Chapter 205: An Offer of Alliance
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 205: An Offer of Alliance
Jung Hayeon glanced over at me. The negotiation had ended with absurd ease. This elf would help us with all her might—not to reclaim her kingdom, perhaps, but at least to save her people, her mother, and her sisters.
It would be an easy war, but given the scale, it would be strange not to feel a sense of anticipation. I nodded to Jung Hayeon, and Gark, in turn, placed a hand over his chest.
“You’ve done well.”
“Not at all. I’m grateful you entrusted me with it, Taesung,” Jung Hayeon replied.
I patted Gark’s shoulder and gave him a look of praise, and his stride immediately became more dignified. It seemed this affair had given him a small boost of confidence.
I slowly turned my gaze to the elven princess, who was staring at the floor, choking back tears. We had secured her promise. Jung Hayeon would no doubt document our conversation and send over a formal contract.
She might be regretting her decision, but to be frank, she had no other choice.
Alisha seemed to be trying desperately to hold back her tears. I slowly opened my mouth to speak to her.
“So.”
“……?”
“What can you do?”
From what I had gathered, she was quite knowledgeable in magic, specializing in the mental arts. But at my words, the princess of a ruined kingdom simply squeezed her eyes shut and cried out.
“I… I have no experience, so there’s nothing I can do yet… but… if you t-teach me.”
Her sudden, outlandish words left me dumbfounded. Realizing what she meant, I spoke flatly.
“What you’re expecting will not happen.”
“Wh-What?”
Only then did she seem to realize what she had said, and her face turned beet red.
“I want to hear more about the mental magic you showed me before, as well as your other abilities.”
“Ah… yes. Basically, I have fundamental spells like the translation magic from before. As for mental-type magic, all I can do is calm one’s mind or ease their psychological state… but depending on its application…”
“We have mages and shamans as well, but none can use translation magic. Are you unable to use any offensive spells?”
“Of course, I can use basic elemental magic, but my proficiency is too low to expect any significant attack power.”
“What about the queen?”
“Ah! W-Well… my mother is a little different from me…”
It seemed the effects varied depending on an individual’s proficiency. Jung Hayeon’s magic was good, but this kind of magic was quite useful too. I was asking about Alisha’s abilities for two reasons. The first was Laveua’s early education.
Magic was better suited for utilizing Laveua’s unique ability. While she showed some talent as an archer, magic seemed a better fit for harnessing her overflowing mana. Jung Hayeon was a good teacher, but her immense affinity for plant-based attributes made it difficult for her to teach Laveua, who was essentially a fairy.
A suitable teacher had appeared at just the right time. It would be our loss not to make use of her.
The other reason was simple.
“Is brainwashing possible?”
This very reason. Of course, I had no intention of brainwashing my clan members or this woman. My target was, as always, the master of the Spider Clan. My revenge was not yet over. I was quite looking forward to seeing Park Hyeri’s reaction when I made the master of the Spider Clan, with her teleportation ability, my own.
I wasn’t certain, but I figured Alisha would have a general idea. I didn’t know much about magic, but being able to block an attack meant you understood it to some degree.
The princess of the ruined kingdom met my gaze and slowly began to speak.
“I… I’ve never tried it before, but… th-theoretically…”
“What if the target has a mental fortitude and mana level comparable to mine?”
“It’s… impossible.”
As I released a slight burst of mana, she immediately declared it a lost cause. I estimated that the Spider Clan’s master was on a similar level to me. Her mana and mental fortitude were likely no different. Assuming I couldn't be affected by mental magic, it would be impossible to use it on her.
“I don’t mind if it takes some time.”
“To be clear, mental magic is, in truth, nothing more than giving a slight suggestion. Assuming you can repeat the suggestion continuously, and if the target’s mind is in an abnormal state or if you can delve deep inside, there is a… a slight possibility. There is a special material created by humans, and using that drug would increase the chances even more… but if it fails…”
“…………”
“There’s a chance they’ll become… at the very least, mindless.”
“It doesn’t matter.”
If there was a chance, it was worth a try. The Japanese prisoners could probably make the drug. But as I looked at the elf before me, she seemed displeased.
The thought of having to do the same thing as the humans who had stabbed her people in the back must have pained her. I smiled as if amused and continued.
“You are free to leave if you don’t like it. However, I will not take responsibility for the consequences.”
“N-No, that’s not it.”
I reached out and grabbed Alisha’s wrist.
“Y-Yes.”
She looked incredibly tense, her ears trembling nonstop.
“Ultimately, the choice is yours.”
I imagined my voice must have sounded like a devil’s. I hadn’t done anything special. But perhaps because of what I had just said to her, I could feel trickles of sorrow and despair flowing into me. I smiled at Alisha, and she lowered her head even further.
*
“Oppa.”
“Hm? What is it? Why are you calling me?”
Lee Jihee was one of the alchemists who had been abducted several years ago. Back on Earth, she had been a university student majoring in chemistry. After arriving here, she had chosen to become an alchemist as if possessed, but as time went on, she couldn’t help but regret it.
