Chapter 142

〈 Episode 142 〉An Unwelcome Visit

Having crossed the central continent where the Orcs lived, Asha finally arrived in the Elves’ territory. She carefully surveyed her surroundings, trying not to be detected. She asked Anet,

“How much further until we reach the Nest?”

“The distance isn’t that far, but we will now encounter the Elves’ resistance.”

“Can’t we just sneak in?”

Anet shook her head at Asha’s words.

“They have already deployed a large-scale Magic Detection Network centered around their residential area. They’re coming now.”

As Anet said, dozens of Elves rushed towards Asha’s group. They soon discovered Anet and shuddered.

“A command entity! Be careful of mind control!”

“I don’t think being careful will solve the problem, will it?”

“Ku-eup! Hwe…”

One Elf, caught by Anet’s gaze, stiffened like a stone and began drooling with a vacant expression. Another Elf’s eyes rolled back, and he stabbed his comrade in the stomach with a knife.

“Hwaaak!”

“Avoid her gaze! Scatter!”

The gathered Elves dispersed, dividing into groups of three as prearranged, and took their positions to surround the three of them.

“Ooh…”

Asha admired their disciplined appearance as if she were watching a spectacle. The Elves, who had been surprised by Anet, saw Asha at that sound and became enraged.

“What is that outfit! Are you kidding us!”

“Huh? Oh…”

The Elves fighting against the giant bees were constantly getting their skin torn and bleeding from even slight contact with the insects’ crude legs. Naturally, they were fully armed, wearing sturdy Light Armor, Steel Bracers on their thighs and arms, and carrying various sub-weapons.

In contrast, Asha, who didn’t need to worry about appearances and wore Bikini Armor that provided both warmth and cooling, appeared to be mocking the Elves. The Elves, who hadn’t had the luxury to pay attention to the human beside her until now, were driven mad by Asha’s exposed state, which even revealed her Womb Tattoo. They, who were fighting fierce battles with the bees every day, were furious and showered her with arrows.

“Die!”

Ppipping-!!

Each arrow, with a terrifying power that could penetrate even Steel Armor, accurately targeted human vital points such as the head and heart. However, the Elves’ attacks did not reach Asha, bouncing off with a dull sound.

“Hehe~ It’s Magic Armor~”

Asha, as well as Lucia, were blankly watching the Elves’ actions without any tension. The Elves gritted their teeth and shot dozens of arrows at Anet and Asha, but none of their attacks succeeded.

Asha had expanded her Magical Shield to cover even Anet, but even under the Elves’ fierce offensive, only a tiny amount of Mana was consumed.

‘Now, those attacks have no effect at all.’

Kwaaang!

Wizards in the rear launched giant fireballs, but even the explosions that shook the air were not enough to penetrate Asha’s shield. No matter how much the Elves attacked, it seemed that their fingers would become bloody and unable to shoot arrows faster than Asha’s Mana would be depleted.

Asha’s drastically increased Mana and the compatibility of her Bikini Armor were at a ridiculous level that enemies would not want to encounter even in their dreams.

“Ugh…”

Even as their comrades’ heads exploded right next to them, the Elf Soldiers did not lose their will to fight, but Asha’s strength, which they could not fathom, made them shudder. After pouring out all sorts of attacks for several minutes, they exchanged glances and disappeared in an instant.

“Huh? Did they leave?”

Asha blankly watched the Elves disappear like rats seeing sunlight in a warehouse.

“Kkeueuk!”

When Anet glared at one Elf, the Soldier exposed to her gaze writhed and rolled on the ground, but another comrade quickly picked her up and retreated, completely disappearing. Asha admired their actions.

“They’re really amazing.”

“Mom, what is?”

“The human Soldiers in the kingdom I used to live in were also among the elite, but they’re pathetic compared to those Elves. Are they all at that level?”

It was Anet who answered Asha’s question.

“That’s about average among armed Elves.”

“Wow… is that normal?”

“Yes, there are many combat units made up of even stronger individuals.”

“Hee…”

Asha was surprised by the Elves’ power, which was incomparable to that of humans. At the same time, she had another thought.

‘How strong have I become that those Elves can’t even scratch me?’

Asha felt that her strength, which had not been real to her, was becoming more tangible.

“Blazing Storm!”

A massive firestorm rushed towards Asha’s group. The storm of flames, amplified by twenty Elf Wizards, incinerated all the surrounding vegetation and surged towards Asha, but this time again, it failed to penetrate her Magical Shield.

“Aah~ It’s warm…”

Outside the shield, the high-temperature flames, where simply inhaling would cause the lungs to burn red, were raging, but Asha only felt a warm breeze like that of a clothes dryer, harmless after passing through the shield.

“That, that bitch!”

The Elves, who heard Asha’s words beyond the firestorm, were enraged, and the veins in their temples throbbed, but they had no way to harm Asha. In the end, they had to retreat again with tears in their eyes.

“But why are they so desperate to kill me?”

Asha could not understand the Elves’ strange hostility. Only about three days remained until they reached the bees’ Nest, but Asha could not move properly because of the Elves who attacked her all the time.

“At first, it was simply vigilance against intruders, but now it’s probably a matter of pride.”

“Is that so?”

Anet nodded at Asha’s question.

‘The Queen’s provocations also have a significant impact, but…’

Asha seemed unaware, but it was obvious to Anet, a third party, that every word she uttered occasionally shook the Elves’ composure. Anet looked at the fleeing Elves with pity.

‘It would be easier to give up… they are so stubborn. Now that destruction is imminent, begging for mercy is the only thing allowed to weaklings like you.’

As she stayed with Asha, Anet’s pride soared endlessly. She had no doubt that her Queen would lead the bees to a new revival.

Asha broke through the Elves’ resistance and crossed their territory. She didn’t exactly burn down the Elves’ cities, but just Asha going through the intact places turned the Elf kingdom into a terrible mess in terrible chaos.

But, detached from such chaos, Asha’s group was peacefully enjoying the surrounding scenery.

“It seems like there are fewer attacks these days, right?”

“Yes, that’s right, Queen. The attacks that used to come almost every two hours have now decreased to two or three times a day.”

“The sight of them struggling was quite fun, but it’s boring when they don’t come.”

“Keup…”

“Huh? What’s wrong, Anet?”

Anet shook her head and covered her mouth at Asha’s question. Anet, who had burst out laughing, could not hold back her laughter and was trembling her mouth.

“I hate them. They’re noisy, and they attack. Since they attack first anyway, can’t we just destroy them all?”

Asha shook her head at Lucia’s words.

“No one has been hurt, so there’s no need to see blood unnecessarily. It’s a sensitive situation, and I can understand why they’re reacting like that.”

“Ugh…”

Lucia, with a dissatisfied expression, fidgeted her hands, exuding killing intent, and Asha was surprised and hugged Lucia. Lucia could turn the Elves into minced meat with just the ‘jam-jam’ motion of clenching and unclenching her hands. Asha soothed the sulking Lucia.

“Come on, don’t be like that. Okay?”

Lucia, who was stressed by those who kept bothering her mother without knowing their place, suppressed her anger and stopped thinking about destroying them.

‘Honestly, I’m also annoyed, but I can’t let Lucia learn strange things…’

But even though she was restraining herself because Lucia was watching, Asha was also getting annoyed by the Elves who kept attacking relentlessly.

‘No, what are they believing in that they keep attacking like this?’