Chapter 62
Chapter 62
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Translator: Ace
Chapter: 62
Chapter Title: Eccentric Mage (3)
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Federback peered into the mage's bare face.
As the loose robe was stripped away, the mage's face and hair were fully revealed.
'...As expected.'
Federback nodded.
Her identity was exactly as he had anticipated.
Greenish-golden hair—a physical trait rare among modern humans.
But what revealed her otherworldliness even more starkly was her ears.
Ears so long and pointed they could never be mistaken for human.
Federback was well acquainted with the near-human race possessing greenish-golden hair, pale green eyes, and long, pointed ears.
Elves.
Beings who wielded magic even before the Mythic Era, when humanity was merely cracking stones to grind or cut.
Their origins were unknown.
Theories abounded: individuals crafted by the gods with exceptional beauty and wisdom when humans were made; offspring of humans and spirits in love; wanderers from stars beyond the night sky. Only such tales proliferated.
Anyway.
They were said to possess beauty perfectly aligned with human aesthetics, long lifespans, robust physiques, and innate superior magical talents.
...However.
'At this point in time, elves are mere fragments of ancient myths.'
Elves had vanished from human history long ago, due to several cataclysmic events in the distant past.
Federback stared silently at the unconscious elf before him for a time.
The fainted elf mumbled something like sleep-talk.
"Really... didn't mean to kill... ugh... don't do this..."
Federback furrowed his brow.
'Too dim-witted for a pureblood elf. Half? Quarter?'
Pureblood elves he'd encountered before his regression stood around three meters tall on average.
But this elf barely exceeded 170cm, even generously measured.
'Mana is weak too. Degenerate breed.'
Like the ice dragon Adara from his prior hunt.
This was a diluted pureblood.
'Still, elf blood is precious. Sell her at the capital's slave market, and I could buy two or three minor provincial fortresses.'
A creature straight from myth tomes, no less.
If word spread that an elf dwelled in the nightmare-eating swamp, every northern noble—no, even the imperial family—would march armies here.
At that moment.
"...!"
The elf suddenly twitched.
A tremor rippled through her body.
Federback spoke in his characteristic dry tone.
"If you're awake, open your eyes."
"... ."
The elf remained silent.
A bead of cold sweat formed on her forehead.
Federback gripped her head and squeezed.
...Crack!
His grip, capable of pulverizing a Sasquatch's skull, clamped her entire head.
"Argh! Stop! I'm awake, awake!"
The elf's eyes flew open.
Federback's gaze sank coldly.
Soon, the elf asked.
"You... what are you? What's your deal..."
"It's on the invitation. Meursault."
"The Meursault kid I know isn't like this! That child was gentler, kinder..."
As her words dragged on, Federback tightened his grip.
"It's me."
"Gah! Khek! Ack! O-okay! St-stop! I'll die!"
The elf tapped his wrist frantically, coughing.
Federback eased his grip slightly.
Only then did the elf catch her breath.
Federback said.
"Hiding rat, but sharp ears."
"Rat?! How dare you insult an elf...!"
As she began to flare up, Federback cut in first.
"Queenbits."
The elf's body stiffened instantly.
Federback continued.
"Queenbits Alvheim. Right?"
"You... how do you know my name?"
Elf mage Queenbits asked blankly.
Federback recalled his pre-regression days.
'Her sister, was it? Indeed, they resemble each other.'
The hero party annihilated battling the Demon King.
One member was an elf.
Though she fell before the final wave, she had inspired and aided Federback greatly as a comrade.
She'd constantly lamented how wonderful it would be if her sister were in the party.
Of course, that sister had perished early in the Demon King's all-out assault.
'...Her name was Queenbits Alvheim. Heard she was secluded somewhere in the northern swamps.'
Federback asked Queenbits.
"Do you have a sister?"
"What?"
Queenbits frowned.
"What nonsense? I have no siblings."
"...As expected."
Federback nodded.
Besides the hero, mage, and saintess who wielded regression's power, every member of that final hero party had their existence erased mid-journey back through time.
But that didn't matter.
He preserved every memory of them crystal clear.
"Queenbits Alvheim. I know what you desire. I can help fulfill it."
Queenbits gritted her teeth at Federback's words.
"A mere human presumes to know my will?"
"You sent the invitation, anyway."
"... ."
Queenbits fell silent.
Federback clearly read the conflict flickering across her face.
"I need a mage. Help me, and I'll help you."
"Then a transaction..."
"Was considering it until you drew your sword."
"?"
To Queenbits' puzzled look, Federback pressed the blade close.
"Must pay for wasting my stamina."
"Wh-what? I never meant to kill you..."
"Save it for after victory. What's the point post-defeat?"
"... ."
Queenbits clamped her mouth shut.
Federback said.
"Once more: I need a mage. And intend to wield your power for my aims."
"By whose say-so?"
"The one holding the blade."
"... ."
The glinting dragon-tooth edge before her nose silenced Queenbits.
