Chapter 34
Chapter 34
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Translator: uly
Chapter: 34
Chapter Title: Better Dream Interpretation Than the Dream (2)
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Sizzle—
The sickening sound of flesh burning echoed alongside a horrific scream.
Blood trickled down the goosebumps rising on the elf's skin.
"Still not enough."
"Yes."
The red-hot iron poker approached the elf once more.
This time, it targeted a different elf.
Sizzle—
A chilling scream erupted.
But it wasn't from the elf impaled on the poker.
It came from the young elf watching it all unfold.
Her screams filled the air.
"Who would you like us to stab this time?"
The iron poker turned toward another elf.
"This bitch? Or the one we just stabbed?"
Despair crept into the young elf's eyes.
She knew these cruel humans wouldn't stop.
"No answer? Then we'll stab both."
At a nod from the necromancer, he thrust the poker into the two elves alternately.
Smoke billowed, carrying the stench of burning flesh.
Despite the agony, they held firm and didn't break.
They only worried about the wounded young elf.
"Is what you're feeling right now terror?"
Thud—
"What do you feel this time?"
Thud—
As wounds multiplied on the elves' bodies, the young elf's cries grew louder.
Would answering these questions end this nightmare?
Were her kin suffering because she refused to play along?
She wailed as if it were all her fault.
"I'll give you a chance."
Her trembling eyes turned to the necromancer.
If it meant easing her kin's pain, she'd do anything.
"Choose one of the two."
She didn't even have time to ponder the meaning.
The iron poker pierced and withdrew from both elves' throats with a gruesome sound.
"Save one with your pathetic elven spirit magic or spells."
Her companions, with whom she'd shared so much, were dying.
How could she choose just one?
A beastly sob escaped the young elf's lips—not quite words.
"A... aaah... a...!"
She dragged her stiff legs across the ground to where the elves lay twitching.
"Fail to save one, and both die."
Her eyes shook, losing focus.
Pain like flesh being carved from her chest gripped her.
In the end, she had to choose.
To save at least one.
She painfully raised her hand.
Flash—
Light poured from her hand, touching the wound.
The hole began to heal bit by bit.
Fortunately, it hadn't pierced the throat straight through.
The elf's chest rose and fell more easily now, breathing steadier.
"Another elf dies by your choice."
"Ah... aaah..."
Her head shook violently.
It wasn't her fault.
But her choice had cost a kin their life.
Terrified of losing the last companion too, she pulled them into her embrace.
A voice whispered into her ear.
"Is what you feel now despair?"
Her face drained of color.
She couldn't grasp what they wanted.
She didn't even understand why they asked such questions.
All she could do was struggle to heal her comrade.
Then, an unbelievable sight unfolded before her eyes.
The iron poker pierced the throat of the elf in her arms.
"What do you feel if we kill this one too?"
No scream came this time.
Instead, an emotion flooded her face.
"This time, it's definitely despair."
A chilling smile spread across his face.
The necromancer gestured and spoke.
"Still not enough. Bring more elves."
"Yes."
"We need time until it's complete. Gather monsters and magical beasts."
The subordinate flinched and hardened.
"That'll expose our presence. Is that alright?"
"It doesn't matter anymore. The time is near..."
He finished flatly and looked up at one spot.
A dot in the distance.
The elves' origin, called the World Tree.
"We could have wiped them out at once..."
His eyes narrowed.
He couldn't fathom how the curse magic had been lifted.
It was unlike human or elven magic.
Only demons or necromancers could wield it.
That left only one suspect.
"However, the high elf's power has surely weakened. She can't block it twice."
Just cast a stronger curse.
Plenty of time for that.
He had to finish preparations before that long-awaited moment.
"Perfect for the finale."
His hand gripped the heated iron poker.
Time to draw out even deeper despair.
"Monsters are coming, but why is everyone so nonchalant?"
I feel like I'm the only one panicking.
Even from afar, the monsters swarmed visibly.
Yet the elves strolled the battlements like they were on a leisurely walk.
"Go that way. You could get seriously hurt here."
"Thank you, Chris."
