I Regressed to My Ruined Family – 92

 #I returned, and my family was ruined (93)

“How bad is the pollution?”

“It’s almost 80%. In about a month, the World Tree’s territory will be drastically reduced. The elves will no longer be protected.”

“Be as careful as possible so that they don’t notice and proceed with the corruption.”

“Yes. We’re using the Dragon’s Blood Tree to start from the roots. Even if they notice…”

“It’s already too late.”

Diego, one of the six bishops of the sect, smiled quietly. Driving out the elf tribe and obtaining the seeds of the World Tree alongside the high elves.

Eight Bishop Eric not only failed to cover up his mistake but also failed to meet the required amount of offerings, making this matter even more important.

They had to meet the quality and quantity of the offerings with other items instead of metal.

He looked at the tree inside the fortress he had built with the magicians.

A huge tree covered in red.

It was the “Dragonwood” he had received from the archbishop for this task.

The area around the Dragonwood was already filled with black energy.

The power of the surrounding earth veins and the World Tree.

The Dragonwood, which had absorbed everything, was now ready to bear fruit.

“Eternal spirit…”

It was probably an object containing tremendous power. Naturally, he wanted to consume it himself.

However, the archbishop’s strict order was that even this must be offered as a tribute, so it was impossible.

Disobeying the archbishop’s orders meant death for a bishop.

“It’s a pity, but… I have no choice.”

Eating the Youngdan would not enable him to defeat the archbishop. Even if he ate ten of them, it would be the same.

The archbishop, who had mastered the latter half of the Gangryongshik, was not an opponent he could defeat just because his mana had increased slightly.

“It is more important to master the higher levels of the Gangryongshik. It won’t be long now.”

Diego looked at Yongrinmok and smiled quietly.

Elves.

Normally, their power was insignificant, but within the realm of the World Tree, it was different.

Within the realm of the World Tree, they wielded power greater than any other race.

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That was why, even though he had visited this place with powerful magicians, he was planting Yongrinmok and waiting for the right moment instead of attacking their territory.

“It doesn’t matter if they wither away. As long as we can bring back the seeds left behind by the World Tree and the High Elves who can nurture them.”

Diego was faithfully carrying out the archbishop’s orders. By now, the elves were probably still defending their territory, unaware that the World Tree was dying.

“Fools.”

It wouldn’t be long now.

If he successfully carried out the archbishop’s orders, he would be promoted to the fifth bishop instead of the sixth.

“…I only need to become the fourth bishop.”

A position that would allow him to learn the middle techniques of Gang Yong-sik’s martial arts, not just the beginner techniques.

Even if they were called bishops, he knew that the power of the fourth bishop was on a completely different level.

The desire for great power.

That was when Diego’s eyes lit up.

Wooong.

The doll in his hand trembled. Diego smiled quietly at that sight.

The moment he gestured.

Dozens of magicians gathered in his office.

“Your Excellency. You called?”

“The boundary magic spells cast outside the castle. Are they working properly?”

At his words, several magicians moved their mana and flinched.

“…Cut?”

Boundary magic.

The threads of mana cast to detect intruders had been completely severed.

The work was so clean that even they did not notice that they had been cut.

How could a 5th-rank mage nullify a spell so easily?

The mages were surprised by the intruder’s skill.

They were even more surprised by the bishop, who had discovered this without casting a single spell.

“…As expected of the bishop.”

The only one who noticed this was Bishop Diego.

Soon after, the bishop smiled.

“Have you been neglecting your duties because only elf scouts have been coming for the past few months?”

“…No!”

“That would be problematic.”

His tone was gentle, but the magicians listening to him broke out in a cold sweat.

The sixth bishop, Diego.

Through a year of cooperation, they had come to understand just how strong and cruel he was.

Even the seventh-ranked magician who had received the “Golden Dragon Emblem” from the Capital Magic Council did not have the authority to stop Diego.

“It seems the rats have come to visit.”

At those words, the sixth-ranked magicians with the Silver Dragon Emblem raised their hands.

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“We will take care of it.”

Even the bishop did not step forward.

And even the 7th-rank mages were not up to the task.

They only moved directly when managing the Dragon’s Eye or when there was something truly important.

“Just check it out first. If they’re just scouts, capture them alive.”

“Yes.”

“Oh, and don’t destroy anything.”

“…Yes.”

The mages disappeared.

Waiting was always boring.

And elves were quite interesting toys. The screams they let out when their limbs were cut off were quite delightful.

Diego smiled quietly as he stroked the doll in his hand.

* *

Ethan and Ilia.

Hundreds of elves were moving behind them. They had been traveling through the mountains for quite some time.

“There it is.”

Where Irina pointed, they could see a fairly large castle wall.

Ilia said when she saw it.

“Huh. They used magic to build that castle. It’s quite impressive. There’s a foul aura inside the castle that makes me feel dirty just sensing it.”

It must be the aura of Yongrinmok.

Ethan, who was looking at the castle, asked.

“A defensive spell. Didn’t you say it was so well done that no one would notice?”

“That’s right… Huh… Someone noticed this. There must be someone quite skilled here.”

Ilia’s eyes lit up.

That was because he sensed magical energy in the distance.

A group of magicians flew up from the castle walls and approached them. Seeing this, Ethan gathered mana on his sword.

There was no need to use White Flame.

A simple burst of flame would suffice.

[Red Flame Technique, Chapter 2]

[Violent Flame Slash]

It was more than enough to deliver a decisive blow.

