Ch.3737. Elf Sylvina

Elven Archer Silvina.

At first glance, she boasted the same pure beauty as any elf, but upon closer inspection, she was quite different from the typical elf.

She had an unusually muscular physique for an elf.

Thighs that suggested excellent blood circulation, and shoulders that were broad and defined.

While not overwhelmingly muscular, she certainly wasn’t typical for an elf. Elves, though naturally more athletic than humans, generally had slender builds.

Silvina hadn’t specifically trained for muscle. She simply had different eating habits than ordinary elves.

She was a meat enthusiast.

Elves weren’t expelled from the Great Forest just for eating meat. However, there wasn’t a single elf in the Great Forest who hunted animals for meat—at least not until Silvina appeared.

She first tasted meat at twenty years old, when poor gathering conditions forced them to take meat from a naturally deceased animal.

“Just bear with it a little, Silvina.”

The elves responsible for cooking seemed apologetic about serving such food, but Silvina couldn’t understand why they felt guilty. The texture, smell, and juices of the meat in her mouth were simply exquisite.

From that moment, Silvina became someone who couldn’t survive on plants alone.

For nearly 120 years since then, Silvina had lived as an outcast in the Great Forest.

Being an elf, she didn’t disrupt the forest ecosystem with excessive hunting, but she never passed up an opportunity to obtain meat.

With no competition, she could eat her fill. Hunting also became an enjoyable hobby once she got the hang of it.

However, despite her improved diet, she couldn’t avoid becoming an outsider in the Great Forest. This was true even though her archery skills were among the best in the forest.

Since elves weren’t particularly sociable to begin with, Silvina became isolated quickly.

Unable to get along with anyone, Silvina simply ate meat and hunted. It wasn’t an unsatisfying life, but after living that way for over 120 years, she began to feel lonely.

The first person to approach her was the Hero, Gwon Heejin.

It was a long-standing tradition for the Great Forest to dispatch an archer and scout to the Hero’s party. This tradition was meant to show solidarity against the common enemy, the Demon Lord’s army, and typically involved sending a high-ranking warrior.

But then…

“I want to work with her.”

That’s what Gwon Heejin said when he visited the Great Forest and pointed to Silvina.

“Silvina? But traditionally, we send a great warrior…”

“Traditions are important. However, I believe the warrior representing the elves should rightfully protect the World Tree. I’ve heard this elf Silvina is exceptionally skilled with a bow.”

“That’s true… but…”

“I want Silvina as my companion.”

The elders tried to insist there must be some mistake and attempted to push forward a great warrior, but the Hero Gwon Heejin firmly declined and insisted on Silvina.

This was completely different from previous Heroes who had dismissively said, “There’s an elf who eats meat?” when learning of Silvina’s existence.

‘Why me…?’

Silvina looked at the Hero with a puzzled expression, and the Hero stared intently at her toned thighs.

From that day on, Silvina’s life completely changed.

It was because she had found someone who truly understood her for the first time in her life.

Silvina was aware that the Hero was paying special attention to her physique, particularly her lower body. But that didn’t bother her. Humans were a species that always stared wide-eyed at elves whenever they encountered them in person.

And the Hero’s attraction worked to Silvina’s benefit. When they became lovers, he taught her another pleasure.

Unknown even to Silvina herself, she didn’t just love hunting and meat. This was why the Hero was so special to her.

It had been several months since she parted from her precious Hero.

‘Hero…’

Today too, Silvina stroked her broken bow while recalling the Hero’s face. Then she looked at each of her party members in turn.

“Hero, you can grow stronger, right? It’s just because you’ve been neglecting your training, but you have the Goddess’s blessing.”

The female knight Millia. Fortunately, she showed no signs of betraying the Hero.

“I should have said something earlier… why didn’t I…”

The Saintess Claire, muttering with a gloomy expression.

And the mage Yuni, sitting calmly, already prepared to leave.

Silvina knew they were starting to have second thoughts as Gwon Heejin’s situation became precarious.

But Silvina still waited loyally for the Hero with unwavering dedication. If there was one complaint during all this, it was simply that she couldn’t see the Hero.

Fortunately, that wait seemed about to end.

“…!”

The Saintess suddenly flinched and raised her head, as if sensing something. The Saintess and the Hero, both chosen by the Goddess, could sometimes detect each other’s presence like this.

“Is the Hero nearby?”

Silvina immediately got up and headed outside the village. She wouldn’t give up the pleasure of being the first to reunite with the Hero.

‘Hero… Hero!’

Silvina’s pace quickened.

