Chapter 40
Chapter 40
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 40
Chapter Title: Traces of Memory (4)
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“I don’t even know what you are, so how could I just let you into the party willy-nilly?”
“Uh, well, um……”
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Cyan said this with her arms crossed.
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Thinking about it, it was a perfectly normal reaction, so Silmarion found himself at a loss for how to respond.
He couldn’t just send this High Elf away like that, but starting a fight right here would draw too much unwanted attention.
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Especially since a massive undead monster had invaded the city just recently, and the inquisitors had already paid a visit. Flaunting power recklessly could bring not only the empire’s swordmasters but even the church’s heresy judges down on his head.
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Silmarion was only here for a short vacation. He had no intention of taking an eternal one by dying.
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“Well then, I’ll be off. I’ve wasted too much time already.”
“W-wait a second!”
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-Thud. Thud. Thud.
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“Ah……”
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The High Elf leisurely exited the adventurers’ guild.
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The Demon King watched her back, his mind grinding to a halt.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ 1.
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I hurried out of the guild.
Sudden party invite out of nowhere? And not from some random player, but the freaking Demon King no less.
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What the hell is a final boss doing in a starter village like this? I’ve never heard of anything like it—not in Novel Online, nor in any other RPG I’ve played.
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‘Maybe there was some easter egg I didn’t know about.’
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Either way, getting tangled up with a guy like that could only lead to trouble.
He was quite different from the Demon King I knew, but that didn’t change the fact that he was still the Demon King. Eventually, to escape this world, I’d have to deal with him.
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But why was he so interested in me?
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-Thud.
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“……Tch.”
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I stopped walking.
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Then I turned around and scanned my surroundings.
Only ordinary city folk were in sight, but the faint presence trailing me stealthily was impossible to ignore.
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I couldn’t just kill the guy, so what now?
The best option would be for him to leave me alone, but things never went according to plan.
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Should I just call the inquisitors and report him as the Demon King? But then I’d get dragged into the investigation too, and if he exposed my identity, it’d be a huge hassle.
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Not that he seemed to have figured me out……
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‘Either way, I need to investigate what I can first.’
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But that wasn’t the top priority right now.
First, I needed to figure out what this “forgotten hometown” mentioned in the note was.
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The guild master, the elf with the most knowledge in this city, had no clue, so asking random elves wouldn’t turn up leads……
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‘Guess I have no choice but to head there.’
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To the elves’ homeland. To the elves’ origin.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ -Crackle!
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In the inn room, red particles began to gather.
Pure, fine particles without a trace of impurity slowly coalesced, taking shape until they formed a human figure.
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“Louis.”
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Cyan soon appeared.
Teleportation.
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“Ah, Cyan. Back already? Why teleport, though?”
“Got a pesky stalker. I’m leaving the city tomorrow at latest, so keep that in mind.”
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Louis tilted his head at Cyan’s abrupt words but had no attachment to the place anyway.
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What concerned him more was Cyan’s condition.
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-Snap!
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Cyan closed the curtains and activated the room’s soundproof barrier.
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He didn’t know why, but this was a first for Cyan.
She usually kneaded or killed anything that annoyed her outright, so this cautious behavior was rare.
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“Louis, have you heard of Arke?”
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After confirming no presences nearby, Cyan sat on the bed and asked.
Then, naturally, she pulled Louis into her lap and stroked him like a cat.
He’d resisted at first but learned that meant a chilling Back of the Blade Strike, so he just stayed put quietly.
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It wasn’t even that uncomfortable.
Her breasts felt like soft cushions—squishy, warm, and pleasantly scented. Leaning back made him drowsy.
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“Louis?”
“……Huh? What’d you say, Cyan? Didn’t hear.”
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Lost in the cozy comfort, Louis had dozed off, drool trickling from his mouth. He wiped it and replied.
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“Asked if you’d heard of Arke.”
“Arke? Oh, yeah. The elven capital, right? Why there?”
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Arke.
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The place where the first elf, said to be the eldest among humankind, opened her eyes.
And also where the transcendent of time was said to slumber beneath a tombstone.
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However, due to its location in elven territory, many who sought it were slain.
Elves showed no mercy to intruders.
They were a highly insular race from the start.
They did engage in limited cultural exchange with outsiders, but only a tiny number of merchants in small groups.
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Elves like the guild master, who left home to live on another continent, were exceedingly rare.
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“That’s our destination tomorrow. Prep anything you need today.”
“You sure? It’s the elves’ homeland—your identity might get exposed. If they find out you’re impersonating one of them, they’ll chase you to the ends of the earth……”
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So Louis voiced his concern.
No matter how precise Cyan’s Transform was, Arke was home to pure-blooded elves.
They weren’t fools; the odds of spotting a fake High Elf were high.
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“Don’t worry. Elves are just frogs in a well. Few are as sharp as the ones we usually encounter.”
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Of course, it wasn’t guaranteed they wouldn’t notice.
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“True, but still……”
“Plus, we’ve got a handy way to get there.”
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-Snap.
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Cyan shrugged and pulled out a book.
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[Adventurer Edward Grill’s Arke Expedition Log.]
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It was a guidebook.
