Chapter 31
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Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 31
Chapter Title: The Arrogant Elf
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The Akilliptus Forest Zone. A vast forest where immense, ancient trees over thousands of years old grew, tangled with tough vines and strange-looking mushrooms sprouting everywhere.
Countless secrets lay dormant within this massive forest zone.
Things like dungeons hidden in deep, dark caves, the remains of a famous adventurer lost in the woods, or even a great runestone that allowed communication with spirits.
This mountainous region, teeming with steep cliffs and dense thickets, was so rugged that the continent's inhabitants—including elves, dwarves, and orcs—had yet to uncover all the secrets hidden within the forest zone.
...With the exception of me, who had poured 4,000 hours into the game, enjoying every single element without exception.
The Akilliptus Forest Zone was often called the 'Treasure Trove' among players.
It gifted mages with the 'Spirit's Protection,' warriors like barbarians with artifacts such as the 'Flute Made from a Transcendent's Horn,' and rangers or rogues with Philia Fiber, the material for the 'Elven Cloak'—the best defensive gear in the game.
Of course, each item was hidden in a different location, and obtaining artifacts or rare fibers required clearing difficult dungeons or navigating treacherous mountains and climbing cliffs hundreds of meters high.
In contrast, obtaining the Spirit's Protection wasn't nearly as difficult. It wasn't hidden in a monster-infested dungeon but rather beneath the roots of the oldest and largest tree in the forest.
Upon arriving at the forest zone, I handed the platoon members over to Captain Bellua. As soon as she took charge of the infantry, she ordered them to unload the numerous construction tools from the wagons and clear the area.
“The ground isn't as firm as I expected! We need to lay a road wide enough for the wagons, so start with the groundwork!”
“You, the barracks construction team! The terrain is too uneven. Level it out with shovels and pickaxes before you start building!”
“...This area is much more overgrown than I thought. It would be better to build the barracks on a wider, flatter spot instead of here! Still, it's a waste of land not to use it, so build a small warehouse here!”
Since entering the forest zone, I had done nothing but exchange idle chatter with Rireu. Meanwhile, Bellua, with just hand gestures and her loud voice, began to level the uneven ground and lay the foundations for the buildings.
The dwarves, with their characteristic skill, began laying the blocks for a road that would serve as the outpost's foundation and create a direct line between the capital and the battlefield of 'Vellaland,' where a fierce battle was raging.
Human and orc infantry diligently carried construction materials like bricks and wood for them, while the archers kept a sharp watch on the surroundings, vigilant for any potential threats.
“...It doesn't look like there's anything for me to do.”
I said, cautiously gauging Bellua's reaction.
Bellua, who was busy directing the construction of the outpost, glanced at my thin wrists visible beneath my black robes. She fell silent for a moment, then smiled and replied.
“This isn't work for someone like you, Commander! You can leave this to us!”
Hmm.
It didn't feel particularly good, but what could I do?
I was the one who had only invested one point into Strength.
“In that case, may I go explore the forest for a bit? There's something that's caught my attention.”
“...Hmm, is it absolutely necessary?”
Bellua paused her busy hands and asked, her voice filled with concern.
“We've disarmed all the traps in the immediate vicinity... but that's only the area where we're setting up the outpost. We haven't scouted the entire forest zone.”
The Akilliptus Forest Zone was a massive area, spanning over 50 square kilometers.
It was impossible to scout the entire forest and disarm all the traps in less than half a day.
Besides, due to its rugged terrain, the Akilliptus Forest Zone had more uncharted land than explored territory.
And in such an unknown land, there could be traps set by the Mazoku.
So it was only natural for Bellua to look at me with such a worried expression.
“...Somewhere in this forest, I can feel a mysterious magic that cannot be ignored. I'll just go and quickly see what it is, so you don't have to worry.”
I turned my head, fixing my gaze on the dense forest, and spoke with an expression as if some unknown force was pulling me in—yes, like someone sensing their destiny.
...
Mysterious magic, my ass. In truth, all I felt was the unpleasant, stuffy air. But I had to put on this act, or I wouldn't get permission.
...Why was I, the superior officer, asking for permission?
If you have any sense, please don't ask such a question. It was obvious to anyone that Bellua was the one in command here, not me.
“Hah... For the unparalleled genius mage to feel such a thing. It must mean something special is hidden here! This forest has long been famous for yielding mysterious items, so it's not surprising.”
It's embarrassing to say it myself, but I am the genius mage (misunderstanding) who will save all of humanity.
When such a mage claims to feel something mysterious that absolutely cannot be missed, who in the world would tell him not to go?
“However, I can't help but feel anxious sending you alone, General. I'll assign a suitable guide to you, so could you wait a moment?”
It was a natural precaution for Bellua. No sane commander would let a mage wander a battlefield alone.
A skilled warrior could withstand a sudden threat, and a skilled archer could prevent one, but it was common for a skilled mage to die anticlimactically, unable to even react to a surprise attack.
There was a reason mages were called 'glass cannons' in the game's community, and why investing a certain amount of stats into vitality had become the standard build.
“Sergeant Trian!”
“...What is it?”
