episode_0019

“Tigers leave their skins behind in death, while thieves depart leaving only a sense of unease.”

The Hel Elf, Bellum, the torn leader of the band of thieves, left for the afterlife, leaving behind a sinister aura-filled vial.

…An elixir that could transform a shifty bandit leader into a muscular monster in an instant.

Clearly a creation of the underworld. That’s why I tried to handle it quietly to avoid getting involved unnecessarily.

Unfortunately, the scene was caught by a suspicious priestess.

“What are you doing right now?”

Her eyes full of suspicion bore into me.

I quickly feigned innocence and confidently retorted.

Usually, looking more suspicious in such situations only raises more eyebrows.

“I was just curious about its contents and examining it. Is there a problem?”

“You were trying to handle it discreetly without anyone knowing! Don’t play innocent with me!”

“As if! You must have misunderstood. Think about it, what benefit would I gain from handling this secretly?”

“That’s…!”

She hesitated, perhaps realizing how absurd it was for a witch who had been living quietly in the southern forests to be involved in western affairs.

The flustered priestess, with a perplexed expression, sought forgiveness from me.

“I-I’m sorry…”

“It’s fine. Misunderstandings happen during travels.”

While smiling in front, I was sweating cold bullets behind my back.

That was a close call.

I almost got mistaken for a wicked witch again.

Trying to discreetly handle the item that awakened the bandit leader, isn’t that something a shady character would do?

I breathed a sigh of relief and discreetly tucked the vial into my pocket.

…Alright, I’ll keep it hidden until no one notices.

I can’t get involved in the main events with the underworld just yet.

Initially, I was unsure when I first saw the vial.

But as things settled down and the bandit leader turned into a dried anchovy-like form, I realized.

The western episode was ready to kick off.

It was confusing.

In the original work, the effects of that potion are revealed only after the protagonist’s group fully arrives in the west.

There, events like the bandit raid didn’t occur, and the impact of the awakening was subtle.

Perhaps it was meant to be hard to recognize.

…Still, one fortunate thing is that unlike incidents in the north, south, and central regions, the west can pass quietly if not directly involved in the episode.

Simply put, if you’re a decent civilian, events unfold without your knowledge and end peacefully.

Unlike the great escape in the southern forest, if handled well from the start, this incident can be peacefully resolved without any danger.

So, I must dispose of this vial before the underworld comes looking for us.

Was I staring at the vial in my hand with such a serious expression?

The Hel Elf, Bellum, approached me with an even graver expression than mine.

“Do you know anything about that potion, witch?”

“Why would I? It’s the first time I’ve seen it today.”

“For someone seeing it for the first time, you seem oddly familiar with it. Am I mistaken?”

…And that’s why I dislike elves who are so perceptive?

Always being overly observant in unnecessary situations.

Shaking my head vigorously, I denied Bellum’s statement.

“It must be a mistake. How would someone confined to the south know about western matters? Doesn’t make sense, right?”

“True, but you seem like you might know something. Didn’t you talk as if you knew us well when we first met?”

Oh no.

I didn’t expect it to go this way.

Caught off guard, I made a foolish expression momentarily, which the elf noticed and seized upon, raising the corners of his mouth sharply as he spoke up.

“I won’t ask how you know. Just as I told Stroheim, I’ll answer that it’s the witch’s secret.”

“…”

“But I’d appreciate if you could tell me about this potion. I’m genuinely curious about the identities of those who created this abhorrent concoction.”

Yes, you seem quite curious.

Believing that true strength can only be achieved through pure physical training.

However.

“I don’t know.”

You think I know?

Already suffering greatly after meeting the protagonist and his group in Dasurim.

Despite trying to avoid it, why would I step forward and speak first?

It’s like willingly jumping into a pit of fire.

Am I supposed to endure that difficult episode with them, even though I’m not a Masochist?

I shrugged my shoulders in the face of Bellem’s fierce momentum.

“If anyone hears, they might think there’s a Dimensional Library inside my head.”

“It wasn’t there? Well, considering you’re pulling out all the poisonous weeds, it doesn’t seem like it.”

