—Jingle
—Jingle
With the gentle ringing of the Spirit Calling Bell, two figures slowly materialized.
Serolina and Dolores had been summoned.
"Master," Dolores greeted respectfully.
Serolina, as always, remained silent. She simply nodded toward him.
Already accustomed to their behavior, he paid it no mind. Looking at the two spirits who had followed him for so long, he spoke calmly.
"The one responsible for killing you—Seluvis—is already dead. And according to my guess, everything may come to an end in this cycle."
He paused for a moment.
"So what do you want to do?"
"Do you have any wishes left? If you'd like, I can also send you back to rest beneath the Erdtree."
Although the Tarnished spoke sincerely, his words still left the two women stunned.
Serolina recovered first.
She hurried forward and grasped his hands. Looking into his eyes, she gently shook her head, her gaze filled with quiet pleading.
The meaning was obvious.
She did not want to return to the Erdtree.
She only wanted to remain by his side.
To continue walking with him.
Truthfully, Serolina's attitude gave him quite a headache.
So he turned to Dolores instead, hoping to hear her thoughts.
But Dolores's reaction was even more extreme.
The moment their eyes met—
Thud!
She dropped to one knee and lowered her head.
"Master! Dolores has no wishes left. I only wish to follow you forever!"
"..."
He said nothing.
Instead, his gaze slowly lowered to the stone floor beneath her knee.
The tile was covered with dense cracks.
The corner of his eye twitched slightly.
Didn't that hurt?
But clearly, now was not the time to focus on that.
Dolores's vow of loyalty made him sigh helplessly.
"Sigh... I understand the others, but you, Dolores... you were once a Tarnished as well, weren't you? And even a member of the Roundtable Hold. You were also friends with Sir Gideon Ofnir, the All-Knowing. Right?"
"Yes, Master."
"...In that case, how about this? When we reach Leyndell, Royal Capital, I'll place you at the branches of the Erdtree. That would fulfill a Tarnished's wish. What do you think?"
This was the conclusion he had reached after serious consideration.
Although he intended to bring everything to an end in this cycle, the road ahead was still uncertain.
He did not know if he could withstand the Frenzied Flame.
There was a precedent.
Vyke, once known as a lord contender.
He had been burned by the Frenzied Flame until his armor twisted and his mind collapsed into madness.
Would the same happen to him?
Even though he had already surpassed Vyke's strength countless times, he still could not predict what would happen once he accepted the Frenzied Flame.
Yet Dolores rejected his proposal again.
"No, Master. Although I was once Tarnished and a member of the Roundtable Hold, I now belong only to you."
"Dolores is willing to serve you forever, staying by your side until the end of the world."
"..."
As expected of someone who once stood among the heroes of the Roundtable Hold.
Though she was a woman, her spirit rivaled any warrior.
From the inside out, she radiated heroic resolve.
And that only made things more troublesome for him.
But now that things had reached this point—
"So be it."
"If you insist on following me to your deaths, then I won't stop you."
In this situation, he could only accept with resignation.
"Thank you for your understanding, Master."
As Dolores finished speaking, Serolina bowed slightly as well.
Then both spirits dissolved into mist and disappeared.
He slowly raised his head and gazed at the sky through the skylight.
Even here, the brilliant stars and the enormous full moon were clearly visible.
Perhaps that was why the Carian Royal Family and the astrologers had chosen Liurnia as their home.
Moonlight fell across his face.
Yet a bitter smile appeared.
Even now, he still didn't understand what charm he possessed that made these spirit ashes willing to give so much for him.
After accompanying him through so many cycles—
Did they truly have no desire to rest?
"…Forget it."
"I should get a body for Sellen first."
Shaking his head, he forced the troubling thoughts aside.
Afterward, he teleported through Grace back to Ranni's Rise.
From there, he skillfully found the hidden underground chamber belonging to Seluvis.
The underground room was dim.
There were no lamps.
Only the faint glow of Glintstone crystals illuminated the space.
Under the pale blue light of the crystals, rows of puppets knelt on both sides of the room.
Men.
Women.
Old.
Young.
Human and nonhuman alike.
Nearly every type imaginable.
All of them were Seluvis's creations.
They had once been living inhabitants of the Lands Between.
Unfortunately, they had crossed paths with that twisted puppet enthusiast.
He walked past them without a second glance, heading straight for the secret room Seluvis had hidden at the deepest part of the chamber.
The life and death of others no longer shook him.
If he could save someone, he would lend a hand.
If they died, then it simply had nothing to do with him.
Even though he had always thought this way, he used to feel shock or sorrow during the early cycles.
But now—
He had grown used to it.
At some point, his heart had gradually numbed.
