Chapter 262
Chapter 262
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 262
Chapter Title: Tail Chase - 2
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"Hand over the sacred relic! If you return it quietly, I'll let you off with just one eye!"
The leader of the elf rangers bellowed her threat. Her taut bowstring and vivid red lingerie made quite the impression.
Setting aside the eye candy, it was fairly intimidating. We were surrounded by elves with arrows nocked, each shaft packed tight with compressed mana.
Above all, their mental link.
It was as good as constant telepathy among allies. No overlapping trajectories, just a dense barrage that would be hard to dodge.
But the warning coming before the shots was a good sign. It meant there was room for talk. The Wise Crow's trap was working.
I shoved Bennett's back.
"Come on, Bennett. Now's your moment."
"What do you mean, 'now'?"
"Charm the elves and make them back off. Our lives are on the line here. For the greater good—for all of us—I'm sure you'll step up without hesitation."
"......"
Bennett stepped forward with a reluctant grimace. No avoiding it if we wanted to chase the black mage without needless fighting. He'd come around.
But after one step, Bennett's face twisted in suspicion. Something off?
"What's wrong, Bennett? Want me to fix your hair?"
"No... you mad wizard. Look at where the elves are staring."
"Obviously at you..."
Huh?
I rubbed my eyes, wondering if I'd seen wrong. But reality didn't bend. Most of the elves... weren't looking at Bennett. They were staring at me.
"Seeing that black hair makes my heart race..."
"The gray hair caught my eye too, but that guy's something else."
"I-It's embarrassing. I should've worn a cuter triangle outfit..."
It was the gaze of schoolgirls eyeing their crush. I glanced at the shy elf on the edge, and she let out a squeak, squirming wildly.
The one next to her thrust out her chest, showing off her figure like a model. A bit bigger than Selbia's, from what I could tell. And that kind of reaction signaled romantic interest.
Maybe I'd misjudged? I checked Selbia.
"...Kyaaah!"
Selbia glared at the elves like a heroine spotting stray cats. With her Selbia-sensor triggered, it wasn't my imagination.
What the hell? Why were the elves fixated on me instead of Bennett?
The Wise Crow had supposedly edited Tara's memories perfectly...
......
Let's think from the crow's perspective. If I were the crow...
Elf harem chasing Bennett around? Effective and fun idea—go for it. Embed Bennett in the memory-trap: confirmed.
But not 100% safe. No clue how much elves value the relic—assume worst case. They track to the ends of the continent.
No matter the time, they'd conclude: reunite with the main body, the mad wizard.
Prep for when main body handles it. Whether he talks his way out or fights through, lay groundwork now.
So, pair romantic pursuit of Bennett with one for the main body—like a set menu—in the memory-trap. Crank it up for tense talks.
Any chaos from that? Not my problem. Main body cleans up...
The truth dawned. I shuddered like I'd been struck by lightning.
"That damn crow bastard...!"
I swear I saw the crow winking from beyond the sky.
Bennett, grasping the gist, smirked and shoved my back.
"Come on, mad wizard. Now's your moment."
"What do you mean...?"
"Seduce the elves and make them back off. Lives on the line. For the greater good—you're not backing out now, are you?"
"......"
My karma bit back in under three minutes.
I stepped forward with a grimace. Similar Illusion Magic: Haze for a sharp outfit tweak, subtle enhancements for max charm. Voice tuned smooth.
Roleplay time. I'm the host. I'm the host...
"Lovely ladies, if you'd grant me a moment to prove my innocence—"
Selbia's death glare could've eaten me alive, but somehow I got the elves to the negotiation table.
"The black mage stole the relic, and you were just trying to stop him... Convenient excuse, isn't it?"
The elf ranger leader crossed her arms, legs, and wagged her foot. She strained for a stern look, but her cheeks stayed flushed.
Honestly, ending at flushed was impressive. Under the crow's wicked curse of shame—like posing in underwear on a busy street.
Including heart-pounding attraction toward me. Leader-worthy mental fortitude.
I continued with my most benevolent smile.
"Yes. Even spilling our hearts, you couldn't fully trust us. Humans lack your forest gifts. But... that's why we've prepared proofs."
"Can you really earn an elf's trust? Show me. Fail, and you'll taste bitterness. Not too bitter..."
"What I propose is a deal."
"...A deal?"
If they're unsure, make them want to believe. Pile thick rewards on the scale, turn trusting humans into an enticing gamble.
