246th
Elves of Alfheim246? Elves of Alfheim #6
Sreung-.
Delphina took the thin blade out of its scabbard and examined it, not taking her eyes off the sharp blade as she asked.
“You said that this mission was to protect Elfriede. But is that really all?”
“What? What does that mean?”
“Are you really doing this because of a request?”
“Then what else is there?”
“… .”
In response to my answer, Delphina once again puts her sword blade back in.
“Okay, that’s enough of an answer. We’re getting out of this.”
“what?”
“There is no more trouble to be caused in this situation where the kingdom’s inspectors may come. Elfriede is expelled from the party today.”
“no-.”
I couldn’t help but frown because I heard something I had never expected. You’re expelling Elfriede from the party? Doesn’t that mean you’re cutting ties with her?
These guys are cutting off Elfriede right now because they think she’s going to harm their party. For some reason, I’m angry about that.
Why on earth is that?
Maybe it’s because he knows that Elfriede struggled through the darkness to save these guys.
Yeah, that’s probably why.
Elfriede didn’t hesitate to put her life at risk for these guys, but these guys are trying to throw her out the moment they find out that she’s trying to harm them?
Of course, Delphina’s opinion is correct.
If you think about it calmly, these uncivilized and barbaric people move based on their own interests. There is no safer measure than that.
Right now, I wonder if I would be here talking like this if it weren’t for Kalidur’s request.
“… .”
While I was briefly lost in such thoughts, Delphina said:
“Then this is the end of the story. We too, have our own futures. If we cause trouble one more time like this, our adventurer careers are over. In that sense, you can tell Elphie, or rather Elfriede, about the party expulsion, Samaritan.”
“Hey, Delphina-.”
“Be quiet, Edwin. This is my decision as the leader. If you don’t like my decision, you can leave the party with Elfriede.”
Delphina immediately dismissed her colleague’s opinion. Judging from her attitude, it was clear that this incident had probably caused many relationships to fall into irreversible straits.
The hospital room was enveloped in silence for a moment, as if everyone had something to say but was holding back.
Everyone just stares silently at the dumbbells, swords, or windows placed before them. It was honestly commonplace in the adventurer community for parties to form and disband. They were formed for various reasons, and most disbanded for similar reasons.
This is one of many cases. Of course, the party is not disbanded, but Elfriede is simply expelled.
Seeing Delphina alone display such a strong attitude, it would be natural for other colleagues who have objections to say something or raise objections.
Seeing that they don’t, I feel like there must be some reason why they are stuck together as a party.
For some reason and Elfriede.
They must have weighed the two and decided to throw out the relatively light one. It was because they had set priorities in this way that they were able to become high-ranking adventurers of the Silver Tier.
Even though I knew it well, I was so stressed that I felt like the atmosphere that had been teasing me earlier was better.
I came with a relatively light heart, but I felt a heavy weight on my shoulders because I heard stories I had never expected.
I will soon untangle my thoughts, which are tangled like earphone cords, and answer with my own opinion.
“Yeah, this is the original adventure. I knew what you guys thought. I didn’t know it would turn out like this. Well, there’s nothing I can do.”
“It’s good that you understand quickly, Samaritan.”
I had previously rated Delphina as a great person, but now I have lowered my heart score significantly. This guy is just another adventurer who lives a simple life, which you can see anywhere.
I’ve been going through a lot lately, so I’ve been feeling a little hopeful about this world. As expected, it’s just that Luna, Hippolyte, and Paranoy are special, but this was originally normal.
“Then get some rest.”
With those words, I left the sickroom. Behind me, the sorcerer Edwin, whose languid eyes were moving back and forth anxiously, spoke a word.
“Probably, Elfriede will be on the rooftop.”
Even though you didn’t ask, if you ignore it after hearing it, it’ll prick your conscience.
*
*
*
As I climbed up to the rooftop, I saw a woman looking out at the world under the sunset. I could tell who she was just by looking at her back.
“Delphina?”
