The High Elf's First Love (4)
Valua Kingdom had now lost not only its Three Stones swordsman, Yushin Gilliard, but also Allen Rocksfield, who had held the rank of Two Stones. Allen was currently listed as missing. The kingdom dispatched search parties to rescue her, but since the entire Akiteon Mountains fell under elven territory, they were forced to withdraw without entering. They sent an official delegation to the Liberia Elf Kingdom demanding Allen Rocksfield's return. But the elves had no idea where Allen was—because after vanishing, she had hidden away with the Valencia family. As the elves countered that Valua was plotting against them, tensions between the two nations escalated to the brink of war.
"We're already dying here with the Demon King Army bastards stirring shit up, and now humans and elves are fighting among themselves? What the fuck?"
A girl with pure white hair clutched armfuls of documents as she hurried down the corridor in quick little steps. She was utterly unique. Sure, her cute and beautiful features played a part, but the small horn protruding from her head was what really stood out. The girl, who looked to be in her mid-to-late teens, was a goblin—famous for living as long as elves. A battle race known by titles like the empire's vanguard spearhead.
This goblin woman was the only bureaucrat among her kind, who were all mostly brutish warriors.
"Hey, Lady Tanya! Let us handle that..."
"Then take these stacks to the study office since my desk is overflowing."
"Yes, ma'am!"
At the command of the woman named Tanya, the empire's palace officials scrambled into action. It was like watching privates witnessing a veteran sergeant doing grunt work. The sight of middle-aged men scurrying at a young girl's orders was downright comical.
Yushin Gilliard, you fucking moron—what the hell are you doing? How does a guy with your skills get captured as a POW in a war? That shit doesn't make sense!
Tanya had muttered, "What, did the elves team up with the Demon King Army, their sworn enemies?" when she first heard Yushin Gilliard had been taken prisoner by the Liberia Elf Kingdom. He wasn't the type to get captured. The Yushin she knew was a monster in the same league as his master, Heinkel—a peak powerhouse. Hadn't the Holy Empire highly valued him enough to ask him to serve as the crown prince's swordsmanship instructor in exchange for knighting him?
Tanya refused to believe Yushin had become an elven slave until three days ago, when she finally accepted it.
"I've heard rumors. Some knight from Valua Kingdom surrendered voluntarily after falling for the elves' beauty."
"Elves are ferocious, but as a race called the epitome of beauty, their looks are unmatched. It's only natural for a hot-blooded guy to fall for it."
Tanya ground her teeth. She was already furious at Yushin Gilliard for wrecking relations between Valua Kingdom—already on the edge of a cliff—and the Liberia Elf Kingdom before fleeing. And now her subordinates, oblivious to her rage, were blabbering, "If he fell for an elf, can't blame him," and "Being the elves' stud sounds pretty good," which only stoked her fury further.
"Shut your fucking mouths and get back to work, you idiots!"
Tanya barked, and her chattering subordinates immediately sprang into motion.
Imperial Chamberlain of the Holy Empire—that was Tanya the goblin woman's official title. With authority to handle duties in place of the emperor and crown prince, her power was near-absolute.
"The more I think about it, the shittier it gets. Getting caught by elves like a dumbass. No matter how I slice it, it's weird... Even if he let his guard down, captured by elves? Did a horde of elven warrior captains swarm him or something?"
Her speech lacked any trace of dignity or manners—perfect for a goblin. It was crude and rude for an imperial chamberlain, but spot-on for the battle race goblins, who were cruel, reckless, and always cursing up a storm.
"Ugh."
She finally reached her office. Tanya let out a groan as she set down the armful of documents. Unlike other goblins who smashed rocks with fists and demon heads with kicks, she only had slightly above-average human male strength. Even moving papers wasn't easy for her.
"A delegation from Valua Kingdom has arrived. They're asking for mediation to enforce the agreement with the Liberia Elf Kingdom."
"Ah, fuck..."
Tanya muttered a low curse at her secretary's report. Nothing but headaches. Just supplying the front lines against the Demon King Army felt like it would split her skull. Now the humans and elves in the west were at each other's throats, and as the empire's steward, she was on the verge of losing her mind. She wanted to submit her resignation due to "old age" right now, retire to a nursing home, and play chess with human geezers. She'd probably be the youngest there and get treated like a queen.
"They fucked up and got themselves captured. That thing... Didn't some dumbass in Valua throw Yushin into a deathtrap on purpose?"
"Second Prince Alpons. He's been demoted to commoner status now."
"Right, Alpons! Doesn't matter why, but he tossed Yushin to die in the war. So why the hell do we have to step in?!"
The male secretary, who'd served as her aide for ages, knew better. When Tanya was this pissed, no words got through. He just had to wait for her to cool off.
