Chapter 81. The Fire Spirit King

Kim Do-Joon and his companions returned to the village. Their primary goal was to locate the Dark Elf rumored to be somewhere in the area. Since the Dark Elf was likely more knowledgeable than either Kim Do-Joon or Elena, they knew this meeting was their best chance to gain any valuable information.

“Wow...” Hwang Hyun-Woo marveled at the scene before him.

The sight never ceased to amaze him. The village was a bizarre mix; with goblins, gnolls, orcs, and other diverse monsters living together in harmony. It was fascinating to see these creatures, who’d typically be at each other's throats, coexisting peacefully.

“How do they manage to live together without fighting?” Hwang Hyun-Woo asked with a puzzled look.

“The lord of that castle must have them under strict control,” Kim Do-Joon replied, his eyes narrowing as he glanced toward the distant fortress.

“That makes sense... It's still pretty incredible, though,” Hwang Hyun-Woo muttered.

The village, if one could even call it that, looked more like a primitive tribe than anything else. The houses were rudimentary, just barely sturdy enough to keep out the night dew. The tools they used were crude, yet despite all this, there was an unmistakable sense of community.

After drying meat from hunted beasts, they stored it alongside gathered fruits in a communal warehouse, distributing them as needed. Such organized behavior was far removed from the usual chaotic instincts of monsters.

“...”

Suddenly, Kim Do-Joon's gaze wandered to Siwelin. She had a distant, almost longing expression, as if reminiscing about something lost. Was she thinking about the people of her temple, the ones she had left behind?

After taking a moment to absorb the atmosphere of the peaceful village, the group pressed on. Their destination was the place where the Dark Elf resided. Elena took the lead, guiding them with a determined stride.

A short while later, she pointed ahead.

“There it is.”

They came to a stop in front of a tent. It wasn’t difficult to find; they could see a figure hanging freshly washed clothes out to dry in the yard. Recognizing the figure, Elena smiled.

“Mr. Dien, it's been a while. How have you been?”

“Huh?”

The Dark Elf, Dien, turned at the sudden greeting. His eyes narrowed in disbelief when he saw Elena.

“Elena? How on earth...?” he began, confusion evident in his voice.

“It’s a long story,” Elena said with a bitter smile.

Dien’s expression grew more puzzled as he processed what he was seeing. He couldn’t understand why Elena, who should’ve been far away, was right in front of him. When his gaze shifted to Kim Do-Joon and the others, his expression instantly hardened.

“Are those... humans?” Dien asked with a suspicion laden tone.

Elena nodded solemnly. “Yes, but I’ll explain everything.”

A short time later, they were all seated inside Dien's tent. Since there was only one chair and table available, they formed a circle on the floor. Elena recounted the events that had led them here, starting with how she had been discovered by Kim Do-Joon while attempting to eliminate the roots outside.

Elena also explained how she’d been caught, but eventually released after striking a deal. The agreement was that she’d guide Kim Do-Joon to the domain of the Flame Lord. In return, he’d help in destroying the roots and ensuring her safety. She added that the humans had agreed to this uneasy alliance because the World Tree was a common enemy.

Dien listened intently, occasionally nodding or letting out a thoughtful hum. When Elena described how Kim Do-Joon had subdued her, along with killing Eldora, Dien’s eyes widened in disbelief. He even asked twice to confirm if she was telling the truth.

“Was Eldora really that famous of an Elf?” Kim Do-Joon asked, curious.

“Of course,” Dien replied, his voice laced with respect. “Knights like him are trained from childhood solely for combat. Only those who have proven themselves worthy receive the title. It’s a title that comes with immense skill.”

Dien looked at Kim Do-Joon with newfound respect, realizing that the human before him was far more formidable than he had initially thought.

For as long as anyone could remember, humans from the outside world were seen as weak—nothing more than fertilizer for the World Tree. But now, hearing that one of these weaklings had killed Eldora, a knight who had devoted decades to nothing but rigorous training and combat, was marvelous.

Dien’s thoughts raced.

Is this human just special? Or... could it be that all humans are this powerful?

With a stern expression, Dien tried to gauge Kim Do-Joon and his companions, but it was difficult. Dien wasn’t skilled in combat because he was an envoy, not a warrior.

"Mr. Dien?" Kim Do-Joon’s voice cut through Dien’s thoughts.

"..."

"Mr. Dien," Kim Do-Joon repeated.

Snapping back to reality, Dien quickly apologized, realizing he had missed Kim Do-Joon’s question while lost in his thoughts. He scratched his head in embarrassment.

"

Ah!

Sorry, I got distracted... What was it you asked?"

It could have been considered rude to ignore someone like that, but Kim Do-Joon didn’t seem offended. He simply repeated his question.

"Have you ever met the Flame Lord?"

