NOVEL NEXT WORLD Chapter 36.1
Chapter 36: An Unforgettable Past
Evangeline thought back to the visitor she had received not long ago.
Lorellia Estin, the chieftain of the Wing of Light clan, a people much like herself.
The chieftains of the clans within the Elves Forest rarely left their domain unless the matter was of utmost importance.
It was a characteristic born of the elves’ innate pride and arrogance.
Elves were notorious for disregarding those they did not deem worthy of recognition. Among such elves, the chieftains, occupying the upper echelons of their society, were even more insufferably haughty.
Yet this time, an Elves chieftain had ventured beyond the forest to meet her.
Evangeline understood immediately the severity of the situation. When she heard what Lorellia had to say, her face hardened.
A plague was spreading through the Elves Forest.
Not only could its cause not be determined, but no cure had been found.
The Wing of Light clan, the strongest in the Elves Forest, was being devastated by this mysterious disease.
Lorellia had come to Evangeline to ascertain whether this was the work of the Demon King or something of comparable power.
Evangeline could only remain silent in response to her words.
“…..”
“Do you know something?”
Evangeline was grateful that Lorellia did not comment on her ears, but her question pierced Evangeline like a dagger.
It was because Evangeline did, in fact, know something.
“Evangeline. This matter is…”
“Ah… ahh…”
A past she could never forget.
A past she longed to return to.
A past filled with her happiest memories.
Lorellia’s inquiry brought those memories flooding back.
The plague.
She had heard about it once, back when her relationship with Hyun Woo had not yet soured, when they still traveled together.
“Why are you looking at that?”
It had been during their journey to defeat the Demon King. Hyun Woo, a human man who had abruptly joined—or rather, followed—the party, had introduced himself as the Sage and displayed astonishing knowledge.
Even Evangeline, an elf, Leventia, a scion of a noble family, and Claire, who had been trained as a Hero, could not match his insights. Thanks to him, defeating the Demon King’s minions had been far less arduous.
And it wasn’t just that. From setting up camp and cooking to frequent battles and negotiations in towns, Hyun Woo had taken on most of the burdens of their journey, making it progress more smoothly than any of them had expected.
Though elves were naturally prideful, Evangeline had felt gratitude toward him.
She had often accompanied him on shopping trips, grumbling all the while, because he hadn’t received the blessings granted to other party members.
Concerned that he might be hurt by the Demon King’s minions, monsters, or even people who underestimated his true worth, she had volunteered to guard him herself.
That was why she had followed him to the bustling human market, enduring the unpleasant stares and lewd smirks directed her way, only to see him completely absorbed in examining something. Her irritation flared, and she spoke up.
“Hmm?”
“That. Why are you looking at it?”
Hyun Woo was focused on a rather unremarkable herb.
Evangeline, having some knowledge of alchemy and herbalism thanks to her younger sibling’s work as an alchemist, immediately recognized the herb.
A common plant one could find anywhere.
There was no way this herb could be significant enough to warrant Hyun Woo’s attention.
“Oh, this?”
“Yes. It’s moonflower grass, isn’t it? A solvent ingredient for alchemy. Nothing special, right?”
“It’s nothing special… for now.”
Placing the herb into his shopping basket, Hyun Woo spoke matter-of-factly.
Evangeline wondered if this was another moment where his astonishing knowledge would shine.
She glanced around to ensure no one was eavesdropping, then pressed him further.
“For now?”
“Someday, a plague will sweep across the continent.”
A plague, amidst the chaos caused by the Demon King?
Had anyone else said such a thing, she would have scoffed. But Hyun Woo’s predictions had proven true too many times.
As if he could foresee the future, his words carried weight.
Evangeline narrowed her eyes and grabbed his arm.
“What do you mean? Is the Demon King spreading this plague?”
“No. To be precise, it won’t be the Demon King, but something else entirely.”
“Something else? What could that be?”
“The curse left behind by Edmond Oswell.”
That name was familiar to Evangeline.
The most malevolent sorcerer from before the Demon King’s time.
When Hyun Woo uttered the name of the dark mage said to have been slain by the previous Hero, Evangeline was taken aback.
“But he’s dead.”
“Yes, the previous Hero killed him. But the curse he left behind will one day bring chaos to the world. It will manifest as a plague, ultimately leading to his resurrection.”
Countless lives would be lost to the plague, their deaths fueling the revival of a powerful sorcerer.
It was a story that defied the bounds of her understanding.
“…Is that even possible?”
“Yes.”
“How do you know?”
“Has anything I’ve said so far lacked evidence?”
“So, it’s like one of your prophecies… Hmm. If it’s coming from you, I can’t ignore it.”
“For now, the Demon King is the immediate threat. If we stop the plague, his resurrection can’t happen. Let’s deal with it when the time comes.”
“And how do we stop it?”
“With the right treatment methods and medicine. I’ll handle that, so don’t worry about it. What’s important right now…”
Hyun Woo smiled with his usual confidence.
Perhaps it was that smile that reassured Evangeline.
Because he said it would be fine. Because he said there was nothing to worry about.
It allowed her to focus entirely on their mission to defeat the Demon King.
Perhaps that was why.
Why she had relied on him.
“Your only task is to fulfill your duty.”
“Hmm…”
“Until then, I’ll support you. So don’t concern yourself with trivial matters like this.”
“Fine. In that case, I’ll make you a promise. I’ll…”
And he had kept his promise to the very end, while she had broken hers.
The promise to protect him.
She had betrayed that vow.