Chapter 274: The Reason I Knelt Was... (8)[R-18]
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 274: The Reason I Knelt Was... (8)[R-18]
“...It worked.”
During my stay in Elvenheim, the reason I ran to every place that needed help and broke a sweat wasn't just out of simple kindness or for the sake of a disguise.
The biggest reason was to naturally frequent the forest, familiarizing myself with the terrain and setting up traps in advance.
[Ian, always think from the perspective of the hunter. Where will the prey flee? How will the hunter track them? You must always move one step ahead of your opponent.]
[Now, if you mix thistle stalk juice and melted chestnut sap in this ratio... it becomes a simple but effective paralysis poison.]
Furthermore, the childhood memories that resurfaced upon meeting Hayangi again were now serving as powerful weapons for me.
‘Since they said they’d scatter again... there are at least six pursuers. And considering the direction the Wild Hunters came from just now, I should move that way.’
Now that I had a rough idea of the enemy's location and numbers, I just needed to erase my tracks and—
Crunch—
“Found you.”
Reflexively turning at the voice behind my back, I saw the Wild Hunter known as No. 4 standing there.
“As I thought, my gut is good. I came back because I felt like I’d been tricked... and here we are, meeting just like this. Ah, if you don’t want to get hurt, stay put. The Elder’s command was to bring you back as intact as possible.”
“....”
Slide—
When I silently took a combat stance, No. 4 snorted.
“Haha! You’re actually going to try? You’ll regret it. Just come quietly. I’m saying this for your own sake.”
“....”
“...Well, if you insist.”
Boom—!
The moment he finished speaking, No. 4 vanished from my sight.
He had instantaneously relaxed his knees, dropping his center of gravity as if collapsing.
Sh-sh-sh—!
Like a snake stalking its prey, No. 4 closed the distance in an instant while staying low to the ground, a greasy smirk on his face.
‘What’s the point of covering your face like that?’
I didn't know where he’d learned it, but his form was far too full of openings to be used in actual combat.
Because he held his hands too high, not only was his vision obscured, but his lower body was completely exposed.
Whoosh—! Crack—!
With the sound of tearing wind, No. 4’s knife-hand struck deep into Ian’s right flank.
A familiar sensation of striking the internal organs directly through the fingertips was transmitted.
“Now, that’s the end of that. Let’s get you back quickly... Huh?”
“....”
“What the...”
Thwack—!
Before No. 4 could finish his sentence, Ian’s fist slammed into the tip of his chin.
‘How...? It definitely landed perfectly...?’
It wasn't a matter of being tough enough to endure it.
No. 4’s knife-hand had clearly dug between Ian’s ribs and struck the liver directly.
Normally, the pain of having one's organs gouged should have made it impossible to even breathe...
Spin—
That was as far as No. 4’s thoughts went.
Along with the sensation of the world turning upside down, his consciousness vanished.
“Sorry.”
I looked down at the fallen No. 4 and spoke.
“Compared to Elfriede, this doesn't hurt at all.”
—Senior. Again today? Ugh... please think about how I feel doing this to you. Haah... fine. Then, I’ll end it with about 10 seconds of cardiac arrest today, okay?
Moments of Elfriede’s hellish training flashed by.
It was a time filled with pain, literally crossing the threshold of death every single day.
But...
Thanks to that, I was standing here now.
Clench—
I squeezed my fist tight.
I always thought I couldn't protect the people precious to me because I lacked strength...
But this time was different.
“I can do this.”
*
“No. 4 has not returned.”
When he first received the report, No. 1 didn't think much of it.
‘...Is he causing trouble again?’
Even though he was the most recent addition, No. 4 was still a Wild Hunter.
He might slack off, but No. 1 didn't think for a second that he’d been defeated by a human.
“For now, we regroup with the other Wild Hunters. We’ll deal with No. 4’s punishment later.”
“Yes, sir.”
However, it was only after joining the other Wild Hunters that No. 1 realized the gravity of the situation.
‘...What is the meaning of this!’
No. 4, No. 5, No. 8, No. 12...
Four Wild Hunters had already been taken down.
‘How the hell is this a "normal student," No. 4?!’
According to the reports from other team members, the boy was launching one-sided attacks using ‘traps’ and ‘poison’ he had set up throughout the forest—god knows when.
Yes, it was a method closer to hunting than actual combat.
Grit—
No. 1 gnashed his teeth.
For a human to dare hunt Elves in the forests of Elvenheim—there was no greater disgrace.
“...Change of plans. Everyone, assemble.”
*
Kboom—!!
Elfriede shouted as she ran across the wall as if it were level ground.
Even in the midst of that, fire arrows shot from her fingertips in rapid succession, accurately targeting the Wild Hunters.
‘...This is impossible!!’
The Third Elder could not hide his shock.
He knew Elfriede was monstrously strong.
After all, she had emerged victorious even when facing four Elders simultaneously.
However...
He believed they had lost back then because they were caught off guard, and that if they faced her with full strength from the start, they wouldn't be defeated so easily.
Rumble—!!!
He was wrong.
Elfriede was strong.
She was just strong.
Even with three Elders and twenty Wild Hunters attacking with everything they had, Elfriede dominated the battlefield with ease, as if an adult were dealing with children.
At this rate, the future of the Elves was over.
“...I will use the Crown. Elder Sa.”
