Chapter 57
Chapter 57
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 57
Chapter Title: I Could See the Ending
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"......"
Ares trudged along, feeling an odd sense of déjà vu.
At the academy, he always had crowds of students around him, so he figured the break would feel a bit lonely.
But even alone now, it didn't feel all that different.
He wasn't sure if he should take that as a good thing or a bad one, but upon returning to his hometown, Ares skipped home entirely and headed straight into the forest depths, sword in hand.
The training dummy was still there.
It was the spot where he, Daniel, and Rin had swung crude wooden swords together.
'I always beat that guy here.'
He had to admit now that he was weak.
Not just defeated by Daniel, but he'd even suffered the humiliating loss to Elise in the practical exam.
The strange emotion on Elise's face back then was something he'd never felt before.
"Jeeenjaaang!"
Ares swung his sword wildly, and the weathered training dummy couldn't withstand the force—it snapped right in half.
Helios's power surged from the back of his hand.
He hadn't used it during their spar, but with this, he could get even stronger.
Convinced of that, Ares was about to start his training regimen anew.
"Ares?"
"You're back! It's great to see you!"
"Whoa, you've gotten way more handsome."
If the academy had its own fishing pond, then the hometown village had its village pond.
Most of the village girls were commoners, but they'd all harbored their first crushes on Ares, who didn't look the part at all.
The feelings that had faded a bit while he was away at the academy reignited the moment they laid eyes on the more dashing version who'd returned.
Ares glanced at the sword in his hand, smirked slyly, set it aside naturally, and approached them.
"Long time no see, everyone."
This was life.
It felt like payback for the humiliations at the academy.
Eighteen-year-old Ares hid his lecherous intentions and slipped in among the girls as they headed back to the village.
Compared to the academy girls, they weren't quite his taste, but hey, the more the merrier.
"Flowers and girls are better the more you have"—that was one of Ares's personal mottos.
As they chatted and laughed...
A woman entered the village entrance, a greatsword slung across her back.
She wore a uniform like Ares's, but a slightly different color—one he'd never seen before.
Because all the fifth-years were out on field training right now.
He knew they'd return after break, so why had she come back to the village the instant it started?
"Well, hey there, kiddos. Long time no see?"
"S-Sis..."
"You're back already?"
"Aw, shucks."
The country girls glanced nervously at the older student and backed away bit by bit, leaving Ares alone.
"Slippery one, been good?"
"......Yeah."
Everyone has traumas, no matter who they are.
Everyone has those memories they'd rather forget.
To Ares, she was trauma incarnate.
Back when he'd get too heated sparring with Daniel as kids, or when he'd punched Daniel for saying they had to put down their sick dog.
She always showed up in the end to clean up the mess.
Dina McKlein.
Daniel's older sister by two years, and a fifth-year senior at Aios Academy.
"So, where's our Daniel at?"
Watching her dismount, Ares felt it.
This break was gonna be rough.
*
"Yaaawn."
I stepped out of the carriage, yawning.
A week into break already, and all I'd done was sleep or zone out in the carriage.
I'd gotten off with the horses to stretch during stops, learning swordsmanship from Hayun, but for someone like me who was always active, it was nowhere near enough.
"The first day was nice, though."
"Totally..."
Rin and Hayun grumbled too, shaking off their stiff bodies—they'd suffered plenty.
I'd expected crossing the border to be a hassle, but flashing our Aios Academy student IDs made it smoother than thought.
We tipped extra, thanked the driver for getting us to the elf forest—gateway to Yggdrasil—and after a quick meal, headed right in.
'Sick of forests already.'
Compared to the Demon Realm Forest, this was pristine paradise.
The elves managed their woods so meticulously that the word "nature" was practically tattooed on your brain here.
"Whoa, amazing."
"But... is it okay to just barge in like this?"
Rin gawked around with her mouth open, while Hayun sounded uneasy, but I was confident.
"We've got our recommendation letters, and I was invited by Eris. Nothing to fear."
Truth be told, Rin and I were the weird ones—Hayun's reaction was normal.
Elves were notoriously hostile to other races, so most humans figured they'd loose arrows the second you entered their woods.
Whoosh.
"What the hell."
I smacked away the incoming arrow and glared incredulously at the male elf standing far off.
Rin and Hayun hadn't seen it, but our eyes locked perfectly.
"Hang on a sec, I found our guide."
And he's in for a beating.
The elf panicked at first, then turned and bolted. I gave chase.
