Another One (2)
While waiting for Yushin, Ileina had heard all about him from Ardena. He had stayed in the Elf Kingdom of his own volition, teaching her younger sister at Valencia Castle, with his current goal being to get her to pass the academy's graduation exam. Ardena looked positively delighted as she spoke of him. It was just a faint smile, but compared to her usual icy, expressionless demeanor, it was a massive emotional shift.
"Shall I pull some strings with my authority as High Priestess? High elves and humans aren't supposed to pair up by convention, after all. I have a good method..."
"I don't know what misunderstanding you've got, but we're fine. It's not like that between us anyway."
At Ileina's words, Ardena put up her walls. She had no idea what teasing remark might come next, so she took a step back, bracing for the High Priestess's boundless mischief. But Ileina seemed utterly sincere, shrugging her shoulders and leaving behind a cryptic line: "You'll regret not listening now, later."
Though it nagged at her, Ardena dismissed it as just another of her usual jokes.
"But why's he taking so long...? The commotion should've died down by now. Did he get held up on the way from the castle?"
Ileina, elegantly enjoying her strawberry cake and coffee, suddenly couldn't contain her impatience and asked a maid. The maid bowed and stepped out to check.
"Ah."
Ardena suddenly looked startled, as if remembering something she'd forgotten. She turned to Ileina.
"I'll go check as well. There's something bothering me."
"Yes, Warrior Captain Ardena. Bring that Another One from Valua Kingdom before me yourself."
"Understood."
Ardena opened the door and stepped out, where Bariteon and Liana were waiting, along with the other warrior captains. They had assembled to deal with the Another One—some of the strongest in the Elf Kingdom, leaders of elite knight orders like Ardena's Helenwood Knights, all standing by with their subordinates.
"Senior, are you going to fetch Yushin Gilliard? Th-then... may I join you...?"
"I don't mind."
"Thank you!"
Ardena eyed Liana warily. The silver-haired elf had started calling Yushin by name all of a sudden. Ever since witnessing her duel with Bariteon, Liana had grown unusually warm toward him. It was elven instinct at work. Impregnate with the seed of a strong male, bear strong offspring. Elves, cast into harsh environments for centuries, had always encouraged producing resilient heirs for survival and independence. Liana couldn't escape it either.
"Don't drop your guard. Our role is to protect the High Priestess. If Yushin Gilliard targets her, he's our enemy."
"Got it!"
Of course, that wouldn't happen, and both Ardena and Liana knew it well.
The reason Yushin was late—sprinting from the palace entrance into the city streets—was the guards' interception. A human slave with a choker? Suspicious as hell. Yushin had been waiting obediently, like a lost kid waiting for his parents. Despite the hold-up, they'd treated him well, even providing snacks in the guard post.
"Hurry up already."
"Sorry, got held up a bit."
The guards' eyes widened at the casual exchange between Yushin and Ardena. It felt like they were speaking as equals—first-class high elf and fourth-class human. An impossible chasm in this slave society.
"My apologies, Lady Ardena. We knew he was the Another One summoned by the High Priestess, but we couldn't let a human through into the palace, so we made him wait."
"I'll take responsibility for him from now on."
"Understood."
Thanks to Ardena, Yushin finally left the guard post and headed inside with her. They passed countless checkpoints and procedures before proceeding. Surveying Maherith Palace's structure, Yushin noted how crude it was compared to Valua Kingdom's royal palace. Surrounded by lush forests and plants, the scenery was stunning, but the palace itself felt like a cheap knockoff of Valua's.
"You'll meet the High Priestess soon. Mind your words and actions."
"Got it. Use polite speech, right? I'm not the type to spit casual talk at a national leader."
"Good, as long as you understand."
The High Priestess—spiritual pillar of the Liberia Elf Kingdom, its symbolic representative, sworn loyalty by the twelve warrior captains. Yushin knew little of their closed-off politics, but he understood she was the elves' spiritual leader, and this was the third generation in the role.
"Nice to meet you, Another One. Handsomer than I expected. I heard humans are mostly plain-looking. No wonder Ardena likes you. Even I, meeting you for the first time, am starting to take an interest."
The elf woman—dressed in a black tracksuit top and dolphin pants—spoke casually. Liberia's High Priestess, Ileina Tres Liberia, was utterly unconventional. Even Yushin, numb to most things, gaped. She shattered his image of a holy figure. This slob-like elf was the one the twelve warrior captains pledged loyalty to? He couldn't help scratching his head.
"Bow your head to the High Priestess, human."
A new elf knight captain spoke with intimidating authority. Yushin bowed. Ileina nodded approvingly. No shame in it—he wasn't prideful like that, and he wasn't some thug who'd cause a scene amid all these powerhouses.
"Sit for now. I've prepared refreshments."
