Chapter 273: The Reason I Knelt Was... (7)[R-18]
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 273: The Reason I Knelt Was... (7)[R-18]
"Do I look like I give a shit?"
Elfriede’s answer was far beyond the realm of common sense.
"...What... did you say?" the Third Elder stammered, barely regaining his composure.
"I asked if I look like I give a shit. What kind of grand qualifications do you need to become fertilizer for the World Tree?"
"I clearly taught you that with great power comes great responsibility! Elfriede!! The power given to you is for the Elves—"
"Bullshit!! You're the bastard trying to turn a perfectly fine Elf into fertilizer, so don't you dare start with the sob stories!! Why the hell should I care if Elves become an obsolete race or not?!"
"You selfish brat!! Are you saying it's fine if the Elves perish?! Why don't you understand?! Sacrificing your body to the World Tree to make the Elves great again—that is true glory!!"
Elfriede didn't even blink at the Third Elder's scream.
Ssh—
Instead, she raised her middle finger high.
"Fuck off."
"So it comes to this... Fine. I had hoped you would put on the Crown of your own accord. Or, if that were impossible, that you would wear it without knowing the truth... But since all that has failed, I suppose I'll have to force it on you..."
"You're going to try using force? Have you old farts forgotten already? What happened the last time you tried to use force on me?"
"I remember. I haven't forgotten for a single day."
The Third Elder's eyes gleamed with an eerie light.
How could he ever forget that day when he despaired, thinking the future of the Elves was over?
"And yet, you think you can beat me without the First Elder here? Are you going senile?"
"As you say, the First Elder is not here, but..."
Snap!
With the sound of the Third Elder snapping his fingers, Wild Hunters clad in black clothes and masks appeared, their entire bodies concealed.
"Ha..."
This was certainly an unexpected situation.
To think that the Elders, who valued tradition so much, would break a taboo themselves.
The 'Heart of the World Tree' was a sanctuary where no one but the Elders was permitted to enter—so sacred that even Elfriede had never stepped foot inside until the succession ceremony for the Grand Elder.
"Since when did the 'Heart of the World Tree' become a place where just anyone can waltz in?"
"...There are times when tradition must be cast aside for the greater good."
Clack, clack, clack—
Moving in perfect unison, twenty Wild Hunters surrounded Elfriede.
"Elfriede... it is not too late. Kneel now and accept the Crown. With your strength, you could easily live another hundred years even after putting it on."
"You're suddenly full of confidence just because you've got a few more bodies? Sorry to break it to you, but I'd win even if you brought all thirty-three of them, not just twenty."
"Yes, perhaps you would. That is why, as insurance, we decided to use your fiancé, Ian. Elfriede, could you still refuse the Crown even if Ian were calling your name, begging for his life?"
"...Ha, you stupid bastards. Your brains really have rotted away."
The moment she heard the Third Elder's threat, the corners of Elfriede's mouth curled up.
"Did you really think a High Elf like me would actually give her heart to a mere human? Ian? Kill him or do whatever you want. The moment I stepped inside this place, that human's role was over."
Elfriede's cold voice was filled with contempt and mockery.
"You're bluffing, Elfriede. We know you truly love Ian."
"You probably just want to believe it's a bluff. Because if it isn't, you'll have to fight me head-on from now on."
Rumble—!
Elfriede's mana shook the very space around them.
Golden dust swirled like a storm, and the branches of the World Tree writhed ominously.
"...I'm going to burn down the World Tree that imprisoned me. That was my only plan from the start."
As if she truly didn't care what happened to someone like Ian, not a single flicker of hesitation could be felt in Elfriede's eyes.
But...
"H-have you forgotten? What I did on the first day you returned to Elvenheim?"
"...."
At the Fourth Elder's words, Elfriede's eyebrows twitched as she searched her memory.
‘I see. Then, do you love your fiancé?’
‘I’m asking because I’m afraid you might run away. If you answer, I’ll let you go.’
‘Yes, that is good to hear.’
At the time, she had been embarrassed and distracted, so she had just let it slide, but...
Grip—
Every time he asked a question, she remembered a slight movement from the Fourth Elder, who had been holding her hand.
He had been checking her pulse.
"...You goddamn old farts, how many snakes do you have living inside you?"
With a hollow laugh, Elfriede stopped her acting.
At this point, she was almost impressed.
"So that's why you were so persistent about asking if I liked him? To measure my heart rate and find out if Senior would be effective as a hostage? Fuck's sake. I wondered why you were doing things so out of character... you planned this from the start, didn't you?"
She didn't even feel wronged about being betrayed.
After all, Elfriede had come here intending to betray the Elders as well.
It was just...
It was her own fault for being fooled.
Elves were this kind of race, after all.