"That elf over there shouldn't stay here either."
Death energy hung thick around this one.
They'd die fighting from here.
"You'll die if you stay, so move farther back."
"Thank you!"
"Archer, huh? Hmm... not here—head to that tree instead."
Great energy flow for this elf.
Closer to the tree's aura, their arrows would fly even truer at the monsters.
I urgently grabbed an elf who was bowing and leaving.
"Wait! Five coppers to go. If you don't want to die."
"...Pardon?"
"Not that I'll kill you... just pay up."
My money pouch was overflowing; no room left.
I'd emptied it multiple times already.
But I'd chased down every visible elf, so it made sense.
"Where should I go? Divination sure is useful in war."
Parmon, who'd been following me, asked with interest.
"..."
Even rubbing my eyes, all I saw was robust, healthy energy.
Parmon, who never even got a proper reading before—'hardship ends in fortune'—now had stellar luck.
"Do whatever, old man... Are monsters even dangerous to begin with?"
"Heh, no one knows who dies when in battle."
Unpredictable or not, one thing was certain.
My old-timers would be fine.
I turned to gaze beyond the distant forest.
From the battlements, the open horizon stretched out.
"Do monsters usually get along that well?"
All sorts gathered there.
Dots from afar, but sizes varied wildly.
Anyone could tell.
Goblins, trolls, ogres mixed together.
"That was natural during the Continental War."
"So that means..."
"Rosell is contacting the imperial family. Looks like they've shown themselves again."
To Parmon, they'd be enemies he'd gladly devour.
Yet his expression was serene.
Reading my face, he chuckled lightly.
"I knew a day like this would come."
"Hmm..."
Fine for him, but I was the problem.
Shaman fate is hardship incarnate, but war too?
How long to console all these dying souls?
"No need to tense up. You won't lose comrades before your eyes again."
"Don't say that."
It just overlaps with that nightmare.
I still remember vividly.
The old man dying, apologizing for failing to protect me.
"Old man."
"Hm?"
"Watch out for knives to the chest."
"Heh... praying for my death, are you?"
"That's what you said..."
Besides the old man, another had died.
The elf whose severed head haunted my dreams.
"Haven't seen Irene in days. Where'd she go?"
Hadn't spotted her since waking.
Parmon's finger pointed to the forest edge, quite distant.
"Somewhere around there."
"...There?"
Anyone could see it was dangerous.
First to clash with the monsters.
"That's her post originally. Leaves guard the branches, you know."
"Leaving the sturdy walls unused?"
"For elves, the forest is the wall. They know that too... wonder what they're plotting."
"..."
She won't get her head chopped off, right?
Then again, hard to behead her in an elf forest with the World Tree.
This place felt oddly peaceful.
No foreboding or unease.
My divinations showed only minor troubles, nothing immediate.
"Here they come."
"...?"
The ground trembled.
The atmosphere shifted instantly.
A chill emanated from the elves.
"Archers, ready."
Snap—
Arrows nocked on elven bows.
Monsters still far off.
"Shooting from this range?"
Arrows couldn't reach yet.
"You've hunted, so you know bows. But elven arrows differ from human ones."
As Parmon finished, arrows flew, blanketing the sky.
With the thick scent of wind.
"Huh...?"
Arrows launched silently.
No whistle through air, as if they were the wind itself—invisible presence.
"Sylphs..."
Spirits.
Sylphs swirled around the elves' bows.
Arrows rained relentlessly.
Monsters tumbled, only for others to charge over them.
Now close enough to discern shapes with the naked eye.
Parmon shrugged, pointing at the monsters.
"This battlement you're standing on? Not piled stone like human ones."
"Pardon?"
"Watch."
Rumble rumble rumble—
Vibrations dwarfed the previous ones.
Like an earthquake.
A sight I'd never witnessed.
The ground where Irene was supposed to be rose up.
"You should've warned me..."
Should've investigated when they said they lived a thousand years...
Should've recalled they survived the Continental War...
Now it looks like I scammed the elves with divinations as an excuse...
"Like I ripped them off..."
Never refunded an offering fee, though.