Chapter 23
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 23
Chapter Title: But I'm an Elf (5)
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“Asha.”
Elysia called her name from the entrance and slowly approached.
Asha's long ears perked up and twitched.
She turned her head to the side.
“Lady Valtline!”
She flashed a smile as bright as a flower.
It wasn't a private gathering, so she observed proper etiquette, but she couldn't fully hide her delight at the return of a familiar face.
Her demeanor was so pure and innocent.
Roderick Kreutz, the vice-captain of the Knight Order who had followed Elysia, nearly doubted his own memory for a moment.
'Didn't she say she'd lived in the mountains her whole life?'
For someone like that, her first impression was refined enough to pass for a noble lady.
There wasn't a trace of any raw attitude or temperament.
“Well, well. Lady Valtline is already here?”
“Oh, the vice-captain is here too.”
“What brings you here?”
The knights, still buzzing with excitement, chimed in one after another.
Some of their tones carried a hint of questioning why he'd come.
Roderick shot a glare at the knight who'd said that.
Only then did Brita realize her tone had been too sharp and averted her eyes sheepishly.
Brita was simply frustrated beyond measure at losing at chess and desperately needed a chance to turn things around...
In the meantime, Elysia introduced Roderick to Asha.
“Asha, this is Sir Roderick Kreutz, who serves as the vice-captain of the Knight Order.”
Asha greeted him politely, and Roderick responded in kind, as a knight should.
The simple introduction concluded.
Roderick glanced at the table and asked in a dubious tone.
“...Were you playing chess while waiting?”
“Yes! Everyone was so kind, I lost track of time having fun.”
“Hm...”
Kindness was one thing, but having fun?
'An elf playing chess?'
It felt like he'd just heard a fresh punchline to an old joke.
Like the kind of ridiculous notion that elves stroll through libraries savoring the scent of knowledge.
In other words, an impossible combination.
That was when Roderick's eyebrow twitched.
“Elysia, Elysia!”
Knight Brita seized the opportunity, slamming her hands on the table as she stood and shouted at the top of her lungs.
“Are you busy with your schedule today?!”
“Hm? Nothing besides my promise to show Asha around the Knight Order.”
“Perfect!”
Brita glanced at Roderick before turning back to Asha.
“Miss, how about one more game? If you leave now, I might not sleep a wink tonight. Please!”
Her plea was so earnest!
Asha gauged the reactions around her, including Elysia's.
Elysia shrugged lightly, as if to say it was up to her.
Even the middle-aged vice-captain was brimming with curiosity.
He seemed eager to see the chess skills that had tormented his knights.
“Then shall we play one more quick game?”
“As expected of an elf who values honor!”
Brita beamed and began setting up the pieces herself, even for Asha's side.
'Do people here just throw around the word 'honor' like a casual greeting?'
Asha quietly added a note to her mental list, seeing how it popped up so offhandedly.
“Charge! Kill them all—!”
“Don't leave a single one alive! Sweep them away!”
Deep in the forest.
Fierce shouts erupted, followed by sprays of crimson blood shooting up here and there.
Whoosh—crunch!
Riiip!
Every time the heavily armored elf knights swung their weapons from horseback, human flesh tore apart like paper.
Severed bodies and crushed corpses scattered everywhere, dyeing the forest red.
Clop, clop!
Even amid the thick, nose-stinging stench of blood, the elf knights' charge showed no signs of stopping.
They trampled every living thing in sight.
“Gaaah!”
“S-spare me...! Gahk!”
The scene of endless slaughter unfolded without mercy.
The bandits, seized by panic, broke formation and fled for their lives.
Numerically, the bandits outnumbered them by more than ten to one, but it meant nothing.
Quality over quantity.
They wouldn't hide their true strength behind illusions—they would prove their honor with raw power!
The elf knights embodied that creed with their very bodies.
If there were traps, they smashed right through them, slaughtering the enemy all the same.
Like a typhoon, they swept through the enemy lines without restraint, ravaging everything.
After the chaos subsided.
As the allied forces regrouped.
“You damn fools!”
One elf knight approached his mercenary underlings.
“Do you think orders are a joke?!”
“Th-that's...”
“What were you doing not following properly?! Some of the bandits escaped, didn't they?!”
“......”
The mercenary captain hastily lowered his gaze and bowed his head.
Inside, he seethed—'How are we supposed to keep up with your reckless charges?!'—but he wasn't foolish enough to show it.
He could only grovel and pray the other's anger subsided.
To add insult to injury, the elf knights' charges were genuinely effective.
Terror was one of the surest ways to seize the advantage on the battlefield, after all.
Just like now.
“Remember, I'm only sparing you because the mission isn't over yet.”
“Yes, sir! Tomorrow we'll carry out orders properly!”
