51. A Thousand-Year-Old Elf’s Whining

“Hmm. An Easterner as a warrior. Doesn’t quite suit you.”

Gon-nim looked me up and down before stroking his chin.

To already be dissatisfied before training even began.

As I was startled by this blatantly racist remark and pondering how to respond, the female knight next to me flared up and shouted:

“Wait. Are you looking down on him right now for being Easterner?”

“Huh? No. It’s just that Easterners don’t suit being warriors. Not looking down. Easterners are a race better suited as mages, swordsmen, or hunters.”

“And who are you to arbitrarily decide that? It’s not like Easterner warriors don’t exist at all.”

“Hmm. You don’t understand. The labyrinth isn’t a place to do whatever you want. It’s a place where you must push what you’re good at to the limit just to survive. Class distinctions by race are natural.”

“What?”

“Hey, woman. You seem like a novice who hasn’t fully adapted to maso either. Let me explain. Warriors are the frontline who must take all the attacks meant for their teammates while also attacking. They fundamentally need large builds. To endure with their bodies, they need tough vitality. And the mental strength to withstand pain is essential.”

“Are you saying Easterners lack that?”

“It’s not looking down on Easterners. Look objectively. The man who’ll be my trainee is small and slight.”

“…True.”

“Hey, Rika-nim. If you’re going to take his side, do it properly. Why are you agreeing?”

“Ah, sorry. But… you are a bit petite for a man.”

“…”

Well, she’s not wrong.

I’m slightly taller than the young lady and about the same height as Yuria.

Rika is a bit taller than me.

Can’t be helped. Humans in this world are all tall.

At least Olivia feels distinctly shorter than me.

Anyway, I don’t meet the height requirements this man Gon expects from a warrior.

“And don’t misunderstand. I’m not saying Easterners are weak. Easterners are generally small and slight, which makes them fast. Agile and sharp. That’s why there are particularly many assassins among Easterners. And many have sensitive senses, making them especially suited as hunters or guides.”

“In short, you’re saying they’re just not suited to be warriors, right?”

“Correct. Not suited to be warriors. Same for knights.”

Meaning the tank role doesn’t match racially.

Rather, they’re more suited to damage dealers like swordsmen, assassins, or hunters.

Being small and slight makes it easier to swiftly strike vital points.

Somehow, to my ears, it sounded like “Asians have higher critical hit rates.”

“I’ll still try learning first. If it doesn’t work out, I can always switch.”

“Is that so.”

“Yes. Giving up after trying is better than giving up from the start.”

“Your attitude suits a warrior. Understood. Will you start today?”

“I have somewhere to be today. I’ll come from tomorrow.”

“Good. Come whenever you want. Except lunchtime. Meals are important.”

“Yep.”

With those words, Warrior Gon turned away.

Rather than feeling rude, he came across more as straightforward.

As expected of a barbarian – no empty words.

“Quite an imposing man.”

“Indeed. His voice was incredibly deep too.”

“Honestly, I’d like to fight him once.”

“That man just now?”

“Yes. After maso adaptation and getting stronger, I think it’d be a good match.”

“Whoa.”

Rika-nim’s fighting spirit rising.

What she lacks isn’t skill but stats.

If she successfully ventures into the labyrinth a few more times, she’ll undoubtedly grow rapidly.

I should take the young lady’s team into the labyrinth soon.

I’ll hone my skills against monsters in the upper layers.

While the young lady’s team gains experience, adapts to maso, and acquires abilities.

‘Though taking Yuria along would be problematic.’

The risk of them just getting carried is too high.

When people have insurance, they become complacent.

Just Yuria’s presence could make them think “It’ll work out somehow” or “Yuria will help in dangerous moments.”

Even if they try not to think that way, they’ll unconsciously rely on her.

If they plan to keep venturing into the labyrinth, they must stand on their own.

For outsiders whose only goals are maso adaptation and abilities, getting carried to quickly level up might be fine, but that’s not Lady Leah’s objective.

