Ch. 277

“In my case, it’s special. Because I spend a lot of time outside the territory, I have a lot to learn, and I have to develop strength even for the share that other members of my race don’t covet.”

“Everyone can just get stronger. Then there’s no need for an Eradicator like you, right?”

“Our doctrine is strict. Many avoid killing as much as possible and choose to die rather than kill. But someone has to bear the sin.”

Suddenly, Daria’s words came to mind.

She said she couldn’t kill. Even though they were humans who kidnapped her and tried to sell her, she shook her head, saying she couldn’t harm them.

Even though she would become a slave if she didn’t kill, she was waiting for help from her brother Zekarda, the Eradicator.

“That… if I understand correctly, being an Eradicator means you’re ultimately someone who takes on sin?”

“Similar.”

“You kill on behalf of everyone and break the doctrine alone.”

Zekarda nodded like it was nothing, then gathered straw and tossed it into the hearth.

The flames that had seemed like they were dying flared back up.

“Getting stronger to sacrifice yourself… that’s unique.”

“If blood has to be on someone’s hands, it’s enough if it’s just me. One of the reasons we live hidden in the forest is because of this doctrine.”

“Then you shouldn’t tell me, right? I could tell it to someone else.”

“It’s not exactly a secret. Even the slave traders who caught me already knew. Even if humans know, they won’t be able to find our village, so nothing will change much. If you’re going to our village, it’s better to know.”

Only then did it hit me how great and rare an opportunity it was to go to the Dark Elf village.

As far as I knew, in all the literature I’d read, no human had ever entered a Dark Elf village.

That meant there hadn’t been any guests for at least several thousand years, and if someone wandered in by accident, they didn’t come out alive.

Because the Dark Elves were one of the most reclusive races.

“We also have devout people and those who aren’t. Some won’t hesitate to kill if their lives are threatened. The difference between fearing sin and not fearing it is the same as with humans.”

“What happens to you… when you sin?”

“We believe that if you take a life, you’ll surely be reborn as that being and pay the price.”

‘So they believe in reincarnation. I can kind of relate… but I can’t even mention that I’ve been through it, so all I can do is feel closer to him in my mind.’

All of a sudden, I got curious about something.

“Then you don’t eat meat…?”

“…Basically, we’re vegetarians.”

“I think I’ve heard Elves are like that too…”

“Why are you suddenly getting serious?”

“Can I bring meat when I go there? Will I get kicked out?”

‘Not killing only sounded like one thing to me. I’m not going to get any meat from these guys.’

“…Is that all you can say seriously?”

“It’s serious for me. Eating is deeply connected to life. If you have a doctrine, I have gluttony.”

[Strict, solemn, serious!]

“I know very well that you’re a human who makes nonsense sound plausible. I also know why your group went out to find food from dawn. Especially that… blurry-looking human.”

“Ash?”

‘He’s so ordinary that, through an Elf’s eyes, his impression is so blurry it’s almost disappearing. It’s like that even for other humans.’

“He was very worried that he wouldn’t be back before you woke up. If he couldn’t find food nearby, he was ready to hunt. I thought there was some beast that becomes violent when starved.”

“Nah, she doesn’t get violent. She’s the same as usual.”

[Her usual personality is already terri— See! The thoughts you’re having right now are violent!]

‘If you were a real snake, I’d boil you into soup… but this one, no matter how much I boil you, you are tasteless and has no nutritional value, yet you are still acting up.’

“He told me to watch the fire.”

I could roughly guess what had happened.

Among our group, Ash was the only one who cared about my breakfast. He had to go out to find food, but he couldn’t leave Rovenin behind, so he took him along.

I squatted down next to Zekarda, who was poking at the fire, and rested my chin on my knees.

If I’d been left alone with Rovenin, it would’ve been impossible to be this peaceful, so Ash’s judgment was excellent.

I stared blankly at the fire, hungry with nothing to do. The silence started to feel stifling, so I spoke to Zekarda.

“It’s my first time seeing a mid-level Earth Spirit Mage. There aren’t many among humans.”

“Why?”

“There’s a perception that it’s not useful.”

“Hmm.”

Compared to the Spirits of fire, water, and wind, it was less popular because it was difficult for humans to use.

In fact, Zekarda was the first Earth Spirit Mage I’d ever met.

“What kind of Spirits do you prefer? Do you prefer Earth Spirits too? What’s it like?”

“Well, average, I guess.”

“What do you mainly use Earth Spirits for? Is it different from humans?”

There were mountains of things I was curious about regarding the Dark Elves, and my eyes sparkled at the thought that I could have a high-level conversation about Spirits.

“Earth Spirits… are good for burying corpses.”

“…Is there anything else?”

“They’re good for burying multiple corpses.”

“Are you serious?”

“Just kidding.”