"I'm a mage of the Violet Magic Tower, master of the crow. I can lift your 'Curse of Knowledge' and patch the mental link's security flaw exposed here. Plus."
"Hm."
"I share ties with the Empire's First Princess, Second Prince, and Third Prince. Word is... the Second Prince lost an eye and arm in the Great Forest. I'll arrange reconciliation."
"......"
The elf leader's face hardened, deep in thought.
"Heard a tale of an imperial prince visiting our sacred elf city with the World Tree. Demanded a sapling by emperor's order; we refused."
"Oh ho."
"He tried stealing it. Fight broke out; he failed and fled. Empire started the rudeness—why think we'd seek peace?"
News to me.
Simple reply.
"Because we're stronger."
"......"
"Over three mythic-grade here. We could fight you all flat-out and win unscathed. Like the Empire vs. all elves."
"...Threatening us?"
"I mean: we have the power but won't use it—that's our sincerity. Catch the black mage, return the relic with fitting amends. Watch."
The leader bit her lip, stood.
"You said you're chasing the black mage. We'll watch. Don't forget our eyes in the leaves. We'll keep watching."
Sounded a tad stalkery.
"Yes. Understood."
She gestured; elves melted into bushes seamlessly. Near-invisible without focus.
Leaf outfits worked wonders.
They'd shadow us from stealth, keeping distance.
I sighed in relief. No innocents harmed.
And an unintended hint.
Irid sought World Tree sapling by emperor's command. If desperate enough to steal its mental link power... maybe to hunt 'that thing' once hidden in the palace.
Emperor might know deep. Never cared much, but time to meet him?
As I pondered—
Rustle. Bushes parted; one elf poked out cautiously. Then.
"Um... here. Take this."
"...?"
"I-I don't know! What do I do!"
She shoved a pretty leaf bracelet into my hand and vanished into the brush. What made this?
I stared at the warm leaf.
Just leaves, yet touching. True interspecies exchange? Preserve with magic for heirs?
Selbia commanded icily.
"Throw it away."
"But Selbia, academically..."
"Academic my ass—throw it, oppa! Before I burn it all!"
"Hng..."
I let the leaf go with regret.
We resumed the black mage hunt, neutral elves in tow.
A tree squirrel watched them obsessively as they departed.
An eerie dissonance hung over the peaceful forest. Silent, utterly still.
Unnatural. No birdsong, no snakes slithering, not even insect wings. All life erased. Or devoured.
A lone deer wandered, herd vanished overnight.
Where'd they go—grazing, drinking together? Creepy predator loose?
Deer scanned for traces, found none.
Doubt in its clear eyes—
Something pale dropped from above. White-haired girl plummeted, hair whipping, fangs sinking into the deer's nape.
Grotesque dagger met flesh—
Deer restructured in a flash, sucked into the girl's tiny body. Blood, meat, short life—all fuel for propulsion.
Crunch. Fresh muscles tore for acceleration.
No bloodstains left.
"......Hah."
Faceless dashed through the forest in her true form, pondering.
She'd made a squirrel with mythic power for basic surveillance. Knew pursuers multiplied, mad wizard among them.
Mad wizard.
One who rigged a tournament with illusions, fooled the Eastern Front's champion into flipping mythics, pierced her own mythic at a glance. Monster.
And he opposed Redburn. Stupid Roderus bro should've assassinated him. Useless failure.
Dire threat to the family—must die.
Situation far from ideal.
No spare meat puppets, no father's Foreseeing Lantern, true form exposed. Unstable.
So run, prepare, then fight?
No.
Taking this risk against a powerhouse meant the mad bastard was shaky too.
He'd split.
Recent Lamb that Swallows Pain wide telepathy. Covert message to four black mages and aides.
Mad wizard's soul shattered; some shards function as artifacts—collect and send if possible.
Black mages swarmed mi-ma shards after that call.
Reeling from Goddess's Forced Exile, crippled. Kill now? Maybe only chance.
His abilities: nightmare.
Under Violet Tower Master's wing, he'd unleash physical illusions, shatter black mage plans with unfathomable schemes.
Kill now.
Elf relic—meant for father, but using on mad wizard might please him more.
Faceless crushed hoarded animal souls while racing, drew evil god sigil on ground, channeled message.
"⟨Fear-Eating Corpse Flower⟩... Got that thing you wanted. The elf relic. Come here. Your plan-ruiner wizard's here too."
⟨ Fear-Eating Corpse Flower ⟩
She readied her counterstrike.