Chapter 45
Chapter 45
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 45
Chapter Title: You Can't Do It - 1
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To begin with, tensions between races weren't exactly new.
Especially among elves, who were particularly prickly about it, so there was no need to worry too much.
Looking elsewhere, elves who hadn't yet contracted the plague were treating their injured kin, while the reinforcements handled healing for the other races.
It was a full-blown battlefield.
"We caught the one who was trying to incite the elves this time. What should we do with him?"
An elf ranger asked if we should hand him over as a test subject like usual, but I shook my head. I'd already earned the Pharmacy Master achievement, so experiments held no meaning anymore.
With the plague cure nearly complete, it was pointless anyway.
"Just punish him according to regulations."
"Understood."
"Uwaaack! Let go! Let me go!"
An elf was dragged away screaming at the top of his lungs. I turned my gaze elsewhere as I watched him go.
Claire and Leventia were bustling about.
"The Hero Party seems pretty busy."
"Yeah."
Yeonhwa, Lorellia's adjutant, had approached unnoticed and murmured softly.
As the plague began to subside, other issues were cropping up, and many were working hard to suppress them.
So what were the high-ranking elves doing in all this?
"The Land of Abundance Tribe Chief is agitating, claiming impeachment of the Light Wing Tribe Chief and Healing Tree Tribe Chief. Lorellia-sama is quite busy trying to block it."
"Hmm... What happens if they're impeached?"
"Who knows. The Land of Abundance Tribe Chief has always hated allying with other races. He might even try to drive them all out of the elf forest under the banner of restoring elven greatness."
"Oh ho. Wipe their mouths after eating, huh?"
"Very likely. That's why... um, Evangeline is passionately speaking out over there."
"What did she say?"
"We mustn't forget the favor. There's nothing more regrettable than that."
Favor.
I didn't particularly see it that way.
In any case, she said that because Evangeline, a former Hero Party member, was speaking up like that, the other tribe chiefs weren't taking the Land of Abundance Tribe Chief's appeals seriously.
"...Sister?"
Rudhi, who had been beside me, muttered lowly. Puzzled by her mood, Yeonhwa and I tilted our heads, but Rudhi smiled faintly.
"Hehe. Anyway, it's fascinating."
"What is?"
Shrugging, Rudhi looked at the busy people. Veronica leading priests in treating all races without discrimination.
Dwarves building lodgings for elf patients.
Beastkin and lizardmen catching fish and game.
And the other races who joined later.
Watching them all hustle to help the elves, Rudhi gave a wry smile.
"A hero... means a courageous one. A being who wields the hero's sword according to the gods' will and leads the people."
"That's right."
"But... something feels off."
Glancing over them, Rudhi turned to me. In her eyes was.
Respect.
And doubt.
"You haven't received the gods' blessing, and you're not even a Hero Party member. Those with such pride and self-esteem struggle just to take care of themselves..."
"And yet?"
"...Yet the Sage, who isn't even that, has become the center of it all. That's what's fascinating. And..."
And.
Muttering briefly, Rudhi shook her head.
The emotion from her was clear disappointment.
"The one who preached elven pride, self-esteem, honor so much... couldn't even uphold his own words. And thus..."
"......"
"Hurt such a kind person. I never would have done that."
Rudhi stared at me intently, then grinned. She lightly tugged my clothes.
"Anyway, you've worked hard. If it's okay, how about I treat you to a meal?"
Since arriving in the elf forest, most meals had been rations. We could have cooked properly, but every minute counted for the Pharmacy Master achievement.
So I'd set everything else aside and focused solely on work.
"I heard the Sage is quite the cook. Evangeline-sister is hopeless at it, so she never got to try traditional elf cuisine."
True. Not just Evangeline—all the Hero Party members' life skills were abysmal.
Claire managed a bit, but it was so sloppy in my eyes that I just did it all myself.
"You know alchemists are all good at cooking, right?"
"Yep. Alchemy's origins are in the kitchen, after all."
"Hehe. Yes. That's why I know a little too. As repayment for saving me... and also."
She glanced at Claire and Leventia. Though looking at them, Rudhi might have been thinking of Evangeline elsewhere.
"A little atonement for sister's failure."
"No need."
"It's for my peace of mind. If it's okay..."
That was when Veronica, having finished some tasks, started walking this way.
She glanced at Rudhi standing before me, then gripped my arm tightly.
"Hyunwoo. There's something over here you need to see."
"Huh? Yeah? What is it?"
"Come first. Hard to explain."
"Then I should go. Rudhi, anyway, that's not for you to worry about. And the meal... I'll gratefully decline."
I'd already collected all the cooking achievement recipes; now it was just grinding proficiency.
