21 Breaking the Seal (1/2)

After he was finished analyzing the barrier, he looked around and saw a very bright green energy being released from a weak looking stem which was going through the tree.

Saito looked around and wondered where the beast was, he couldn't see anything resembling a beast at all. There were no bones, nothing which said that there was a beast here.

Saito asked Iris immediately 'Iris, did you make a mistake? I cannot see any beast here.'

Iris answered with the same monotonous tone [Master, this beast seems to be very good at masking its appearance. It's definitely here, I can sense its life force from the seal but I cannot analyze the shape. The seal is restricting me from finding out its accurate location.]

Saito stared at the Elf Queen and says, ”Elf Queen, I just want you to know, don't you find this place a little strange?”

Elf Queen wondered what he meant and asked him, ”What do you mean by strange?”

Saito answered her as he pointed at the seal, ”This seal is supposed to be holding a demonic beast but I do not see a beast here. Even if it's dead, it should have left behind the bones. So, why has this beast not left behind a bone?'

Elf Queen was shocked to hear this, she was stupefied and was at a loss of words when she did turn her head and found logic in his words, ”This is indeed strange.”

She tried to find reason and said, ”Maybe it was entirely finished because of the Nature's Vein. The demonic beast probably tried to touch it and was extinguished completely.”

Saito remained silent and started thinking 'It would have been great if that was the case but according to Iris that demonic beast is still living. She will not believe me if I tell it to her now and will conclude that I just don't want to break the seal. Just what should I do?'

The Elf Queen stared at him and seemed to want him to make his decision. Saito asked Iris 'Iris, what is the chance that I will win against this beast?'

[With the energy I have analyzed, master has a 50% chance of winning. There is no information on the abilities possessed by this beast so the chance of the winning will be lower.]

Saito smiled when he heard Iris stating the possibility '50% chance? That's a good possibility. Let's see how it goes.'

Saito knew the danger possessed by unsealing this barrier and letting out that beast but he had already given his word to the queen. He wasn't going to back down unless there was a good reason.

If there was a 50% chance to win, he was going to bet his all on that possibility. Saito took a look at the Elf Queen and said, ”Please stand back and be ready to use your magic at my command.”

The Elf Queen was delighted when she heard him but Saito continued to speak, ”Elf Queen, I have a good reason to believe that the demonic beast sealed inside is still alive there. Please be on your guard.”

The Elf Queen was dumbfounded when she heard him, she started speaking as her body slightly trembled, ”Sir Edwin, if you are uncomfortable in unsealing the barrier then you can try another time.”

Saito however shook his head, he knew that Elf Queen was just being polite, ”No, if the demonic beast can survive for these many years in the seal then it may even survive for another 1000 years. But the problem is, the elves won't last that long. Isn't that right?”

The Elf Queen turned her head away, she knew of this as well. Saito continued to speak, ”And the second problem is that, we would not gain any knowledge if the situation remains as it is. There is no way for us to know any information about the beast. Its best that I unseal the barrier now, just be prepared to use your magic to fight.”

The Elf Queen realized what he wanted to say and nodded her head, ”As you say, Sir Edwin.” She called upon her magic, she looked absolutely ready now.

”Good! I will begin unsealing this barrier now. It shouldn't take that long.” He stopped looking at her and turned his attention back on the barrier.

Before the attempt to unseal the barrier, he ordered Iris in his head 'Iris, as soon as the barrier is broken, release my magic in the area to let me sense everything.'