episode_0093

Before suggesting to Ian that he leave Mercy behind.

When Ian went outside for a moment, Mercy was talking alone with her father, Miseri.

“Mercy.”

“… Yes.”

“Do you remember what this father said before leaving?”

“… … .”

I can’t help but remember.

Not just before Mercy left for human society.

As a habit, Miseri used to say that to Mercy.

-Mercy. Elves are not supposed to love humans.

These were words that pierced my ears.

Occasionally, it was a drunk Mercy’s drunken behavior towards Ian.

‘Ian. Do you know? ‘Elves cannot love humans.’

It’s a little different, but Mercy often said that.

There was no answer to Ian’s question as to why.

However, his father, who was right in front of him, always explained the reason without exception.

“They abandon them too early. Like a flower in one season.”

Elves live by obsessing over one thing in order to survive a period of time that is close to eternal life.

Cooking, magic, copying, gardening, farming, etc.

Something you can dedicate your whole life to.

However, there are no humans in the target.

Of course.

Human life is too cruelly short to appease an elf’s time.

“Didn’t you say that we elves should live our whole lives remembering that pitiful withering?”

Elves have good memories.

If it’s something special, you can remember it even hundreds of years later.

In that way, elves create special memories and endure the test of time through something they are obsessed with.

But if the target is a human.

In an elf’s life, there is nothing more intense and stimulating than the short time spent with that human.

The sight of them burning their lives as if they will die tomorrow is more than enough to be an elf’s entertainment.

However, problems arise after the person dies.

Because of their good memory, elves worry about the few years they spent with humans for hundreds of years.

There were more than a few elves who became ruined and died miserably like that.

“I don’t know anything else, but I hoped you wouldn’t do that… . At least you… .”

Miseri couldn’t raise her head, so she placed her clasped hands on her forehead.

Mercy looked at her father pitifully.

Why elves shouldn’t love humans.

There was someone who experienced firsthand how long an elf would suffer if he loved a human.

Still, he wanted to live because he was a king.

I had to live.

My heart goes out to my wife.

After his wife died, it was passed on to his daughter.

Mercy was too free-spirited a daughter to follow her father’s words directly.

Miseri’s cage was too small for her.

“Mercy… . I said it was 2 years. It’s not too late.”

“… … .”

“Stay here… .”

Miseri raised her head.

It was an expression that was too pathetic and dangerously shaken for a person called a father to make.

Mercy didn’t tell him what happened in human society.

However, just because you don’t say something doesn’t mean you can’t know.

Mercy was not the only elf rescued by Ian at that time.

Some of the elves returned to this forest and told Miseri about what happened there.

Mercy told Ian a lie.

‘I didn’t want him to feel responsible, but… . I’m afraid that people will find out my true feelings, so I’m afraid it’s my true nature… .’

It was said that the elves who escaped from the Liberal Alliance would survive on their own, but they would probably all return to this forest.

In the past, like all the elves who survived with Mercy thanks to Ian.

An elf who has experienced something like that cannot endure being among humans.

Unless it’s like you.

So, it was obvious why Mercy still remained in human society even after what had happened.

“I’m saying this all for you… .”

Mercy slowly caught her breath.

In the past, I just ignored my father’s words, but these days, it’s hard to do that.

What happens when an elf loves a human?

These days, I have been imagining closely what kind of future awaits me.

This is especially true after seeing Katy, who got to know the Mine couple.

‘Isn’t it too late…? .’

Ian’s colleagues are formed entirely out of necessity.

Fruit warriors to kill the devil king.

Katy can not only protect Ian from various dangers, but also perform tasks that Ian finds difficult to do.

And even the recently joined Galatea and Marlion can have the function of making Kati grow stronger.

On the other hand, Mercy has nothing.

What she can do, Ian and even Marlion can do.

Sending letters easily and finding a campsite isn’t that difficult.

‘From now on, I will only become more and more of a hindrance to Ian… .’

There is no way that the day when Ian almost died because of her will not be repeated.

Mercy has made up her mind.

From the beginning, I came prepared to do this.

Because of the dungeon, the curse has become surprisingly easy to solve, but there is still something left.

“Sure.”

“Really…? ?”

Instead of “. There is a condition.”

Ian spoke as if he was hoping for help from a few elves.

Most elves remaining in the forest are indifferent to human society.