It wasn’t just because of her yearning heart. The clashing sound of swords she detected in the distance with her exceptional hearing made her feel urgent.

If the Hero had encountered enemies, Silvina naturally needed to join the fight.

Of course, the Hero wouldn’t fall to ordinary monsters. Even if he was considered weak among past Heroes, he was still a Hero after all.

‘But winning or losing isn’t the issue.’

If the Hero was fighting, it was her duty to help rather than leave him alone.

Unfortunately, it seemed she wouldn’t get that chance.

“Definitely dea—ah, Silvina!”

He had already defeated the enemies too splendidly on his own.

“Hero, I’m late.”

“This is nothing.”

The enemies fallen to the Hero’s holy sword were two lizardmen. They appeared to be adult warriors from the tribe that produced the Beast King Leoneo. Judging by the throwing spears they carried, they seemed to have been hunting far from home when they encountered the Hero.

“Did they attack you?”

“No, I saw them looking around and struck first. They’re forces under the Demon Lord’s command anyway, so we should reduce their numbers when we can.”

“Yes. A wise decision. And excellent skill.”

The Hero paused briefly at these words. It was certainly awkward for a Hero to be praised for dealing with just two ordinary lizardmen.

But soon he smiled happily and spread his arms wide toward Silvina.

“Thanks for welcoming me. I was actually worried you might feel hurt.”

“Don’t say such things, Hero.”

Though the Hero’s body was spattered with lizardman fluids, Silvina embraced him without hesitation. The Hero breathed a sigh of relief.

“I think I’ve been taking things too lightly all this time… This isn’t some game.”

Though he occasionally said strange things like this, he was still precious to Silvina. If she could be with the Hero, she would gladly endure even if told to hide at the border for life. And even more than that.

The two headed toward the village where their hideout was located, holding hands tightly.

All that remained where they had been were the bodies of two lizardmen. They were all sprawled out as mere lumps of meat.

No matter how superior the lizardmen’s strength was compared to humans, ordinary adults were no match for the Hero. The moment they encountered the Hero, who already had negative feelings toward lizardmen, their fate was essentially sealed.

Their bodies began to emit the stench of decay in less than half a day.

For humans, it was merely a faint odor that would cause them to wrinkle their noses and move on.

***

“I accept the imperial command.”

This was the command I received immediately after returning to the imperial capital—after saving Neize County and even ambushing and killing a group of goblins led by a Chief Goblin (who only hunted wild animals for fear of being exterminated).

The order was to “secure” the Hero and his party.

Essentially, I was being told to become a bounty hunter.

It seemed absurd for humans to hunt down the Hero, humanity’s protector, but considering the current public opinion about the Hero, it wasn’t strange at all.

Whether to kill the Hero or not, securing him was the priority.

‘Right. This was bound to come back to me eventually. I just didn’t expect it would be in the form of organizing a pursuit team.’

This was a situation the Hero had brought upon himself. Though perhaps unintentionally, he had been leaving traces of his activities as if begging to be caught. The Saintess’s contribution was also decisive.

After accepting this duty, I immediately began discussing the formation of a pursuit team with officials working in the imperial palace.

“If all the intelligence about the Hero is accurate, he has either already reunited with his companions or is about to do so.”

“Sigh. If they band together and flee, we’ll be in trouble. Perhaps we should instruct nearby territories to mobilize soldiers.”

“That won’t work. We can’t insert large-scale forces near the Demonic Land border. If word gets out that the Empire is raising an army to capture the Hero, do you think the Demon Lord’s forces will sit idle? Even if they’re not interested in espionage, they can at least monitor their front yard.”

“But we need to consider the possibility of escape. If they cross into the Demonic Land, we’ll have no way to catch them.”

“How would he go to the Demonic Land? …And judging from what the Saintess reportedly told the Papal State, the Hero deliberately isolated his party members. I doubt they’ll cooperate smoothly like before.”

“So they’re not even united among themselves. What was the Hero thinking…”

That was something we could find out after capturing him.

I immediately drew up a plan and requested the title of “Inspector” for myself. This would give me the pretext of inspecting the defense status of border territories, rather than openly pursuing the Hero.

This way, it wouldn’t seem strange for me to lead high-ranking personnel.

‘Since I’ve somehow come to be called an insider, I shouldn’t arouse suspicion.’

Now it was time to form the inspection team (disguised as a pursuit squad).

There was obviously no time to leisurely select talent, but even hastily assembled, it would likely be an elite team. There were so many people eager to see the Hero.

Of course, there was a beautified carving of the Hero’s face on the Cordana, but that couldn’t compare to seeing him in person.