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"What... What is this nonsense!"
Sylderay shouted.
The recording ability of the fairies, including Luet, had never shown a single lie. However, now there were clearly false contents being described in the record window.
The five magic towers of the Kingdom Palin had been attacked by Runcandel's forces last year and the year before.
[Ugh!]
Luet suddenly retched.
It was a retching born from the discomfort of the sudden manipulation of history.
The act of witnessing reality being manipulated in real-time is an event that shocks the human mind more than one can imagine.
"Head butler, we need to tell the scribes! We have to write it down, We have to!"
Diana shouted as Sarah grabbed Luet, who was about to collapse. As she said, everyone present here needed to continue writing down this phenomenon "before completely forgetting" the fact that history was being manipulated.
Upon hearing her, the nearby guardian knights hastily rushed into the castle.
"Head butler! Wake up. We must not forget that what is written in this record window is fake. Head butler, Head butler!"
Luet trembled but didn't respond.
Soon, she lost consciousness and collapsed, and only the perplexed voices of the ten great knights remained in the raging storm.
***
Half a year had passed.
The storm castle's butlers and scribes no longer recorded the history of the fairies.
It was because they had been forgotten by the people of the world.
The existence of the Fairies completely disappeared if it had never existed from the beginning, but they did not completely disappear from some people's memories.
However, the fact that the Fairy King, Luet Damiro Yul, had met Temar Runcandel by chance and had stood against Zipfel together...
The fact that the entire Fairy tribe had fought desperately, shedding blood, to prevent Zipfel's manipulation of history had been erased.
Even the people now remembered that the Fairy tribe had "perished" in ancient times.
Yet, thousands of fairies, forgotten by people and forgotten by themselves, still lived and breathed.
"I'm sorry, Luet."
A man spoke while looking at Luet's back.
It was Temar.
[The patriarch has nothing to apologize for.]
When Temar didn't respond, Luet continued.
[Do you really think that the Fairy tribe were erased from history because I met you, patriarch?]
"Yeah. If you hadn't met me, the Fairy tribe wouldn't have fallen victim to Zipfel…"
[Patriarch, stop with the pointless talk. When Zipfel manipulated history, what would have been the first target to be eradicated? Runcandel? No, those people would have eliminated the Fairy tribe first, regardless of Runcandel.]
In reality, after becoming Runcandel's Head butler, Luet had discovered the fact that Zipfel was manipulating the history of the Fairy tribe while examining the records.
She and Temar had met five years ago.
But the manipulation of the Fairy tribe's history had started eight years ago.
That's why she didn't consider the erasure of the Fairy tribe's history to be Temar's responsibility.
Rather, she held a deep gratitude towards Temar.
If she hadn't met him, by now, she would have also lost herself like other Fairy tribesmen, forgotten by people.
[Thanks to the immense power of existence possessed by the patriarch, I could still remain, not forgotten, and fight against Zipfel alongside Runcandel. So please, don't apologize to me again.]
Temar nodded heavily.
[...And me, patriarch, and the ten great knights, we haven't forgotten that the Fairy tribe fought alongside Runcandel against Zipfel, have we? Lord Solderet, Mr. Murakan, and Ms. Misha hasn't forgotten either.]
The power of existence that Temar possessed.
It wasn't a power limited to Temar alone. The beings deeply influenced by Temar also enjoyed the benefits of that power.
Thanks to that, the individuals mentioned by Luet just now still had a clear understanding of the history of the Fairy tribe.
However, as time passed, they were gradually forgetting about the Fairy tribe. The two of them were not unaware of this fact.
Temar was the only one completely free from Zipfel's manipulation of history.
Even when Runcandel attacked the magic towers of the Kingdom Palin half a year ago, Temar was the only one who saw through the falsity of the history being manipulated in real-time.
But human memory...
Inevitably, it would fade over time. Moreover, memories were like people—they couldn't continue to exist alone.
If there were no others to listen to or confirm those memories, eventually, they would have no power within oneself. They would lose their meaning.
[I'm worried about you, patriarch.]
"What's there to worry about?"
[Everyone relies too much on the patriarch. Lately, it seems like the patriarch is trying to bear too many people.]
Since realizing that his influence could delay Zipfel's manipulation of history, Temar had been making an effort to keep as many people around him as possible.
"There were already many people around me from the beginning."
[That's true. But you haven't been meeting people as frequently and sleeplessly as you are now. When was the last time you closed your eyes, patriarch? Ten days ago?]
"Around that time, I guess. But you know, sleep or... it's not really my thing…"
[Even you, patriarch, are ultimately human. You're not a god or a demon. If you continue like this, your mind will be overwhelmed, patriarch.]
There was sign of movement from the outside
"The patriarch, Head butler."
Sarah entered the office with a serious expression.
There must be bad news, Temar and Luet thought. When Sarah wasn't being playful, it always meant something serious.
"Since this morning, Padler has started to forget the history of the Fairy tribe. Even if he tries to recall, it doesn't seem to work…"
Even when other ten great knights who still remember tried to tell Padler about the Fairy tribe, he couldn't understand the content at all.
Even after hearing the story, he would forget it again after a few minutes.
