Chapter 64
Chapter 64
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 64
Chapter Title: Various Friendships (4)
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“You said you preferred honesty.”
I smiled faintly as I looked at Barduan.
“I’m glad to hear that. I like honest people too.”
Barduan’s mouth hung wide open, unable to close. Haha, what an amusing dwarf.
“Haha, don’t take it too hard. If the timing and conditions align, I’d be happy to help with the subjugation anytime. It’s just that joining Ergin would be difficult.”
“No… why?!”
Barduan’s beady eyes filled with shock. He seemed far more bothered by my refusal to join Ergin than my offer to help.
I need to choose my words carefully. Once dwarves make up their minds, they don’t change them. So it’s best not to rub them the wrong way from the start.
“I’m not quite at that level yet.”
A lie. I’m more than capable. I have skills to spare! That’s exactly why I can’t tie myself down to something as minor as Ergin. But if I said that ‘honestly,’ it’d likely get under his skin, so time to wield some adult social grace.
“Huh… You’re turning down Ergin? You do know what adamantium is, right?”
“I do.”
“Huh!”
I should’ve studied up on druids beforehand… I clicked my tongue inwardly. I’ve never had much interest in metalworking dwarves anyway. As a druid, I’m not close to metals. There’s nothing for me in the Steel Mountains.
‘Unless it’s quest-related.’
If Ergin had a Fragment of the Origin God, I might visit. But right now, there’s no info.
‘Elves are more likely to know about that.’
Elves, versed in ancient history and magic, are far more likely to hold knowledge of the Origin God than dwarves cooped up in mines swinging hammers.
Katarina and I placated Barduan just enough and sent him off, then turned our attention to our real targets: the elf group.
Birds of a feather flock together, it seems. Few elves mingled with humans. Most clustered with their own kind, conversing in elvish.
‘They’re completely shunning other races.’
Of course, thanks to my [Interpreter] trait, I could understand every word.
-No way a human solved the deep sea dungeon issue.
-It’s astonishing.
-And a druid, not even a mage, from what I hear.
-I heard there was a mermaid involved.
-No chance. Mermaids vanished from the east ages ago.
-The two human knights looked pretty ordinary.
-Come to think of it, there’s talk of a unique druid appearing on the continent.
-I heard too. The [Saint of Purification] who saved the cursed land, and the [Adversary of Evil] who sealed Lavata’s demon…
-A mere druid?
-Maybe an elf?
-No way.
-Then an elf half-breed?
‘Elves gonna elf.’
Look at that lofty arrogance. They can’t believe my feats, so they assume I must be an elf—or at least half-elf. Well, from their perspective, it’s probably a compliment…
‘Sadly, just your average human.’
Still, getting this much recognition from such picky folks feels pretty good.
“…Why are you grinning like that?”
“Nothing.”
Katarina, unable to understand elvish, looked baffled. Then her face shifted to suspicion as she asked me.
“No way… you speak elvish too?”
“A little.”
“What the hell are you?”
“A regular druid. Not half-elf.”
I could feel Katarina glaring at me. Her feline eyes, sharp as ever, scanned me head to toe.
“Hmph, your ears are round.”
“Yeah, that’s why I said I’m not half-elf.”
Pointed ears, the hallmark of elves, are a common trait even in half-elves. She checked my round ears and seemed slightly relieved.
“Then how do you know elvish…”
“Hey, hey, I get you’re curious, but we’re here to meet new people, right? Before we dive into real talk with them, give me the proper rundown. You know how finicky elves are.”
“…Fine.”
“Start with the brown-haired one on the left, keep it brief.”
“Jeair. A young elf who just came from Lüset to Ekaitz. Not nobility, but his parents are loaded, from what I hear.”
“And the gloomy silver-haired one?”
“Lis. Priest at the Nemeia Temple on Ekaitz Republic’s main island. He’s the spiritual pillar for elves staying in Ekaitz.”
“The blonde in the middle who looks hot-tempered?”
“…Darion. Best not to act cheeky around him. Pissing off Lüset nobility is a real dumb move.”
“So that elf’s the star of this party?”
“Well… befriending Darion means you could burn bridges with everyone else here and still be fine. He’s the queen of Lüset’s grandnephew.”
“Ah. Good intel.”
“Honestly, I didn’t expect Darion to show up. Lis, sure, but… Darion’s never attended events like this.”