Those who are interested have already left.

If you come back after leaving, it will be difficult to take you back because you will be in hiding.

So Ian has no choice but to ask his father, Miseri, the king of the elves.

However, there is no way he would accept Ian’s request as he is extremely reluctant to contact human society.

‘It will be different if I ask.’

That would only be possible if there was an elf who wanted it.

At least, it would be more likely than Ian stepping forward.

“Instead, some elves that Ian wanted… .”

Mercy first proposed a deal in exchange for her remaining.

*

“This means that I will refuse, regardless of Mercy’s wishes.”

Mercy responded to Ian’s words.

“… It’s something I decided.”

Mercy turned her head and looked directly at Ian.

“I decided because I wanted to stay here.”

“… … .”

Ian rubbed the corners of his eyebrows and looked at Mercy and Miseri alternately and said.

“I will talk to you for a moment.”

“If you want to do it, do it here where I can see.”

Miseri said firmly.

Ian let go of Mercy’s wrist and bowed politely towards Miseri.

“Sorry. It will only take a moment, so please give me time to talk to Mercy.”

Ian also understands Miseri’s feelings.

I don’t know if he knows what Mercy experienced outside.

However, it seems clear that elves are curious about human society but are extremely wary of it.

As a father, I would hope not to get entangled with humans.

Still, Ian felt he needed to talk to Mercy alone.

He even thought he could ask for that much.

“Huh… .”

Miseri’s feelings became more complicated as she saw this man asking to be allowed to talk alone with her daughter.

However, I couldn’t say no when he was so polite.

Miseri swallowed her saliva once and answered with difficulty.

“… Like that.”

In the end, I had no choice but to give Ian time.

Mercy followed Ian, who left first, as if he were a criminal.

*

The place Ian and Mercy went to was the top of the wooden stairs.

It was high enough to overlook the entire forest landscape.

Looking down from above, it seemed like a green sea.

There, Ian realized that this elven forest was an island off the continent.

Beyond the green sea, there was a real sea with rippling blue waves.

With my enhanced vision, I could see the edge of the continent in the distance.

Aside from accepting that information, he was speechless in front of Mercy.

Silence continued between the two standing face to face.

Mercy, unable to bear it, spoke first.

“Why aren’t you saying anything… .”

“Even though I brought him out. I think it’s right that you should speak first.”

“… What did you mean?”

“What did you talk about when I wasn’t there?”

“I said I would stay first.”

“Hmm.”

He crossed his arms and made direct eye contact, as if trying to see Mercy’s sincerity.

However, unlike Carty, Mercy’s true intentions were difficult to read.

“… okay. If that’s what you really mean, I can respect it.”

Mercy averted her gaze at that bland admission.

It was selfish.

Deep down, I was hoping that you would at least hold onto my words.

“But. It’s a bit sudden.”

Mercy knows what to do here.

If you reveal your true feelings, Ian will definitely come up with a different method.

Mercy will convince you that it’s okay if you don’t stay here.

And maybe, that’s really true.

I hated that.

So in the end, it means that even the deal that Mercy got with the option to stay here is not of much value to Ian.

So you have to lie.

There’s no reason.

When I returned to my hometown, I wanted to stay here.

If that doesn’t work, you should at least say that you hate Ian.

I have to say something, even if it’s something I don’t want to say, that it’s uncomfortable to hang out with Ian.

“I… .”

I lifted my lowered gaze, opened my mouth, and faced Ian.

I couldn’t bear to lie like that.

Especially since he had to listen to such harsh words about Sylvia’s play, he couldn’t possibly do something similar to himself.

Although it’s for Ian’s sake.

In the end, I know that it’s all for my own good.

It was a very selfish and one-sided breakup.

“I… I wanted to help you.”

So, Mercy couldn’t lie this time.

“Because this is the only thing I can do… .”

Even though I tried to smile by lifting the corners of my mouth, my eyes became slightly watery.

“I feel like I am becoming more and more unnecessary to you… .”

“Ha… ”

“I come to you again… . I’m afraid it will only cause damage… .”

Mercy couldn’t finish her sentence and kept her mouth shut.

Ian looked at her with her head down, brushed her bangs, took out a sugar bar, and asked.

“… Mercy.”

She answered with a slight nod of her head.

“Do you remember what I heard when I was kicked out?”

Nod.

“You said there was no need for me. They are.”

