Chapter 154
Chapter 154
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 154
Chapter Title: Chapter 4. The Nation of Revelry and Culture, Uruun.
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The place Roxin guided them to was, surprisingly, a noble's mansion. They'd been running frantically when he suddenly vanished into a wall, leaving Judah flustered. But she quickly followed him through, and a secret room appeared.
"Where's this?"
"It's a mansion owned by one of our kingdom's nobles. I told him we'd borrow it for a bit."
Roxin confirmed the male elf following behind had entered, then manipulated the wall. Some magical mechanism must have been at work, because it sealed shut, barring anyone else from entering.
"Wow. What's a Uruun noble lacking that he'd join the Shadow Kingdom?"
"Who knows."
Roxin cut off the topic bluntly, showing no interest in discussing it. Was the noble affiliated with the Shadow Kingdom, or had a Shadow Kingdom member become a noble? Either way, curiosity nagged at her, but since he clearly didn't want to elaborate, Judah didn't press.
Judah set the elf she'd been carrying on her back down on the bed in the corner.
"Th-thank you."
The elf, now trusting Judah, bowed her head slightly. Judah hadn't seen her remove her mask while bowing, so she just waved her hand palm out, nodding once to say it was fine.
"Hmm."
A mansion, huh. Surveying the room, the furniture screamed high nobility—luxurious, without a doubt. But the overall dark tones gave it a sinister vibe rather than anything beautiful.
'No wonder no one barges in here recklessly if it's a noble's place.'
She walked to the window, peeked through a gap in the curtains. The pitch-black garden revealed nothing. Without light, there was nothing to see outside.
Turning back, Judah perched her hips on the windowsill and eyed the elves. The two sisters sat on the bed's edge, gazing anxiously her way. The male elf lounged in a chair in the shadowy corner, arms crossed, eyes closed, as if figuring it'd all work out somehow.
"So the elves stay here in this mansion?"
"Yeah. It'll be uncomfortable, but they have to hole up here for now. Security outside will tighten up for a while. By the way, weren't there four elves at the mansion? You only rescued three?"
Four?
Judah's gaze shifted to the elves.
One male, two females. Total three.
...Ah, right. There was one more. Realizing late, Judah muttered blankly.
"Forgot."
"You madman."
"...It happens. You can't expect perfection on the first try."
What to do? Go back and rescue the last one? But heading back now, with guards and mages swarming, didn't seem easy.
"Sigh..."
What a hassle. If not for that mage on the stairs, she could've grabbed the fourth too. As Judah narrowed her eyes in conflict, the silent male elf finally spoke.
"She wasn't worth saving."
"?"
All eyes turned to him. Sensing it, he opened his closed eyes.
"She said she didn't want to return to the forest. Unlike the boring woods, she told me she preferred the pleasures here. Since returning was impossible anyway, she said to give up clean and enjoy a life with humans she couldn't have in the forest. Her words and actions were no longer those of an elf."
"Such..."
The listening sisters gripped each other's hands, murmuring. To Judah, it didn't hit hard, but it clearly shocked them.
"Hmm—then we won't bother rescuing her. Truth is, we've got to hit other mansions anyway. No desire to risk it going back there."
Judah shrugged.
"Even if you went back now, you couldn't drag her out. Not unless you're a Spirit Sword owner."
Roxin added. As he said, the mansion was likely in full alert by now. Losing a few coins would've been fine, but three elf slaves stolen? The owner must be furious. It being nighttime kept it quiet for now, but by tomorrow, word would spread to other nobles.
'In that case, better to hit one more unknown place right now...'
Better an unprepared target than one on guard.
"Roxin."
"Yeah."
"Any other safe houses near different mansions for elves to stay? You wouldn't cram them all here, right?"
Roxin shot her a look like, 'You kidding?' Of course not. The Shadow Kingdom wouldn't rely on just one mansion. Judah nodded, satisfied.
"Then we hit the next mansion right now."
"What?"
"By tomorrow, other nobles will know, and security will lock down. Now's perfect."
It hadn't even been that hard. She'd braced for heavy defenses, but the magical wards crumbled pathetically before her sky-high magic resistance and Fragment <Valentine>'s Dispel. Their precautions weren't sloppy.
No one could've imagined someone near Spirit Sword owner level, with a Fragment to boot, scaling walls out of boredom to steal elves.
Ah, right—gotta remove the seal runes on their necks first. Judah turned her back to Roxin and approached the sisters.
They flinched as she neared, clutching hands tightly.
"Relax, I'm not doing anything."
She first reached for the older-looking sister's neck, touching the leather band etched with runes and invoking <Dispel>. Mist-like mana from Valentine seeped in, severing the magic's power; the band snapped off and fell. Same for the younger one. The restraints, made to bind magic- and spirit-attuned elves, came off too easily. Roxin, watching from behind, gaped.
"Damn, what the hell did you do? How?"
Startled, he approached. Judah smiled brightly, casually slipping a hand into her pocket.
"Who knows? How d'you think? More importantly, where's the exit? The righteous thief's next marks are waiting."
Roxin stared at the fallen leather band but, no magic expert, couldn't grasp what happened.
"Righteous thief my ass... Follow me."
He shoved the now-useless band back at the elf, scolded Judah, and led out of the room. At the door, he paused as if remembering, turning back.
"Oh, and you three—stay put. If you sneak out pretending to escape and get caught, no rescue. Wait, and we'll get you all to the forest."
The three elves nodded slowly at Roxin's words. Unlike Judah, he could verify truthfulness with their [Eyes of Truth] trait. For now, at least, they could trust him.
"And you sisters or whatever—go wash up. You stink. I'll tell the maid; she'll show you."
"Yes. Got it!"
The sisters blushed, replying. No [Eyes of Truth] needed to know that was genuine.
"Wow, no mercy. Don't you want some goodwill? They're gorgeous."
Judah said as she closed the door and followed. He scowled.
"Get real. Living with elves just leads to misery unless you're a Spirit Sword owner. And I ain't becoming one now."
"What's that got to do with elves and Spirit Sword owners? Need power to protect them?"
"That's part, but lifespans differ hugely. A Spirit Sword owner can hit 150 with good body and mind care—if lucky. Without it, you're wheezing at 70-80, not knowing when you drop. What's the point?"
"Ho?"
"I'm gone happy, but the elf left behind? Fun while together, sure, but agony alone after? Sure, they might forget... but I doubt it. Better no emotions shared at all."
He grumbled like, 'Who wouldn't want a beauty like that?' Judah eyed him anew. Seemed a guy with solid principles.
'Was he like this?'
His unexpected answer made Judah like him.
"Oh. But building connections might be nice."
"Why?"
"Elf fruit wine's to die for. You never tried?"
"You have?"
"'Course! Why else mention it? I only got a lucky sip once... damn, no booze like it. Haven't had tons, but that taste? Unforgettable. For real."
Judah smirked as he smacked his lips.
"Bet they give us some as thanks for the rescue."
"Even if, they won't follow to the forest. Just send it off."
Judah chuckled at Roxin drawing the line clear as he led the way.
"I'll try."
"Kid! I'm helping big time here—don't 'try,' just take it. You blind to this being charity? Ungrateful punk."
He muttered, baffled at getting tangled with her.