The Time-Stop Breeding Uncle Want's to Retire-Chapter 164
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Why did he have to take this burden with him? The answer he received was that he owed her a life debt.
Hans couldn’t refute that.
Lucy had indeed saved his life. And thanks to the time he spent meditating here, he had finally found his answer.
Considering that debt, he couldn’t refuse Lucy’s request. But was it really wise to take a child like this to a dangerous battlefield?
However, Lucy seemed unconcerned, stroking Lua’s hair.
Hans clicked his tongue.
‘She’s your daughter, shouldn’t you be more worried?’
“So you’ve finally decided on your path.”
“Th-thank you, Mother.”
“And you know, your true name is…”
“Only when I deem you worthy of knowing!”
“…Are you sending me on an errand?”
Her tone sounded like a mother sending her child to the grocery store.
Hans was unhappy about being burdened with a child, but he didn’t say anything.
He had grown fond of Lua over the past three years. Her constant attempts to attack him had actually helped him dispel his melancholy.
This was his way of repaying her.
Hans and Lua set off, following the path Lucy had shown them. The Vampires lived in an underground world, beneath the earth.
“You’ve found quite the hiding place.”
“Mother calls it the Underworld. A place to observe and record everything that happens on the surface.”
“Just like the Vampires’ duty.”
“Yes, but…I wanted to go out and experience it myself.”
Hans silently listened to Lua’s wistful words. She was just a child. Perhaps it was too harsh to call her a burden.
With mixed feelings, Hans and Lua climbed through the tunnel. They soon reached the end, only to find it blocked by a massive boulder.
Hans sighed.
“I knew it.”
“Just a moment.”
“Are you going to move that rock?”
“Well…something like that.”
Lua nodded and clasped her hands together, forming a cross. A dark blue light emanated from her hands, and the boulder reacted.
Rumble!
With a deep rumbling sound, the boulder began to move, like a sliding door. Bright sunlight streamed in through the opening.
“We’re finally out.”
“This is the outside world.”
“Is this your first time outside?”
“Yes. Mother said it was too dangerous recently.”
“And yet she entrusted you to me without hesitation.”
Why? Did she believe he could protect Lua?
The thought weighed heavily on Hans’s mind.
The first thing that greeted them as they emerged from the tunnel was the scent of grass. Tall weeds and giant trees formed a natural curtain.
Hans clicked his tongue.
‘To think they were hiding in a place like this.’
Even if he knew the location, it wouldn’t be easy to find again. It would be even more difficult for someone who didn’t know.
“Do you know our approximate location?”
“I only know it’s the Elven Forest.”
“The Elven Forest… Well, it’s better to face the music sooner rather than later.”
Hans wasn’t on good terms with the Elves. He had ended the life of the World Tree, the symbol of the Elves.
He had clashed with them frequently even when he was the Commander of the Royal Knights.
And now, without the protection of his title, the situation would be even worse.
Great Elder Makenis had remained neutral, but three years had passed, and no one knew what to expect.
Hans thought it was for the best. Since he wasn’t on good terms with the Elves, resolving this issue first would make things easier later.
That’s what he thought.
“You’re finally here. You’re slower than I expected.”
“???”
If he hadn’t encountered an unexpected figure here. Hans barely managed to maintain his composure.
If he hadn’t been diligently practicing his poker face after it crumbled last time, it would have crumbled again.
“Great Elder Makenis, what are you doing here…?”
A man whose face bore the marks of time, unlike most Elves.
Great Elder Makenis, the leader of the Elves, stood before Hans, accompanied by several other Elves.
He smirked and said,
“You seem surprised.”
‘Shall we talk while we walk?’
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In fact, the Elves and Vampires had a cooperative relationship. It was only natural.
The Elves protected nature, the Vampires protected balance, and both were incredibly inflexible.
The Vampires liked the Elves because they rarely caused any major trouble. Although they had clashed over the World Tree incident,
Hans had dealt with it before the Vampires could intervene, so the issue had been resolved.
Hans clicked his tongue after hearing the full story from Great Elder Makenis.
‘So that’s why they were connected…’
“So, you heard from Lucy that I was alive?”
“Indeed. But I kept it a secret.”
“Why?”
“That was the condition.”
“…”
‘Figures.’
Hans sighed.
He had hoped to rejoin Clara and Cluna without any trouble, but it seemed that wasn’t the case. He scratched his head.
“I understand. So, where are they?”
“You mean Cluna and Clara?”
“Yes.”
“They haven’t returned to the Elven Forest.”
“…What?”
This was unexpected.
They hadn’t returned to the Elven Forest? Everyone else had returned. Hans was stunned.
Makenis explained,
“It seems they didn’t believe you were dead. They’ve been searching for you ever since.”
“Searching for three years…?”
“Three years is nothing to an Elf. However…well, it might be different for them.”
“Huh…”
Hans sighed.
Cluna and Clara were accomplices who had allowed this to happen, but hearing this, his heart softened.
‘I need to find them.’
“So, you’ve been letting them wander around?”
“No, that’s not the case. I’ve been keeping track of their location, just in case.”
“That’s a relief. Tell me where they are.”
“It’s for the best. It will put an end to their wandering. However, I have one question.”
“A question in a situation like this? What is it?”
Great Elder Makenis, who had understood Hans’s desire for a swift resolution, was stalling for time.
He was reminded of the past. He loved all Elves.
But even he had yearned for the outside world. Although it hadn’t ended well, he understood that feeling.
‘Does the heart know no borders or races?’
It was ironic.
He had hoped his descendants wouldn’t experience such pain, but ironically, Elves who fell in love with fragile humans, just like he had, began to appear.
Makenis hoped Cluna and Clara wouldn’t experience the same pain. To him, they were like daughters.
Yet, they had chosen that path.
Especially Cluna, who had already experienced such pain. ƒree𝑤ebnσvel.com
Why had she chosen that path again? Great Elder Makenis couldn’t comprehend her thoughts.
But even so, if his daughters chose that path, he had no choice but to support them as a father. Makenis slowly extended his hand towards the sky.
Nature responded.
A giant vine sprouted from the ground, wrapping around his hand and solidifying into a sturdy staff.
Makenis, now holding the staff, pointed it at Hans and said,
“Tell me. What do you intend to do?”
“Hans!!!”
Lua reacted faster than Hans, but she couldn’t do anything. Vines had sprouted from the ground, binding her.
🚨 Important Notice 🚨
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Hans calmly looked at Makenis.
“You’re asking for my intentions?”
“Indeed.”
“It’s always the same.”
“I see. That is your answer.”
Makenis smiled and lowered his staff at Hans’s unwavering response.
He was like a giant tree, standing firm regardless of the passage of time.
He had said he would always act the same. If that were true, he would be a shelter for those children. Great Elder Makenis lowered his staff.
‘What was that about?’
Hans calmed his surprised heart.
‘Did he sense my hostility? But he backed down too quickly. No, I can’t let my guard down.’
‘I need to get the information and leave this place.’
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[Translator Notes]
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