Chapter 298: HODL Elves (2) (1/2)
The next morning.
“W-what the-? What the hell did you do last night?”
While Kajsa persistently tried to find out the truth behind the markings left on Cordelia’s clavicle, the Royal Knight Sarah was preparing to leave.
“Be careful and come back safely.”
At Leon’s words, Sarah grinned and nodded her head.
“If you’re worried, you can also leave some markings.”
“Huh?”
Marking?
Leon blinked his eyes, not understanding what she meant, and Sarah smiled again before checking her equipment one last time.
Sarah was now dressed more like a hunter than a knight.
As the empress dowager said last night, the current Imperial Family desperately needed the help of the elves.
Because they had to pass through the territory of the elves to get to the northwestern region ruled by Marquis Buckingham, the leader of the pro-Imperial Family faction and the empress dowager’s father.
Of course, the enormous wealth and influence of the elves in the empire could not be ignored in the long run.
Or rather, it was just incredibly important.
The help of the elves was essential in driving out the demon followers who were trying to take control of the empire.
“Elves don’t like pink hair. So don’t worry.”
Leon had a bitter smile at Sarah’s joke, and he eventually put the helmet on Sarah and said.
“Yes, make sure to cover your face. Don’t let those weird b*stards drool over you.”
(T/N: Joke explanation. Koreans have this trope/meme(?) that pink haired characters in anime have deceptive appearances. Pink-haired characters are innocent-looking on the outside, but are actually lewd on the inside. If you think about it, this perfectly describes those erofu, hahaha.
As for why elves don’t like pink hair, perhaps it’s because it’s an accurate description of them? Or someone called them that and they got offended so it’s an offensive word for them. I’m not sure actually. Anyway, Sarah also seems to fit this trope since she’s innocent-looking but wanted Leon to leave a ‘marking’ on her. And it also applies to our dear Cordelia.)
Sarah laughed and nodded before lightly tapping Leon’s chest. Afterwards, she headed to the place where the empress dowager and the emperor were.
It was to courteously greet them one last time before leaving.
They needed an emissary to send to the elves.
They needed to know if the elves would help or let the emperor and empress dowager pass through.
And if they were clearly aware of what was happening in the empire.
The emperor couldn’t just enter the elves’ territory without notifying them in advance.
Therefore, Sarah, who was the fastest among the Royal Knights and had more mobility than the elves in the forest, was chosen as the emissary.
“I shall be going then.”
“Have a safe trip.”
“May the blessing of the gods be with you, my loyal subject.”
After receiving the emperor and empress dowager’s words, Sarah politely bowed and left the cabin.
And Cordelia who was watching the scene said to Kajsa.
“It smells.”
“What smell? The smell of Jude whom you hugged all night?”
“Of course, that’s a nice smell but it’s a different smell.”
“Wow, look at how shameless you are now.”
“If you’re envious, you can also hug Lucas in your sleep.”
Cordelia spoke with a teasing giggle, and Kajsa was flustered at that moment. Her face turned red and she stuttered, which was unlike her.
“W-why are you bringing up Lucas here?”
“Huh?”
I just poked you by chance. But it went as expected?
[Why do all your topics go that way?]
Anyway, she thought that Sarah and Leon smelled like a couple or something like that.
Cordelia was embarrassed by Melissa’s remark and laughed ‘ehehe’ before speaking again.
“Moving on, we can’t stay here for a long time. We’re leaving after breakfast. We’ve already agreed to meet Sarah at a certain place.”
“I know. But who are you explaining that to?”
“I don’t know!”
Cordelia thoughtlessly answered and looked in the direction where Sarah had gone.
T/N: I actually don’t get this scene. I’m not sure if Cordelia is breaking the fourth wall by explaining their plans to us, the audience, or she was talking to Melissa.
Sarah was supposed to become a bounty hunter but became a Royal Knight instead. It didn’t seem like her specialty, Spirit Rush, had changed. There were traces of blue spirit aura on the places she passed.
‘What changed and what did not change.’
Even though the butterfly effect had occurred and several variables had been added, there were still things that did not change. Things that could never be changed.
Events that happened as if they were a must.
Cordelia shook her head.
She drove out the strange thoughts she suddenly had and widely smiled again.
“Anyway, let’s go. Jude’s meals are very delicious, so look forward to it.”
“Hey, I’ve been traveling with you two for a while now, right?”
“You know it well then.”
Cordelia giggled as she boasted and took the lead, while Kajsa unknowingly turned to Lucas.
***
Two days later, around later afternoon.
The group’s movement speed had noticeably slowed down because the emperor, empress dowager, and the young members of the Imperial Family had joined their group.
They also lacked horses, but since the Imperial Family members had a lower stamina than ordinary people, riding on horses for a long time would be hard for them too.
But being in a hurry wasn’t a wise move.
After all, there was a limit to the places where they could move until Sarah who was sent as an emissary would return, though they had already eluded the pursuit of the Chancellor. Therefore, the group calmed their impatience and proceeded to the west at a slow but steady pace.
‘We’re back to Asain Pass, huh?’
The western part of the empire was a barren land close to the wild lands, but perhaps because it was close to the elves’ territory, the influence of the Imperial Family and the Chancellor was weak here.
For this reason, the western region of the empire was often treated as a dangerous place outside the territorial jurisdiction of any political faction, but it was a safe land for the current Imperial Family who were being pursued by the Chancellor.
Thus, the further west they went, the brighter the face of the emperor became, and the empress dowager was able to relax a bit too.
But there was one person.
A person in the group who became more anxious as they headed west.
“Kirara, are you okay?”
“HIIIIE?!”
Kirara was startled at Cordelia’s question as her tail stood up, but she nodded her head with an awkward expression.
“I-I’m okay.”
I’m not scared at all.
It’s not like Mountain King controls the entire Asain Pass… no, he does. Asain Pass belongs to Mountain King!
‘I-I’m going to be killed.’
I’ll be captured by Mountain King and be tortured to death.
Because Mountain King is such a guy!
Because he’s the vicious demon of the west!
He’ll beat to death anyone who betrayed him! He might lash at me with a whip. Or he might tear off all my nails and sprinkle salted water!
“K-Kirara?”
“Hic… Huhu… It was a short… huhu.. time… but it was nice meeting Master.”
“Eh, uh… Kirara?”
When Kirara began to sniff, the flustered Cordelia tightly hugged her, and Kirara buried her face in Cordelia’s chest as she tried to forget reality.
Jude and Cordelia were very strong according to what she had heard so far, but she was not present at that time. She had only heard about it.
But Mountain King was different.
She realized how strong and cruel he was several times when she worked for him.
Even now when she closed her eyes, she could still see Mountain King tearing off the limbs of the traitor alive, saying that the only price of betrayal was a painful death.
‘I-I won’t betray them!’
I won’t betray Master this time.