There were probably elf-exclusive buff dishes, but I could get them later if needed—no point in restaurant-hopping here.
I waved to Rudhi and left with Veronica. Standing beside me, she pouted at me, then chuckled.
"Why?"
"Just... you have a lot of enemies. So? The plague seems to be dying down. You planning to stick around?"
"I'll see it through to the end. Planning to check the last patient too."
"Hmm... No need to stay in this chaotic place, right? You came to stop the plague."
"True."
"You're the type to leave once the goal's met. Sticking around means... maybe you want something? Like..."
Like what?
As I looked at her, Veronica scratched her cheek.
"Lorellia, the Light Wing Tribe Chief, said she'd make you the elves' closest friend. You aiming for that?"
Elf's Closest Friend.
The highest title elves bestow on other races.
Extremely rare so far, held only by Claire.
The effect's minor: free entry to the elf forest, discounted purchases.
Plus recognition from all elves and boosted affinity.
Useless to me, basically.
"Not interested. I'll just take what was promised initially and go."
"Knew it."
Grinning, Veronica lightly patted my back.
"Then I can handle the cleanup for you. Even collect what you're owed and pass it on."
"Huh? Really?"
"Yeah. Post-processing requires negotiations, right? That takes time. Sure, you'd wrap it up faster with your smooth talk."
Music to my ears.
Sure, participating myself would yield more, but I've got all I need.
If Veronica handles it... no downside for me.
Better to knock out an Adventurer Guild or church quest in that time.
"Participate as my proxy in negotiations—what do you get?"
"Church takes more from the elf forest..."
"No. What Veronica you get. That's church assets, not yours."
"Hmm..."
She clasped her hands behind her back and stepped ahead. Turning slightly, she bent at the waist to look up at me and winked.
"I can brag to others that the Sage trusts me enough to make me his proxy."
"You're dreaming."
"Huh?"
"You were already doing that."
One of my few normal friends. Of course I trust her.
"Wh-what? R-Really? Then..."
Veronica poked my cheek with her finger.
"Make some time whenever. There's a place I want to go together."
"That much is fine."
Not a big deal.
Plague treatment's nearly done—can't refuse that.
I checked my achievement window and smiled.
Time to head home was near.
***
"Sage-nim. Doesn't he seem pretty great?"
Veronica, who had entered the elf forest to continue plague treatment and containment, stopped in her tracks.
She'd overheard elf alchemists working at the treatment and research centers.
Elves inherently possess more beautiful bodies, appearances, and superior physiques than other races.
Thus, they're arrogant, despising other races by default.
Yet here they were, speaking positively of other races.
Considering their trait of rarely showing favor due to strong pride, this was no small matter.
"Never seen a human as kind as him."
"Yeah. His knowledge too... And the way he decisively deals with those who can't read the situation—his cool-headedness is impressive."
Biting her lip as she listened to the elf alchemists whisper, Veronica thought.
Yeah. Hyunwoo is like that.
Those who don't know him dislike his sly demeanor.
But the more you know him, the more his true value shines—spend time with him, and you can't help falling.
Like her.
Like those Hero Party members over there.
'Still fine for now.'
As long as it's just whispering behind his back. Hyunwoo doesn't care what others think anyway.
Reassured, Veronica headed to the treatment center but startled upon spotting Hyunwoo.
She'd seen an elf approaching him directly, unlike the others.
Rudhi.
Evangeline's sister, a skilled alchemist even in the Light Wing Tribe.
The woman who'd become his assistant after he saved her, devoting herself to plague treatment.
Having stayed by his side the whole time he focused on it, she knew his charms best.
Unlike the gossips behind, this elf was dangerous.
So Veronica stepped in, subtly pulling Hyunwoo away—and luckily, he followed her lead.
They talked, and she even got confirmation of his trust.
In that moment, euphoria flooded her body.
Ah.
How grateful.
How joyful.
The Sage, revered by so many, trusts her.
Proof: appointing her as proxy.
"Then one more thing. Make time whenever. There's a place I want to go together."
So, would he accept a date too?
As she finished speaking, a sharp gaze hit her. Glancing over: Claire and Leventia.
And Rudhi, Evangeline's sister, currently tempting the Sage, glaring piercingly.
"That much is fine."
Yet Hyunwoo responded positively, and Veronica smiled.
Euphoria raced up her spine, delivering a thrilling pleasure that turned to superiority, subtly revealing her inner thoughts.
To those who like him, it'd be faint, but clear.
She slightly lifted the corner of her mouth.
You guys.
Can't do it.
"Absolutely."
Because the only one Hyunwoo trusts is me.
Author's Note
Huge thanks to Min Jong-hyuk for the support!!
Hello! It's Malmulmalmul. Half the week gone already. Time flies...
Have a great night!!