331
[T/L: punisher87]
[Support me here:- https://bmc.link/punisher87 ]
The shadow force marble brought out by Luet had a slightly different appearance from what Jin had seen before.
There was a faint black light flowing through it, and it was smaller in size. As Jin looked closely, he could see people and landscapes within the marble.
Instinctively, he could tell that this was an undamaged recording device.
The landscapes visible inside the marble were records of the past it contained.
"I will no longer be able to remember Ms. Luet, what does that mean?"
[Exactly as it sounds. Zipfel, their history manipulation is still effective.]
Jin had heard a lot about Zipfel's history manipulation, but he had yet to experience it firsthand.
He had only seen issues with the memories of other people, particularly those related to the ancient Runcandel.
That's why he couldn't easily accept it. If it was so vivid, would he really forget Luet's existence once he left this subspace?
As if reading Jin's thoughts, Luet gave a bittersweet smile and took out a feather pen from her embrace.
[Give me your hand for a moment.]
Luet reached out and wrote her name on Jin's palm.
After a while, Jin had to feel a chilling sensation as he looked at her name written on the palm of his hand.
Luet Damiro Yul.
...Damiro Yul, ...Yul, ....
‘The writing of Ms. Luet's name on my palm is disappearing...!’
A shiver ran down his spine.
Jin was already well aware that Zipfel possessed the ability to manipulate history.
However, experiencing it firsthand was an entirely different matter.
[The thousand-year Contractor, Sir Jin, must have visited two tombs before. You must have encountered the Guardians there.]
"Yes, I encountered the Guardians who resembled Sir Sylderay and Dame Sarah."
[Indeed, it seems that those individuals have disappeared from my memories as well. Unlike them, I am not a Guardian formed from shadow force and soul. That's why I will continue to fade away from Sir Jin's memories.]
She was not a Guardian formed from shadow force and soul, but a living person. Therefore, unlike Sylderay or Sarah who had already faced death, she was continuously being erased from history.
[It would have been nice if I could share many stories about the Runcandel from a thousand years ago, but unfortunately, I have very few memories of that time.]
The time given to the fairies is as fleeting as that of dragons, if not more so. No existence in this world would want to endure a long period of a thousand years without even complete memories.
That's why Jin found it difficult to choose his words.
[There's no need to be saddened by that, Sir Jin. The loss of history regarding me is merely a scar of the honor I gained as part of the Runcandel, as a protector of the clan and the world.]
Luet spoke calmly. She had lost most of her memories of ancient Runcandel, but her blind affection remained intact.
"...The price paid for protecting the clan was too cruel."
[But if there hadn't been such a price, the Runcandel would have been completely erased from the world. How is the Runcandel now?]
"After Zipfel, it is the second most powerful clan in the world."
Upon hearing that, Luet smiled brightly.
[See, it was a sacrifice worth the value!]
Like an excited child, Luet spoke in an enthusiastic voice.
[I told you, Temar. Surely, we can protect the clan...!]
Jin's gaze met Luet's.
Luet glanced at Jin for a moment, then lowered her head.
[Oh, I made a mistake. I'm sorry.]
"It's okay, Ms. Luet."
A moment of silence passed.
Jin felt increasingly awkward witnessing the embarrassed state of this pitiful fairy.
[In my era, the Runcandel was nearly erased from history. The most powerful magic swordsmen clan disappeared. Since we made an oath back then, the current Runcandel would be unable to use magic.]
"That's correct."
[However, Sir Jin, as Solderet's Contractor, the curse that the Runcandel received back then won't apply to you.]
Hwaaa...
Jin formed a sphere of mana on his palm. Luet stared at the sphere as if entranced.
[It's the light, the one we saved.]
"Now I am the only magic swordsman in the Runcandel."
Luet also conjured magic.
At that moment, a peculiar wave emanated from the shadow force marble, and Jin recalled that he had seen this magic in the past.
