Chapter 40
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 40
Chapter Title: S-Rank Gates Have No Romance (5)
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The epithet of Divine Archer always evoked an air of mystery. It demanded respect and reverence, scattering an overwhelming burden of faith in its wake.
The fact that an elf's lifespan was around a hundred years, and that only one such being could exist in that century, exuded an aura that made it hard for anyone to approach rashly. People treated them as something other than human, almost like a god.
No one approached out of friendship. That was the nature of their position—a lofty status where it was hard to get close to anyone. The king of the elves. The apostle of the World Tree.
With so many such titles surrounding them, they couldn't share bonds with anyone outside their own kind. It was a natural truth that came with being the Divine Archer.
That was why Fruer—and Frella—thought this.
These people who neither held them in special regard nor pitied them seemed a bit unusual. It was odd to be looked at not as an object of worship or pity, but simply as they were, and to join in casual conversation like this.
"Elves are mysterious beings. They have their own civilization... a path that's uniquely theirs, neither advanced magic, magitech, nor divinity. That's why they're so enigmatic. They don't flow with the tide of civilizational progress. I've only seen a few myself, so I always get that feeling."
The handsome man, refined as an elf himself, spoke. He called us mysterious beings. His eyes brimmed with curiosity—no, desire—as he gazed at us, spilling over with emotion.
Risroom. Risroom Avaritia, the one who introduced himself as a mage pursuing the path of magic, looked at us with eyes full of interest, neither reverence nor pity. A chill ran down Fruer's spine, and she pulled her little sister close.
"Tower Lord, I told you not to spray your research lust at the kids. Elf or whatever, you're the one dragging these little shits into a damn battlefield. Sigh, fuck. Just let the whole empire crumble already~"
A man with a slightly fierce, furrowed expression appeared. His carefree speech and mannerisms were no different from a street thug, but he hid kindness behind his rough words. Cursing the rotten bastards while protecting us.
Sio. Sio Tripolius, the one who casually spat out his name as the sword sharpener, showed the gaze of a true adult. That look in his eyes, that tone—it made them think he saw them simply as children, beings to protect. The proper attitude of an adult.
"No, Sword Saint! Don't use bad language in front of the kids! Straighten your posture too! And... stop jiggling your leg.... Divine Archer, let me apologize on his behalf. They're not bad people. They all have good hearts~?"
A woman's voice rang out, perfectly matching descriptions of beauty and nobility. Her gentle tone matched her smiling face as she comforted them. Her upright heart shone through outwardly, meeting them with such warmth.
Seren. Seren Grace, the one who wielded divinity despite being only a year older than them, lit up the place with maturity beyond her age and her kind consideration.
"Uh.... So, Fruer?"
And this man.
"It's Frella."
This person who closed the distance with them so effortlessly.
"Ah, sorry. It was Frella~"
Shone brighter than anyone else. Not in terms of character or personality, but as a person in their very essence, a light.
"Actually, it's Fruer."
In the elves' eyes, this radiant light was vividly clear, filling the space around them with warmth and easing their anxieties. A solid wall firmly guarding the path they had endured by leaning on each other. A light that gently enveloped them.
"Hey."
Because he was such a person, they readily broke into smiles.
"“Pfft.”"
Smiles they had never shown among other elves, now revealed before these people they had just met.
"Oppa is a funny guy. Right, Fruer?"
"Yeah, a mysterious person, Frella."
Just like children their age should be.
They burst into laughter.
"Kids..., funny and mysterious aren't insults, right...?"
********
The seemingly endless maze came to an end surprisingly quickly. Breaking through the walls blocking their path and crossing into another section, the gradually changing surroundings hinted that they were nearing the exit.
Boooom—
They leaped over another wall blasted open with a massive roar. The crumbling wall, now sporting a huge hole, restored itself the moment they passed through. It was fascinating how it kept regenerating, clearly no ordinary wall.
"Couldn't they use this stuff to build houses?"
It'd hold up against natural disasters or monsters no problem.
Well..., it was all irrelevant now. A massive door that seemed to mark the maze's exit finally came into view.
I let out a sigh and approached the door. It was firmly shut as if unopened for ages, but that posed no issue.
I gripped the handle and applied force. With a grating screech of friction—creeeak—the door swung open.
It had taken me a full half-day just to escape. I worried how long it would take the others. The only ones who seemed strong enough were Yuna and the team leader, at best.
Creeeak— I stepped through the fully opened door.
Another empty void...?
- Hey, hey! Team Leader! Hunter Ansiu is out!
What? Why is everyone here?
The space beyond the maze, which I'd assumed would be empty, was packed with Luna Guild hunters already resting by a lit fire. Everyone except me was gathered.
I stared at them in disbelief, dumbfounded. Yuna, who had snuck up, tugged at my sleeve. Her pursed lips expressed her displeasure, forcing me to turn and look.
"What, what's the problem?"
"Why'd you take so long.... I thought something happened to you."
That was what I wanted to say.
"No, why'd you all get out so fast? Weren't you all trapped in mazes too?"
"It was mazes, but everyone faced different trials."
"Yeah, makes sense. If it was the same difficulty for everyone, most would've died."
"Still."
Yuna yanked my sleeve harder and stared at me.
"Everyone else got out in about two hours. Me too. So you're the only one who took six hours.... What the hell were you doing?"
Everyone else in just two hours? It definitely wasn't a place you could clear that quickly. Maybe the maze size and monsters varied by individual strength.
"Just.... The maze was pretty big. Lots of monsters too? Even rushing, that's why it took till now. If I hadn't smashed through walls, I'd probably still be stuck inside."
"...? Everyone said there were hardly any monsters. Wait, that's not the point—the walls don't break...?"
"They broke for me? But they regenerate fast. Hey, wouldn't houses made of that be great? No need for repairs."
"...Don't tell anyone else you smashed through walls."
"Why?"
Safety concerns or something?
"Plenty of people here couldn't even scratch the walls. I couldn't break through mine either. If you say you smashed yours, your real strength'll be exposed.... You idiot."
"Oh, right~ Good point. Guess I'll say I got lost and took forever."
"Yeah. Though I know the truth. You're not just S-Rank, huh...."
"Shh."
I grinned and pressed a finger to Yuna's lips, gently shaking my head.
"No guessing. That's what friends do—let it slide."
"....Whatever. Just stick by me till this is over."
Sounds good. I can just chill next to her.
"Sure~"
I soothed the still-pouting Yuna. The bleak scenery beyond the maze was depressingly dark, perfect for dampening spirits, so I played around extra cheerfully for no reason.
- Hunter Yuna. Shall we start marching now?
The team leader approached us bickering and spoke politely. Since I'd been the last out of the maze, he urged us onward again.
"Siwoo, you sure you're okay without resting...?"
Assuming we'd continue marching, she tilted her head.
"Of course? We're already late—where's the time to rest~ No need to ask."
I answered nonchalantly, and Yuna frowned again at my words. Whatever was bugging her, she'd been wearing a dissatisfied expression toward me for a while.
"Something about you today rubs me the wrong way...."
Yuna, uncharacteristically puffing her cheeks, distanced herself from me. Even her gait screamed bad mood.
"Uh..., did I do something wrong? Team Leader, did I mess up or something...?"
- ....No wonder Hunter Yuna likes you so much—you two are a pair, huh. Hmm..., must be tough for both of you.
The team leader patted my shoulder and headed to the hunters.
Until the departure signal sounded, I blankly mulled over his words.
A pair....
What?
Something felt off. Bad.