Chapter 77

Samu and Hasan. For the two of them, what was happening right before their eyes was terrifying.

The burning Elven Forest. Reni used her power to extinguish the flames.

...Up to that point, everything was fine.

However, Reni's power continued to overflow after putting out the fire. The light emanating from Reni grew stronger, and her body began to fade.

--Reni's body flickered, and her eyes wouldn't open.

Samu and Hasan called out to her desperately. Then, the [Black Dragon of the World's Foundation] revealed itself and converged Reni's light.

"Reni, what happened?"

Reni opened her eyes and looked up at Samu and Hasan with a puzzled expression.

After hearing about her condition, she closed her eyes again.

"The Elven Forest is safe, that's good."

What Reni was particularly concerned about was whether the flames had been extinguished.

As the Elven Queen, Hasan immediately received reports from the elves. The entire Elven Forest was enveloped by Reni's power, and the flames were extinguished.

Upon hearing this, Reni wore a satisfied... and somewhat relieved smile.

"I did it properly..."

Then, she began to doze off.

This time, her body didn't flicker. It was the same as before, when Hasan had narrowed the [Magic Circuits]—a [Magic Overload].

Despite the spell, the [Magic Circuits] widened again almost immediately.

"Samu... I will prepare the spell again."

"Did Lady Reni have another [Magic Overload]?"

"Yes... Reni used her power to the fullest. Even the narrowed [Magic Circuits] couldn't withstand the sudden flow of magic. It might have returned to its original state, or even worsened. Even if her body feels better, using a large amount of magic at once is not good. I was going to tell her, but it was too late."

Hasan sighed and looked at the [Black Dragon of the World's Foundation].

The spell that was supposed to help Reni ended up burdening her body.

The promise Hasan wanted to make with Reni was to 'not use magic recklessly.'

The [Black Dragon of the World's Foundation] had burned the forest. Prioritizing that, Hasan didn't get a chance to warn Reni before she used her power, leading to another [Magic Overload].

"What's wrong with this vessel... It's too unstable."

The [Black Dragon of the World's Foundation] sighed.

Reni's magic control was being taught by the [Black Dragon of the World's Foundation], so Hasan's magic ring was removed.

Samu, holding Reni, let go of her heart and looked down at her with a suspicious expression.

"...If it weren't for you burning the forest..."

Hasan raised her right index finger and created a magic ring.

She released Reni, who was fading, to try to help, but it wasn't an act of permission.

Looking at her with a suspicious expression, the [Black Dragon of the World's Foundation] extended its hand and shook its head.

"Wait, wait, wait. This time, we managed to suppress the magic without her disappearing, but if this continues, the same thing will happen again. What would have happened if I wasn't here? Is that okay?"

"...That's not okay at all!"

Samu, with tears streaming down her face, hugged Reni tightly.

Her body, which was hot, was still there even though she had a [Magic Overload]. But just a moment ago, she was almost disappearing.

Only because Samu had been holding her, she could feel Reni's weight fading from her hands.

If this happens again—

If Reni disappears—

Tears streamed down Samu's eyes, and she hugged Reni tightly as if to escape from the thought.

"Lady Reni... Lady Reni always tries her best... Not for herself, but for others. That's who Lady Reni is..."

Samu said this and squeezed her eyes shut.

Samu met Reni when she was three years old.

Reni was destroying the hideout of loan sharks to ensure her parents could live safely and happily.

Overflowing with talent, Reni could do everything on her own. Samu felt she wasn't needed.

But Reni said she liked Samu just the way she was. She invited her to travel together.

As they traveled together, Samu realized something.

Reni—

"Lady Reni often says, 'I can do it.' She uses her power to help others... to save them. But she always neglects herself. So, even if she heard Hasan's warning, even if she was told that using her power would make her disappear—"

Reni would—

Reni would choose—

"To use her power to save others, not herself. Lady Reni would definitely use her power."

Even if Reni had heard Hasan's warning, she would have used her power to extinguish the flames in the Elven Forest.

And it's not just this time.

In the future—Reni would definitely use her power to save others.

Samu understood this painfully.

"If that's the case... If that's the case, Lady Reni will disappear. Lady Reni would definitely choose that path..."

Tears flowed endlessly from Samu's eyes.

Reni disappearing was something Samu couldn't accept. Such a future was intolerable. But—

"I can't stop her... Even though Lady Reni is the most important thing to me. There's nothing more important than Lady Reni. If that's what Lady Reni wants... I can only watch her disappear."

—I can't stop her.

Samu remembered the words she had told Pio.

Pio, knowing his master's wishes, would still try to stop her if he thought it was dangerous.

But Samu was different. Even if it was dangerous, if it was her master's wish, she believed she should fulfill it.

But now, Samu wanted to act and speak like Pio. In this small world within her arms... if Reni could live in a world within Samu's reach...

Reni taking risks was inevitable. But just watching her disappear...

"Am I even needed if I can only watch Lady Reni disappear because it's her wish... I..."

"Samu..."

Hasan searched for words to say in response to Samu's words.

She had something she wanted to convey.

But it was something that Reni and Samu needed to find together.

"...I'm sorry. I shouldn't be talking about my feelings right now. First, we need to get Lady Reni to a place where she can rest."

"Yes, that's right."

Samu said this and stood up, still holding Reni.

They were heading to the room where Reni had been sleeping.

"I'm coming too."

"---Disappear."

"Quite a response, this elf..."

Samu glared at the [Black Dragon of the World's Foundation], who was trying to follow.

She was only refraining from attacking because she was holding Reni. She really wanted to shoot an arrow at it.

The [Black Dragon of the World's Foundation], a noble dragon that supports the world and is on par with a goddess, never expected to be treated this way. Its cheek twitched.

"Originally, I came to find the [Jewel] held by the young elf. The [Jewel] that supports this world is made from my body."

Indeed, the [Black Dragon of the World's Foundation]'s purpose was to find the [Jewel] that Reni possessed.

"Even though it was balanced with seven, it once disappeared from this world. For four years, I had no idea what had happened. Finally, I sensed its power and came to check, only to find this situation."

The [Black Dragon of the World's Foundation] looked at Reni, who was in Samu's arms.

She was feverish, her cheeks flushed, her brows furrowed, and she looked in pain.

"This young elf is too intertwined with the [Jewel]. I thought I could either return the [Jewel] to my hand or let it exist in this world without taking it back..."

It was supposed to be a casual visit.

While searching for the lost [Jewel], it would observe the current state of the world.

But now, the [Black Dragon of the World's Foundation] felt a heavy mission.

"If this young elf dies, the [Jewel] will be lost from this world forever."

The seven [Jewels].

If even one is lost—

"The world will collapse and be destroyed."