Humans and Elves (1)
Ardena could only glare at the innocent sky with a restless heart. The sun had already set. Night's curtain had unfurled across the sky. The chirping of crickets mingled with the tolling bells signaling curfew.
"Hoo."
The high elf beauty let out a deep sigh and nodded. They weren't even officially lovers. They'd simply given in to carnal urges and slept together—no real relationship had begun. Did I rush things too much? Ardena berated herself for being too hasty. She regretted trying to steal away his free time when they weren't even properly together.
But even so, she couldn't help feeling resentful toward Yushin for breaking his promise to her.
St-still... it was my request...
The high elf beauty grumbled inwardly, her face turning sullen. But there was nothing to be done. They weren't lovers yet. If a third party asked what her relationship was with the Demon King Slayer, Ardena would be struck dumb, unable to answer. Nothing was clearly defined.
A lord-vassal bond...? No, that wasn't accurate. He was the hero who had saved the Liberia Elf Kingdom. He was no longer a slave, and he had no reason to obey the Valencia family's commands. He'd promised to stay with the Valencias, but without a formal lord-vassal tie, his position in the family was ambiguously undefined—one they couldn't clearly explain.
No way he's secretly carrying on an affair with Allen Rocksfield, right?
Ardena muttered to herself. But she immediately shook her head, dismissing the absurd notion. Allen had a barbaric personality. She had no manners to speak of, and any nobility or virtue was nowhere to be found, even if you washed your eyes out looking. Ardena couldn't imagine the lofty, honor-bound Demon King Slayer embracing such a savage woman.
She might have picked up some noble etiquette, but her manners are a total mess, and she's a mad dog with zero refinement or kindness. No one in the world could possibly embrace a mad dog. Besides, he said she was like a little sister...!!
Was it because her anxiety kept gnawing at her? Ardena fixated on Allen Rocksfield's flaws, listing them out one by one. She was gearing up to write a thesis titled 101 Reasons Why the Mad Dog Doesn't Suit Yushin Gilliard.
She wasn't the type to badmouth others. But to soothe the anxiety squeezing her chest, she deliberately chewed over Allen's shortcomings, shouting inwardly, There's no way, absolutely no way!
As the night deepened and his return grew later, her unease mounted. She kicked idly at the dirt. She sighed for the umpteenth time. Like a wife anxiously awaiting her husband's return, she could only watch the time slip by.
* * *
Yushin returned when the sun was high in the sky. It was too late. Far too late. Naturally, his casual strolling gait looked infuriating to her, given that he'd broken his promise.
"Sorry, I'm really late."
Perhaps sensing the high elf beauty's sharpened glare, Yushin apologized first, bowing his head. Her anger softened a bit at the gesture, and Ardena smoothed away her revealing expression, accepting his return.
"It's fine. These things happen."
"Thanks."
"I want to hear why. Not that I'm interrogating you, of course..."
Though she said that, her raised eyes demanded an account of the previous night. She wanted every detail—the beginning, the end, everything.
"I'm tired, so I'm heading in first."
The blue-haired swordswoman blushed faintly and slipped away, her face shyly averted. It was an utterly out-of-character reaction. Ardena, with her keen instincts, sensed something amiss in Allen's flushed retreat. That mad dog backing down meekly? Impossible. The beast that always snarled and snapped was quietly withdrawing while Yushin was under scrutiny—there had to be a reason.
"Yushin."
"...Yeah."
"I know I'm not in a position to monitor your every move. But as a member of the Valencia family—and as the warrior captain defending the Liberia Elf Kingdom—I want to ask about your actions last night."
Ardena crossed her arms, her expression deadly serious. Yushin muttered inwardly, Being a Valencia family member or the elf kingdom's warrior captain doesn't really matter in this situation. But he couldn't say it outright.
"I was out playing all night."
"Playing?"
"Checked out the night market too. Maherith really is impressive. Elf civilization holds its own against human achievements—no lag at all. It's got its own unique culture, showing the elves' resilience."
"Don't change the subject."
"Yeah."
It hadn't worked. His naive plan—to praise the Liberia Elf Kingdom and stoke some national pride to slip by—had backfired. Ardena's suspicion level spiked to Code Red Phase Three. She wouldn't hear excuses now. He needed an alibi she'd buy. But no perfect one was springing to mind on the spot.
"Warrior Captain Ardena."
A gray-haired man approached the cornered Yushin and the on-high-alert Ardena.
