Player's Entrance (3)
Norien. That was the name of the elf woman rescued from slave hunters in the nick of time.
Loaded into a wagon like cargo and being dragged toward the Valua Kingdom, Norien had been lucky enough to be saved by a mad dual-wielding swordsman. But she couldn't let her guard down. To Norien, who had endured all sorts of abuse from the slave hunters, humans were an untrustworthy breed—worse than devils.
"What should I do with you?"
Druin asked. The dual-wielding swordsman who had acquired the elf woman pondered her fate after killing the last surviving coachman.
'Pretty face, just like an elf should have. She'd fetch a high price.'
Her thick gray hair fell to her waist, tied back in a ponytail. She had a slender figure with ample breasts. Especially her narrow waist and well-toned thighs exuded a healthy allure.
Should he just let her go free? No, that wouldn't suit a former Demon King Army subordinate. But Druin wasn't enough of a bastard to sell the elf back into slavery after barely escaping the hunters.
"I need to go to the Valua Kingdom," Norien said.
Druin chuckled at her bold declaration.
"Why? Weren't you being taken there to be sold? Wait, I get it. You're gonna say something cliché like you have to rescue your comrades who were sold ahead of you, right?"
"...I have to save my mother."
Norien bowed her head deeply. Grinding her teeth as she recalled her mother, from whom she had been forcibly separated by humans.
Druin replied, "What's with the sudden mommy talk? Looks like a ploy to tug at my heartstrings since you figured out I'm a guy without a mom. Not falling for it."
"H-how would I know that!"
Norien shouted as Druin spouted nonsense with blatant distrust. She and her mother had been sold to the same buyer, meaning they shared the same destination. The coachman had said the Valua Kingdom's Princess Katrin was snapping up every elf slave on the market. Her mother was surely being transported in another wagon to that cursed human named Katrin.
"Impressive. Coming up with that much backstory in such a short time. You could be a storyteller."
"...Thank you for saving me."
Norien openly eyed the man warily but expressed her gratitude for the rescue. Humans couldn't be trusted. They were a cursed race—more cunning and cruel than devils, the very symbol of distrust.
"An elf girl with no skills won't accomplish shit even if you go to the Valua Kingdom," Druin said.
She nodded but pushed back against his words.
"I know. But I have to go. Even if I die like a dog, even if I end up a slave again. How can I just sit by when my mother's been taken to a dangerous place!"
"What a pain-in-the-ass chick."
Druin shrugged and sighed at Norien's stubborn attitude. She was incredibly headstrong. Her mom probably had the same personality and would be a hell of a lay.
"...I'll go, Mom."
Norien muttered as she picked up a sword presumed to belong to one of the slaughtered mercenaries. She gripped the hilt clumsily and tucked it into her waistband. It looked ridiculous. Anyone could tell she'd never swung a blade in her life.
The elf woman turned her back to Druin and headed west, toward what she assumed was the Valua Kingdom.
"Ack!"
Druin reached out and yanked her hair as she stepped forward. Norien whipped her head around. Seeing her furious expression, Druin released his grip.
"What the hell!"
"Your fault for having such a convenient handle."
With that retort, Druin met her gaze and spoke.
"Got a question."
"...What?"
"Big tits? I like flat-chested lolis too, though."
"Ugh! What the hell do you even wanna know!"
Norien exploded in rage at the human man's rude question, looking ready to swing her sword. She was grateful for her life, but she wouldn't tolerate vulgar jokes insulting her mother.
"Suddenly got interested... Thought a mother-daughter rice bowl might make a nice summer tonic."
Citing an absurd reason, Druin expressed his intent to join her.
"Shut up! I'll kill you first!"
Of course she wouldn't accept. She gripped the hilt in fury but couldn't draw it. Her opponent was a monster who had mercilessly slaughtered over twenty mercenaries. She had no fighting skills and stood no chance.
"Fine, I'll accept..."
After venting her anger with heavy breaths, Norien seemed to steel herself and accepted Druin's offer. The human man before her was a monster. To save her mother, she needed a monster's power. Humans were untrustworthy, but for now, she had no choice but to half-believe him. She knew she couldn't save her mother alone.
"But leave my mother out of it. I don't care what humiliation I suffer—as payment... I'll give you my virginity. So please, somehow save my mother. If you rescue her, I don't care what happens to me."
