

“You are not high in affinity but simply sensitive. Precisely you are extremely sensitive only to mana that has gone through refinement once, with will dwelling. In my thought there is probably influence from the growth environment.” “I grew up in the Golden Mountains. From young I followed my father and went out to magical beast hunting.” “Did you also feel magical energy sensitively?”

It was accurate. Leliont who saw Benrik’s expression nodded his head.

“I see. The origin of magical energy and mana is the same. As the opposite price of becoming sensitive to refined mana one became dull to natural mana.”

The reason one cannot learn the mana operation method was because of that.

“To handle mana one has to start from feeling the unrefined mana in the atmosphere first. One has to feel to inhale, and inhale to refine.”

Leliont who said up to there said while looking at Benrik with subtle eyes.

“But, it is not that one can only handle mana by necessarily learning the mana operation method.”

When Leliont said up to there Baan who had been quiet inwardly rebuked.

“Great elder, always saying, your introduction is too long.” “···I am sorry.”

It was at that moment that Leliont’s attitude changed sharply.

“Mr. Benrik.”

‘···Mr.? Did I hear wrong?’

An even more astonishing thing occurred right after.

“Thank you for saving the princess.”

The great elder who said so knelt without hesitation.

He who possesses the highest status among the fairy-kin currently in the village excluding Baan.

Then, all the fairy-kin lined up behind him knelt in unison.

“I Leliont Aerindel, representing the entire tribe convey infinite thanks.”

The great elder who said so took something out from his bosom and held it out. It was a glass bottle containing a brilliantly colorful liquid.

“It is the Tear of the Mother Tree. If you eat this even if you cannot feel mana you will be able to accumulate mana in the heart.”

The flustered Benrik looked at Baan.

“Didn’t I say? This body is a precious body.”

The fairy-kin girl whose eyes met smiled arrogantly.

“You have the obligation to be treated as much as you treated this body.”

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