TIRS 49

Chapter 49:

 Illei

“Why would I resent you?”

“Just… because the time might come when you want to blame someone, and there might not be anyone else around to blame.”

When Luivel asked in disbelief, Ancelot replied in a calm voice.

“Then just blame me. It’s my fault that Your Highness became a player, and also a bug.”

Luivel pouted her lips.

“I’m already blaming you, you know? Don’t you remember how I beat you up just a moment ago?”

She raised a fist with a deliberately fierce expression. But to Ancelot, it was nothing more than an adorably soft gesture.

“I think it probably wasn’t enough.”

Ancelot let out a soft chuckle and leaned toward Luivel.

“Keep hitting me until you feel better, Your Highness. I’ll take as many hits as you want.”

“G-Get away from me!”

Suddenly closing the distance had Luivel flustered, and she pushed Ancelot away in alarm.

“Ow, it kind of hurts when you recoil that hard.”

“Who told you to get all up in my face like that!”

Despite her apparent displeasure, Luivel’s earlobes had flushed a slight shade of red.

Deep in the forest.

A small boy sat squatting under the base of a tree.

He had mysterious features: black hair and black eyes.

Half of the blood flowing through his veins belonged to elves, and the other half to humans.

Because of that, the child couldn’t truly belong to either the world of elves or humans.

Dark, slithering mist gathered and circled around him.

He was still mulling over Luivel’s words from earlier.

“You were lonely, weren’t you? Enduring time all alone in this vast forest.”

She had said that to him. That deep down, he was lonely.

But the boy didn’t know what loneliness was.

He had never not been lonely since the moment he was born, so paradoxically, he didn’t recognize it as loneliness.

Still, there was one thing he knew for sure.

“I’ll stay by your side.”

The moment he heard those words, he had wanted to take her outstretched hand.

It was the first time.

The first time anyone had said that to him.

Was it really true? That if he just held that hand, she’d truly stay with him?

But even the one who gave birth to him had abandoned him.

So why did she want to stay with someone like him?

“Come with me. You don’t have to hurt people anymore.”

Though he was full of doubts, her voice kept echoing in his mind.

Illei missed her.

And at that very moment, the dark mist around him slowly began to gather and form her shape.

The black figure reached a hand toward him, just like Luivel had, and mouthed silent words: “Come with me.”

The scene repeated endlessly, and something about it began to bother him.

She wasn’t this dark.

She had a soft pink hue, like the beginning of spring.

Unlike him…

As Illei absentmindedly ran his fingers through his black hair, a large shadow suddenly loomed over him.

He flinched and slowly lifted his head.

And saw a pair of golden eyes staring down at him.

“Ah…”

Recognizing him instinctively, Illei trembled and parted his lips.

Piya didn’t wake until well into the afternoon.

Pyuit! Pyuiiit!

Apparently fully recovered, it looked much healthier now. A relief.

Pyu-rururururu!

—Crazy Ancelot has returned to normal!

Piya, perched proudly on my shoulder, spread one wing toward Ancelot and proclaimed.

“Crazy… what?”

Ancelot’s eyes narrowed ominously at the insult.

But Piya stood its ground and continued.

Pyu-ruru! Pyuririririt!

—Crazy Ancelot! That lunatic who tried to attack Lady Lulu when he lost his mind!

“……”

Ancelot pressed his lips together at Piya’s follow-up.

Normally, the old Ancelot wouldn’t let a mouthy bird like that off so easily… maybe he still felt guilty about attacking us.

“Should I show you how a truly madman cooks up a cocky bird when he’s gone completely insane?”

With a wicked grin, Ancelot summoned a glowing white orb in midair.

Pyuriiiiiiit!

—Lady Lulu! Ancelot’s trying to eat me!!

Piya screamed and flapped away in a panic.

Well, at least it’s healthy now. I chuckled as I watched Ancelot and Piya bicker.

Thankfully, unlike before, Piya didn’t seem badly injured — likely because I managed to protect it immediately when Ancelot revealed he was a bug.

Now that Piya was back to normal, the system began to function again.

[Quest in Progress] Main Quest: Forest of Phantasm (2/3)
…The mist of the forest is surrounding you and your companions…

As expected, the second quest in the Forest of Phantasm hadn’t yet met its completion criteria.

Now that Piya’s back, we need to find Illei again…

And the moment I had that thought—

Rustle—

Illei appeared from beyond the brush, as if summoned.

With black hair and golden eyes, the doll-like boy looked to be about 6 or 7 years old.

I recognized him instantly because…

Sage of Light

…his name was floating right above his head.

Wait, “Sage of Light”?

I blinked and stared at the golden nameplate above Illei.

In the original story, Illei didn’t awaken until after leaving the forest, opening his heart to Hezen’s party, and overcoming his loneliness.

