Chapter 146
Chapter 146
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Translator: crow
Chapter Title: Elf
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I had no intention of going through the trouble of legwork just to obtain information.
Nor was I after some deeply secretive intel that would require such effort.
That's what money is for.
If you can get information easily, you should.
It was regrettable that Suni's utility dropped in non-electronic civilizations like this.
I visited the informant recommended by the magic shop owner mage and obtained the information.
The informant wasn't holed up in some shady back alley but openly ran a shop on the main street.
Thanks to that, I easily got the information I wanted.
It wasn't particularly special info, so it was only natural.
From the informant, I learned not just about the labyrinth but many other facts as well.
Having gathered enough necessary information, I quickly returned to the inn.
And immediately sought out Ayla.
-Knock. Knock.
"Ayla. You in there?"
The door opened, revealing a cat-like beauty with golden blonde hair and blue eyes.
"What is it?"
Seeing her sullen face put me slightly at ease.
"You stayed in your room all day today?"
"Huh? Y-Yeah..."
"Good. That's fine."
"What? You called me out here just for that?"
".........Just wanted to see your face."
I tossed out a cheesy pickup line.
"S-Suddenly wha-what... What are you saying?!"
At my out-of-the-blue flirtation, she flushed bright red and yelled.
Contrary to expectations, it worked well.
"Saw your face. That's enough."
Turning away with a smirk at her unexpectedly cute reaction, which didn't suit her bitchy personality.
She stared at my abruptly departing figure with a bewildered expression, mouth agape.
The reason I sought her out quickly was to check if she'd gone out and caused trouble.
The information from the informant made me worry about her.
The forest I'd exited under the elves' guidance.
Humans called it the Elves' Forest.
And this city was a hub where hunters gathered to catch elves.
It wouldn't be an exaggeration to say Erpu lived off them.
The success rate wasn't high, but catching one meant striking it rich. And many powerful figures coveted the noble elf race.
Erpu was a renowned spot drawing elf hunters not just from Baruras but from various countries.
Thus, there were quite a few elf hunters here. No, it wouldn't be wrong to say most armed folk were elf hunters.
Learning that, I somewhat understood why she freaked out and hated humans so much.
I hadn't thought much when entering the city yesterday, but hearing it from the informant made me rush back.
'If Ayla wandered the city while I was gone...'
Just thinking about it sent chills down my spine.
I'd gotten the needed information.
Time to leave this place quickly, I thought.
She said she'd hold back, but whether she'd stay calm seeing elf hunters was questionable.
"We're leaving tomorrow."
I gathered them at the dinner table and announced.
They nodded without objection to my firm statement.
"Where to?"
"Slurber."
"As expected?"
"Yeah. Among the places named labyrinths, it's the closest."
There were several called labyrinths. But only one in this country: Slurber Labyrinth.
Starting with the nearest was the obvious choice.
Having heard my plan briefly, they returned to their rooms.
Night fell, and as bedtime approached, I yearned for a woman's touch.
'That's why I wanted to bring Yeondu...'
Going out to a brothel? My standards were already too high for that.
As a poor substitute, I used the telepathy I'd mastered with Yeondu to secretly summon Ayla.
She seemed more promising than Luna.
I harbored a sliver of hopeful optimism that she might allow something physical.
"What is it?"
Her face was full of irritation at being called in the dead of night.
"I want to hold you."
I stated it directly to Ayla, no beating around the bush.
"Wh-Wh-What!?"
At my blatant demand, Ayla yelled in panic.
"I want to hold you."
"Crazy! Y-You think I'd allow that?!"
"Can't I?"
"Of course not!"
"Tch. Too bad."
"Y-You're giving up?"
"Huh? Would you prefer I didn't?"
I flashed my eyes at her.
"N-No!!"
Thinking I'd devour her if she misspoke, Ayla startled and hastily denied it.
"Hmph. I-I'm not that easy a woman."
