Chapter 242
Chapter 242
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 242
Chapter Title: Alfheim's Elves #2
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“Brother of the savages, you must know that this humble monk came to this continent in search of the witch Elfride.”
Under the dark moonlight, Kallidur’s bald head gleamed as it drew closer to me.
The strange thing was that there was no presence or footstep sounds at all, as one would normally sense from an approaching person.
He moved like a snake slithering across the ground.
It was something I’d brushed off without a second thought before.
But after mingling with high-level experts like Hippolyte and the skeleton knight, I could vaguely tell that this Kallidur was an incredibly skilled warrior.
A bare-handed fighter using only his fists and feet as weapons—no fancy tools. In their terms, it was safe to say he’d reached a fairly advanced realm of superior martial arts.
With such a guy closing the distance, I naturally tensed up.
“…So, you’ve come to talk about Elfride with me now?”
“You could say that, or you could say otherwise. But one thing is certain: you are not this monk’s enemy, brother.”
Pajit-pajijit-.
Not my enemy, huh.
For someone saying that, a piercing pressure like needles pricking my skin emanated from Kallidur.
It felt just like if you could absorb cola through your skin after carbonation fizzed out in the air.
Hippolyte and the skeleton knight often said during training that reading your opponent’s aura was crucial. A true master could gauge the gap in skill before the fight even started.
Back then, I’d chalked it up to the typical exaggerations of this world’s people. But ever since that bizarre hand pierced my lower abdomen and awakened various senses, I could feel this eerie sensation vividly.
So this is fighting spirit—or killing intent.
Jirit, jirit-.
I’d struggled to explain it with the cola analogy, but once I calmly sensed it, it was similar to the numb tingling in your limbs when blood flow is cut off.
“You say you don’t plan to be enemies, yet you’re radiating such an intimidating aura. Are you telling me to believe you or not?”
“Oh, so that’s how it came across. I was curious about how far your realm had progressed, brother, and ended up being somewhat rude. I didn’t expect you to read my aura.”
Susususu-.
Kallidur’s expression remained unreadable in the darkness, but the aura emanating from him shrank and vanished like a switch had been flipped.
“Baldy bastard, you were looking down on me, huh.”
“The first time we met and when we reunited, you didn’t react to this same energy. I thought it was just your level back then. Looks like you’ve trained considerably since.”
“Yeah, well, something like that.”
“Then how about a spar with this monk? My own enlightenment may be lacking, but I might offer a small piece of advice to a brother from the savage lands—”
A spar, huh.
“Sure.”
I stood up from my cross-legged position. I’d been itching for action anyway, cooped up for days under orders to behave.
Gym rats get paranoid that their muscles will atrophy after a few days off—I was exactly like that.
After daily spars with Hippolyte and the skeleton knight, lounging at home felt like committing a sin, as if my experience points were dropping while I idled.
If a strong warrior like Kallidur was offering to guide me, I had no reason to refuse.
“I’ll go easy on you, so feel free to come at me without holding back.”
Whether this was kindness or condescension, it bruised my pride a bit.
He stood with his heels together at a slant, one hand on his waist, the other extended toward me, palm flicking mockingly.
It was the textbook pose of a master facing a novice.
Maybe he was provoking me on purpose.
It fired me up just right, overflowing with power and motivation. Kallidur might’ve been goading me intentionally.
After sitting in meditation for so long, I loosened up, rolling my neck and wrists. Kallidur, shrouded in darkness, continued in a somewhat surprised tone.
“You won’t use the club at your waist? It looks like a fine weapon. It even gives off a vibe similar to our mother world tree—blessed divine wood, I’d wager.”
“But my club isn’t for just anyone’s eyes. Bare hands—let’s go bare-handed.”
“Then come at me anytime.”
“No need to tell me—”
Pabat-.
I kicked up dirt from the ground at him.
With my strong legs, fragments of stones, sand, and weeds from the park floor scattered like shotgun pellets toward Kallidur.
“A fine ambush.”
His voice sounded leisurely, which irked me a bit, but the gravel and sand barrage definitely made him hesitate.
I didn’t miss the opening, swinging my fist full force at his face.
Pat-.
But my fist was smacked down from above by his palm that appeared out of nowhere, throwing off my balance and making me stagger.
My upper body pitched forward as if I’d fall, and right in front of my eyes, something massive cut through the air toward me.
Suwaaaak-.
It was Kallidur’s knee.
He’d slapped my palm down to unbalance me, then chained into a ruthless knee strike to my face.
If this landed, my nose bone might shatter.
I’m screwed.
As that thought flashed, his knee stopped just short of my nose.
“This should suffice. I mimicked Dermod’s Dark Smash Fist. It’ll come in handy someday.”
No idea what Dermod’s Dark Smash Fist was.
“You son of a—”
Anyone could see it: total defeat on my part.
No excuses.
I’d expected to lose, but not in one exchange this quick.
“Not even a match.”
I figured I’d last at least a few minutes, but this was basically an insta-kill.
Spitting on the ground and stewing in defeat, Kallidur dusted off his clothes—tak-tak— and spoke.
“No need to be too discouraged. This monk’s body is honed from the start for a special purpose against enemies. Even in this world, those who could beat me are few and far between.”
“I see.”
Few in the world, huh.
Normally I’d call it bluffing, but strangely, his words carried a convincing mystique.
