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143
“Is that really Luna and Raphina? Those vanguards?”
“Did you miss the stream? They were talking with the audio muted.”
“What in the world is Black Dragon?”
The precipice at the far northwestern end of Edelen.
When Hanbit’s group arrived there, the sound of people murmuring reached them.
“Quite a lot of people have followed along.”
Avantgarde, looking at the crowd that had filled in behind, said.
The larger number than usual was probably because of the two vanguards beside them.
-Packed;
-I’m there too. Lol.
-Oh? You too?
-Luna is incredibly hard to actually see in person.
-Info) Raphina also only recently visited Edelen for the first time.
-For real, you can’t see them unless you’re a vanguard.
The viewers, also being players, were fascinated by the sight of the two alongside Hanbit.
Luna in particular apparently almost never showed herself even on Yeonhwa Gaming’s channel or other people’s streams.
“Coming back here again.”
“Ah, you came here in person before, didn’t you? It’s my first time.”
Raphina and Luna conversed while looking down below the precipice.
Not even a hint of interest in the onlookers.
They must simply be accustomed to gathered eyes.
“Is it falling down below again this time?”
Luna said, recalling what she had seen on the stream.
The first entry — falling down the precipice with Yeonwoo.
At the time it had also been the only way.
“No, this time we’ll go through normally. Sylph.”
Tweet—!
Called by name, the bird’s form appeared on his shoulder.
“Ah……!”
Raphina immediately reacted to the spirit’s appearance.
She too was communing with a wind spirit — but materialization was in a different league.
It was a form shown precisely because it was a relationship of friendship, after all.
“I see. The owner of that space was here all along.”
Luna too stepped close and studied the spirit.
Sylph, receiving the attention, fluttered her wings and showed off.
-Cute. Lol.
-Flirting is insane;
-No fan meet for Sylph?
-How do you bring a spirit out?
-RP is reality to me.
-You’ve got this;
The viewers, having built familiarity, seemed even closer to Sylph.
A proper fan meet would be a stretch, of course.
“First, let’s form a party.”
Hanbit invited everyone into a party.
It was so they could receive the spirit’s power that Sylph would channel together.
“Let’s go.”
Tweet—!
Having said as much to the small bird rubbing its face against him, the spirit’s body immediately scattered into wind.
Then, as though leading the way by hand, it drew Hanbit’s group upward into the air.
Whoosh—!
A sensation of rising into the air and simultaneously moving somewhere.
The changed scenery around them appeared quickly.
“Oh!”
With Raphina’s gasp of wonder, the structure of a vast cavern came into view.
Sunlight streaming in from all around added a sense of harmony to the space.
It was the same spirit realm as before.
“So this is where we arrive directly?”
Luna gently tapped the floor.
The place they were standing was the top of a stone tower connected by a spiraling path.
Straight ahead, a white-haired old man stood frozen in place.
“…….”
Aslra’s gaze landed on the three other than Hanbit.
All of them having completed the Edelen episode, they were no longer strangers to him.
And yet Aslra, making eye contact, turned his back without a moment’s hesitation.
Thump—!
Hanbit, kicking off quickly, gripped Aslra’s shoulder.
“Where are you going?”
“Something came to mind that I needed to do.”
“That’s not true.”
-Lol.
-Master hi.
-Consistent as ever;
-Consistency GOAT.
The reason Aslra felt uncomfortable was clear.
He had met all three, but the interaction had been shallow.
Unless they were going to become his disciples like Hanbit, getting close would be difficult.
“Phew.”
Having let out a sigh, he slightly turned his gaze and looked at his pupil.
“What brings you? It hasn’t been long since you departed for Ifrit.”
“That situation has been settled. And there’s something I’d like to tell you…….”
Hanbit conveyed the events that had taken place in Ifrit.
There were many things to share — the newly obtained elemental king’s traces, the spirit skill, the Holy Nation’s Isis, the monster wave and more.
