ALL NOVEL Chapter 22
“Feels like my back is on fire.”
This has to be the most attention I’ve received in my life.
I thought this while walking through the city of Nua Diel, surrounded by dark elves glaring at me with sharp eyes.
I could tell, even without Wuzmund telling me, that their gazes were not exactly welcoming.
Even that dark elf over there has his hand resting on the hilt of his sword.
“Isn’t it a bit much to act like that even before I’ve done anything?”
“Well, the very fact that a human has entered Nua Diel is strange. Did you see the faces of the soldiers guarding the gates? They looked like a war had broken out.”
“Yeah, it was quite the sight.”
“It was more than just a sight; if I hadn’t been there, someone might have drawn blood for real.”
“So, you want a thank you or something?”
“No, I don’t.”
Wuzmund replied in a dissatisfied tone. Unlike before, his manner was polite. I guess my earlier annoyance had led me to kick him in the nuts.
“That’s why I advised you, right? It’s best to keep your face hidden around here.”
“Do I really need to do that?”
The benefit of being a Cathedral Knight is that I can walk around proudly without worrying about getting attacked.
Moreover, I had heard that Yurede was in the Great Forest. In other words, if I show my face and spread the word, I could draw him here. Yurede might be an idiot, but he’s a strong idiot, so he could be useful.
Yurede’s reason for coming all the way to the Great Forest must be to catch that deserter.
It’s like a DP (Dynamic Programming) situation.
There’s no way the esteemed Pope would send an Inquisition Officer just to catch a Cathedral Knight. The only suspects would be Belwin or…
“Ophelia, maybe?”
Ophelia sent Yurede. I thought that was a plausible guess. She wouldn’t personally come to find me, so she must have sent Yurede to catch me.
“By the way, Wuzmund.”
“Yes?”
“Do dark elves… usually just wear a rag like that?”
“…”
Even though Nua Diel was a city from a game, it barely had representation with just an icon.
There was only one dark elf companion in the game, and I had never seen any dark elves myself since reincarnating.
So, this was my first time seeing their attire.
In that regard, the first dark elf I laid eyes on was quite shocking.
It wouldn’t be exaggerating to say her chest was practically exposed, and she was parading around with her bare back proudly displayed. I couldn’t help but feel my Confucian genes flare up; after all, I was in a place that emphasized chastity.
“Why is that guy flaunting his package like that?”
The problem wasn’t only the women; the men looked just as bad.
The streets of Nua Diel felt like a disheveled red-light district, with everyone—young and old, male and female—going around half-naked.
It was quite unpleasant.
Wuzmund, seeming to agree, forced a smile as he said, “Dark elves are similar to us in many ways… but they are rampant hedonists.”
“… Hedonists. So they sleep with anyone?”
“Yes. Just among their own kind, though. They won’t touch a human even if you beg them.”
Wuzmund’s strange gaze made me pull my fist out to show him.
“Don’t get any weird ideas.”
“…”
Wuzmund subtly averted his gaze.
Now that I think about it, even the dark elf character who had a Mark in the game said something similar.
Her performance wasn’t great, so I hardly used her, but she was the only dark elf character and had a fun, cute personality, making her quite popular.
Of course, she didn’t roam around showing off her skin like that; perhaps because of censorship, but still.
“The sight of those streetwalkers is making even the Fairy King quite uncomfortable.”
“Is that so…”
Feeling overwhelmed by the lack of decent sights, I quickened my pace.
The destination was the largest building in Nua Diel. Eldarian mentioned there was a dark mage here, but he didn’t disclose the dark mage’s location.
So, I intended to seek out a place where I could gather information.
“Is this it?”
“Yes.”
The only Sorcerer Guild in Nua Diel.
Arriving in front of the building, I handed my pack to Wuzmund. After all, since I entered Nua Diel, we were both in the same boat. I didn’t think he’d try to run away.
“What are you planning to do?”
“Well, I’ll just try to talk nicely.”
“Can I trust that?”
“Don’t.”
I had no confidence in that.
*
“Hey, human. If you value your life, turn back now.”
Yep, this isn’t good.
