Reincarnated Elf (108), uncover the mystery behind the Crimson Horn
"Sir Reese! We've placed protective talismans on the designated large trees around Quarta Village."
"Well done, Minoru. I've just finished crafting the magic as well."
All the demonic beasts that had been targeting the village were temporarily defeated. However, in an environment with such dense miasma, new frenzied demonic beasts would quickly emerge. It is crucial to prevent the elderly ladies who helped us after our departure from falling victim to these creatures.
"Now, all that's left is to surround the entire village with high-level barrier magic—Valkyria Gaze of the War Goddess."
In times like these, ancient magic, particularly barrier magic, is the most efficient solution. While Yggdrasil Silph, the divine protection of the ancient tree that has safeguarded the Elf tribe for over a millennium, is the ultimate invisible barrier exclusive to our kind, the ancient humans independently developed something similar.
Barrier magic, an elevated form of defensive spells, involves placing talismans infused with magic at regular intervals. Then, by connecting these points with lines and pouring in a massive amount of magic, an extremely wide-ranging, continuous magic is activated.
While the protection of the space governed by Yggdrasil Silph depends on the growth of the original ancient tree, Valkyria Gaze of the War Goddess, as a derivative, can cover any area as long as there are talismans and sufficient magic power.
The strength of the barrier corresponds to the amount of magic power infused. Given the contaminated nature of the region with powerful entities, the highest strength is a bonus from me.
"Looks like from now on, these demonic beasts won't dare come near. Can't promise complete safety, but until your sons return, things should be fine."
"Truly, thank you ever so much. Just not deserting this old village means the world. If you need anything, you know where to find us. The village won't forget this favor, ever."
It was time to bid farewell to Quarta Village after our two-week stay. The residents gathered to see us off.
With all the young folks gone, the community dwindled to just over 53 people. Still, every person there shared the same kindness.
Quarta Grandma spoke with a slightly worn voice, "But are you sure? A handful of those tattered spellbooks as a thank-you?"
She gestured at the stack of tomes held by Minoru. They were written in the language of the demon realm.
These were rare texts in demon language, scarce even in our human circles. What secrets might they hold? What spells and knowledge lay within?
"Sir Reese, be mindful. This is a goodbye, you know."
...Even saying that, Minoru didn't hand over the spellbooks. She knew, perhaps better than anyone, that if they landed in my hands, I'd be engrossed for days.
Seeing Minoru bow in gratitude, I finally snapped back to reality.
"As you can see from Sir Reese's condition, this is the best way to express our thanks. Thank you so much."
I nodded, realizing the significance of the demonic realm spellbooks. "Grandma, getting such precious literature is truly appreciated. Demon realm spellbooks are rarely accessible here."
"If it proves useful, then I'm glad. You two have protected our village. I'll do my best a bit longer, believing my sons will return."
Her words carried a hint of sadness, echoed by the elderly villagers. Suddenly, a question that had been on my mind popped up.
"By the way, the sons of this village left after hearing about the Dark Lord's revival, right?"
The elderly villagers collectively nodded.
"Our idiot son truly believed the rumors and headed towards Lastesia."
"I heard the youngsters from the neighboring village heard the story and left in a frenzy. That village is almost gone now, without any young ones. Ours will follow soon."
"Yeah. Back then, everyone was hyped up about it... All of them turned their horns blood-red and enthusiastically went for it. We, the old ladies, lost our horn powers, so we couldn't stop them. Everyone was unstoppable."
The elderly recounted the events. Minoru, puzzled, asked, "Horn powers?"
Quarta Grandma pointed to the gray horns in the center of her forehead.
"It might seem strange to humans, thinking we demons have nothing, but we, the horned demons, are also a type of demi-human. These horns have the power to absorb surrounding magic. That's why we adapt to living in the miasma-filled demon realm. The more concentrated the miasma, the more easily our powers manifest; that's the nature of our race."
In the demon realm, the concentration of miasma is several times higher than on flatlands. The place got its name from being the chaotic land where humans were the only race to abandon their invasion. Elves, like us, and even humans, who find miasma poisonous, can convert it into power. It's the unique ability of the demi-human race called 'demons.'
In addition to the internal magical energy flowing in our bodies, we gather external magic from the miasma in the air to forge our powers. The reason the heroes and humans of that time couldn't obliterate the demons was due to the excellent compatibility between the miasma-filled demon realm and the demons who controlled it.
"Well, demons having such power in their horns—"
"As for us Elves, we naturally excel in recovery magic, and we're born with high magical manipulation skills. It seems our hearing and eyesight are quite developed too."
One of the most surprising things about turning from a human into an Elf was the enhanced senses, especially hearing and vision. An Elf's auditory and visual acuity allowed them to discern sounds and sights from great distances, a trait specialized for hunting and crisis avoidance.
As I moved my ears, sensing differently from my human days, Minoru smiled, her cheeks showing a slight relaxation.
"When we're young, our ability to sense miasma is heightened. Turning blood-red—no, crimson like that, signifies a significant surge in our powers. It's a rather uncertain rumor, difficult to confirm as true or false, but those who turned crimson couldn't be stopped. We didn't go to such extremes, so it might be hard to believe, but that's why the rumors persisted."
"Despite rumors of the Demon King's revival circulating, there's still uncertainty, not just among humans but even within the demon community.
The demons seem to be taking this matter seriously, with preemptive measures against those who might exhibit the 'Hero' factor and strict information control.
"When those foolish sons left, their faces were truly intimidating. It was the first time I saw such faces and horns. As long as they come back in good health, that's all that matters," Grandma Quarta shared.
The worried expressions on Grandma Quarta and the village elders are clearly evident.
The demons, departing with magical powers strong enough to frighten even their parents, set out, possibly transforming into more demonic beasts than necessary.
"I'm sure your sons will come back. I believe the same," I reassured.
Grandma Quarta warmly smiled, "You truly are an elf filled with kindness."
And so, we bid farewell to the small demon village where we spent two weeks. The behind-the-scenes of the Demon King's revival seemed to have transformed not only the lives of the people who lived there but also the very nature of their personalities.
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