The coniferous forest was vast and complex.
Only conifer trees stood tall no matter where you went, making it impossible to tell the direction unless you were a guide trained since childhood. This was one of the reasons I couldn’t so recklessly leave the village.
If I tried to leave on my own, I’d just end up lost.
At least my companion, Aviang, was familiarizing herself with the paths, but I couldn’t bring myself to ask her to accompany .
It was because she still had unfinished business to attend to.
Aviang was searching for her younger sister’s whereabouts.
Her na was Betty, if I recall it correctly.
From what Aviang told , her sister was staying at a place called ‘The Headquarters.’ It was a place where elves who were disabled or had grown frail with age were offered as sacrifices to produce food.
It was also where ‘Leoric’ resided.
It was also likely the place where ‘blessings’ were granted and demonic humans were created.
I asked Aviang,
“Why are the elves short on food?”
“...?”
Aviang looked at as if she’d just heard the nonsensical ramblings of a lunatic.
Her gaze held a faint trace of reproach, prompting to repeat my question.
“I’m asking why the elves’ food situation is so dire. There’s no real reason for it, right?”
“Well, it’s all because of those downright vile humans... ah, I an.”
Aviang nearly raised her voice in anger but quickly caught herself, nervously glancing at as she reeled her words back in. She awkwardly cleared her throat a few tis before continuing.
“It’s because of humans. They drove us into this cold, dark coniferous forest. Then, they constantly burn down our warehouses... raid us, and kill our kind!”
The sharp sound of her grinding her teeth filled the air.
With every word, the fire in her eyes grew more intense. She seed unable to contain the anger and hatred welling up inside her.
And I honestly couldn’t bla her.
Up until now, I only understood her feelings rationally. A grudge accumulated over hundreds of years—or so I thought. But what about the scene I witnessed in the elven village?
Are these elves truly demonic?
Are they really formidable enough to be considered the enemies of humanity?
In just a few days, doubt had begun to gnaw at . I told myself over and over again that they were enemies, that I had to fulfill my duty as a noble of the Empire.
But no matter how much I thought about it, the fight with the elves didn’t seem like a war.
It was more fitting to call it a hunt—or slaughter.
So, what exactly are those villages said to have been burned by the elves?
I forced myself to calm my confused thoughts. After all, this too was a truth I needed to uncover.
If I stayed among the elves, the path to it would naturally open up.
Even so, I couldn’t help but voice the question that had just co to mind.
“Well, I get that... but why don’t you use the demonic humans?”
At the abrupt question, Aviang tilted her head in confusion.
In the midst of venting her deeply rooted emotions, she asked back.
“Demonic humans—what are you talking about?”
“You haven’t seen them? That monster I fought—the one resembling a Snow Leopard. That was a demonic human. And demonic humans can command demonic beasts of the sa kind.”
This was sothing I had seen firsthand during my battle against Gilford at the orphanage.
Gilford commanded an army of monkey-type demonic beasts. That was how he surrounded the orphanage and forced into a fight to the death.
Naturally, this led to a question,
Why don’t Leoric and the demonic humans utilize demonic beasts?
Even during the attack on the military camp, this point had puzzled . For example, their food situation could have easily been solved by controlling demonic beasts.
All they’d have to do is summon and slaughter them.
Demonic beast at was surprisingly nutritious. In fact, depending on how it was prepared, it was so delicious that specialized demonic beast at restaurants had beco trendy in places like the capital and the academy.
And yet Leoric didn’t do that.
Why not?
There’s no such thing as an effect without a cause. When I pointed this out, Aviang simply looked at as if I had just said sothing she had never heard before.
“What are you talking about? You’re saying those people are demonic humans?”
“Of course they’re demonic humans... Never mind, forget it.”
At a glance, it was clear Aviang knew nothing about it.
Instead, I asked how she was doing.
“So how have you been lately? Have you heard anything about your younger sister?”
“No, the number of people who can go to The Headquarters is limited. So, I’m planning to send a letter when the representative from this village visits it. Of course, I could go myself if I wanted to, but...”
Her blue eyes flicked toward , subtly watching my expression.
Hah, I let out a wry chuckle.
“No. Headquarters is far too dangerous.”
Not for Aviang— for .
The choker around Aviang’s neck would detonate if I wasn’t nearby. Maybe there’d be a half-day or so of leeway, but The Headquarters didn’t seem close at all.
It was also likely where Leoric and the elven leaders were residing.
No matter how remote this area was, I couldn’t afford to underestimate the information network of the elves. They had probably morized my physical description by now..
There was no reason for to take unnecessary risks.
At most, I felt a little sorry for Aviang, who now looked disheartened.
I gently patted the girl on the shoulder.
“Even so, we’re going on a walk today after such a long ti, right?”
“It’s not a walk, it’s a hunt...”
“Sa thing.”
Aviang gave a look of utter disbelief in response to my flippant remark.
Maybe because we’d spent the past few days together, her fear of seed to have lessened a bit. To the point where she could give such a cheeky look, no less.
