Chapter 356: Bread and Dagger (54)
Chapter 356: Bread and Dagger (54)
The coniferous forest was vast and complex.
With nothing but evergreens stretching in every direction, it was impossible to even tell which way was which unless you were a guide trained from childhood. This was the primary reason I couldn't simply leave the elf village on my own.
If I tried to leave the village alone now, I would only end up lost.
Fortunately, my companion Avian knew the way, but I couldn't bring myself to ask her to accompany me.
She still had things to do here.
Avian was currently searching for her younger sister’s whereabouts.
I believe her name was Betty.
According to what she told me, her sister was staying at a place called the ‘Headquarters.’ It was a place where they made food by sacrificing elves who were disabled or weakened by old age.
It was also where that man, ‘Leoric,’ resided.
The work of bestowing ‘Blessings’ and creating Fiends would likely be taking place there as well.
I asked Avian a question.
“Why are the elves short on food?”
“...?”
Avian looked at me with a dazed expression, as if she had just heard the ravings of a madman.
There was a faint trace of reproach in her eyes, forcing me to ask again.
“I’m asking why the elves’ food situation is so dire. There’s no reason for it to be, is there?”
“That’s all because of those wicked humans... No, that’s not it.”
Avian started to raise her voice in a fit of pique, but she quickly caught herself and swallowed her words while glancing at me. After a few dry coughs, she spoke again.
“It’s because of humanity. They drove us into this cold, dark coniferous forest. And they periodically burn our granaries... they raid us, and they kill our kin!”
The sound of her grinding her teeth echoed through the air.
As she continued, the fire in Avian’s eyes grew more intense. It seemed she couldn't contain her rage and hatred.
Well, it was understandable.
Until now, I had only understood that sentiment intellectually—that it was the result of centuries of accumulated resentment. But what about the sights I had seen in this elf village?
Are these people truly demons?
Are they beings so strong and formidable that they could be called the enemies of humanity?
After only a few days, I was suffering from a faint sense of skepticism. Internally, I shouted to myself several times that they were the enemy and that I had to fulfill my duty as a noble of the Empire.
But no matter how much I thought about it, what was happening with the elves wasn't a war.
The terms 'hunting' or 'slaughter' felt more appropriate.
Then what were those villages that were supposedly burned down by elves?
I forced my confused mind into order. Regardless, this was another truth I had to uncover.
As I continued to live among the elves, the path would naturally reveal itself.
Nevertheless, I couldn't help the question that immediately came to mind.
“No, I know all that... but why don’t you use the Fiends?”
Avian tilted her head at the sudden question.
Still venting her long-standing emotions, she asked me, “Fiends?”
“Didn’t you see? That monster that looked like a snow leopard I fought—that was a Fiend. And Fiends can control demonic beasts of the same species.”
This was a fact proven during my battle with Guildford at the orphanage.
Guildford had been controlling monkey-like demonic beasts. That was how he had surrounded the orphanage and forced me into a life-and-death struggle, wasn't it?
So, a question naturally arose.
Why didn't Leoric and the Fiends use the demonic beasts?
It was the same when they raided the military camp; this point bothered me. For instance, the food situation could be easily improved if they controlled the demonic beasts.
They could just call the beasts over and slaughter them.
Demonic beast meat was surprisingly nutritious. Depending on the cooking method, it even tasted excellent—so much so that specialized demonic beast restaurants had opened in trend-sensitive places like the Capital and the Academy.
Yet Leoric didn't do that.
Why on earth not?
There was no such thing as an effect without a cause. When I pointed this out, Avian simply looked as if she were hearing something for the first time in her life.
“What are you talking about? Those people are Fiends?”
“Of course they’re Fiends... Never mind, forget I said anything.”
It was clear at a glance that Avian knew nothing about it.
Instead, I asked after her well-being.
“So, how have you been lately? Have you heard any news about your sister?”
“No. The number of people allowed to go to the Headquarters is limited. So, I plan to send a letter when the village representative goes there. Of course, I could go myself if I wanted to, but...”
Her blue eyes flickered toward my face.
I let out a short, dry laugh.
“No. The Headquarters is too dangerous.”
Not for Avian, but for me.
The choker around Avian’s neck would explode if I wasn't nearby. It wouldn't have an effect for half a day to a full day, but the Headquarters didn't seem that close.
And the elf leadership, including Leoric, would be staying at the Headquarters.
No matter how remote the location, I couldn't ignore the elves' information network. By now, there was a high probability they had memorized my description.
There was no need for me to court danger.
At most, I just felt a bit sorry for the dejected Avian.
I patted the girl’s shoulder.
“Still, we’re going out for a walk today for the first time in a while, aren't we?”
“It’s not a walk, it’s a hunt...”
“Same difference.”
Avian gave me an incredulous look at my banter.
