Chapter 68

Chapter 68

The moment Doja touched Salta’s body, a black aura spread around them.

Despite being in a secluded spot where Grey Elves seldom passed, the aura was so potent that even Grey Elves far away sensed something was off.

“This feels kinda creepy…”

“It makes me queasy… Why is it suddenly like this?”

The memories sealed within Dojae’s right hand vibrated violently, devouring Salta’s mana.

Dojae, who had already anticipated that something would happen if the memories of his sealed right hand came into contact with Salta, let it devour her mana steadily.

The aura of betrayal enveloping Salta gradually faded, and his expression grew increasingly serene.

However, the memories of the sealed right hand did not stop there.

“Guhk…”

“Huh!”

Dojae and Salta groaned simultaneously.

The memories of his sealed right hand had begun to devour even Salta’s original mana, and the overflowing mana of betrayal was now backflowing, scattering Dojae’s mana.

“My hand… won’t let go…”

Dojae’s right hand gripped Salta’s shoulder tighter and tighter.

Even when Doja tried to pull his hand away, his right hand refused to obey.

Salta was dangerously drained of mana by Dojae, and Dojae himself was being consumed as the two types of mana flowing into him tangled with his own, tearing his body apart.

Then, the leaf pinned to Salta’s headdress suddenly floated up.

Wuuuung-.

Pop-!

The leaf of the Actria tree emitted a blinding light bright enough to engulf the entire alley.

Thwack!

Dojae felt Salta’s mana no longer flowing to him and instantly withdrew his hand.

Then, feeling the energy of Actria envelop him, he gradually calmed the scattered mana within his body.

Roll-roll-.

When Dojae raised his head after gathering his mana, Salta was shedding tears.

All her memories and the mistakes she herself had made came flooding back. They merged together, leaving her no choice but to shed tears from an indescribable emotion.

“What on earth have I done….”

“Did something come back to you?”

Dojae collapsed, cold sweat pouring down his face.

Without the power of Actria, he would never have been able to control the surging mana.

“Everything came back… I committed far too many things I should never have done…”

Salta knelt down as well.

Head bowed, he trembled violently.

Crack.

A leaf from Salta’s headdress fell and snapped in half.

Dojae carefully picked up the leaf fragment and gently placed it into the pocket dimension.

“You’ll have a lifetime to reflect… Before that, isn’t there someone you want to see?”

“…Katania… I want to see her.”

“Alright, let’s go. But… could you help me up?”

Dojae didn’t have the strength to stand.

Salta grabbed Dojae’s waist and helped him up.

“I don’t care if you’re human or not. You’re my benefactor.”

***

“That’s how it turned out.”

Doja finished his beer and concluded the story.

“This… human has that kind of ability too?”

Katania asked, looking startled.

Dojae answered with a deliberately solemn expression.

“It’s ancient magic passed down only among humans. Among that, it’s magic only the truly special can wield. That’s why I was lucky.”

“Huh… huh huh… Thank you, Lee Dojae. How can I repay this kindness? Tell me anything! I swear by the forest’s oath, I can do anything.”

“Hmm… Swearing by the forest’s oath…”

A thousand thoughts flashed through Dojae’s mind.

What could he possibly get from that Grey Elf?

Truthfully, absorbing Salta’s energy had noticeably increased Dojae’s mana.

That alone was enough to satisfy him, but the prospect of receiving something else filled him with anticipation.

“But what exactly can you do for me? Aren’t you just a wandering group?”

“Heh. You hit the nail on the head.”

Thinking it over carefully, Catania and Salta had no abilities whatsoever.

They weren’t wealthy, nor did they hold high positions.

Salta, who’d been consumed by violence and destruction, and Catania, who’d cleaned up his messes—I couldn’t imagine they had anything to offer.

“Then repay the favor later. To Sarieta here, instead of me.”

“Me?”

Sarri pointed at herself with her hand, looking puzzled.

Dojae stroked Sari’s head as he spoke.

“I’m the village chief of Nightingale Forest Village. If strong individuals like you owe a debt to Nightingale Forest, it would be a tremendous help to Sari. What do you say? I’d like you to help Sari’s village on my behalf.”

“It doesn’t matter to us. As long as we can repay your kindness in any way.”

“Right, I’ll do as you say. But I didn’t know this little girl was the famous Nightingale Forest Village Chief?”

“Ugh… That’s right. I am Sarieta, the village chief of the Night Nightingale Forest.”

Sari glared at Dojae, her face flushed.

Dojae flashed them a bright smile and pulled his robe over his head.

“Enough already! Bring some more beer when you come back!”

***

Semifinals.

Due to Catania’s forfeit, Dojae advanced directly to the finals, and the match between the perverted old man Tahul and Salta began.

Krrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr

As a mage wielding lightning magic, he possessed immense destructive power, capable of summoning thunderbolts from a clear sky.

Their field was a volcanic landscape, where flowing magma and thunderbolts striking from the sky made it look like hell itself.

“Guh…”

Salta struggled to close the distance to Tahul.

No matter how fast Salta was, how could he possibly outrun lightning?

The ceaseless barrage of lightning bound Salta’s movements, and his skin was so badly scorched it was charred black, revealing the flesh beneath.

