Chapter 375: Bread and Dagger (73)
Chapter 375: Bread and Dagger (73)
An elf guard let out a yawn.
I could sense his presence even from that distance. My sharpened senses dissected every detail of the landscape without exception. Even a scene that should have appeared as a tiny speck could not escape my notice.
His level seemed reasonably high.
He was stronger than Old Man Pope, at the very least. While he couldn't compare to the Snow Leopard Majin I’d faced before, there was no reason to take unnecessary risks.
The 'Headquarters' was where the elves' military strength was concentrated. In a sense, it was similar to the Imperial Palace, so even the guards were bound to be handpicked elites.
I didn't have the time to engage him with full concentration, yet he was an enemy too dangerous to ignore.
In such situations, my choice was usually the same.
Kill my presence, then slit his throat before he even noticed.
It was a safe and certain method. Nevertheless, I deliberately chose not to take it.
My objective was different this time.
I didn't want to dispose of the elf guard cleanly. On the contrary, my goal was to cause a commotion and buy time for Avian to escape Leoric’s clutches.
Thus, my body did not falter as I kicked off the ground.
I sprinted and sprinted until I was finally within the elf guard's line of sight.
The guard stared at me with an expression of utter disbelief.
The elves' 'Headquarters' was located deep within a coniferous forest. Furthermore, its location was a closely guarded secret; humanity had officially never even discovered an elf village, let alone the 'Headquarters.'
Yet, out of nowhere, a human had appeared, charging across the snow.
He needed time to process and accept this reality. I deliberately drew my sword early so the guard would clearly understand my intent.
Only after facing that silver sharpness did the elf guard snap back to his senses.
As if in a desperate struggle, the guard’s voice rang out.
"An enemy attack! The intruder is alone—urk!"
That was his final death rattle.
A hand axe, hurled with precision, shattered the elf guard’s skull. The sight of blood and bone fragments scattering was unpleasant no matter how many times I saw it.
Blood splattered down, staining the pristine white snow.
I immediately held my breath and crouched low, moving quickly to find cover.
Causing chaos was fine, but attacking the elf headquarters alone was reckless. If even two Majins appeared right now, I’d have to fear for my life. It suited my purpose better to suppress my presence and move stealthily.
After all, an unseen enemy is always more terrifying than one in plain sight.
My hypothesis was proven correct shortly after.
Shouts erupted from all directions.
"The intruder is gone! Search everywhere!"
"Hide the non-combat personnel in the houses!"
"Report this to Lord Leoric immediately!"
Among the soldiers swarming out, I saw some familiar figures.
Specifically, the 'Sword-Wielders' who left no footprints on the snow.
They were the elite forces of the elves I had seen during the night raid on the military camp. Back then, I hadn't understood their footwork, but now, having received Old Man Pope’s teachings, it was different.
It was a unique breathing technique exclusive to the elves.
Old Man Pope had once told me to walk through a coniferous forest with my hands tied. His intention was for me to concentrate all my senses on my feet and feel the natural objects around me.
I hadn't fully mastered the subtlety of that technique yet.
However, I understood that by maintaining that breathing, those ghost-like steps were possible. I focused on the rhythm of the Sword-Wielders' inhalations and exhalations.
My own breathing grew even quieter.
My faint presence grew even thinner. When they failed to find me even after several minutes, the elves grew increasingly frantic.
I had entered without knowing the internal layout.
For a reckless infiltration, the results were excellent. Perhaps the elves' breathing technique really was effective, as no one noticed my presence in my temporary hiding spot.
The elves searching for me were moving in groups of at least two.
This was to ensure that even if one was ambushed, the other could signal the intruder's location. There weren't many ways to silence two people simultaneously.
It was a sound strategy, but it didn't last long.
As the chaos intensified, cases of ignoring that rule began to emerge. The elves simply didn't have enough manpower to search every nook and cranny of the headquarters.
That was exactly what I was waiting for.
I was hiding behind a hut. I could clearly sense a presence approaching me.
Once they turned the corner, they would see me immediately.
So, I crept toward that corner. What happened next was predictable.
Just before the elf soldier could lay eyes on me, my sword drew a silver horizon.
There wasn't even a sound.
The elf soldier didn't realize I existed until the moment he died. In fact, he might not have even realized he was dying.
With a wet thud, his head rolled onto the snow-covered ground. A moment later, the sound of blood gushing out followed, and the body collapsed like a heap of straw.
Since elves had long ears, their hearing was sensitive.
Knowing I risked being discovered soon, I suppressed my breath and moved again. As expected, several elves were beginning to gather near the spot.
Now was the chance.
While the commotion grew and everyone's attention was diverted elsewhere.
I recalled the geography I had seen through the Crow's eyes. I remembered Leoric’s hut being located in a somewhat secluded area.
I had to get as close to it as possible.
Then, after regrouping with Avian, we would make a swift escape.
That was my plan.
To be honest, since I had barged in blindly, I hadn't been able to devise a more sophisticated strategy. This was the only way to save both my life and Avian's.
I couldn't take on the entire strength of the elf headquarters alone.
