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Chapter 80

An artifact that grants the wearer the ability to see as clearly at night as during the day. One might think improving night vision isn't that important, but he knew the terror of the night.

"I was once stranded in a forest, and I realized there's nothing more directly tied to survival."

Food, sleep, potential threats.

Elija recalled his own figure wandering the forest before meeting Echo. The memory of shrinking his shoulders to hide in the pitch-black night was still vivid. He'd slept in trees, dug holes with his bare hands to hide. When the darkness was absolute and only the monsters' eyes glowed, a fear he'd never known gripped him—Elija was always afraid of the night.

Even after meeting his strangest and most special connection, the slime Echo, it was a long time before he could sleep properly. The reckless Echo definitely had a talent for easing his tension.

'Anyway, Echo dragged me to that place, and it became our home.'

How did Echo know to lead him there? Thanks to that, he'd found a hideout in the highest-risk forbidden zone and had time to compose himself. There was no great reason he could regain his stability. Just a wooden wall to hide behind in the dark forest, and one being on his side. Because something cool and squishy was always beside him.

Whenever he woke from nightmares, a small, jelly-like something was on his forehead. The cool slime would soothe his heat and often fall asleep itself. Cool. Muttering that, Elija would look at the sky-blue slime shining transparently in the moonlight filtering through the trees and fall back asleep. Perhaps having a place to rest his heart gave him peace. Gradually, he grew accustomed to having Echo by his head.

"Because of the forest?"

Snapped back to reality by Zelmir's words, Elija lowered his golden eyes and smiled sheepishly. He wasn't afraid of the night anymore, but he couldn't rule out future night battles.

"I just thought that if I'd had night vision then, I might have lived with less tension."

Zelmir tapped his chin with his finger, intrigued.

"You said you met the slime in the Forest of Darkness. Indeed, the forest night is very dangerous."

Especially the Forest of Darkness—it's a miracle you survived. Zelmir looked up at Elija with a kind smile from his chair.

"It was a great help in this battle too."

Elija told Zelmir how Nérien had helped them when they were struggling with poor night vision. He also liked that the bracelet's size could be freely adjusted to the wearer's wrist. It wouldn't do for it to be cumbersome when swinging a sword.

"And I didn't contribute enough to deserve something so precious. Besides, taking an elf treasure out for money would just cause trouble."

Explaining its origin would be awkward too……. Elija shook his head as if the thought itself was dizzying.

"It's a better choice than you think."

"Pardon?"

Zelmir smiled brightly.

"Yes. The treasures here are less treasures and more…… relics."

The group, who had been listening with rapt attention, tilted their heads.

"Since the most recent item was placed here 200 years ago……."

Two, 200 years. Elija's mouth fell open.

"If I'd recklessly brought something out into the world, it might have caused quite a stir."

Heu-heut, as Zelmir lifted the corners of his mouth, Delro grimaced and leaned toward Melden.

"That old man, he said we could choose freely, but he's got a nasty streak after all."

Sogoon-sogoon.

Leon looked up at Delro with a pitying gaze.

"Delro-nim, the person in front of you is an elf."

Melden's face turned pale.

"I-I'm sorry. This one doesn't know any better……."

"Ahaha, it's fine."

Zelmir laughed it off cheerfully and patted Leon's orange hair.

"And there's another reason I said it was a good choice. That bracelet has a minor luck effect in addition to night vision."

"Luck?"

Elija's eyes widened as he looked down at the bracelet.

"The elf craftsman who first made it named it 'Cat's Star.'"

"Cat's Star……."

The simple bracelet with a single black stone suddenly looked different.

"I heard he made it after his beloved cat passed away, hoping its next life would be happy, and he used a spirit stone that enhances the wearer's luck."

"Wow, really?"

"Are there such spirit stones?"

Melden and Leon's eyes sparkled as they turned to Zelmir.

"In the past, non-attribute spirits often formed contracts. Using a spirit stone that housed a luck spirit can have a certain effect."

It's very rare. Zelmir's green eyes shone as he looked straight at Elija.

"You have a good eye for valuable things."

Zelmir's lips curved into a smile.

Ahem, Melden twitched his lips and coughed.

"Well, Elija-nim's eye for quality is simply exceptional."

Luck—that's great. Melden's blue eyes happily surveyed the elf treasury.

"It's a pity I couldn't look at all these precious things, but I've received a truly wonderful gift."

Thank you. At Melden's thanks, the group all bowed their heads to Zelmir.

"One final payment remains."

Zelmir handed Elija a small ornament. The last promised item—the elves' token.

"Are we really allowed to receive this token?"

"Keeping promises is what elves do."

Zelmir smiled, turning to head back to the forest.

"And many elves owe their lives to you all. The elves of Loel's Forest will welcome the Echo Mercenary Group."

At Zelmir's words, Melden, who had been admiring the token, couldn't contain his curiosity and asked.

"Excuse me, what does 'Loel's Forest' mean? I thought this area was called the Forest of Morein."

"Right. Everyone just calls it the Forest of Morein."

Delro suddenly looked up as if he'd just noticed.

"Ah, you haven't heard that story yet."

Zelmir looked back, saying he'd assumed Aria had already explained.

"It's named after an ancient High Elf, Loel. She was the first elven leader to settle in this forest and can be considered the mother of us all."

Ooh, Melden pushed up his glasses.

"So that's Loel's Forest."

"When Aria introduced herself properly, she did say 'Aria, daughter of Loel.'"

As Elija recalled the memory from Berg, the group began to slowly climb the stairs, passing through the stone door that had opened again with a kugugu.

"Th-then, is the 'sacred tree' said to be in the token—is that also the tree of the elf named Loel?"

Leon's light green eyes sparkled as he drew closer to Zelmir.

"The sacred tree is a true divine remnant that descended upon Loel's Forest."

"Pardon?"

"In Loel's Forest, there is a holy site that even we elves treat with great caution."

A holy site? Everyone, including Leon, widened their eyes.

"A High Elf named Loel existed, and since she settled in this forest, the sacred tree has been there."

Zelmir explained about the sacred tree, which still stands, blooming and fading, deep in the northern sector that Aria guards. A tree overflowing with divine power—even a single leaf or flower could cure most ailments—such incredible stories flowed from Zelmir's lips.

"Truly a sacred tree sent by the gods?"

Melden asked with a foolish face.

"Yes. Though it's not as lush as before, being a very old tree, its divine power to purify the surrounding area still remains intact."

"Wow."

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