episode_0077

“Rinka…Feline…right?”

At that name, the saintess opened her eyes wide and covered her mouth with her hand. It was an action to hide her shock, and it caused a stir in the group. Alina and Glenn, who were nearby, cautiously worried about the saintess’s well-being.

“Why, why are you like that, Saintess. Do you know that name?”

“Militia Ni…Milli, are you okay?”

“Ah… I’m sorry. It’s okay. Alina, Glen. Wait… I was just surprised because I didn’t expect to actually hear those names.”

In fact… the saintess had half guessed. However, she did not want to believe it. Until the name came out, she had been denying the desire to acknowledge the connection.

It was when the warrior set foot on the Northern Kingdom. By chance, the warrior had raided those who were kidnapping and selling various beastmen and elves as slaves. Among them, the person he rescued was a small beastman girl named Linka Feline.

“The warrior… proudly wrote to me about it. He said that the girl would not leave his side, so he allowed her to stay until she left.”

“No way! The princess wouldn’t do that! You guys must have brainwashed her with some evil deed!”

Behind Eksan, a waterman named Pardus, who had been silent for a moment, raised his voice.

No, that wasn’t all. Whether it was courage to keep silent for so long or not, the other people began to raise their voices one by one, exuding a fierce aura.

“That’s right, that’s right! How come they haven’t sent it back for over 4 months!”

“Not even showing the face!”

“That brat called the warrior took our princess away! He forced her into slavery!”

“Must catch it! Must get it back!”

“Let’s punish, let’s give it back!”

Glenn sensed that he was once again in a tense situation. His fists clenched again, and his body moved without hesitation, taking a stance. He was ready to strike anyone who came near.

Of course, that momentum was quickly dampened by someone’s shout.

“Can’t you be quiet!”

That thunderous sound was not an ordinary scream.

Glenn felt a terrible dizziness in front of his eyes. No, it was as if he heard a strange noise in his ears. He hesitated, but he could barely stand on his two legs. In fact, it was such a terrible shock that it was hard to even tell himself if he was really standing upright.

Howling. A technique that affects the surrounding area with a loud scream that only a very small number of people use. It was used by Chief Tigris.

Thanks to this, the saints’ party was also affected, but Briwen was particularly affected.

“Ugh, ugh…shit…”

“B, Briwen. Are you okay?”

Sister Esther, who was standing next to Briwen, patted her on the ground as she stumbled to her knees and placed her hands on the ground.

However, Glenn had no time to share his concerns with Briwen. Right before his eyes, Tigris calmed down the surroundings and began to make her point.

“It is as Eksan said. You human warriors, the ones who saved this continent, have brought shame on our race and committed shameless acts. You have taken possession of my precious daughter, Linka Feline, who is destined to become the chieftain of our beasts, and are not liberating her. Even if the warrior saved her from the hands of the wicked, he cannot take possession of her at will. After all, she is our precious daughter.”

This brat… is just showing off his horniness.

Glenn felt like sticking his tongue out at the nuisance caused by the guy who wasn’t there.

“That is why we have been thinking of returning sword for sword, eye for eye. However, since no human has passed through this area until now… to be exact, no human qualified to be taken hostage, we have been waiting for an opportunity. And finally, today, our opportunity has arrived. The one whom the warrior cherishes, the one who was the backbone of the warriors’ party, the saintess… has set foot on our land.”

It was such a blatant declaration that they were going to kidnap you.

Glenn couldn’t help but feel speechless.

‘But who said they would let themselves be kidnapped so easily?’

Glenn came to his senses in an instant and decided that there was no problem in raising speculation. The movements of the beastmen were strange, as if they were trying to kidnap them. They were gradually spreading out their formation, as if they were forming a net to prevent the saints and their party from escaping.

Okay, let’s try this, shall we? Glenn lowered his posture slightly and began to draw on his magical power in both hands. Both Briwen and Alina were exhausted, but Glenn was the only one who had been saving up for ‘just in case’. It was for this exact moment.

Just as Glenn was preparing to punch the man in the jaw, someone grabbed Glenn’s shoulder and said, “Chin.”

“What is it, Briwen? Why are you…”

Glenn was a little puzzled by the fact that it was none other than Briwen who had stopped him, who would have rushed at him at any moment. However, his lips, which had been about to protest, did not move any further.

Briwen had a rather pale face. It was understandable, given her hardships over the past few days, but this time it felt different.

She looked quite shocked, as if she had witnessed, or rather… heard, something unbelievable. She placed her left hand on Glenn’s shoulder and her right hand near her ear, as if trying to listen carefully to something, and she muttered cautiously.