It wasn’t a bad change.
After all, we were going to be living together for a while. While there was no need to grow unnecessarily close due to humans and elves being enemies, there was also no reason to be needlessly hostile.
I boasted to her.
“Don’t worry—I’ll protect you. What could possibly go wrong in the forest?”
Yeah, as if.
**
As it turned out, plenty could happen.
With a disgruntled expression, I looked down at my wrist.
Several loops of sturdy rope were tightly wound around it. Though my ankles were free, having my wrists bound was more than a little irritating.
With a haughty look, Isha declared
“Didn’t I tell you? We still can’t trust you!”
“But Uncle Dolph, Auntie Miera and Ruget all said they trust .”
“That’s them!”
She snapped, hissing like an angry cat.
Hah... I could only stifle an incredulous laugh.
Even so, wasn’t it a bit much to bind soone’s wrists while going hunting?
But apparently, there was so long standing tradition behind this suspicious restraint.
“Keep your focus on your feet, human.”
The remark ca from an elf who looked like a young boy at first glance.
Despite his appearance, he was the only elf in the village addressed as ‘Elder,’ which ant he was quite old.
Silently, I turned my gaze toward him.
Elder Poff didn’t even glance at . He simply spoke in his usual curt tone.
“All young elves are taught to hunt with their hands tied. It’s to help them focus on their feet and learn the paths.... After going on several hunts like that—once they can navigate the forest with their eyes closed—that’s when we finally untie their hands and teach them how to properly hunt.”
“I’m not a young elf, though.”
“Hmph, I’d bet you’re younger than even those ‘young elves.’”
I had nothing to say to that.
Instead of arguing, I heaved a sigh, admitting defeat.
At first, Elder Poff seed strangely youthful, but the more we spoke, the more his experience and wisdom beca apparent.
As a noble who prided himself on respecting age and tradition, I resolved to follow his teaching thod without further protest.
Focusing on my feet and taking one step at a ti.
The process was excruciatingly tedious.
In the end, my quiet resolve to follow the elves’ training thod didn’t last long.
“Co on, can’t I just learn the path visually? Why must I do it with my feet?”
“Tsk, tsk. What a hopeless brat...”
He shot a glare full of irritation and disdain.
It felt unfair, but I didn’t bother arguing further.
Elder Poff hated .
More precisely, he despised all humans for killing his family. Yet, unable to withstand the pressure from Ruget and the other elves in the village, he reluctantly brought along.
If I forced myself into this situation, I had to accept the treatnt that ca with it.
Besides, it wasn’t as if Elder Poff was spouting complete nonsense.
“Get in tune with the ground. Right now, every step you take makes that crunching noise—what will you do if it scares away the prey?!”
“Obviously, snow makes noise when you step on it.”
“No, it shouldn’t make a sound! Better yet, it’d be ideal if you didn’t leave any footprints either!”
With that, Elder Poff sharply turned away, a clear signal he had no interest in further conversation..
I made a small hum, holding back my thoughts and cast a sly glance at Isha. She was walking along quietly but then flinched and turned to look at .
My eyes were fixed on her feet.
“Wh-What are you doing?”
“Seeing if you make any noise. And checking for your footprints too, while I’m at it.”
At that, Isha let out a nervous cough, clearly feeling self-conscious.
Then, with her face slightly flushed, she took an overly stiff step forward.
Crunch. A faint sound scraped at my ears.
I scoffed and turned my head away.
“...Tch.”
“Hey, hey! That was just a mistake, alright?! It’s because you kept staring so intently...!”
Isha’s face turned bright red as she started fumbling out excuses.
However, her rambling didn’t last long.
“Hold on.”
Elder Poff raised his hand, signaling us to stop.
Isha imdiately clamped her mouth shut, while Aviang and I turned our questioning gazes toward him.
Elder Poff crouched silently, lowering his nose to the snow-covered ground and sniffing.
Then, he even brought his ear close to the surface.
What in the world is he doing?
Soon after, he closed his eyes and began to move forward, feeling his way step by step.
The rest of us could only follow him, puzzled.
It wasn’t long before sothing unusual caught my eye.
A campfire site.
Though there was little trash left behind, the lted snow at its center bore clear evidence of its presence. Scattered traces left behind further confird it.
Frowning, I asked,
“Could this be a spot where other elves camped?”
When Elder Poff didn’t answer, Aviang quietly moved closer to him. She began inspecting the area and soon noticed a set of faint footprints.
They were especially deep.
Aviang, too, fell into silence. Unable to bear the suspense, Isha and I also moved closer.
And then I saw them.
Those footprints—they were a pattern I knew all too well.
Only Isha was looking at , seemingly confused about what was happening.
“Hey, hey... Why is everyone acting weird? What’s going on?”
The reply ca from Elder Poff.
“...Humans.”
His voice was laced with dread.
His face had turned pale. Slightly out of breath, he muttered between ragged breaths,
“Humans have co this close.”
We were barely half a day’s journey from the village.
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