Chapter 267
A woman stood in front of the World Tree, the giant tree that supported the world.
Her heavily scarred face was filled with exhaustion, and her clothes were torn in several places, exposing her skin. It was a state that could only be described as a wretched mess.
The long, pointed ears poking out through the woman’s pale green hair were proof that she was an Elf.
They had encountered countless Elves on the way here, but unlike them, she did not seem to be encroached upon by demonic energy.
Then again, it was only natural. Thanks to the power of the Spirit King, Hera was immune to unholy forces.
“Hera.”
Franz called her name in a low voice.
Both of their ears twitched for a moment, and after a brief silence, a voice was heard.
“…Could you make it clear who you are calling?”
“I was calling you.”
“Why did you call me?”
“I was wondering if you were okay.”
“I am certainly not at ease. But that does not mean I will step out of this matter. No, rather, I would like you all to step out of this.”
I want to resolve the sins I committed myself.
Saying so, Hera slowly closed her eyes.
A cluster of blue light gathered in front of her, soon taking the shape of a giant tiger. It was the power of the Spirit King she possessed.
Franz, who did not know much about Spirit Arts, merely watched the sight in fascination.
“Could I produce a similar result with magic…?”
A similar feat would certainly be possible. But that would only be if the magic user were controlling it at will.
Grrrrr-.
He wouldn’t be able to make the tiger rub its head of its own will. Unless he was creating a new creature with magic, it would be forever impossible.
“…Who are you? I have not heard of anyone else wielding the power of the Spirit King other than me.”
The other Hera narrowed her eyes and asked. It seemed she had not realized that the person in front of her was herself.
Hera, who was stroking the tiger’s head, slowly shifted her gaze to her.
“I am you.”
“You are me…?”
“Yes, the chieftain of the Elves and the one chosen by the Spirit King. You, who strove to save your kin captured by Humans, and who could only watch as the World Tree fell to the cult’s schemes.”
“Any Elf would know that much. To impersonate me with just that…”
“Now that the Demon Lord’s resurrection has occurred, the world is on the brink of destruction. The Great Forest and the World Tree are the same. Therefore, cooperate with the Hero to save the world.”
At Hera’s words, the other fell silent as if she had become mute. In addition, her eyes were wide open in disbelief.
“The Spirit King surely said these words. Am I wrong?”
“Then are you truly me…? If so, how can you be with such Humans?”
“I was saved by them.”
“Th-that makes no sense. Why would Humans do such a thing…”
“Ah, you seem to have misunderstood something, just so you know…”
Hera trailed off and hugged Franz’s arm.
Franz, who could not understand the reason, merely panicked and allowed her action.
“I am hoping to become this man’s slave. And this man is continuing to refuse it tactlessly.”
Hera spoke with a smile on her lips, as if she were trying to boast.
'It’s not exactly wrong, but was there a reason to bring it up now…?'
Somehow, the gazes piercing the back of his head felt stinging. He didn’t even need to check to know what kind of expressions the women standing behind him were making.
…It seemed he might suffer for a while.
“Ah, now I understand. You have been brainwashed by Humans. How truly pitiful.”
“Well, the current you wouldn’t understand. There was a time when I thought that way too.”
Letting out a short sigh, Hera let go of Franz’s arm that she had been hugging.
As his elbow slipped out from being buried in her soft curves, the warmth gradually faded.
“Franz, in the end, we have to kill her to get out of here, right?”
“Well, for now, yes…”
“If so, please wait a little bit, everyone. I will go and resolve the matter I’ve caused.”
Hera climbed onto the back of the large tiger. The sight of her holding a bow on top of it looked quite similar to a picture she had seen in a textbook when she was young.
Not to be outdone, the other Hera also summoned a giant tiger and climbed onto it.
The battle began with the two of them drawing their bowstrings at the same time. The fired arrows soon split into dozens of smaller arrows and headed toward each other.
The sight of the blue arrows filling the sky was nothing short of beautiful, but the ensuing result was only gruesome and cold.
BOOOOOOM-!
The arrows pouring down from the sky caused massive explosions as they touched the ground. There were dozens, hundreds of them, enough to make one believe it was a siege bombardment.
However, such attacks failed to leave a single scratch on either of them. It was thanks to the tigers carrying them, moving at incredible speeds and dodging all the bombardments.
Then again, they knew each other terribly well, so it was only natural.
“F-Franz, are you really going to leave them be…?”
Yusti-ah asked worriedly.
