Chapter 245
Chapter 245
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 245
Chapter Title: Alfheim's Elves ? Alfheim's Fairies #5
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“Hassan, I’m off to see Nemea then! I didn’t do my homework—big trouble!”
“What kind of training has homework?”
“They said to use spider venom, I have to take Cuddles out for a walk. But I didn’t. I’m gonna get scolded.”
Luna shuddered with a groan. The name Nemea had me pretty worried for her, but oddly enough, her classes seemed to run pretty normally, if suspiciously so.
After parting with Luna.
That afternoon.
I relayed everything to Kallidur, whom I ran into again in the garden of the Venus Temple.
What had gone down at the tavern. How I’d fought those elves, and what they’d told me—I explained it all in detail.
“I dodged that bastard’s knee, slammed my shoulder into him, then smashed down with my fist, you know?”
“I see.”
Splash.
But he just gave a lukewarm response. He was probably too distracted to focus on my story.
“What are you even doing right now?”
“Watering the flowers.”
Kallidur was tending to the flowers and trees in the Venus Temple garden, swinging a small watering can around to sprinkle thin streams onto the ground.
“This flower’s called a celicolli. The Herci sisters told me it releases a faint mist when watered under the blazing sun.”
Sure enough, flower buds like silver beads sprayed out strange pollen into the air.
Whoosh.
It smelled nice, like someone had spritzed Febreze, but that wasn’t what mattered to me right now.
“But those guys were all up in my face about it!”
“I see.”
It was like reciting sutras to a cow’s ear.
“You idiot.”
“I see.”
“Fuck.”
I realized none of what I’d said had gotten through to him. He was completely absorbed in watering those flowers.
“Mr. Kallidur! Don’t forget the other spots too!”
“Understood.”
And I had a pretty good idea why. Over there on the opposite side, a woman named Herci was watering flowers and trees just like him.
“It’s been so dry this year—such a pain. Sorry for dumping my work on you, Mr. Kallidur.”
“No need. Symbiosis with nature and living things is the path of the lesser vehicle. It’s been a meaningful time.”
“Then wait in the shade over there for a bit! I’ll bring you a cool wet towel!”
With that, Herci dashed into the Venus Temple and vanished. Kallidur watched her go without a word.
His eyes were as cold as ever, his expression unchanged.
I couldn’t read his feelings, but watching him like that made him look like some psycho stalking a woman, which was starting to creep me out.
“Hey, Kallidur. Did you hear everything I said?”
“Brother, I did. You defeated Dermod in combat—”
“Yeah, well, looks like you caught the gist.”
“Dermod is a rising star among us ascetics, like a living god. To beat him and make him admit defeat—impressive.”
“Well, fighting you helped. Gave me some pointers.”
Kallidur and Dermod moved the same way. I’d already dealt with it once against Kallidur, so I just adapted.
In that sense, I decided to bump up my estimation of Kallidur’s skills by a notch.
He might really be unbeatable in one-on-one fights. Maybe even against Hippolyte.
Of course, she’d say something like, “Fights between top tiers are full of variables.” Predicting the outcome before it’s over is foolish.
So, what if that weapon master skeleton knight fought this guy?
The skeleton’s far from human. But it has arms and legs, humanoid form. I was pondering that when Kallidur spoke up.
“The showdown’s tonight?”
“Yeah.”
“So it’s come to that. I knew words wouldn’t work on them. They follow Mother’s words like gospel…”
“Mother? The World Tree?”
“Indeed. The massive tree at the world’s heart.”
The world’s heart.
Elves often saw themselves as the center of the world, treating us Gaia Continent folk like barbarians from the fringes.
To them, a Samaritan like me was a barbarian among barbarians. Maybe not even human.
I got a slight inkling why Elfriede had ragged on me and beat me up so much, and I asked,
“So, you’re grabbing Elfriede tonight?”
“No can do. I have plans with the Herci sisters this evening.”
“Oh, plans? Dinner date?”
“Helping tidy up the temple.”
What? I thought it was a date. But thinking about it, dates aren’t a big deal.
When Luna and I first met, even just being together was enough—no fancy dinner needed.
I saw shades of my old self in Kallidur from months ago. Maybe nothing matters more to him right now than this Herci girl.
“But they said they’re wrapping it up today.”
“Herci’s official ordination as a priestess is in two days. So today—at least until tomorrow—best to delay if possible. Brother, could I ask one more favor?”
“My rates are steep.”
“Your body is refined, brother. But one flaw: you’ve focused on upper body and hand techniques, so your footwork lags behind.”
“Footwork?”
“Steps are the foundation, yet most vital. If you help with this, I’ll teach you the footwork I’ve mastered myself.”
Footwork.
I recalled how Kallidur had snuck right up to my nose without a sound.
