Chapter 196 Found (1)
Elves are a different race that draw strength from the magic power of nature. From birth, they are innately gifted with their own independent mana circuits.
Unlike humans, they cannot convert magic power to manifest various systems of magic, but because of that, they can use unique abilities different from humans.
For example, spirits.
Like handling abnormal species that are rooted in nature.
"As I mentioned before, the process of sharing memories is simple. However, without the World Tree and its Administrator, it is rare for elves to share memories among themselves. There are some rather tricky conditions, you see."
Sharing memories through spirits.
To make this fully possible, two essential conditions and one subsidiary condition must be met.
"First, synchronization of magic power. The elf who gives the memory, the spirit who acts as the medium, and the elf who receives the memory must all have the same nature of magic power flowing within them."
"The same magic power?"
"Yes. If even one is misaligned, their consciousness can never be connected."
For humans, it is an impossible act.
Each possesses their own unique magic power. Even identical twins do not possess magic power of the exact same nature.
'Elves must be replacing that with the magic power of nature.'
The method Karans spoke of made sense.
But Verden could not handle the magic power of nature. No matter how pure it was, no matter if it was magic power recognized by the Guardian Elf, in the end, he was still human.
The racial traits of elves cannot be imitated like magic.
'Karans must know that as well.'
From the perspective of elves, even when they call someone an elf, it does not necessarily mean a completely identical elf.
Verden shifted his gaze.
The spirit, Karans. The only thing he had in common with them was one.
"You mean to use my magic power instead of the magic power of nature."
"Precisely, brother. Foret's body is made of your magic power, and beneath my skin, part of your magic power still remains."
Traces born during the process of restoring Karans.
Because it was such pure magic power, it had been able to remain until now.
"Of course, I cannot handle it at my own will, but it will be enough to synchronize magic power."
"Good. Then what is the second?"
"Next is the enormous consumption of magic power. Because of this, only those beyond Guardian Elves can share memories. The problem is… the portion of your magic power left within me is not much."
In other words, the burden of magic power consumption would fall solely on Verden.
And not simply double, but several times more the amount of magic power. A task even upper Guardian Elves would find arduous.
"This is the most difficult of the three conditions. The consumption is so high that sustainability becomes extremely poor. As long as the World Tree and its Administrator exist, this is an extremely inefficient method."
"Is that so. For me, that is the easiest condition."
"…Excuse me?"
"It seems we've fulfilled all essential conditions. What is the remaining subsidiary condition?"
"Ah, the last is tuning with Foret, controlling the spirit acting as the medium to select only the memories you want to show."
A forest of memories filled with countless times.
Finding the one you want among them is exceedingly difficult. That is why the subject of the memory needs to choose it.
At that moment, Karans's expression darkened.
"However… since my connection with Foret is cut off now, complete tuning is difficult. I cannot draw out specific scenes, at best I can only guide your consciousness, brother."
"Because Foret's magic power changed in the process of resurrection?"
"You are correct, brother."
"Is there a way to reconnect?"
"Each elf has a spirit they are compatible with. For me, it is the spirit of the forest, with any other spirit, connection is impossible. This lies within the realm of instinct."
Karans declared firmly.
Seeing that even Foret displayed a feeling of affirmation, it must be true.
But that was no reason to hesitate.
On the contrary, if they wanted to shorten time, they had to begin right away.
"Let us begin immediately."
"…Understood, brother."
Karans accepted right away.
He respected Verden's choice.
Verden and Karans sat facing each other.
And between them, the spirit settled. From one side of the prison, Edmon sent an uneasy look.
"Sharing memories with an elf… is that really alright?"
"Do you mean to say I would deceive the brother who saved me? Ha, what a filthy thought, as expected of a lowly human."
"I only meant, I was worried…"
"Hah, to your kind, betrayal must be the universal notion. More individualistic than mere beasts."
"No, I…"
"Shut your mouth, human mage."
A merciless verbal assault.
Edmon felt his mind grow faint.
'When I took care of you while you were unconscious, even bought you food…!'
Never in his life had he been treated like this.