We should follow the standard approach.

‘In that sense, I should probably step back too…’

From the young lady’s team’s perspective, I’m also someone to rely on.

So I might become an obstacle to their growth.

Blindly relying on someone can become a fatal weakness.

I’ve seen many cases where people become wrecks after their lover, comrade, or leader dies.

Those with strong individualistic or selfish tendencies have greater mental resilience.

Those who seek communication or bonds with others aren’t suited to the labyrinth.

“You look serious. Something troubling you?”

“Huh? Ah. I was wondering if my presence might hinder Rika-nim or Lady Leah’s growth.”

“Is that so?”

“Yes. Like if you might rely on me or…”

“Pfft.”

“What? Why are you laughing?”

“It’s funny. Porter, you’re weak.”

“Huh? No, I’m not weak!”

“Aren’t you? Your physical abilities are good, but your techniques are lacking.”

Well, is that true?

She’s not wrong.

“Your strengths are composure, improvisation, and your spatial pouch. Your actual combat ability is about the same as the young lady’s, no?”

“No way, I’m definitely stronger than the young lady.”

“Glad you’re stronger than the young lady at least.”

Rika laughed and patted my shoulder.

Thinking about it, Rika’s right.

I’m also in a position where I need to grow stronger – I might have underestimated the young lady’s party too much.

Right, purely in terms of combat ability, I’m about the same level as Lady Leah’s party members.

While maso adaptation has enhanced my physical abilities, that doesn’t necessarily mean I’m good at fighting.

At similar levels, they wouldn’t overly rely on me, so going together shouldn’t be a problem.

What I need to be wary of is the presence of a deus ex machina.

As long as there’s no problem-solver who handles every crisis alone, it should be fine.

Currently, Yuria is the deus ex machina for the young lady’s party.

A soon-to-be gold rank adventurer wouldn’t struggle in the upper layers.

Just a light swing of her hand would sweep away upper layer monsters.

Her existence would be a fatal obstacle to the young lady’s party’s growth.

“Let’s take a break this week. How about entering the upper layers next week?”

“Starting next week? Sounds good. But labyrinth control isn’t lifted yet, is it?”

“Should be lifted by next week. The atmosphere is to refrain from entering the underground city, but the upper layers should be fine.”

We can clear the upper layers before the subjugation begins.

And blindly blocking labyrinth access won’t improve the situation.

Who knows what problems adventurers with reduced income might cause.

“I have somewhere to stop by first. Rika-nim, will you head home first?”

“Then I’ll warm up a bit here before heading back.”

“Yep. See you later.”

Rika seemed ready to start training today.

I plan to stop by Rafnel’s atelier.

I haven’t yet mentioned the side effects of the Spiritualization Ring.

I need to tell her about the clothes falling off issue and the color ghosts that appeared as side effects.

“Oh? Shion. I was waiting for you. You weren’t planning to run off with the ring… were you?”

“Run off with it? No, I got jailed because of this ring.”

“Huh? What do you mean? Don’t tell me… you tried to rob a bank? You didn’t go into a women’s bath, did you? Or just entered anywhere randomly…”

“No! No, this thing has way too many problems.”

“Problems?”

“Yes. I knew it didn’t make you fully invisible. But when you use this ring, all your clothes fall off.”

“Huh? Your clothes fell off?”

“Yes. It only spiritualizes the body, so all the clothes just slid right off. Thanks to that, while testing it, people suddenly swarmed in and I got arrested for public indecency. They called me a naked ghost and started throwing stones – it was chaos.”

Truthfully, it was my fault for testing it in an open area where people could show up anytime.

But I blamed it all on the ring to confront Rafnel.

This was all ultimately a ploy to buy the Spiritualization Ring cheaper.

If I complain about defects, Rafnel would ramble about how her items couldn’t possibly have flaws and eventually lower the price.