“Wait... Third Elder, that’s...!”
Slash—!
Before the other Elders could stop him, the Third Elder sliced his left hand with a dagger, letting the blood flow as he gripped the Crown.
Wriggle— wriggle—
As if the roots of the Crown were craving more blood after tasting it, they began to burrow into the inside of the Third Elder’s arm.
“Gurgle..! Urgh...!”
The Third Elder’s eyes rolled back, foam spilled from his mouth, and his entire body convulsed.
“Fuck! What the hell is this disgusting shit you’re...”
The moment Elfriede, who usually had a strong stomach, opened her mouth at the sight that made even her frown.
—Whoosh
The flames of Ifrit that had been surrounding Elfriede’s body vanished.
“...Ifrit?”
There were times he had been reverse-summoned due to a lack of mana, but this was the first time she couldn't even feel Ifrit’s very existence.
That wasn't all.
‘...The Blessing... is gone too?’
It felt as if her heart had shrunk by half.
Elfriede instinctively felt that the ‘Blessing of the World Tree’ she had possessed since birth had disappeared.
“It worked! Elder Sa! Quickly, cut off my arm!!”
“U-understood! Argh...!”
Splurt—!!
In the meantime, Elder Sa, confirming that Ifrit had vanished, severed the Third Elder’s arm.
“Third Elder! Hey!! Get a hold of yourself!! Are you alright?!!”
“Haah... haah... did... did we succeed?”
The Third Elder stood up, his face deathly pale.
Wriggle— wriggle—
Looking to the side, the Crown was transforming into a small tree, using the Third Elder’s severed arm as nourishment.
“You crazy bastards... This is seriously ridiculous. You were trying to put that thing on my head?”
“...It happened because I, who lack the qualification, used it. It won't be like this for you, Elfriede. Gaaaaah!!!... Haah... haah... haah...”
Sizzle—
The Third Elder groaned in pain as he cauterized his arm with fire to stop the bleeding, but compared to the voice of the World Tree remaining in his head, this pain was almost a blessing.
He had only been in contact with the World Tree for a very brief moment, yet his consciousness had nearly been swallowed whole.
‘Haah... but... we succeeded!’
It was a dangerous gamble, but it worked.
By using the Crown, he contacted the World Tree while feigning the status of the ‘Grand Elder.’
He had reported Ifrit’s acts of arson to the World Tree as a ‘breach of contract’ by a ‘subordinate.’
As a result, Ifrit was forcibly reverse-summoned, and they even succeeded in sealing Elfriede’s Blessing.
Of course, because the World Tree favored Elfriede, the ‘Blessing’ was merely temporarily sealed within the heart of the World Tree...
But that was enough.
“Ha... so you’re telling me that at your age, you went and tatted to the World Tree like, ‘Waaah! Elfriede is being mean! Punish her!’? Fuck, aren't you embarrassed?”
“...Talk all you want. I will do anything if it means making the Elves great again!!”
Clomp— clomp—
As if those words were the signal, the Wild Hunters surrounded Elfriede again, and the Elders took their combat stances.
“...Now, let me ask you instead, Elfriede. Without the Spirit King or the Blessing of the World Tree, what can you possibly do now?”
“....”
*
Step— step—
‘...Their numbers have increased. Has the entire pursuit party gathered?’
I couldn't confirm it with my eyes due to the poor positioning, but the sound of footsteps had increased beyond comparison to before.
It seemed they had chosen to swallow their pride and group up.
‘I wanted to reduce their numbers more if possible... but this isn't bad either.’
The fact that the Wild Hunters were moving in a group meant their search radius would naturally decrease.
Anyway, the victory condition was to avoid being caught until Elfriede got her hands on the ‘Essence of the World Tree,’ not for me to defeat all the Wild Hunters.
Tap—! Tap—!
‘...One more is coming.’
Just then, words that couldn't be ignored came from the Wild Hunter who had joined late.
“What is it, No. 26? You shouldn't be in this area.”
“I’ve come to deliver the order to return.”
“...Return?”
“Yes. Elfriede Karleia has died during the battle with the Elders. Therefore, the order is for all Wild Hunters to return immediately as of this moment.”
Bzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz
‘...What?’
What did he just say?
Thud—
The strength left my legs.
My brain was refusing to process it.
Elfriede is dead?
My mind turned white, and a piercing tinnitus rang in my ears.
I couldn't breathe.
Thump—! Thump—! Thump—!
—As long as I’m with you, Senior, I’m fine anywhere.
—You were always so rough...
—It means I love you enough that I, the Super Genius Beauty High Elf, changed my mind. You’re grateful, right?
Elfriede’s voice, her smile, and her warmth—things I could never feel again—flashed before my eyes like a revolving lantern.
At the same time, a certain phrase surfaced once more.
[To a hunter, it doesn't matter if the bait is real or fake. The only thing that matters is making the prey bite down hard on it.]
Flinch—!
Those words snapped me back to reality from my panic.
In this situation, what would be the best bait for the Wild Hunters to lure me out?
Naturally, it was Elfriede.
Even assuming all the Wild Hunters' conversations were a complete lie, they knew I would have no choice but to react to such shocking information as Elfriede’s death.
‘...It’s a trap!’
The moment I realized that and tried to leave the area in a hurry...
“He’s over there. Bring him in.”
No. 1 issued the command in a cold voice.