Chapter 246
Chapter 246
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 246
Chapter Title: Alvheim's Elves ? Alvheim's Fairies #6
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*Shing—.*
Delphina drew the thin blade from its sheath and examined it, her eyes fixed on the gleaming edge as she asked,
“You. You said protecting Elfride is the job this time. But is that really all there is to it?”
“What? What do you mean by that?”
“Are you really doing this just for the job?”
“Then what else would it be.”
“...”
At my response, Delphina slid the blade back into its sheath with a *click*.
“Fine, that answer tells me plenty. We’re pulling out of this mess.”
“What?”
“No more stirring up trouble when kingdom inspectors might show up any minute. Elfride’s out of the party as of today.”
“No—.”
I couldn’t help furrowing my brow at this completely unexpected news. Kicking Elfride out of the party? Didn’t that mean cutting her loose?
These guys were ditching her the moment they thought she’d bring harm to their party. For some reason, that pissed me off.
Why was that, exactly?
Maybe because I knew she’d braved the darkness to save them.
Yeah, that had to be it.
Elfride had risked her life for these people without hesitation, yet the second they sensed she might cost them, they were ready to toss her aside?
Of course, Delphina was right.
Coldly speaking, these uncivilized barbarians moved by their own gains and losses. Nothing safer than that metric.
I wondered if I’d even be having this conversation here without Kalidur’s job.
“...”
As I sank into that thought for a moment, Delphina spoke up.
“Then we’re done here. We’ve got our own futures to think about. One more screw-up like this, and our adventuring days are over. So, on that note—you tell Elp, no, Elfride about the party dismissal, or don’t. Your call, Samarian.”
“Hey, Delphina—.”
“Quiet, Edwin. This is my call as leader. If you don’t like it, you can leave with Elfride.”
Delphina shot down her comrade’s input without a second thought. From her attitude, it was clear relations had soured beyond repair over this.
The hospital room fell into a brief silence, everyone seemingly holding back words as they stared mutely at the incense burners, swords, or windows before them. Parties forming and breaking was commonplace in adventurer circles. They formed for all sorts of reasons and disbanded for mostly the same ones.
This was just one of many cases. The party wasn’t dissolving entirely—just Elfride getting booted.
Yet even with Delphina standing so firm alone, you’d think the others harboring resentment would pipe up or object.
The fact they didn’t suggested some deeper reason kept them together as a party.
They’d weighed that reason against Elfride and discarded the lighter one. Prioritizing like that was probably how they’d reached high Silver Tier.
I knew that full well, but it stressed me out so much I almost preferred the teasing vibe from earlier.
Shoulders growing heavy after arriving lighthearted and hearing things I never saw coming.
I untangled my knotted thoughts like earphone cords and bundled my own stance into a reply.
“Yeah, that’s adventuring for you. I get your position. Didn’t see this coming, but oh well. Can’t be helped.”
“Quick on the uptake—nice, Samarian.”
I slashed a huge chunk off the mental score I’d given Delphina earlier for seeming bighearted. She was just your run-of-the-mill livelihood adventurer, nothing more.
After all the recent events giving me a glimmer of hope for this world, turns out Luna, Hippolyte, and Paranoy were the exceptions. This was the norm.
“Then get some rest.”
With that, I left the room. As I did, Edwin—the spellcaster who’d been fidgeting his weary eyes anxiously—muttered from behind.
“She’s probably on the rooftop, Elfride.”
I hadn’t asked. But now that I’d heard it, ignoring would prick my conscience.
*
*
*
Up on the rooftop stood a woman gazing at the world under the sunset. Even from the back, I knew exactly who she was.
“Delphina?”
It was Elfride who spoke to me, mistaking my presence for hers. She must’ve sensed me and assumed.
I replied,
“Afraid it’s just me. Elfride.”
Her shoulders twitched in surprise. She turned to look my way.
Her pale face flushed red like she’d caught a cold from the blazing sun, sweat beading on her forehead.
“...Hassan, what brings you here? Never thought you’d show up.”
Caught off-guard by the unexpected visitor, Elfride flicked her exposed ear by her hair.
She’d be even more flustered by what I had to say.
“Straight to the point, since you hate beating around the bush. So listen without misunderstanding what I say.”
“You’re already dragging it out. What the hell are you doing here? You’re not here to visit the sick, are you?”
“Nope.”
“What? Yeah, figures. Looks like you’ve got something to say. Spill it straight, like you said—I hate dragging shit out.”
“You might die soon. Maybe six hours or less.”
“...What?”
Elfride scowled fiercely, her flushed face wrinkling.
It contrasted sharply with her usual calm expression—the gap made it downright intimidating. Even I, who’d seen her face for two years, felt a chill.
“I’m gonna die?”
“Alvheim’s elves are right under your nose. Know they’re in the east gate district?”
“Alvheim...”
At that, the scowl eased slightly on Elfride’s forehead, which had been creased moments ago.
“Alvheim, huh.”
She seemed about to say more, but turned her back to me again, facing the world.
