The Daughter of Evil - Volume 2 - Chapter 1.2

☯CHAPTER 1, SECTION 1, SCENE 2☯
☯Elluka~ Elphegort Country’s “Thousand-Year Tree Forest”~

The Elphegort country is found in the north of Lucifenia; we’ve got a long history with these neighboring countries.

Lucifenia and Asmodin originally belonged to the territory of the Belzenian Empire; Going through the country’s reconstruction of the regime system from my point of view, Levianta still can’t be regarded as what it was once called as Magic Kingdom.

Elphegort maintains independence all year round; In addition, the crops in the fertile soil have successive years of good harvest; As well as accounting a quarter of their land for a forest, which is their element to avoid invasion from other countries.

For a period of time, Elphegort had to implement single nationalism; the nations outside Elphegort had already implemented it. The Netsuma tribe are indigenous people who have been treated pretty harshly; until now, you couldn’t see a few people from the Netsuma tribe. This trend has been somewhat eased, but I heard that in some regions, discrimination remains deeply rooted.

The current monarch, Sohni Elphen as a pacifist, uses his army merely for self-defense. Although the military strength is not as powerful as its neighboring countries Lucifenia and Asmodin, the Elphegort people consists of an army that has a military commander with extremely high power and morale, which is one of the reasons why the other countries don’t dare send armies hastily.

When it comes to religion, the main faith of Elphegort is Evillious’ Levin Church, which also has many different sects. However, there are also other religions in the area. Elphegort has the deeply rooted Cult of Eldoh/Eldoh Sect. Eldoh was the name of a primordial powerful earth deity. Now, people pass down tales of this deity manifesting as an enormous ancient tree, bringing peace and prosperity to the country.

In the forest I was in, which was once also called “Eldoh’s Forest”, is the pilgrimage place of the Eldoh Sect. But then, it was renamed by Levin Yappai(?) – the former king referred to it as the “Millenium Tree Forest”.

“There has been fewer pilgrimages recently…… people with deep feelings too”

My old friend, who was in front of me, sighed.

Although I said an old friend, he is not a man, but a giant tree that had leafy branches that blocked out the whole sky and had face-like figure on its stout. No, it really is his face. At the moment, I’m having a conversation with the “Millenium Tree” – the earth deity.

“I didn’t come here to listen to your complaints. Eldoh, what are you babbling about?”

“What an impatient old woman. Hmm, for spirits to reincarnate into humans and to develop a mastery of magic…”

It’s been a long time since I spoke with him.  Eldoh could not conceal his puzzled look.

There are a lot of forest spirits that depend on him. As compared to humans , forest spirits have plenty of magic in them. For as long as it can reincarnate as a human, that would give me a good disciple.

“Your ideas are so whimsical. Reincarnation is your specialty, so it’s not impossible….”

“That’s true. C’mon, give me two or three of your companions.”

I was near Eldoh, so I forced him to give an immediate answer.

To search Evillious for someone with magical talent is too tedious and I have no more time left. In order to change the fate of Lucifenia’s demise, I should at least need an apprentice to help me.

Eldoh slowly opened his eyes.

“However, I do doubt your prediction of such a big country being destroyed”

“I’m afraid it is related to the ‘demons of sin’”

“Demons of Sin – The “original sin” was born in this forest and is divided into seven, scattered throughout the world, each incorporated by a demon”

“Yeah, Venomania and Banica…  Individuals who are the “victims of sin” would set off a catastrophe. The princess of Lucifenia… is called Riliane. Can we not drive out the demon influencing her?”

Alth and Anne had twin children. The girl called Riliane, at the age of six, was found out to be possessed by the “demon of sin”.

At that time, when Alth had died, the twin brother was chosen to be the next heir. Their mother Anne temporarily became successor and ruled the country until they were adults. However, the prime ministers raised objections, saying that Riliane should be the next rightful heir.

Because of this, a political strife occurred.

