Chapter 7

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Translator: MadScientist

Chapter: 7

Chapter Title: Constantly Mistaken for a Knight (3)

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The cleanup of the inn and the binding of the mercenaries wrapped up quickly.

It was because the fight hadn't dragged on or turned into a complete mess.

The people helping with the cleaning couldn't help but truly realize it ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠as they looked around the interior, where scarcely any traces of the battle remained. The elf girl Asha's prowess was the real deal.

Meanwhile, out in the open space in front of the building, villagers had gathered to mock the subdued mercenaries.

"Struttin' around like you own the world, and look at you now!"

"Damn bandit scum. Feels damn good to see you like this!"

The mercenaries, fallen from the position of the strong to the weak.

Their faces flushed ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠beet red.

If only that monstrous elf girl hadn't been there...

"Goddamn bitch..."

One of the mercenaries muttered while glaring at Asha.

It was the guy who'd gotten knocked out first by a blow to the back of the head.

His pride as the leader of the mercenary band led him to deny reality.

If it hadn't been a sneak attack, this never would've happened!

To be taken down so pathetically—it was a situation he just couldn't accept.

"Hmph."

Asha snorted at his lingering venom.

She stepped up to the leader, casually twisting his wrist and lifting his arm.

It was an elegant motion, like a butterfly spreading its wings, but the intent was anything but.

Crack!

The mercenary's head snapped forward with a thud as he faceplanted.

A moment later, he painfully lifted his head, still glaring at Asha with eyes full of hatred.

Asha put much more force into it this time.

Wham—!

Pain like his skull was shattering!

Only then did the mercenary cry out desperately.

"Gah! S-Stop!"

"Watch your mouth."

"I'm sorry!"

"You messed up, right?"

"Y-Yes! I messed up!"

"What did you mess up on?"

"..."

Asha lifted his arm again.

"Aaaah! I messed up on everything! I'll do whatever you say!"

What the hell kind of woman was she, with hands that stung like this!

One more hit, and he really might die.

The leader put on the most servile expression he could muster and begged.

'Monstrous bitch!'

Keeping his true thoughts hidden as best he could.

At that moment, Asha suddenly looked around as if something had occurred to her.

She spotted the village chief's son standing among the crowd.

John, meeting Asha's gaze, instinctively clutched the back of his head with both hands.

The mercenary's reaction had been too vivid, making him flinch without thinking.

"Hey, you there?"

"D-Did you call me?"

He naturally used polite speech and approached at her gesture.

"That bruise on your cheek. From the mercenary earlier, right?"

"Y-Yeah..."

John's gaze shifted to the leader.

Turning back to Asha, he caught on to her intent.

"Ha, hahaha!"

John swung with all his might at the back of the leader's head.

It felt so satisfying! He immediately followed up with another.

'Gaaah!'

The leader let out a silent scream.

The beating only stopped when the village chief, having heard the news, arrived on the scene.

"Honorable Elf Knight! We owe you our lives."

"Thank you. Truly."

Leaving behind brief words of gratitude, the gathered villagers dispersed to their homes one by one.

Tomorrow's work awaited them, after all.

'Not a knight, though...'

Asha scratched her cheek with her index finger and entered the inn-cum-tavern.

Following the innkeeper's invitation, she decided to have a late dinner.

She sat down with Elysia Valtline and waited a moment.

"Enjoy your meal!"

Lilliana bustled out with the food, beaming brightly.

Finally, with a clink, mugs were set on the table.

Foamy white bubbles overflowed the roughly carved wooden mugs.

It was ale.

"Oh..."

Asha's eyes widened as she pulled a mug toward herself.

A sour barley scent teased her nose, urging her to take a sip!

'How long has it been since I last saw booze?'

She'd completely forgotten about its existence lately. It was a problem she couldn't solve no matter how much she worried.

Asha glanced sideways at Elysia.

Sensing the gaze, Elysia lifted her mug and said,

"I'll observe the courtesy of the host's hospitality."

"Ah, sure."

Meaning she'd just have a taste, probably.

Asha nodded in understanding and clinked mugs.

Unlike Elysia, who merely wet her lips, Asha gulped down the beer.

Gulp, gulp. The characteristic bitter aftertaste lingered in her mouth.

It wasn't fancy, but it loosened her mind just enough to lift her spirits.

Asha grinned broadly.

"Hey, Lady Valtline. Know what those folks just called me? Honorable Elf Knight."

"Is that so?"

"Yeah! Maybe 'cause I'm traveling with you, who looks every bit the knight?"

Elysia made a peculiar expression. She stared at Asha silently, lost in thought instead of replying.

What could she be thinking so deeply about?

Asha tilted her head, speared a piece of meat with her fork, and took another swig of beer.

Only then did Elysia speak.

"About those bound mercenaries earlier..."

She paused briefly.

"The one spewing filthy curses to tarnish your honor—wasn't he worth executing?"

"...?"

Go that far? She'd beaten him good enough, hadn't she?

Asha smiled awkwardly.

Was it the average knight's personality in this world that was the issue, or was Elysia just unusual? She pondered.

"And giving that bruised young man a chance to vent his anger—what was that about?"

"It had to look like I ordered it."

"...Hm?"

Elysia narrowed her eyes, as if not understanding.

Asha rested her chin lightly on her hand.