A huge fireball flew toward the magicians in midair.

It collided with those who were trying to change course in a hurry, causing a huge explosion.

Boom!

After the explosion of flames passed.

All that remained were the mages falling pitifully to the ground. A few mages who had barely survived opened their eyes wide.

They were skilled 5th-rank mages.

With a single slash, more than half of them had disappeared.

Among the mages who had fallen to the ground was even a 6th-rank mage.

“…What the hell!”

Even a 6th-rank mage was no match for such a master. The uninvited guests who had visited the castle were opponents that only a 7th-rank mage or bishop could face.

The surviving magicians turned around in horror.

It wasn’t just the magicians who had gone out on reconnaissance who were screaming in horror.

Hundreds of elves.

They were staring at Ethan with their mouths agape.

“…My God!”

The magicians who had just flown in from the sky were, at the very least, fifth-rank magicians.

“…I think there was even a sixth-rank magician among those who fell.”

He had killed dozens of magicians just by using his mana to unleash a thrust.

It was truly terrifying power.

“Ardan’s reputation was no exaggeration!”

Now that he had witnessed this single strike, he was certain that he understood why a member of that family had been able to end the war with the dragon tribe.

“Let’s go.”

Ethan approached the castle.

Seeing the closed castle gates, Ilia aimed her small wand and pursed her lips.

[O giant arms, as solid as sturdy trees.

Huge arms appeared in midair.

[Smash the enemies blocking the way!

The moment Ilia finished casting.

Kwaang!

With a tremendous blast, the firmly closed castle gates burst open in all directions.

“Huh. Let’s go in.”

The two entered the castle.

The elves followed behind them.

The elves who entered began to stagger.

The uneasy feeling they had felt inside the castle grew stronger as they entered.

The scene inside the castle walls was extremely bizarre. Everything was covered in black liquid and fog, and a foul odor was emanating from the area.

This was proof that Yongrinmok had completely taken over this area.

“Stay behind me.”

At that moment, white flames rose from Ethan’s sword.

Gurgle!

Sizzle!

Kiaaaah!

The black liquid and smoke writhing around them slowly began to recede, as if afraid of the white flames.

As the black energy retreated, the elves’ faces began to return to normal.

Irina and the other elves looked at the duke standing at the front.

“…Oh my god.”

“A flame that purifies such an evil aura.”

The pure white flame felt like a gift from the gods.

Irina looked at Ethan.

“Could that flame be… the white ash?”

“Yes.”

“…”

The legend of the first duke.

Legends are called legends because they do not exist in reality.

However, that legend was now vividly revealed before their very eyes.

“…The duke is a much more formidable person than I thought!”

Irina quietly marveled.

As the evil aura receded,

the elves’ bodies began to regain their strength little by little.

Their ears perked up.

It was just then.

[Hm. An unexpected guest.]

A voice filled with immense mana echoed throughout the castle.

Soon after, a figure clad in a pure white robe appeared.

Behind him were magicians dressed in black robes.

Diego tilted his head when he saw the two humans standing in front of the elves.

A young knight and an old woman who appeared to be a magician.

The aura emanating from the two of them was not to be underestimated.

“Who are they?”

Did those closed-off elves bring reinforcements from the human side?

I don’t understand where they brought such masters from… “…Wait a minute.”

Diego narrowed his eyes.

Black hair and eyes.

A huge black sword strapped to his back.

And a face that looked strangely cold.

He was definitely someone he had seen before.

Soon, he opened his eyes wide.

“…The Duke?”

Ethan Ardan.

He looked exactly like the person he had seen in the montage. He was a recently appointed duke and one of the main enemies of the sect.

He had unexpectedly encountered someone he had never expected to see.

“Hm…”

Diego pondered.

If it had been just the Duke, he would have attacked without hesitation.

However, there was a powerful figure by his side, one whose strength was difficult even for him to gauge.

An old woman whose identity was unknown.

Would the mages of the Capital Magic Council be able to take on that old woman and the elf together?

Starting with destroying the World Tree and harvesting the Dragon’s Blood.

It would be over soon.

“I can’t give up here…”

He had invested too much time and effort.

Moreover, his immediate superior, the archbishop, had said that he expected results.

“…I can’t just retreat.”

If he could kill the duke here.

“Maybe this is…”

It could be a golden opportunity.

A huge opportunity to take fourth place in one fell swoop, instead of fifth.

Diego made his decision.

[Spread out the qualifying magic circle and block the old woman and the elves.

Thirty magicians nodded at the whisper of mana that Diego let escape. Soon, they began to gather their mana in one place.

The qualifying magic circle.

It was a magic circle created to face opponents of a higher level than themselves.

Even if the old woman was highly skilled,

it would not be easy to break through a qualifying circle created by a large number of 7th and 6th rank magicians.

Seeing this, Ilia smiled.

“Huh. They use an interesting method. Should I face the bishop again this time?”

“No. That one is mine.”

The bishop.

Last time, Ilia faced him directly, but this time, she had no intention of giving up that role.

Ethan looked at the doll in the bishop’s hand.

“There is one thing you must be careful of. The one in the pure white robe uses mana in a strange way…”

Ethan smiled slightly as he recalled what Irina had told him before they came here.

In his previous life, he had never seen a dragon or human use such techniques.

That meant

The bishop before him was a guy who fought in a completely new way.

“A guy who uses puppetry.”

This was his chance to find out everything about it.

Ethan lunged toward the guy. Diego, who had been staring at him, immediately grabbed a small puppet and began to move his mana.