Chapter 71
Chapter 71: Encounter
The horses’ hooves stepped on the grass and shook my body lightly . I felt the swaying movement of the horse . My head whirled and my body was tired . I couldn’t deny the lack of sleep . Not surprising though, since I didn’t sleep last night .
I couldn’t afford to rest now . As a fellow escort, I had to be vigilant . And at this precise moment, a demon monster stood right in front of me .
「…But, hero . Is there any other way? 」
A man asked me that question with a seemingly closed throat . The man who spoke was the escort knight who held the bridle of his horse . Both of us were the ones commissioned to get close to the demon beast .
This situation wasn’t one were you could try to find a different way . The path was obvious . True and unquestionable . The important aspect to take into consideration now was how to deal with that monkey-shaped monster .
I wet my own lips in order to respond . However, before I could talk, the man continued to add more questions and doubts .
「New wines are expensive . It would’ve been a better idea to subdue that monster with our own strength, than waste our precious wine . 」
Indeed, his inner thoughts were honest and comprehensible . He was a Heraldic Knight after all . That meant that he learnt chivalry, and the mastership of swords and spears . His training must’ve been straight and sharp . I understood it perfectly . If it were for myself, I would fight proudly upon facing a threat if I volunteered to accompany the Saint on an important mission .
But, it was too late for that now . The demon monkey lost consciousness after pouring the barrels of wine into its large mouth . In this era, this type of monsters was probably not resistant to alcohol . I thought that we were saved thanks to the sacrifice of our wine barrels .
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Still, I understood his intentions . Certainly, having wine to distract a monster without fighting it was against the pride of chivalry . The man rubbed his chin with his own finger .
「So, I wonder if that was really necessary . It went well, but it could’ve been worse . We needed those barrels for the upcoming talk with the elves . 」
The knight seemed to have a strange-looking face when looking at me . I couldn’t see his face properly, because he was wearing a long helmet . He snorted after professing those spiteful words .
He went up to the front, and slowly pulled the bridle of his horse . The horses’ hooves began to walk through the wild grass once more, as we went to the place where everyone waited for us .
「We’re here not for fighting but for a negotiation with the elves . That’s the most important matter now…So, let’s be respectful to one another . 」
There were times when we couldn’t help but smash the trees as we went ahead . The wild grass was also stepped by the horses’ hooves . I responded to the knight in order to appease the animosity between us . That’s why I assembled those words in my mouth . One of us had to show a little courtesy here .
「Elves are a rare race . If we ally with them, we’ll need to look at our own feet so that we won’t show them bad manners…So, if I think deeply about it, I guess that your plan was the right way . Sorry about my rudeness moments ago . Even if it was a monster, we have to try to avoid any unnecessary trouble . It’s a mistake to smudge this forest with blood without their permission . If we attacked that monster on an impulse, things would be bad for our side . 」
The escort knight professed those words with a strangely sounding tone .
When I heard it, I distorted my face . Those were undeniable facts . They were a completely different race from humans .
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Actually, some people believed on the contrary . Elves and humans had language and both could speak . Both of our races had two eyes, one mouth, one nose and two ears . Many people identified us as the same kin, or identical beings . But, that was an absurd idea .
For the elves, we had no sense of reason, morals, or conventional wisdom .
So, honestly, while I thought that forming an alliance with the elves was not that far-fetched, it was still an insane task . Something told me that it would be hard to accomplish it . Ann said that the Heraldic Order had good history with the elves . It seemed that they were allies in the past . To be honest, it was hard for me to believe in such an improbable story .
「Anyways, they’re currently living in this forest and nearby, on the hanging gardens of Mount Ghazalia . But, I must say that they have very different values from us, albeit narrow ones…」
「…Is that so . I see . It’s just as you say . I agree . I also have the same thoughts . We are a sensitive race . 」
My ears shook . A sharp voice sounded next to us as if it were the wind . Still, such a voice miffed the bottom of the earlobes . My heart beat violently . I felt hasty palpitations that shook my whole body .
「So, it’s better for you to avoid speaking with a loud tone . After all, we are very narrow-minded and we can’t see for ourselves, even in front of clean water . I can see that you humans have such bias about us . 」
It was as if this person’s voice was united with the forest . When the leaves of the trees were dancing in the wind, the figure with a sharp voice appeared in front of us .
I knew that technique very well . The elf’s hands were agile and strong . They used it often in their daily lives . In their territory, forests and nature were their friends . Therefore, they made use of the trees’ trunks and stems to move around in their territory . This was not an instantaneous move, but easily surprised my eyes with its flexibility .
The sharp-voiced person stood before my eyes . Next to me, the stunned escort knight appeared to have lost his voice .
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「I don’t welcome you here, humans . But, I made my oath . That’s why I appeared before you shamelessly . 」
At first glance, the mysterious person looked like a slender, well-proportioned young man .
Elves usually had a unique appearance . I usually felt that their spirit was embodied with their well-shaped bodies . I knew that it sounded odd . But, it was hard to describe their figures with mere words .
At first, he looked like a shorthaired elf . The position of his saber that he held on his waist was visible . In addition, the appearance of long pants was exactly those of men . Yeah, the escort knight and I probably thought that this elf was a young boy .
「I have knowledge that you humans have respected us elves . Then, I shall give you one piece of advice in accordance to my oath . 」
The voice vibrated through the wind . The elf’s facial expression was resolute . I felt that sharp tone throughout my earlobes .
However, my emotions weren’t swayed by those feelings anymore . Or so I thought . I stopped moving as if I were frozen .
At this time, my brain was clearly in a state of confusion . I tried to understand, but I couldn’t understand it .
I expected it . I was prepared for it . I was going to move forward regardless of it . But now, my body didn’t respond as if my spine had frozen .
I thought that I overcame my resentment and grudge when I took Caria as my comrade and when I took Filaret’s hand . I was convinced that it wouldn’t affect me anymore .
「You mustn’t reach the hanging gardens of Ghazalia . It will only bring you more tragedy . Especially, if you people are from the Heraldic Order . This is my advice . So pay attention, don’t get near the hanging gardens, no matter what . 」
This young elf hid the appearance behind the clothes he was wearing . This elf was no boy . I was completely fooled at the beginning since the appearance was completely different from what it used to be . This elf looked like an entirely different person . But, that particular voice . How could I forget that voice? That tone was the voice of someone who easily trampled on other people .
Ah, I was just an ordinary and insignificant person . I was only a “dwarf” . I once belonged to the Rescue Party in the Journey of Salvation . I was involved with many geniuses, but one of them got especially close to the hero of the party, Helot Stanley . That said member believed that it had risen to the very top .
But, why . If I were a true hero, would I fret over an insignificant grievance? Would an unpleasant small emotion be engraved in my heart if I were in fact a hero?
「Okay, we shall keep it this way . But, I must show you some courtesy first . Yeah, even though I hate it . My name is…」
In front of me, this elf continued to speak as if nothing much happened . She spoke as if she played a song with her lips . But, she paused before professing the remaining words . Ah, that name .
「…Eldith . It’s both a masculine and feminine name . But, the elves usually use gender-neutral names . 」
…Eldith . The Elf Princess and a member of the Journey of Salvation . And…the worst of them all .