"Assuming the guy still harbors a grudge."

She spoke plainly.

"Better he directs it at me than some powerless village kid."

"...!!"

Elysia's eyes widened like saucers.

It was an intent she'd never considered.

A provision to protect the weak left behind!

'Respect and protect the weak.' It was the knightly virtue hardest to uphold.

And this elf girl before her wasn't even a knight yet.

Yet she pursued such idealistic values.

'Good heavens...'

Elysia rubbed her goosebumped arms and chugged her beer to calm her astonishment.

Asha smiled back and returned to her food and drink.

The reason she'd gone through that hassle?

Nothing special, really. Influence from her foster father, Min Hyeong, in her past life.

Growing up together, she'd picked up his habits unconsciously.

'Children are mirrors of their parents,' they say.

The thought naturally brought back old memories, and Asha closed her eyes, reminiscing.

Villainous Awakeners who played above the law. And her foster father, who saved those they oppressed and used his name in their place.

Back then, as a kid, she'd asked what if they came for real revenge later. He'd shrugged and said, 'Who'd dare come at me?'

Utter confidence that resistance was futile. So bold and cheerfully arrogant.

'What a weirdo he was.'

Thanks to him, she'd suffered plenty. Now just fond memories, Asha chuckled softly.

"Ah, this is good. You should try some, Lady Valtline."

"Is it?"

And so Asha enjoyed her meal, chatting idly with Elysia.

It was amusing how Elysia's expressions shifted colorfully with every topic.

Serious during tales of mountain life, eyebrows raised at the mention of her first drink.

When she finally revealed her age, Elysia threw her head back in utter disbelief.

A stark contrast to Lilliana hovering nearby, grinning innocently.

'She really doesn't believe it.'

Had her actions made her seem that mature?

...Nah, no way.

Asha tilted her head and brushed her fallen side locks behind her long ear.

Suddenly, she realized she no longer needed to tie her hair up today.

Undoing the ornament holding her ponytail, the coiled golden strands cascaded like a waterfall over her shoulders and back.

She ran her fingers lightly through the locks.

A slight shake of her head, and the untangled golden threads shimmered brightly in the light, swaying gracefully.

"Wooow..."

Just then, Lilliana, clearing empty plates beside her, gaped in awe.

Asha seized the moment.

"Hey, could I get some water to wash up with?"

"...Ah, yes! Right away!"

Lilliana snapped to attention, nodding vigorously before hurrying off.

At that point, Elysia, finishing her meal, spoke up.

"Miss Asha, we'll reach the city soon. What do you plan to do next?"

"Well..."

She had plenty she wanted to do.

But it all boiled down to needing money.

"Thinking of starting with mercenary work, maybe."

"I see."

Elysia nodded and rose from her seat.

Asha followed, climbing the stairs to their rooms with her.

They stopped before doors facing each other.

Elysia, who'd been reserved with words until now, smiled brightly.

"Miss Asha."

"Yes?"

"As one knight to another, I respect you."

Was it the alcohol? Elysia opened up freely.

"Today, you embodied knighthood perfectly. Even with your injury, you stepped up where I hesitated."

"Uh..."

"And that's not all. You don't get arrogant about your skill, and you even consider the aftermath. In just a few days, what you've shown is truly..."

Elysia bent at the waist to meet Asha's eyes, curving her eyes seductively.

"Even as a fellow woman, I nearly fell for you."

"...!"

Asha's eyes went wide in shock.

Elysia grinned mischievously—the first unfiltered expression she'd shown the elf girl.

"I want to keep a good relationship with you going forward. So, from now on, call me by name, casually?"

"Uh, sure! You too, more casually."

"Great, Asha."

Elysia agreed immediately.

Asha blinked dazedly. The sudden shift in demeanor was hard to adjust to.

And what was with that over-the-top praise!

A faint blush spread across her cheeks.

Was it embarrassment, or the buzz from the long-forgotten alcohol? Asha couldn't tell.

'Just like that, I got a beautiful knight friend...'

How many days since leaving the mountain?

Was life supposed to go this smoothly?

She worried some cosmic balance might bring weird troubles later.

Asha cautiously placed a hand on her chest.

Thump thump. Her heart raced pleasantly.

'...Foster Dad said it once.'

If you start a new life, may the one you want come to you.

Buzzed, Asha suddenly wanted to check.

"Elysia?"

"Hm?"

"Elysia."

"Hm."

"...Um, if I said I wanted to join a knight order, would you write a recommendation?"

"Of course."

Instant reply.

She really seemed oblivious to the weight of endorsements.

Elysia even added,

"I'd love if you did."

"Eek—"

For real. Totally real.

She was being acknowledged right now.

Was someone else's recognition this joyful?

Maybe. The long mountain isolation might be why.

Or perhaps her stingy-with-praise foster father.

Either way, the emotion was clear.

Joy.

Asha cupped her flushed cheeks with both hands.

"Ah, I don't wanna join anywhere yet! But... ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠thanks, really."

With that, she bolted to her room without waiting for a reply.

Left alone in the hall, Elysia stared at the closed door.

She thought quietly.

'...The gap between her in battle and everyday is huge.'

Was it un-elf-like, or elf-like after all...?

Either way, she was an outstanding oddity among elves.

One who stuck in her mind far too much.