Chapter 118
Chapter 118
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 118
Chapter Title: The Dark Elf's Plea
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“……?”
‘What did I just hear?’
Hoping it was a mistake, Ian glanced around.
Not just Ian—all the members of the Latent Dragon Squad present were doing the same.
Even in this tense situation, they couldn't hide their bewildered stares directed at Aelion.
With six people including Ian, it was safe to say they hadn't all misheard.
In other words.
They hadn't misheard.
This dark elf, who held an important position inside the grand pavilion—enough to awaken the slumbering Earth Dragon Karaktus—was now on his knees, begging for his life.
A snake summoned from the ground at Aelion's position dangled right between his eyes, mere paper's thickness away.
If Ian had hesitated even slightly, a hole would have been punched straight through Aelion's skull.
‘What kind of trick is this?’
The situation unfolded too smoothly, sparking caution first.
It was only natural.
It defied all common sense.
Yet Aelion, even with the snake's fangs grazing his skin, kept his head bowed without the slightest twitch.
He didn't gather mana to summon spirits or sneak a hand into his sleeves for a hidden weapon.
If Ian just pressed a bit harder on Sosa... it would pulverize the dark elf's soft brain matter, burst out the back of his skull.
A truly perilous moment.
But precisely because of that... Ian hesitated to act rashly.
“What's your angle?”
In the end, Ian decided to confront this unexpected turn head-on.
“You're the one who woke the Earth Dragon. You tried to escape with the captured dark elf amid the chaos. You served the grand pavilion with such fervor, and now you're begging for your life? It doesn't add up at all.”
Swoosh!
“...Phew. A little longer with my head down, and I'd have been done for.”
At Ian's question, Aelion peeked cautiously, nudged Sosa aside slightly, and lifted his head.
“The reason's simple.”
Still holding his hands up, Aelion spoke.
“To me, this dark elf you captured is more precious than the grand pavilion.”
His words were calm, steady, laced with unwavering conviction.
“Yeah, everything you uncovered is spot on. We sowed discord between Golden River and Mudflow, meticulously erasing every trace the pavilion left behind.”
At Aelion's words, Ian recalled encountering this dark elf in Mudflow's Fourteenth Fortress.
“We had to ensure no signs pointed to the pavilion's involvement. Things were going smoothly until... oops, you caught this one?”
A complex mix of emotions—disappointment, understanding, anger, indescribable feelings—flickered across Aelion's face as he remembered the past.
“I begged the pavilion's Forefinger endlessly to save this child after they were taken. I never coveted rewards or honors. My only wish was that.”p>
The elf's gnawing guilt slowly twisted into resentment over time.
“But the Forefinger refused even that single plea. They just told me to give up, too blinded by dreams of claiming the Thumb's position. In that situation... why would I stay loyal to the pavilion?”
Aelion slowly shook his head.
“It's true I woke the Earth Dragon. But... the vital energy source is still woefully insufficient. Normally, it would require massive casualties—like Golden River's three orcs or Mudflow's four dragon guards dying off—to complete.”
‘...So it's not fully formed.’
If true, that was a relief.
That ferocious aura from the incomplete Earth Dragon was already so chilling—what kind of monster would a fully realized one be?
“The Forefinger probably noticed the Earth Dragon stirring. Given time, they'll deduce I orchestrated this whole mess. They're sharp like that. So, would they spare me for ruining their grand plan?”
No way.
The Earth Dragon's revival was the pavilion's lifelong obsession.
Learning it was foiled over one dark elf... they wouldn't let him live.
“That's why joining you seems like better odds for survival.”
“Then why wake the Earth Dragon? If it was just to save that elf, there were other ways.”
If solely for the elf's sake, he could have revealed the truth back in the Beast Fields.
“Pfft! Good one. If I hadn't woken it, would you have believed me?”
Fair point.
No one would trust a word from the pavilion's dark elf.
“And there's another reason. No matter how you slice it, Lady Drakelas is... a far superior spirit mage to me.”
Aelion twisted into a wry smile.
“Waking the Earth Dragon gave me credibility with you... and a jab at Drakelas. Nice, right? After groveling like a dog, I had to carve my own path. Sure, I woke it weakly, so maybe spare my life for that.”
From Aelion's words, Ian gleaned much.
‘Failing to value his subordinate... led to all his plans crumbling.’
If Drakelas had freely allowed Viona's rescue, regardless of success... Aelion might not have resorted to extremes.
Monsters or humans.
Not so different.
In the end, people.
A ruler who can't handle people... no matter how high they climb, they fall.
Just like Drakelas, the pavilion's Forefinger on the verge of Earth Dragon success, watching it vanish before his eyes.
“And... this isn't all bad for Drakelas. With Viona captured and everything exposed... your march on the pavilion is inevitable. Better I woke it than get crushed before it descends, fumbling around.”
