Chapter 117 : Elf Village (4)
Elf Village (4)
"I can't accept this. I absolutely can't accept it."
After finishing their identity forgery, they immediately boarded the carriage.
Even as they traveled, Kelian kept looking in the mirror, grinding his teeth.
Silia, exhausted by his muttering, finally spoke up.
"Are you really that upset about it?"
Even His Majesty himself had confirmed that Kelian was more suited for the father role.
On top of that, Kelian's last desperate attempt was to ask, "What about being an older brother or a big bro?" but the Emperor's answer was shocking.
'Are you out of your mind?'
With that face, how could he possibly play the role of older brother or big bro?
With the Emperor's blunt answer, Kelian had no choice but to give up.
Yet, it seemed he was so shocked that he still clung to a huge sense of regret.
"Why? Why is it only my face that's ended up like this?"
Why had he become so worn out when he was still only in his mid-30s?
"All the others still look so full of life, so why am I the only one like this?"
So consumed with resentment, Kelian kept biting his lip.
"Haaa... that's enough."
Unable to just watch Kelian incessantly talk to himself, Silia simply clicked her tongue and decided to leave him be.
"Should I try comforting you by calling you big bro?"
"Don't. If you do, he might start acting even more delusional in denial of reality."
Even if Louis tried to intervene, it wasn't going to resolve anything.
If they started calling him big bro, it was clear that Kelian would fall further into delusion.
In times like this, just leaving him alone was the best solution.
"Mister. Don't be too upset."
Then, Rio, oblivious to the mood, spoke to Kelian.
Even though Kelian grimaced at being called 'mister,' Rio went on unbothered.
"The more you make that face, the more like a real uncle you look. If you want to be called young, shouldn't you try to act a bit more gentlemanly?"
"..."
Kelian's veins bulged at her irritating comment.
Silia, shocked by Rio's words, hurriedly covered Rio's mouth.
"What are you even saying right now?!"
"Mmmpf...."
"Sorry, commander. Looks like she still needs more training, haha!"
Kelian looked ready to explode if pushed further, so provoking him was dangerous.
He was the most essential person for their current mission, and if he suddenly bailed, their plan would fall apart.
It was enough that he was cooperating, so there was no need to cause him any more grief.
"Mmmph...! Why are you suddenly covering my mouth?"
Having finally escaped Silia's gag, Rio asked, puzzled.
Silia looked at her with an expression that screamed, 'Do you really not get it?' and advised her.
"Listen well, Rio. From now on, do not make any comments about Commander Kelian's appearance. Got it?"
"I didn't say anything wrong, so why should I?"
"..."
Silia grabbed her throbbing head at Rio's protest.
As expected, Rio was a troublemaker who pushed her own stubborn opinions no matter what was said.
When you think about it, she was always swinging her sword at monsters and people alike—expecting her to have a normal mindset was the real stretch.
"It's fine, let it go. What she said isn't wrong, after all."
At that moment, Kelian said something unexpected.
"No need to cover the child's mouth."
Silia was startled to see Kelian's flushed face return to normal.
"Are you really all right?"
"I am an adult, after all; I can't just show a pitiful side. Especially now, when I've already got an aged face—if my actions are disgraceful too, what would I become?"
Silia felt greatly reassured by Kelian's mindset.
He hadn't become a commander of a legion's fortress in the 7th Legion for nothing.
"I think it'd be okay if you were disgraceful—if your face is old, then at least your heart should be childish to keep the balance, right?"
Once again, without reading the room, Rio said something outrageous.
Kelian's previously composed expression crumpled again.
"Why is this girl part of our operation?"
Finally, as Kelian's demeanor soured again, Silia sighed and answered.
"This kid simply wants to stick by this friend's side."
Silia had no choice but to allow it since Rio insisted on staying by the young master.
Despite her young age, Rio had monstrous strength far beyond her years.
There was no way she'd ever be a burden or get in the way.
"Hoo... so you joined us just to keep hanging around Louis, that guy?"
Kelian looked back and forth at Louis and Rio with great interest upon hearing those words.
Then, as if he'd had a sneaky idea, a sly grin curled on Kelian's lips.
"Do you like Louis that much?"
"Yes. I like him a lot."
Kelian had expected a bit of embarrassment, but Rio answered confidently.
"I like him so much I want to stick by his side forever."
Kelian was a little surprised by her straightforwardness, but it wasn't really an issue.
"All right. Then, do you want that guy Louis to look after you forever?"
"That's right."
"Shall I tell you the secret?"
"Yes!"
Louis himself tilted his head in confusion as he became the topic of conversation.
What is that man going on about all of a sudden?
"Hmm... actually, never mind. I don't feel like sharing it."
"What?"
When Kelian suddenly changed his mind, Rio's face froze.
"Why not?"
"You don't meet the conditions yet."
"What conditions?"
"The condition of being a good child."
Kelian added that he could only share the secret with someone who met that condition.
Of course, Silia's eyes widened when she heard that.
What was this old man talking about?
"I'm plenty good, so why not me?"
"Good? You go around threatening people by drawing your sword at the drop of a hat—you're hardly exemplary!"
"..."
Rio was lost for words at that.
Her time at the academy had taught her many things, including the fact that threatening and hurting people wasn't moral, and now she was very flustered.
"In the 7th Legion, you might get by as a thug, but outside you have to follow the law and act as a model citizen. Otherwise, you won't be welcomed anywhere."
"Mm..."
That was true.
Estelle had also taught Rio something similar.