Only him and Hippolyte could silently grab behind my sharp senses.
“What do I need to do?”
“Today, just hide Elfriede. Tell her to leave the city—that should do it.”
“That’s easy enough for you to tell her yourself, no?”
“No. We are—Mother’s dogs.”
Kallidur ended it there.
I had more questions, but his cold face seemed even stiffer than usual, so I shut my mouth.
*
*
*
The White Silver Roses, escaped from the Abyss.
They’d recovered at a clinic near the east gate, where rich folks flock.
Word was, some mental trauma, but no big hit to their physicals or adventuring.
“Hey, I heard you came to the Abyss to rescue me?”
At the Watermint Clinic’s garden by the east gate, Delphina and her crew in their four-bed ward turned to me.
Draped in those breezy clinic gowns, they looked more like they were convalescing than treating injuries.
“Delphina, no major injuries, huh?”
“What, worried about me? Sweeter than I thought.”
“Talking shit means you’re fine.”
“Yeah. Still, better rest a week to be safe. We’re not in a spot to go blabbing outside anyway. Damn, inspectors from the capital, temple knights, inspectors—this is why I hate big cities.”
“Ah, wanna go back to Calcutta—” Delphina grumbled, sprawling on her bed and stretching lazily.
Rustle.
Her gown slipped open a bit, flashing cleavage and a smooth white armpit right at me.
Clean as hell—shaved or naturally smooth?
I kept a straight face, pretending not to notice, when Liri—the brawler fiddling with a mortar in the corner—piped up.
“Delphina. The guy saw your tits and armpit.”
What the—CCTV? How’d she know?
I tensed. If Delphina yelled, “That creep ogled my armpit like he was licking it!” to the guards, I’d be in for interrogation.
But Delphina just fixed her collar casually.
“Oh? Whatever. I showed ’em on purpose. Gotta give some service after he busted his ass for us. It’s not like they wear out.”
Delphina’s more big-hearted than I thought. Figures for a silver-rank party leader—no magnanimity, no dice.
“Tha—”
Right then, the other woman who’d been quietly watching me—the spellcaster Edwin, I think—spoke up.
“You can grope my tits too~.”
Wait, for real?
I was honestly flustered. Offering a feel? Not why I came. Good Luna’s not here. Obviously, I’ll pass.
“I—”
“Pfft.”
“Puhahaha.”
But their laughter told me I’d been played.
This was a four-woman adventurer ward. Den of lionesses. And I was no lion—just one gazelle.
Gazelles are fucking weak.
“Ha, that was fun.”
Delphina rubbed her cheekbones with her thumb after laughing her ass off.
“Anyway, you’re not here for us. Here for Elpi, right?”
“Yeah.”
“Lucky Elpi, getting visitors. Why don’t we have any?”
“Not for romantic reasons.”
“Oh?”
I glanced around the room.
Silver-tier adventurers. Elfriede’s current crew. Honestly, first time I saw them, I didn’t buy that prickly Elfriede had fixed teammates—not one-offs she used or who used her firepower.
But these girls seemed different.
Qualified as Elfriede’s allies.
Funny me scoring them, but bottom line: trustworthy enough.
“Word is, Alfheim elves are gunning for Elfriede today.”
Kallidur’s job: delay her capture till Herci’s ordination. Block pursuers with force if needed.
I took down that big elf Dermod, sure, but handling him plus the female elf Mimirna and the quiet Daltor? No way.
Kallidur warned especially about lightning-fast Daltor. If he says so, the guy’s a top-tier fighter.
So, I needed some allies too.
Hippolyte sisters busy with Abyss aftermath. Among who I know, strongest are few.
And top of that list: these girls.
“Alfheim elves, hmm—”
Delphina, who’d been playful seconds ago, plunged into deep thought like it was a lie.
“Knew Elpi was on the run from pursuers. Guess we’ve been too noisy lately. If it comes to fighting them, I’d have no face left with the viscount.”
“You’re her teammates, right? Protect her then.”
“Yeah, teammates. But first, Calcutta adventurers. Sigh, too much to weigh. Elpi getting executed…”
Delphina pondered, while brawler Liri and spellcaster Edwin stayed silent.
Doesn’t this screw my plan to team up?
“If you’re her teammates, show some fire. You cool with Elfriede executed?”
“Not that, but—”
“She thinks you’ll stick by her to the end. Don’t say shit like that.”
“Well, yeah. Why so heated? Calm down.”
“Me, heated?”
I noticed my heavy breathing. Got worked up without realizing. Elfriede stuff always gets under my skin.
As I caught my breath, Delphina drew her sword from its sheath by the bed with a shing, checking the blade.
She said,
“Look, Samaritan. Depending on your answer, our stance might change.”
“My answer?”
“You said protecting Elfriede is the job. But is that really all?”