"...Warrior Captain Miguel."
"I can sense it from your aura. You must be the famous Demon King Slayer of the Holy Empire... Yushin Gilliard."
Miguel marveled at Yushin's strength, and Yushin likewise recognized the man as a powerhouse. You could tell from his eyes—a veteran of countless battles.
From what Ardena had told him, Yushin knew Miguel LaMancha was an elf hailed as a hero by the Holy Empire and other human nations.
"To think I'd meet the legendary hero in person. Your fame might even surpass the Demon King Slayer of the Holy Empire... Bards and scholars spread tales of how you crushed demon armies multiple times and rescued countless troops from the jaws of death."
Yushin Gilliard wasn't one for narcissism or excessive self-praise, but even he acknowledged the rare few who earned such acclaim. This elf, granted hero titles by the Holy Empire and its 66 vassal states, was one. He'd charged into hopeless battlefields shunned by all to save humans, slain demon king kin who massacred imperial knights, proving his might through endless victories. Yet he'd demanded no rewards from the empire or its vassals. Bards called him the Hero of Selflessness, singing praises of the elf from the Liberia Peninsula.
"You know your stuff... That about right?"
"Of course! Never dreamed I'd meet you in the flesh. I knew you were an elf, but warrior captain of the Liberia Elf Kingdom? Wow!"
Ardena looked shocked at Yushin's boyish excitement, eyes sparkling. She'd heard of Miguel's feats on the demon fronts, but not that even the Holy Empire's Demon King Slayer would be awed.
"I heard you defeated the demon king Sabnack and her army, who threatened our homeland and kin."
"Yeah."
"Allow me to express my gratitude to the Demon King Slayer of the Holy Empire."
No sooner had he spoken than Miguel dropped to his knees on the dirt like a sinner at confession, forehead pressing to the ground. His gray hair dusted with soil. Yushin and Ardena froze, caught off guard—no time to stop him. They hadn't expected Miguel LaMancha to kneel so abruptly before a near-stranger.
"L-Lift your head... What sin have you committed...!"
Yushin hurriedly bent to raise the prostrate man, but he wouldn't budge. Whatever apology burned in him, he was determined to deliver it here, unmoving from the dirt.
"I have no face to show... My kin risked their lives battling the demon army, and you and your fellow captains fought Demon King Sabnack herself—yet I could offer no aid... I only arrived late to hear the aftermath...! Please forgive my failure to fulfill my duty as a warrior captain!"
From Miguel's voice thick with anguish, Yushin realized this man was as stubbornly principled as Ardena. Excessively honest, single-minded to the point of exhausting those around him. It explained why he was called the Hero of Selflessness. In a way, he resembled the Holy Empire's Demon King Slayer—similar yet worlds apart.
"You were fighting on the demon fronts yourself—how could you know? News doesn't travel instantly across the world. I took down the demon king, so relax."
"Thank you, Sir Yushin."
"Drop the 'Sir'—it's awkward."
"No. You saved our homeland and kin. It's not undue."
This guy's a real headache, Yushin thought. Miguel's bullheaded adherence reminded him of Ardena—uncannily so, enough to induce vertigo. He'd thought one such thick-headed elf was plenty...
"I have something to tell you, Sir Yushin."
"Sounds important. Parlor?"
"Yes. I'll change and meet you there."
"Sure."
Miguel said he'd swap his dirtied clothes, with Valencia Castle maids providing fresh ones. As he approached, the maids squealed and blushed.
"Yushin."
Ardena called. Yushin's steps toward the parlor halted. Here comes the interrogation, he thought with dread. He should've prepped more excuses... Miguel's sudden arrival and antics had left no time.
"That proposal from before... It's still on, right?"
"Huh?"
"Y-You know! The academy uniform!"
"Oh, right. Yeah."
He'd completely forgotten. It had been a playful demand anyway. Ardena's reminder jogged his memory. Such a stubborn one. She could've let it slide quietly. But given her personality, no way. Her flushed, embarrassed attempt to hold him to it was adorable—made him want to pat her head right then.
"I'll do it after Warrior Captain Miguel leaves... Wait just till then."
"Got it. Looking forward to it."
"Eek! Hnngh! N-No need to look forward or anything!"
Ardena yelled, face beet red, as Yushin gave a thumbs-up. The forgotten uniform play. He eagerly anticipated the high elf warrior captain donning her old Bria Academy uniform—acting the shy 17-year-old student Ardena, expression bashful.