I Obtained the Final Boss' Power

Elf Village (3)

From the moment they came on leave to their hometown, Seifert Village, the squad members' next destination had already been decided.

The moment Pram was sent to the Holy Nation, their vacation was over.

Normally, they'd have to return to the fortress, but this time, like Pram, their next route was also the Holy Nation.

"Pram really left, huh?"

"Well, she never really fit in here anyway."

Victor and Simon were talking about Pram.

"While we just shrug it off even if something like monster vomit gets on us, she wouldn't even let muddy water touch her body."

Rozen added, and the other two nodded in agreement.

But at the same time, they felt a sense of regret.

"Young master, is it really okay that we just let Pram go?"

"If that's really what she wanted, fine. But what if it wasn't?"

Pram had repeatedly asked just before leaving.

Was it really okay for her to leave?

She warned them not to regret it.

"So, can any of you tell if those were her true feelings?"

"Well..."

"Hmm..."

When Louis asked in return, the two thoughtfully held their chins.

After all, how could anyone know what's in another's heart unless you're a mind-reader?

"If it wasn't genuine, she would've said so honestly. Since she never said otherwise up till the end, that must've truly been what she wanted."

Until the very last moment, Pram never changed her mind.

If she hadn't really wanted to go, she should have said so right then.

"Isn't that a bit of a superficial way to think about it?"

"What do you mean?"

Louis frowned at Silia's question, not understanding what she meant by 'superficial'.

"Did we ever really try to find out what Pram was thinking deep down?"

"True intentions tend to show on the outside. If you recall how Pram always acted, wouldn't you find your answer?"

How did Pram behave usually? Silia pondered.

["That's filthy, get it away! I'll use the clean one—you guys take the smelly stuff."]

["I always get first to bathe! You never complain even with mud on you."]

["Squad leader! Don't you really want that gem stuck in the monster's back? Can I get just that one?"]

["What? We can't take it because it's for the merchants? Stingy!"]

["Squad leader big sis~ Come on, just once? Please~"]

"......"

["Big Sis~!"]

["You're letting me? Our big sis is the best!"]

"Haa..."

Even though it was all in the past, the more she thought about it, the more Silia sighed.

Pram, much like Rio but differently, was stubborn to the core. It wasn't hard for Silia to figure out what Pram wanted.

"Actually, Louis, you're probably right. Given how she's behaved, she probably had no issue with being summoned by the holy church."

"Right? I'm saying, those were Pram's true feelings."

Now they were finally understanding each other.

As Louis looked relieved, Silia offered a different opinion.

"But you know, a woman's heart can change in an instant."

What the heck was that supposed to mean?

Looking at her usual behavior, it's obvious Pram wanted to go. Why would anything change?

"At that point when she'd already gone, I don't see any room for that to change."

"Still, maybe at the end she was hoping you'd do something different. Maybe she just wanted to see how much the young master valued her."

So was that why she said, "I'm really leaving, so don't regret it!"? If Silia's interpretation was true, it made sense. But...

"So what? If she decided to go, does it make sense for her to suddenly expect us to try to stop her? What kind of comedy is that, expecting us to hold her back?"

It was utterly contradictory.

After insisting on going, suddenly wanting to be stopped was the act of someone with a split personality.

"That's just how women are. If someone's taken care of them, they start to expect things. When it's time to part, they want to see how much they really matter to that person."

Maybe, as Silia said, seeking someone's affection is a main driving force for girls.

They could feel pity at parting with someone they like, but Louis was immune to such feelings.

"Even so, should we have tried to stop her when the holy church followers had already made all the preparations and come in person?"

"Well..."

"Were you imagining, like in a romance novel, the male protagonist stops the female lead from leaving?"

"......"

Seeing Silia go silent, Louis realized she really had thought that way.

Now that he thought about it, this elder sister often snuck odd novels with her.

That kind of scenario is common in fiction—defying a powerful foe and preventing the heroine from leaving to show the hero's love.

'But would that work in real life?'

Not a chance.

Even these days, such a plotline would be mocked as cringeworthy in dramas.

"We're here. Time to get off."

Just as Kelian said, while they were talking, the carriage had arrived at its destination.

The special task force members had arrived at the capital of the Imperial Court.

From here, the special task force would be splitting into two groups.

One would return to the fortress, the other would head for the elf village.

"We need to leave a few members at the fortress, just in case. So, you guys'll stay behind and take responsibility."

"Even without the commander, can we really manage on our own?"

Returning to the fortress would be Victor, Simon, and Rozen.

Kelian, by plan, would be following Louis and Silia to the elf village, so he'd have to leave the fortress unattended. But there was talent who could fill in for him.

"If you're unsure about anything, listen to Klein, that kid. And I've also asked Legion Commander Paulo to help lead and support you."

"Still, me, the temporary leader of the special task force...?"

That was Victor's post during Kelian's absence. It seemed early for his age, but Kelian was certain about one thing.

