Chapter 82 - Witch’s Forest 2 (2/2)
He was prepared to do anything to achieve those goals.
Woohyuk started walking as he steeled his heart.
***
Nibelungenlied (The Song of the Nibelungs).
It was a famous fable throughout the Eeth Continent.
The tragic love story of Sieg and Brynhild sparked a lot of controversy.
The reason behind the controversy was because the original Edda Chronicles that recorded the story had been damaged, and the finale of the story couldn’t be read.
Therefore, the stories that spread around were mostly recreations by different people.
However, people generally considered the most famous and plausible story as the fable’s true ending.
As he continued marching with the Blue Hawk Mercenaries, Woohyuk tried remembering everything he could about Kriemhild.
‘That woman did not tell the truth until the very end.’
The damaged part of the fable.
Restoring the damaged part was an important goal amongst the Overlords, and Woohyuk had once tried to uncover the truth, as ancient documents often held hidden skills or epic quests for people to uncover.
‘There may be a hidden clue here.’
Back then, the ones to conquer the Witch’s Forest were the Gray Wolf Alliance.
Woohyuk later defeated Kriemhild who had escaped and was planning for her comeback.
In the end, Woohyuk never gained any reward related to the fable. It had always bugged him.
‘I must meet this Rael guy.’
Woohyuk had never heard of the version Rael had told the sisters.
It would be worthwhile to meet him at least once.
However, even Silvia didn’t know where he was residing currently.
“He left you two behind?”
“Yes. Once my sister came of age, he handed down Tabris and disappeared. We’ve been asking around about him ever since, but we haven’t found any traces of him.”
Woohyuk also heard about the contents of the contract Rael made with Tinia through Tabris.
If they were to meet again one day, Tinia would have to listen to a single request of Rael’s.
After hearing that, Woohyuk made a puzzled expression.
“A request?”
“He said that he couldn’t reveal the details of the request yet because there were some circumstances or something.”
Rael had kept a lot to himself.
He had never revealed his birthplace, his homeland, and not even the reason why he was an independent mercenary.
‘This is quite suspicious.’
However, considering these events had happened 20 years ago, it was unlikely that Rael was a demon.
‘What about a God or an angel?’
Woohyuk couldn’t see why those kinds of beings would raise two war orphans for years. It wasn't that there was no reason at all, but he couldn’t think of a plausible one right now.
He was in deep thoughts as he pressed on his temple with his finger. Suddenly, a system message popped up in front of him.
[New Quest]
Name: The Mercenary who Disappeared with the Wind
Type: Chain (1/2)
Content: With Tinia, find Rael who is hiding in the Witch’s Forest and uncover his identity. You fail the quest if Tinia or Rael perish before then.
Other: Once failed, cannot be repeated.
‘A hidden quest.’
He probably got the quest from Silvia because she was deeply related to the two people in the quest.
But he didn’t expect Rael to be inside this forest.
‘I have a bad feeling.’
It was impossible for an ordinary human to survive in the witch’s sanctuary.
Rael most likely had a contract with the witch.
Woohyuk could finally ask about Rael’s circumstances and hear the answer from his own mouth.
Soon, they arrived at the abandoned monastery and Woohyuk went to see Tinia who was leading the group, bringing Silvia with him.
“Let’s move together from now on.”
“...Sure. I also prefer having Silvia by my side.”
According to the Eclipse Clan’s survivor, the witch Kriemhild used a powerful wide-area debuff magic.
If the mercenaries entered a confused state, they could potentially attack Silvia.
Even though Woohyuk had assured her he would protect Silvia, Tinia couldn’t help but worry about her sister.
While Tinia was talking with the invisible Silvia,
“Ho ho ho ho ho!”
A woman’s unpleasant laughter resounded from the abandoned monastery, and dark mana started spreading.
Woohyuk instantly realized who it was.
‘It’s Kriemhild.’
The Witch of Envy.
Her special skill was to awaken and stimulate the jealousy deep within people’s subconscious.
Most of the curses Kriemhild used were based on the power of that jealousy.
Therefore, when fighting against her, you had to pay attention to your allies’ movements as well.
Once he came up with a strategy, Woohyuk turned to Tinia and spoke.
“There’s something I need to say before we fight against the witch.”
“What is it? Something like ‘I love you’?”
“...I’m a necromancer.”
An unexpected declaration.
Tinia’s eyes went wide.
“A necro… mancer?”
“Watch carefully.”
Instead of explaining with words, Woohyuk summoned a skeleton soldier, and ordered it to do a popping dance. Tinia stared dumbfoundedly.
“Why are you showing this to me?”
“To prevent any misunderstandings.”
To face Kriemhild, Woohyuk had to use his full power. If he kept his powers and identity hidden, he would soon face death.
“Alright. I’ll warn the others about it.”
Woohyuk’s intentions had gotten through her, and Tinia nodded.
Silvia also made a convinced face.
As the siblings began to steel themselves for the battle,
“What brings you here with all these insignificant humans?”
A black portal appeared above the abandoned monastery, and a woman with maroon hair stepped out.
Kriemhild.
Her words were addressed to none other than Woohyuk.
She had sensed the hidden mana within him through her abilities as a witch.
‘She started talking before engaging in battle, just as I expected.’
There was no need to draw his weapon first, since he also had many questions to ask Kriemhild.
He ignored the curious gazes of the mercenaries and answered.
“I’m here to see Rael.”
“Rael? There’s no one going by that name here. Oh, is it one of the rude humans who trespassed into my territory earlier? If so, it might be best to consider him dead. Well, I do keep some of them alive from time to time for other uses.”
By letting some survivors return alive, the witch could spread terrifying rumors about herself, and she would have fewer trespassers to disturb her day.
The blonde man they had met earlier hadn’t escaped the ordeal, but had instead been spared by the witch.
Although the witch replied proudly, Woohyuk spoke again.
“Rael. A young man with fiery red hair and incredible sword skills. He disappeared 10 years ago. Back then, he used the greatsword this girl is wielding now. Does that ring a bell?”
“...Oh. Now I see who it is you’re searching for.”
The corners of Kriemhild’s mouth rose.
She turned her head towards the abandoned monastery and spoke.