Crack, crack—
"Anyway, I get it. Actually, thanks. To be honest, I felt a tiny bit bad... but now I can beat the shit out of you without any guilt. And... in the end, that's what it is, right? A race against time to see if I can beat every Elf here and leave first, or if Senior gets caught first."
"No, Elfriede. It is already over. In fact, here they come."
"...What?"
"Didn't you find it strange? That there are only twenty Wild Hunters here to deal with you, and not the entire force?"
Tap, tap—
A Wild Hunter ran into the Heart of the World Tree, holding a crystal ball.
It was something they had prepared in case Elfriede decided to go on a rampage, dismissing their claims as a bluff even if they had secured Ian.
"Yes, show her."
"...My apologies... Third Elder. The human has escaped."
Twitch—
A thick vein popped out on the Third Elder's forehead at the unexpected report.
"...Escaped? More than ten Wild Hunters were deployed, and you lost a single human!! Do you expect me to believe that?!"
"He seemed to be aware of an ambush; his quarters were already empty when we arrived. We are currently in pursuit."
"Pfft...!"
Listening to the conversation, Elfriede burst into laughter.
"Now what? You said Senior ran away? It really has become a race against time, hasn't it?"
"...Go and catch him immediately!! You don't need to bring him back in one piece! If he resists, you may cut off all his limbs. Just make sure he doesn't die!!"
"Yes, I obey your command."
Boom—!!
The moment the Wild Hunter turned to leave, a sword of flame swung out and slammed him into the wall.
"Hey... who said you could move? From now on, no one leaves without my permission. And..."
The sound of Elfriede grinding her teeth echoed chillingly.
"Third Elder, you son of a bitch... cancel that order right now. If you put a single scratch on Senior, I'll make you regret ever being born."
"If you want the order rescinded, then accept the Crown and become the Grand Elder this instant!! The authority of the Grand Elder would supersede my own!!"
"...You really want to die, don't you?"
"Elfriede! Blessing of the Elves!!! If I can make the Elves great once more, even at the cost of my own life, I would not regret it for a second!!"
"Is that so?... You don't value your life?"
Thump, thump—
As Elfriede lightly warmed up her body, the air around her shimmered like a heat haze.
"Then, die!!"
At the same time, in the forest near Elvenheim.
"I don't think it's necessary for twelve Wild Hunters to set out just to catch one human."
"...No. 4, do not underestimate the opponent. It is a bad habit of yours."
The squad leader, No. 1, who was running ahead, gave a low warning in response to No. 4's comment.
"Underestimate? This is a rational judgment based on information. In fact, isn't that what the data sent by Red Rose Commerce says?"
From the moment Elfriede and Ian set foot in Elvenheim, a background check on Ian had begun by order of the Elders.
The results were disappointing.
Aside from his outstanding appearance, Ian was the very definition of an ordinary student at the Sacred Academy.
Of course, being a student at the Sacred Academy guaranteed a certain level of skill, but he was still just a student.
With the exception of a few extraordinary individuals like the 'Second Princess' or the 'Saintess Candidate', he was no match for a Wild Hunter.
"What if the information was fabricated?"
"...I figured you'd say that, so I cross-referenced it with information obtained from the Information Guild and the Imperial Intelligence Agency. As expected, there are no particularly noteworthy records; it's clean. If you're going to say the 'Intelligence Agency', the 'Information Guild', and 'Red Rose' are all in on a fabrication, well, I have nothing left to say."
"Still, do not let your guard down. The fact that he hasn't left a single trace yet..."
"Ah, look. There's a footprint here. It's that way."
Before No. 1 could finish his sentence, No. 4 stopped and pointed at the ground.
Judging by how deep the heel was pressed in, it was clear that he had panicked at the sudden change in soil texture and left a footprint.
"...We track him."
Though he didn't say it out loud, No. 1 also inwardly agreed with No. 4's judgment.
This wasn't just anywhere; this was the forest of Elvenheim.
It was the Wild Hunters' backyard.
"Hm? He suddenly turned and moved toward the stream. I guess he's trying to use cheap tricks to avoid pursuit?"
Before long, No. 4 spoke with a voice laced with ridicule.
He could clearly sense the shallow intention of trying to erase tracks using the water.
"He won't have gone far if he moved along the water. Now that we've found a trail, we'll split up again. No. 4, No. 9. Do not forget that the Third Elder ordered us to bring him back as intact as possible."
"Yes."
"Understood."
Swish—!
As soon as No. 1 finished speaking, the three Wild Hunters scattered in different directions.
...And a moment later.
—Tap
Ian, who had landed softly from the branch of a giant ancient tree, looked down at the spot where the Wild Hunters had been standing just moments ago and gave a slight smile.
"...It worked."