"I'm saying this as someone who's watched you for years—except for Louis, your leadership is the best. You'll lead the unit just fine even without us."

"Alright."

At Kelian's confidence, Victor put on a self-assured face.

With that, the three returned to the fortress by carriage, and only Louis, Silia, Rio, and Kelian remained in the capital.

What they had to do here was forge new identities.

"Ever heard much about the elf village?"

"I only know that not just anyone can enter."

"At least you know the basics."

Just as Kelian said, it was a place where neither entering nor leaving could be done at will.

The elves were perfectly protected by their forest itself.

Not only is entry forbidden to outsiders, but only those recognized by the elves themselves may enter.

"So, do you think you can get in on your own?"

"Of course not."

"Right, it's impossible—unless I'm with you."

Kelian grinned and showed the pendant hanging from his neck.

From the leaf-shaped pendant, Louis could faintly smell the fragrance of the forest.

"Smells unique, doesn't it?"

"Is that some kind of pass?"

"Before I was assigned to the 7th Legion, I, too, was a noble. A very special one recognized by the elves."

If, long ago, one helped the elves or saved them from danger outside, one could receive such a pass.

For Kelian's family, the recognition had come long ago, so the pass was in pendant form.

Others might bear a mark engraved on their body.

"A pass like this is a kind of token of gratitude. It's an invitation to seek refuge in the elves' forest if your family's ever at risk or on the run from enemies."

The elf forest was off-limits for most. In that sense, it was the perfect place for a safe haven.

"What a great gift to have inherited."

"Honestly, if I had fled to the elven forest with this when my family was destroyed by the Crown Prince, I wouldn't have ended up bound to the 7th Legion."

Thinking about it, it was true. With just this necklace, Kelian could have escaped the Crown Prince's threats back then.

"So why are you bringing it out just now?"

Louis asked, and Kelian narrowed his eyes.

"Because of something my grandparent once told me."

"What did he say?"

Kelian recalled his grandparent's words.

"Throw away that necklace at once. And never meddle in the elven forest."

Even Kelian himself didn't understand what that meant.

Right up until the family's downfall, his grandparent insisted he never set foot in the elf forest.

"Wasn't the elf forest a haven to help those who had been shown mercy?"

"My grandparent knew that, and still said it. I'm all the more curious what the real reason was."

They'd have to find out by going themselves, to the elf forest in Holy Nation territory.

"First, for you all to pass with me, you'll have to be my blood relatives. So, you know what needs to happen here, right?"

Just like when they faked enrollment for the academy, the only option was to forge identities.

Of course, with special task force clearance, faking was easy.

"So, we just have to act like a family while we're there? Better assign the roles, then."

"No need to think too hard about it."

In hindsight, Rio was right—no need to overcomplicate it.

"One father, three siblings. Fits perfectly, right?"

"Yeah, that's all we need."

Louis had no objections. They'd just have to go to the Imperial Palace and get their papers switched.

"Wait, something's off."

But Kelian spoke up.

"Why only three siblings? Why is there a father at all?"

"Don't you see? If someone's the father, it'd have to be the commander, who else?"

"Me?"

Kelian looked genuinely confused.

"Wouldn't it be four siblings, including me?"

The rest were dumbfounded. He looked every bit the bearded middle-aged man—what was he going on about?

"Joking or not, commander, you're already..."

"I'm still in my mid-30s."

"Oh..."

And yet he looked so old.

He wouldn't look out of place with a child or two. But isn't mid-30s enough to have kids?

"See? There's no reason I can't be one of your siblings."

"What the..."

"When Louis first met me, he even called me 'big bro'! Right, Louis?"

Kelian looked at Louis like he desperately didn't want to be denied.

Louis could feel a headache coming on. Kelian turned to Rio.

"Come on, call me older brother."

"What?"

"Just say older brother."

"......"

Rio's face froze, then she clutched her stomach and ran to the bathroom.

Honestly, Louis and Silia felt the same but just barely managed to hold it together.

"Why aren't you calling me! I'm still young, you know!"

Yeah, right, you're young...

If Louis hadn't stopped himself, he would've blurted it out loud.

But Kelian was by far the most essential for this mission.

Still, for a man who looked over middle-aged to insist he was young and force them to call him older brother was incredibly disturbing...

It made Louis want to smash his head in more than during monster hunts.

"Commander, how about we just ask His Majesty directly instead of doing this...?"

Silia, feeling the same way, tried to persuade Kelian.

"Yeah, the Imperial Court's the one issuing the fake papers anyway."

"......"

And that was that; Kelian went along with their suggestion.

Soon, they stood before His Majesty's decree.

"One father, three children. That should do."

At those thunderous words, Kelian's eyes widened.

"A father with three children seems appropriate. Any objections?"

With things as they were, refusing wasn't possible. Kelian bit his lip and answered:

"... None, Your Majesty."

And so, with tears in his eyes, he finally became the father of three children.

-------------= Clacky's Corner -------------=

Kelian, after hearing the emperor's decision:

【(ㅇࡇㅇ)?】