Chapter 75
Chapter 75
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: crow
Chapter Title: Chapter 75 - 다크 엘프 카트리아
-----------------------------------------------------------------
```html
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: crow
Chapter Title: Dark Elf Katria
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Kairen was dead.
Thus, Katria must not look back.
She squeezed her eyes shut and began to run.
The cursed humans' cursed city. Bondalles.
The back alley scene flashed by rapidly.
For some reason, the scenery of her homeland Kehlin overlapped it.
Fed up.
Thus, she missed it.
Suddenly, such thoughts arose.
Why was she here?
How had it come to this?
Her younger brother who vanished one day without a trace.
And the casual letter he sent.
She had thought it the start of an exciting, thrilling journey—
But at the journey's end, nothing remained for her.
Her precious brother and the respected Kairen.
And even her original self.
"Ah...!"
At that moment, the surrounding scenery and her thoughts slammed to a halt.
Something tripped her foot, sending her sprawling.
Puk.
Then, something slashed her ankle.
"Kyaaaaak!!!"
The dark elf's piercing scream filled the filthy human back alley.
Katria crawled along the ground and flipped onto her back.
Thus, she confirmed the attacker's face.
"...!"
Contrary to expectation, a human did not stand there, but a dark elf.
They pointed swords at the fallen Katria instead of hands and said,
"Lady. Hand over Verbandes' Hand."
Katria realized.
Why she was here.
How it had come to this.
How foolish she had been to blindly hate humans.
As if repaying the clouds that blanketed the sky.
Yellow clouds of sandstorm swallowed Kehlin whole.
And a single thunderclap.
The roar echoed across the entire city on the storm's winds.
-Bow your heads before the sand mountain blotting the sun, worms.
-The true master of this desert has returned.
Sand and chaos left by the storm blanketed the city.
The desert night had come.
"Ugh."
Rishir frowned.
Meltas looked at him worriedly.
"What's wrong, Rishir!"
"It's... noisy."
"The demon's voice!? This is bad. I warn you—never lend an ear to their voices! Those beings aren't something a mere mortal can withstand. Get careless, and madness will consume you! Moreover, they'll deceive you any way they can! So, definitely! Consult me first before conversing with it! Share the talk, and we'll discuss the response together!"
"That's trouble. Then, shall I relay everything it's said so far to Sir Meltas?"
"Let's hear it!"
-Can you hear me!? Finally!? My voice!?
"Hm?"
-Good! Wretched worm! Bow before the sand mountain blotting the sun. Answer your new master's call!
"Hm...!"
-Answer! Hurry!!!
"Hm?"
-If you don't answer now, I'll grind you eternally in sand winds!
-You'll suffer skin and guts wearing away while alive!
"Hm...!"
-...Fine! Then just listen!
"Hm?"
-Release me right now!
-Else, everything you love gets buried in sand and eroded!
"Hm...!"
-No, wait! I misspoke!
"Hm?"
-Release me, and I'll grant infinite power and glory!
-Hurry!
-Please!!!
-Kraaaak!!!
-You cursed worm!!!
-What are you doing to me!!!
-Stop—please stop!!!
"..."
"That's the conversation just now. Showing such weakness must be to trick me, right?"
"...Poor thing."
"What!? Did it already get me!?"
"Not you—the demon."
"?"
"Demons' other name is Deceiver. They revel in toying mortals to their whims."
"So it's all an act."
"They're also supremely arrogant. Even facing oblivion, they never bow to mortals."
"Huh? Then what's this guy?"
"Hm..."
Meltas pondered.
"Your power—the Normalization power, maybe."
"You mean my purification power inflicts agony making even arrogant demons bow?"
"Absurd."
"Right?"
"But you're Rishir."
"?"
"So, entirely possible."
"What do you take me for?"
"I take you for Rishir. Regrettably, no stronger term comes to mind."
With that, Meltas pondered.
A mighty named demon trapped in human flesh, suffering instead.
As said, 'Rishir' three letters explain it fully.
But without 'Rishir,' inexplicable.
Meltas the scholar sought rational conclusion.
"Perhaps records exaggerated."
"The records?"
"Happens. Families hype feats for prestige."
"Ah! Got it. Mighty demon ruled desert centuries. Sounds like whole city, but maybe hill pest blocking roads!"
"Right. Record blind spot."
They nodded satisfied at each other.
-Rishir!
-Rishir!?
-Rishir!!!
-...Rishir!!!
Escaping savage primitive thought for rational pursuit felt sweetly intellectual.
"Anyway, what the hell."
Then, maid Tia stirred on the sofa in sleep.
"Demon meant for far southern desert, why in your body? Even 'Rishir' can't explain. Any guesses?"
"Hm... Ask the party?"
