Survival 156

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“Whew, let’s catch our breath here.”

“Will it be alright? This jungle is my mother’s territory.”

Still worried that the divine archer might follow us,

I couldn’t help but smile at the anxious Freesia.

“Well, my subordinates are strong, so we should be fine for now.”

“But…”

I shrugged and looked at her.

It wasn’t for no reason that I was showing such composure.

I knew the specs of the divine archer from the original story.

If it were just the Tamer and the sword demon, I’d be a bit uneasy too.

‘But with Iscadel, we should be okay.’

He’s a demon who survived harsh conditions in the north.

If he’s serious, he’s one of the strongest among my allies.

Freesia’s lips, which had been tense, parted in surprise.

“I see. I never thought someone could stop my mother, the best warrior in our village…”

“So sit for a moment. Unlike someone, I’m not a fool with just brute strength.”

“Who are you calling a fool!”

Ignoring Freesia’s protest, I took a moment to catch my breath and organize my thoughts.

‘But she’s right; it’s dangerous to stay like this.’

This jungle is the divine archer’s territory.

Plus, she’s the guardian of the World Tree.

If she uses her status to rally forces, we’ll be in trouble in no time.

So the answer is simple.

“Well then, we’ve decided on our destination. Shall we get moving?”

“What’s next? Stopping beastmen? Hunting slave traders?”

“No. You’ve done those tasks well enough. Now it’s time for me to reward you.”

Reward.

At that sweet temptation, Freesia’s ears perked up.

“Could it be…!”

“Let’s leave this jungle.”

We just need to leave her territory.

If we leave the elves’ and beastmen’s living areas and blend in with humans, even the divine archer won’t be able to do much.

Her influence only extends within this jungle.

It doesn’t reach the high walls of human fortresses.

‘As a guardian, she couldn’t even reclaim the World Tree taken by humans.’

The stolen World Tree is proof of that.

“We’re going to the territory of Duke Daimon.”

“To human lands…”

“It’s a place where you can get a taste of the bustling central region.”

Her previous worries vanished, and a new emotion sparkled in the elf girl’s eyes.

Curiosity about the new world beyond the walls.

The anticipation of stepping into that world with her own feet.

‘Maybe I should give her a little warning.’

“I’ll warn you in advance; humans there might not look kindly on elves. They might mistake you for a slave and act rudely. However…”

Seeing the tips of her pointed ears quiver slightly, I smiled.

That’s enough of a warning.

If I want to sell the idea, I should highlight the advantages too.

“I’ll show you the special things you couldn’t see in the jungle. Will you follow me?”

“Of course! That’s why I left the village!”

“Even rebelling against your sky-like mother.”

“Ugh… yeah, that’s right! I want to travel far and wide. Not even Mother can stop me!”

It was a good mindset.

Even if to the master archer, she might have seemed like a troublesome and presumptuous daughter.

To me, she was not merely a valuable energy source but a proactive companion.

As long as her curiosity remained undiminished, Freesia would be an obedient companion.

It was when I spread out the map to locate the Daimon Palace, hoping to meet her expectations.

“Frostmane!” Just then, a familiar voice was heard from that direction.

It was the messenger who had likely already visited the mansion, gracefully landing on the ground with wings fully spread and her honey-colored, luscious hair flowing elegantly.

If there were scores, she would score twelve out of ten.

Although her beauty would have been more pronounced if she were in a dress instead of a maid’s uniform, I thought, “Well, this isn’t bad either.”

That somewhat clumsy appearance added a sense of liveliness to her sculpted looks, giving her a touch of commoner charm, which seemed rather fitting for her.

“I have conveyed your message to the descendant of the warrior as you desired,” she said.

“I apologize for causing you such trouble, Bathory, due to my busy schedule,” I replied.

“…Ha, what are you saying now? As always, you can count on me to fulfill any request you make to me, a mere maid,” she responded, though her words were rather impudent for a maid speaking to her superior.

Nonetheless, from the etiquette of lifting the hem of her maid skirt to her mindset, it was a very satisfactory answer.

Besides, I needed her.

“Glad to hear it. Then may I immediately make my next request?”

“…Of course. What is it?”

“Ah, it’s not a difficult request. You just need to guide me.”

It’s better to have someone who has been there guide you rather than figuring it out from the map.

