The Elf's Bet - 2
Tracking an animal by following the traces it left behind was the most basic principle of hunting.
The same applied when hunting people.
However, those who knew they were being pursued rarely left any traces at all.
If these were the same bastards who had already kidnapped multiple elves, they would have mastered the art of erasing their tracks.
‘It makes tracking difficult when there are no traces, but it also makes preparing countermeasures easier.’
The kidnappers would have prepared the optimal escape route in advance, from abduction to getaway.
Finding their movement path was simple enough.
All I had to do was locate paths that were unnaturally clean.
“This path is covered in fallen leaves. That one over there has perfectly clean ground.”
“Then I’ll take the path with the piled-up leaves. Master, you can handle the clean one.”
“Got it.”
We planned to find the kidnappers’ infiltration routes and set traps along them.
If they never showed up again, it would all be wasted effort.
But the chances of those who had already tasted the sweet profit of selling elves not returning were extremely low.
‘The leaves are piled thick here, yet there’s barely any leaf mold…’
The stench of something rotten was growing stronger.
I stepped carefully over the fallen leaves and continued forward until I found a path leading deeper into the mountains.
It was a route that required climbing along the rock face, so naturally, it left almost no discernible traces.
‘They most likely infiltrated the forest through this path.’
I left markers only I could recognize and retraced my steps.
After regrouping with Scarlet, I shared my findings and thoughts with her.
“It looks like there are more than just one or two infiltration routes.”
“If they stuck to only one, they’d risk getting caught. So they’ve probably prepared multiple routes.”
“Right. So what now? We can’t set traps on every single path, can we?”
If there were more routes we hadn’t discovered, we’d be in trouble.
Not only would our carefully prepared traps become useless, but there was also the risk that elves might accidentally trigger them.
Still, I had no desire to rely on luck.
No matter what, I wanted to make sure the kidnappers stepped into our traps.
“If we can’t predict where they’ll come from, then we should use bait!”
“Bait?”
“Their target is elves, right? If they see an elf wandering alone through the forest, wouldn’t they lose their minds and come running?”
If the net wasn’t catching fish, all you had to do was put out some bait.
And conveniently, the perfect bait they would go crazy for was scattered all around us. Preparing it wouldn’t be difficult at all.
However, Scarlet seemed to think securing that bait would be the hard part and frowned.
“I doubt the elves will cooperate with us…”
“You’re right. Even if they died and came back to life, they’d never cooperate.”
“Then how do you plan to lure them with bait?”
“We have an elf who’s easy to handle, don’t we? There’s no need to ask for favors. If we just gently stroke her pride the right way, won’t she naturally become the perfect bait?”
“Aha!”
Scarlet pursed her lips and raised her index finger as if she had just realized something.
She too had figured out exactly how to manipulate Cattreya, and soon she began to laugh.
An elf who would make an excellent bait while remaining completely unaware that she was being used as one.
We were able to come up with a new plan on the spot.
“Do you know the exact locations where the elves went missing?”
“Based on eyewitness accounts from those close to them, I’ve roughly mapped them out!”
“Any unusual details?”
“Two days ago, on the day Serilda went missing, Ella said she heard something like a groan!”
“Find out exactly where she heard it and report back immediately!”
Cattreya was also moving busily to catch the kidnappers.
She was quickly gathering information through the cooperation of the other elves.
She was attempting to reach the kidnappers through systematic and rational methods.
She carried out her duties with the meticulousness befitting a future queen, issuing precise orders.
“We cannot waste even a single minute! Keep in mind that we are working to save our own people!”
“How very like a noble-bred young lady.”
“You…! What brings you here?”
“There’s no need to be so wary. I came for the investigation. There might be traces of the kidnappers somewhere in the village, after all.”
Cattreya’s face twisted as she stared at Alvin, who had arrived at the elf village.
She was clearly displeased by the mere fact that a human had entered their village.
If not for King Sherdin’s token, she looked ready to scream at him to get out immediately.
“Are you unaware that the young elves of our village have developed an extreme fear of humans because of this disappearance incident? Stop stirring up trouble and leave.”
“Then you’re being unfair, Lady Cattreya.”
“Are you provoking me again?”
“Well, I’m investigating to apprehend the kidnappers. If you tell me not to enter, doesn’t that mean you intend to monopolize all the information we could gather from the village?”
Alvin shook his head and let out a deep sigh.
Even though his opponent was the next queen, he showed no deference whatsoever and even displayed a relaxed demeanor.
His complaints were not yet over.