“……Those people are growing increasingly aggressive.”
Aslra, brow slightly furrowed, recalled the hidden agents who had infiltrated Edelen.
Because regardless of the world’s political situation, they were a faction that could harm the spirits.
“And this scientist Isis?”
“She was transferred to the Royal Capital. As I mentioned, she is someone favorably disposed toward spirits, so I intend to use her in a role that helps us. Even Sylph treated her favorably in the end.”
Tweet—!
Sylph chirping as though agreeing with the words.
Seeing that, Aslra slowly gave a nod.
“If that is what the spirit felt, it should be alright. And so — what is the reason for coming here? It wasn’t solely to report.”
His gaze subtly touched the three people standing behind Hanbit.
Hanbit, stroking Sylph who had landed on his finger, said:
“I’d like to go to the Spirit Garden. I also want to learn the next swordsmanship technique.”
“……How did you come to know about the Spirit Garden.”
“I had occasion to look at some old texts. You know how to get there, don’t you, Master?”
“Hmm…….”
Aslra stroked his chin and sank into thought.
Then he slowly shook his head and said:
“It is too soon. That is a space where even intermediate spirits dwell. It could invite their displeasure if not careful.”
“If it were a dangerous thing, Sylph would have warned me first. And there are two elemental king’s traces as well. Being the power of beings who have hidden themselves from the world — the intermediate spirits will surely show interest.”
“…….”
At the reasonable point, Aslra could not refute it.
Having held each other’s gaze for a moment, he let out a deeper sigh and continued.
“It cannot be helped. This too must be a necessary thing. However, the right to learn the swordsmanship is a separate matter.”
Aslra pointed a finger at a large boulder some distance away.
Having moved one step to the side, he said to Hanbit:
“Not much time has passed since I taught you. To speak of the next — there must be clear grounds for it.”
“Of course.”
The intent was simple.
To prove the proficiency of the swordsmanship technique learned from Aslra.
Having anticipated this situation, Hanbit drew his sword.
Whoosh—!
At the same moment as the will, wind gathering to the blade.
The added effect of ‘Elemental Awakening.’
“……!”
Aslra’s eyes went wide at the unusual current.
At that moment, Hanbit swung the sword.
Whoosh—!
An intense wind blade born along the diagonal arc of the sword.
It cleaved sharply through the air and rushed straight ahead.
And then.
Slash—!
The massive boulder was cleanly cut in two.
“What is this…….”
Aslra was taken aback.
The process from the moment the wind gathered to the result.
An ideally perfect technique.
He had known his pupil had talent — but to this degree.
‘Proficiency was filled long ago.’
The markings beside Wind Movement and Wind Swordsmanship had clear star indicators.
Being a technique he had handled like part of his body even in the past, the pace of proficiency accumulating was fast.
But the visibly heightened power was not from that alone.
“You said the one who created that Elemental Awakening technique was not a spirit user?”
Aslra, looking at the split boulder, asked quietly.
“Yes. Both are people well-versed in magic and science.”
“……The world has changed greatly. Do you intend to bring that inexperienced spirit user along as well?”
Aslra pointed at Raphina.
She likely hadn’t exchanged much conversation with him during the episode, but he had observed her carefully.
Does the relationship with a player remain as something like a record to an NPC?
“Even looking at her now, the depth of communion is considerably lacking. Such a weak presence to be sensed.”
“What……?”
Raphina was taken aback at the bluntly landing assessment.
The nature of the problem was something Hanbit had also recognized early on.
Because it was also the reason she had been struggling for over ten months.
“That’s why I’d like to bring her to the garden. Because two attributes of spirits have extended their hands to her.”
“Two attributes… I see.”
Aslra, understanding the intent, gave a slow nod.
He drew his sword from its scabbard and said:
“What of the other two? They’re not spirit users.”
“I intend to ask Sylph to protect them.”
Tweet—!