The dark elf woman in front of me slammed her bare leg on the table and looked at me like I was a bug.
Holding a dagger in one hand, she was lazily caressing its smooth blade with her other finger.
“I haven’t even started talking yet.”
“It’s obvious. Anyone coming here would say the same things. I want to befriend you. Give me a quest. I need a place to stay. I need food. I have plenty of money. If that’s not enough, then give me a woman.”
“I—”
“Don’t say you’re different. All humans are the same. Don’t fool yourself; the only reason I’m even acknowledging you is out of minimal respect for the Vinheim Tribe you brought along, not for you.”
“…”
It was like talking to a wall.
I had a feeling it would come to this.
Yet, the shock was still considerable.
Using my fists, a great tool for communication, isn’t the best option here, as this is their stronghold. If a fight broke out, the Cathedral Knight title wouldn’t save my neck.
Most shocking of all is that the woman I’m talking to is a character from the game.
Her name was…
“Titania.”
“Hmph. You seem to take a keen interest in the world, knowing my name. But…”
Once her name was spoken, Titania mumbled and then exclaimed brightly.
“Don’t you dare say my name with that filthy mouth of yours, you short-eared brat.”
“…”
Dark elf companion character, Dark Shaman Titania.
Her personality in the game was…
“Ahaha! Hero, your face is turning red. How cute~.”
“Hero, once this is over, we’ll go back to Nua Diel together and live a happy life.”
“Don’t die. If you do, big sis will scold you.”
“Yay! We defeated the Demon King! We saved the world!”
“Crying? I’m not crying~. I just happen to have conjunctivitis.”
“…”
I let out a deep sigh.
Titania glared at me, looking displeased, but I was too overwhelmed by the loss I felt deep inside to care.
“This damn game world.”
Titania’s personality can be summed up in one word.
Sister.
Titania always took care of the hero, that is, the player character. Her relationship with the party was decent, and most importantly, all her unique lines were endearing.
That single aspect alone led most players to include her in the party, despite her underwhelming performance.
But the Titania before my eyes, now made real, was a different story.
“Now that our business is done, get lost. If the smell of decaying human lingers on my body, I’ll have to wash it off with your blood.”
“If you wash it off with blood, won’t the smell stick even more?”
“Are you trying to have a verbal duel with me right now?”
“…”
None of her personality traits were intact from the original.
In the end, I had no choice but to get up.
If the head of the guild is this uncooperative, the rest would be no better.
“Can I ask just one question?”
“No.”
“Is there a dark mage near Nua Diel?”
“…”
Titania tilted her head, as if trying to gauge my intentions before looking into my face.
Eventually, her misty, pale eyes sparked with purple mana.
“Human, learn to distinguish between what’s appropriate to say and what isn’t if you don’t want to die.”
“Got it.”
After that reaction, I was certain.
A dark mage still exists near Nua Diel.
*
“Did you have a good talk?”
“Well, there wasn’t a fight.”
Judging from my words, Wuzmund shook his head disapprovingly.
I accepted my pack from him and started walking again.
“Where are you headed?”
“A bit further north.”
Nua Diel isn’t a very large city.
There aren’t that many dark elves living there either.
I didn’t think they were connected to dark magic. If they were, they would have attacked the moment I stepped into the city.
So, it was highly likely that the dark mage was located outside the city.
“Can you use mana?”
“I can’t. Elves don’t do that; we use the power of spirits…”
“Right. You can use spirits.”
I nodded.
Elves are loved by spirits, just like their long lifespans.
And spirits can be either benevolent or malevolent. Good spirits are attracted to good magic, while malevolent spirits are drawn to dark magic.
In other words, a place where malevolent spirits gather is the stronghold of a dark mage.
“Wuzmund, let’s extend our contract.”
“Extend? You mean?”
“For about a week.”
I don’t have a talent for sensing spirits.
But beside me is a fairly old elf.
So…
“You’re going to be my two-legged dowser from now on.”
I have a high-performance detector right next to me.
Even if it takes time, finding it itself won’t be difficult.
“Dowsing… machine?”
The one who would actually be rolling around for a week, Wuzmund, simply tilted his head, unaware of the hardships awaiting him.