With only her nape visible, I couldn’t tell what she was seeing or what expression she wore.
“Finally, what was coming is here. A bit late, even.”
“Yeah.”
“If you’re saying that, you must know I set the tree ablaze by now.”
“Yep.”
“So, those pursuers said they’re dragging me back to Alvheim?”
“Nah, seems they cut a deal with the kingdom. Planning to execute you or enslave you.”
“Ha?”
Her voice, calm till now, cracked.
“Enslave me? Who the fuck decides that?”
“No clue. Anyway, it’s kinda funny hearing you talk like that. Your life’s over, Elfride. But not today, at least. I got a job to protect you.”
“A job? This just keeps getting weirder. And you’re protecting me? If you’re one of my pursuers, you’re either Flash or Lightning.”
Flash and Lightning were Kalidur and Daltor’s epithets.
Crappy nicknames that stuck in my head—and Elfride naming them meant they were pretty infamous elf hunters. Makes sense; no one gets gaudy titles otherwise.
Elfride said,
“You think playing adventurer lately means you can stop those ruthless bastards? They’d crush you in one clash.”
“Still, I’m your only ally right now. Your one lifeline—and you talk to me like that?”
“What?”
I was pissed at Elfride too, for not grasping the situation.
Why was this world full of idiots?
Maybe ’cause they lacked proper higher education, didn’t even know if the planet was round.
“You just got kicked out of your party, Elfride.”
“...”
Elfride froze, back still turned.
I kept talking to her back.
“Talked to Delphina just now. They wanna avoid fighting Alvheim’s trackers, so they booted you. You’ve got no one left.”
“...”
She’d been sniping back quips until a second ago. Now, total silence. Her head must be spinning.
She could dismiss my words as lies. But Elfride was sharp—she’d piece together what went down between me and Delphina.
“In the end, it happened again, huh. Damn it. You’re all I’ve got left? Should I cry or laugh?”
“I’m only buying you a day at most. Might not even manage that, like you said. No way out?”
“What way?”
“Like shaking the pursuers or running. Bolt out of the city right now.”
“Won’t matter. Just a matter of time. Honestly, this fugitive life’s wearing thin. Not sure living like this leads anywhere good. Just—.”
Elfride kept repeating “just—.” I could guess she was mumbling in her mouth. Probably just wanted to give up.
Being hunted was exhausting, no doubt. But her lack of fight wasn’t good for me.
“If you give up, I fail the job.”
“That’s not my problem. I’m sick of this shit. Gaia continent had its fun moments, but I’ve done it all. Time to end it.”
“You wanna die?”
“Execution or enslavement. You know better what’s coming, Hassan.”
I pictured Elfride getting sentenced.
Execution—.
Nah, for her, it’d be enslavement for sure.
Hate to admit it, but Elfride was a beauty who bewitched hearts. Even called a witch among elves, I heard.
So plenty would bid to own her as a slave.
No execution then.
Like I’d said before, beauties get all sorts of perks in this world.
But a beauty as a slave.
Would she really rejoice at being spared?
Slave treatment varied wildly by owner.
But for young women? Pretty uniform. And the reason to buy a beautiful slave? One thing only.
“Elfride, you wouldn’t last a day as a slave.”
“Ha, funny. Hassan, you think I can’t last a day when you survived two years? I look that pathetic?”
“Elfride, not every owner’s like you. Might be no different from dying. Maybe worse.”
“What kind of owner am I, then.”
She’d spoken calmly, but her slender shoulders trembled. Fear? Anger? Unclear, but she was shaken bad.
“What kind of owner am I?”
“...”
I paused to think. Even that brief silence was too much—she burst out like a breached dam.
“What kind of owner am I, huh? The one who saved a dying slave, only for the idiot bitch to freak and run? The cruel one who punched her face when they met again? And now, the loser with no one but that ex-slave on her side?”
*Crack.*
Elfride gripped the rooftop railing hard. People react to crises in all ways.
From what I knew, Elfride was self-destructive. Often called a mad witch for wielding fire, burning like flames.
Nothing fit her better.
The fire in her heart had burned the world tree, torched her relationships, and nearly consumed herself.
“Don’t you dare pity me half-assed. Acting like my ally now makes me wanna puke. A few meals together, and you think we’re the same? Think rolling in the abyss together makes a barbarian like you equal to me?”
Elfride spat, seething with rage.
“Don’t pretend to be on my side now. Fucking disgusting. Can’t even look at your face. Think I’ll gratefully take your hand if you offer it late? If that’s how it is, then from the start—.”
Didn’t this happen recently too? Our talks always ended up like this.
But if it were before—if even just moments ago—I’d snap back. Now, I felt calm as a vast, still lake.
Elfride hurled stones at my depths, but no ripples stirred. Even I found it odd.
Maybe seeing her fate sparked pity.
With this step back between us, something came into view.
Memories surfaced: stepping on the podium to make a girl cry, the college folly of rash words chilling the bed that day—I was repeating them.
“Hey, Elfride. You got a thing for me or what?”