Hey, Elfriede was talking to me. I guess she just felt the presence and thought it was Delphina.
I said.
“Unfortunately, it’s me. Elfriede.”
His shoulders trembled as if he was startled by it. He turned his head and looked at me.
His once-white face was red as if he had caught a cold, perhaps because he had been out in the scorching sun for a long time, and sweat was dripping down his forehead.
“…Hassan, what brings you here? I never thought you’d come.”
Elfriede wiggled her ears, exposed by her hair, perhaps taken aback by the unexpected visitor’s appearance.
You’ll be even more embarrassed if you listen to what I say next.
“I’ll get straight to the point. You don’t like to be dragged around. So, I hope you’ll listen to what I have to say without misunderstanding.”
“You’re already dragging your feet. What brings you here? Are you here to visit me in the hospital or something?”
“That’s not it.”
“What? Yeah, I guess that could be true. So it looks like you have something to tell me, but what is it? I don’t like to drag things out like you said, so get straight to the point.”
“You might die soon. Maybe you only have six hours left.”
“…what?”
It was Elfriede, frowning with a flushed face.
In contrast to her usual calm expression, her frowning expression is quite scary because it is so big. Even I, who have been seeing her face for two years, am a little scared.
“Am I dead?”
“The elves of Alfheim have come to our chins. Do you know that we are in the same Dongmun area now?”
“Albheim… .”
Even Elfriede’s forehead, which had been frowning until just a moment ago, relaxed a little at that story.
“It’s Albheim.”
The guy who seemed like he was going to say something turned his back on me again and looked out into the world.
Since I could only see the back of his head, I couldn’t tell what he was looking at or what expression he was making.
“Finally, it has come. But it feels a little too late.”
“okay.”
“If you say that, I assume you already know that I set the tree on fire?”
“that’s right.”
“So, those pursuers said they were going to drag me back to Alfheim?”
“No, it seems like they made some kind of deal with the kingdom. I think they’re planning on executing you or turning you into a slave.”
“under?”
The voice that had been relatively calm cracks.
“Am I a slave? Who cares?”
“I don’t know. Anyway, it’s kind of funny that you say that. Your life is over, Elfriede. But at least it doesn’t end today. I was asked to protect you.”
“A request? The more I listen, the more I get confused. And you’re going to protect me? If it’s the guy chasing me, it’s probably either a flash or a lightning bolt.”
Flash and Lightning are synonymous with Kalidur and Daltor.
I remembered it because it was such a cringey nickname, but judging from the fact that Elfriede mentioned them, they must be quite famous human hunters even among the elves. Well, if that wasn’t the case, they wouldn’t have received such a grand nickname.
Elfriede said.
“You think you can stop those cold-blooded guys just because you can act like an adventurer these days? Someone like you would be crushed in one hit.”
“But I’m your only ally right now. I’m your only lifeline. Can you say that to me?”
“what?”
I was also angry at Elfriede, who seemed to have no grasp of the situation.
I don’t know why this world is full of so many fools.
It may be because they haven’t even received proper higher education, and they don’t even know if the planet is round or not.
“You’ve just been kicked out of your party, Elfriede.”
“… .”
Elfriede stopped talking and turned away.
I kept talking to that guy’s back.
“I just spoke to Delphina. They seem to want to avoid fighting the pursuers from Alfheim. So I kicked you out of the party. You have no one on your side anymore.”
“… .”
Elfriede, who had been saying a few words just a moment ago, was now completely silent. She must be having a lot on her mind.
You could have taken what I said as a lie. But Elfriede is a smart girl, so she could probably infer what happened between me and Delphina from what I said.
“In the end, it happened again-. Damn-. You’re the only one I can trust. Should I cry or laugh about this?”
“I can only block the execution for today. As you say, I may not be able to do that. What, is there no other way?”
“What method?”
“Something like a way to shake off the pursuers or escape. Or get out of the city right now.”
“Even so, it’s just a matter of time. I’m starting to get tired of this life of just running away. I don’t know if anything good will come of living like this. Just-.”