Katarina’s expression soured. She’s skilled at schmoozing, but this elf might be beyond her. She lowered her voice to a whisper.
“Darion’s got that extreme elven superiority complex. He’ll definitely try to rile you up, but like I said…”
“He’s the queen of Lüset’s grandnephew.”
“…Yeah. Noble blood and all that. So unlike with Barduan, mind your manners. Elves aren’t like dwarves—they…”
“Don’t like honesty.”
“…Right.”
Katarina bit her lip briefly before plastering on a smile.
“Lord Darion, Lord Lis, Lord Jeair. An honor to have you at the banquet.”
“Katarina.”
Led by Darion, the three elves nodded curtly in response.
“I have someone I’d like to introduce…”
Before Katarina could finish, Darion cut in. He didn’t care at all about interrupting her.
“You’re that druid?”
Three pairs of eyes fixed on me. Staring into those piercing blue gazes, I swallowed hard without thinking.
‘…No, don’t get rattled. What do I have to fear from them?’
These elves were here at the banquet because they wanted something from me, no doubt.
If anything, I’m the one holding the cards.
“Probably the one you’re thinking of.”
“You conquered the deep sea dungeon?”
“That’s right. No more monsters on the sea routes.”
“That’s not what intrigues me.”
“…”
“How did you conquer the deep sea dungeon?”
“Uh, well…”
“Half-breed, or what?”
Huh? Did he just almost say mongrel? Wow, that superiority complex is no joke. I furrowed my brow and glared at Darion. He looked down at me with smug indifference, not a hint of unease.
Pissed off now?
“…That’s a pretty rude question.”
“Rude?”
“Yes, rude. And ridiculous.”
“…Ridiculous?”
“Theodor!”
Katarina tried to intervene, but I addressed the elves in a cold tone.
“Arjan, Donar, Linshaka, Nemeia.”
“…”
“The first flower that bloomed, nurtured by a drop of blood from each of your gods, bore fruit—and that became the elves’ ancestors, right?”
“…”
“So, if we’re being precise, the elven race itself is one big mixed breed.”
Darion went silent as a mute. His chiseled face hardened as he stared at me, sending a chill down my spine.
‘…Did I go too far?’
Why’s ‘queen’s grandnephew’ echoing in my head again?
‘Shit… whatever. He started it.’
I met Darion’s gaze steadily, feigning nonchalance.
“…”
“…”
“…”
“…”
“…”
A frigid silence enveloped us. Ah, damn it. Mistake? I wanna bolt.
‘Should I… make an exit now?’
Elves and dwarves are eternal foes, so heading back to Barduan’s an option. I glanced around subtly to spot him.
And then.
-Grab!
Darion seized my hand with his slender, elven fingers. What? Stunned, I looked at him. His eyes sparkled like jewels as he exclaimed excitedly.
“To meet a human who knows ancient elven mythology!”
“…Pardon?”
“Only Lüset nobles know ancient elven myths. How does a human… Do you have a high elf in your ancestry?”
…As if.
But my attempt to troll him backfired into gaining favor. This is a golden opportunity.
‘He’s the elf queen’s grandnephew, after all.’
Top-tier connection! Play it right, and I could waltz into notoriously exclusive Lüset.
“Well…”
“Think carefully. A high elf in your lineage…”
I put on a deeply melancholic face and spoke in a sorrowful voice.
“…I don’t know. I don’t have parents.”
In this world. Back home, they’re probably watching trot contests and slurping janchi-guksu by now? Ah, Mom’s janchi-guksu was the best. Now I’m craving it…
My wistful expression must’ve sold it, because Darion groaned sympathetically.
“Heartbreaking. There must’ve been circumstances. Yet your parents left you the legacy of ancient elven mythology!”
As if. I just read the game lore like a dedicated gamer.
But no need to correct him, right? If he thinks I’m high elf descent, it’ll make things easier!
“Though you lack an elven surname, I’ll remember your name. What is it?”
I flashed a sad smile and gripped his hand.
“Theodor. Theodor Grey.”
Easy peasy. Is this how things are supposed to go?
“Theodor! Excellent. From now on, regard me as a brother!”
“Thank you, Lord Darion.”
“Lord Darion? Just Darion, little brother.”
“…Thanks, Darion.”
I winked secretly at Katarina, who stood speechless at this absurd scene.