Chapter 103 - Even if We Look Different from Each Other 6 (1/2)
Chapter 103 - Even if We Look Different from Each Other (6)
After the elders had a serious discussion in front of the forest’s Dungeon map, they agreed to Artpe’s wishes.The elders gathered the Elves, and they delivered Artpe’s will to them.The elders thought there would be a lot of backlash, but the situation flowed in a smooth manner.
At a basic level, they were obedient towards heroes.Moreover, there were a lot of Elves that had been won over by Sienna’s healing magic.However, the decisive factor was the fact that everyone personally felt the need to change.They knew what choice they had to make if they wanted their race to persevere and prosper.
The appearance of the heroes implied that the Demon king’s army was mobilizing.However, this wasn’t the only reason why the Elves were choosing this route.Could the body of these small heroes really block the desires of all the other races focused on the Elves?
The recent calamity could happen again in the future.The Elves didn’t want to repeat their past mistake.This was why the Elves and Dark Elves cooperated with each other in earnest.Moreover, they had to cultivate themselves too.They had to do so to protect the Elves and the World Tree.
“Mmm.My plan worked.I didn’t block it too early, and I didn’t block it too late.I blocked it at the most appropriate moment…..Mmm.Should I call this the half-cooked technique?”
“As expected, Artpe-nim manipulated this situation…..”
The Elves and the Dark Elves were gathered underneath the World Tree.The Elven elders divided them into several thousand parties.Artpe watched all of this with a satisfied smile on his face.Mycenae approached him, and she spoke to Artpe.
“No, I just blocked it at the right time.”
“Therefore, you knew how the situation would develop, and you directed the events to progress to the timing you desired.Am I wrong?”
When he replied in a sly manner, Mycenae pouted.He grinned when he saw that.
“This was for ajumma too.Look over there.I don’t know what they are thinking inside, but at the very least, the Elves and Dark Elves are treating each other equally on the surface.Your friends can give you a welcome back party without worrying about the consequences.The married couples won’t have to separate, because they are Elf or Dark Elf.”
“Even if you say such words, I won't fall for Artpe-nim anew.Also, I’m not an ajumma.Please call me by Mycenae.”
Her reply was gruff, but Mycenae’s ears were fluttering in happiness.He could see a group of Elves, who were of similar age as Mycenae, watching her.About half of them had turned into Dark Elves.It was hopelessly funny.
“Hoo-ooh.I didn’t want to return like this.”
It seemed she realized where Artpe’s gaze was headed.Mycenae grumbled in a sullen manner.When Artpe answered her, his voiced turned a little bit kinder.
“One doesn’t become corrupted when one becomes a Dark Elf.Ajumma, you are a Dark Elf, but you shouldn’t be embarrassed about that fact.You shouldn’t feel a sense of loss, because your friends became Dark Elves.”
“However, choice wasn’t given to me or those children over there.”
“That’s true.”
However, how many things in life could be chosen for oneself?One could be born as a Demon, human or a different race.Then there were the Classes.Most of it was predetermined, and it couldn’t be changed.How broad was one’s freedom?It was a difficult subject to talk about.
“That is why ajumma should make hell within the limits you are given.That is the only freedom we have.That is the freedom we can enjoy.”
“If your conclusion hadn’t headed towards such a fucked up direction, it would have been very nice….Eh-whew.Anyways, I only have minor complaints.Otherwise, you carried out the Quest perfectly.”
Mycenae let out a sigh as she took out a small crystal bottle.There was slightly translucent liquid within the bottle. The five cardinal colors were emitted when the liquid was shaken.
“This is the reward for this Quest.I lived in the human world for hundr…..a long time!This is the most precious item I’ve acquired over the years as a veteran merchant.Of course, Artpe-nim stopped the threat from the humans.You also stopped the conflict between the Elves.You did it in one fell swoop, so this is weak compared to your…....”
“It isn’t weak.It’s an elixir.”
