Chapter 21 The Elf's Regret
Chapter 21: The Elf's Regret
Yenia was special even among elves.
Her beauty was only the beginning—her long, grass-green hair cascading down to her waist, emerald eyes that shimmered like precious stones, skin as pale and flawless as white jade, and a slender, delicate frame that made her seem almost ethereal.
But her appearance was merely the surface.
Despite her youth, her talent and skill surpassed even the most seasoned of her kin. Though she was born of the High Elf bloodline, her growth rate was unnaturally exceptional, even by their standards.
Elves, by nature, were a leisurely race, their long lifespans matched by a slow and steady pace of development. Had it been otherwise, the world would have been ruled by elves, not humans.
Yenia defied that norm.
With her mastery of archery and spirit magic, she had ventured into human lands at an age considered shockingly young by elven standards.
It wasn't unusual for elves to walk among humans—the two races had long since established deep ties—but what Yenia witnessed was far from peaceful.
The world was suffering under the relentless onslaught of the Demon King's army.
Elven territories, for the most part, remained untouched, but the few that had fallen painted a grim picture of what awaited should the Demon King's forces go unchecked.
'This is dangerous.'
Yenia realized that the growing threat of the Demon King's army wasn't just humanity's problem—it was everyone's.
As a High Elf, her warnings were swiftly heeded. The elves, too, had lost kin to the Demon King's forces, and they could no longer afford to remain passive.
Unlike the dwarves, who primarily supported from the rear, the elves took to the frontlines, their archery and spirit magic proving invaluable in battle.
But even their combined strength wasn't enough.
Then, he appeared.
Yu Ji-hu, the Hero summoned from another world.
When Yenia first met him, he was already fighting alongside the Saintess Mine, the Princess Knight Iris, and the mage Scarlet.
And from the very beginning, she knew he was different.
"Haa... haa..."
Yenia was reaching her limit.
The endless waves of the Demon King's forces had worn her down. Around her, both human and elven allies lay fallen, and the elven women among them were meeting particularly gruesome fates.
"Kyaaaah!"
The screams of captured elven women echoed as demons and monstrous beasts tore into them, feasting on their still-living bodies.
If hell exists, this is it.
Just as the thought crossed her mind, a group of high-ranking demons approached her, their cruel laughter sending chills down her spine.
"You don't even have the strength to resist anymore, do you?"
She gritted her teeth but couldn't deny it.
"This one would be delicious alive, but she'd be far more useful otherwise."
"True. She'd make a fine breeding stock—strong enough to bear plenty of demon offspring."
"Should we turn her into a succubus? An elven succubus would be quite the prize."
Yenia's face paled with every word. Even in the face of death, the horrors they described were beyond anything she had imagined.
"I-I'd rather die than—!"
With the last of her strength, she tried summoning a spirit—but she had nothing left.
"Agh!"
The weak spirits she managed to call forth were instantly banished by a single strike from the demons. The backlash sent her flying, pain searing through her body as she braced for impact—
Only to be caught mid-air by someone.
"Are you alright?"
A man's voice.
Young, by human standards—not quite fully matured. And when she looked up, she saw a boyish face, handsome even by elven standards, with soft features and an air of kindness.
She knew immediately who he was.
The Hero.
"Ji-hu! You can't just run off like that!"
A stunning blonde girl in sleek blue armor rushed over, her sword drawn as she glared at the approaching demons.
"Sorry, Iris. But she was in danger."
Had she crashed into the ground—or worse, a tree or rock—she would've been severely injured.
Behind them, a red-haired mage in robes and a silver-haired girl, aided by magic, landed gracefully.
"Ji-hu, you know I can't keep up with you!"
"Sorry, Scarlet. Just give me a second."
Then, his expression darkened.
The warmth in his eyes vanished, replaced by something colder—something furious.
Yenia watched, stunned, as the gentle boy transformed before her.
But given the carnage around them, she couldn't blame him.
"Tch, the Hero?!"
"Damn it!"
The demons lashed out, but Ji-hu cut them down effortlessly.
"Kuh—!"
"Gyaaah!"
He wielded the Holy Sword, but his fighting style wasn't limited to it.
Every swing unleashed a storm of divine energy, obliterating demons in its wake. His free hand shot forward, releasing shockwaves that sent massive beasts crashing down, blood spewing from their maws.
Incredible.
In that moment, Yenia realized—he truly was the Hero.
The hope that would bring peace to this world.
From that day on, she joined his party.
And as time passed, Ji-hu and his companions grew stronger at an astonishing rate.
The women around him—Mine, Iris, Scarlet—all fell for his kindness and unwavering care.
Yenia was no exception.
A year later, she found him digging graves.
"Ji-hu, what are you doing?"
"Burying the dead."
Using his powers, he shaped the earth, creating mass graves for the fallen.
Hundreds had died in this battle, despite their overwhelming victory.
"I don't even know their names. Or what kind of lives they lived." His voice was bitter. "Sending their bodies back to their families... it's impossible."
Leaving them to rot was unthinkable. Letting scavengers pick at their remains was worse.
So he buried them.
"If it were my sister... she would've done far better than me."
Yenia perked up at the mention of his sister.
"From the way you talk about her, she sounds amazing."
"Yeah. She's beautiful. Strong. And to me... she was always kind." He smiled faintly. "If she had come instead of me, the Demon King would already be dead."
"That strong?"
Yenia was stunned. Ji-hu was already a prodigy—someone he considered stronger than himself?
She wanted to know more—about him, about his sister, about the world he came from.
"I'll tell you later. For now... let's finish this."
"I'll help."
"Thanks."
Together, they buried the dead and prayed for their souls.
Years later, Yenia would look back on this moment with bitter regret.
She should have known—
A man like him would never betray them.