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TL: ALT
Chapter 219 – The Vampire and Elf Cleanup Part 5
Hel’s POV
I passed through the cave at the ruins of the Milder Highway, where Lipa had fortified the defenses, and entered the elven kingdom.
Though Makyo had dug the hole in just a few hours, the walls and ceiling were solid and showed no signs of collapsing.
For now, I didn’t sense anyone noticing me. Due to the storm, the surrounding plants and trees were damp.
“First, I need to figure out where in the Elven Kingdom I am.”
Though I am not as stealthy as Makyo or Kahiman, I began moving, suppressing my presence.
A herd of gibier deer ran by, but there were no white deer among them. What Makyo saw must have been the God of Time, after all.
After running around near the mountain range, I quickly found the prison complex. It was where I had been held. It was built on a sheer cliff face and was designed so that escape was only possible into the mountains.
The prison complex is an old building that might have been used since Satra’s time.
But I have no use for it now.
Heading east to the Wood Elf settlement, I found the path blocked by fallen rocks. In the past, I would have used magic, but this time, I channeled magic throughout my body to roll the boulders aside.
The Wood Elves were watching me. An elf covered in tattoos? No wonder they were wary. I shot a passing deer with my crossbow and hoisted it onto my back.
“Do you have any food?”
I asked the Wood Elves. They shook their heads.
“Here. This should fill your stomachs a bit.”
As I set it down and started to walk away, a voice called out.
“Why… would an elf like you help us?”
“Why…? Well, even if you ask…”
Come to think of it, I might never have helped anyone in the Elf Kingdom. In the demonic land, you die if you don’t help each other, so I acted without hesitation. Even Makyo did it in Cliff Garuda, and now this way feels more natural.
“It’s just a whim. Don’t overthink it.”
I didn’t mean to be kind. But when asked for a reason, I have to come up with an answer, and that’s a hassle. I want to tell them that it’s normal in the demonic land, but I doubt the Wood Elves would accept that mindset right now.
I think I understand a little of what Makyo felt. It’s easier to make people work under the guise of rent.
Along the mountain range, Wood Elves and Dark Elves lived and suffered storm damage. I cleared blocked paths, hunted beasts, and delivered them. I did what I could.
When I first started living in the demonic land, I was much the same. Seeing the injured woman, I couldn’t help but see myself in her.
Looking away only made my heart ache. I hunted beasts and delivered them to the settlement’s entrance almost forcefully.
I’ve been thoroughly tainted by the demonic land.
It’s only natural, really, but no one would ever notice the Milder Highway. The settlements near the mountain range are clustered around low-growing spirit trees and are barely managing to survive. They have no special products suitable for trade.
The Wood Elves probably thought we Elves were best avoided. I left the mountains behind and started heading north early on.
Despite the cold, the robe Sylvia made keeps me warm and defies the wind.
Running without a destination, I found myself back home before I knew it.
The Toulon family is an old noble house, renowned even in the east, though they’ve fallen on hard times for the past hundred years or so. My former husband bragged about marrying me—the top graduate of the Magic Academy—but I was caught using him as a test subject for my dark magic.
[T/N: Changed Turon to Toulon from now on.]
“Dark magic, huh?”
Having lived in the demonic land, I’ve come to think that classifications like that might not matter.
If you call the unknown “dark,” then the magic Makyo uses is almost entirely dark magic.
Entering the town of the Spirit Tree, where the Toulon family resides, I peeked into a souvenir shop.
Clothes and sundries bearing the logo were on display, but they seemed to be gathering dust; they were probably not selling well. The Spirit Tree was ancient and magnificent, yet it hadn’t become a tourist attraction.
However, there were cups with magical circles drawn on them that were chipped in places. They were probably meant to be insulating magic circles, but they lacked essential elements and didn’t function. They must have been magic circles originally, now reduced to mere designs.
Come to think of it, many tools in the Elf Kingdom feature peculiar designs.
Perhaps I just hadn’t noticed them before, but could they be collapsed magic circles? At some point, combat magic became more valued in this country, and each faction pursued its own research.
Research into magic for daily life was likely neglected.
Conversely, in the demonic land, that was the main focus.
“Has the change in environment altered my perspective?”
Maybe I’m more deeply immersed in the demonic land than I realized.
“Are you buying?”
The shopkeeper gave me a stern look. Come to think of it, I hadn’t bathed, and depending on how you looked at it, my robe was dirty.
“No… Sorry, it’s just… unusual. I got carried away…”
I put the cup back on the shelf and left the souvenir shop.
I considered visiting general stores to look for research materials, but then I remembered that I didn’t have any money.
“I’ve completely forgotten about the monetary economy.”
You don’t use money in the demonic land. It’s simply unnecessary.
Food is plentiful, and I can make a bed. Clothes? Some people make them for me. If I run out of undergarments, I can trade for more.
“Can’t be helped. Time to go get it.”
If I sneak in, I probably won’t run into anyone.
I’ve decided to infiltrate the Toulon family mansion. There should be some cash left in the research room.
The vast Toulon family mansion, belonging to the guardians of the Spirit Tree, stood directly beneath the tree itself.