“…I told you to stop teasing me.”

“Haha, what can I do? It’s amusing, isn’t it? Trying to convince the forest residents that a poisonous weed isn’t really a poisonous weed.”

“Hey!!!!!!!!”

Brandishing the dagger, Bellem leaped around, but he quickly evaded and left the spot.

“Angry looks suit you well.”

“Can you just be quiet!”

The impudent kid who butted in without consideration had to face my burning anger.

—–

Not far from the thieves’ stronghold.

Venturing into the deep forest briefly to attend to some business, Bellem glanced in the direction of the witch and muttered to himself.

“She caught on.”

His face, contemplating the vial for a while.

And his actions, looking around at the party before attempting to discard the vial.

Though he pretended not to know, the witch must have been aware of the potion’s true nature.

“It doesn’t matter how she knows. We just need to extract the information from her mind.”

If she weren’t an ally, figuring it out through rigorous exercise together would have sufficed, but unfortunately, she became a valuable companion since Dasurim.

Approaching wrongly could ruin the atmosphere and potentially lead to the party’s dissolution.

“They are perfect companions I’ve met for the first time; I can’t cause trouble.”

With three excellent comrades well-versed in the aesthetics of muscles and a priestess capable of endless healing through her restorative methods.

And the witch who seems to know a lot about the party members, making one wonder if a Dimensional Library truly resides in her mind.

Helldamned elf Bellem was quite pleased with the current party.

“Perhaps that witch even knows extreme training methods. You can’t split open the belly of a goose laying golden eggs.”

He may love muscles more than anyone else, but that doesn’t mean his brain is made of muscle too.

…I got too emotional because of Royder. I should apologize when I return.

Resolving to do so, Bellem turned around but soon stopped, quietly opening his mouth.

“Reveal yourself, whoever you are.”

“…”

“You think you went unnoticed? There aren’t many beings in the forest who can deceive an elf’s senses. If you thought you weren’t noticed, it would be a mistake to assume so.”

Slowly raising his aura, warning with Oler drawn, Bellem faced a man dressed like a clergyman.

“You hid well, but indeed, an elf is an elf.”

“What’s your business here? Seems like you have other intentions, judging by your lack of vitality.”

“Oh, yes, of course. I didn’t come to fight; I simply came to retrieve the test subject.”

“…Were you the one behind Royder?”

No wonder there was a foul smell.

Although rage surged within him, Bellem suppressed his emotions for now and stared at the man.

“Purpose won’t be disclosed, and identity certainly won’t be revealed. Well, there’s no choice. We can only chat quietly while doing squats together.”

“Haha, just kidding. I’m satisfied just doing waist exercises with a charming lady at night.”

“Originally, the balance between upper body muscles and lower body muscles should be properly maintained. If you only focus on waist exercises, it will eventually lead to ruin.”

“…Seems like jokes don’t work on you at all.”

Letting out a long sigh at Belldem’s overly serious words, the man in black priestly attire glanced briefly at the thieves’ stronghold, showing a hint of concern.

“Well, it won’t be easy, will it? Even with three people like you, not to mention a saint candidate and a seemingly strong witch, it’s questionable whether we’ll make it out alive.”

“Strange, why worry about survival? You can just do squats with me here quietly, can’t you?”

“That seems worse than going to the afterlife.”

With a firm refusal, the man shrugged as if there was no other choice, then turned away.

“Life is more important than retrieving test subjects. Haha, then I’ll see you next time. Await my return.”

“Do you think they might escape?”

“Haha, I’m more confident in catching someone trying to flee than anyone else.”

As the man in priestly attire vanished as if evaporating at the end of his words, Belldem, clicking his tongue, gazed at where the man had been.

“Missed him. Should have captured him to rejuvenate that rotten body and mind.”

The next time they meet, no matter what happens, he’ll help build impressive muscles.

Regretfully, Belldem returned to the thieves’ stronghold, recounting in detail to his companions what had happened in the forest.

And then…

“Damn it.”

The witch, who had been silent, cursed with a pale face.