“Good! Prove that the weapons in your hands aren't toys. Disappoint me again, and your necks won't be safe either!”
“We'll keep that in mind!”
His menacing aura was so intimidating that even the rough mercenaries shrank back without a peep.
Only after growling threats did the elf knight finally leave.
His harshly twisted expression gradually relaxed.
He'd never had high expectations for lowly mercenaries to begin with.
He was just laying down the law to ensure they earned their pay.
...Of course, it was also a bit of venting his frustration.
With that, the elf returned to his Knight Order's tent.
A feast was already underway there.
The grunt work was for the subordinates or mercenaries anyway.
They had earned the right to revel in today's victory.
“Your sword was sharp today! I can still hear those bandits screaming!”
“Hahaha! Of course. A dull blade is an elf's shame!”
They hyped each other up, boasting of their exploits.
With drinks and snacks flowing, the mood grew ever merrier.
Then one elf spoke up.
“By the way, I heard a rumor lately.”
“Rumor? What kind?”
“Apparently, some young elf beat a Woodhorn in a contest of strength.”
“Huh? That massive thing, in a strength contest?”
“Smashed its head straight into the ground in one go, they say! Must have some insane strength.”
Grooo, impressive!
The elf let out a short exclamation and asked eagerly.
“So? Which family is she from? What's her name?”
“Asha... I think? Anyway, she's a rookie for sure. First time hearing the name.”
“Makes me want to meet her. If it's a recent rumor, she's probably around here?”
“Most likely!”
The fired-up elves dove into the new topic, each imagining the rookie elf in their own way.
The speculations about the prodigy grew more exaggerated with every exchange.
“Ughhhh...”
Knight Brita clutched her head with both hands and slumped face-first onto the table.
Several chess pieces toppled over and rolled around.
But no one paid it any mind.
Whether Brita shuddered intermittently or whimpered in defeat.
Every knight in the lounge had their eyes fixed on the rookie elf.
Chess: four straight wins!
Asha, the elf girl, had achieved it in the blink of an eye.
A few astonished knights whispered among themselves.
“That elf miss's skills are no joke.”
“If she's crushing Brita like this... you'd need vice-captain level to even compete, right?”
An elf displaying this level of intellect?
The common sentiment among them.
Brita's chess prowess was top-tier in the Knight Order.
She loved board games.
Especially among the younger knights. Not everyone who learned chess for refinement enjoyed it.
Obviously, there was an insurmountable skill gap between those who'd learned it by rote custom and Brita.
And this elf girl had beaten her twice in a row.
Just looking at the reactions around her confirmed her opponent had been a master.
Even without being an elf, she could've flaunted her superior refinement and elegance, and it would've been fully accepted.
How much more for a spirited young thing?
The knights were ready to praise and exalt her.
That was the winner's prerogative!
“Good game. Your skills are impressive.”
Yet this elf showed none of that.
She complimented her opponent in a calm voice, straightened her posture, and closed her eyes.
As if replaying the game in her mind.
Her poise was so dignified and serene that even the watching knights were awestruck.
'Not getting carried away by victory, never ceasing to learn—such humility!'
'How can her heart be so pure and lovely too!'
At this point, it transcended her being an elf.
The knights purely praised her noble character.
Some even reflected on their own attitudes, falling solemnly silent.
Especially Errun, who'd lost earlier at chess.
He'd been consoling himself that losing was inevitable after Brita fell too...
But look at this!
Even victory brought no visible joy—she restrained herself with such strict discipline.
His own petty soul from moments ago felt utterly pathetic.
Errun couldn't bear to keep watching and bowed his head deeply.
His cheeks burned hot.
Learning has no end! In the silence, he quietly gained enlightenment...
Meanwhile, for Asha.
'Chess is fun and all, but I'm starting to want to meet some elf knights.'
She thought, subtly rubbing her thighs together.
The soft fabric of her skirt brushing her skin felt so unfamiliar it kept distracting her.
'I got way too focused since it's been a while.'
Staring intently at her opponent throughout had left her eyes dry and tired.
Asha closed her eyes quietly until the fatigue eased, listening to the sounds around her.
If praise came, she'd smirk inwardly.
But.
'...Why is it so quiet?'
She cracked her eyes open in puzzlement.
“?”
What was this scene?
Asha's head tilted slightly to the side.
Every single knight had their eyes closed, lost in deep thought.
So immersed they didn't even twitch.
This was a lounge, sure, but suddenly meditating as a group?
Is this how knights were?
Had she missed some cultural cue while her eyes were shut?
By the time Asha's head returned to normal from its extreme tilt.
The knights began opening their eyes one by one, sending her gazes full of goodwill.
Among them, Vice-Captain Roderick approached her closely and asked.
“Miss, are you really not thinking of becoming a knight?”
“???”