But here, he’d awakened before even joining us.

Just like with Klaus — awakening much earlier than in the original.

Why?

Klaus awakened after we were trapped together in another dimension and faced a crisis.

But Illei hasn’t had any such turning point yet…

While I tilted my head in confusion, Illei peered at me silently from behind a bush.

Don’t tell me… he already opened his heart to us, even before becoming an ally…

Our eyes met at that moment.

Thankfully, unlike Klaus, the affection meter didn’t drop just because of eye contact…

Still, this is a bit awkward.

When I checked Illei’s affection level, I was puzzled.

Affection: Unknown

Unknown…?

It didn’t seem like a system error — Piya was acting normally.

Maybe it was because of Illei’s unique nature.

He had lived alone for so long, he didn’t even know what loneliness was. He lacked emotional awareness entirely.

First, I need to convince Illei to dispel the mist…

But with his affection level unreadable, I hesitated to approach too recklessly.

And then—thump!

Suddenly, Illei jumped out from the bushes and ran straight into my arms.

“What the…?”

“Who is he?”

But before I could react, Ancelot grabbed him by the scruff, and Klaus stepped in front of me protectively.

“Let me go!”

As Illei flailed, black mist began to rise around him.

“This is…”

“The mist?”

Ancelot and Klaus narrowed their eyes at the sight.

“Oh, so he’s the one who controlled me with the mist earlier?”

“I’ll eliminate him, Your Highness.”

Ancelot’s voice was laced with sarcasm, while Klaus’s was serious.

“No! Both of you, stop!”

I quickly intervened, sensing the murderous intent from both men.

Illei dangled helplessly in midair, caught by Ancelot.

I locked eyes with him and asked:

“Illei. Would you be willing to get rid of the mist?”

“……”

“If you do, they’ll know you didn’t mean to hurt us.”

Illei stared at me.

Then, slowly—

Shhhh—

The mist vanished.

[Main Quest: Forest of Phantasm (2/3)] Complete!
[SYSTEM] Quest Success!
[SYSTEM] Gained 17,000 EXP.
[SYSTEM] Level Up! (Lv. 35)
[SYSTEM] Acquired 10 Skill Points.
[SYSTEM] Quest reward delivered to mailbox.

As the system chimed, Illei slipped free from Ancelot and ran back to me.

He hugged me tightly — or rather, clung to one of my legs like a cicada due to his small size.

“Lu, Lu?”

He looked up at me, tilting his head.

Even though I hadn’t told him my name, he somehow knew it — likely from peeking into my past through the mist.

But he didn’t seem certain if it was correct.

“Yes, you can call me Lulu, Illei.”

I stroked his black hair gently, and his face lit up.

“Lulu!”

Illei squinted happily and rubbed his forehead against me.

[SYSTEM] feels a strong attachment to you.
[SYSTEM] has entered an attached state.

“Lulu, come with me! I like Lulu!”

And with that shout, the final quest in the Forest of Phantasm arrived.

[SYSTEM] New Quest Received!
[Main Quest: Forest of Phantasm (3/3)]
Illei, who has lived hidden in the forest for a long time, has resolved to leave for the first time after meeting you. Help take his first step outside the Forest of Phantasm!

▷Clear Condition: Leave the Forest of Phantasm with
▶Reward on Success: EXP +20,250, Skill Points +10

I read over the quest quickly and asked Illei,

“Are you really going to come with us?”

“Yes! I’m going with Lulu!”

He beamed and nodded enthusiastically.

It looked like the quest would be far easier than expected.

But the real obstacle came from elsewhere.

“It’s dangerous, Your Highness. Regardless of his appearance, he did attack us not long ago.”

Klaus opposed strongly.

“I agree. We may not have a choice about traveling together, but keeping him close to Your Highness is risky.”

Even Ancelot, who had surely seen the quest’s condition, seemed uncertain.

“You two are unbelievable.”

I gave both of them a sharp look.

“Ancelot. When you first saw me, you seriously tried to kill me.”

“……”

Ancelot flinched and fell silent at the accusation.

“What? Is that true, Your Highness?” Klaus stiffened and reached for his sword.

“And Sir Klaus.”

I turned to him next.

“You didn’t like me when we first met either, did you?”

“W-What are you saying…!”

“Your eyes hardened just from the sound of my breathing. You think I didn’t notice?”

He might’ve hidden it well behind his expressionless mask, but his affection level had clearly dropped back then.

“That was…”

Klaus faltered, clearly embarrassed.

“You wouldn’t lie in front of your master, would you?”

I raised an eyebrow, and his face went pale.

“…I’m sorry, Your Highness.”

In the end, Klaus, who couldn’t bring himself to lie, had to fall silent along with Ancelot.