“Oh, it’s coming…”

“What?”

What’s coming?

Briwen’s mutterings, which omitted important words, really grated on Glenn’s nerves. He wanted to immediately shake off this left arm, stand in front of the group, and vent his anger.

“….Maaan~~!”

However, Glenn’s ominous mood was instantly dispelled by a voice that suddenly penetrated his ears.

Glenn wasn’t the only one. Suin, recognizing the voice, raised his head in surprise. Then, after looking around, he fixed himself in a certain direction.

“Oh my god, shit…”

Just ahead, someone muttered a curse. Glenn could sense the complex emotions in the chief’s curse.

But before I could ask a question or anything, another sound penetrated my ears again.

Gradually, bigger and bigger.

“Geuu …

At the sound that was growing louder and louder, Glenn frowned and turned his gaze. Naturally, he turned his head in the direction of the sound.

And I saw. The first thing I saw was an impressive horse covered in white fur. Then I saw a man riding on top of the horse and shouting.

As I had already guessed from the voice, it was a woman. Her long, bright green hair, clearly visible even from a considerable distance, was hard to take my eyes off. And with the elven ears sticking out sharply on both sides of her head, it wasn’t hard to guess her origin.

“Stop!”

Who was she talking to? A woman shouted loudly from a horse that had stopped at a fairly close distance from the group and the people.

For a moment, the conversation stopped, and those who had allowed the woman to approach fell into stunned silence.

And now, Glenn could finally look closely at the intruder who had come to visit them. First of all, her attire was unusual. The silvery dress, which seemed like it belonged to a goddess in the forest, was impressive.

Although her inhuman appearance made her seem like an elf, her impressive blue eyes were so beautiful that they could rival even a sapphire.

Above all, her confident and dignified expression boasted an outstanding appearance that would probably make many men’s hearts flutter many times.

A voice coming from right behind proved this.

“Wow, beautiful…”

It was Alina. It came out naturally because her appearance was so amazing that even women would be impressed. Hearing that, the uninvited elf glanced towards Alina.

And with a smiling face, he winked, closed one eye, and opened his mouth.

“Thank you, human girl?”

“Huh, huh?”

The elf spoke in a very cheerful tone, enough to make Alina dumbfounded when she heard that. But why did an elf of unknown name appear here?

“Who are you?”

Glenn didn’t have much patience. He spoke to her as best he could, condensing all his questions into one sentence.

Glenn immediately found himself in the curious gaze of the intruder elf.

“Hmm. You’re the knight escort of the saint that Estil was talking about? Oh, you’re quite short. I thought Estil was the only one who was short… but this one’s no slouch either.”

“What is it?”

Why are you causing trouble right when you get here? Just as Glenn was about to get angry, the elf intruder raised both his hands. The pose he made with his palms open seemed to be a gesture telling Glenn to calm down.

“Hmm, wait a minute. This older sister will show off her wit for a bit and then slowly introduce herself, okay?”

What, Sister? Talkative? It was an absurd answer. Glenn was about to ask what nonsense he was talking about. However, there was someone who struck first.

“Elf Priestess Sieta…Why are you here…? You are invading our territory again…The promise of non-interference was not made for you to break at will!”

The chieftain of the water people, Tigris, spoke first, grumbling. As he spoke, the chieftain’s expression was filled with discomfort. It could be seen as the expression of someone who is forced to meet someone they do not want to meet.

To Tigris, who was questioning her with hostility, the elf woman called Priestess Sieta opened her mouth in a rather cheerful tone.

“Oh my goodness. It’s been a long time. Chief Tigris? How have you been…No, no, no…But, you invaded my territory without permission. Who? Me?”

“Who else would be here besides you and the saintess!”

To the chieftain who almost shouts at her, the elf named Sieta still maintains a calm and easygoing tone of speech.

“Oh, oh. Aren’t you underestimating my knowledge as a priest? Even so, I judged that it was not against the rules, so I came here without hesitation? Do you remember, Chief? The reason you need to enter the territory of another race in a hurry?”

“Are you really going to declare that these intruders are guests of the elves?”

“Yes, correct! That’s correct. You haven’t forgotten the tradition and courtesy of hospitality, and the old rule that you can pass through the territory of another race for that purpose? We came out to welcome our guests. So, our chief? I’ll give you 10 points for the correct answer. Wow, congratulations!”

And then clap clap clap…

The sight of her clapping and smiling was so dazzling that it would have made any human male stare blankly. However, the saintess and her party could not think so cheerfully.

