Erde Sin

◀　Read from EP1

◀　"The Trail of Odd Medroa"

▼The Trail of Erde Sin

On the top of a steep mountain range in the far east, there live the "People of the Deep Forest" who have guarded the "Great Underworld Vein" called the "Chaos of the First Goddess" since time began. Their lives are still a mystery even in this age of advanced civilization, and even with the power of the hero Adam, communication with them remains unattainable.

Unlike the wild people of the desert side, this tribe is characterized by its refusal to have anything to do with the secular world. Even with the power of the hero Adam, they are still unable to communicate with each other.

- None is to ent'r this sacr'd f'rest.-

As for the "people of the wind" in the west, who are good at making contracts with summoned beasts, the servants of the gods, unlike them, there is no one who has made a contract with the goddess of the earth.
It is easy to see how the goddess hates the people of Central and the many other peoples who are willing to interact with them. Thus, the young Adam's ruling on the deep forest at the end of the earth was, "Since they are not interested in us, we should not force them to interact with us.”
This was much to the Central Snake’s dismay, as she wanted to mass-produce the wine of the deep forest.

▼ Erde EP6-1 (2066): "People of the Deep Forest"

The law of the deep f'rest is, t is nev'r to beest seen by anyone oth'r than one's owneth people

My family has protected the "Goddess of the Earth" who created the earth since time began. According to legend, the goddess has always been averse to foreign deities, especially "Eden" that is said to still reside in the four great crossroads. Even today, more than 1,000 years after the mythical era, the law of the people of this forest, who are the guardians of the goddess, has not changed, and they continue to bar intruders from the lower world. Same as ever.

Slave Trader from the Southland "Hey... Hey…! Someone’s there, aren't you? Come out and show yourself to me…!"

Erde(13) "Last warning. Walk away. Unless you want to be pierced by this arrow. Do it now."

Slave Trader from the Southland "Huhh..."

Today, I shot a menacing arrow from the top of a tall tree, which is a blind spot from the ground.
Recently there has been a constant stream of intruders from the south wearing armors and carrying strange shiny objects. According to the information from the people of the desert who share the same main deity, the "powerful" tribe that is prevalent in the "southern lands" seems to be very greedy, and they are said to be "kidnappers" and "poachers".

Erde "Well to me it seems like they’re a bunch of fools who can't even catch a glimpse of us in the first place. It's ridiculous."

It is understandable that the desert side is in trouble, though. After all, the enemy has good visibility over them. But the advantage of this deep forest is ours.

Erde "Huh... Another boring day at work. Really."

The group of people from the lower world who are crawling on the ground right now will probably scatter like spiders if I shoot one more arrow. Thought Erde.

Erde "Well, let's get to work."

Just as I was readying my arrow again, thinking that I was going to intimidate them, something unusual happened.

Cain(Adam's Brother) "Adam. Do it."

Adam (6) "・・・・・・yes, brother."

A young man in the group, was bossing around a small boy with dead eyes in a pompous tone.
The whole area is engulfed in flames.

Erde "...Geez. That little guy's a mage."

Most intruders come to take away the bounty of the forest, but for some reason, they only sometimes do so. There are always some fools who use fires in the forest without thinking twice.

Can you imagine the catastrophe of burning up even what you want?

Erde "I'm sorry, little one... but the goddess of the earth is scary, you know?"

The rogues must be killed. It hurt my heart a little to know that the other party was a child, but they were the ones who made the first move. In times like this, it can't be helped. Everything is to protect the silence of the forest.

Erde, who had used earth magic to break her foothold and disorient the entire group, took instant aim at the boy's heart and shot him dead...or at least she should have. The arrow was successfully blocked by the raging flames that rose again, and the green-eyed boy's eyes, which were not lit up by light, caught Erde at exactly the right moment.

Adam(6) "...I see you there."

Erde (What? They read my trajectory!!!)