It was a straightforward question about the elusive lord, who was said to be holed up in that distant castle.

"Yes, I have met him," Dien responded, though his tone was tinged with bitterness. "But he didn’t grant my request. I was dismissed almost immediately,

hahaha

."

As he spoke of the lord, a bitter smile crept onto Dien’s face. His mission was to secure the fire that could burn the World Tree—or at the very least, obtain its seeds. Yet, here he was, failing to accomplish what he had set out to do.

"I couldn’t even bring up the subject of the World Tree. Since then, I’ve just been waiting, hoping for another audience."

Dien’s downcast expression mirrored his frustration. Elena, too, looked troubled by the bad news. However, Kim Do-Joon’s goals differed from theirs.

Turning to Elena, Kim Do-Joon asked, "What’s this rumor you mentioned?"

"Rumor?" Elena echoed with a puzzled look.

"You mentioned it earlier, in front of the castle," Kim Do-Joon clarified.

"Ah," Elena nodded, remembering.

She had muttered something earlier, when they noticed how smaller this domain was compared to others ruled by lords.

"That rumor... yes, I know what you’re talking about," Dien interjected, picking up on the conversation.

As someone who had traveled here to negotiate with the lord, he’d heard enough to piece things together.

Elena, sensing the importance of the subject, lowered her voice as she asked, "Mr. Dien, is that rumor true?"

"It seems so," Dien replied in a hushed tone.

He even glanced around nervously, making sure no one else was listening. Only when he was certain they were alone did he continue.

"The Flame Lord, or the Fire Spirit King, or..."

Dien’s gaze locked with Kim Do-Joon’s as he spoke the next words carefully.

"Vulcanus, also known as the Dragon of Prominence. Apparently, the reason he’s been in seclusion... is because he’s lost his power."

***

The chamber was shrouded in darkness, despite the numerous fires burning throughout the vast hall. The atmosphere was heavy with an eerie gloom, making the place feel even more foreboding. The walls and pillars were adorned with murals that depicted ancient myths, adding to the mysterious and somber aura of the space.

In the center of the chamber lay a colossal creature—a dragon with scales as black and red as molten rock. Its body radiated heat, and with every breath, flames rumbled in its throat. The dragon was alone, exuding an air of solitude and weariness.

"I’m back!" a voice suddenly rang out, breaking the silence.

It was Sallyon.

"Your Majesty! I’ve completed my mission and returned!" she exclaimed, her voice brimming with energy—a stark contrast to the grumbling tone she had used when speaking to Kim Do-Joon earlier.

Her lively presence seemed to wash away the oppressive stillness that had filled the room. Vulcanus, the dragon, glanced at her with a faint smile.

"Well done."

"

Hehe

," Sallyon giggled, twisting her body in delight at the praise.

Watching her, Vulcanus could not help but chuckle softly.

"What about the humans?"

At the mention of humans, Sallyon hesitated. She glanced nervously at Vulcanus before carefully recounting what had happened. She spoke of encountering a group of humans while leading the Baku tribe, the battle that ensued, and how she was eventually captured by a new human who had joined the fray.

She then explained how she learned this human’s destination by chance. It was the very place they now stood, and so she led him here.

"What brings them here?" Vulcanus asked, his curiosity piqued.

"They said they were searching for an elixir imbued with Your Majesty’s power," Sallyon explained.

Although Kim Do-Joon had said that he was looking for an elixir imbued with fire element, to her, fire was synonymous with Vulcanus himself.

Vulcanus scoffed. "An elixir, huh... For a moment, I thought because it’s a human instead of an elf, he’d be different, but he’s just like the rest.”

Any interest Vulcanus had in the human quickly faded. He’d seen many who sought out his domain over the years for such trivial reasons.

"You must’ve gone through quite a bit," he said, acknowledging her efforts.

"Not really..." Sallyon replied, tilting her head as she thought about it.

Being captured by Kim Do-Joon had been nerve-wracking, but beyond that, it wasn’t much trouble. In fact, she had grown to like Kim Do-Joon in her own way... She quickly shook her head to dismiss the thought.

Vulcanus couldn’t guess what she was thinking, but her expression suggested she didn’t have a bad experience, much to his relief.

Just then, a sound echoed through the hall—a soft

plop

, like a droplet of water falling.

Both of them turned toward the source of the noise. Amidst the grand, fiery chamber, was something that seemed entirely out of place: a small, serene lake, its waters a clear, deep blue. Despite its modest size, its presence was as powerful and commanding as the vast ocean.

Suddenly, a sharp tension filled the air, and Sallyon’s expression darkened. A venomous glint flashed in her eyes—one that she’d never shown in Kim Do-Joon’s presence. Moments later, the water in the lake began to ripple, slowly rising and forming into a shape. It eventually took on the appearance of an elf with long, pointed ears.