A sharp voice, hardly befitting a soldier addressing a superior, came from a nearby tree.
“Escort duty! The General has somewhere to be, so ensure his path is safe!”
As if unsurprised by her subordinate's attitude, Bellua delivered the order curtly and returned to commanding the infantry.
*Rustle.*
With the light sound of stepping on leaves, a male elf with long hair swept back approached slowly.
He was tall and slender, with a large longbow and a quiver on his back. His body was covered in small scars.
His dark, deep-set eyes and long, glossy hair that shimmered despite days of marching without a proper wash were the very picture of a classic 'elven archer.'
“Where are you headed?”
The elf asked bluntly, without even introducing himself. He casually skipped the salute and even seemed slightly annoyed by me, his superior officer.
“...”
I'd heard rumors that elves were rude, but I never imagined it would be this bad.
“Are you usually like this with your other superior officers?”
I mean, I'm a general, after all. If I let a sergeant treat me like this, it could undermine the discipline of the entire army.
This isn't me being a stickler for my own sake! This is for the discipline of the army and the future of humanity.
“How old do you think I am? I'm 1,211 years old this year. Don't you think I'm a bit too old to be saluting humans who haven't even reached 50?”
“Hah.”
The elf named Trian was so brazen that for a moment, I wondered if I had done something wrong.
The conclusion came quickly.
...This bastard is crazier than I imagined.
“Isn't speaking formally enough? Well, if you're not satisfied, I can have you replaced with another archer.”
I could see why some commanders avoided elven archers, despite their universally excellent skills.
Their personalities just weren't compatible with a collective like the military.
Things like their pride, which could be described as arrogance... their distinct way of looking down on others, their rude way of speaking, and their attitude of viewing all non-elven races as inferior.
Wow, listing it all out, it's really not just one or two things.
“I don't mind it much, but you'd be better off treating other commanders with more respect... Some of them take discipline very seriously.”
“How many nations do you think I've watched fall and rise? How many armies have I seen disappear and be reformed in the process? It would be problematic if you thought I was the same as a common soldier.”
...Isn't it embarrassing to go around proclaiming 'I'm special' with your own mouth?
And what's with this elf's confident attitude on top of it all?
If he'd just asked for my understanding from the start, saying something like, 'I'm a very old elf, so I can be a bit rude, I hope you understand,' I would have tried to be accommodating and replied, 'Ah, well, if you're an elf, I guess it can't be helped. I'll accept it.'
“...”
Of course, living for over 1,200 years was certainly an incredible feat. In that long time, he must have learned, witnessed, and experienced countless things that ordinary humans, dwarves, or orcs couldn't even dream of.
So, it wasn't that I couldn't understand why they looked down on other races.
If I were 1,200 years old and some forty or fifty-year-old punk told me to use honorifics, wouldn't I find it so absurd I'd just burst out laughing?
“Ah, I hate the thought of getting old...”
And yet, I couldn't hold back those words.
It's not like the organ for 'manners' naturally deteriorates with age. Would it kill him to speak a little more politely?
“...What do you mean by that?”
“I just don't want to get old. Losing one's sharpness is a frightening thing for anyone, isn't it?”
I played innocent, my blue eyes wide. Sergeant Trian, seeing me openly mock him, grit his teeth slightly. I inwardly scoffed at him.
Regardless of his age, this was the army, and he was a soldier.
No matter how old he was, was it right for a sergeant to stand so defiantly before a general?
I'll say it again: this was me being a stickler for the sake of the whole organization. Not for myself.
“You seem to be taking me for a fool.”
“Me? That wasn't my intention, but if that's how you feel, then I apologize.”
The elf before me was a madman who, as a mere sergeant, was openly defying a general.
And I had no confidence in my ability to converse with a madman who defied common sense.
So, rather than refuting his points with logic, I decided on a strategy of smiling slyly like a snake and deflecting his words.
“...You make it difficult to even use formal language.”
The strategy worked wonderfully, getting on his nerves.
“If it's hard, then don't. When did I ever force you to? Feel free to speak casually. It's uncomfortable for me to be addressed so formally by a 1,200-year-old geezer anyway.”
“...Insolent brat.”
Oh? Did I strike a nerve?
Getting genuinely angry at a kid who isn't even twenty when you're over 1,200? Did you grow old through your asshole?
“Oh my, a young punk like me shouldn't be acting this way in front of his elder. My apologies.”
“Bin-nim! You said you felt a special kind of magic?!”
While I was wasting time in this utterly pointless battle of wills, an elf who was young, polite, and equipped with basic common sense approached.
...I hadn't realized it before, but Trian was making me appreciate just how precious Rireu was.
So what if she lacked some social skills? The kid was this polite, and she didn't look down on people for being young.
“My master told me to follow you! He said I might be able to learn something incredible!”
I sighed, glancing between Rireu, whose big eyes sparkled with anticipation, and the male elf, who was glaring at me with sharp eyes.
...The thought that one day, when Rireu grew older, she could also become a rude elf like him made my head spin.
“...Rireu, please don't grow up to be like this.”
“Huh?”
Her big eyes showed she had no idea what I was talking about.