Ultimately rejected.
Honestly, I hadn't thought my chances were high.
Still, can't hurt to try with the grapes you can't reach, so I shamelessly went for it... but failed.
If not even a whore, I'd have to endure celibacy for a while.
We set out after a late rise and brunch.
And trouble erupted.
It was the first time I regretted sleeping in.
A procession of armed soldiers marched boldly.
They wore unified army-blue uniforms.
I could tell they were a cut above the shabby hunters from the forest.
And behind them, in an iron-barred cart, was a caged elf.
A beautiful elf with brown bobbed hair.
Manacles bound her neck, wrists, and ankles.
Crowds gathered to gawk at the elf in the iron cage.
"E-Elf!!"
"H-Haven't seen a captured elf in ages... Jackpot..."
"Fucking gorgeous. If only I could fuck her once..."
"You idiot. Do you know how much she's worth?"
Seeing that, Ayla finally bolted out in a frenzy. I swiftly covered her mouth, subdued her, and dragged her into a back alley.
She bit my hand and thrashed, but it barely hurt.
Luna calmly followed me.
But a subtle glint of anger lingered in her eyes.
Once Ayla calmed her ragged breathing, I released her hand.
"What were you planning to do?"
"What do you mean? Rescue her!"
"By yourself? With Luna? Just charging in recklessly like this? I have things to do. No plans to become a fugitive. Even if we rescue her, you two can flee to your village, but what about me? You're not planning to take me in there."
"Th-That’s... Ugh!"
"And you really think you can rescue her here?"
Even at a glance, quite a few escorts matched or exceeded Ayla and Luna in strength.
That’s the level needed to capture an elf there and bring her here.
Plus, this wasn’t the Elves’ Forest.
It was a human city.
With just the two of them, success seemed impossible.
If I helped, we could pull it off.
But that’s it.
My plan for Slurber Labyrinth would derail.
Then I’d have to hide or massacre hordes of pursuers until this world’s humans acknowledged me.
"..........."
I wasn’t sure if she understood, but Ayla seemed somewhat composed.
In the end, as we tried to leave the city, we returned to the inn.
The atmosphere made it impossible to just ignore and go.
I could’ve ditched alone.
But then they’d surely end up as extra slaves.
Knowing that and leaving? My heart was too soft.
.......Truth be told, my stomach hurt at the thought of other guys having them, so I couldn’t just go.
We gathered in Ayla’s room.
"An elf from your village?"
"No. First time seeing her. Seems from another village."
Luna’s answer implied multiple elf villages in the forest.
"What’s your plan?"
"Rescue her!!!"
".........."
Ayla’s stance was obvious.
I glanced at Luna, but she remained silent, her face conflicted.
"Sigh.... One more night here...... Sort out your opinions among yourselves and tell me tomorrow."
I stood and returned to my room.
I’d hear their decision tomorrow and choose then.
Meanwhile, curiosity piqued, I eavesdropped on their talk.
"........This is beyond our hands now."
"L-Luna!"
Ayla yelled in shock at Luna’s cold words.
'Didn’t expect her to shut it down so bluntly...'
Luna’s stance surprised me too.
"Ayla.....You know.... To save her, we needed to settle it before they left the forest... Now that she’s been brought here..."
Luna trailed off.
"Th-That’s..."
"Even Lady Priscilla would oppose this rescue."
Luna urged abandoning the captured elf.
But Ayla couldn’t accept it.
Left as is, the elf would become a vile human plaything.
Late at night.
Ayla quietly began fully arming herself.
A tight black leather armor that accentuated her slender figure.
She donned a black mask over her head.
Slung an elven bow on her back and calmly equipped daggers in various spots.
Fully geared, she leaped from her room’s terrace to the opposite building’s roof.
Another figure in similar attire was already atop the roof.
"L-Luna?!"
".....You’re going after all..."
".....Yeah... Sorry..."
After staring at each other for a while, they set off together.