Norien shouted with resolve, biting her lip hard. Forcing down the shame burning her face, she offered her virginity as collateral for Druin's help.
Druin looked momentarily flustered but nodded.
"Announcing your own virginity and offering it up for barter. Pretty savvy at deals. Filial piety on point too. Total opposite of a scumbag like me."
"Ugh! S-so, will you help or not!"
"Deal. Wasn't planning anything anyway. Might as well flip the Valua Kingdom upside down this time."
Druin extended his hand. Norien took it with a displeased expression.
"No pre-tasting, right?"
"Sh-shut your mouth!"
A former Demon King Army subordinate and a former elf slave. Their journey together began—to rescue one elf being dragged to the Valua Kingdom.
* * *
Wallace Valencia was a great man respected by people of all statuses and classes. Noble dignity and commanding presence. Refined grace, gentle virtue, and profound wisdom—he was hailed as a true noble.
Though he received the admiration and reverence of all, Wallace was currently deep in thought. He was treading a perilous path that might unravel all his past achievements.
"Ugh...!"
In the family head's office of the Valencia household, Wallace was lost in heavy contemplation. Times like this were rare enough to count on one hand.
'I've endured and endured until now. With Alonne grown up, it's time for my second act.'
The dilemma testing the Valencia patriarch was remarriage—divorcing his legal wife formally and taking a new spouse.
Years had passed since his wife left for her family home. Despite his many efforts, her heart had turned away, and she never returned. Loneliness grew with every night spent alone, and his heart ached seeing happy couples everywhere.
With Alonne graduating the academy and entering society soon, Wallace decided to seek a new life.
"I like younger women... Cute, pretty, lots of aegyo. But marrying someone too young would make me look pathetic. My daughters would get side-eye too."
Wallace muttered his secret preference, one he couldn't share lightly. His hesitation suggested he hadn't fully moved on from his wife.
'Should I try holding on one last time...? No, I've clung enough. So damn stubborn!'
A knock from beyond the door snapped Wallace from his reverie.
Knock knock.
The visitor was Yushin. The human officially dating his eldest daughter and teaching swordsmanship to his youngest. Also the Diablo Slayer who saved the Liberia Elf Kingdom.
Yushin rarely came to the office personally, so Wallace composed himself and invited him in.
"What brings you here?"
"I have something important to discuss."
"Hm."
A serious matter from the Diablo Slayer... Wallace interlaced his fingers, swallowing hard.
"I need to be away for a couple of days."
"...Now?"
Wallace looked shocked at Yushin's words. With only a week until graduation exams, her sword instructor wanted to leave. It was bewildering—and sudden.
The academy graduation exam was the crucial first step deciding the future of high elf youths. It was natural to be surprised by Yushin's timing.
"Where to?"
Wallace asked, wanting the full story first.
"The Valua Kingdom. There's someone whose safety I need to check."
The Valua Kingdom was surely in its worst civil war since founding. Perhaps a dear friend was there. Wallace could empathize.
But the timing was the issue. He respected the hero who saved his nation and kin, but as a father, Alonne's exam took priority.
"Planning to bring them here once it's safe?"
"Not sure. Haven't... decided yet."
"Hmm."
Should he let him go? Or dissuade him? Wallace faced another dilemma. Remarriage mattered, but this was more pressing.
"I have no authority to bind you. Just checking... have you spoken to Ardena? Ah, she's in Maherith now."
"Yes, I'll talk to her when she returns."
"I respect my daughters' opinions. If Ardena and Alonne agree, so will I."
"Thank you."
With business done, Yushin bowed to Wallace and left the office.
Wallace sighed deeply. He understood Yushin's urge to go where someone needed protecting. He could leave without permission. His courtesy showed attachment to the Valencia family.
Grateful for Yushin's conduct, Wallace still felt a twinge of disappointment at his departure for Valua.
"One more thing I want to ask."
"Yes."
Yushin stiffened, awaiting Wallace's words.
"What do you think of my daughters?"
Yushin nearly asked, "The eldest or the youngest?" but held his tongue. He racked his brain. Wallace couldn't know about Alonne. Assuming it was about Ardena, he replied,
"I truly cherish her."
In an archaic, noble tone. Wallace nodded with a satisfied smile at the straightforward answer.
"I worried you might go to Valua and not return... But with such firm resolve, no need for concern."
Yushin bowed in response to the father's words, letting actions speak.