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Chapter 70

"You're mercenaries, so you must have a taste for rare items. There are several things in the elven forest worth risking your life for."

At those words, a guardian elf with striking dark eyebrows fidgeted, opening and closing his mouth.

"Still, that's……."

"There's a place where the elves' accumulated relics are kept. You'll each be allowed to choose one item from there."

They're practically the elves' treasures. Many items are over a thousand years old, Zelmir said with a knowing smile.

……Melden and Delro already seemed sold.

"Equipment! Armor!"

"Treasures……. If it's elven relics, I think I've heard of some famous ones……."

Oh dear. They each started muttering about what they wanted.

"I'll also give you an elven token as payment."

At that, Melden, who had been lowering his head while thinking about the reward, snapped it up.

"Elven tokens actually exist?"

"Wow, I thought they were only in fairy tales!"

As Leon's light green eyes sparkled, heung, the elves snorted.

"The token of elven faith is always steadfast. We do not know lies."

Zelmir gestured in the air, and a small sylph popped out, flew down from upstairs carrying a small ornament, and plop dropped it into his hand—an item no bigger than a thumb.

Inside a vertically elongated diamond-shaped gem was a tiny leaf-shaped carving.

"Whoever holds this token can always receive help from our forest, no matter who they are."

"If someone with the token asks for help, we help as much as we can. It's one of the elves' simple, clear rules."

It looked like just a small trinket, but it was apparently an important item: a piece of the sacred tree carved and placed inside a spirit stone brimming with power. The sacred tree—how fantastical and cool!

Melden opened his mouth in surprise.

"The sacred tree is in the Forest of Morein? I thought it was just a legend passed down even in the Holy Kingdom."

"There's no need to tell humans that. Even elves can only touch Loel's sacred tree one day a year."

One of the guardians frowned and grumbled.

"To give something so precious to humans……."

Elija's clear golden eyes turned to Zelmir.

"……So the monsters' condition is that unusual?"

"Harpies are about the same level as before. They're annoying because of their numbers, but their wing strength has only increased slightly."

"Cough, cough. The real headache is the trolls."

The elves frowned.

Trolls. No wonder the elves, with many ranged attackers, would be reluctant to face them.

Their defense is absurdly high, and even my acidic fluid doesn't work well on them. Even if you wound them, they regenerate quickly—maddening.

"Well, do you feel like taking the request?"

Elija and Melden's gazes crossed. Through Melden's blue eyes, I could feel his worry about Elija's safety. He must be concerned because they said the monsters aren't ordinary.

Soon, Elija lowered his sun-like golden eyes and smiled.

"The elven token is a very appealing reward."

Heung. Could I later use that to ask Aria to summon a spirit and fly through the sky?

Imagining soaring through the clouds with the majestic Sylph like an eagle, I snapped back to attention at Elija's next words.

"Taking a request from elves isn't something that happens often in a lifetime. And we might need that help…… in the future, right?"

Seeing Elija grin, Melden and Delro nodded.

"To have the elves' backing is certainly……."

"If it's a once-in-a-lifetime chance, of course we take it!"

Certainly, if Elija returns to the ducal household and an elf shows up to support him, it would draw significant attention among the nobles. Heh. I opened my mouth and wriggled my body. This is a great opportunity!

"Well then, it seems opinions are roughly aligned."

At Zelmir's words, the guardian with the dark eyebrows raised a hand.

"Some harpies survived and returned. They'll regroup and come back."

The guardian slumped his shoulders, saying they'd spotted fleeing harpies.

Zelmir slowly curled the corners of his mouth.

"That's not bad news."

"Yes?"

The elves perked up their ears and looked at the smiling Zelmir.

"Before the monsters gather, we need to strike first."

"Then……."

We exchanged glances. I had a bad feeling.

The elves seemed to feel the same; the robed elder let out a cough, cough.

We were all thinking the same thing, probably…….

"Tonight, we go all out."

Ha. I knew it.

Before we could even recover from the journey's fatigue, we seemed to have been swept into a troublesome battle.

Aigoo. That's just how the Echo Mercenary Group is.

---

Wow. Look at the sky.

The night sky over the elven forest was filled with stars, as if someone had sprinkled glitter everywhere.

Leon and I were so busy admiring the seemingly pouring sky that we didn't have enough eyes.

And beneath that fantastic night sky stood countless armed elves, standing in formation.

The long line of gathered elves seemed endless. To have this many combat-ready troops prepared in just a few hours?

"Everyone, did you bring your weapons?"

"Yes, Lady Aria!"

As we marveled at the elves' stamina, Zelmir raised his voice from the front.

"The human mercenary group and Aria's unit will handle the trolls in the eastern forest. Nérien, please accompany them. Irmarel's southern unit will also join this group."

A robed elf elder, carrying a staff taller than herself, moved to our rear. A guardian with dark eyebrows also pouted and shuffled over.

"I and Tharel will take the remaining troops to the harpies' habitat. Let's all meet back here without significant losses."

Zelmir's ambitious plan to catch two rabbits in one night. The elves split into two groups and began their march.

"Elija-nim! Delro-nim! Please be careful and come back soon!"

Leon, from the rear, shouted with his hands cupped around his mouth.

Taking him to face trolls was too risky, so Melden and Leon stayed behind in the village. The elves left to guard the village against possible attacks also saw off their comrades with uneasy expressions.

"Delro, watch your step."

While we, starting out late at night, stumbled over unseen tree roots, the elves moved silently without a sound.

"Elves must have good night vision too……."

"Aish, why does this rock have to be black!"

As I whispered from Elija's shoulder, Delro stepped on another rock and swayed his large body.

"……Pathetic."

A dark-brown-haired guardian with thick eyebrows brushed past us with a glance.

What did you say? Elija grabbed Delro's arm as if to restrain him.

"Take your anger out on the trolls later, please."

"And be quiet. I think we're almost there." At Elija's low voice, Aria turned to us.

"He's right. We're about to reach the black moss forest where the trolls gather. Prepare for battle."

Behind us, chareureuk, the sound of elves adjusting their weapons rang out in perfect unison, like a sword dance. Unlike the mercenaries we'd encountered in the human world, they had the feel of an elite unit.

"Irmarel, if you see anything ahead, let us know."

At Aria's words, the guardian swept back his mahogany-colored hair and looked behind.

"Southern unit, advance the formation slightly."

Elven swordsmen carrying sleek swords moved forward. That elf uses a sword. Irmarel was the only guardian who carried a sword, and his unit seemed to have many swordsmen.

So that's why Zelmir sent Irmarel to our side.

Conversely, Aria slowed her pace and positioned herself in the rear. Not long after, Irmarel's low voice echoed through the silent march.

"All units. Prepare for battle."

Delro's dark brown eyes sparked with light. Finally!

Woah, woah. Elija stuck close to Delro, who looked ready to charge at any moment.

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