Even when he had once been cursed at by an elf, it was not this bad. True, they had been forcibly experimented on by humans of the Kingdom, but wasn't this treatment far too much?
"Huuu…!"
Edmon's eyes quivered as he swallowed his anger.
Regardless, with a smile, Karans kindly spoke to Verden.
"Brother, extend your right hand to Foret, then infuse magic power into it."
"How much should I regulate?"
"There is no need to adjust artificially. Simply follow the flow as it feels."
Verden nodded.
At once, he sent magic power as Karans instructed. Magic power passed beyond the spirit, burrowed into Karans's hand. After a short wait, he felt a peculiar flow.
Fwaaaaaaak.
A gentle light of magic power enveloped Verden, Karans, and the spirit.
As that moment lingered, Karans slowly opened his eyes. His green pupils were dyed blue.
Just like Verden's blue eyes.
───I hope you find the information you seek, brother.
Not through hearing, but directly resonating inside his mind.
And right after, Verden's consciousness was swallowed in pitch black.
***
Verden opened his eyes.
His mind had been lost for only a short moment. Lowering his gaze, he saw the forest covered under the night sky shimmer.
'So this is the forest of memories Karans spoke of.'
At once, he descended.
The sensation of floating in the air without any force was unfamiliar, but the way he moved was nearly identical to flight. Landing on the ground without difficulty, Verden looked around.
Beside him stood a colossal tree, unlike any other.
The moment he laid his hand upon it, countless scenes of memory flashed through his mind.
───Karans, I appoint you as Guardian to protect the Administrator.
───I shall fulfill my duty, Administrator Serendia.
───This concludes the rite. You may return to your usual manner of speech.
───But…
───Must I repeat myself twice?
───…Understood, elder sister.
The enormous tree that covered the sky, the World Tree.
At its base, Karans knelt, facing a noble elf woman. Judging by their similar appearance and their manner of address, she seemed to be his kin.
Yet Verden's mind was already elsewhere.
'So this is the Great Forest where the elves dwell.'
Compared to the World Tree, the Soul Tree would be considered little more than a weed.
Around it, countless trees dozens of meters high gathered densely, forming the Great Forest.
It was truly vast nature.
Confronted with a sight he had never before encountered, Verden could not help but be in awe. While he stared blankly at the scenery, he felt something.
As soon as he removed his hand, the scenes of memory vanished.
Verden lightly shook his head to regain his focus.
From afar, a faint light was seeping out. It was surely Karans guiding the memory. Following it, a tree appeared.
'This is…'
Its branches and roots were grotesquely twisted.
The very intervals between its presence carried a sense of ominousness.
Verden slowly walked forward.
As before, he placed his hand on the trunk of the tree.
The first memory that arose was Karans's.
It was a scene Verden had seen before.
───So you've finally appeared, Guardian.
The Kingdom's Chief Court Mage, Leonil Bertanas.
Leading other mages, he smirked as he looked at Karans and Foret.
***
The forest of memories the elf possessed.
By placing a hand on the trees within it, one could glimpse Karans's memories.
But there was a caveat.
First, the scenes of memory passed by like fleeting instants.
Without focus, the flow could be lost in an instant. By adding one's own magic power, the speed could be increased, but never slowed.
And scenes could never be reversed.
To view a missed memory, one had to place a hand on the tree again. If it was near the end that one missed, then much time would be wasted.
'On top of that, the consumption of magic power is no joke.'
Even Verden felt a slight burden.
He could endure it to a degree, but not leisurely. With all his senses sharpened, Verden immersed himself into Karans's memory.
───Truly, you are different from the other petty elves. Well, in the end, even so, a petty elf is still a petty elf.
───Kugh…!
The forest was in ruins.
Karans was battered and restrained. Foret, the same. Yet Leonil's robe remained pristine.
───Let us return.
───Yes, sir.
The mages bound Karans, and stuffed him into a prepared box.
Magic power pulsed faintly from it, clearly a magical item. Its purpose, most likely to evade the tracking of elves and the Administrator.
Without even sparing a glance at the spirit Foret. Such was the arrogance of a 6th-tier Magus.