The party.
Rishir meant Verbandes.
But another party reacted—
"...I can explain."
"Hm?"
A third voice intruded.
Maid Tia, now recovered, gazed at them.
"Oh, Tia. Awake. Feeling okay?"
"..."
Katria staggered toward Rishir.
She seemed to caress his face carefully—
"...!"
Then startled, yanked her hand back desperately.
As if her filth couldn't accept touching pure treasure Rishir.
Katria's expression gazing at Rishir was deeply complex.
Narrow facial canvas roiled with violent emotions.
"Body okay? More like you—"
"Yeah?"
"You... really okay...?"
No. Kinda queasy.
Ate too much Didoa-face sandwich earlier.
But kept her smile, so satisfied.
Rishir nearly spouted nonsense habitually, but her face made him serious.
He solemnly gauged her intent, answered carefully.
"Yeah. Whatever the worry, to me, I'm fine now."
"..."
Katria's refined face twisted by the moment.
One side like holding tears, other like holding laughter.
Trembling lips quivered repeatedly.
Thank you.
Sorry.
Which to utter.
"...I did it."
Her choice.
She confessed all done to Rishir.
Fed murky truth serum.
Fed Four Hundred Lotuses.
Possessed demon into him.
And that was all.
No tales of human world abuse, born prejudices applied to Rishir causing misunderstandings, efforts to fix mistake-born errors.
"...Why?"
"Does it matter?"
Katria brazenly smiled at Rishir's question.
'He's safe...'
No greed beyond.
Didn't want to hinder coming contempt.
"Intent, reason—what meaning? Remains result. Result: I tried harming you."
"..."
"So, what now?"
Katria thought she anticipated.
His contemptuous gaze—
Slap, finger-point—
Chain for atonement—
Pure joy now could pay debt.
But reality differed.
Actually feared his scornful eyes.
Feared horrific memory stain.
Heart yearned all means to mend ties.
"What. Silent again? Like cluelessly victimized?"
Yet outwardly vile smile drew scorn.
Defense from 'forgiveness impossible' belief.
Thus, resigned, Katria awaited Rishir's humiliation.
Past days.
While Katria bustled saving Rishir in mage tower, Night Shadow Knight Captain Kairen scoured Bondalles with slave trader Leysha uncovering truth.
"Here..."
"Mansion courtyard?"
"Yes... Morning out, Sir Dran here... unconscious..."
Situations thus far.
Clear.
Not mere Sahilla third son Dran's lapse.
Surely third party impure meddling.
Kairen with Leysha aid gathered clues one by one.
One day.
Letter arrived Leysha mansion.
-Want save Dran? Designated place.
Back alley derelict house.
Basement, robed dark elf greeted Kairen.
Kairen knew her.
Kella, Sahilla high noble lady Dran often kept.
...Surface only.
Instinct warned.
'That' not Kella.
7th circle couldn't fathom ill omen filling space.
Kella's crimson lips slyly split.
Heterogeneous smile apeing human.
"Congrats. Recovered Dran successfully."
"..."
Grating phrasing.
Now certain: she sparked all.
Kairen craved instant neck slice.
But unknown power nettled.
Her inexplicable poise nettled.
Somehow reading mood, Kella's smile deepened.
"Smart choice. Kill me now, can't save your two Sahillas."
Two Sahillas.
Not just Dran—filth touched Katria too.
"See?"
Kella hiked robe sleeve, bared topaz bracelet wrist.
Sahilla vault treasure pre-Kehlin exit: Verbandes' Eye.
Verbandes' Hand prisons demon; Eye prisons prison—sealing nexus artifact.
"...!"
Kairen eyes bulged at Eye's state.
Topaz clouded. Opaque.
Meant Katria's seal-bearing mind near breaking.
"Recovered Dran yet thus, noticed? Dran abnormal."
"...What'd you do young master?"
"Who knows?"
Kella sinister chuckled.
"Won't wake till I permit."
Mage tower VIP quarters.
Dark elf slept days straight, awoke.
He propped torso, stretched mightily.
"Uuugh~"
Sheer honey sleep.
Unfamiliar spot, Dran just felt great.
"Fail save Dran, Sahilla lady dark elves covet crosses no-return river."
Kella flaunted Verbandes' Eye.
"Thus, Kairen. Night Shadow Captain gladly grants request?"
Feigned courtesy but blatant mockery twisted Kairen's face—
"?"
Kairen eyeing Eye, expression strange.
Kella checked Eye curiously.
"?"
Sparkling.
Prior murk a lie—topaz full luster gleamed dark.
This instant.
Katria's heart total peace.
Neither knew why.
Finally Rishir spoke.
Katria doubted her ears.
"What did you...?"
She unwittingly burst laughing.
```