‘Record magic!?’
The magic Luet was using bore a striking resemblance to Hister's record magic.
Hister had been active between 1400 and 1500. The fairies were known to have perished long before that.
Buzzzz...
The shadow force marble began to activate, producing a familiar, soft sound.
Could there be some connection between the fairies and Hister?
Just as he pondered, Luet spoke up.
[It seems you're a bit surprised, Sir Jin.]
"I've seen similar magic before."
[This is not magic but a special ability unique to our fairy tribe. My kind, born with a lifespan close to immortality, but in return…]
Wiiii...
The unstable noise of the shadow force marble gradually transformed into a gentle sound.
It was a sound that the damaged shadow force marble had never made before.
[We have the duty to observe and record.]
To observe the world and record it.
That was the purpose of the fairies’ existence.
[Even though we possess sufficient power, we have rarely interfered in human affairs. Even when tyrants emerged to ravage the world or when human cultures strayed in the wrong direction, we merely observed and recorded. That's our role.]
"In that case, Ms. Luet, as a fairy, became a member of the Runcandel because Zipfel was manipulating history."
Jin understood the context and responded, prompting Luet to nod.
[That's correct. If they hadn't distorted history, I wouldn't have met Temar and become the head butler of the Runcandel.]
Luet Damiro Yul, she was originally the most noble being of the fairies.
The name "Yul" is reserved only for the king of the fairies.
[But at some point, I was influenced by Temar and began to consider myself a member of the Runcandel. This storm castle now feels more like home than the primordial forest, my original homeland. Compared to the time spent in the forest, the time spent here feels like nothing more than a dream in a midday nap…]
Now, even that feeling had been almost erased from her memories, and Jin couldn't even begin to imagine the sense of loss that Luet must be feeling.
[Hahaha, it seems it's not the time to reminisce about forgotten memories.]
"Ms. Luet."
[Yes, what is it?]
"Do you happen to know a clan called Hister?"
[It's the first time I've heard that name.]
"The members of that clan possess abilities similar to yours, record magic. They were destroyed and disappeared by Zipfel’s hand, but I happen to know the last surviving member of Hister. Perhaps, I can ask that person to restore your memories, Ms. Luet."
[That's an intriguing story, humans who use similar magic as us... However, it would be impossible to restore my memories.]
"Nevertheless, we should still try."
[I cannot leave this place, and if you leave this space, you will forget everything about me. Therefore, even if you were to ask that person to restore my memories, it wouldn't be feasible. Even if that person truly possesses such abilities.]
Luet placed her hand on Jin's, resting it on the shadow force marble.
[Still, it doesn't mean that a person's existence will be completely forgotten. To my knowledge, glimpses of my appearance also appear within this recording device. I can only show it to you once, so please take a closer look.]
Oooong!
The waves of magic emanating from the shadow force marble intensified.
Simultaneously, Jin felt a sensation as if his consciousness was being drawn in, allowing him to examine the recorded memories within the marble.
***
It was a place where storms raged throughout the seasons, but that day was unusually turbulent. The expressions of the people seated in the Storm Castle's conference room were grim.
On one side of the room, stacks of blank paper, thousands of sheets, were piled up. However, the papers had already been a little crumpled, as if touched by human hands.
Swoosh, swoosh, swoosh...
Butlers and scribes tirelessly wrote something on fresh pieces of paper.
They were recording the recent events involving the fairies.
Hundreds of individuals simultaneously transcribed the same content with different sentences and interpretations.
(On March 3rd, 797, the Runcandel recorded Zipfel's history manipulation concerning the fairies. On March 4th, the fairy Shil Damiro, Beka Tishke, Mulias Mon, Trica Tredos, and Zen Mainu were forgotten among the fairies...)
(..., on March 3rd, the Runcandel recorded Zipfel's...)
While the butlers and scribes were in the process of recording, the writings were also being erased.