Guess cultists are different. That’s why people fall for sermons.
Tak, tak-.
Having dusted himself off, Kallidur’s face finally emerged under the moonlight. His usual emotionless expression, almost coldly desireless.
“No matter the opponent, as long as they look human, this monk rarely loses. But against non-humans, I’m powerless. That’s how I was made.”
“Yeah? Well, shit happens. With your skills, you could slaughter beasts or monsters easy.”
“That’s the curse and constraint on me. In continental terms, you could call it an enchantment.”
An enchantment on a human.
Enchantments on weapons or gear had restrictions but doubled effects in specific situations.
Like lumberjack axes sharper than famous swords only against trees.
Similarly, Kallidur seemed specialized for human combat. Come to think of it, he’d been helpless against the lumberjack stumps.
“Huge weakness.”
“But that weakness is what makes one strong. To surpass certain realms, it’s essential… though most never realize it.”
“Hippolyte said something like that too.”
Hippolyte is deathly weak to moonlight or similar affinities.
Due to her moonlight allergy.
When I offered to help cure it, she was shocked but refused.
Her reason: “A fatal weakness makes you push your skills further.”
High-level masters all think alike, spouting similar wisdom.
“So you get super strong against humans? But didn’t you lose to that holy knight chick last time?”
I narrowed my eyes at Kallidur’s leg. His thigh was wrapped in a rigid cast up to the knee, aftermath of that fight.
Kallidur replied.
“Yes, back then. She was stronger than expected. My body had grown weak from indulgence in meat and pleasure.”
“I see.”
“Anyway, now that I’ve seen your skills, brother, I feel relieved. I had a request for you, actually.”
“For me? A request?”
“Yes. This monk settled in this city chasing the witch Elfride, but I’ve found no trace of her. I’ve been too busy wandering…”
Kallidur’s eyes stared into space. No change in gaze or softening expression, but I could tell he was lost in reminiscence.
I asked.
“You’re not asking me to catch Elfride for you, right?”
“Quite the opposite.”
“The opposite?”
I couldn’t guess what Kallidur was about to say. Every time, that cold mask hid his thoughts completely.
*
*
*
Kallidur’s explanation was short and to the point.
He’d been dispatched to capture Elfride, and if she were caught, he’d have to return to Alfheim.
But Kallidur didn’t want to leave this continent yet, so he hoped Elfride stayed free.
“No way—”
This guy was totally neglecting his duty, wasn’t he?
I’d vaguely sensed it when he preached about abstinence. Like everyone here, he had some weird quirk.
Meat-eating monk bastard.
“What’re you planning to do by sticking around the continent?”
“There’s still someone here I haven’t beaten. Until I do, I must remain.”
“Yeah? That holy knight from Venus Temple?”
I recalled the Venus Temple holy knight who’d cleanly snapped Kallidur’s leg. The weird woman in spiky armor like an iron mace, with a muzzle gag.
Psyche, was it? So distinctive you couldn’t forget her—memory still fresh.
“Indeed, sharp thinking, brother. No idea how you guessed, but yes, her from Venus Temple.”
“I see. She was damn strong.”
“Do you know anything about her, brother?”
Know about Psyche? Not really. All I knew was she’d crushed Kallidur’s leg.
Anyway, Kallidur wanted a rematch with Psyche. That’s why he wouldn’t leave the continent.
“So, what do you want me to do?”
“Nothing much. Just meet the envoys from Alfheim this time, talk to them—that should suffice. Tell them this Kallidur will handle things, so wait. That’d be ideal.”
Easy enough.
“And what do I get out of it? The reward.”
“Regrettably, this monk has nothing to offer. But I might impart a small teaching. Perhaps some insight into releasing battle aura.”
Releasing battle aura.
I recalled the energy he’d unleashed at me earlier upon reuniting. If I could do that, what better reward?
Am I getting Conqueror’s Haki too?
Imagining thugs fainting from my aura alone, Kallidur added more.
“Releasing energy is the most basic use of qi. With your solid foundation, brother, you’ll pick it up fast. Looks like you’ve had a good teacher.”
“Alright, no downside for me.”
“Grateful you accept the request.”
“So, how many days till you beat that woman?”
“No clue. It’s my first time with something like this… Ah, brother, do you know much about women? If so, could you accompany me to Venus Temple tomorrow?”
“Me?”
“I want your eyes on her, to spot any weaknesses.”
“Sure, why not.”
I had business at Venus Temple anyway. Needed to collect my reward from the saintess for that mission fighting those steel harpies.
Damn, thinking about it pisses me off. Are they withholding my pay? Unacceptable. I’ll demand interest too, curse them out if needed.
Next day, heading to Venus Temple with Kallidur at dawn, I spotted someone he pointed out.
“There, that woman.”
But at the spot Kallidur indicated, no holy knight or saintess—just an ordinary woman at the reception desk.
“Who the hell’s that?”
“Her name is Hersy. Don’t you already know her…?”
“No, what the hell is this?”
Stunned by the unexpected face, the yawning woman at the desk noticed the commotion and looked our way.
“Ah, Mr. Kallidur!”
“…”
Seeing her bright smile and wave against Kallidur’s icy response, I got a familiar vibe.
A guy stuck here, bewitched by a woman, unable to return home.
He’s just like me.