Yushin ended up at the same table as the High Priestess. She didn't stand on ceremony. In Valua, as one of the Kingdom's Seven Swords, he'd never dined with royalty.
Skilled maids soon brought out the treats, filling the table: cakes, cookies, fruits, cheeses—enough desserts to stuff the warrior captains behind her.
"I've heard the rumors. Beat Ardena, then Bariteon too? Never thought I'd see veteran captains of centuries fall in a row. Proof of your strength."
Ileina acknowledged him openly, praising his power. Strength demanded respect, regardless of race—earned through effort. Ardena and Bariteon nodded; no regrets or denials. They'd fought fair and lost clean.
"I have a question."
"Yes, ask away."
Ileina tapped her opposite hand with a finger, then spoke.
"I'm not that old, but I've never seen an Another One as strong as you. History mentions a few, but they're ancient tales—fact or fiction? Even with divine stigmata, your power defies explanation. You must've had an exceptional master. Who trained you?"
Yushin answered nonchalantly.
"Kingdom's Greatest Swordsman, Heinkel."
"I figured. I don't know the details of your Sword Focus stigmata, but no one gets that strong without a teacher."
No point in lame lies. He came clean. Ileina nodded. Heinkel Lineholder—she'd heard of the Kingdom's Seven Swords top seat. A master who'd trained a swordsman capable of toppling upper warrior captains had to be renowned.
"Straight talk: I think you're the Another One closest to being the Diablo Slayer who felled the Tyranny Demon King. Others were called to the palace, but that was a ruse."
Divine-powered Another One with strength to slay Agares, the Tyranny Demon King. Right now, Yushin Gilliard was the prime suspect in Liberia. Though unlikely—too many unknowns, scant info on other Another Ones.
"The Diablo Slayer who toppled the Tyranny Demon King... is that you?"
Ileina asked point-blank. No evidence. Odds were against it. Yet she phrased it like she had reason to believe. Yushin drummed his fingers on the table, pausing dramatically.
Yushin's subordinates, hired as instructors by House Santander, oversaw the territory troops' training. Veterans of anti-demon combat. Unlike general knights handling invasions or rebellions, their expertise was demon and monster hunts. They'd met Yushin during clashes with the Demon King Army amid the Holy Empire skirmishes. He'd assembled elite anti-demon squads for ops—that became his current crew.
"How's training going?"
Isana asked. Hekadi replied.
"Not bad—smooth, actually. Soon we can lead them to cull the monsters around the territory."
"Good to hear."
House Santander backed them fully. Isana and the rest felt genuine goodwill toward the family. Mere elf slaves, yet treated humanely, given a second chance at life.
"Ugh, out of booze."
Tucker muttered. Day-drinking beer, he eyed his empty mug sadly.
"Wonder what the boss is up to now."
"Heard he took out three warrior captains last time. Doing way better than us. Still got that ballsy personality. That's why I love the boss—left us behind and charged straight into the Demon King's castle..."
"Tucker!!"
Isana shouted. Tipsy Tucker realized his drunken slip and clamped his mouth shut. With Yushin away so long, adjutant Isana held command. He apologized profusely for the mistake.
Isana sighed.
"Never breathe a word of that. Boss warned us repeatedly, remember?"
"Sorry, my bad. First slip-up ever. I'd swear on my balls. Didn't even tell that half-elf maid I slept with."
"...Sorry for yelling."
Isana ran a hand through her hair, embarrassed by her outburst. But the boss's secret couldn't leak. Not without his say-so. Not under torture, not watching comrades tortured. Total silence.
"Mood's gone sour. Crack a window?"
Hekadi approached the door, hand on the knob. It burst open outward, sending him tumbling defenselessly. Black shadows swarmed in, invading the room. They pinned Hekadi first, then took down Yushin's men one by one.
"Gahk!"
"Damn it, what the hell?!"
Non-combatants hired by Santander, they had knowledge and experience—but Yushin's frontline fighters had stayed in Valua. Overpowered effortlessly. Isana, pinned under someone, gasped roughly. They meant business, knee crushing her torso.
"So you're Yushin Gilliard's subordinates. The human slaves captured with him by Ardena Warrior Captain's unit."
Twenty-odd intruders had struck the room. Elves, yet not—dark-skinned, unlike the pale, radiant high elves. Dark Elves. Shadow clan under past High Priestesses' protection. They moved only on her orders, now invading Santander Castle. Their goal: intel from Yushin's men.
"I'll read the memories in your heads now. Don't resist. Brief pain, but harmless to the body."
A sleek dark elf woman in a body-hugging suit said. She'd pinned Isana, knee pressing down as she reached for her forehead.
Deploying Anti Amnesia, dark elf sorcery to forcibly extract memories. Unlike magic-savvy elves, dark elves excelled in disabling or lethal curses.
"Holy Empire's Diablo Slayer. We want his identity."
She cast the spell. Isana blacked out instantly.