NOVPUB
Chapter 484
That night, after I had met and greeted the people of Rijaiera, there was a feast. It was a celebration to welcome me as a guest and as Ellen’s friend.
They prepared the meat they had hunted, roasting the animals whole, and the villagers all gathered for a feast. It wasn’t overly extravagant, but the people of Rijaiera were self-sufficient, and there seemed to be no problem with that.
They welcomed me simply because I was Ellen’s friend.
The adults were aware that the world was in great turmoil, but they did not mention it. It felt as though Rijaiera was isolated from the rest of the world in some way, and it seemed that many of the residents, including the children, were unaware of other matters as well, like the family of Sunday and Monday.
The world was in chaos. Everyone was worried about Ellen, but it was clear they believed nothing serious would happen to her.
Were the people of Rijaiera born here and destined to live here until they died? Did outsiders ever drift into the village?
“Is it really that chaotic outside? Nothing happens here because we’re so deep in the mountains, and the adults don’t tell us anything. They just say not to go too far from the village.”
It was Lena, who had introduced herself as Ellen’s childhood friend, who quietly asked me this.
I could see Arta sitting on the other side. He was focused on me as well. It seemed these two did not know the details either. They didn’t seem to realize how strange it was that nothing was happening in Rijaiera at all.
It was clear that unless one reached a certain age, the adults didn’t reveal the true nature of Rijaiera to them.
“It’s dangerous. Very much so,” I said.
“Tch, you’re not going to give us a straight answer either, huh?”
I decided there was no need to inform them of what they were unaware of. There was no reason to tell those who did not know the details about the hell the outside world had become. I quietly watched the villagers chatting and laughing away, including Ellen’s parents.
There was no need to die for someone else. Just because one had the power and ability to do so did not mean they had to feel obligated to do it.
Even so, I did not feel comfortable watching them living like this, hidden away from the rest of the world. But I couldn’t demand that they do anything, or force them to do anything. After all, the Gate Incident had happened because of me.
I didn’t know exactly what kind of power they possessed, but if they lent the word their power, perhaps the situation could be resolved more quickly. Thes questions continued to plague me.
Ellen’s mother, Luna Artorius, glanced over at me from a distance away, as though reading my thoughts. Her gaze quickly went off elsewhere, but I could feel that she had looked directly at me just moments ago.
***
“Follow me, Reinhart.”
After the feast ended and Luna had finished tidying up, she called me aside. Without a word, she led the way over the foothills of Rijaiera.
Soon, we arrived at a clearing with an old wooden scarecrow and a small shed. It wasn’t very spacious, and seemed excessively crude compared to the facilities at the Temple.
Luna did not bother to explain what this place was. There was no need for an explanation. It was likely where Ragan and Ellen had practiced their swordsmanship.
I didn’t know how the two heroes managed to practice their swordsmanship in such a crude place. Perhaps Ragan had taught Ellen the sword. I didn’t know whether Ragan learned the way of the sword from Luna or from Ronan. However, I could tell that I was standing in a place of historical significance.
Was she trying to teach me something? What could I learn from Luna?
“You cannot possess the power I use,” Luna said.
It wasn’t that she couldn’t teach me, but that I couldn’t possess it. Her definitive statement made my breath catch in my throat.
“Perhaps I cannot properly teach you anything,” she continued.
I did not know what restrictions had been placed on her or what the situation was. It was clear that trying to teach me something was a significant risk for her. Just as I couldn’t ignore the world, perhaps she couldn’t ignore me.
“Just promise me one thing.”
“What... are you saying?”
“Promise that you will trust me.”
“...”
“Can you do that?”
‘Trust her...’
I didn’t know what she meant by that, and she seemed unwilling to provide any detailed explanation.
‘Why is she saying this before teaching me anything? Perhaps it’s a warning that situations could arise in which I might not be able to trust her. What sort of situation does she foresee in which I wouldn’t be able to trust her?’
Nevertheless, she had taken me in even though I had come to her unannounced, and was even willing to teach me something.
“Of course,” I replied.
Luna continued to look at me quietly.
I had to trust her. If trusting her meant I could gain something that would help me prepare for whatever the future held, then I had to trust her.
There was nothing to gain from doubting Luna after coming this far.
What would she think of my calm declaration of trust?
She did not express any opinion about it. She simply nodded quietly.
“Show me your Mana Reinforcement.”
“Yes.”
Kurung!
Activating Mana Reinforcement had become as easy as breathing. But could she lead me to the next level?
About three seconds after I activated Mana Reinforcement, she spoke.
“That’s enough.”
At her instruction, I stopped the release of mana.
Could she identify my problem just by looking at me?