Even his view of life and death had become cold.
Perhaps the only proof that he still possessed humanity was that he could still joke with others—
And still care about those important to him.
Reaching the end of the corridor, he struck the wall with force.
The wall shattered.
He stepped into Seluvis's hidden chamber.
Inside the room stood the body of a female sorcerer.
She wore the same headpiece as Sellen.
It was the crown granted by Raya Lucaria Academy to exceptional apprentices.
Those who received it were given the title of Witch.
Which meant this woman had once been a talented sorceress.
Unfortunately—
Seluvis had turned her into a puppet.
But that had nothing to do with him.
As long as Sellen was satisfied.
With that thought, he took out the brilliant Primal Glintstone and inserted it into the puppet's body.
The previously lifeless puppet suddenly moved.
As if power had been restored, it slowly raised its head and assumed a familiar pose.
"…My apprentice. It has been quite some time since we last met."
"Yes."
"Welcome back, Teacher Sellen."
Even though he had witnessed this scene many times, watching Sellen's rebirth still filled him with happiness.
However, there was still an issue to consider.
How could he prevent Sellen from turning into a sphere?
In past cycles, he had tried many different methods.
Even destroying the Primal Glintstones of Azur and Lusat only delayed Sellen's transformation into a sphere.
The outcome remained inevitable.
With Sellen's talent, touching the Primeval Current was only a matter of time.
If nothing else worked—
Did he really need to try that spell that summoned Yog-Sothoth?
"Thank you."
"My apprentice, it is thanks to you that I have obtained a new body."
Sellen's voice was gentle.
She examined the compatibility between the Primal Glintstone and the new body, clearly pleased.
"Yes. This body is excellent—young, healthy, and perfectly suited for the Primal Glintstone."
She spoke like an elderly scholar, despite still looking like a beautiful woman in her prime.
But he didn't comment.
He simply listened quietly.
"…And the hateful restraints placed upon me are now gone."
"At last, I can return to the academy."
"I will abolish the rule of the Carian Royal Family and revive the Primeval Current."
"My apprentice."
"Will you help me once more?"
"Help me reclaim Raya Lucaria Academy."
"…About that, Teacher Sellen, I'd like to say something first."
"Go ahead. I will listen carefully."
Sellen nodded.
"Teacher, I'm not sure when you were expelled from the academy, but you must know that the academy and the Carian Royal Family broke apart and even fought each other."
"Although Queen Rennala is still inside the academy, she is no longer its head. She's merely a queen under house arrest."
"Because of certain reasons, I don't want to harm Queen Rennala."
"So can you give me some time? I'll take control of the academy and then welcome you back."
"Until then, could you return to the underground chamber beneath Waypoint Ruins?"
"…Hmm."
Sellen fell silent.
She began to think carefully.
Normally, she would never accept such a request.
But this request came from her beloved apprentice.
As a teacher, she had to consider it.
After a while, she finally spoke again.
"…Very well. Since it is my apprentice's request, I will agree."
"Do as you wish."
"Thank you, Teacher."
It was the answer he expected.
Yet he still felt relieved.
"No, I should be the one thanking you."
"My apprentice… I owe you far too much."
"No, Teacher Sellen."
"You're my teacher. Doing these things for you is only natural."
"Besides, among us Tarnished there is a saying—"
"A teacher for one day is a parent for life."
"If you are my teacher, then you are also like my parent."
"Hehe."
Sellen couldn't help but laugh.
Her gaze toward her apprentice became even gentler.
"Parent, you say…"
Afterward, Sellen left the underground chamber.
Before leaving, she briefly glanced at Seluvis's corpse.
She said nothing.
But the coldness in her eyes made it clear she despised him.
Soon after, she departed Caria Manor and returned to the underground chamber beneath Waypoint Ruins.
Meanwhile, the Tarnished encountered Hyetta again near the Bridge of Sacrifice.
The blind girl had not yet become a Finger Maiden.
But something about her seemed… different.
"I'm so glad to see you again."
"Do you happen to know about Fingerprint Grapes?"
"They grow on creatures touched by burned fingers… a very special kind of grape."
"I wish to taste one."
"The fire beyond the shore has grown closer than before… but with ordinary grapes, I feel no change."
"Please. If you have such grapes, could you give me one?"
"If I cannot taste them… ah… I feel like I might go mad…"
"..."
The Tarnished did not answer immediately.
He did indeed have those so-called Fingerprint Grapes.
They were left behind after killing Vyke, and they were even warmer than Shabriri Grapes.
You could practically use them as hand warmers in the Mountaintops of the Giants.
But for some reason—
Hyetta felt different.
More impatient.