Sylph, listening to the conversation, fluttered her wings and flew toward Luna.
She opened both hands and carefully cradled the small bird.
-Sylph, ‘please.’
-Look at that — flew straight over.
-Reassuring personified.
-Meanwhile look at her not going to Avantgarde. Lol.
Sylph, seemingly quite taken with Luna, settling in.
Avantgarde watching with what seemed like envy — but the priority ranking is just too low.
“If that is your intent, I will follow it.”
Aslra, having properly greeted Sylph, turned his back.
Whoosh—!
At the same time, a fierce wind rising as though to encompass the entire space.
Not simply Aslra’s power — the result of the spirits residing here responding.
“Hm.”
Having taken his stance, Aslra drew in breath.
And then.
Whoosh—!
He drew his sword sharply through the air.
Whooom—
Wind from around gradually gathering along the arc of the slash.
When that formed a green oval-shaped entrance, Aslra moved his feet.
“Stay as close as possible and follow.”
Shhk—
After his stepping-in figure disappeared.
Hanbit, turning to the three behind him, said:
“Let’s go.”
***
“Wow…….”
“I’ve never seen anything like this.”
A luminous path of light leading to the Spirit Garden.
The appearance of countless sparkling stars embedded in a semi-transparent teal tunnel.
Raphina and Luna, walking step by step, looked around in wonder.
-Wow, incredible.
-The spirit’s path.
-Screenshot complete.
-Thumbs up if Black Dragon will give us the raw footage.
-No no, Avantgarde will do it.
“This really is…… remarkable that it can be realized.”
Avantgarde, who had traveled the world, was also surprised at the sight he was seeing for the first time.
Beyond beauty — this mysterious space would be difficult to put into words.
‘This is also the first time bringing others along.’
Hanbit too, walking ahead, carefully studied the path that felt like it had been a while.
A passage he had passed through so many times it had eventually grown dull — but hearing surprised voices around him gave it a fresh feel.
“This way.”
Aslra, who had been advancing, changed direction toward a shimmering wall on the right side of the passage.
Shhk—
His body disappearing as though passing through a wavering curtain.
Hanbit turned his gaze to the people following.
“Go in here.”
“Thank you!”
“Yes!”
Raphina with sparkling eyes and Avantgarde who had been diligently filming entered the exit.
“Is there something over there too?”
Luna, about to follow behind, stopped and asked Hanbit.
Because he was looking at the dimly extending path.
“I wonder.”
Ambiguously delivered words — but the answer was clear.
The dwelling of superior spirits existing beyond there.
Commonly called a sanctuary, but not a place that could simply be reached by walking down the path.
Because the qualifications required for that place would become entangled with complicated events in the future.
“Let’s hurry in.”
Having briefly sunk into thought, Hanbit stepped out through the exit with Luna.
Shhk—
A vast space appearing alongside the transfer sensation of a portal.
The two who had come out earlier were standing frozen, staring straight ahead.
“The Spirit Garden. Living up to the name.”
Luna too was absorbed in the scenery unfolding before her.
Five paths extending from the large ancient tree at the center.
Beyond the four paths excluding the exit, spaces symbolizing the elements of water, fire, wind, and earth were visible.
Fine sparkling particles in the air and shimmering light further emphasized the mystical feeling.
“No signs of anything being wrong. Come this way.”
Aslra, checking everyone’s condition, guided them toward the ancient tree.
With the center as viewpoint, surveying beyond each path, the elements came more clearly into view.
“I’ll check on the garden’s condition. Move carefully.”
Aslra, leaving behind the brief warning, moved his feet toward the outer perimeter.
Responsibility for protection ending after successful entry.
From here, they would be moving under the influence of the spirits.
“Raphina, please come with me. You two can look around near the ancient tree for a little while.”
“Yes!”
Hanbit moved together with Raphina.
The destination with green shimmering light.
The two moved their feet toward the place where the whispering of a gentle wind could be heard.
