Courting Death!

"You're courting death!"

Unpilea let out a chilling shout, leaping over the goblins blocking her path before thrusting her hand straight at the orc charging toward her.

"Grrooargh!"

The hand she extended pierced right through the orc's shoulder blade, reaching even the next orc rushing up behind it. With the two orcs skewered like meat on a spit, Unpilea shoved them down to the ground.

There was a crunch! as the orc's skull shattered in an instant.

The sight was so overwhelmingly brutal that my legs went weak.

But the remaining orc bravely charged at Unpilea, undeterred by its comrade's death. She didn't even blink, grabbing its head as it lunged and slamming it into the ground before stomping its neck until it snapped.

"......"

The sheer dominance of the scene choked the breath right out of me.

"Smash 'em!"

"Smash 'em flat!"

Unlike me, Rex charged at Unpilea just as fearlessly as the previous orcs. Her red eyes flashed as she coldly spat,

"Die, you vermin."

With those words, Unpilea kicked off the ground and leaped, slamming her foot into the twin-headed ogre's chest.

"Gwah! That hurts!"

"Whoa, you're falling! Whoops, no you're not!"

Rex was sent flying three or four meters from the kick but didn't tumble awkwardly. Unpilea furrowed her brow ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠at the sight, muttering, "Well, aren't you sturdy." She licked the orc blood from her hand.

How the hell do we beat that?

A shiver ran down my spine. Even if I jumped in here, I couldn't imagine beating Unpilea. No—if she decided to kill me for real, I'd end up just like those dead goblins and orcs, no escape.

......I have to give up.

Sorry, Rishar, but I needed to run. No matter how I thought about it, I couldn't win against Unpilea.

"Gwah! Master, save us!"

"Yeah, save us! Not the kids!"

In reality, Rex was getting utterly overwhelmed. The goblins were trying to support from behind, but they were just shrimp caught in a whale fight.

"Rishar, we retreat for now."

"Y-Yuhyun?"

"We can't win. Against that......"

I said it with utter sincerity. Rishar looked like she was about to burst into tears, glancing between me and Unpilea.

"......We give ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠up."

As I said that and moved to unsummon her, someone suddenly crashed into the fight between Rex and Unpilea.

"Stop it, Mother!"

Incredibly, it was Irene. And behind her were all the elves I'd just saved.

Has that girl lost her mind?!

What kind of insanity made her bring the elves here? As I stared at her in shock, Irene ignored my gaze entirely, focusing only on Unpilea and shouting,

"Mother, that's enough!"

At Irene's second cry, Unpilea's body finally froze. She turned an icy, emotionless gaze on her daughter and spoke.

"You're alive?"

"Mother......"

"Ahh, I really thought you were dead...... What a shame."

Shrugging, Unpilea kicked away the charging Rex and stepped in front of Irene. Startled, Irene quickly backed away.

"......Sharp instincts."

"Mother!"

Unpilea smacked her lips in regret, and Irene's face crumpled in devastation as she called out again. But Unpilea ignored her, shaking the blood from her hand onto the ground.

"Why do you keep calling me Mother? Let me be clear—I'm not your mom."

"Please, snap out of it!"

"Snap out of it? I'm fine! No, I'm perfect! This mana! This feeling! Ahh, I'm so happy. I've never been this happy in my life!"

Unpilea burst into genuine, joyous laughter before extending her hand toward Irene.

"......So, will you die for me?"

"Mother......"

Irene stared at her in dazed despair, then drew her sword.

"......Mother, I'll save you."

At those words, the elves behind her drew their weapons, readying for battle. Unpilea found it hilarious, cackling wildly before licking her lips.

"Who’s saving who?"

In a flash, she shot forward and grabbed one of the elves behind Irene by the throat, hoisting it up.

"Gaaah! Kkrrraaahhh!!!"

The elf thrashed in agony, screaming until its neck snapped with a crack, going limp. The other elves paled in terror but charged anyway.

"May Mother's glory be with us!"

"May Mother's glory be with us!"

As the shouting elves rushed her, Irene charged too. Seeing that, Rishar raised her sword to join them. I grabbed her wrist to stop her.

"Mother's glory be—Ack! Y-Yuhyun?"

"Are you insane? Why go there?!"

"Lady Irene is here! We have to save Lady Unpilea!"

"You'll just die pointlessly!"

"Protecting high elves is an elf's duty!"

Rishar shook off my hand, yelling. I scowled and shouted,

"Stay put. Unsummon Rishar."

"Yuh......!"

Shock and resentment filled Rishar's face for a moment, but then she vanished.

Confirming it, I let out a breath and pulled out my smartphone.

I have to run.

Sorry to the remaining elves, but Unpilea was unbeatable. As I unlocked the screen, a notification popped up before my eyes.

"......"

I was speechless at the notifications of her favorability and loyalty dropping. What was it about high elves that inspired this level of devotion? After staring at them for a while, I hit confirm.

As my thumb moved to abandon the quest, I shifted it elsewhere.

I selected Rishar and hit yes, teleporting straight to the Training Room. My vision warped briefly before the hall of a medieval noble mansion came into view. I sighed lightly and entered Room 1.

"......"

"......"

Inside, Rishar glared at me furiously. After a long pause, I released her restraints and spoke.

"It was the only choice."

"Send me back."

"You'll die."

"Please, Yuhyun. Help Lady Irene save Unpilea."

"That's not saving—that's suicide."

In truth, before coming here, I'd seen Irene getting completely toyed with. The remaining elves were down to under twenty. No chance of winning.

"Yuhyun, please...... Send me back there! Please...... Please......!"

She even grabbed my clothes, begging desperately. I looked down at her for a while, then took a slow breath.

She's making my resolve waver.

Men were just wired to yield to women, it seemed. With a bitter smile, I patted her back gently.

......Is there some way?

Thinking hard, I pulled out my smartphone and checked my info.

Wait......

That's when Vital Energy Injection caught my eye.

......How much Vital Energy do I have left?

Checking my current amount, it read a whopping 5115. Plenty to level someone up. The question was who.

High rank and high loyalty......

I switched to the slave list.

Ena, then.

Weighing rank and loyalty, Ena looked best. Rare grade above Normal, loyalty at 84. And she was female, perfect for Vital Energy Injection. Satisfied, I set Rishar aside and spoke.

"I've found a way."