Artpe was so taken aback that he replied in a slightly dumbfounded manner.Mycenae let out a gentle laughter as she explained herself.
“If it is a true elixir, how would I have been able to acquire it?”
“That’s true, but…Give it to me.”
He quickly took the item from Mycenae, and he meticulously looked over it with his Read All Creation ability.
[Imperfect Elixir]
[When the highest of magic and alchemy is combined, this reagent of eternal youth and immortality forms.It took a miracle to form this genuine elixir, but the alchemist infused other medicinal herbs and magic stones to increase the volume of the elixir.Of course, the effect of the elixir became diluted, and a side effect arose.There’s a low probability of death if one took this elixir.Despite this fact, the worth of this elixir is worth more than any other pure drugs.]
“Ah, it is an incomplete product.”
“Of course.This particular alchemist trades with me on a regular basis.He miraculously created the Elixir, but unfortunately, the quantity he created was too small.That is why he tried all kinds of methods to increase the quantity, and this was the result.Of course, his reputation would suffer if he sold it as an elixir, which is worth a lot.Moreover, he had incurred many debts in the pursuit of creating this elixir.That is why he had to sell the Imperfect Elixir at a cheap price.”
“It is a coup worthy of a veteran merchant…..”
Somehow, his words made her stick out her chest in pride as she exhaled through her nose. Her shoulders were retracted in a boastful manner.
“Hue hue.You are acknowledging me as a high rank Merchant?”
That’s right.Mycenae had acquired her Achievement during the battle against the Kraken, and she was able to smoothly advance into the high rank Merchant Class!
Artpe snorted when he saw her show off.He once against checked the content of the crystal bottle.It was letting out a mysterious light.He knew that it was imperfect, yet he was tempted to drink it.It had that much of an allure.
“Y….you can’t just drink it!If it’s Artpe-nim, I thought you would have a way to use this…..”
“I know.As a reward for the Quest, you gave me defective goods.Ajumma, you have a lot of guts.”
“You are saying that when you received the item as if you were mesmerized?”
He wondered what he should do with it.The thought that immediately came to mind was the Reinforcement skill.If the other added ingredients were causing the imbalance, he could Reinforce these ingredients to harmonize the added ingredients with the Elixir.He thought it could work.
However, it wasn’t time yet.He might need more ingredients, and he determined that his Reinforcement skill was still lacking.
“Anyways, this is acceptable.”
Artpe put away the elixir into his Dimensional Pouch, and he declared the Quest to be completed.
However….
“W….what if it had been unacceptable?”
Mycenae squirmed as she spoke those words.The fluttering of her ears became worse.On top of that, her face was dyed red.
“There is something else I can give….Do you want me to give it to you?”
Her lips trembled, and her hands moved in a very mysterious manner.Artpe instinctively shook his head from side to side.
“Nope.I’m fine.”
“Eeeeeeek!”
He had merely turned down the extra pay, yet Mycenae expressed her anger.
“You are too much!I did my utmost to come to this resolution!It is a once in a lifetime resolution, yet it was all naught······!”
“It’s all right.I’m fine with receiving just this”
At Artpe’s kind reply, Mycenae’s body trembled.When he saw this, a smile formed on his lips.
“You should go to your friends.They are waiting for you.”
“Ah ah.They are so tactless…..Enough of this!Even if you ask me to do it, I won’t do it!”
She looked as she was about to cry as she turned around.Artpe called out her name at that moment.
“Mycenae.”
“What!”
“Please continue to take care of me in the future.Don’t think about taking root in the Forest of Eternity.”
“······hmmph.”
She hesitated for a brief moment.Then she snorted as she walked away.She didn’t even look back as she spoke.
“I am contracted to be your personal merchant.I can’t run away even if I wanted to!”
Mycenae’s ears fluttered as she went to the Elves, who were waiting for her.He shrugged his shoulders as he turned around.
“You used your status as the hero.Very popular.You are the worst..”
“Hey you…...”