In fact, the prime minister who raised the objections wanted to use the “vessel of sin” which was attached to Riliane’s body, so she can become his puppet. Only later that it was figured out that his initial goal was the prince. But something went wrong when the demon possessed the princess instead. This prompted him with the previous claims. It was more shocking that he even attempted to assassinate the prince.

In order to protect the prince’s life, Leonhart adopted him and it was announced that the prince has died. Because of this, princess Riliane would eventually become queen.

After the dispute, the only problem left was the demon attaching itself to Riliane’s body. I spent all of the magic I had to get rid of the demon, which caused her to lose some of her memories. I also extracted a “collector’s(?)” hand mirror from her, so this matter should be settled.

“Yes. I’ve driven out the demon inside Riliane. However, once again, she was possessed by the demon when she grew up. Accompanied by the growth of the host, the demon is deeply rooted in her spirit… General purification magic is ineffective”

“So you want to use the ‘clockworker magic’”

“I cannot do that. For as long as I can have apprentice or…”

“That spell is very powerful but very dangerous. Once you fail, the entire country will be destroyed. You burned down your own country right?”

“… I have now matured. I guarantee it to be fool proof”

“I… do not trust you”

“Don’t worry. Having said that, I do not understand why Riliane is still in demonic possession. It’s either the initial purification is incomplete or there are other reasons…”

“or ‘it’ isn’t complete”

“’it’? what do you mean?”

“Each of the sins is boarded by a demon. But anyhow, the time when the ‘sins’ was scattered was five hundred years in the past already. A ‘vessel’ cannot be separated into several parts”

“Do you mean this hand mirror is incomplete?”

I removed a small hand mirror from her, it was very rough. Riliane said she picked it up as a child in a beach. I’m afraid it might be a trap set by the minister. There was a seal talisman on the lens of the mirror, losing its function as a mirror.

“Perhaps the mirror in your hand is only one part of it. And the ‘other part’ is still living somewhere else… Well, this is just a speculation”

“All in all, I cannot let her be the same as Venomania and Banica… I must seek to prevent it from happening again”

I said, mocking myself.

Five-hundred years have passed since I was entrusted by Eldoh to collect all of the sins. Having said that, I never really took it seriously. I only accepted it because I was bored and just to kill some time.

If I took it more seriously, like gathering information and taking immediate actions, the tragedies would not have happened. If the one who gave me the mission were not Eldoh, I would have been dismissed a long time ago.

“Elluka, the dreams you had… can you specify them?”

“I’ve seen four images. The first was at the square where the princess Riliane is sent to the guillotine. The second is when the palace is surrounded by many armed men. The third is when Lucifenia sent troops to attack Elphegort. The fourth was when I saw the head maid Mariam… dead in the heavenly yard”

I do not know the sequence of the images and what period they would occur.

“What dream was in purple?”

“The third one, where Lucifenia invades Elphegort. This future can no longer be changed”

There is a clear difference from my prepositions and other dreams I have; they have special “colours”.  Through colour, I am able to distinguish the true reflection of the future.

At the same time, if the dream isn’t “purple”, then the dream can still be changed. Conversely, it cannot be avoided for the gear has already been established.

“If it fails, what are you going to do?”

“I’m going to flee Lucifenia. I don’t want to get caught up in the mess”

“……Well, you are that kind of person. However, it’s not the same as before right, Elluka?”

A gust of wind blew in the forest.

“…… What do you mean?”

“The things that belong to you… You are afraid to watch them disappear right before your very eyes, right? Instead of watching your beloved person die, you might as well escape and leave it behind. You don’t want to repeat the “Levianta’s Great Fire Disaster”….”

“Shut up! Stop spouting non-sense, smelly old man!”

I flew into a rage. I punched Eldoh’s “face” to vent my anger. But Eldoh only had a poised look; my fist was in severe pain.

“Elluka, you are not entitled to serve ‘justice’. To the world, it may or may not be better for Lucifenia to exist”

“I know… Even from the start, I didn’t fight for 'justice’! In short, Lucifenia’s destruction is because of the 'vessel of sin’ and it is my duty to suppress even before this situation occurs, yes!”