Far from it, I wasn't even sure if I could handle Leoric by myself. Leaving this place with just the two of us was the best option.
I was moving between huts and trees when two Sword-Wielders came wandering near me.
Leoric’s hut was just a short distance away.
I hid behind a large stack of firewood. The two Sword-Wielders, looking tense, clicked their tongues as they walked.
They seemed unable to resolve their doubts.
"How on earth did they find this place? Could there be a traitor among our brothers and sisters...?"
"Today is the day of Lord Leoric’s 'worship.' This is a disaster."
I was out of luck.
The 'Sword-Wielders' seemed to be a sort of knight class. They weren't opponents I could kill in an instant like the regular soldiers.
And there were two of them.
I didn't think I would lose. However, as someone in a desperate hurry, they were enemies I didn't want to encounter.
But no matter how long I waited, the Sword-Wielders showed no sign of turning away, which meant they would notice me before long.
I had no choice but to strike first.
My hand toyed with the handle of my hand axe.
I would finish one off by throwing the axe, then pounce on the bewildered survivor to kill them both instantly. After that, I’d sprint for the hut.
Though I could only see a future where I’d be surrounded and killed.
I regretted my past choice of sending Avian in alone.
But the milk was already spilled.
I had to do my best with the hand I was dealt. Steeling my resolve, I focused on the Sword-Wielders' steps.
Three steps, two steps, and finally, one.
Just before the two Sword-Wielders reached the limit I had set.
Thump. A heavy vibration echoed from somewhere.
Not only I, but the two Sword-Wielders as well, naturally turned toward the source.
Thump. The ground shook again.
It was an impact that rattled the very axis of the earth. With every pulse, the snow piled on the ground rose and scattered violently. As time passed, the source became clear.
It was Leoric’s hut.
No one could guess the cause of this.
What on earth was happening?
That question was answered before long.
Boom! With a thunderous explosion, the hut blew apart.
Fragments of wood, shattered in an instant, embedded themselves everywhere. Several elves standing nearby were knocked over, screaming in terror.
It wasn't just wood splinters that were sent flying.
All sorts of tools and furniture that had been inside Leoric’s hut soared into the sky. And among them was Avian, who had infiltrated the hut.
Whatever had happened in the interim, her transformation magic had worn off.
Avian happened to be flying right toward me. There was no more time to hesitate.
My hand axe was launched, whistling through the air.
There was no way the dazed Sword-Wielders could react to it.
As blood sprayed out, one of the Sword-Wielders turned his eyes toward me. His reaction speed was relatively fast, but his dazed eyes were devoid of any sense of reality.
It was good for me.
I channeled the momentum of my sprint into a kick to the Sword-Wielder's chest.
"Gah!"
Then, my hand axe cleaved the airborne Sword-Wielder in two.
It was the Secret of Stillness in Motion.
Without giving the Sword-Wielder another thought, I kicked off the ground again. I threw myself forward, and a moment later, a gray-haired girl fell narrowly into my arms.
It was Avian.
My arms stung from absorbing the impact. Avian couldn't be unharmed either.
However, not even a scream escaped the girl's lips. She only let out a pained groan with her eyes tightly shut.
Regardless, it was a stroke of luck.
I instinctively knew this was our last chance.
While everyone was stunned, Avian had fallen right into my arms.
It wouldn't be an exaggeration to say the Heavenly God had helped us.
I decided to whisper the plan to Avian.
"Avian, are you okay?! We’re escaping right now!"
"Be... Betty..."
However, at the words that escaped Avian's lips, I froze.
Come to think of it, where was my younger sister?
No matter how much I scanned the area, only one 'doll' had been thrown from the hut. Since that person was in my arms, it meant Betty had not come out of the hut.
Was that even possible?
What jolted me from my confusion was another scream.
My eyes turned toward the remains of Leoric’s exploded hut.
From there, melting flesh was overflowing.
Yes, a wave of flesh.
The seething flesh was as thick and hideous as lava. Over that sea of flesh, which was endlessly expanding its volume, a man was walking calmly, as if he were a savior.
No, could that even be called walking?
The man's legs had already been subsumed by the flesh. With every squelching step, viscous flesh and veins stretched out.
Leoric.
In his arms, he held the girl Avian had been searching for so desperately.
I stood up, faltering.
It was tragic for Betty, but saving her now was impossible. My only remaining option was to flee.
Nevertheless, I couldn't shake my hesitation for a moment.
"Betty, no..."
Because Avian’s low, whispering voice overlapped with my own past self, the one who had sworn to protect Lia.
Because it reminded me of the little knight who had died to protect his younger sister.
The conflict lasted only a few seconds, but the price was bitter.
"Oh, Immanuel... could there be a more exquisite twist of fate?"
A voice, flowing like a lament, targeted me.
His tone was calm and gentle. He certainly hadn't raised his voice, yet the man's words struck my ears with a bizarre resonance.
My eyes turned silently.
And I met them.
The eyes of a madman, filled with a sickening level of conviction.
"Brother Ian Percus, it is a pleasure to meet you."
He was staring at me pointedly.
It seemed that running away was no longer an option.
*
One night, an uninvited guest arrived at Seria’s room.