Luna turned away.
“Your mana flow is excessively emotional,” she said. “Let’s go back.”
That was all she said.
“Trust me...”
I felt like I was beginning to understand what those words meant.
***
How much time was left? I believed there was still quite a bit of time before the final battle, but since the situation had changed drastically from the original story, unexpected events could occur at any time. Although Edina was far from the continent, I could still receive reports on the affairs of the continent and the empire through the information Antirianus gathered.
However, Rijaiera was isolated from the rest of the world. Therefore, news of the events of the world did not reach my ears.
I had arrived in Rijaiera to find a breakthrough, but I had learned nothing so far. The only thing I learned was that my mana flow was excessively emotional.
For several days after that, Luna prepared meals for me and busied herself with village work alongside Ronan. It was clear, even to the untrained eye, that life in a self-sufficient mountain village was busy.
As I watched these scenes, I couldn’t help but feel a foreboding anxiety. There was no time to waste. Even at this moment, countless people were dying, and I didn’t know what was happening in Edina, or how the empire and the rest of the continent were faring.
I should have been swinging my sword tirelessly, without a moment to breathe. Yet here I was, idly watching the lives of these mountain villagers.
I felt like shouting at her, demanding to know if she was somehow not worried about Ellen. That urge came to me dozens of times a day. However, ever since I showed her my Mana Reinforcement that night, she hadn’t even asked me to try it again.
Rijaiera was isolated from the rest of the world and disconnected from worldly affairs, and so I did not hear anything.
I felt like I was going crazy with frustration, and although Luna and Ronan took good care of me, they were not giving me what I truly wanted.
I felt like I was going insane, so I spent all day in the clearing, swinging my sword. Perhaps she wanted me to find a breakthrough on my own.
I drew out my immense mana until I was nearly exhausted, and when I reached a state close to exhaustion, I leaned against a tree trunk to rest. Once I recovered, I focused all my attention on reaching the next stage of Mana Manipulation.
However, I made no progress at all.
***
A week had passed since I’d arrived in Rijaiera. I had become somewhat acquainted with the people of Rijaiera, but Luna and Ronan still hadn’t taught me anything.
In the end, I had no choice but to make a decision.
At breakfast time, I spoke up.
“May I... leave for a bit and come back?”
“Leave? Where will you be going?” Luna asked, and I sighed.
“There are matters to settle and people I need to attend to. I think I need to assess the situation before returning,” I explained.
She looked at me quietly. “You may leave. However, if you do, I will not allow you back into Rijaiera.”
“...”
I wanted to ask why leaving for a short while was such a big issue. The words rose up in my throat, but I couldn’t bring myself to say them.
Luna had told me to trust her. However after a week of her showing me no concern, I felt like I was losing my mind.
If only they would make me do something related to learning, even if it was a task beyond my ability... But I was just abandoned and left to do nothing.
No matter how much I struggled alone, I could not discover any clues that could show me how to become stronger. Besides, the things I was doing could be done outside of Rijaiera as well.
I was going crazy not knowing what was happening in Edina without me, or how events were unfolding.
I had initially planned to be away for a while, but once I had actually left, I realized it wasn’t Edina that needed me, but it was I who desperately needed information about the world. Not knowing how the world was faring was driving me insane with anxiety.
That was why I wanted to leave, just for a moment. Not even a day, just a few hours, using teleportation. Yet Luna said she wouldn’t let me back if I left.
I couldn’t understand what she was thinking.
“What will you do?” Luna asked as she looked at me, as if it was my choice.
Time was passing, and irreversible events were likely unfolding.
Could I really gain anything from Rijaiera?
“... I’ll stay.”
Luna simply nodded quietly, as if to say that was fine.
***
It had been two weeks since my arrival in Rijaiera, and I had been away from Edina for well over a month. As the end of the Gate Incident approached, the pace of warp gate destruction slowed, and careful preparation for each big battle was necessary. Each gate had to be approached cautiously.
I had thoughts relating to this hundreds of times a day, almost obsessively.
I felt an immense sense of isolation and anxiety and was gradually going insane because of all the events I did not know about, that were happening in places where I wasn’t present.
Was Charlotte handling Edina’s affairs well? Was she having any trouble with Riana and Olivia?If so, Harriet would be caught in the middle and have a difficult time.
Was Ellen okay? Was she being deployed in overly dangerous operations?
I felt nausea from the stress rising in me every moment, which itself stemmed from my lack of knowledge of what was going on.
At least Luna had made me perform Mana Reinforcement for her once more the previous day. This time, she said nothing. As soon as she saw me activate my mana, she simply said it was enough, then turned away and left.
