Chapter 188
Chapter 188
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 188
Chapter Title: Tree and Iron
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She sheathed the longsword she held in her hand into the empty scabbard at her waist. The sharply honed blade vanished into the sheath. Via let out a sigh as she gazed at Yuda, who stared blankly at the sight, then hesitated as if to extend her hand before clenching her fist tightly.
"What are you doing? Get up quickly. It might not bother an elf, but this place has to be cold for a human like you."
Her words carried a chill, yet they oddly conveyed concern, drawing a light chuckle from him. Yuda rose to his feet and brushed the snow off his rear. He glanced around for Arhil and spotted her among the elves they had come with. It seemed they were heading to the village with her. The scouting party led the way at the front, followed by the elves Yuda had brought and Arhil, while Via and Yuda trailed at the rear, moving slowly.
"......"
Though they walked side by side, neither had anything to say to the other. The elves ahead, finally realizing they were returning to the forest, buzzed with excitement, chattering loudly. One laughed while holding Arhil's hand, promising to cook her a special elven dish since she had fed them so well during their time away. A few glanced back at Yuda and waved, but quickly whipped their heads away as if choked by Via's icy glare. Thanks to that, the path to the village felt dull. Yuda shoved his hands deep into his coat pockets and stepped once more on the snow already trampled by those ahead.
"Elves..."
Via spoke first.
"It's been a while since I've seen elves laughing alongside a human."
A while?
Did it happen before? Yuda turned to her. At the same moment, Via's gaze shifted to him. Their eyes met. Her sapphire eyes remained cold, infused with mana.
She couldn't possibly have demon eyes, so this meant she was activating the elven racial trait, 'Eye of Truth.' She must have been watching Arhil earlier and eavesdropping on her conversations with the elves. Now, she seemed intent on discerning truth from Yuda's words. With a small sigh, Yuda addressed her.
"It's pointless. Even with the Eye of Truth, you won't learn anything from me. You won't be able to tell if my words are true or false."
"...Why?"
"Why indeed?"
He answered her question with another question. She clamped her mouth shut and glared at him.
"Don't glare like that—it scares me. How about we chat lightly and see where it goes?"
"Not particularly appealing, but fine."
"Should I say thanks...?"
"Of course."
She nodded with a mocking smirk.
"What an honor. Hm—let me start with an introduction. As you can see, I'm human. Name's Yuda Arshel."
"Via. I don't know how you knew my name, though."
"You're the only one called the Sword Saint."
"Not a satisfying answer. There are spirit sword wielders among the elves too. But you called out my name the instant our swords clashed, as if certain. How did you know?"
Because I've seen you plenty in the game. But he couldn't say that. Yuda smiled faintly.
"That's a secret."
"You hold back on a lot of things."
"Better than lying, isn't it? For instance, claiming I rescued the elves to win your favor because I admire you and your fame."
"Spare me the nonsense."
Via frowned as if telling him not to spout rubbish. She continued for a few more exchanges, then widened her eyes in surprise. Their banter felt like an ordinary conversation with a fellow elf. The very sensation was mystical.
Not all elves could use it, but those who wielded the [Eye of Truth] saw it as a blessing from the gods and the World Tree—yet also a curse.
The Eye of Truth discerned whether words were lies or truth, and at higher levels, even hidden emotions. Curiosity often led to its use in conversations, only to end in hurt when doubts arose about the other's sincerity.
Especially with humans.
They took kindness as entitlement, filled with delusions and deceit. Trusting them was hard. Humans who entered the forest lusted after elves with greed and desire. Distrust built over time from their ugly, repulsive faces.
Yet elves often showed goodwill to forest visitors. Not all were vile and greedy. Like the human priest walking ahead, some spoke only of purity and truth. Because of them, elves didn't outright antagonize humans.
But that was a century ago. When the slave kingdom Silran invaded to enslave elves, everything changed. Even after the war, humans who came to the forest schemed to capture them, and elves ended those schemes with arrows.
Yet this human beside her now was different. The Eye of Truth revealed nothing, yet his words felt trustworthy. Her hostility toward humans seemed forcibly softened by some inexplicable power. That eased her guard, letting conversation flow naturally—while heightening her wariness.
Above all, talking with him evoked memories of humans from her past who chatted casually with her. Spirit sword wielders who sought her out, calling her Sword Saint, begging to learn. At least they were humans she could trust. The light banter stirred those old recollections.
"...You're right."
"Pardon?"
"I like that you don't spout empty flattery."
She let out a hollow laugh.
"Good to hear."
"Not sure if it's truly good. It's been ages since the Eye of Truth failed like this, leaving me feeling this way—it's novel, but frightening too."
Every human she'd met had fallen to her [Eye of Truth]. Even the spirit sword wielders who once sought her tutelage. But after those ties severed and Silran attacked the elven forest, her distrust of humans only grew.
That towering distrust, like a spire, had stood unshaken for nearly a century. Yet now, a few casual words were shaking the tower of her heart. That terrified her.
"Can't you just overpower me with skill?"
Yuda gave a wry smile. It stung, but his words rang true.
Undeniably so.
With his current ability, he couldn't beat her. And Via knew it. She could kill him right now. But swordsmanship was separate. He was climbing the tower of distrust she'd built over a century toward humans.
An emotion called trust—or fondness—was seeping in.
She feared acknowledging the exception.
Yuda's words and actions were ordinary. Nothing special. His speech was commonplace, heard anywhere. His handsome looks avoided preconceptions, but the fragments [Carpe Diem] and <Valentine> influenced it too.
"Bit self-aggrandizing to say this myself—actually, very much so. But despite appearances, I'm a good guy."
"...How old are you?"
"......"
Why do they always ask my age? Yuda averted his gaze from Via and stayed silent. Before her centuries of life, his age was surely young regardless.
"Age doesn't matter. Just know I have no intent to lie. So how about dropping the Eye of Truth? The mana bothers me."
"Is that so? Very well."
Via readily accepted Yuda's request. They'd bantered enough, and she'd somewhat lowered her guard. As the crunch of packed snow sounded underfoot, Yuda spoke up.
"Shall we get to the real talk now?"
"I was planning to anyway. Thanks for bringing it up first. If possible, no holding back. Though even if you lie, I can't tell—so don't expect me to believe everything."
"That's the smart approach. I may not earn even a sliver of trust, but I swear on my spirit sword: no lies. ...Though some things I can't say."
"Like why the Eye of Truth doesn't work on you, or what your true nature is?"
Yuda nodded.
"Yeah."
"Understood. Treat this like an interrogation. Since you swore on the spirit sword you forged through effort, speak only truth. Without a shred of deceit..."
Via trailed off, then continued slowly.
"...to earn my trust."