"So you must definitely become a good person. Understood?"
"Then, what should I do first to become good?"
It was such a childlike question that Louis and Silia snickered.
Despite being a bloodthirsty maniac, Rio looked surprisingly pure at times, and even Kelian smiled involuntarily.
"Let's see... where should you start...."
At that moment, a hint of desire shined in Kelian's eyes.
"First, call me older brother."
"Older Brother?"
"That's right, older brother!"
Rio instinctively made a disgusted face.
Louis and Silia also had to resist the urge to gag at the same time.
"Will I really become a good person just by doing that?"
"Of course!"
"There's no way that's true!!"
Eventually, Silia couldn't take it anymore and clamped a hand over Kelian's mouth, yelling.
He just about contaminated a child with a warped idea.
"Rio. You should just ignore whatever this mister says. His advice is totally useless to you."
But Rio shook her head at Silia's well-meaning advice.
"No, squad leader big sis. I need that mister's advice. I want to know any method that can help me get in the young master's good graces."
"You believe that? Isn't it an obvious lie? Louis, don't you think so too?"
Asking Louis was the best way to confirm it.
What in the world did calling someone older brother have to do with being liked by Louis?
"That's true. What would that guy even know about me?"
"No, I know all about you. Not just you, Louis, but all your squad members!"
Now that he thought about it, Kelian, as special task force commander, had observed Louis and the others closely.
Thinking about that, it actually wasn't so strange for him to know.
"Ah... then I don't really have a comeback."
"Hey!"
As Louis gave up, Silia snapped at him.
"You heard her? Now call me older brother."
"Okay... older brother."
"Louder."
"OLDER BROTHER!"
In the meantime, Kelian was skillfully brainwashing Rio.
Amidst all this, Silia fell into deep inner turmoil.
Wait... am I the one who's weird here?
"You have to tell me now, since I called you older brother."
"Of course I will!"
"And if you don't?"
What if it was all a lie?
When Rio looked at him with suspicious eyes, Kelian snorted.
"Don't worry. If I really don't have a secret, then I'll grant you any wish you want."
"No changing your words, okay?"
Rio, still skeptical, held out her pinky.
A chill ran down Kelian's spine at her intense energy, but he hooked his pinky with hers.
"Promise me."
"All right, I promise."
Silia and Louis, watching the scene, couldn't help but feel a sense of anticipation.
They were curious to see their reactions when Kelian's lie was inevitably exposed.
"Looks like we're almost there. Start getting ready."
Outside the window, the territory of the Imperial Court was no longer visible.
Somehow, they'd crossed the border and landed in a neighboring country.
The Holy Nation. Located opposite the Kilvus Empire, this was the land known as the Holy Land.
In the past, it was originally one with the Imperial Court, but after subduing a continent-wrecking monster, they split in two.
After that great catastrophe, the number of people who placed their absolute faith in god increased rapidly, and vowing that such a disaster must never occur again, they concluded that all evil must be opposed completely.
Thus, a country was established where all demonic energy was strictly forbidden, and so the Holy Nation was born.
Of course, every people or race living in these lands pursued extreme holiness.
The elves here too had contributed to the founding of the nation and shared its ideals.
The forest now visible in front of their carriage marked the entrance to their dwelling.
"Is this the place?"
"Going by the strange scent in the air, it seems like it."
The four stepped out of the carriage and looked around uncertainly.
On the surface, it was nothing but an unremarkable forest.
But when Kelian revealed the pendant hanging from his neck, something started to shine before their eyes.
"Everyone, stick close to me."
Just as Kelian instructed, the other three huddled up to him.
The moment they stuck together like a real family, they found themselves standing somewhere else.
"This is...?"
Suddenly, the scenery around them changed.
It was still the forest, but now many people were gathered there.
Their ears were pointed, unlike ordinary humans, and their skin was white as porcelain.
Young and old, men and women alike, all had elegant features. These were the elves, the rightful dwellers of this forest.
The elves' gazes were first fixed on the pendant hanging from Kelian's neck.
"Are you a migrant?"
Usually, outsiders would arouse suspicion, but the elves could distinguish someone they needn't guard against simply by seeing that pendant.
"Yes. These children with me are my family."
"Can you prove that you are indeed family?"
At the elf's request, Kelian produced the forged family certificate.
Unable to see through the forgery, the elf smiled.
"So you are the father of three children. Welcome."
"Thank you for accepting us."
The four exchanged glances and played along.
"Our family fell from grace, so we had nowhere to go—this is truly a relief, father!"
"Yes, father! Now we can finally be at ease!"
Louis and Silia both played the roles of his children.
"Thank you for providing such a good sanctuary, older brother."
Although Rio awkwardly tried to join in, the wrong form of address made everyone's faces stiffen.
"Older Brother... you said?"
"Ah... that is...."
"Hahaha! She hit her head, so she gets confused sometimes."
With Silia's vague excuse, the elves didn't take issue with the family papers.
After all, small jokes among family members were always possible.
"Anyway, welcome to the peaceful elf village. I will guide you from here."
Thankfully, everything went smoothly, so the four were greatly relieved.
As they began following the elf, they suddenly felt their bodies grow heavy.
To be precise, it felt as if their strength was draining away.
When they paused at the strange sensation, even the elf stopped walking.
"Ah, before I guide you further, there's something I should mention."
Turning back, the elf spoke.
"In this place, you will not be able to use power such as magic power or aura."
-------------= Clacky's Corner -------------=
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