It was as if pouring water into a leak jar. Nevertheless, the butlers and scribes desperately continued to transcribe the same content.
They did so out of fear that if they didn't, the fairies would be completely forgotten.
However, this fear was not imaginary. It was a fear that arose from witnessing something being erased in such a manner.
But what was even more terrifying was the fact that if the fairies were to completely vanish, there was a possibility that the Runcandel would be erased from history in the same way.
“Would Zipfel, those insane bastards, really erase the fairies, who were living and breathing... in such a manner?”
Ten Great Knight Diana exploded in anger. Everyone else in the conference room shared the same sentiment.
They all knew.
In this way, they could only delay the fairies's disappearance from history, barely postponing their extinction.
Even if they are living beings.
Once erased from history, they became non-existent from the beginning. Nobody would recognize them, and they would lose themselves as well.
Zipfel's power to manipulate history went beyond mere "distortion of truth" and delved into the realm of obliterating truth itself.
“How can mere humans wield such power, a power that even gods don't possess... If it weren't for the fairies' abilities, we would never have known that Zipfel's manipulation of history reached this level.”
Ten Great Knight Padler spoke up.
As he said, if it weren't for the fairies' "record abilities," the Runcandel would have never known the truth.
But at this rate, the fairies would soon disappear.
No one would be able to record the truth for the Runcandel, no, for the world.
Creak!
The head butler, Luet Damiro Yul, entered the conference room.
“You've arrived, head butler.”
Diana greeted her with a bow, and Luet opened a translucent window in the air using her magic.
“Everyone, look at this. There is hope. I have discovered that even Zipfel's manipulation of history has its limits...!”
Luet exclaimed with a triumphant voice contrasting her haggard expression.
Engraved on the translucent window were these words.
<A total of 3,026 mages, including Elona Zipfel, attempted to manipulate the history of Temar Runcandel but failed to overcome the power of an immense existence he possessed.>
[T/L: Buy ahead chapters from my buymeacoffee page.]
331
[T/L: punisher87]
[Support me here:- https://bmc.link/punisher87 ]
The shadow force marble brought out by Luet had a slightly different appearance from what Jin had seen before.
There was a faint black light flowing through it, and it was smaller in size. As Jin looked closely, he could see people and landscapes within the marble.
Instinctively, he could tell that this was an undamaged recording device.
The landscapes visible inside the marble were records of the past it contained.
"I will no longer be able to remember Ms. Luet, what does that mean?"
[Exactly as it sounds. Zipfel, their history manipulation is still effective.]
Jin had heard a lot about Zipfel's history manipulation, but he had yet to experience it firsthand.
He had only seen issues with the memories of other people, particularly those related to the ancient Runcandel.
That's why he couldn't easily accept it. If it was so vivid, would he really forget Luet's existence once he left this subspace?
As if reading Jin's thoughts, Luet gave a bittersweet smile and took out a feather pen from her embrace.
[Give me your hand for a moment.]
Luet reached out and wrote her name on Jin's palm.
After a while, Jin had to feel a chilling sensation as he looked at her name written on the palm of his hand.
Luet Damiro Yul.
...Damiro Yul, ...Yul, ....
‘The writing of Ms. Luet's name on my palm is disappearing...!’
A shiver ran down his spine.
Jin was already well aware that Zipfel possessed the ability to manipulate history.
However, experiencing it firsthand was an entirely different matter.
[The thousand-year Contractor, Sir Jin, must have visited two tombs before. You must have encountered the Guardians there.]
"Yes, I encountered the Guardians who resembled Sir Sylderay and Dame Sarah."
[Indeed, it seems that those individuals have disappeared from my memories as well. Unlike them, I am not a Guardian formed from shadow force and soul. That's why I will continue to fade away from Sir Jin's memories.]
She was not a Guardian formed from shadow force and soul, but a living person. Therefore, unlike Sylderay or Sarah who had already faced death, she was continuously being erased from history.