Almost… unstable.
Even knowing they were eyeballs, she no longer seemed resistant.
It was almost like a withdrawal reaction.
Could these things really be addictive?
Still, he didn't think too deeply about it.
Since she wanted them, he would give them.
After all, he had plenty.
"Here."
He took several Fingerprint Grapes from his bag and placed them in her hands.
"Ah… ahh! This feeling!"
"Fingerprint Grapes! These must be Fingerprint Grapes!"
Hyetta trembled as she held them.
Her excitement was indescribable, like someone who had just witnessed a miracle.
"Thank you! Thank you, Lord Tarnished!"
While thanking him, she swallowed the grapes in one motion.
The moment they entered her mouth—
She let out a strange moan.
"…Ah… how sweet… how burning…"
The sound was difficult to describe.
He had only heard something like that once before.
From Fia.
"…Thank you. My heart has finally calmed."
"May the Fingers grant you their blessing."
Just as she said, after swallowing the grapes, her voice returned to its previous calmness.
"Strange."
As he prepared to leave, he took out another Fingerprint Grape and examined it closely.
"This thing… is really that addictive?"
Then he stuffed it back into his bag and walked away.
Hyetta seemed to sense his departure and called out:
"…Thank you, Lord Tarnished. Farewell. I will definitely become a Finger Maiden."
"Yeah, yeah. Good luck with that."
Just don't ask me for more grapes later.
Seeing that expression again might awaken memories he'd rather forget.
"…Forget it."
"I'll just teleport to the edge of Mistwood."
Just as he returned near the broken bridge and prepared to teleport through Grace, a figure suddenly appeared.
"…It has been a long time, Tarnished."
"Yeah, it has. What made you appear today?"
Seeing Melina, he smiled.
Though he was also a little confused.
"…Actually, it's about the girl you met earlier—Hyetta."
"There is something about her I wish to tell you."
"Oh? Something about Hyetta?"
He slowly sat beside the Grace and listened.
"…Yes. I hope you will stay away from her."
"Why? Doesn't she want to become a Finger Maiden? Unless…"
A teasing expression appeared on his face.
"Don't tell me you're jealous. Afraid she might steal me away?"
"…Jealous?"
Melina tilted her head slightly, her short brown hair swaying gently.
"Of course. But don't worry. I've said it before—my Finger Maiden can only be you."
"And only you."
His voice was firm.
It had been his conviction since the second cycle.
No one could change it.
"…No. That's not what I meant."
Melina shook her head again.
"If she could become your maiden, I would be happy for you."
"But the maiden she seeks to become… is not a servant of the Two Fingers."
"She will become a servant of the Three Fingers."
"The Three Fingers?"
"…Yes."
"If possible, I hope you will stay away from her."
"Stay away from the Frenzied Flame."
"That is something that must never be touched."
"It is chaos that devours all life and all thought."
"Even if this world falls into ruin, filled with pain and despair…"
"As long as life remains, the world can still endure."
"But the Frenzied Flame denies all of that."
"…In truth, I have always watched over the Lands Between."
"I believed this world must be repaired."
"And that death must come equally to all."
"…Aside from discovering my purpose, that is my only wish."
"So I hope that you—who may become Elden Lord—"
"Please repair this world."
"Do not deny everything."
"…Please do not allow your heart to turn toward the Frenzied Flame."
"…Please."
"Please keep your heart far from the Frenzied Flame."
Melina's voice gradually changed.
From calm—
To earnest—
Until it finally became a plea.
His expression changed as well.
From seriousness…
To hesitation…
And finally, quiet acceptance.
Looking at Melina's familiar, gentle face, he spoke slowly.
"I promise you…"
"…Thank you… thank you…"
Melina sighed in relief and revealed a faint smile.
But within his eyes—
A trace of guilt flickered.
He already knew the truth about the Frenzied Flame.
Accepting it would make him the Lord of Chaos.
But so what?
If becoming the Lord of Chaos could save Melina—
Then what did it matter?
Even if the entire Lands Between had to be sacrificed—
So what?
This rotten world had repeated before his eyes countless times.
For a long time now, he had wished for it to be wiped clean and begin again.
Besides—
Without the Frenzied Flame…
How else could he save her?
Should he try to split open the Erdtree with Marduk's Black Axe?
It wasn't as if he had never attacked the Erdtree before.
But every attempt had been futile.
The Thorns of Rejection were unimaginably tough.
Even the Godslayer's Greatsword could only leave shallow marks.
So this time—
He lied.
Melina's request was something he simply could not fulfill.
And in his heart, he whispered silently:
"…I'm sorry, Melina."
"Just this once… I truly cannot do as you ask."
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