“……Yes. About that apprentice problem… I’m getting sleepy… Yawn”

“Hey! Old man! Don’t sleep yet! Hey!”

I kicked Eldoh’s yawning face. I didn’t get any answer from him yet. As soon as he falls asleep, he won’t wake up for a month or so; nothing will wake him up.

“Smelly old man~”

I was in a restless mood; I continued to kick Eldoh’s roots when suddenly…

Whoosh

Something came flying from behind me. Accompanied by a feint cry, there was a slight pain on the back of my head. I touched the place I was hit… It had a sticky feeling. I thought I was bleeding but soon I understood that it wasn’t the case - my hand had a sweet aroma. I turned around and saw on the ground a smashed red fruit. It was a pomegranate fruit.I do not know who smashed that fruit on my head.

“Do not bully Eldoh-san!”

The sound was coming from the tree. Stationed on the branch was small robin; it had nice green feathers. I looked around and saw the suspect who threw the fruit - a small chipmunk that stared at me.

It is more reasonable to explain to the Robin.

“I’m not bullying him, Michaela”

This mockingbird/robin is called Michaela, a spirit who is serving under Eldoh. Originally, forest spirits have no form or simply cannot be seen by the naked eye. But they(forest spirits does not have gender. “It” may not be appropriate to call them. I personally treat them as female) have the ability to transform into forest animals. Because of this, forest spirits are allowed to be recognized by mankind and can participate in human activities.

Then again, I am able to communicate with them because like me, they also possess magic and they can also understand human language.

Of course, the chipmunk and Michaela are also forest spirits and the name of the chipmunk is Gumillia.

“Elluka, violence is never the answer.”

“You are no different, Gumillia. However, throwing a fruit at me then saying something like that, is admirable”

“Thank you for the compliment”

“I’m not complimenting you.”

I lifted my head and gazed at the sleeping face of Eldoh.

“……Your master has dozed off. I’ll be coming back another day”

I sighed. Michaela expanded her wings and suddenly flew all the way to my shoulder.

image
“I think it’s a good idea, knowing there isn’t a breath of humanity in a distance.”

“Oh, there isn’t any in the forest?”

“Ah ~ I don’t know. People don’t usually come here…… Anyway, isn’t it bad for a Lucifenian magic user hanging around here?”

“It looks like you have a deep understanding of humans”

“Yeah, just a little. I learned from the people in the village and from a woodcutter named Pant”

“Michaela, are you interested in humans?”

“Hmm. But Eldoh-san doesn’t let me out of the forest… there’s no other way”

“Your master really is a stubborn old man”

“Yeah, Ha ha ha”

Michaela’s laugh sounds like she’s singing.

“I’ll be going now, forest spirits”

I waved at them and headed for the forest entrance.

Michaela and Gumillia, two magical beings that serves Eldoh. My apprentice should be either one of them.

On the way back, I caught a glimpse of a girl holding a basket and was picking fruits from the forest. She must be the human Michaela was referring to. I hid in the bushes and stationed myself.

(It was really rare to see a member of the Netsuma tribe in Elphegort)

The characteristics of someone from the Netsuma tribe was white hair and red eyes. There was a bruise on her right arm. Upon closer inspection, not only was the right arm bruised but also the her legs and face was injured.

Repression, Persecution - I do not know why such words came to my mind. I shook my head, maybe those are just scars when she had an accident. Looking at her face, she seems to be a clumsy kind of girl. I could not afford to associate with her for she is from the Netsuma tribe.

The girl passed by in front of me and walked into the depths of the forest.

“ –Ahh?”

As she passed in front of me, I heard her murmur some words.

“I’m sorry. I really shouldn’t be alive”

She wasn’t aware of my presence. She must be talking to herself.

I decided not to think about the phrase she just said.

Eldoh, perhaps you’re right. At the end of the day, I just blindly escape.

I walked out of the bushes and walked again. I have to take advantage while it’s still not dark. I don’t want to get sermoned by Mariam.