[It would have been nice if I could share many stories about the Runcandel from a thousand years ago, but unfortunately, I have very few memories of that time.]
The time given to the fairies is as fleeting as that of dragons, if not more so. No existence in this world would want to endure a long period of a thousand years without even complete memories.
That's why Jin found it difficult to choose his words.
[There's no need to be saddened by that, Sir Jin. The loss of history regarding me is merely a scar of the honor I gained as part of the Runcandel, as a protector of the clan and the world.]
Luet spoke calmly. She had lost most of her memories of ancient Runcandel, but her blind affection remained intact.
"...The price paid for protecting the clan was too cruel."
[But if there hadn't been such a price, the Runcandel would have been completely erased from the world. How is the Runcandel now?]
"After Zipfel, it is the second most powerful clan in the world."
Upon hearing that, Luet smiled brightly.
[See, it was a sacrifice worth the value!]
Like an excited child, Luet spoke in an enthusiastic voice.
[I told you, Temar. Surely, we can protect the clan...!]
Jin's gaze met Luet's.
Luet glanced at Jin for a moment, then lowered her head.
[Oh, I made a mistake. I'm sorry.]
"It's okay, Ms. Luet."
A moment of silence passed.
Jin felt increasingly awkward witnessing the embarrassed state of this pitiful fairy.
[In my era, the Runcandel was nearly erased from history. The most powerful magic swordsmen clan disappeared. Since we made an oath back then, the current Runcandel would be unable to use magic.]
"That's correct."
[However, Sir Jin, as Solderet's Contractor, the curse that the Runcandel received back then won't apply to you.]
Hwaaa...
Jin formed a sphere of mana on his palm. Luet stared at the sphere as if entranced.
[It's the light, the one we saved.]
"Now I am the only magic swordsman in the Runcandel."
Luet also conjured magic.
At that moment, a peculiar wave emanated from the shadow force marble, and Jin recalled that he had seen this magic in the past.
‘Record magic!?’
The magic Luet was using bore a striking resemblance to Hister's record magic.
Hister had been active between 1400 and 1500. The fairies were known to have perished long before that.
Buzzzz...
The shadow force marble began to activate, producing a familiar, soft sound.
Could there be some connection between the fairies and Hister?
Just as he pondered, Luet spoke up.
[It seems you're a bit surprised, Sir Jin.]
"I've seen similar magic before."
[This is not magic but a special ability unique to our fairy tribe. My kind, born with a lifespan close to immortality, but in return…]
Wiiii...
The unstable noise of the shadow force marble gradually transformed into a gentle sound.
It was a sound that the damaged shadow force marble had never made before.
[We have the duty to observe and record.]
To observe the world and record it.
That was the purpose of the fairies’ existence.
[Even though we possess sufficient power, we have rarely interfered in human affairs. Even when tyrants emerged to ravage the world or when human cultures strayed in the wrong direction, we merely observed and recorded. That's our role.]
"In that case, Ms. Luet, as a fairy, became a member of the Runcandel because Zipfel was manipulating history."
Jin understood the context and responded, prompting Luet to nod.
[That's correct. If they hadn't distorted history, I wouldn't have met Temar and become the head butler of the Runcandel.]
Luet Damiro Yul, she was originally the most noble being of the fairies.
The name "Yul" is reserved only for the king of the fairies.
[But at some point, I was influenced by Temar and began to consider myself a member of the Runcandel. This storm castle now feels more like home than the primordial forest, my original homeland. Compared to the time spent in the forest, the time spent here feels like nothing more than a dream in a midday nap…]
Now, even that feeling had been almost erased from her memories, and Jin couldn't even begin to imagine the sense of loss that Luet must be feeling.
[Hahaha, it seems it's not the time to reminisce about forgotten memories.]
"Ms. Luet."
[Yes, what is it?]
"Do you happen to know a clan called Hister?"
[It's the first time I've heard that name.]