The world was turning into a massive theater, soaked with Zipfel's taste.
Within that theater, members of Runcandel were gradually being consumed by fear.
No matter how powerful one's mental fortitude might be, it was impossible to continually endure the crumbling of the known reality.
"We need a way to leave the records that those bastards could never touch."
Sarah spoke, chewing on her lower lip.
"The patriarch, no! Oraboni. It doesn't seem possible. I will go and meet that witch who resides in the Black Sea. Lokia said that if it is the witch, she might know a way to stop Zipfel's manipulation of history…"
Lokia was one of the ten great knights. She was a mage with best magic skills rather than swordsmanship in Runcandel.
"Sarah, you can not do that."
"Why?"
"That woman is a disaster. We don't know what might happen if we approach her clumsily."
"Oraboni."
Sarah took a breath and continued.
"If things continue like this, Runcandel will be destroyed. Not only the Fairy tribe, but also the history concerning Runcandel has started to be manipulated."
"If Helluram is awakened, it won't be Runcandel but the world that may face destruction."
"A world without Runcandel has no meaning to me."
"Sarah!"
"Everyone is relying only on you, oraboni. We want to do something too, even if it's just a little. Rather than being helpless like this, I would rather sell my soul to devil."
"I will pretend I didn't hear that, Sarah. And tell Lokia not to bring up anything about Helluram in the future."
When Sarah didn't respond, Temar gently embraced her.
"I understand it's difficult. But I do have a plan. Soon, together with Solderet, I will meet with other gods."
"Will the gods help us?"
"It's not certain. But according to Solderet, it seemed like they will corporate."
Sarah reluctantly nodded.
Even though she possessed the greatest power among the ten great knights, it was difficult for her to endure the fact that there was nothing she could do.
"And I'm saying this out of concern, but please, under no circumstances, disobey my orders and make contact with Helluram. This is an order as the patriarch."
"I understand."
The siblings were lying to each other.
Solderet had already failed in persuading the gods, and Sarah had no intention of obeying Temar's order. She didn't trust the majority of the gods who had already submitted to Zipfel.
After Sarah left, Temar let out a deep sigh.
"It seems she is going to cause trouble. I should ask Diana to keep an eye on Sarah."
In truth, Temar and Luet...
They had already considered the worst-case scenario.
They had witnessed Solderet attempting to leave messages for the "thousand-year contractor".
Luet, in particular, had assisted Solderet in that process.
Of course, it didn't mean they had given up the fight against Zipfel.
They simply had a grim intuition that this dreadful and protracted battle could continue even after their era had passed.
That's why preparations were needed for the next generation, and the generation after that, and the generation after that.
It was only natural, given that they lacked the certainty of victory in their own time.
"But Sarah's words weren't without merit, Luet."
[Yes, my lord.]
"Directly contacting Helluram is dangerous, but if it's his lover, the situation might be different. Find out the whereabouts of the Demon Beast King Orgal for me."
***
Whoa...
The records of the recording device reached its limit.
Jin couldn't say anything for a while, lost in thought.
[You've seen it all. What do you think?]
Luet asked.
"...It's shocking. I didn't realize Zipfel's manipulation of history went to such an extent."
For decades.
No, the fact that they could manipulate the history of the Fairy tribe at will, which had been around for tens of thousands of years.
It could be stated with certainty. Even the gods couldn't accomplish such a feat.
'That's why there must have been content in the records indicating that the gods submitted to Zipfel.'
For the first time, doubt arose as to whether it was even possible to defeat Zipfel.
However, Jin quickly shook off that thought.
'If those bastards were still as formidable as they were a thousand years ago, Runcandel wouldn't have existed in the first place. They must have paid an enormous price to subdue Runcandel back then.'
Although the exact nature of that price couldn't be discerned from the current records, Jin had gained the most important information from this recording device out of all the Solderet's recording devices he had examined so far.
Especially Zipfel's transcendent abilities were more palpable than ever.
My teacher is the key to deal with Zipfel.'
Jin's thought naturally drifted to that point.
[Sir Jin, it has already been two days outside.]
Luet spoke.
"Two days?"
Jin was taken aback and made eye contact with Luet.
If two days had passed, there could have been an attack on the caves of the small beastmen by someone among his "enemies."
-I'll return as soon as possible. To ensure that no one gets hurt.
The promise Jin had made to Neru came to mind.
[Judging by your expression, it seems there is an urgent matter outside.]
"There are people I promised to rescue. Because of my presence here, the small beastmen are in mortal danger."
[Then you should leave quickly.]
Luet's resolute answer made Jin's heart feel heavy.
"If I leave this place, Ms. Luet will be alone again. I'll forget about Ms. Luet..."
Luet nodded silently.
[You will remember only my image you saw in the recording device. But Sir Jin, in reality, I am practically a forgotten person. Rescuing the living people outside is more valuable than soothing my solitude.]
"I will return. Definitely."
There were too many small beastmen who could die without Jin knowing, and it was too uncertain to hesitate due to compassion.
Luet offered a faint smile.
Recalling the appearance of Temar once saying the same thing as Jin did.