As I approached, someone was just leaving in a carriage, leaving the gate wide open. I entered the grounds, slipped past the gardener, and opened the front door.
I thought I was being stealthy, but an old, frail elf was cleaning. She was my ex-husband’s mother and considered me her natural enemy.
“Well, well, long time no see.”
“Helgen! What on earth are you—”
“May I ask what the head of the family’s mother is doing cleaning the entrance? What are you up to? Are you not getting along with your new daughter-in-law either?”
“I have no business telling you that. Now, get out immediately! This is my house!”
It seems I hit the nail on the head. My intuition about these things has always been sharp.
“My apologies. I just forgot something.”
I ignored the old woman and strode right into the house, turning the urn beside the front staircase.
Clunk.
The wall beside the stairs opened, revealing a staircase leading down to the basement.
Spider webs covered it. Clearly, no one but me used it.
“What is this? What is it?”
“It’s a research room. Didn’t you know about it, even though it’s your house?”
“I didn’t know.”
“Well, sometimes it’s better to die without knowing.”
I descended into the basement. For some reason, the old woman followed me.
“I had no idea a place like this existed…”
Inside, failed experiments were piled high. The bookshelves held forbidden texts, and the walls were covered with parchments bearing magic circles and scribbled notes. Magic that didn’t matter anymore.
On the shelves lay a bag of gold coins, a cursed pot, a bracelet for banishing ghosts, a slightly warming wand for easing muscle stiffness, and a half-plated gold skull.
I picked up the bag of gold coins and slipped it into my pocket.
“What’s this?”
The old woman held a skull.
“It’s a skull cursed to gradually turn into gold. If you’d like it, please take it.”
“Gold!?”
Of course, that was a lie. It was just something I painted, thinking it might be popular in high society. But, seeing how fondly the old woman gazed at it, I decided to give it to her. Allowing her to dream in her twilight years wasn’t such a bad thing.
I put paper and a pen in a leather bag, wrapped it in tanned leather, and tied it with a string. I also took several small empty bottles. I rarely drank alcohol in the demonic land, so I didn’t have many.
“Well, that should cover it for now.”
“Wait a moment! What about the things here?”
“Dispose of them as you see fit. Ah, be careful—many are cursed.”
As I hurried up the stairs, I saw a squad of guards standing there, their staffs pointed in my direction.
“Helgen Toulon, huh? You’re under arrest for escaping from prison!”
The guard standing directly in the front bellowed.
“That’s right! You were supposed to be locked up, weren’t you!?”
The old woman came up the stairs, too.
“I no longer use the Toulon name. I’m a special envoy from the demonic land. Haven’t you heard? Besides, this lady is the head of the family’s mother. Pointing your staff at her might hurt your chances of getting promoted, don’t you think?”
At that, the guards lowered their staffs.
“Madam, please escape.”
“Eh!?”
“Speak up properly. Her hearing isn’t what it used to be.”
“How rude! My ears have always been praised for being long and beautiful!”
As the old woman spoke, skulls rolled out of her hands.
“Skulls?”
“Oh dear, that won’t do, madam. You just ate, didn’t you? Already snacking again?”
The guards stared at the old woman in shock.
Distracted, I climbed the stairs holding onto the railing.
“Halt!”
Ice shards flew from the guard’s staff.
“Property Alteration.”
I held out my hand, altered the magic’s properties, and instantly warmed the ice.
Sizzle.
The ice instantly turned to vapor in my palm.
“So, I can still use magic to alter and manipulate properties.”
What Makyo was doing seemed like a way to get out of this situation.
Having their attack blocked, the guards faltered again for a moment.
I sprinted up the stairs. I ignored the pursuing guards and burst through a window, leaping out into the front garden.
I rolled to a stop upon landing. My body was covered in magic, so I wasn’t injured.
As I got up, I realized I’d forgotten something. The carriage was just returning. Stepping out was my ex-husband, dressed in flashy clothes.
“Helgen!?”
“Hey, um, sorry. I’ve already forgotten your name, but I remember you were a good test subject. Since you’re here, how about trying an attack honed in the demonic land?”
“Huh? You can’t use magic anymore, can you?!”
“I can’t use magic, but I can still use magical power.”
I circled behind the bewildered ex-husband and spun magic power in my palm, giving his rear a solid smack.
Thwack!
My ex-husband floated up and flew straight toward the second-floor window, where the guards were looking down.
“So this is how it feels.”
Both Makyo and Kahiman know how to use magic power well. It was a successful magic power experiment.
“Would you mind bringing me my earrings, too?”
A young elf dressed in a flashy pink gown emerged from the carriage.
“Oh? Good day to you.”
“Good day.”
“Are you acquainted with the Toulon family?”
“Yes, I’m conducting some research here…”
“I see. Have you seen my husband? He just stepped out of the carriage.”
“Ah, in that case, he should be waiting upstairs.”
“That man, really… Excuse me. If you wish to see the garden, please take your time.”
The young elf lifted the hem of her dress and headed toward the mansion.
Nobles are busy creatures.
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