Chapter 147
Chapter 147
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 147
Chapter Title: Encounter with the Elf Leader
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‘Teleport.’
Swoosh!
As I silently chanted the incantation, my body was summoned to a different position.
It was the [Teleport] spell I’d learned from a secret magic tome.
Thanks to this magic, I could swiftly weave through the chaotic battlefield, bypassing countless soldiers.
Of course, the downside was the massive mana consumption...
‘But regeneration is fast anyway.’
One of my strengths was my rapid mana recovery.
I could burn through this much without worry.
‘I need to get used to using it frequently like this.’
As that thought crossed my mind.
I finally crossed Alvheim’s front lines and arrived at the place Vagrant had mentioned, where the elf leader was supposed to be.
Standing before me was a gray-haired elf with long tresses, her face etched in confusion.
I teleported right to her and offered a greeting.
Swoosh!
“Pleased to meet you.”
“...Y-You!”
The moment she saw me, veins bulged on her forehead, and she nocked an arrow on her massive longbow.
As if ready to loose it at any second.
She must have thought I was here for a sneak attack...
Before things escalated, I dropped to one knee, lowering my posture.
A sign that I harbored no malice whatsoever.
It seemed to work.
Swish.
“...What’s your game?”
The elf lowered her longbow vertically as she asked.
She’d halted her immediate attack, but her eyes still brimmed with wariness.
I chose my words with utmost care, so as not to grate on her nerves.
“I am the mage Yuhan. I came in haste with urgent news... but I apologize if I’ve caused you discomfort.”
“You’re not a human mercenary from Kazandur?”
“I am here at Kazandur’s request, but I’m no mercenary. I’ll quietly withdraw once my business is done.”
“...I see?”
She smiled, seemingly relieved.
But why then?
Were her hands rising to the bowstring again, contrary to that smile?
“Get lost. I have nothing to say to the likes of you.”
Twang!
Her longbowstring pulled taut with force.
Instinct told me.
This wasn’t mere intimidation—she meant to shoot.
And it wasn’t just the gray-haired elf before me drawing her bow.
Twang!
Twang!
The elves who’d been watching me warily from the surroundings were nocking arrows in unison.
By their presences alone, I counted about a dozen.
Sharp killing intent washed over me as well.
This wasn’t the vibe of the average elves I’d seen on the battlefield.
These were elite elves, each radiating powerful auras.
‘Dangerous.’
The moment I judged that.
The bowstrings snapped free.
Bang!
Arrows hurtled toward me in an instant.
Even amid the chaos, my mind raced with options.
‘What to do.’
Two choices sprang to mind immediately.
One: Evade with Teleport.
It didn’t feel ideal.
I’d be safe, but somehow, using it would end any chance of talk.
They’d just keep attacking no matter how much I dodged.
With that in mind, I went straight for option two.
Overwhelm them with sheer power, leaving no room for further attacks.
‘Barrier.’
Whoooong!
A translucent barrier enveloped my body.
Thud! Thunk! Thud!
The dozen arrows bounced harmlessly off it.
But that wasn’t enough—the elves loosed another volley.
Shwaaaa!
Very well.
Time to show even greater power.
‘Gravity Amplification.’
Whooooosh!
The surrounding air grew drastically heavier.
The incoming arrows lost momentum and plummeted to the ground.
Plop, plip-plop!
And in that instant.
Kayla, Thompson, and Barundel broke through and arrived.
Step, step! Step!
They took positions beside me.
“What’s this? We haven’t even started talking yet?”
Thompson said, glancing around.
I followed his gaze and saw the elves with tightly pressed lips.
“...”
An awkward silence descended.
Their gazes remained guarded.
But unlike before, they showed no intent to attack.
Only then did I speak.
“May I deliver my message?”
“...”
In the silence, my eyes met those of the gray-haired elf.
She smiled faintly, as if amused by the situation.
“Is that really how you ask for our consent?”
Meaning, was this not coercion?
I nodded with a matter-of-fact expression.
“Of course.”
“You’re an amusing human mage.”
Her eyebrow twitched ever so slightly.
She didn’t look pleased.
Fortunately, she relented.
“Fine, speak. But if it’s worthless drivel...”
Swish swish swish!
Gray light poured from her eyes.
As if she hadn’t been serious until now.
“You’ll regret it.”
I’d need to choose my words carefully.
***
The conversation took place in a tent the elves had erected.
A massive structure hollowed from a single tree.
There, I faced the gray-haired elf, Erbehim, alone.
“So, a plague ravages Kazandur? And the antidote exists only on our land?”