At my next destination, Bathory sighed in a peculiar way, but I turned to the elf girl and extended my hand.

“So, shall we go to the humans’ castle, Freesia?”

***

“Tsk, why is that guy…?” A rude remark struck my ears as soon as the door opened.

‘Is that something you say to someone who returned safely?’ I suppressed the twitching corner of my mouth.

As Hans Byron, there was no bad blood or significant conversation with him.

Yet, the crown prince’s reaction was colder than expected, openly hostile to the point of making such a remark.

‘So, he doesn’t like me,’ I understood.

The crown prince was naturally supposed to be the leader of the emperor’s faction, but in the academy, all the spotlight was on Luciana, and I, who took the position of her right-hand man and vice-captain, wouldn’t be viewed favorably.

Judging by the atmosphere, it seemed he hadn’t seized the initiative even in my absence.

Nothing special, it was the fitting end for a wretched scumbag.

But the crown prince’s blatant hostility did make the atmosphere tense.

As I pondered whether to further provoke him and ruin his image or to stir sympathy and shift public opinion, 

“Hans! Do you know how worried I was?”

A mass of rich pink hair filled my vision.

Elizabeth, who ran up and hugged me tightly, looked every bit like the tragic heroine welcoming back her fiancé who barely escaped from a monster.

“Do you really know how much I suffered?”

Of course, she whispered so closely to my ear that no one else could hear.

However, the content of her secretive whisper was different.

“If you were going to come back, you should have done so quickly. Pretending for too long is tiring.”

“You should have just stayed inside. All you needed to do was show that you were grieving.”

“You can only use that trick for a day or two. People only recognize the truth when they see it often. You need to occasionally show them how you mourn to gain their sympathy.”

There was a subtle sense of pride in her voice as she reproached me.

‘Good grief.’

Seeing her proudly whispering about how she had completely deceived everyone left me speechless.

Is this basic conduct for a merchant?

I wondered where she learned to act like this.

‘Who will take this cunning child?’

“This, I apologize. I had matters to attend to.”

“Never mind. I will make sure you pay for this thoroughly, so be prepared.”

Well, that much is expected.

I intend to commend her for the good work.

As always, if she makes excessive demands, I can just ignore them.

I shrugged my shoulders to show my agreement, and she quietly stepped back.

“…Hans.”

The next person to approach me was Luciana.

In her azure eyes, which seemed sculpted from nobility itself, there was unmistakable joy.

“A servant who does not leave a single message for his master. Don’t you think you are an unfaithful servant?”

“Hahaha, I was so busy trying to survive that I had no time to spare.”

-Didn’t I convey my situation through telepathy? Please be lenient just this once.

“Yes… it’s good enough that you’re alive.”

As our eyes met, Luciana’s gaze softened slightly.

Seeing her match my rhythm well, I knelt on one knee to show proper etiquette.

“Oh…”

“It’s a perfect display of the bond between a master and a loyal servant.”

A faint sigh of admiration escaped from the surroundings.

Yes.

Admire her more.

Luciana is a perfect commander who not only takes good care of her people but also handles public duties efficiently!

-That’s enough. By the way, where is the benefactor who saved you from the sandworm? Since they saved my right hand, I should reward them properly.

Her intention was clear.

Not only did she want to give a simple reward, but she also wanted to ensure a successful future for them by showing recognition in front of the nobles.

‘I don’t know if Freesia would want that, though.’

That’s right.

I had created the narrative that ‘she saved me from the sandworm and took care of me’ to naturally introduce Freesia into human society, deceiving even Luciana first to fool the enemy.

-I have brought her. Shall I call her in now?

-Yes, that would be good.

Smiling faintly, I stood up and continued the conversation naturally.

In line with her intentions.

“If the benefactor I met in the wilderness hadn’t pulled me out of the sandworm’s belly, I would have been digested and died shortly.”

“Oh, that’s commendable. Can you introduce her to me?”

“Yes. You might be surprised to see her.”

Clap, clap.

At the sound of my applause, she entered the banquet hall.

Her silver hair, stopping at her shoulders, was complemented by a pearl necklace and a pure white dress.

And to crown that achromatic look, her jade-like eyes and the emerald ornament at the end of her necklace.

“Oh. What is this…?”

Even the crown prince, who had no eye for beauty, was struck with admiration.

Freesia’s appearance was quite remarkable.

