Chapter 37
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Translator: Wjin
Chapter: 37
Chapter Title: To the Elf Forest
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Thwip!
An arrow sliced through the air at terrifying speed.
Its velocity was at least twice that of the arrows from the elves, renowned for their mighty bows.
But rather than striking the slave hunters head-on, the arrow came from behind them, hurtling toward the elves.
Accuracy, however, seemed to be an afterthought.
At this rate, it looked like the arrow would sail harmlessly past the elves into the empty sky.
But then...
Whoosh. Thunk!
"Liduro!"
Suddenly, the arrowhead swiveled, the shaft curving smoothly to pierce the temple of an elf guard hiding behind a tree.
Thud!
As the dead elf's body tumbled from the tree, his comrades' eyes widened in shock.
"That arrow...!"
"It's the demon! That devil has come here!"
Meanwhile, on the slave hunters' side, the sight of the elf corpse plummeting after being struck by the arrow lit up their faces with realization and joy.
"It's Sir Jonathan! Sir Jonathan is here!"
As if to confirm it, another arrow whistled from far behind the hunters at horrifying speed.
"Scatter!"
At Ehrade's command, the guards dispersed quickly, but it was futile.
The arrow flew through the forest like a bird with eyes of its own, piercing another victim's heart.
Thunk!
With yet another elf lifelessly robbed of life, the guards' alertness peaked into desperation.
"Captain!"
"You lot retreat first! Fall back slowly and tie their feet as best you can! Even if we die, saving our kin is victory!"
"What are you saying? We go together!"
Ehrade turned to his worried subordinate with a confident smile.
"Don't worry. I'll come back with that demon's head."
"Captain!"
With that, Ehrade bolted through the trees at breakneck speed. His subordinate hurried to follow, but someone grabbed his shoulder.
"Stop. If we die here too, who's going to protect the others?"
"But...!"
"Let's go. The captain promised. He'll bring back that demon's head. We do our part."
In the end, the remaining subordinates withdrew step by step, tears in their eyes.
Meanwhile, charging full tilt through the trees to kill Jonathan, Ehrade finally spotted him.
'There he is!'
Incredibly, the demon he wanted to tear apart a thousand times was grinning right at him.
Snap...!
Fueled by rage and hatred for his kin, Ehrade drew his bowstring taut.
"Die!"
Thwip!
The released arrow rocketed toward Jonathan's head with unerring precision and unimaginable speed.
No matter how Jonathan reacted, dodging or blocking seemed impossible.
But then...
Thunk!
Incredibly, the arrow curved gently right in front of Jonathan's nose and embedded itself at his feet.
"N-No...!"
Thunk!
In that instant, Jonathan's circling arrow struck home, piercing Ehrade's temple and stealing his last breath.
His tear-streaked eyes fixed on Jonathan's mocking face as life faded from them.
"Unbelievable. Struggling against trash like this? Flies swarming for honey are utterly useless. Don't you think, Gilten?"
"Quite right, Sir Jonathan. What are you lot doing? Hurry and prepare—Sir Jonathan's hunt is on!"
"Yes, sir!"
Confirming the knights scrambling at Gilten's order, Jonathan grinned and nocked his bow.
"Heave-ho!"
Gilten dumped a quiver full of arrows into the air.
Jonathan's wind mana enveloped them, aligning the arrows toward his bowstring.
"Alright then. Shall we start the real hunt?"
In the northeastern Ramacon Kingdom, at the border of the Elf Forest, Johann surveyed his surroundings.
'Even here, the signs are starting to show. It already feels much like I remember...'
The Elf Forest wasn't just this one.
Elven Gloria, the elves' kingdom and heartland, lay at the far northern edge of the continent.
There were other forests of similar size, but none suffered constant raids like this one.
The reason? Unlike the others, this Elf Forest was completely isolated from Elven Gloria.
Johann couldn't fathom why they clung to such a remote woodland, enduring endless humiliation rather than flee.
But because of it, this area traded far more elf slaves than any other elf forest border.
"Mommy... I miss you..."
"Hey, buddy. If you're not buying, beat it—it's bad luck."
A slave merchant snarled at Johann, who had paused to watch a weeping elf girl in her cage.