I was startled by the fireball he shot at me without chanting, slipped and was knocked to the ground, and then lost consciousness.

▼ Erde EP6-2 (2067-): "Tropical Fomalhaut Slavery Era: The Blaze Family Tale"

Since then, my life has been hell. The Blaze family, a powerful family in the south, wanted the rare "forest people" themselves. I was caught and kept by Cain Blaze, who put a "collar" on me.
The magical jewelry around my neck caused me pain whenever I rebelled, and I gradually gave up trying to escape from him.

After that, I was tapped into the art of the "gun". It is a piece of iron, dozens of times more powerful than a bow. I started killing "people" as I was ordered, and in less than a year, I became an accomplished "assassin".

Adam(7) "Dinner's ready. Elle."

He prepares a meal for two that is a little too rich for a slave and brings it all the way to my room.
This faceless boy, whose name seems to be "Adam". It must have been a year ago when he started to bring me warm soup in secret, as I was crying while nibbling on a humble loaf of bread for slaves at the time of my captivity. My treatment has improved somewhat since I was able to perform the assassination family business with a gun.

In short, I have been promoted from a rebellious slave to a loyal dog of the Blaze family. I'm willing to do anything, including assassinating and carrying luggage, when ordered to do so, but he has never once asked me to do a single thing, and instead, he has continued to take care of me in a very rewarding way.
This boy, who seemed to be timid and weak, seemed to be the second son of the family. Even though he was a son, he was neglected by his older, pompous brother, Cain, and was used as an errand boy.
I don't know the details of the family situation, but it is a well-known fact that the Blaze family has a bad relationship with each other. Speaking of the boy, his eyes are as dead as ever today.

It is true that I was careless at the time of meeting and lost in a pitiful manner. There is no reason to blame him, who also feels like a victim. He was the only one who treated me as a "human being" from the start. Cain has used the power of the collar on me many times, but this boy, who also has the authority to do so, has never used it on me.
I once tried to escape, thinking “If it’s only this little guy!”but just like when I was caught in the forest, he just gave me a blank stare after being blocked by a well-controlled fire.
I was then told quietly, "If my brother finds you, you will suffer again, so go back.”

Erde(14) "...I was thinking, why are you at his mercy?"

Adam "...what?"

Erde "You’re strong enough. You don't even really need to threaten me with this collar, do you?"

Adam "Well…No..."

Erde "Ha, I'm so pissed off because you have so much freedom. You should resist a little."

Adam "...sorry."

Erde "Well, I don't care. You're more like a slave than I am."

Adam "...Well, maybe. I'm the son of my father's mistress. I'm practically a slave."

Erde "Oh, really? I knew it. You don't look alike at all. You and that bastard brother of yours. So where is this mistress mother or whatever she is? If you're here, then she knows where you're from, doesn't she?"

I had never seen a woman in this mansion other than a hysterical madam much like Cain. So I was simply curious and continued the conversation to the extent that I said, "If you don't tell me, well, that's okay. It's just a good way to pass the time in the middle of the night.”

Adam "...My mother is dead. She was poisoned."

Erde "Ah, tch... So that's why you prepare your own meals..."

Adam "Yeah. I'm the only one I can trust now."

He's a kid who talks about hard things in a matter-of-fact way, I thought.

Erde "・・・・・・."

I was not sure what to say in response to his heavier-than-expected answer, and when he
noticed my involuntary silence, he changed his expressionless face into a slightly self-deprecating smile and switched the subject.

Adam "Here, this is for Elle. It's going to get cold, so eat it quickly. I'm going to go back."

Erde "・・・・・・Put it down and sit.”

Adam "?"

The boy looks a little surprised and curious.

Erde "Just put the food down and sit down. It'll get cold!"

Adam "...eh...and?"

Erde "I said I'll eat with you! You're a fellow slave!"

Adam "...haha. That would be an honor."

There was a boy with a childlike smile on his face that I had never seen before, beaming with joy. At that moment, I recognized him as my "master.”