If I was doing something wrong, she could at least tell me what was wrong. If it was rough, she could at least say it was rough. If it was lacking, she could say it was lacking. If there was a problem, she could at least tell me what the problem was.
I wanted to shout all of those thoughts at her, but I couldn’t say anything.
Something was missing. Was I supposed to realize it on my own?
I relentlessly practiced my Mana Reinforcement in the clearing.
I was panting hard.
Even immense mana had its limits.
After exhausting all my mana, I sat down and leaned against a tree trunk, drenched in sweat.
Through the process of depleting and then recovering my mana, my mana capacity was increasing. But I needed to move on to the next stage. This was no longer meaningful.
I had already prepared several talents. No one was in a better condition to reach Master class than me, except Ellen.
I didn’t know what the problem was or what was lacking. It felt like I just needed to take one more step, but I didn’t know how to take that step.
“Want some water?”
“... Huh?”
I turned my head at the sound of a voice coming from somewhere and saw a short-haired girl standing there, offering me a water bottle.
“Uh... Thanks.”
Having no reason to refuse, I opened the canteen that Lena handed me and drank the water. The water was cold, and seemed to chill my brain instantly. Perhaps it wasn’t just that the water was cold, but also that my head had become excessively hot.
Having spent two weeks in Rijaiera, I had become somewhat acquainted with the villagers. However, since I spent almost all day in this clearing, I rarely encountered anyone. This was only the third conversation I was having with Lena, Ellen’s childhood friend.
Lena tilted her head as she looked at me. “You’re always here, aren’t you?”
“... Yeah, well...”
“I’ve been watching from afar for a while, and you seem really skilled.”
“... Really?”
Even though I could only perform Mana Reinforcement, at my level, I could overpower someone who had reached Master class with sheer output. My physical abilities were of course beyond the ordinary, but that alone wasn’t satisfactory to me.
I looked at Lena quietly.
Rijaiera wasn’t an ordinary village. So, could Lena also use weapons, including swords?
“Do you know how to use weapons?”
“Me?” Lena pointed to herself with her finger and shook her head vigorously. “Not really. I learned a little with Ellen and Arta from Ragan oppa a long time ago, but I don’t have a knack for it.”
‘Really? In a village where the names of two heroes of humanity are mentioned so casually?’
Rijaiera truly was a strange village.
“Come to think of it, you seem to handle a sword better than Ragan oppa or Ellen.”
“Ha, that can’t be...”
“Is that so? Maybe it’s because it’s been ages since I saw Ragan oppa or Ellen wield a sword. Ellen must be incredible now, right?”
Lena really seemed to have no particular talent for handling weapons. Perhaps it was just my preconceived notions about Rijaiera. Aside from Ellen, Ragan, and their parents, it seemed the people of Rijaiera were just ordinary folks.
Anyway, Lena’s assessment was wrong. I did not know the extent of Ragan Artorius’s achievements when he went to face the Demon King, but Ellen was stronger than me even with just a sword, and if she used everything she had, I wouldn’t stand a chance.
Lena took back the canteen I was holding and gulped down some water. After drinking, Lena crossed her arms and looked at me.
“I don’t really know why you’re here,” she said.
“... Yeah.”
“But watching you makes me really anxious.”
“Anxious?”
Her words struck a chord within me.
“I don’t know what kind of chaos is happening outside, and I don’t know why you’re here alone without Ellen, even though you’re her friend... but for some reason, watching you makes me feel anxious as well, and I don’t even know what you’re doing or why you’re here.”
Was my anxiety and restlessness so apparent that it could be sensed from afar?
“What’s the rush?” she asked.
It was entirely understandable for Lena, who knew nothing of the circumstances of the outside world, to say that. She knew something was going on but did not know the specifics of what was happening outside.
In my situation, I couldn’t afford to be relaxed. But I had no intention of explaining my circumstances to Lena.
“If you rush too much, you won’t even be able to do the things you normally can,” Lena said as she looked at me.
“... Huh?”
“I’m leaving now. Don’t overdo it.”
Lena quickly retreated from my sight, as though those words had been nothing but a passing comment. I quietly watched Lena’s disappearing figure.
It seemed Lena wasn’t the only strange thing about Rijaiera.
“...”
I sat quietly in the clearing, lost in thought.
‘Reaching Master class requires going beyond simple Mana Reinforcement. And this anxiety and restlessness that dominates my entire being...’
I quietly drew out all the mana in my body, activating my entire being.
The turbulent torrent of mana swirling around my body was clearly visible even to my eyes. It was unstable.
“...”
Luna had said something similar.
“Your mana flow is excessively emotional.”
Was my Mana Reinforcement fundamentally flawed?