With just a few modifications to its shortcomings, the Spiritualization Ring would be an insanely overpowered item I must acquire, but at full price it would surely cost more than a slave.

“Ehh? No, that can’t be. Let me see it.”

When I handed over the Spiritualization Ring, Rafnel removed the gemstone, put on a magnifying glass, and examined the runes inscribed on it.

“Oh dear. There was a mistake.”

“It’s defective, right?”

“I see… It was set to only spiritualize the body.”

“I almost did jail time for public indecency and disturbing morals while testing this ring. Rafnel-nim. How will you compensate me for my troubles?”

“Eek.. that..”

“This all happened because you asked me to test the Spiritualization Ring.”

“Eeek…”

“Compensate me.”

“Grr…”

Rafnel tightly closed her eyes.

“I’ll… compensate you, so stop glaring at me like that.”

“Oho. What compensation will you give?”

Maybe some free potions would be nice.

“Though it’s not much… me… if that’s alright…”

“Huh?”

What’s this sudden nonsense?

Why are you subtly pushing out your chest?

What the hell are you doing?!

Using compensation as an excuse to subtly build up to proposing to me?

“Uh, Rafnel-nim.”

“Y-yes…?”

“What do you mean ‘if me is alright’? Who would take a thousand-year-old virgin elf! How is that compensation?!”

“Gahk…!!!”

I smacked the chest she was presenting.

Rafnel-nim startled and fell backward.

“Guh. I mustered my courage for that.”

“Put that courage back where it came from. Lately too many people have been weirdly courting me, so I’m a bit tired.”

“Tch.. why can’t I be happy.”

“Isn’t that the sorrow of long-lived species?”

“Damn it. I want to get married too.”

“Wait, why haven’t you married yet in the first place?”

Frankly speaking, she’s incredibly beautiful, intelligent, and despite being an elf, has an amazing figure.

Seriously, why is she still single?

How can a thousand-year-old beautiful virgin elf exist in this world?

“Well.. no suitable partners. In my youth, I devoted all my time to research… Now when I want to marry, there aren’t any proper elves left.”

True, elves themselves are rare.

Almost an endangered species.

They rarely leave their territories.

But surely you could find some if you looked?

“There are still many elves under the World Tree in the Great Forest, right?”

“They’re… uncivilized.”

“Huh?”

“What’s the difference between forest elves and barbarians?”

“Uh… is that so? I don’t know much about elves.”

“I… I don’t have the courage to return to vegetarianism. Give up urban convenience for forest life? That’s… impossible.”

“Ah.”

Forced veganism would be tough.

“And when I looked for civilized elves… they were all taken. Or had personality flaws. Shion, you know what?”

“What?”

“Elves over 300 are mostly stubborn old farts.”

“….”

“They have fixed ideas. A certain mindset, you could say. That particular disgusting obstinacy or prejudice… they have it. So I’m not attracted to fellow elves. Stuffy old codgers. And if I try dating younger elves… they all treat me as a grandma…!!! Barely hundred-year-old elves… they’re practically babies.”

“Wow… What about humans over 100? Same age but treated as babies?”

“Humans are different! Humans at 100 are properly elderly. You can’t calculate the same way for the same time. Elven age must be calculated in elven terms.”

“Complicated.”

I won’t even live to 100 anyway, so I just think Rafnel is old and leave it at that.

But from the perspective of another elf who could live as long as Rafnel, she probably seems like a grandmother.

How to put it…

Saying 1000 years is too abstract, but saying 67 suddenly feels much more grandmotherly.

From an elf’s perspective, Rafnel really is a grandmother.

“Marry me… I don’t want to die a virgin…”

“No! Why are you doing this to me?!”

“Waaah. Do it! You don’t see me as a grandma, right?!”

“Y-you crazy…!!!”

Rafnel wept and begged to get married.

I had to listen to her lamentations for a while.

Seems like Rafnel is currently on her period.

The periodic “marry me” event had begun.