"The members of that clan possess abilities similar to yours, record magic. They were destroyed and disappeared by Zipfel’s hand, but I happen to know the last surviving member of Hister. Perhaps, I can ask that person to restore your memories, Ms. Luet."
[That's an intriguing story, humans who use similar magic as us... However, it would be impossible to restore my memories.]
"Nevertheless, we should still try."
[I cannot leave this place, and if you leave this space, you will forget everything about me. Therefore, even if you were to ask that person to restore my memories, it wouldn't be feasible. Even if that person truly possesses such abilities.]
Luet placed her hand on Jin's, resting it on the shadow force marble.
[Still, it doesn't mean that a person's existence will be completely forgotten. To my knowledge, glimpses of my appearance also appear within this recording device. I can only show it to you once, so please take a closer look.]
Oooong!
The waves of magic emanating from the shadow force marble intensified.
Simultaneously, Jin felt a sensation as if his consciousness was being drawn in, allowing him to examine the recorded memories within the marble.
***
It was a place where storms raged throughout the seasons, but that day was unusually turbulent. The expressions of the people seated in the Storm Castle's conference room were grim.
On one side of the room, stacks of blank paper, thousands of sheets, were piled up. However, the papers had already been a little crumpled, as if touched by human hands.
Swoosh, swoosh, swoosh...
Butlers and scribes tirelessly wrote something on fresh pieces of paper.
They were recording the recent events involving the fairies.
Hundreds of individuals simultaneously transcribed the same content with different sentences and interpretations.
(On March 3rd, 797, the Runcandel recorded Zipfel's history manipulation concerning the fairies. On March 4th, the fairy Shil Damiro, Beka Tishke, Mulias Mon, Trica Tredos, and Zen Mainu were forgotten among the fairies...)
(..., on March 3rd, the Runcandel recorded Zipfel's...)
While the butlers and scribes were in the process of recording, the writings were also being erased.
It was as if pouring water into a leak jar. Nevertheless, the butlers and scribes desperately continued to transcribe the same content.
They did so out of fear that if they didn't, the fairies would be completely forgotten.
However, this fear was not imaginary. It was a fear that arose from witnessing something being erased in such a manner.
But what was even more terrifying was the fact that if the fairies were to completely vanish, there was a possibility that the Runcandel would be erased from history in the same way.
“Would Zipfel, those insane bastards, really erase the fairies, who were living and breathing... in such a manner?”
Ten Great Knight Diana exploded in anger. Everyone else in the conference room shared the same sentiment.
They all knew.
In this way, they could only delay the fairies's disappearance from history, barely postponing their extinction.
Even if they are living beings.
Once erased from history, they became non-existent from the beginning. Nobody would recognize them, and they would lose themselves as well.
Zipfel's power to manipulate history went beyond mere "distortion of truth" and delved into the realm of obliterating truth itself.
“How can mere humans wield such power, a power that even gods don't possess... If it weren't for the fairies' abilities, we would never have known that Zipfel's manipulation of history reached this level.”
Ten Great Knight Padler spoke up.
As he said, if it weren't for the fairies' "record abilities," the Runcandel would have never known the truth.
But at this rate, the fairies would soon disappear.
No one would be able to record the truth for the Runcandel, no, for the world.
Creak!
The head butler, Luet Damiro Yul, entered the conference room.
“You've arrived, head butler.”
Diana greeted her with a bow, and Luet opened a translucent window in the air using her magic.
“Everyone, look at this. There is hope. I have discovered that even Zipfel's manipulation of history has its limits...!”
Luet exclaimed with a triumphant voice contrasting her haggard expression.
Engraved on the translucent window were these words.
<A total of 3,026 mages, including Elona Zipfel, attempted to manipulate the history of Temar Runcandel but failed to overcome the power of an immense existence he possessed.>
[T/L: Buy ahead chapters from my buymeacoffee page.]