Sallyon opened and closed her mouth, as if wanting to say something, but ultimately decided against it. She pursed her lips in frustration. The first to speak was the water elf formed from the water.

“Long time no see, Vulcanus,” the elf said.

“Naiyel,” Vulcanus responded, his tone entirely different from when he had addressed Sallyon.

His voice was laced with irritation, almost as if he couldn’t be bothered to hide his annoyance.

Naiyel Rackade was an elf who resided in the southern forest, relatively close to Vulcanus’s domain. But she was more than just an elf—she was the contracted servant of the Water Spirit King, Nereid.

“I see you’ve brought the Baku tribe into your domain. My lord has sent me to inquire about your intentions,” Naiyel stated.

“What does that wench have to do with anything I do?” Vulcanus snapped.

The rivalry between the Fire Spirit King and the Water Spirit King was ancient, but in this generation, it was particularly fierce. Vulcanus and Nereid genuinely wished for each other’s annihilation.

Despite essentially standing in enemy territory, Naiyel remained unfazed. After all, her physical body was safe in the forest, and only her spirit form was present here. Nevertheless, no ordinary elf was bold enough to show herself before Vulcanus.

Naiyel spoke in a flat, measured tone. “I’ll spare you the trouble. My lord suspects you of amassing an army.”

“...”

Vulcanus’s eyes narrowed, but Naiyel continued, unfazed.

“This is causing her great concern. If you break your promise to remain passive—”

“That’s not true,” Vulcanus interrupted.

“Not true?” Naiyel asked, her voice tinged with curiosity.

“I’m not gathering forces. I was simply feeling lonely, and thus decided to build a village,” Vulcanus replied.

“...”

Naiyel fell silent, clearly unimpressed by the flimsy excuse. After a moment, she sighed deeply.

“Very well. I will report that to my lord for now.”

“For now? This is the truth,” Vulcanus insisted.

“You are aware that it’s not only my lord who is displeased with you. Please avoid provoking them unnecessarily,” Naiyel warned.

Plop—

Then, with a splash, Naiyel dissolved back into ordinary water, her presence in the lake reduced to ripples, reflecting the dragon’s agitated face.

“

Ugh

, that insolent elf! She doesn’t even know her place! Your Majesty, are you alright? Should I go and burn the entire forest to the ground?” Sallyon, who had been holding back, burst out the moment Naiyel was gone.

Vulcanus’s expression softened as he watched her fume. “That won’t be necessary. As long as Nereid is there, burning the forest is impossible.”

𝗳𝐫𝚎𝗲𝚠𝚎𝗯𝕟𝐨𝘃𝚎𝗹.𝗰𝗼𝗺

“But still...” Sallyon muttered, her face scrunched up in frustration.

Vulcanus spoke gently to her.

“Forget about her. Instead, tell me about your journey. I want to hear your story.”

Sallyon’s ears perked up, and she beamed at him.

“Oh, yes! So, when I first entered the neutral zone...”

She began to chatter away, recounting her experiences. The Dragon of Prominence laid back lazily, listening to her with a contented expression. The flames flickered before him, casting a warm glow that danced in his eyes.

***

"Lost his power...?"

Sitting on a hill just outside the village, Kim Do-Joon muttered to himself. His eyes were fixed on the distant castle of Vulcanus.

What does that even mean? Can a spirit really lose its power?

Knowing how reclusive Vulcanus was, he’d been prepared to be turned away. But he never expected the Flame Lord to lose his strength.

Then, what about the elixir? Is it still intact?

Kim Do-Joon's thoughts raced. If he were the Fire Spirit and had lost his power, and there was an elixir infused with fire’s essence nearby, wouldn't he have already consumed it in a desperate attempt to regain his strength?

If Vulcanus was truly weakened, that meant it was likely that there was no elixir left. He’d have already taken it, leaving nothing behind. The realization hit Kim Do-Joon hard. If this was true, then his entire journey was for naught.

Snap!

The twig in his hand broke under the pressure of his grip, the sharp fragments pricking his skin. The sharp fragments didn’t cut him, but he could still feel the sting.

Let’s not jump to conclusions.

Taking a deep breath, Kim Do-Joon stood up, brushing off his thoughts. Nothing was certain yet. The rumors about Vulcanus losing his power could be untrue. Besides, the idea that he used an elixir to try and restore himself was pure speculation.

At least it's clear there’s no elixir on this hill.

Dropping the broken twig, Kim Do-Joon started down the hill, his mind still churning. Meeting Vulcanus was his top priority. Without that, he wouldn’t be able to move forward with his plans.

As he descended, lost in thought, something caught his eye.

“

Huh?

”

He bent down to pick it up. It was a small stone, but not just any stone—it displayed an information window.