▼ 5 years later-. (2072)

It's noisy outside. I was taking a nap by the window with a gun in my hand, when I noticed something strange in the house and woke up.

Erde(19) "...? Enemy attack?"

As it has always been, this world is a world of "the weak and the strong" in this southern region, and there are many people who are after the Blaze's territory.

Adam (12歳)"Elle...!”

Soon after, my master, "Adam Blaze" rushed into the room looking panicked, and I couldn't help but be alarmed at the unusual nature of the situation. He is strong. The attack on the mansion was usually over by the time I left, as it has been in the past.

Erde "... What? Could it be inferiority? What's going on?"

Adam Adam: "Elle, listen to me very carefully. I don't have time to go into all the details. But...thank you for everything. You've been my best friend. Now, run away. This is my... first and last... order to you."

When he put his magic power into my confused neck, the "collar" instantly came off and fell to the floor, breaking.

Erde "What about ・・・・・・?"

How long I had been looking forward to this moment. If only I could get this thing off, I would be able to return to the forest. I had dreamed about it for years, but had given up on it, and suddenly "it" became a reality. There was no way I could accept it.

Erde "What are you doing, you...? If you do this, you'll pay for it..."

A chill ran down my spine. The boy in front of me has the eyes of a master. The overwhelming sense of intimidation left me speechless.

Adam "Goodbye, Elle. Now go."

I ran straight out the window and it was only a few days later that I figured out the whole situation. The news of the slaughter of his father, the lord of the house by Adam, the "traitor of the Blaze family”, spread throughout the South, and Adam Blaze quickly became a wanted criminal.

Erde "He... Cain... set him up..."

Cain Blaze hated his half-brother, who had originally excelled in everything. Adam still tried to help him all along, but his feelings were not reciprocated...I guess that's how it is.

Adam "Elle, I, you know, I want to help my father. The feud between our mother and stepmother was tragic, but our father never gave up on us. I may not be able to get through to my stepmother, but I'm sure me and my brother can understand each other. He was kind to me when I was little, you know?"

I remember his face smiling nostalgically...

Erde "You’re stupid, really... I should have killed him... I should have killed him..."

Perhaps even with Adam's ability, he would not be able to escape if the Blaze family mobilized all of its power. The death of my "master" was an unpleasant reality, and I could no longer honestly rejoice in the "freedom" that I had once again obtained.

▼ Erde EP6-3 (2075): 'To Central: reunion with the master'
Three Years Later―。

After all that time, I remained in the south and continued to search for information on Adam Blaze, who had disappeared.

Erde "What the hell, he's missing...! Are you alive or dead?”

Today, following some information, I tried to break into the mansion where Adam might be hiding, but I got dozens of stunning blanks and just got labeled a "righteous" assassin who destroyed the site where a bunch of crappy slavers were just playing their tricks with my specialty sniping and freed the hostage girl. Just as I was wondering whether I should give up, the news came as a shock to me.

The East is pacified! The hero of Central, his name is Adam!

My eyes were glued to the breaking news that popped into my terminal.

Erde "...A...dam...? What? Central...?

No, it's a common name. It must be someone else.

Erde Oh no, no way... ahahaha..."

Despite my own words, I was starting to run in a straight line toward Central.

▼Not long after, Central

Null "Well, I'm drinking well today...!"

Ever since Adam had pacified the abominable eastern lands, many "gifts" have been arriving in Central. I guess the nations don't want to be "slaves" to the serpent.

Null "Oh is it so awful that I love peace so much?"

Just as she was enjoying her dinner alone, "it" quietly pierced the head of the snake. After a moment of pain, she fell into a stupor, and a pool of blood spread from there.

Erde "...hmmm. What the hell, snake? It's just some booze..."

The petite assassin crept into the central headquarters through a window by way of a tree outside, and entered without a sound.
The woman then headed for the heavily decorated door.

Erde "Well, let's look for the hero of salvation, shall we?”

