Rest (3)
Yushin’s group, along with Kalen and the elves who had been teleported to Maherith, came under the protection of High Priestess Ileina.
They had finally escaped the hellish unexplored zone and returned to the elf kingdom. Kalen and the elves couldn’t hide their tears of joy—even when their eyes were open, and even when they were closed. Having lived in constant terror of being devoured by savage monsters at any moment, their relief and happiness at returning to their homeland were beyond measure.
“Oh!”
“The spirit arts lost long ago!”
The elves of the Elf Kingdom gasped in awe at the sight of Kalen commanding both an earth spirit and a wind spirit simultaneously. It was the first time they’d seen spirits since the Great War. And Kalen wasn’t the only one who could use spirit arts. The elves who had lived with her in the village could handle them too, albeit clumsily. To the Elf Kingdom, these spirit users were talents they couldn’t afford to lose.
“Want a job? I’ve got a good one—teaching kids.”
“We accept, High Priestess.”
Kalen clasped Ileina’s outstretched hand, accepting the offer. Teaching children was familiar territory; she’d been raising and educating the village kids up until now. Dropped into Maherith with no connections, she had no reason to refuse. It was also her way of repaying Ileina’s kindness in providing shelter for everyone from the village.
“Kalen Dae. I’ve seen your name in the diary of our founding High Priestess. A dark elf who contracted multiple high-grade spirits at once. She wrote that you were a hero who saved many kin with your exceptional abilities during the war.”
“...I’m just a straggler who fled in fear of death before the Great War even ended. There’s no reason for you to bow your head to me in respect, High Priestess, nor to call me a hero. Please, lift your head.”
“I never dreamed our kin could have been left behind in the unexplored zone. It’s undoubtedly our failing that we didn’t rescue you.”
“N-No, it’s fine...!”
Kalen floundered at Ileina’s sincere demeanor. She had fled the war. While her fellow elves risked their lives on the battlefield, she had run away. So she saw her grueling days in the unexplored zone as her due punishment—a coward’s penance for turning her back on her people’s deaths. Like someone bearing a cross, she had endured silently until now. The warm welcome from Ileina and the elves left her deeply confused.
“I’d love to throw you a proper welcome feast. But our Elf Kingdom is at war. Everyone’s on edge. We can’t predict when Sabnack might attack Maherith.”
Ileina rose from her seat and walked to the window. The cityscape of Maherith beyond was a devastating sight. Thousands of monsters had plummeted from the skies. Buildings had collapsed one after another, and countless lives had been lost. Covered in monster flesh and blood, Maherith was in such dire straits that seriously considering a capital relocation wasn’t out of the question.
The ruined buildings can be rebuilt later. The real problem is Sabnack.
Sabnack. The demon called the Raging Flames Demon King. Ileina pictured her grinding her teeth in vengeful fury right now. The long war between the Liberia Elf Kingdom and the Demon King Army was reaching its end. Who would fall, and who would survive? The racial conflict spanning centuries was about to conclude.
Allen Rocksfield harbored an obsessive affection for Yushin, her mentor and secret crush. Her love was intertwined with murderous intent toward anyone who dared interfere. Love and killing rage ran parallel in a precarious balance, setting her heart ablaze. It had occasionally left Yushin bewildered or scolding her, but Allen showered him with sunflower-like devotion regardless.
“Oppa.”
Allen plastered herself to Yushin’s side. Her long ears twitched ominously. She fixed him with a dangerously intense gaze, glaring down any elves who approached. Startled by her feral eyes, they backed off, though they couldn’t fully let go—peeking out and stealing glances at Yushin.
I’ve memorized all your faces. Just try anything later. I’ll beat you to a pulp.
Her golden eyes, evoking a bird of prey, bored into the elves. Cross the line, and you die. Back in the Valua Kingdom, she’d actually punched out a noble lady who’d made eyes at Yushin. Yushin had chewed her out for it, but Allen didn’t regret it. If these elves tried the same...
She’d crush the pests just like before.
“Yushin.”
Ardena approached. Allen’s pretty face twisted openly at her arrival. The longest ears of the bunch—the one she hated most. Yushin’s biggest rival. The root of their separation, the one who’d dragged him to the elf kingdom and turned him into a slave. Allen’s loathing was only natural.
“Why don’t you just buzz off, conifer?”
“Conifer...?”
“You’re like three hundred years old, right? Like those long-living conifer trees. That’s why—conifer. Bet you even smell like dirt.”
Allen snickered. Ardena’s face crumpled. Unshakable in the face of any insult, she was hypersensitive about her age.
“Humans live barely a century, but we elves live a millennium. Don’t lump us together. I may be 320, but by human standards, that’s thirties—no, late twenties.”
“What nonsense? 320 is 320. Who splits hairs into thirties or twenties? Don’t you feel shameless saying it yourself? Admit you’re a 320-year-old spinster and stop with the bullshit.”
“You insolent wretch...”
Sharp glints flashed in Ardena’s emerald eyes. Allen’s golden ones burned back with equal menace.
“What’s with the trash talk?”
Yushin stepped in to mediate. These two always clashed on sight, leaving him sweating bullets in their razor-sharp verbal sparring. Scarier than any demon king. Their killing intent felt like it could melt his spine. He wanted to bolt, but leaving them unchecked might spark real trouble, so he forced himself to intervene.
“Ugh. Sh-She won’t budge...”
Yushin tried pressing Allen’s head down to make her apologize first, but she didn’t yield an inch. Back straight, she glared daggers at Ardena. Ardena returned the stare just as fiercely. Daring to insult and humiliate her beloved in front of him? Unforgivable. Fine as a little sister, but aiming for his side? She’d face her head-on.
“This isn’t the time.”
Yushin wedged himself between them. “We’ve got a decisive battle with Sabnack in three days. We should be strategizing, not putting on this pathetic show.”
Ardena backed off first. She’d lost her cool for a moment. Wasting real emotion on this childish, stubborn human girl? She was just a beast acting on impulse. No need to engage a beast—just ignore her. Yushin saw her as a sister anyway, nothing more.
“I seem to have lost my composure. Allen Rocksfield, forgive my rudeness.”
“Not planning to.”
Ardena’s face soured again at the curt reply. Infuriating human to the end. But as a key asset against the Demon King Army, she couldn’t afford to antagonize her. Ardena stepped back to avoid further friction.
“Tone it down. How long you gonna act like a kid?”
Yushin ruffled Allen’s blue hair roughly, messing it up. She pouted, smoothing down the flyaways.
“Doesn’t matter. Oppa’s here. You’re my fiancé, right?”
“That was a scam by your dad. I signed without knowing it was a betrothal consent form. First time I’ve seen one in my life. More like an organ donor waiver.”
Their engagement stemmed from Rocksfield family scheming. They’d paid off Yushin’s debts in Valua Kingdom in exchange for betrothing him to Allen. Led by her father, Troyed Rocksfield, the family had pulled it off.
“But that was Valua Kingdom circumstances. This is Liberia Elf Kingdom. Kingdom betrothals are invalid here. No engagement holds.”
Ardena declared. Allen narrowed her eyes.
“Long-ears. We’re settling this someday. Don’t think it’ll fizzle out like last time.”
“That’s my line. Harm the Elf Kingdom or our kin again, and I won’t stand by.”
They traded final warnings, ending the standoff.
“Ugh!”
Yushin clutched his chest. His stomach suddenly burned. Indigestion. Gut discomfort. Solar plexus pain. Bloating. Classic stress gastritis. He felt like vomiting would bring up stomach acid.