Elfriede kept repeating the word just-. I had a feeling I knew what he was mumbling. He just wanted to give up.
It must be really tiring to live a life being chased by someone. However, it was not a good thing for me that Elfriede was so unmotivated.
“If you give up, I won’t be able to complete the request.”
“That’s it, it’s none of my business. I’m really tired of living like this. There have been many fun things since I came to the Gaia Continent. I’ve done everything I could, so I think it’s right to just end it like this.”
“Are you trying to die?”
“Death or slavery. You know better than anyone what will happen, Hassan.”
I pictured Elfriede being led by her brother in my head.
capital punishment-.
No, in Elfriede’s case, she is definitely a slave.
I don’t want to admit it honestly, but Elfriede is a beauty who can captivate people’s hearts. It seems that she is also called a witch among the elves.
If that’s the case, there must be a lot of guys who want to win the bid to use Elfriede as a slave.
So, there is no reason for him to be sentenced to death.
As I have mentioned before, being beautiful has many advantages in this world.
But a beautiful slave.
Can you be completely happy just because you saved my life?
The treatment of slaves varied greatly from master to master.
But the treatment of young female slaves is comparatively the same, and there is only one reason for purchasing beautiful slaves.
“I’m telling you, Elfriede, you won’t last a single day as a slave.”
“Ha, that’s funny. Hassan, you think I can’t last a day like you lasted two years? Do you think I’m that funny?”
“Elfriede, not all slave owners are like you. It would probably be no different from dying. It might even be better to die.”
“What kind of master is a master like me?”
Although she spoke calmly, Elfriede’s slender shoulders were trembling. Was she afraid? Or angry? I couldn’t tell, but her mind was quite agitated.
“What kind of master is a master like me?”
“… .”
I thought for a moment. Perhaps unable to tolerate even that moment of silence, Elfriede poured out her words like a bursting dam.
“Is this what a master like me says? A stupid bitch who saved a dying slave and then ran away on her own? A slut who gets punched in the face when we meet again? And now, a retard who has no one on his side but that slave?”
Too much.
Elfriede’s hand, which was holding onto the rooftop railing, felt strong. People show various reactions when they face a crisis.
As far as I know, Elfriede has a strong tendency towards self-destruction. She is a witch who can control fire, so she is often evaluated as being crazy like fire.
There is no word that describes Elfriede better than that.
The flames in Elfriede’s heart are so great that they burn the World Tree, burn the relationships of those around her, and even burn herself.
“Don’t think about feeling sorry for me. It’s really disgusting that you’re pretending to be on my side now. Just because I’ve been through a few humiliations with you, do you think I’m the same as you? Just because we’ve rolled through the abyss together, do you think I’m the same as a savage like you?”
Elfriede speaks as if she is very angry.
“Don’t act like you’re on my side now. Seriously, it’s disgusting. I don’t even want to look at your face. If you come here now and hold out your hand, do you think I’ll accept it with gratitude? If that’s the case, if that’s the case, then from the beginning-.”
Wasn’t there a case like this a while ago? I guess this is how my conversation with this guy always goes.
But if it were just like before, just a little while ago, I would have been angry too. But for some reason, I was as calm as a wide, calm lake.
Elfriede threw stones at me diligently, but not a single ripple appeared in my heart. I found that strange.
Perhaps, because I could see what kind of fate Elfriede would face, I even began to feel pity for her.
Now that the distance between us has grown this much, I can finally see something.
What comes to mind is the memory of stepping on the desk and making a girl cry, and the mistake I made that day in college when I kicked the blanket with my rude words. I find myself repeating that mistake again.
“Hey, Elfriede. Do you like me?”
[Work Review]
As a side note, we’ve established the ‘Save the Nymphs Foundation’ to help save nymphs with the valuable coupons and recommendations you’ve given us…
The coupons and recommendations you give us will go into the STN Foundation’s precious budget and be used to deliver barley porridge to nymphs all over the world…!!!