Null "...huh? Are you looking for Adam? You're not very nice to treat this snake as a minor side boss."

Erde "...Huh? I shot her in the head!”

The assassin turns around, ready to fight, when she hears the "snake" slowly rising up behind her.

Null "Ahhhhh, bloody again. I just bought this last time and it's my favorite.”

She calmly readjusted her gun and shot her again.

Erde "This is why I hate mages... You can never be too careful. What kind of a twist is this? You're wasting my bullets."

Three shots to the heart at close range. This time it would be fatal. But...

Null "All right. Wait a minute. It really hurts."

Erde "...! Huh! I don't understand...!"

Don't understand the meaning of this. Even after being hit in the heart with a large, highly lethal sniper rifle bullet, the small woman was still smiling and was now coming towards me.

Null "Oh, finally out of bullets...? Well, that was pretty good. I didn't notice it at all."

Erde "It's a monster.... There is a monster.... It is impossible... O goddess of the beginning... the people of Eden are still... descended from demons..."

Null "No, and yes, Eden sucks, but can you please not lump us together...?"

Adam "What's going on...?"

Erde "Oh, this is a dream.... Adam, I'm coming to find you..."

Adam "Hey...are you okay...? Erde, you're okay...!”

Erde Sin, the assassin who had been slumped over with tears in her eyes, fainted when the boy she knew rushed into the room in the middle of the commotion, looking not even particularly worried but rather subtly angry, and called her by name.

Later, I woke up and got into another quarrel with the snake again, and ended up annoying my "master," who had become a Hero of Central. But that is another story.

▼ Erde EP6-4 (2076): "Central Military Time (1): the Tale of the Tropical Fomalhaut Healing."

Null "Hey, Erde , did you see this? Adam Blaze, the culprit of his father's murder. Cain’s desperate.”

Erde "...He’s the one who did it , you know. . "

Null "Haha, The Southland’s, it's always been like that. Blood in the water has always been in the family."

Erde "...huh? You know a lot about the South? You are indeed an old hag."

Null "Isn't that a little rude...? You’re lucky I’m so cute."

Erde "Shut up, monster. Tch…That's what you meant when you called me, right? I'll only cooperate with you now because I owe him one.”

Null "Thank you for acting so quickly. The Hero of Salvation is reluctant to pacify the southern lands. Thanks to him, they can do whatever they want. I'm in a bit of a bind. He's an important symbol for us."

Erde "...You don't want to fuck with Cain, do you?"

Null "Hmmm...? Well, let's see if this snake can set up a "brotherly emotional reunion". I wonder what face Adam would make...♪"

Erde "You’re a piece of shit, you know that right..."

※After this, through the insidious machinations of Null and Erde, the southern lands were pacified, Cain-Blaze will be imprisoned in the Central jail as the real culprit in the murder of his father. Adam frequently goes to visit him until he leaves for the Northlands.

▼ Erde EP6-5 (2085): 'Central Military Times 2: Colonel Elde Sin'

(Erde 32 / Adam 25 / at Eve's birth in the Northland / Abel 13 / Odd Age unknown)

Erde "Are you the ones who were recommended by General Null?"

Abel "Yes, I am! Colonel Erde-Sin ..! I can't believe I'm in the same unit as the woman who played a leading role in the pacification of the South, who cleared the name of that hero of the nation's salvation...! I'm so glad I joined! It's an honor to meet you!"

Odd "Why, even me ・・・・・・"

Erde "・・・・・・It’s child.... That son of a bitch, she's always pushing all kinds of trouble on me..."

Abel &Odd "What?"

Erde "Yeah, oh, no, nothing..! Come here, I'll teach you how to do your job.”

*This is the annoyed Erde who wanted to go with Adam to the Northern lands but was not allowed to do so by Null. I felt like I would be a good superior officer.

"The Trail of Noah Spirit"　▶

See Timeline　▶

※The stories are connected in character order.