Me, the Weakest Member of the Hero’s Party? I’m the Villain Though? - Chapter 124
“Dark… what?”
It sounded like a phrase I had heard somewhere before, but it didn’t feel familiar. So I asked again as if I had no idea at all.
“The forest fairies who betrayed the World Tree are called dark elves, and recently, the number of dark elves has begun to increase.”
In other words, it sounded like a family issue, but I couldn’t understand what that had to do with mana crystals.
“So we captured some of them and examined them, and discovered that they were being controlled by mana crystals.”
As he spoke, the Fairy King pointed upward. Following his finger, I lifted my head and saw clusters hanging from the large tree trunk above.
“What is that…?”
It was hard to see through the hazy fog, but when I narrowed my eyes and looked closely, I realized.
Those weren’t fruits. Fairies were hanging there.
“Without the blessing of the World Tree, we cannot purify them. So we sealed them and suspended them here.”
The World Tree had burned and lost its power. That was also why they had fled all the way here. Unable to kill their own kind, they had sealed them and hung them in this place.
“This fog is a spell meant to protect them. Anyone who enters carelessly will be poisoned by the smoke.”
That was why the green mist I had seen in the lich’s dungeon felt similar to the fog here. Only then did everything make sense, and I nodded.
“…So that’s what happened.”
I didn’t understand everything, but it was clear that something tragic had occurred. I wanted to help them, but the truth was that I was also traveling with the hero’s party to learn more about mana crystals.
So I had no idea how I could help them.
“Did removing the mana crystal have no effect?”
“Do you think we didn’t try? But if we removed the mana crystal while they were alive, they died. No matter how many times we tried, the result was the same.”
Imagining the tragedy they must have gone through sent chills down my spine.
I stood there in silence, staring blankly at the sky. The only way to save them would be to learn about the magic within the mana crystals from the Devotees of Darkness.
“I’ll tell you everything I know about mana crystals. How about you release me?”
“You’re proposing a deal?”
The Fairy King stepped toward me. I wasn’t short, but he was enormous. His presence was overwhelming, like a towering ancient tree standing before me.
“To be honest, I don’t know anything for certain. But there is one thing I can promise.”
Even before the imposing Fairy King, I did not flinch. I met his gaze steadily, without wavering.
“I’m closely connected to these mana crystals as well, that’s why I joined the hero’s party. If I learn anything, I promise I will share that information with you.”
If my hands had been free, I would have shown him the scar carved into my chest, but since I was tightly bound, I conveyed my resolve through a firm tone and unwavering eyes.
The Fairy King did not avoid my gaze either. His clear green eyes seemed to be searching deep into my soul.
After a moment, as if he had read my resolve, he gave a small nod.
“Very well. We’ll do that. Then it would be best to return for now. This isn’t a suitable place for conversation, the smell alone is enough.”
I couldn’t have agreed more. I had tried to ignore the stench, but the foul odor kept stabbing into my nose until my head began to ache.
On the way back, I hoped they would at least loosen my bound arms, but that didn’t seem to be part of their plan.
“Move.”
The one the Fairy King had called Caesar grabbed my arm and yanked me roughly. I nearly slipped and fell into the mud because of it.
I wondered when the hero’s party would come to rescue me, or if they were even looking for me at all. Maybe they had already left for the Land of the Dead without me.
“I know our companions well. They won’t abandon us.”
I remembered what Kyle had said when we were locked in the dwarves’ underground prison. Now that I was their companion too, they wouldn’t leave me behind.
For some reason, today, I really wanted to see that shameless smile of Kyle’s.