A translucent shield was placed around everyone, including her; Franz had used magic to keep them from being swept up in the battle.
Franz let out a short sigh as he followed Hera with his eyes.
“I plan to just watch for now.”
“But you’ll step in if it gets dangerous, right…?”
“Of course.”
He had chosen to watch out of consideration for Hera’s feelings for now, but he intended to step in at any moment if the situation became dangerous. It was better to live and regret than to die.
And above all, Franz did not want to lose her. She was a close friend and a comrade who watched his back.
“To think that not being able to do anything would be this frustrating…”
Franz let out another short sigh and watched Hera’s battle.
Clusters of blue light gathered on the drawn bowstring and were fired as an arrow. It was a massive arrow, easily ten times the size of a normal one.
The arrow, containing tremendous power, advanced rapidly, dyeing the surrounding air in its color.
But the opponent was not so easy either. She leaned her body heavily to dodge the arrow and similarly drew her bowstring.
The missed arrow smashed through the trees of the Great Forest and flew endlessly, while a new arrow was fired into the air.
With two archers possessing such incredible skills that they could play an active role in the Hero’s Party fighting each other, the area was truly being devastated.
How much time had passed since then?
“Keuhuk-!”
A glowing arrow lodged into the other’s shoulder. She had intercepted dozens of incoming arrows, but was caught off guard by a single ordinary arrow that shot out from the dirt and dust.
But she did not give up. Even with blood soaking her clothes, she continued the battle as if nothing had happened.
She had probably fought like this up until now, turning a blind eye to her wounds as if they were nothing.
Did that underlying strength pay off? Not long after, a large wound appeared on Hera’s body as well.
After that, an exchange of offensive and defensive attacks continued. Since the two were similar in skill, neither one greatly overpowered the other.
Of course, the sight was quite precarious, so everyone, including Franz, had to watch tensely.
Eventually, the two fell from their tigers and, completely covered in dirt, aimed their bows at each other.
“Why…! Why are you going this far?! Are those Humans that precious to you?!”
“Yes, they are exceptionally precious to me. to the point where I want to sacrifice myself to protect them because they protected me, my kin, and the Great Forest.”
“That can’t be…! Aren’t all Humans trash…!”
“Of course, there are Humans who are like trash. But it’s not like all Elves are good either, right? You should know that better than anyone.”
If she had striven to reclaim the slaves from the Humans, she would have surely reached that conclusion. She would have learned that the one who sold the Elves to the Humans was none other than their own kin, and her own older brother at that.
Arrows were fired from both of them right after that conversation ended.
A single blue arrow grazed right past Hera’s face, leaving a scratch on her cheek. A solid red line was drawn, and a drop of blood trickled down over it.
Hera wiped the drop of blood from her cheek with the back of her hand and slowly stepped forward.
Where she was heading, there was another Hera lying collapsed with an arrow lodged in her chest.
Arriving right next to her, Hera soon lowered her posture.
“Why did you let yourself get hit…?”
“…I didn’t exactly let myself get hit. I just thought for a moment that your words might be right.”
“The world calls that letting yourself get hit.”
“…You’re noisy.”
Cough, a gush of blood spilled out of her mouth.
Hera took a handkerchief out of her pocket and wiped her mouth.
“…You’re doing something useless.”
“I know.”
“…Looking at it like this, you are definitely me.”
“Did you only just realize that? We even look the same.”
Saying so, Hera carefully lifted her head and placed it on her thigh.
Whoosh-.
A gentle breeze blew through the Great Forest, scattering the fallen leaves on the ground.
“…May I ask one thing on my way out?”
“Ask anything.”
“Are the Great Forest and the World Tree really safe? What about our kin who became slaves?”
That makes it two questions, doesn’t it?
Hera swallowed that thought and spoke quietly.
“They are safe. Our kin are also returning one by one. In a little while, our kin will even go on a trip together to human society.”
“So, are you happy…?”
“I am happy, to the point where I would have no regrets even if I died at any moment.”
“Is that so? Is that how it is…? So that was it…”
Strength gradually drained from the muttering voice, and at the same time, her green eyes lost focus and clouded over.
Eventually, when her breath stopped, Hera carefully closed her eyelids.
“You have suffered for hundreds of years. I do not know where that place will be, but please live happily.”
Her body gradually turned to dust, swept away and disappeared in the gentle breeze. Eventually, the only thing left in that spot was a single green gem that had hung on her necklace.
Holding it in her hand as if it were precious, Hera stood up.