Meeting the dark elf's eyes—mingled with guilt, defiance, emptiness—Ian spoke.
“Fine. Say we accept your reasons. What do I gain by sparing you, the one who woke the Earth Dragon?”
Even weakened, this elf undeniably roused the monster.
No compelling reward, no reason to let him live.
“Information.”
Grinning!
Seemingly pleased at piquing Ian's interest, Aelion bared bloodied gums in a smile.
“The Earth Dragon's awakening timeline, the safest path to the pavilion, the forces of its five fingers... I'll reveal it all. I swear on spirit names to speak only truth. So, if you judge it all genuine.”
Aelion locked eyes with Ian.
“Spare me and this child.”
Pondering Aelion's words, Ian ultimately decided to spare him and Viona.
He considered if this was another pavilion ploy, but reconsidering, the dark elf's claims held logic.
Thus, recapturing the two elves, they headed back to the Beast Fields.
“Hey, Captain.”
Not everyone agreed with Ian's call—Sylvia cautiously voiced concerns.
“Is this really okay? If sending the dark elf was a pavilion trap from the start... we could suffer irreparable losses.”
If even the elf's tale was lies, and Aelion deliberately led them astray to aid the Earth Dragon's safe revival... from the pavilion's view, sacrificing a couple dark elves was cheap.
So the squad fretted.
But Ian slowly shook his head.
“No. Too many holes for a trap.”
If Ian and the squad had slain the pair outright, Golden River and Mudflow's rage—spotting the pavilion's extraction attempt—would unite northward.
Sending a gravely wounded dark elf for such a gamble made no sense.
Plus, the Earth Dragon's revival was the pavilion's sacred duty.
They wouldn't plan an imperfect awakening.
“Still, is there reason to spare that dark elf? Paths and forces are already partly mapped by the clan's intel.”
“Even so, Earth Dragon status and timing info is valuable—far more than one dark elf's life. And...”
Swoosh!
“It's only ‘partly’ mapped. The pavilion's vast. Exclusive side intel from him could rack up merits beyond other strike teams, right?”
Gong is gong, si is si.
No other teams pursued these dark elves.
The rewards were theirs to claim.
“The Earth Dragon will fully awaken in one month.”
Bound tight and presented before Paon, Golden Eye, and Sea King, Aelion blurted it out.
“Hooh...”
Crunch!
“This damned dark elf... not content with toying with Golden River, dares awaken the Earth Dragon too. Brazen to the core.”
Golden Eye cracked his knuckles, exuding killing intent.
“No regrets when your head rolls... I'll grant that wish.”
Two hands blocked Golden Eye's advance.
“Calm down, shit-eyes. The pointy-ear's not done talking.”
Sea King matched the menace in tone.
“We can kill after hearing him out.”
“...Hahaha. Honored lords of the great houses welcoming me so warmly... I don't know where to put myself.”
Sweating under the pressure, Aelion kept talking.
“And you should thank me for waking the Earth Dragon. This treatment's too stingy, no?”
“What?”
Aelion answered Golden Eye's bulging glare.
“You heard via Paon Lichtenauer. Golden River and Mudflow's war casualties fueled Karaktus's awakening as sacrifices. Meaning.”
Swoosh!
“The sooner it's woken, the less vital energy absorbed—hence weaker. Making it easier for you is a merit, no?”
“Hooh...”
Paon showed interest in Aelion's claim.
“So the Earth Dragon's weaker than before. Intriguing.”
“Full legendary power's impossible. Reactions from the river... barely crossed threshold.”
The polluted Amatres River.
Linked to the revival?
“Well... ‘weaker’ by Karaktus standards. Unsure about you lot.”
“...Pointy-ear with too loose a tongue.”
A mere dark elf arrogantly facing faction heads.
Golden Eye and Sea King's brows twitched, but Paon spoke first.
“Dark elf. You promised pavilion forces and paths too, right?”
“Of course. The fastest route—guaranteed before awakening. All five fingers' positions too.”
“Hmm...”
Stroking his chin, Paon addressed Golden Eye and Sea King.
“Can't fully trust him, but worth hearing out, even if duped once. Spare one dark elf to swiftly crush the pavilion? Decent deal.”
Golden Eye eyed Aelion distastefully, then snorted curtly.
“Hmph! Something about this elf rubs me wrong. But... fine. If every word's true, as a warrior I swear: Golden River spares him.”
Priority: shred the vile pavilion scum mocking Golden River.
‘If they knew the full story, it'd differ.’
Aelion mused inwardly.
Confessing he killed the white ghost Turk... no mercy then.
Turning from consenting Golden Eye, Paon asked Sea King.
“Sea King, what say you?”