Wouldn’t it have been better if Grimes were here?

Soon, the group of saints, except for a few, muttered to themselves involuntarily.

‘He’s an extremely self-willed elf…’

“Sietta… It’s been a while.”

“Huh? Oh my, who is this?”

Among the group, the first to regain composure was the half-elf who had the blood of her own kind. Briwen bowed her head in respect. Her expression was quite silent, but there was a hint of concern.

And the woman named Sieta who greeted me seemed quite happy. It was clear that they knew each other.

“I wonder who is escorting our guest, Briwena! It’s been a long time, dear! How have you been? Why is your expression so gloomy and dark? Who hit you? This older sister will scold you!”

Sieta approached Briwen, who was paying her respects with a bang, took her hand, hugged her, and began chattering nonstop. Briwen kept her expression silent, but she looked quite troubled. It seemed that someone needed to step in and calm this elven woman down.

So then, who should step forward? The answer was already decided.

“Excuse me. Did you say Sieta? We are very confused right now, so could you give us a brief introduction and some additional explanation?”

Saint Milicia Airgrants, as the leader of the group, was the first to step forward and try to handle the situation. At the saint’s words, Sieta, who was speaking to Briwen in a tumultuous manner, suddenly stopped and looked at Milicia. She seemed embarrassed, but did not hide her smile.

“Oh, oh. Sorry. It’s been a while since I’ve seen our Wena, so I’m quite happy to see you… Ah, I’m Sieta Dreamside. As the princess of the Elf Kingdom, I perform my duties as a priestess serving the noble Moon Goddess. Today, I have come to guide the Saintess of the Air Grants Church and her followers who have come to our Elf Kingdom at the revelation of the Moon Goddess. Greetings.”

In an instant, Glenn was startled when he saw her bow her head slowly and politely, greeting the saint. The change in posture was so natural and fluid.

The change was so sudden that even the calm Saint Milicia froze in place for a moment, unable to react.

“Ah…yes. How are you? I am Milicia Airgrants, a member of the Airgrants Church from the Kingdom of Alcrea, and I am performing my duties as a saint, albeit in a weak way. It is an honor to be invited to this pilgrimage by the Elven Kingdom. Greetings, Lady Sieta.”

A rather warm scene was created where they greeted each other like that. Glenn unconsciously felt the urge to clap his hands.

He barely held it together, but his sister didn’t seem to be able to do so.

Clap clap clap…

“Hot, what did I do all of a sudden…I’m sorry!”

Alina quickly covered her hand behind her back, which had moved inadvertently. However, she couldn’t avoid the group’s blank stares and ended up blushing. The saintess remained calm even in the midst of all this.

And in that moment, Glenn could see the eyes of the elf named Sieta sizing him up and then moving towards Alina, sparkling and shining.

“Oh my, now that I look at it…this escort knight and I have similar eyes and hair color? Oh, they say lovers resemble each other, so is this escort knight’s lover?”

Don’t say something that would be shocking to others! Glenn was about to shout, but his sister was much faster. She shook her head and denied it, making a noise.

“No, no! It’s my sister! Oh, my name is Alina. Hehe…”

“Oh my, that’s what I thought? Somehow, I guessed that it would be because the two of you have similar facial features. Haha, my eyesight hasn’t dulled yet, has it?”

Look at that shameless thing. Seeing Sieta’s face suddenly filled with playfulness in response to Alina’s explanation, Glenn couldn’t help but stick out his tongue. He could tell without having to talk to her directly. This elf was definitely his polar opposite.

“Wow… You look cute, but… This is, this is, if our Estil were to see it, it would be surprising. I think this is world-class. Hehe… Your Majesty, there are some unique people in your group? ”

“Uh, yes?”

“Hoohoo. You said Alina? Later, after everything is over, why don’t you come to our elf forest? I’ll teach you everything from start to finish about how to handle magic. A personal lesson from an elf priest, isn’t that an easy opportunity to grab?”

“Uh, um…that’s…other people have already made a…sort of a pre-arrangement…”

“Oh my, am I a step too late? What a shame~”

Alina was dumbfounded, unable to keep up with Sieta’s sudden rambling, Briwen sighed, covering her face with one hand as if she was used to it, the saintess smiled awkwardly, the two members of the Airgrants Church just stared blankly, and lastly, Glenn crossed his arms and looked bored, wondering ‘when will this banter end?’

“Can’t you do it moderately, Sieta!”

And it seems Glenn wasn’t the only one who was bored.