#100

Ever since the goddess had called him out into the world, Cullen had always experienced things beyond his expectations. Stories he couldn’t even dare to imagine poured out, and each one was extraordinary. And the degree of shock only intensified as the journey grew longer.

The village where Carias was born.

Few commoners know the name of the progenitor, Larkan. It is merely a story learned by nobles studying history. However, the history books do not detail Carias’s story. It might be that my knowledge is still insufficient and I haven’t seen it…

Thinking so, he looked back at Kiyen, who was also frowning. The old woman who made the shocking statement stood up and, waving her cane, spoke to the others.

“You all leave.”

“But, Pir-nim…! These people are dangerous. Did you not see what you just did to Haman!”

“It was your own doing for not recognizing a distinguished guest. From now on, what I am about to say will only be told to the next village chief, so everyone leave.”

Beneath her white hair, her strikingly vivid crimson eyes glanced at Cullen. It seemed like she was smiling. Crimson… This was also a color he had never seen before.

“I will be fine.”

Her tone suggested she was certain Cullen wouldn’t kill her. It was true. Killing was not difficult, so hearing the story from the old woman was more important. For now.

“Go! Hurry!”

With a wave of her cane, the strong men and others retreated powerlessly. It was clear this old woman ruled the village. Following the people who were pushed out in a rush, the old woman closed the door. As if she knew everything, she said to Kiyen,

“It is an important story to be interrupted, so I would be grateful if the great being could lend us strength.”

As her light laughter echoed, Kiyen’s brow furrowed further. However, instead of denying it, he waved his hand slightly. Nothing seemed to change, but the old woman smiled contentedly. Dragging her cane, she sat down next to the fallen Ulli and Arne.

“You said Larcielien was the name of this village?”

Lasano, who had been watching the situation, asked her first.

“Yes, that is correct.”

“It’s a name that sounds very familiar.”

Then Kiyen spoke.

“It is an ancient word. It means ‘those who bear hardship’.”

“Indeed, you know everything.”

The old woman politely agreed with Kiyen’s words. Cullen, murmuring Larcielien a few times, soon realized the word was similar to Larciel.

“…Is Larciel also an ancient word?”

Kiyen smiled crookedly, as if he had already guessed. Resting his chin on his hand, he glared at the old woman. Cullen slowly lowered his sword and sat next to Kiyen.

“The Empire’s name is a meaningless word. But hearing it now, its origin seems clear.”

“It’s a rather ominous name for a country. I never knew.”

Lasano wore a strange expression. Then the old woman spoke.

“Would you like to hear a story?”

Cullen was about to nod, but his gaze fell on Ulli and Arne, who were still lying down. Although it wasn’t a story they needed to be informed of… it still didn’t feel right to leave them like that.

“I will listen when my companions wake up.”

“Ah, indeed, you are a descendant of Carias-nim.”

The old woman said so and chuckled.

“Rattl-풀 only has a momentary effect; it is not a poisonous or long-lasting herb.” The method to wake them is also simple.”

“What is it?”

“Hit them once, and they will wake up.”

Cullen looked at the old woman with a reluctant face. He glanced at Lasano, who shook his head.

“I don’t want to be hit by Ulli-nim after provoking him.”

When he looked at Kiyen, he also spoke immediately.

“I don’t want to touch them. I might catch their foolishness.”

Cullen, who had no particular desire to hit Ulli to wake him, hesitated, and the old woman offered,

“May I do it for you?”

“What are you going to do?”

Cullen, still wary, slightly raised his sword. The old woman was not afraid.

“I am merely an old woman. You need not worry.”

With those words, the old woman swung her cane. Tap, tap, the cane struck Ulli and Arne on the head. The worst-case scenario they had worried about did not occur.

Instead, as the old woman said, there was an immediate effect. Ulli was the first to jolt awake. With wide, surprised eyes, she looked around, then menacingly at the old woman sitting beside her.

“Who are you!”

Cullen grabbed her wrist to stop her from instinctively reaching for her arrows.

“Ulli, it’s alright.”

Kiyen’s gaze fell on Cullen’s hand. The displeased expression he had worn earlier appeared on Kiyen’s face, and just then, Arne also woke from his short sleep.

“Ah, Ay….”

Rubbing his head, he also looked around. Perhaps because he checked Lasano first, relief spread across Arne’s face.

“Did I fall asleep?”

“Yes, you slept soundly,” Lasano said, resting his chin. Arne chuckled sheepishly. Looking at the others belatedly, Arne finally spotted the old woman and let out a yelp, retreating backward with his chair.

The old woman looked at Cullen as if ready now.

“What, what happened? Why did I sleep? Who did this?”

Ulli asked, clearly displeased with the situation. Kiyen, who would normally ignore Ulli’s words, answered the question.