Worn plate armor, a grimy helmet, dust-caked instead of polished—no one would think this man had enough coin for an elf slave.
With his face hidden by helmet and visor, the merchant's irritation was understandable.
"..."
Johann stared at the merchant for a moment before leaving.
The merchant, frozen in place, suddenly broke into a cold sweat, collapsing and gasping for breath.
"You okay, boss?"
"W-What the hell was that guy? Thought I was dead..."
Truth be told, Johann held no particular ill will or fondness for elves.
Before his regression, as a wastrel, he'd never encountered them. As a slave, survival consumed him. As a war hero, the elves he met were nearly all captives.
To him, elves were just a subrace ideal for human toys.
Until he opened his heart to the Gurkan Orcs, that is...
'Never knew their expressions could hurt this much.'
Johann averted his gaze and calmly headed to a slave merchant hiring hunters.
"Name?"
The merchant gave Johann a cursory glance and asked dryly.
"Ban."
"Right, Ban. We don't pay for the dead, so stay sharp. But disobey the boss's orders to save your skin? Instant execution on the spot. Act accordingly."
The merchant checked the mercenary tag Hayden had prepared for Johann's alias and handed it back.
"Pay scales with captives caught and their quality. Hunt like your life depends on it."
Johann nodded once, pocketed the tag, and waited.
Rewards meant nothing to him.
He'd joined only to slip into the forest unnoticed.
Soon, more pros and mercenaries arrived, filling the ranks quickly.
"Gate open!"
The group—Deegab's slave merchants and hunters—marched into the Elf Forest.
Crossing the fields between checkpoint and woods, tension mounted as the dense canopy closed in.
"What kinda trees are these? Takes a dozen men to circle one."
"And so damn tall. Can't even see the tops."
"You there! No chatter. Elves hear footsteps quieter than falling leaves. Lose focus, and noisy fools like you die first."
The mercenaries clamped shut at the mid-level officer's warning.
A hunter walking beside Johann chuckled and patted his shoulder.
"That guy's always scaring folks for nothing. Don't piss yourself, newbie. Entrance to midpoint's our turf—elves don't dare. Downside? Long-ass strolls like this. Name's Marco. Veteran hunter, over ten years. Nice to meet ya."
Marco spoke true to his experience.
Once, villages dotted the outskirts, patrolled by guards—anyone near turned to pincushions.
Now, pushed back steadily, elven territory had retreated deep inside.
"All thanks to the great Sir Jonathan. Lets scum like us taste elves worth more than gold. You look skilled—join my crew? Obey me, and I'll let you sample before sale."
Johann's reply was curt.
"Fuck off."
Marco, stunned by the face-to-face rejection, smirked darkly.
"Big talk for a newbie. Fine. But watch your back from now on, not just front. No friends here."
Marco returned to his group, their killing intent pricking Johann's back like needles—but he ignored it and pressed on.
How deep had they gone?
No elf scouts in sight, despite being far in.
'Good luck or bad...?'
Johann wryly smiled inwardly at the ambiguous situation.
His plan: Help elves take down hunters, earn goodwill.
But at this rate, they'd find the village before scouts spotted them.
And bad omens never failed...
"Signal up! Scouts found an elf village!"
"Speed run now! Full charge!"
"Capture elves intact—no wounds! Maim or kill one? I'll hack your limbs off. Remember that!"
Hunters' eyes gleamed with greed for elf-sale fortunes as they sprinted toward the signal.
"Outta my way! I grab first!"
"Crazy? One elf buys a mansion!"
"Dumbasses, like it'll let trash like you catch it. I'm gone!"
Veterans surged ahead. Johann's gaze shifted elsewhere.
A freshly arrived elf scout stared at the horde, face drained pale.
Screeech!
The scout blew a high-pitched whistle, inaudible to most humans—likely summoning warriors.
But...
'Too late!'
Johann was certain.
By the time warriors arrived, only ashes and abductions would remain...
'No choice. If I'm helping, might as well go big today!'
Crackle, zap!
"Huh? What the—? What's with this guy?"
A hunter brushing past Johann gaped at the sparks discharging from his body.
A sight unheard of in his life.
But the real shock was just beginning.