“Khlhhl. Impressive! To still be able to move after taking lightning like that!”

Salta’s physique was truly astonishing.

The tips of his hair were all scorched, and a faint, milky smoke rose from his body.

Yet he moved.

Swoosh-!

Thud.

Salta threw his sword.

But it didn’t hit Tahul.

It flew almost to point-blank range, but lightning erupting from Tahul’s fingertips knocked Salta’s sword away.

But that was Salta’s plan all along.

Crack-!

As lightning struck again, Salta swiftly moved toward the sword.

The sword, stuck in the ground, acted as a lightning rod, absorbing the strike. Thanks to this, Salta could once again advance toward Tahul.

Thus, he dodged the lightning bolts striking from the sky by throwing his sword, and endured Tahul’s direct lightning magic spells with his body, steadily closing in on Tahul.

And when the distance between them was barely 3 meters.

Tahul laughed and raised both hands.

“Heh heh heh. You give up, huh?”

Tahul suddenly declared his surrender.

To Dojae’s eyes, Tahul still had plenty of tricks left up his sleeve.

Look at that relaxed gaze.

A mage capable of such lightning magic had surrendered without using a single other spell.

Of course, it’s common knowledge that in a 1-on-1 situation, magic types are overwhelmingly disadvantaged compared to physical types, but Tahul had demonstrated an incredible spellcasting speed.

What if he had mixed in other spells and unleashed a barrage of magical attacks?

Ultimately, the match between Salta and Tahul ended in Salta’s victory.

***

About an hour later, after Salta recovered.

The long-awaited final match.

The match between Salta and Doja began.

“I’ll go all out.”

Doja immediately cast Golem Armor, summoning four golems.

Since it was the rock field Sita had chosen in the quarterfinals, it was a very advantageous field for Dojae.

Wooooo!

The crowd erupted in excitement at Dojae’s appearance.

His robe fluttered open to reveal a strikingly handsome golem beneath, delivering a fresh shock.

“Sari, what is that? Isn’t Lee Dojae human?”

“I’ve never seen that form before either…”

Sari and Catania were also utterly astonished.

In other words, the golem armor was making its debut in this world.

And its opponent was Salta, considered a top contender for the championship.

Kaboom!

The two engaged in a fierce battle right from the start.

It was hard to believe swords were actually clashing, as they exchanged blows with thunderous roars.

Salrta’s skill was truly outstanding, arguably combining the abilities of all previous participants.

Not only did he possess devastating power from his exceptional strength, but he also demonstrated the highest level of skill in everything: the insight to read Dojae’s attacks, the flexibility to improvise, and more.

Clang!

“Dojae, who taught you swordsmanship?”

Salta asked as he unleashed a furious barrage.

Dojae parried every strike with precision and replied.

“Proper training came relatively recently. Before that, I just swung by instinct.”

“I see. Your swordplay is still rough. If you find a better teacher, you could improve significantly.”

Clang!

Clang-!

“A teacher… Come to think of it, I never really considered learning from someone. I never had the time.”

“Find a good teacher. I learned from my elder brother. Salma… He was a truly exceptional teacher.”

Clang-!

Dojae retracted his sword and fell back from Salrma.

“What did you just say?”

“You said my brother was a truly outstanding teacher?”

“No… Who are you talking about?”

“Salma. You know my brother?”

“Hmph…”

The sense of unease I felt from Salma.

It wasn’t just the aura of a traitor.

‘This can’t be.’

Dojae recalled the name ‘Salma’ from his memories.

One of the gray elves he had killed in Gaeseong.

The gray elf who had persistently tried to talk to him.

Dojae felt extremely awkward.

‘This is bad. Really bad.’

Should he tell Salta that he was the one who killed her brother?

There was a justification, after all.

After all, it was a monster versus a human.

But to Salta, it would all sound like excuses.

“What’s wrong? You seem to have slowed down suddenly.”

When Doja lowered his sword, Salta stopped and asked.

‘I just need to keep my mouth shut. Then even if she came back from the dead, she wouldn’t know.’

But what about the guilt that kept rising?

Dojae opened his mouth, hoping to ease that guilt just a little.

“I withdraw.”

Woo-woo-woo-woo-.

Booing erupted from the stands.

We were already down one game due to Catania’s forfeit. And now another forfeit in the middle of the match?

“What on earth was he thinking?”

“Just… I got what I wanted.”

I can’t bring my dead brother back to life.

But those Grey Elves who left for somewhere still live.

If it’s those who saved Dohja from the Red Oaks, they might have been freed.

From their blind hatred toward humans.

‘Then they could build a village somewhere and live.’

If, by some chance, a way is truly found to return them to this world, the village rebuilt by Salta would be of great help to them.

Even if I didn’t know then, I know now—so I withdrew with a heart of atonement.

“Still, this isn’t right. I thought I could fight you with all my heart.”

“Truthfully, I found the second-place prize more appealing. So there’s no reason for me to fight you. Referee! I forfeit.”

Dojae turned around and slowly descended from the arena.

Thus, the winner of the tournament was Salta.

Dojai finished in second place.