“A young man named Haman and his mother. It would be good to scold them later.”

Ulli, looking at Kiyen with distaste, whispered to Cullen.

“Is that true?”

“Yes.”

“Can I go catch them now?”

“No. There is a story to be heard.”

Ulli shook her head and gazed at the old woman. Arne, clinging tightly to Ulli’s side, kept his distance from the old woman.

“Then, may we begin the story now?”

With no further objections, the old woman began her tale. About their origins, cherished and passed down for over a thousand years.

“Great being, I do not know if you are aware, but before the Empire was founded, the primordial continent was a place filled with chaos. We do not know exactly what happened, but each of the ununified nations was filled with barbaric customs.

It was said that there were not only humans but also many immensely powerful and great beings who tormented them.

Demonic Beasts?

No, it was not like that. It was before the great beings appeared. I do not know the specifics either. It was merely passed down that they were things humans could not dare to oppose.

The castles of the Dukes and Marquesses were actually names of countries. Among them, the most barbaric was a region called Lenon. It is said that they captured prisoners of war alive and ate them, or treated the weak like beasts and played with them. It was so horrific it was difficult to even speak of.

It is said that Carias-nim was born here, between the regions of Ruffellon and Lenon. His birth itself was extraordinary. Like you, Cullen-nim, he was born with clear purple eyes and exceptional swordsmanship.

Here, Larcielien, was a village where Ruffellon imprisoned criminals. Those who stole food out of hunger, prisoners of war who fled to avoid becoming slaves, secretly mingled in.

Fortunately, the people of Ruffellon were more interested in exploiting criminals than killing them, so coming here actually allowed them to preserve their lives. It was a kind of neutral ground. If you left, you would die, but if you stayed here and did the work assigned by the country, your life would be spared.

What, are you still living like that now?

Yes, that is correct. Ulli-nim, you said? As Ulli-nim said, this is still a place where those who have committed crimes and fled gather. The Duke knows of this place but monitors us through knights, and sometimes mobilizes us for tasks that require labor.

However, he likely does not know the exact origin. What I am about to tell is a story meant only for the chosen one.

In any case, for these reasons, we accept similar individuals. It is a village connected by such ties. That is why we accepted Ruena-nim without question. We do not ask many questions. Everyone came here to survive.

Despite that, why did you try to kill us?

Yes, Cullen-nim. However, what the villagers said is true. A month ago, individuals wearing strange masks appeared and took Ruena-nim away. Several upright young men lost their lives that day. Please pity us.

Enough with the digressions, return to Carias’s story.

Yes. In any case, Carias-nim, born among such sinners, was an extraordinary person. He always looked at the night sky and talked to himself, so even here, he was treated as strange and isolated.

However, Carias-nim did not mind and helped people. Then, one day, he suddenly left the village.

From somewhere far away, stories of his exploits began to be heard. Starting from the region of Lenon, with its barbaric customs, he began to unify the continent alongside great beings.

Thus, the great Empire was founded, and Carias-nim visited this place before entering the Imperial Palace.

Time passed, and Carias-nim’s parents had already passed away. He bowed once at their graves and left these words for my ancient ancestor, who led the village.

Please continue to accept those who have nowhere to go, and wait for a child who will inherit my will to appear in the distant future.

My ancestor was puzzled. It was unlikely that his descendant, who had now become the precious Emperor, would appear here. So Carias-nim left another message.

If my child comes with a being who possesses brilliant golden light, then the time has come. Tell that child this.

I am sorry.

But that is also why we were born.

The story ended there. In the silence that settled, only the old woman was calmly smiling.

“What is there to be sorry about?”

It was Ulli who broke the silence. Her face was genuinely puzzled, and Arne looked no different. Lasano still wore a strange expression, while Cullen mulled over her story. It reminded him of the dream where the goddess and Carias appeared. He recalled the face that received a sword from the goddess and turned its head as if looking directly at him.

The goddess had said that ‘……’ would decide.

And in the old woman’s story, Carias also said that Cullen’s appearance here was because the time had come. What time was it for, exactly? Just as confusion washed over Cullen, Kiyen opened his mouth.

“I wondered where you’d gone for a moment, so you came here then?”

Kiyen’s voice, which had been soft and calm for a while, was chillingly low, just like the first moment they met. The golden light that had shone from beneath the shadows was almost entirely consumed by blue. His pupils elongated, and the air around him grew heavy.

“That wasn’t the end of it.”

Kiyen leaned his upper body forward. A shadow fell over the old woman. It was so intense that it felt like an illusion, as if he might swallow the small old woman whole.

“Did Ria mention the ‘condition’?”

His eyes, filled with murderous intent, glared at the old woman. It was as if he were wary of what she might say.