They say chasing an elf in a forest is like chasing a cloud.
Like I'm running uphill while he's going down.
They can outrun you if they want.
"But there's always a flyer above the runner."
I'm the Sherpa who treated the Demon Realm Forest like my backyard.
Using the terrain, I took the shortest path in my head and surged ahead—the elf's back came into view fast.
He panicked, his landings shaky, body wobbling.
One mistake like that, and the gap closed exponentially.
Finally, I grabbed his nape.
Killing intent poured from all around.
Dozens of elves nocking arrows.
Not super impressive—more like apprentices, really?
Anyway, they signaled they'd shoot any second, so grinning, I pressed my knife to the elf's throat I'd nabbed.
"Knew you guys were conservative, but this extreme?"
"Stranger, why have you invaded our forest?"
A deep male voice spoke. I pulled out the magically treated leaf from my pocket—with its distinctive scent—and waved it around.
"I'm a guest, you idiots."
Proof from Yggdrasil's guardian, Eris.
She'd said this would get me in no problem, so I figured they'd lower their bows now.
"S-Sorry!"
They dropped from the trees, kneeling on one knee.
"......Huh?"
The over-the-top reaction threw me, but hey, the mess sorted itself out easy.
*
"So you almost got shot?"
"Yeah."
Inside Yggdrasil, we ignored the elves' piercing glares, strutting confidently thanks to Eris with us.
She shot a bewildered look but immediately glared at the burly vigilante captain trailing us.
"This how you train the vigilantes these days? Shoot arrows at anyone entering the forest?"
"N-No, ma'am. The newbies got overexcited and messed up..."
"A 'mess-up'? They shot to kill—that a mess-up? What if Daniel hadn't reacted and took it? Bleeding out in the forest heart, dying without treatment in the worst-case scenario? That a 'mess-up' too?"
"......I have no excuses."
"You shouldn't. Make it clear, Captain. Your man didn't just nearly kill one human—he attacked a guest of Yggdrasil's guardian."
"......"
"Whether he stays in the vigilantes we'll discuss later. For now, have him come kneel and apologize properly. You're dismissed."
The captain—twice her size—shrank like his pointed ears were wilting and scurried off at her don't-wanna-see-you vibe.
Was she always this charismatic? Guess her position demands it.
"Really sorry. My oversight."
"No fault of yours, Eris. That newbie's the problem."
"You have to accept our apology."
Rin and Hayun stated firmly.
Nice as they were, they wouldn't let a brainless arrow-shooter off easy.
"I'd love to show you around Yggdrasil, but... shall we eat first?"
We'd trekked a ways through the woods, stomachs rumbling, so we nodded and followed her to the eatery.
An open-air setup with outdoor benches; the kitchen was the hollowed-out interior of a massive tree.
Elves ate meat but favored veggies, and their guts weren't great for it anyway—I wanted no part.
'Showtime.'
One reason I came: I pulled ingredients from my bag.
"Lemme treat you all. Chef, mind if I borrow the kitchen?"
"Pardon?"
"D-Daniel?"
"Embarrassing."
The ladies stared, flustered, but I'd ditched shame entering elf woods.
Time to seduce her full throttle!
The head chef sized me up, nodded like "bring it," and jerked his chin silently.
Seemed I'd bruised his elf chef pride.
"Daniel any good at cooking?"
"He manages alone fine, but never seen him cook for others."
"Kinda worried."
I felt their sidelong glances as they whispered, but I focused meticulously.
"Here, dig in."
Meat dish.
Looked plain enough on the surface.
They smiled awkwardly at the contents, but I pushed the plates forward confidently.
Rin and Hayun forked big bites first, faces twisting oddly.
"This is..."
"Kinda salty?"
Their tongues tingling, they shot me teary glares, but our elf differed.
"D-Delicious!"
A smile crept unwittingly across Eris's lips.
"So good! What is this? Are you a chef, Daniel? Best thing I've ever eaten!"
"Heh."
I rubbed my nose, smirking.
'Never been into food much.'
'Huh? You made it tailored for me? Hm, guess I'll try.'
'Sh-Sherpa? What's this? Delicious! So good! Make this every meal from tomorrow!'
'Hey, Sherpa? I'll buy meat outside—could you cook it?'
Exact same reaction as first time in the Demon Realm Forest.
After, she'd squirm bashfully, begging for it at every meal.
'Hook the taste buds first.'
My plan was just kicking off.