Solo Max-Level Newbie - Chapter 407: Alliance with the High Elves (1)

Crackling…!

Mana gathered along the bowstring of Fang.

An arrow formed entirely from mana—its sheer force incomparable to a regular arrow.

Red sparks scattered in every direction.

“The power seems decent, but a human with a bow? Against us, no less?”

“What a foolish trick.”

“Let’s see. Go ahead, shoot as much as you like.”

The High Elves perched in the trees sneered.

The bow was their specialty. It was a weapon reserved for those born with the natural flexibility and focus unique to elves.

And now, a mere human—impatient and short-lived—dared to wield it? The sheer absurdity left them speechless.

“Wait! Calm down! They must not know better.”

“Jinhyuk, sir, please don’t kill them.”

Ironically, it wasn’t the High Elves who were nervous but Teslon and Sylvia, who tried to hold Jinhyuk back. Their concern was entirely misplaced.

“Unbelievable. Who’s worrying about whom here?”

“I have a lot of questions to ask, so let’s just start with taking an arm.”

The playfulness ended there.

Seven arrows were loosed in an instant from the elves.

With a sound that tore through the air, the white arrows cut through the void. The precision of their trajectory spoke volumes about the High Elves’ skill in archery.

However…

That was all.

Ka-ka-kang! Kaang!

Every single arrow was destroyed midair.

Red flashes streaked through the air, intercepting the elven arrows with flawless accuracy.

Shattered fragments rained down, splitting into dozens of pieces.

“What the…!?”

“This… this can’t be happening.”

Their astonishment didn’t last long.

By then, Jinhyuk had already drawn his second arrow.

It was fast—both the process of forming the mana arrow and locking onto the target far surpassed common sense.

Thwack!

The rapid barrage continued, shattering the bows held by the High Elves.

“Ugh!”

With their bows destroyed, the elves instinctively reached for the swords at their waists.

At that moment…

“If you draw that, you die.”

A chilling voice came from directly behind one of the High Elves.

The shift in attention from bow to sword had taken less than a second. Yet, in that fleeting moment, Jinhyuk had already appeared behind them.

“Captain!”

“How did he…?”

The other elves only reacted after a half-beat too late.

It was already over.

“When did you even get up here?”

The male elf leading the defense swallowed dryly.

Turning his head or making the slightest movement would undoubtedly cost him his life.

Knowing this, he dared not resist.

“Sorry, but I’m the one making the demands here. Now, answer me.”

“Understood….”

“Believe it or not, I’m the one who cured the parasites. If you let me inside the fortress, I’ll explain how.”

“Is… that true?”

The High Elf’s pupils dilated rapidly.

The parasites had caused them untold suffering, weakening even their strongest warriors and elementalists. If a cure truly existed, everything would change.

It would allow them to mount a counterattack and reclaim their standing.

“And I’ll also hand over a demon prisoner as a gesture of goodwill. I understand that your people have their own laws regarding justice.”

At this, the High Elves’ expressions completely shifted.

Their eyes, once filled with suspicion and disdain, now sparkled with admiration and respect.

“I go by Paragon. It seems we may have misunderstood you.”

“It’s Kang Jinhyuk. I’m glad we’ve cleared up the misunderstanding.”

Jinhyuk smiled warmly.

But why did it feel so unsettling?

Though his lips smiled, his eyes remained cold, radiating a more intense killing intent than before.

“But you know, in this world, a simple apology doesn’t always fix things. Especially when it comes to the wounds you’ve inflicted on my pride. Compensation is in order.”

Wounds to one’s pride often linger.

Without proper atonement, they could last a lifetime.

“Compensation? What kind of compensation?”

What kind, indeed.

“Teslon.”

“Me?”

Caught off guard by being named, Teslon tilted his head.

“Yes, you.”

Teslon, being experienced, would understand best.

Mistakes and wrongdoings always come with a price.

Jinhyuk pulled out a set of clothing he had purchased from the coin exchange in advance. The garments were ridiculous, to say the least.

“Teslon, what is this nonsense coming out of this human’s mouth?”

“This… this can’t be serious, right?”

“If he’s mocking us, he’d better stop now.”

“Oh? So none of you are willing to wear it?”

“Of course not! What do you take us, noble warriors of the forest, for?”

“Don’t belittle the pride of elves!”

“I see. Well, that’s fine. Dressing corpses in these will still serve the purpose.”

Jinhyuk unsheathed Crimson Lotus once again.

The blade’s fiery glow reached the neck of a High Elf, its heat causing the skin to begin sizzling.

“Are you serious? If you do this, you’ll provoke an all-out war with us.”

“The elders will understand if I hand over the cure and the prisoner. As for you, you’ll simply be chalked up as inevitable casualties of war.”

The situation had spiraled out of control.

