NOVEL ONLINE FREE Chapter 340
〈 Episode 340 〉 5. Bread and Dagger (38)
The handaxe that had been knocked away by Sir Alex’s sword was spinning through the void.
The hang time wasn’t long. Thanks to my handaxe quickly returning to my hand.
I had no choice but to exhale another sigh, lost in contemplation.
“Sir Alex, we need to gather information.”
I then glanced at the Elf woman who had been momentarily gripping her hair.
She was looking bewilderedly at the Elf man and Sir Alex.
In the end, I forcefully threw her hair away.
My body slowly started to rise.
“The more mouths to feed, the better… isn’t that common sense?”
“Hmm,” Sir Alex swallowed, gazing steadily at me.
After a short pause,
He lowered his sword with a faint smile.
“You still have some sense of humanity, young master… but you’ll soon realize, won’t you.”
With a swish, Sir Alex sheathed his sword and turned away.
This meant he entrusted the treatment of the remaining Elves entirely to me.
Unexpectedly agreeable behavior relieved me internally.
“…The fact that the northern region isn’t as warm as the eastern.”
Isn’t it obvious?
Every breath visible, turning white and fading away in the cold here.
Even tears and water become nutrients, causing plants and moss to take on a red hue in this living hell. How difficult it is to survive here.
Now, all that remains is to escort the prisoners.
Interrogation will proceed at the military camp. Not only will there be an official Yuridina Army interrogation, but a secret one with Senior Neoris present will also be conducted.
Leaving the groaning Elf woman behind, I tied the handaxe to my waist. Then, I whispered to Ahbiang, still standing there in a daze.
“…Ahbiang.”
With a start, the Elf girl looked up at me, her eyes swirling with too many emotions to read.
So, I only left her with the words I wanted to say.
“Don’t overstep.”
It was the best advice I could give.
It was also the only way for the weak to survive.
And that one phrase, once treasured by me as if it were golden advice, decided our fate.
Capturing three living Elves was a fine result for the first reconnaissance.
For reference, the first Elf I subdued was on the verge of death.
Seems I overdid it a bit.
But I healed them with a healing potion afterward, so I figured I had done my duty.
Anyway, I could get free healing potions from Senior Delphine.
This was the first encounter with the Elves.
The northern sky remained cloudy, its sunlight scattering like fog.
“Did you come for the Academy preliminary exam?”
It was a clear sky, and the afternoon sunlight was still a little harsh.
Three women with striking appearances gathered at one table under the shade provided by the teahouse, in front of the central avenue of the Academy.
The woman who had just asked the question had amber eyes. Leaning back in her chair, she was sucking her straw.
The coloring alone made it ambiguous to tell who was asking and who was answering since both had black hair and yellow-toned irises.
Still, the atmosphere was different.
The woman asking the question had exposed her neck freely, with her hair neatly tied back like a ponytail. She looked lively.
On the other hand, the woman answering had long hair that reached her hips. Her pale skin gave off an impression of frailty.
Their names were ‘Celin Haster’ and ‘Ria Percus’.
In response to Celin’s question, Ria nodded wearily.
“Yes, to be precise, it’s preparation for the entrance exam. The Business Department of the Academy is famous for giving out all sorts of bizarre assignments, so it’s not rare for people to settle here a few months beforehand.”
“Where did you get the money from? Didn’t your company go bankrupt?”
“Thanks to the generous donation of an anonymous philanthropist…”
It was a polite answer, but Celin didn’t seem to buy it at all.
Celin’s skeptical gaze turned to Ria.
Of course, Ria didn’t falter. On the contrary, she smiled faintly.
“So, dear big brother, where is he?”
“North.”
Without thinking to keep it secret, Celin tersely replied.
Ria’s eyes filled with curiosity.
Officially, Ian’s trip to the north was kept confidential. Since it was espionage work, there was no need to announce it openly.
Still, it was information that all the people involved knew.
Traveling through the warp gate, passing through the heart of Yuridina City, and spending a night at Yuridina Castle — rumors about that group couldn’t help but spread.
They were just avoiding mentioning it publicly.
Ria would have likely stumbled upon the information herself if she had waited a few more days.
It was a mistake to have come to the Academy too hastily out of longing to see her big brother.
Celin subtly checked her surroundings before lowering her voice and explaining everything she knew.
“Senior Yuridina…you know, the next head of the Yuridina Clan, Seria’s older sister? That senior asked Ian for help. It seems the Elves’ recent movements are suspicious.”
It was the best explanation she could muster, but Ria didn’t seem convinced at all.
Rather, her doubt deepened, and she countered.
“How long has it been since he almost died?”
“Umm, a month?”
An unexpectedly calm tone.
Or, perhaps it was the resignation of someone who had given up. As proof, Celin’s expression was filled with helplessness.
It was something she had experienced numerous times.
Currently, she was gradually realizing how important Ian was, and correspondingly, the enormity of the duties he had to shoulder.
Conversely, every time Celin realized this, it made her stomach churn.
It felt like a knife piercing her abdomen.
She wanted to share the burden, but couldn’t. That was why she had been practicing day and night recently.
She wanted to stand by Ian’s side again, one way or another.