About ten minutes later, Tanya returned to her usual self. Only then did the secretary speak.
"The elves sent a delegation too. They should arrive via warp gate this afternoon."
"Jesus, now the elves too?"
Mountains beyond mountains, indeed. Tanya scowled. Imagining the enemy delegations clashing in the palace made her temples throb. They'd surely tear into each other like dogs. Having served as imperial chamberlain for centuries, Tanya had witnessed such ugly scenes countless times. Each time, she thought humans were the subrace closest to beasts. Elves weren't much different, of course.
Betrayed by the second prince and taken prisoner by the elves—I get that. But it happened too easily; it's suspicious... There must be some reason. Otherwise, a guy who fought like a ghost against the Demon King Army wouldn't kneel so quick.
Tanya decided not to worry about Yushin. The man could be thrown naked before a dragon and walk back alive. Worrying about him was the height of inefficiency.
Inefficiency—the word Tanya, who prioritized efficiency above all, hated most.
* * *
Manuel Navas, political officer of the Liberia Elf Kingdom, arrived at Valencia Castle. He met with Ardena. It was the first time since the Urhel negotiations.
The elven officer delivered the council's official document regarding Yushin Gilliard. Ardena's face hardened as she read it. She had just learned that, in exchange for dispatching the Diablo Slayer who felled Tyranny Demon King Agares from the Holy Empire, Valua Kingdom would receive Yushin Gilliard.
"My apologies. But the Raging Flames Demon King in Granata has begun to move. To efficiently subjugate the Demon King, we need the Diablo Slayer's power from the Holy Empire."
Only the chosen could slay Demon Kings. The six had survived because they possessed "immortality unkillable by ordinary means."
The power to kill the immortal—that was required to fell a Demon King. Despite humanity's nations and the elves mobilizing forces repeatedly, they failed because the demon archdukes were immortal.
"...Is it truly impossible to defeat the Demon King?"
Ardena asked. Her question brimmed with reluctance to let Yushin go. Selfish or not, she genuinely didn't want to part with him. She wanted to stay by his side to the end. An unspoken love had begun to bud in her heart.
"Even Warrior Captain One Stone El Seed couldn't kill one. You need the power to slay immortality. About two hundred years ago, a human hero legendarily severed a Demon King's life, but we elves have no record of slaying their immortality."
Tales occasionally passed down of human heroes felling Demon Kings. But elves never had.
It had been centuries since elves settled the Libria Peninsula and built their nation. They still hadn't subjugated the Raging Flames Demon King, who occupied the southern coastal cities and unleashed atrocities. That was why.
Elves couldn't kill Demon Kings. The reason was unknown, but it was accepted as fact.
"I know. I know, but..."
I can't hand him over. Not for the elf kingdom's sake. Ardena barely swallowed the words rising in her throat. She was the noble warrior captain of the elf kingdom. Having sworn to fight for her nation and sacrifice for her people, she had a duty to suppress personal feelings and uphold justice. El Seed, her mentor who showed her the path, had taught her that.
To honor her master's teachings, she must "sacrifice" herself as always.
"...Understood. I shall abide by the will of the priestesses, council, and warriors."
"On behalf of the elf kingdom, I thank you for your wise decision. The funds used to purchase Yushin Gilliard, along with commensurate compensation, will be provided to the Valencia family."
Manuel bowed and turned away. Left alone, Ardena thought of Yushin and Alonne, still at the academy, her face clouded with worry.
How could she tell him? How to relay the order to return to his homeland?
He had abandoned his country to stay in the elf kingdom. She owed him a debt she could never repay. Ardena had planned to gradually settle it while he remained.
To defeat the Raging Flames Demon King threatening our Liberia Elf Kingdom, we need the Diablo Slayer. Banished and deprived of territory by elves, he's always harbored grudge against us. Now gathering southern continent armies, he's threatening the capital. We must kill him this time... If Maherith falls, countless will die.
No choice. It was unavoidable... Yes, unavoidable.
"Urk..."
Ardena clutched her body with both arms and collapsed. Agonizing pain surged. In her chest. Like a sharp blade piercing her heart.
Was it from spending too much time with Yushin? Had she foolishly opened her heart to that human?
The price was devastating. For the first time in three hundred years, she'd given her heart to a rational being. The pain accompanying love made even the undefeated heroine shudder.
"Master... tell me... what should I... do...? Please give me the answer, Master..."
As a child, Ardena always clung to her master whenever she wanted to cry. Burying her face in her master's bosom, sobbing. But the master she always relied on was gone. Ardena had left without a word.
It had been three hundred years since that sudden farewell. Now, Ardena felt emotions eerily similar to that parting from her master, El Seed.