Perhaps it was thanks to living together for the past few days, but Avian seemed to have shed some of her fear of me. If she was comfortable enough to give me such a cheeky look, that is.
It wasn't a bad change.
We were housemates who had to live together for a while anyway. Since humanity and elves were hostile, there was no need to get closer than necessary, but there was also no reason to stay further apart than necessary.
I gave her a confident reassurance.
“Don’t worry, I’ll protect you. What could possibly happen in the forest?”
Right, as if.
Something happened.
I looked down at my wrists with a sour expression.
Several layers of sturdy twine were wrapped around them. My ankles were free, but being bound at the wrists alone made me feel disgusted.
Seeing this, Isha said boastfully, “I told you, didn't I? We still can't trust you!”
“Uncle Dolph, Aunt Miera, and Luguet said they trust me, though.”
“That’s those elves!”
Isha shouted fiercely, like a cat hissing.
I could only swallow a hollow laugh.
Even so, surely there was something wrong with restraining my hands when we were going out to hunt.
However, it seemed this suspicious restraint had its own history and tradition.
“Focus on your feet, human.”
The words came from an elf who looked like a young boy at first glance.
Contrary to his appearance, he was the only elf in the village addressed as ‘Old Man.’ It meant he was that old.
I shifted my gaze toward him.
Old Man Pope didn't even spare me a glance. He simply spoke in a gruff voice.
“All young elves learn to hunt with their hands tied. It’s to teach them to focus on their feet and learn the paths... After going out to hunt like that several times, only when they can find their way with their eyes closed do we finally untie their hands and teach them how to hunt.”
“I’m not a young elf, though.”
“Hmph, you’re probably younger than those ‘young elves.’”
I had nothing to say to that.
Instead of arguing, I sighed and declared my surrender.
He had looked strangely young for an old man, but talking to him certainly revealed his experienced side.
I was a model noble who respected time and tradition. I decided to try following that educational method without further complaint.
Focusing on my feet, one step at a time.
It was an incredibly tedious process.
In the end, my resolve to quietly follow the elven way of education soon broke.
“No, can’t I just learn the path with my eyes? Why does it have to be with my feet?”
“Tsk, tsk. Pathetic brat...”
Eyes full of annoyance and contempt turned toward me.
It felt unfair, but I didn't bother to press the issue.
Old Man Pope hated me.
To be precise, he hated all of humanity for killing his family. Despite that, he had brought me along, unable to withstand the pressure from Luguet and the other village elves.
If I had insisted on coming, I had to accept the corresponding treatment.
Besides, it wasn't as if Old Man Pope was saying something entirely wrong.
“Become one with the ground. Right now, every time you move, you’re making a crunching sound. What are you going to do if the prey runs away?!”
“Of course there’s a sound when you step on snow.”
“No, there shouldn't be! Ideally, you shouldn't even leave footprints!”
With those final words, Old Man Pope snapped his head away.
It was a signal that he didn't want to talk anymore.
I let out a low hum and glanced at Isha. Isha was moving quietly, then she flinched and looked at me.
My eyes were fixed on Isha’s feet.
“W-what are you doing?”
“Seeing if you’re making any noise. And checking for footprints while I’m at it.”
At that, Isha seemed to get nervous and cleared her throat.
Then, with her face turning slightly red, she took a stiff step.
Crunch. A faint sound scraped against my ears.
I snorted and looked away.
“...Wow.”
“Hey, hey! T-that was a mistake, okay?! It’s because you were staring so intently...!”
Isha’s face turned beet red as she began to pile up excuses.
However, her protest didn't last long.
“Wait.”
Old Man Pope raised his hand, signaling us to stop.
Isha’s mouth clamped shut, and both Avian and I turned our questioning gazes toward him.
Old Man Pope quietly crouched down, putting his nose to the snowy ground and sniffing.
Then, he even pressed his ear to it.
What was he doing?
He soon closed his eyes and began to move forward, groping his way along.
The rest of us had no choice but to follow behind him with puzzled expressions.
And before long, a peculiar trace caught my eye.
It was the site of a campfire.
There wasn't much trash, but the snow melted around a central point proved it. There were also marks left here and there.
I narrowed my eyes and asked, “Could it be a spot where other elves camped?”
When there was no answer from Old Man Pope, Avian quietly approached his side. After looking around, her eyes landed on a faint footprint.
It was an exceptionally deep mark.
Avian also fell into silence, and unable to bear it any longer, Isha and I headed toward them.
And then I saw it.
That footprint—it was a pattern all too familiar to me.
Only Isha was looking at me as if wondering what was going on.
“Hey, hey... what’s wrong with everyone? What is it?”
The answer came from Old Man Pope.
“...Humans.”
His voice was chilled and desolate with fear.
Old Man Pope’s face had turned pale. As if slightly out of breath, he muttered while panting.
“Humans have come... all the way out here.”
It was barely half a day’s distance from the village.