But this was a story confined to Celin alone.
Ria, who lost her senses whenever Ian was involved, wouldn’t be satisfied with such an explanation.
The young girl loudly exclaimed, raising her voice.
“Are you kidding? Don’t you have any conscience?! How much our brother must have suffered… Sending someone who almost died back to the battlefield?! And you, Celin, just stood by and watched?!”
“Hey, hey. Calm down. I’m not saying I don’t have things I want to say…”
“I’m going to officially protest to the Yuridina Clan.”
It was the words spat out by Ria, unable to contain her anger and trembling body.
By now, fierce flames were burning in her golden eyes.
“From what I see, there must have been some kind of coercion or threat! Come on, our big brother wouldn’t voluntarily go to such a dangerous place! If that future head of the Yuridina Clan somehow manipulated our innocent brother…”
“Miss… our older sister did what?”
It was a voice filled with icy coldness.
So frigid was the tone that even the wild Ria shivered. Her golden eyes, wide open, turned toward the source of the chill.
Ceria, the girl with gray hair, stood there.
She was wearing a faint smile.
For Ceria, who rarely showed emotional changes, this was quite unusual. Only, why was it perceived negatively?
Ria felt a bead of cold sweat run down her spine.
“Are you suggesting that our sister did such a thing, Miss? Our sister, who commands the respect of both wisdom and chivalry, and who has always marched on the path of victory with reasonable and appropriate judgments. What did she allegedly do?”
“W, well… It’s not that I’m saying she definitely did…”
Ria was naturally a merchant.
Hardly had she ever experienced genuine swordsman’s intent before. And now, she had even spoken rudely, which was uncharacteristic for her.
She couldn’t help but shrink back indefinitely.
Still, Ria clung to a shred of defiance.
“I, it’s not like we can completely rule out the possibility…”
Of course, her rebellion didn’t last long.
Because there was an illusion of shadow behind Ceria. Trusting her animalistic senses, Ria immediately slammed her head onto the table.
“Sorry! I got too excited and said something out of line!”
“Yes, since you’re Senior Ian’s younger sister, I’ll let it slide.”
Ceria answered without hesitation, her smile remaining intact.
At that resolute answer, Ria couldn’t help but let out a faint groan.
I didn’t know this at the Percus Manor, but this woman was dangerous.
Even though she looked demure, she was extremely sensitive to certain topics. You could easily find yourself in trouble if you weren’t careful.
Celin sighed quietly, observing the scene.
As if saying, “I knew this would happen.”
The subject transition skillfully followed.
“So, what kind of business are you trying to do?”
And Ria didn’t let this opportunity pass by. She immediately lifted her head and began her explanation.
“Ah, ah! So, um… I’m planning to handle merchandise related to monsters, which are quite popular lately. Starting with the current system, I aim to gradually reduce the aversion towards monsters and bring them into fashion…”
“Monsters?!”
Celin’s eyes lit up upon hearing the word ‘monster meat’, something she couldn’t get enough of.
With her enthusiasm fueled, Ria continued elaborating on her plan. She confessed that she’d been planning this for a while, but her business had gone bankrupt just before implementation.
Accordingly, she had already secured all the necessary networking and connections for distribution.
Of course, to Ceria, this was information that didn’t even spark her interest.
She merely sipped her tea, leaning her chin on her hand, lost in thought.
Is our sister seducing Senior Ian physically?
A small snicker escaped Ceria’s lips.
Impossible.
For the two people she cherished and respected so deeply.
Such a calamity could never occur.
If it did happen…
The very thought was so disgusting that Ceria almost gagged.
No, it wouldn’t happen.
Absolutely not.
Meanwhile, after escorting the Elves to the military camp, Ian headed to the tent to rest his eyes momentarily.
The Elves needed treatment. Only after the Lady Virgin Saint’s approval could the proper interrogation commence.
However, the real problem was elsewhere.
Startled by the rustling sound, Ian opened his eyes. He had been so sound asleep he hadn’t realized someone had entered.
Still, no matter how deep his sleep, he should have at least sensed it.
Ian was an expert-level warrior who shouldn’t have missed even the slightest signal.
But upon opening his eyes, an unusual shadow appeared in Ian’s line of sight, already straddling his waist.
Given the soft elasticity, it was undoubtedly a woman.
In the dim light, Ian could make out her identity.
The flowing brown hair and sapphire-like eyes.
It was ‘Elsi Rainelle’.
The man gasped audibly.
“What? Senior Elsi! What is this…?”
“Shh, quiet!”
But Elsi seemed far from herself.
Her shaking hands were fumbling over Ian’s upper body, seemingly trying to undress him. Due to her lack of experience with men, her movements were quite clumsy.
The way things were going, it might take until morning for her to even remove his clothes.
Elsi’s eyes were already spinning wildly, a clear sign of confusion.
“It’s all your fault… Why… why can’t I have you?”
And sensing the faint alcohol scent on her breath, Ian squeezed his eyes shut tightly.
Ah, damn that drinking habit.
He resolved to impose a ban on alcohol for the group while they were in the north.
Once he gets through this crisis, that is.
Or is this an opportunity?
Ian momentarily became confused.