Chapter 41
Translator: Wjin
Chapter: 41
Chapter Title: Jonathan's End
"To think that avatars truly exist..."
"Their power is far beyond anything I imagined!"
"You've done enough now. Return and carry out your duties to the best of your ability."
"Pardon? Ah, yes, sir!"
The guards, stunned into dropping to their knees unwittingly, bolted from the spot like the wind at Dunus's command.
"Our guards showed such an unsightly display. Please forgive them."
"It's fine. I'm used to it by now."
"First, allow me to offer thanks on behalf of the Grand Elder and our kin. For dealing with those slave hunters. But if you're asking for the Tears of the Spirit in return, I'm afraid we'll have to politely decline."
Dosep bowed his head, but Johann simply shrugged and shook his head.
"We're all busy people, so let's skip the tedious probing. You don't seriously think I'd demand the forest's treasure for something like that, do you? Even if I threatened to kill every elf here, it wouldn't be worth that much. Right?"
Dunus's eyes flashed sharply at those words.
"If you know that much, then this will be straightforward. In exchange for the forest's treasure, how much aid can you offer us?"
"Your enemies are my enemies. I wouldn't be here without that resolve. Especially Jonathan's head—I'll take it myself and present it to you as a gift."
Not swayed by Johann's enticing offer, Dosep posed the most crucial question.
"And if you obtain the Tears of the Spirit as your reward, what do you plan to use that treasure for?"
"They say it's a legendary treasure that can revive the dead or cure any illness. I want to use it to heal someone precious to me—someone I need."
"Someone precious to the one you need?"
The two frowned at the puzzling response, but Johann assured them.
"Don't worry. I have no intention of using the forest's treasure for evil. I swear it on everything I have."
"Come to think of it, we haven't properly introduced ourselves. I'm Dunus, and this is Dosep. We are the elders of this forest."
"They call me Alpha. It's a true honor to meet the wise sages of the forest."
With introductions complete, Dosep asked,
"Very well, Alpha. Assuming we accept your proposal, how do you envision the deal proceeding?"
"Naturally, killing Jonathan and freeing the enslaved kin captured near the border come first."
"You speak with such confidence. Very well. We'll relay this to the Grand Elder and the other elders as is. Until then, would you mind waiting here? It's inconvenient to travel with you openly, given the scrutiny from Elaim's kin and the opposing elders."
"No problem. But the sooner you decide, the better—for me and for you."
The two nodded and returned to the forest.
And how much time passed?
The two returned relatively quickly and informed Johann of the council's decision.
"The elders' council has voted to accept your proposal. The Tears of the Spirit are indeed a precious and noble treasure to us. But the Grand Elder decreed that they are not more valuable than the lives of our kin in this forest, and many elders agreed."
"I offer my deepest respect and admiration for the Grand Elder's wise judgment in valuing true lives. Now, before we begin in earnest, I have one request."
"Speak it. We'll cooperate with whatever you need."
Johann sat comfortably, circulating mana through his body with mana breathing techniques as he sank into thought.
'Jonathan, huh... Come to think of it, that guy was from the Ramakon Kingdom.'
He had caught the eye of Hector, whose hobby was collecting talent, and become his man—similar to Johann's own case, but their situations were worlds apart.
While Johann's had come after his kingdom fell, Jonathan had betrayed his intact homeland before its ruin... and sided with Hector.
That was why Johann despised him.
The man would sell out his country, family, friends, and lovers for personal gain.
Unlike Gurkan, he was the type best eliminated when the chance arose.
How long had he been immersed in meditation?
Johann sensed someone rushing toward him desperately.
"Lord Alpha! He's appeared!"
Fwiiiing! Crackle...!
The moment Johann opened his eyes, blue lightning burst forth like a flash in his gaze.
"How many will we catch today? Isn't it exciting, Gilton?"
"Aye, indeed it is! With the pesky guards dwindling lately, soon enough, no one will be left to hinder Lord Jonathan. Then you'll control this forest completely, keeping those slave hunters we've used as meat shields at bay. How could I not be thrilled?"
"Ahem! I appreciate the sentiment, but isn't your voice a bit too loud? That's a distant future for now, so restrain yourself until then, Gilton. Hahaha!"
"Oh dear! I've been too forward in my excitement. But what can be done? It's the truth. Lord Jonathan's future shines brighter than the sun. Hehehe!"
Gilton handed Jonathan an arrow while fawning over him.
Jonathan, not displeased by the flattery, smiled faintly and nocked the arrow.
Fwhoosh!
Then, an arrow carrying power as devilish as his nature sped terrifyingly through the forest.
