Chapter 43 (2/2)

Come to think of it, I heard somewhere that that tower was an unexplored ruin.

If we manage to get in, we could get our hands on some valuable relics.

If I present the relics to the royal family together with an elf… Fufu....

I'll get into that tower any way I can.

If I say I'm the hero, surely the elves will be happy to invite me in, even if some show reluctance.

The Demon King is a common enemy.

It is impossible not to cooperate with the hero.

Let's go to the village.

”Waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaah!?”

An explosion sends me flying through the air and I fall face first to the ground.

Pfft, my mouth is full of dirt.

Who are those that dare to attack the hero?

I will make them regret it.

”Are you all right, Sain!?”

”I will heal you quickly.”

”Don't worry about me. Worry about where the attack is coming from.”

I drew the sacred sword and prepared for battle.

However, it is very difficult to see in the middle of the forest.

The enemy is cleverly hiding their presence.

”Go back the way you came, or you'll regret it.”

An elf with braided hair appeared out of nowhere.

Her appearance is as beautiful as the Elf I saw in the palace.

How lucky I am to have found one so quickly.

”You may not know this yet, but I am Sain, the hero. I have come here to ask for your help.”

”Hero?”

The elf's reaction was abrupt.

I laughed inside.

So you're still afraid of the Demon King. It's okay... Just do as I say and you won't die.

Come and beg me to come into your village and help you.

In return, I want treasures and all the elven women they have.

Biiin

An arrow was shot in front of me as I was about to step forward.

”I don't care. It may be that in the past the elves cooperated with the former heroes, but we have decided that this village will not participate in any way in defeating the Demon King.”

”What!?”

”Do you think we don't know what the humans' intentions are these days? We are sick and tired of their never-ending desire to kidnap us and turn us into slaves for their filthy kind.”

”You have no idea what you're talking about.”

”I'm not interested in your excuses. We only trust the Manyu Brigade.”

When I heard that name, my blood began to boil.

They are getting in my way again.

Why do I have to keep hearing their name wherever I go?

I will do my best to get into that village.

”That expression - is that your true nature? I almost believed you when you said you wanted to talk, but the fact that you didn't lower your sword made me distrust you.”

”Shut up! You'll be my fucking slave!”

Use the eye of seduction on the elf.

《Warning: the eye of seduction has no effect on users who have a higher level than the skill holder》.

What?! That warning again?!

Why is everyone's level higher than mine lately?!

”Lisa! Soara! We're going to invade the village!”

”Understood!”

”Are you sure this is a good idea?”

I walked ahead into the forest while Lisa and Soara supported me from behind.

I blocked the arrows with my sword as I tried to close the gap between me and the elf.

Someone who uses a lot of ranged attacks is weak against melee, and once you cut the distance, there's nothing they can do.

, I have to incapacitate this woman, even if it means hurting her.

Now that my reputation with the king is at stake, I must do what it takes to get it back.

”Spirit!”

”!?”

The wind rages around the elf's body and sends me flying backwards with a great amount of force.

I managed to land on the ground unharmed.

The elf looked at me with condescending eyes in the center of a strong whirlwind.

Is it spiritual magic?

I forgot that elves have powerful magic.

To counter his magical power, Lisa unleashes her fire magic.

”Flame blast!”

”Magic shield!”

An invisible wall counteracted the fire.

I thought I heard a man's voice somewhere.

They also possess a magic shield.

If my memory serves me correctly, there is a scroll that grants you the ability to prevent any kind of magic.

Is it possible for elves to have such scrolls?

”Haven't you noticed yet? You guys are already surrounded.”

I tensed and used my assessment skill to look around.

There were elves lurking in the trees, in the shadows, on the ground, everywhere.

Countless arrowheads are directed at me.

At what point did this happen...?

”You said you were the hero, so I'll give you a chance to leave alive. But this is not to say that the elves can't kill the hero. I just can't bear the thought of killing friends and fellow members of the Mayu Brigade. Set foot on these lands again, and you will not leave here alive.”

”Tch...”

We retreated with a lot of arrows pointing at us.

It was humiliating.

I can't believe I lost to mere elves.

I could hear the victory cries of the elves in the distance.