The memory shifted.
Karans regained consciousness.
His limbs were bound, he could not move. Through his faint vision, Leonil was there.
───So you woke up already. This is unexpected. Good, then I won't be bored.
───Fo, Foret…!
───Your voice works well too. Then scream as loudly as you can.
Leonil pulled a lever.
A white light burst from directly in front of Karans.
As it struck him head-on, agony that disassembled every cell tore through his entire body.
───Aaaaaaaaagh!
How long had it been?
When the light subsided, Karans's body was visible.
The surface looked intact.
But inside, it was vastly different.
'His resistance to magic power is gone.'
Was this the special artifact Drevus spoke of?
Though temporary, it was deadly. Without resistance to magic power, even simple Telekinesis could twist his body apart and kill him.
───Ha, you didn't lose consciousness?
───Hu… man…!
───Impressive. I correct myself. You are no mere petty elf. You are an excellent guinea pig! Haha, it was worth venturing into the Great Forest.
Leonil smiled.
It was an utterly vile grin.
He dragged Karans along.
A place unlike before, a vast open space. On one side, a house-sized magic stone flickered faintly. But what caught Verden's eyes was not that.
'That… what is it?'
At the center floated a blue crystal.
It was not a magic stone. From Karans's hearing, the steady thump… thump… of a heartbeat resonated.
It wasn't certain, but perhaps the processed heart of some abnormal species.
Perhaps… even human.
───You are the first elf to come here with your sanity intact. You may take pride in that. Though, I wonder what will remain of you when you leave.
Leonil restrained Karans's limbs.
Without delay, he activated the device, and magic power was extracted from the magic stone. The released beam of magic struck Karans directly.
Magic power forced its way into his circuits.
Soon, the refined magic power drawn through the elf gathered into the blue crystal.
Thump… thump… thump… thump…
The heartbeat quickened.
Judging by the process, the refined magic power was being stored inside the blue crystal.
'But what is that crystal's purpose?'
He strained to catch Leonil's voice, but it was nonsense. Nothing but taunts directed at Karans.
In the end, as his mana circuits overloaded, Karans lost consciousness.
In the darkened vision, Leonil whispered.
───Far more durable than you look. Had I known, I would've caught one more… Well, what's done is done. So endure as long as possible, elf.
***
Leonil's incomprehensible experiments continued.
When conscious, Karans ate the food given to him. To survive, and to take revenge. But contrary to that resolve, his situation never improved.
He fainted dozens, hundreds of times during the experiments. Yet no opportunity appeared.
The pain Karans endured was felt indirectly.
So harsh, it reminded Verden of when he was called Subject 77 back in the Magic Tower. The fact that Karans remained sane now was itself remarkable.
'But in the end, no meaningful information.'
Too much time was lost in unconsciousness.
He saw no other humans or elves used as subjects, only heard their screams.
Then, it happened.
───…! An elf is escaping! Catch him, before there's trouble!
Karans staked his life on a desperate escape.
He ran, blind to direction, only frantic to flee. He broke a metal lock with his elbow, forcing open a heavy door.
But it was not the outside.
Another prison.
Yet it was different.
A faint salty scent brushed his nose.
And within the cell, bound, was a one-armed man. Since his capture, Karans had never seen another prisoner until now.
The next instant, magic struck Karans from behind.
───Hoo, the master could have been endangered.
A voice of relief from behind.
Karans's vision closed.
The elf's resistance ended there.
Under strict watch, through repeated experiments, his insides were shattered, and soon he was sent to the First Prince's castle. There, he met Verden.
And now, the present.
…Srrrk.
Verden opened his eyes.
Karans was smiling.
"Did you see what you needed, brother?"
"..."
Verden could not answer.
Because a memory he had seen would not leave his mind.
'A one-armed man, master craftsman, disappearance, magical items of the laboratory.'
The clues pulled together.
Finally, the puzzle was complete. Verden's eyes widened at the conclusion he never expected.
The one-armed man imprisoned in Leonil's laboratory.
'Oesu, Linus Voltimoog.'
He was the master craftsman of magical items Verden had been searching for.