‘Who dressed her up like that?’

Seeing the reaction, it was worth the effort to adorn her since she entered the castle.

Even I thought she looked quite impressive.

However, while most were captivated by her beauty…

“… An elf? How dare you step foot here?”

There are always men who are not swayed by such appearances.

I, with the solid backing of Luciana, was one of them.

Luke Daimon, whose family was currently hostile towards elves, was another.

Luke Daimon, with blazing eyes, strode out and looked at me.

No, he glared at me.

“Sir Byron, I must ask if you are in your right mind. It is common knowledge that an elf cannot remain in this castle unless they are a slave. Especially now, when a conflict has just erupted, we must heighten our vigilance even more.”

Judging by his hostile face, he seemed fully prepared to call the guards at any moment.

I conveyed a message to him that no one else could hear.

– Please wait a moment, Sir Daimon.

“……”

– As a merchant, I believe one must pioneer new markets and target barren lands rich with gold.

Luke Daimon, who had paused, met my gaze once more.

I silently raised the corners of my mouth in a faint smile.

Even though he was still a minor, he was of the golden family’s blood and a merchant; he wasn’t someone who wouldn’t understand what I was implying.

“…Ha. Embrace an elf?”

Certainly, when weighing the risks, bringing an elf into the mansion was dangerous.

Of course, that innocent and curious Freesia would never pose such a threat.

But from the perspective of someone unaware, they might think I was being used to infiltrate the castle easily.

However, if one understands the boundless value of embracing an elf, could they still react that way?

– It is an unchanging truth that elves are the closest beings to the World Tree.

“That’s an old tale. Elves can no longer approach the World Tree. Dwarves and humans now manage it alternately. Are you aware of that?”

‘Tsk, I deliberately used telepathy.’

Luke, who continued to respond aloud, seemed not to have learned such magic yet.

Ignoring the flinching Freesia, I shook my head slightly at Luke’s cynical retort.

– Have those revered humans and dwarves ever made the World Tree bear fruit?

The World Tree’s fruit.

A versatile material full of magic, used in various weapons, ornaments, and potions.

Moreover, it is a rare resource that barely ripens once a year, making it highly sought after in the South.

Mentioning it made Luke’s mouth shut into a straight line.

Instinctively, he knew.

– Elves can do it.

If the information I conveyed through telepathy was true, he would be sitting on a goldmine.

Naturally, his position as the heir to the duchy would be solidified.

The supply of the World Tree’s fruit was the highest return.

A trivial risk was worth taking.

Luke, who had been staring intently at me, glanced at Freesia and then extended a hand towards me.

“In this situation where I should be happy, my words disturbed the atmosphere unnecessarily. Now that Sir Byron is here, I shall report to my father. Please continue to enjoy yourselves.”

I accepted his handshake with a smile.

Whether it was his words or his expression, his ability to change naturally was truly befitting of a noble and a merchant.

He soon excused himself to the attendees and left the room.

Only then did Freesia approach me.

“Did the conversation go well? That person seemed a bit scary.”

“Don’t worry. As I said, I will ensure you travel safely.”

Her confused eyes soon brightened with a cheerful smile.

“Okay! Oh, can I eat this round thing?”

“That’s an egg tart with meringue. Would you like to try some light champagne as well?”

Of course, the hardships that ensue will be yours to bear alone.

“Sir Byron, it’s a relief that you returned safely.”

“So, you came from the jungle? What was it like?”

And then, as soon as Luke left, the other attendees flocked to me.

I answered their concerns and questions one by one, naturally introducing Freesia into the conversation.

“It seems the benefactor knows everything about the jungle. Even after knowing I was human, she not only treated my wounds but also guided me here…”

“Oh my, this is the first time I’ve spoken to an elf, and she’s truly kind-hearted.”

“Oh, th-thank you?”

“Oh my, Miss Freesia, you smell like the forest!”

The sight of the young elf awkwardly responding soon filled the banquet hall with liveliness.

It was clear to everyone that the protagonists of tonight’s banquet were the two of us.

We had taken perfect control of the banquet’s atmosphere.

Even the jealous blue eyes I met beyond the crowd were elements that brought me immense joy.

* * *

“The Lord of the South requests to see Sir Byron.”

If not for that voice that came at the end of the banquet, it would have been the perfect day.

An unexpected extra task made me sigh deeply.

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