“Yes. That’s why the dwarves encroached on elf territory.”
Thankfully, the discussion went smoother than expected.
“Huh, is that so?”
Erbehim nodded as if accepting it outright.
However.
“So what?”
It didn’t take long to realize my optimism was misplaced.
I reiterated clearly for Erbehim, who seemed to misunderstand.
“...The dwarves have no desire for war with the elves. They simply need the antidote.”
“But you said it’s on our land.”
“...Yes?”
“Then war was inevitable.”
“...Why does it lead to that?”
“Because we have no intention of just handing it over.”
Erbehim chuckled gleefully before continuing.
“We can’t pass up this chance for those stinking dwarves to wipe themselves out!”
‘...Is this really the elf leader?’
She was even more unhinged than I’d imagined.
Negotiation wasn’t even on her mind.
“Is that all? Then be off with you.”
After laughing heartily, Erbehim waved me away as if our business was done.
I decided it was best to withdraw for now.
‘I’ll have to talk to the dwarves again.’
As that thought formed.
Flutter!
“Elder!”
An elf burst through the tent flap into the structure.
The sturdy elf was panting heavily, clearly in a panic.
“...What is it?”
Erbehim asked gravely, and the elf blurted out urgently.
“S-Sophiran...!”
Sophiran.
It sounded like another elf’s name.
“She’s... vomiting blood!”
It didn’t take long to grasp the situation.
‘...Vomiting blood?’
Vagrant’s earlier words sprang to mind the instant I heard it.
-Vagrant, what are the symptoms of that plague?
-Early stages: convulsions and high fever. Mid to late: coughing up blood.
An elf coughing up blood.
It seemed the plague had spread to the elves too.
***
Back at Kazandur’s tent, I relayed everything to Vagrant exactly as it happened.
As expected, his face grew grave.
“The elves too... have the plague?”
“Yes, I heard she’s coughing up blood... Timing suggests it.”
But his gravity was fleeting.
“Hah, even those pointy-eared bastards can catch it.”
Vagrant said dismissively.
“It’s their punishment. The heavens are wroth.”
A hint of schadenfreude crossed his face.
It wasn’t surprising.
He’d already heard how the elves planned to conduct themselves in this war.
Curious, I asked Vagrant.
“What will you do now?”
If the elves wouldn’t back down, the dwarves would need countermeasures.
But Vagrant seemed to have already decided.
“No choice now. I must protect my kin.”
“...I see.”
The dwarves intended to press the war.
In the end, the casualties would mount.
Perhaps one race would even be eradicated.
Aware of the gravity, Vagrant asked cautiously.
“That said... could I ask one more favor?”
“A favor?”
“If it’s not a burden, aid us dwarves in the war.”
“...Ah.”
In plain terms: join the war.
This put me in a tough spot.
I’d prefer a dwarf victory if one side had to win, but direct intervention was another matter.
Our involvement could escalate it into a human-versus-other-race war.
I couldn’t answer lightly.
“...I’ll think it over. It’s not a decision I can make alone.”
I’d need to discuss with the others.
“Ah, right. My apologies. Take your time and give me your answer.”
“Yes.”
I bowed my head and exited the tent.
Sure enough, my companions waited just outside.
“How’d it go?”
They asked about the outcome immediately.
I led them to a secluded spot before speaking.
“Vagrant asked us to help in the war. On the dwarf side.”
“...Yeah?”
I scanned their faces slowly.
They all looked conflicted, unsure of what to do.
Naturally, Barundel’s opinion as a fellow dwarf mattered most.
“What do you think, Barundel?”
“Well... Hmm.”
Barundel pondered, head bowed.
Then, as if decided, he glared and spoke.
“No matter that I cut ties, I’d feel better aiding the dwarves.”
“As expected?”
It couldn’t be helped.
This wasn’t some mere incident—it was interspecies war.
One tended toward their own.
“Then...”
Just as I leaned toward joining the war.
Barundel cut in with his full view.
“But it doesn’t have to be through force.”
“Pardon? What do you mean?”
“We can help the dwarves without fighting. No—this helps the elves too.”
Then it clicked what Barundel meant.
There was only one thing that benefited both elves and dwarves.
The mysterious plague.
“...You mean treat the disease?”
“Exactly.”
Barundel nodded firmly.
It wasn’t a bad proposal.
The plague was just as urgent as the war.
After brief deliberation, I decided.
“Alright. Let’s investigate what this plague is.”
The enigmatic disease born of demonic energy.
We’d tackle that first.