In desperation, the High Elf captain turned to Teslon for help.

“Teslon, stop this man! Surely he’ll listen to you.”

“Give up.”

“What?”

“Just… accept it. It’s better that way. Trust me, I understand how you feel.”

Teslon gazed at the captain with profound eyes.

It was the gaze of someone who had experienced utter despair, denial, and, finally, resignation.

“…Damn it.”

All was lost.

There was no longer any room for negotiation.

The elves lowered their heads in defeat.

—

Inside the fortress, an unusual sight unfolded.

Elves dressed in brightly colored, mismatched costumes resembling magical girls marched in, holding oversized staffs.

The scene was so bizarre that the elves inside the fortress dared not question it.

“…….”

“……Mom, isn’t that the defense captain?”

“Shh. Don’t stare.”

Like onlookers entranced by a ghost, the elves silently watched Jinhyuk proceed to the heart of the fortress.

There, in a cozy wooden chamber, Jinhyuk met with the elder who governed the fortress.

“So, you disciplined our warriors because they wouldn’t listen?”

The elder, an aged High Elf with a long beard, poured green tea into a cup.

Drip….

The soothing aroma seemed to calm the nerves.

“Yes. Since we’ll be fighting together in this war, I felt it was necessary to establish some order.”

“Who does he think he is?! Elder! Are you just going to let this slide?”

“Quiet. You’re in no position to shout, especially while dressed like that, holding that ridiculous staff.”

“I… I mean….”

The defense captain blushed, unable to finish his sentence.

The elder turned back to Jinhyuk.

“Your proposals are certainly reasonable. You’re offering exactly what we need most. As the one in charge of this fortress, I can approve the use of our forces.”

“Are you agreeing to a temporary alliance, then?”

“Indeed. After all….”

The elder smiled warmly.

“Who else would we trust if not the benefactor of our people?”

Through Sylvia, the elder had already heard of Jinhyuk’s deeds—how he had gone to great lengths for the elves without seeking recognition.

Thus, his decision was easy.

[You have gained the trust of High Elf Elder ‘Tian.’]
[All elves you meet for the first time will have their favorability increased by 200%.]
[You have been granted a rank equivalent to the commander of 100 Elf Rangers.]

Blue system notifications popped up in succession.

With this, the groundwork was complete.

“Relay any needs you have to Paragon. We’ll provide whatever you require.”

“Thank you. Then….”

Jinhyuk bowed briefly and left the chamber, accompanied by a visibly irritated Paragon, Teslon, and Sylvia.

“How many Rangers can you mobilize?”

“About 300.”

“Three hundred….”

Jinhyuk’s eyes narrowed.

With both Remia, the high-ranking demon, and Gluttony from the Seven Deadly Sins present, the shrine’s defenses would be formidable.

‘Even with Melena and Tristan infiltrating, I’ll need a proper diversion to get the information.’

There was no way to communicate discreetly through the system under such heavy surveillance.

“Gather not only the Rangers but also the warriors and elementalists. Include the High Elf nobles capable of controlling spirits.”

“You’re not planning just a reconnaissance, are you?”

Paragon’s face grew stern.

“Surely, you’re not thinking of a direct assault. That would result in massive casualties.”

The guerrilla tactics so far had been intended to minimize losses. Even the High Elves, formidable as they were, couldn’t withstand the overwhelming forces of the demons and parasites.

If Jinhyuk was planning something reckless…

“No, the elves won’t suffer any casualties. I’ll go inside the shrine with just T-Bone and Frey.”

“You expect us to draw attention while you three sneak inside?”

“Exactly. Just that.”

“You’re insane… but fine. I’ll create the biggest distraction you can imagine.”

Paragon nodded.

—

Rumble…!

Fountains of blood erupted throughout the shrine.

Blood magic was being used to saturate the air with malevolent energy.

In the throne beneath the inverted cross altar, Remia sat.

“By now… he must have started moving.”

“Yes. We’ve provoked him enough by hunting elves. He’s bound to rush in.”

“Good. It’s all coming together.”

This mission had required significant effort.

After all, it was a direct order from Guntafer, the great Demon King of the Demon Realm.

No room for error could be tolerated.

“Kang Jinhyuk….”

Remia gazed at the blood-drawn portrait of Jinhyuk.

The opponent would undoubtedly believe in their victory.

And why wouldn’t they?

Remia held a trump card capable of striking at their blind spot.

Though most demons were fools, Nietzsche had been competent. It was baffling how he’d fallen to a mere player.

The unique ability, Nihilism, rendered even the most powerful residents helpless.

For Nietzsche to lose without prior knowledge of a counter… it was incomprehensible.

“Still, if there’s a traitor in our ranks, it makes sense. Right? My sly little mouse?”

Remia’s gaze shifted to a red-haired woman bound to the altar.