In a place where battle was a daily routine, those in production classes were, in fact, no different from slaves. Blacksmiths received slightly better treatment, and senior alchemists with years of experience who could craft high-grade potions could live out their later years comfortably within a city, but that wasn't her case.
Who would have known that being suddenly abducted to this place, after such a difficult time, would be the very thing that led to a more comfortable life?
At first, when she was held captive in the monsters’ land, every day was filled with fear. When the guards who had come out with her to gather herbs were killed, she thought she was done for as well. But the monster settlement she was brought to was far more comfortable than she had imagined.
Even human children were running around and playing; it was no different from any other place where people lived. Her work became much easier than before, and her treatment improved as well. Daily necessities began to arrive for free, and while it wasn’t money, she was compensated for her work and had much more leisure time.
Her skills continued to grow, too. Since the goblins brought back rare herbs, she had access to materials from dangerous regions. The only drawback was not being able to go outside, but in truth, she hadn’t been free to go out in the human cities either. She had no money for entertainment and spent her days cooped up in her lab, afraid of dying.
Compared to that, this place was liberating.
Since there were quite a few captured humans, various forms of interaction were permitted. And at the center of it all was this man. Lee Wanyong.
‘Tsk.’
The way he turned his head, feigning indifference, was quite a sight. Lee Jihee slyly took Lee Wanyong’s hand and, as if her body was burning up, began to kiss him.
Lee Wanyong, who had turned his back, claiming to be tired, gradually started to respond. In the end, after a brief affair, she was finally able to rest in his arms.
“So, what kind of work are you so busy with, Oppa?”
“Tsk. I already told you, it’s nothing you need to know. It’s confidential.”
“What? Don’t tell me you’re saying that and meeting other girls again, like last time?”
“No…”
In truth, Lee Wanyong was known as a rather capable man in this tribe. For some reason, he maintained a very close relationship with the chieftain of this monster village.
Thanks to that, there had even been a strange power struggle among the other women in production classes. In fact, it wasn’t the first or second time she had forgiven him for cheating, or even turned a blind eye.
On Earth, a woman with a bright future like her would never have dated an older man like him, but this wasn’t Earth.
She’d heard him say he was a super-elite back on Earth, but she found it hard to believe.
“Ah. Then what is it? Do you have separate business with that mon… no, no, with the great and honorable Chieftain Blood Dagger again?”
“Yes. I’ll probably get even busier than I am now. It’ll be a little difficult to make time.”
“Mmm… that’s a shame.”
Lee Jihee let out a deep sigh. She had almost called Blood Dagger a monster without thinking. The truth was, she wasn’t Lee Wanyong’s first girlfriend. To be precise, she was the homewrecker who had suddenly appeared. The mistake had been made by the first woman, Kim Mihae.
‘Honey, can’t you ask that monster to let us go outside? It’s nice here, but… I want to see the city, too…’
‘Get out.’
‘Wh-What? Really?’
‘How dare you compare the great Chieftain of the Blood Dagger Clan to a mere monster! Are you out of your mind?! Your body has gotten comfortable, so now you’re having useless thoughts!’
She couldn’t remember it perfectly, but the conversation had been something like that. She had never seen him so angry. Of course, nothing happened to the first woman afterward, but her life became a little less comfortable.
She had thought he was genuinely loyal, but his actions didn’t seem to reflect that. She had seen him secretly pocketing benefits behind the chieftain’s back several times.
Funnily enough, the man never crossed the line and was never overly greedy. As if his life’s goal was to live a long and quiet life, he was a typical petty man who rejoiced over gains so minuscule they were absurd to watch.
For example, he would eat a little more meat than others, or hang out with the Orcs, or redesign his tent to be just a little smaller than those of the clan executives, or bring slightly better items into his tent. That was all.
The most ridiculous sight was him fawning over the next generation of power, like the still-young Kim Yoora and Laveua.
‘Hehe… Lady Kim Yoora, this humble one is working hard! You must always stay strong, Lady Kim Yoora! The future of the Blood Dagger Clan rests in your hands.’
‘Lady Laveua! I have always believed in you. Hehe, are you not the true successor, Lady Laveua? You look just like your father and mother.’
‘Lady Nicole! Hehe, another wonderful drawing today!’
He was the textbook sycophant you’d see in a historical drama. That was Lee Wanyong. Everyone was learning the Green Skin language, but this man’s proficiency was already terrifyingly high. Funnily enough, this side of Lee Wanyong made her trust him even more.
‘This bastard will survive.’
If that was the case, then in this crazy world, it was obviously beneficial to stick with him. She figured he wasn’t the kind of trash who would abandon a woman he’d slept with.
No, she did think there was a small chance he might abandon her if a crisis arose. Even so, sticking with this man was her best option here.
Lee Jihee nodded once more before heading to the cooking area set up inside the tent. As she walked away, she didn’t forget to sway her hips. As expected, she felt his gaze secretly watching her.
‘Of course.’
Just as the corners of her mouth were turning up into a smile, a voice calling for Lee Wanyong could be heard from somewhere.