Neither tangled foliage, rocks, nor people hindered it.
Fired from a distance beyond the elves' sight, the arrow flew freely like a living bird, targeting a guard fiercely battling slave hunters.
'It's over.'
He smirked as he watched the arrow he loosed hone in on the guard's neck.
The fool hadn't even noticed it approaching; the odds of dodging or blocking were zero percent.
At that instant!
Kaboom!
"Gah!"
"Wh-what the?!"
A sudden bolt from a clear sky struck with deafening thunder, startling Gilton into collapsing.
"Whoa, lightning from a clear sky today, huh? I swear I just heard thunder..."
The dense woods hid the strikes, but the thunder had rumbled several times.
This was the first so close that lightning might have been visible.
But...
"L-Lord Jonathan? Is something wrong?"
Gilton looked up at him in confusion.
Jonathan's face was grim and hardened.
Meanwhile, the Johann who had saved the elf guard from Jonathan's arrow...
"You okay? Can you keep fighting?"
-If a human appears with the lightning, do not treat him as an enemy. Follow his lead. That human is one of us.
The elf, momentarily wary upon realizing it was a human despite the life debt, recalled the superior's order and replied.
"I don't know what you're saying exactly, but I get the gist. I'm fine to fight, so tend to your own business."
He responded in incomprehensible Elvish and raised his bow toward the slave hunters again.
"What are you idiots standing around for?"
"You never seen a man drop with lightning before?!"
"Chase the elves! Hurry!"
The slave hunters, dazed by Johann's arrival and the lightning, snapped back into combat.
Johann smirked at the sight, leaving the fight to the guards before launching himself in pursuit of Jonathan.
Without Jonathan's interference, the elf guards wouldn't fall to mere slave hunters.
Crackle, fizz!
'He's coming!'
Thud!
"Lord Jonathan!"
Sensing Johann approaching at terrifying speed while discharging blue lightning, Jonathan abandoned Gilton and leaped backward.
Wind gently cradled his body, aiding his leap like wings on a panther, propelling him away at immense speed.
But...
Fizz!
"Long time no see, Jonathan. Or should it be 'pleased to meet you' here?"
"...!"
After awakening wind mana, he had been confident no one could match his speed.
'He caught up so easily? What the hell is this guy? And that blue lightning pouring from him?'
His face was masked, but Jonathan could vividly imagine Johann's mocking expression.
"You damn mutt...!"
Whizz! Whizz! Whizz! Whizz!
Jonathan rapidly loosed arrows at Johann.
Even elves couldn't evade them from that range.
A target right in front was child's play, even with eyes closed...
"What was that? Can't you shoot properly? Not a single hit."
"...!"
He missed.
Not one of the four arrows grazed, let alone struck.
To be precise, Johann had dodged them all in an absurd blur of speed.
But!
'Think that's all, bastard?'
Jonathan sneered inwardly.
His missed arrows wheeled through the air like birds, targeting Johann's rear.
That was the true terror of his arrows.
Relentless tracking shots that doomed the ignorant until death.
In that moment.
Grab.
Johann reached out and seized Jonathan's face with one hand.
At lightning speed, Jonathan couldn't even react before yielding his face.
"Gaaah!"
As Johann squeezed, excruciating pain like his skull might shatter made Jonathan instinctively drop his bow and arrows, clutching at Johann's wrist with both hands.
That was when Johann smirked and taunted him...
"Worried I'd be slower than your arrows? Want to test it? See if your shots or me—which is faster."
"...!"
Crackle, kaboom!
A bolt enveloped Johann and Jonathan, streaking through the forest with a trailing tail.
Four arrows desperately chased behind.
But the distance only widened.
With no other attacks left, Jonathan focused all his power on one arrow.
'This one will...!'
In that instant!
Smirk.
Johann curled his lip beneath the mask and hurled Jonathan behind him.
"N-no...!"
Squelch!
Thus, Jonathan was impaled through the gut by his own pursuing arrow, tumbling messily to the ground.
"Kuhuk! Sp-spare me! Please..."
As Johann approached, Jonathan crawled desperately, begging for his life.
Blood and mangled entrails trailed from the massive hole in his abdomen.
Johann crouched before him, placed a hand on his head, and patted it gently.
"You're one consistent bastard. Same pathetic skills, same trash-tier talent. How are you unchanged from back then to now? You got lucky awakening wind mana and slacked off—that's why you're in this mess, you stupid fuck."
"Y-you... who the hell..."
"Me? A demon crawled up from hell, punk."
Slice!
With that, Johann claimed Jonathan's head and rose to his feet.