Federback said.
"Prepare the Mana Ring Oath. Now."
"!"
Queenbits' face crumpled.
Elves, the honest race that never lies, supposedly because the gods forbade debasing the divine.
Only half-true.
Elves could lie aplenty.
But at times, they pledged truth staking all their mana—that was the "Mana Ring Oath."
For mana-dependent elves, it meant wagering all power and life force on the vow.
Violation supposedly stripped them of everything... though veracity was unknown.
No elf had ever broken a Mana Ring Oath since the Mythic Era.
Queenbits asked.
"You propose a Mana Ring Oath? What do you demand of me?"
"Aid my endeavors."
Federback clarified further.
"Remain always at my side, fully support my work, harbor no ill will or harm me. Until my death."
"...That's just enslavement?"
"Phrased more nobly. If 'slave' suits you better."
"... ."
Queenbits' eyes darted to the nearby blade.
Her voice quivered faintly.
"And if I refuse?"
"Varies by how stubbornly or mildly."
"What for stubborn refusal?"
"Stab you dead right here."
"Mild refusal?"
"Drag you out, sell as slave to the imperial family."
"Ha..."
Queenbits raised her hand.
Federback poised to sever her wrist at any spellcasting sign, but she merely brushed back her bangs.
Then, she made the eminently rational choice.
"Fine. Mana Ring Oath."
"Proceed."
Federback nodded; Queenbits slowly drew up her mana.
Soon, red rune letters materialized in the air.
Queenbits asked.
"You invoked the Mana Ring Oath. Least you can do is read the contract?"
"... ."
Federback scrutinized the runes awhile.
Then.
"Rewrite. This is a one-year contract."
"...You know Runic?"
"Wouldn't ask otherwise. Spare me the chatter."
Queenbits revised the contract, visibly flustered.
Soon, it updated.
Federback meticulously read the floating runes and nodded.
"Sign."
Federback bit his pinky, drawing blood.
Queenbits, fingers trembling, pressed hers to his blade's tip.
...Drop!
Ripples cascade through the air!
Brilliant halos manifest behind their heads
The Mana Ring contract was established.
Crunch— crunch— crunch— crunch—
Federback emerged from the nightmare-eating swamp... site.
Now, merely a smoldering ash heap.
Crunch— crunch— crunch— crunch—
Queenbits trailed him with a forlorn expression.
"Loosen this collar a bit."
"No."
"We swore the Mana Ring Oath!"
"Mythic concept. Can't fully trust."
"Elves uphold the Mana Ring Oath like our lives! No needless worry!"
"You're a quarter."
"... ."
Federback tugged the iron chain around Queenbits' neck and exited the forest.
Treatment identical to nadir convicts.
Then.
"Young Master!"
"You're alive!"
"We waited!"
Haundid and the soldiers rushed up, faces blackened with soot.
Federback asked.
"How'd you reach here?"
The forest spirits appeared.
Spotting Queenbits and her collar, they sighed.
The forest spirits circled Queenbits mournfully.
Queenbits spoke to them sadly.
"Sorry I couldn't protect you."
Federback interjected.
"Forest growing lush is fine, but do it elsewhere."
"What why. Planning to relocate slash-and-burn settlers here for farmland clearance. Haunted woods shrink tillable land."
"Human, naturally. Warned you. No more beggar-shack forests. I'll torch them repeatedly."
The forest spirits pleaded with Federback.
Queenbits added meekly.
"They're still young, can't relocate. Can't they stay? Humans have plenty of land."
She was gravely mistaken.
Once the Demon King revived soon, human territory would shrink drastically—no land left even for a single rice stalk.
Thus, cultivating the north's barren soil into habitable environs was vital.
Federback said.
"Cultivate only fruits, vegetables, grains, timber, mushrooms, herbs advantageous to human survival, and you may remain."
The forest spirits nodded reluctantly.
One-sidedly favorable to humans, yet.
"One more."
Federback added another demand.
Queenbits blurted unwittingly.
"More? No conscience?"
"Refrain from harmful remarks."
"Even this much... ugh!"
Queenbits winced at the faint chest pain.
The Mana Ring constricted her heart, issuing a mild warning.
Federback nodded.
'Seems effective.'
First time witnessing an elf swear a Mana Ring Oath.
He continued.
"Surrender the treasures remaining in this forest."
The forest spirits glanced at one another.
Federback clarified.
"Items left by humans who died here."
The nightmare-eating swamp had long endured as a northern horror tale.
Countless mythic kings and heroes led armies here, only to perish or vanish.
This forest had silently devoured all their remains and legacies.
That was precisely what Federback demanded.
"Useless to you anyway. Hand them over."
The forest spirits ventured their demand.
No interest in them to begin with, Federback feigned deliberation before nodding.
Queenbits, observing the negotiation, sighed softly.
'Trapped in a greedy serpent's coils.'
Her path ahead looked arduous indeed.