A travelogue from someone who’d explored the elven city.
Written by a famous survival adventurer, likely picked up at a bookstore on the way.
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“……A human adventurer’s book?”
“It’s been ages since I last went to Arke, so I need to check routes and paths.”
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-Flip!
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Cyan opened the book.
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Not ordinary paper, but a magical tome that projected hologram-like images into the air.
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Mystical elves.
Nature-harmonized traditional architecture.
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Photos perfectly matching the elven image.
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“Reading this adventurer’s log isn’t bad, but that’s not the point.”
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As the author was a renowned survivalist, the book detailed three routes to the elven lands.
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-By sea: 1 week.
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-By land: 2 weeks.
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-By air: 3 days (not recommended).
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Three routes: sea, land, and sky—but sky was discouraged.
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“……The elven lands have the Berall Mountains, home to green dragons. Tough to pass.”
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Louis frowned as he read.
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The airship route crossed the massive Berall Mountains, a green dragon habitat.
To fly through, you paid tolls: 100 gold per person. No wonder it wasn’t recommended.
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A mid-tier adventurer’s monthly earnings were 5-6 gold—that was extortionate.
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“Not an issue. But Louis, would flying you be tough?”
“No way. That’s green dragon turf. Show up, and dozens of breaths come flying.”
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Plus, they hated other dragons trespassing, so Louis carrying Cyan was out.
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“Hmm, I see……”
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Cyan, however, seemed unfazed.
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“Hm. Should I wipe out the green dragons first? Nah, too much hassle—maybe just make an example of a few—”
“Isn’t that too violent?!”
“Violence is the most primal and reliable form of communication. Use it when needed.”
“No! That’s not right! Killing’s extreme, and I can’t do long flights yet anyway—even if you slaughtered them.”
“Well, can’t be helped then.”
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With Louis’s objection, Cyan sought alternatives.
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She wanted the quickest sky route, but green dragons aside, hatchlings struggled with long flights.
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And Cyan disliked flying herself.
The sensation wasn’t fantastical—just eerie chills.
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“Wait, a recent merchant caravan used airships.”
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Flipping further, Cyan found a trading company that had flown to the elves recently.
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“……This name.”
“What’s up, Cyan?”
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It rang a bell for her.
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[Turk Merchant Company]
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“No, just wait here. I’ll step out for a bit.”
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ 《 ~Neutral Stage~ Turk Merchant Company Headquarters 》
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“Here’s today’s settlement paperwork. Get it to the department fast.”
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Hello? Nice to meet you.
I’m Stran, the one running the Turk Merchant Company.
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“Hey, yesterday’s ledger has way too many omissions. I’ll list them—fix and bring it back.”
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Who am I?
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I used to be a bad guy taking orders from “that one,” secretly selling adventurers and rare races on the black market. But lately, I’ve repented and turned over a new leaf.
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I’ve freed most traceable slaves by paying their ransoms, compensated families of the dead or maimed, and done my best to atone.
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Doesn’t erase my sins, but it’s better than nothing.
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“Hey, why’s this new batch so low-quality?
We deal only in top-tier goods. Return it all and bring fresh stock.”
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Now I focus on running the company.
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It’s huge, so even as owner, I’m run off my feet—but hard work grows the business and profits, so it’s fine.
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Time is money, and investing it breeds more.
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“Why call a guy on vacation? Don’t drag in resting staff— I’ll send idle department folks. Use them!”
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The reason I reformed? Thanks to that angel of a High Elf—not a demon.
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She kindly pointed out my folly and physically guided me to the straight and narrow.
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The black market’s gone since, cutting revenue, but it’s a bonus—no big impact.
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Anyway, I’m doing well.
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“Alright, everyone! Clock out. But slack off without reason, and you’re on warehouse duty—so come back on time since I’m letting you leave on time!”
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I take good care of my employees too.
Lately, donated to anti-slavery groups.
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So tonight, after work, I can sleep soundly with legs stretched.
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Living right really pays off.
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Time to wrap up and head home myself.
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-Flash!
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“Stran.”
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Yeah, sounds like that High Elf—but it’s a nightmare regular, so I’m used to it.
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PTSD? Nah, worry not.
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Just a plain old beatdown.
Half a day straight, sure, but she’d heal me when I neared death and repeat—no lasting damage.
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Weekly therapy? Well……
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“Ignoring me now?”
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Huh? Now hallucinations too?
I took my meds today—no way she’s here.
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Symptoms worsening? Lately, rumors of someone like her reached my ears.
Maybe stress-induced.
Let’s check if it’s real.
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Identical to the one etched in memory.
Snow-white silver hair, rationally stunning beauty—all matches.
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-Snap!
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……Do hallucinations grab wrists?
And it hurts like the real thing—
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-Grip!
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“Gah, aaaagh?! Hurts! It hurts!”
“Good to see you, Stran.”
“W-wait…… Not a hallucination, y-you’re real?!”
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The High Elf I thought was fake smiled at me.
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This has to be a nightmare, right?
Right? Please say it’s a nightmare……
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“Hallucinating me? Must’ve missed me that much.”
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Please, someone—tell me this is a nightmare.
Please……