‘He’s kind of my type because he laughs so openly? He can even joke, and he’s much more human than Rovenin. Is this what Dark Elf-like means…?’

“Earth Spirits can dig tunnels, which is convenient for camping. They’re also useful in battle… for tying up an opponent’s feet. Or dragging them into the ground. You can also use them as a moving shield.”

“You should’ve used it on Rovenin! How great would it be to bury him alive!”

“Rovenin? You mean that jerk.”

“That’s right… but doesn’t that word feel out of place for you? ‘Jerk.’ Even old people don’t use that.”

“Hmm, I learned it was a harsh insult. Isn’t it?”

Come to think of it, Zekarda was speaking a foreign language right now.

I’d overlooked it because he spoke the common tongue so fluently, but Elves had their own language.

It was unreasonable to expect even the insults to be spot-on.

Whoever taught Zekarda the common language taught him insults that were way too mild.

“I’m in a good mood. I’ll teach you some practical insults.”

“I thought I already knew a lot.”

“Learning is endless. Learn it well. For a guy like Rovenin, it’s appropriate to say, ‘You son of a btch, you fcking bastard.’”

“Hoo, you son of a btch, you fcking bastard.”

“You’re good at following along?”

[Geez, you’re teaching him good things.]

I wondered if he knew this counted as cultural exchange.

“Human language is easier compared to our language. But the ‘son of a btch’ in this insult— is it the same ‘son of a btch’ that I know?”

“That’s right.”

“Then there’s no problem with ‘son of a btch,’ so isn’t ‘you fcked up son of a b*tch’ better?”

“…You’re smart. I like you.”

“Because I like cursing.”

His application was pretty good.

Zekarda nodded, genuinely pleased with the compliment.

It seemed there was no doctrine against cursing.

(T/N : Oh my… there is chemistry between them! Is this the start of the Geekarda ship? lol )

—

Zekarda and I talked quite a bit.

Even though we were different races, we had a lot in common: we were both Spirit Mages, we had terrible tempers, and we believed that if someone bothered you, you had to beat them up.

More importantly, we got along because we both hated Rovenin, and it felt like we became friends quickly.

We went deep into curses, then moved on to Spirits, but of course, I was the one getting taught.

“Do you know about cases where Spirits summon themselves?”

“I’ve heard that the Spirit Kings can. It’s recorded.”

“What about cases where lower Spirits cross over?”

“I’ve never heard of that… but it doesn’t seem impossible. It’s said that if there’s a summoner, it’s possible for a Spirit to cross over on its own.”

“Where are those records?”

“In my hometown.”

I was curious if there were more cases like Undine, and whether there was any way to prevent it.

I thought it over, then asked again.

“Can I see the records if I go to your village? Or is there an Elf who knows a lot about it?”

“It’s not my job to decide if you can see them. Maybe the Elder or the Chief would know. They have much deeper knowledge of Spirits than I do.”

Going to the Dark Elf village was no longer a matter of choice.

It wasn’t in the plan, but I thought I should go even if I had to put everything else aside.

“I’m also curious about that altar… I should go see it.”

“The condition for taking you is releasing this. Don’t forget that.”

When I first bought Zekarda, the plan was to use him here and there and ultimately make him Ash’s companion.

Because he still hadn’t gathered all the companions needed for the Path of Trials.

Because of the obedience magic of the Suppression tool, he had no choice but to do what I told him, and I was sure that if I presented it as a condition for releasing him, he would have no choice but to help.

But after talking to him, unlike my first impression, he was a pretty likable guy… and that damn Krancia Peace Accord was the problem.

There was a clause like this:

‘Do not interfere in each other’s politics! Absolutely refrain from anything that could affect politics!’

Ash, being a prince, was familiar with even the detailed clauses most people didn’t memorize, and no matter how you interpreted it, it meant Zekarda shouldn’t interfere in the Path of Trials—the Crown Prince selection test.

A member of another race couldn’t become a Guardian.

I clicked my tongue in disappointment.

Would it have been possible before the Krancia Peace Accord existed?

He was rare and strong, so I thought he’d be perfect as a Guardian… but it was a shame. I had no choice but to give up.

Anyway, Ash was reluctant to let me help him, and he wanted to do everything himself.

Looking at Ash made it obvious how much conscience makes you lose out.

“Okay. I’ll release you when we go to the village. It’s a losing deal, but.”

“It must be easy to live in the world if you’re so shameless.”

“It’s not like that. I’m quite a polite human, you know?”

“Since when did the meaning of politeness change?”

“Since I didn’t make you lick my feet.”

Don’t forget—I’m the one being lenient.

When I glared at him pointedly, Zekarda clicked his tongue in irritation.

As long as he wore the Suppression tool that looked like a dog collar, he couldn’t escape my servitude, and I had a job that specialized in exploiting people.

I could make him act like a dog whenever I wanted.

[Creepy…….]