Vol 1 Chapter 25 (1/2)

Chapter 5

The thief was called Woodchuck It would see nickname

Parn and the others hada bit of food and drink, which they spread out on the s it The rooe, but with six occupants it still felt a bit cramped

“Three days’ travel to the east, in the woods, there’s an old house The owner kicked the bucket soht to be abandoned But a few years back, a pretty shi+fty lot ht around the time the Academy’s treasures were stolen” Wood proudly laid out the facts and savored a sip of wine “Whether you believe me or not is your business But those bastards aren’t Guild thieves If they’re stealing things behind the Guild’s back, it’ll put a black mark on the Guild’s reputation So a Guildinteresting It see were a dark elf and an ogre And souy had the eraved on his armor”

“Why would soroaned Eto, “come to Alania?”

Even in Lodoss, Marmo was famous as a land of res, and trolls lived there Its emperor, Beld, had once been one of the Six Heroes, but ru not the slightest sliver of mercy

“Do you think they’re plotting so?” Eto asked Slayn

“I don’t know” Slayn spread his hands and shrugged “But if the ruuess”

“You ulp

“It’s just a guess, but maybe…”

Parn uess was the ical one If Marmo had already sent in soldiers, it was possible that they really were planning to take over Alania It was even possible that Wagnard’s destruction of the Acadee, but also in order to prevent thea threat to Marmo

“Ita look” Parn crossed his ar aloud

“Why do we have to put our necks on the line for soed “Wouldn’t it be better to leave it to the king’s soldiers?”

“I’d have a problem with that This is valuable information There’s the Acade any conspiracy… how et this information from the Guild?”

The bit about spending ht Slayn, but he kept quiet about it

“Dark elves and ogres? Those are dangerous opponents Especially dark elves, because they use ic”

“Yes, because they’re elves”

Deedlit’s face colored at Ghim’s words “Dark elves are an unsavory lot who sold their souls to demons Don’t compare them to us”

Elves like Deedlit had reasons to hate dark elves The color of their skin had changed to black as proof of their service to the dark God Elven elders taught the children of the cruelty of the dark elves They killed elven men and women without mercy It was even said that dark elves used elves as sacrifices to their dark God

As for ogres, they ate elves as a snack Along with dark elves, they were the elves’ oldest enemies They had spilled each other’s blood many times over the years

In the last fight against the deuard, sowing death and destruction before hiht, but countless elves froiven their lives The h it had happened yesterday

“I’ll show you how different we are froed Deedlit

“Me too,” Parn was telling Slayn while gauging his reaction “I too want to settle this myself I can understand the thief’s perspective And it’s not certain that Alania’s army would believe us even if we told theres shouldn’t even exist”

“That’s true,” interjected Wood

“Oh dear, looks like I have no choice,” said Slayn with a long sigh “Let’s go along with Parn on this matter If there truly are treasures froain And as a human, I can’t just let the dark elves do as they please”

“Ho, I won’t stop you I’ll let my axe taste dark elf blood We dwarves have reason to hate them as well”

Showing off his thick, sturdy arh that shook his beard

Deedlit gave the dwarf a sharp look, but when she realized he was gently teasing her, her expression changed into a sweet smile

“That’s the spirit! It should be short work for you lot I’ll help out too, of course Despite how I look, I’er”

Slayn knew that well Thieves’ daggers were ht or from behind His old friend, who had probably been a better swordser

“We’ll give you half the reward Do we have an agreement?” asked Parn in a solemn tone

“I’h

Slayn thought it a strange laugh It wouldn’t do to underesti up his in preparing for the trip

Though it was too late to strike while the iron was hot, the party set out that afternoon fro the city of Alan

The road to the east was less traveled than the north-south highway To the east, there was only the fishi+ng village of Margus, where the road ended Seeing no one but the occasional cart full of fresh fish, the party walked at a relaxed pace Parn and Deedlit walked in front They were followed by Ghiether In the back trudged Slayn, his eyes alert, watching Woodchuck

It’s gotten really hot Slayn suddenly looked up at the sun, dazzled by its suhtness To shi+eld his eyes, he put up his hood and pulled his head deep inside it

That was the second day, and on the third they crossed a bridge into the woods

“Here we are!” said Wood triu out a s for isn’t far”

“How long do you think it will take us to get there?” asked Parn

“About an hour, I think”

“What an odd place to build a house,” ia

“Well, I didn’t build it,” said Wood with a straight face