“And yet you have no intention of sharing information with us. Do you truly believe that’s fair?”
“I am simply exercising the rights I possess. If that displeases you, then you should simply qualify yourself to become the next ruler.”
“Unfortunately, I have no desire to become a king who knows nothing of fieldwork, relies solely on others’ strength, and lives in comfort.”
Cattreya furrowed her brows.
It was quite an insulting remark, but unlike last time, she did not explode in anger.
She seemed to believe that showing intense emotion would mean defeat.
Having read Cattreya’s psychology perfectly, Alvin turned away without any lingering attachment.
“What a shame, but it can’t be helped. I suppose I’ll have to run around on my own and gather information.”
“Lady Cattreya, it’s an obvious provocation. Please don’t pay it any mind.”
“I know. It’s nothing but a cheap taunt.”
Not a single elf present failed to recognize that fact.
However, from Cattreya’s perspective, Alvin’s provocation felt more like a formal challenge.
A challenge that essentially said, ‘You can’t do it yourself, can you?’
As a proper monarch, she was supposed to command her subordinates to solve problems, just as she was doing now.
There was no reason for her to accept Alvin’s challenge, but Cattreya was not yet a monarch.
She had simply distinguished herself in the study of rulership and been chosen as the next queen over the other candidates.
‘But if I lose this bet… I have far too much to lose…’
In an attempt to mock Alvin, she had pettily withheld information.
When they should have been cooperating to solve the problem, her anti-human ideology had instead harmed the public good.
And if, in that situation, the human she despised most was the first to capture the kidnappers and claim all the credit?
‘The beastmen, dwarves, and other races will definitely question my qualifications!’
In the worst case, she could even lose her eligibility to become queen.
Because every race harbored its own lust for power, there were many in the Yudica Kingdom who wished to drag Cattreya down.
In that sense, this bet was the perfect pretext for her enemies to act.
‘I must win no matter what! I have to win…!’
Scenes of what would happen if she lost replayed endlessly in Cattreya’s mind.
In a gamble with such high stakes, anyone would feel anxiety.
And when that happened, people naturally sought some form of insurance.
Especially someone as cautious as Cattreya craved that insurance even more.
“From now on, I will head to the disappearance sites and conduct a separate investigation. If you obtain any critical information, send a spirit to inform me.”
“We will handle the on-site investigation! Lady Cattreya, please remain in the village and give orders…!”
“No. As I said earlier, every single second counts. If I also contribute to the investigation, we can rescue our people and ensure humans never dare loiter in the elves’ forest again!”
“B-but…!”
“Enough! If you have time to worry about me, use it to find new clues instead!”
Cattreya’s true purpose was to create an excuse that would reduce criticism if she lost.
She wanted to be able to say that she had staked everything and still only lost by a hair’s breadth.
Moreover, if she won the bet, she could deliver the perfect humiliation to Alvin.
With that in mind, Cattreya personally stepped out of the village.
Completely unaware that she was acting exactly as Alvin intended.
‘That human probably has no idea that I am well-versed in self-defense techniques.’
She hadn’t simply focused on the study of rulership.
In her ambition to become the greatest queen in history, Cattreya had studied and trained in many different fields.
Naturally, she had also honed her martial skills, so she was confident in combat.
‘Even if the kidnappers come at me in a group, I can win!’
Displaying her confidence, Cattreya began walking along the forest path.
Armed with overwhelming information, she was determined to capture and subdue the kidnappers herself, then thoroughly crush Alvin’s arrogance.
She was heading toward the disappearance site when it happened.
“Ah?!”
Rustle—!
The moment she stepped on the ground covered in fallen leaves, Cattreya fell into a deep hole along with the foliage.
Caught completely off guard by the unexpected trap, she let out a short scream.
The good news was that the hole wasn’t very deep, but there was also bad news waiting for her.
“Mmmngh?!”
Below the hole, the triangle wooden horse that Alvin and Scarlet had installed was waiting.
The moment she fell, the sharp edge of the wooden horse pressed directly against her crotch.
With the added force of gravity, it delivered an overwhelming shock.
The edge of the triangle wooden horse dug mercilessly into her most sensitive area.
With the full weight of her fall behind it, an unbearable wave of stimulation surged through her body.
And so Cattreya let out a beast-like moan as she reached climax.
From her pussy, the nectar of an elf began to pour out.
“With this, all preparations are complete!”
“Wow, it actually caught her.”
Above the hole, two ruthless hunters were watching the noble Cattreya disgracefully reach her peak.