Oh, oh, oh, oh, oh.

Ian chewed the sugar bar a few times and then spoke.

“How about you? If you don’t need me, will you too?”

Doridori.

Mercy bowed and shook her head vigorously.

“Then. Do you think I’m going to kick you out just because I don’t need you? Like them?”

Mercy suddenly raised her head at those words.

Ian calmly faced her with a half-missing piece of sugar in his mouth.

“Oh, no… . I didn’t mean it that way… .”

Ian chuckled as he saw her nervously denying it.

“Yes, I admit it. All the people I take with me are selected based on my needs.”

Ian said, leaning on the railing.

“Still, even if I no longer need those people, I have no intention of turning them away once I have them in.”

“Ian… .”

“And man. I said I could afford to feed you, right?”

Once at the Abbey of Agnes.

When Mercy complained that she had nothing to do, Ian said that.

“And again, I’m the manager of this party, not you. It’s a scouting mission and a portal, and it’s all up to me to decide and rely on my capabilities to save it. It’s not a big deal if you can’t get it here.”

That was true.

It may not be as good as the elves, but Ian knows some pretty good cavalry that can be used as scouts.

Also, even if he doesn’t take the elf, Iris will eventually invent the warp portal.

In any case, what I wanted here was Lucia’s performance.

As for the rest, it was either good or bad, that was it.

“It’s not like I have to get it by making you the price of a deal.”

“… … .”

“I’m asking this for the last time. Do you really want to stay here?”

Mercy lowered her head again and shook it.

“That’s enough. Negotiations broke down. Because I’ll just get it and leave.”

Ian bit down on the remaining sugar bar and swallowed it.

“Just follow along well.”

“… Yes.”

Mercy, who was wiping away her tears with both hands, asked carefully.

“Just once… Can I hug you?”

Ian smiled bitterly and nodded.

“… Yes.”

Mercy approached very slowly and hugged Ian’s waist.

Just like it always was, a long time ago, when I was suffering from the trauma of being treated by the Liberal League.

Ian couldn’t help but hug her small shoulders.

It was just pitiful.

No matter how hard she struggles, even though she is an elf princess, what Mercy can do is extremely limited.

There were many times when Ian too felt the wall of realistic incompetence that he could not overcome.

“… I’m sorry.”

“Nothing.”

“Still, please bear with my incompetence… .”

Ian laughed at those words.

“What is incompetence? Who will give Vivian, Helena and Lucia massages without you? Now Kati will be added as well.”

It was something Ian could have done, but he said it as if it was Mercy’s duty.

That immediately informed Mercy of the need.

It was mere words of comfort, and Mercy knew it, but it was a moment when such a thing was needed.

*

“There is no need for scouting or anything else anymore.”

Ian declared to Miseri.

“I will accept it in return. So, Mercy will not be left here.”

He was firm in his decision.

There wasn’t even room for negotiation.

So, this was a one-sided notice.

My daughter came back with swollen eyes, probably from crying too much, and the human man who went out with her and came back.

Miseri felt that argument itself was impossible.

More than anything else, I noticed that Mercy’s heart was also hardened.

“… Will you let me talk to my daughter?”

Ian was wary of whether he might threaten him with different conditions, but it seemed unlikely.

His request was even pathetic.

“Please.”

“… You don’t have to ask me to talk to your daughter.”

“Okay… . The elf who is knowledgeable about curses is located right below, so you can meet him. We don’t know how long it will take to get to Haeju, so we will provide you with as much space as you need.”

“Thank you.”

Ian briefly said hello and left.

Only Mercy and Miseri remained in the cozy space.

“Daughter… .”

Miseri looked at her.

I saw my wife inside her.

Also, I saw a human woman who had to be buried a long time ago.

Young humans often seek mental and physical stability by becoming attached to something other than their parents.

A typical example would be something like a doll.

And in order for the young human to grow, he or she must become independent from the object of his or her attachment.

When Miseri heard that story, she felt that elves were living their whole lives like young humans.

I also felt that it was time to let go of my obsession with my daughter.

Mercy spoke before Miseri.

“Ian is by my side or not, but I will live my life longing for him. That child’s position has become too big to back down.”

Miseri quietly listened to the story.

“If you’re going to do that, if you’re going to regret it anyway… . Just staying by my side… You will be happier.”

“… … .”

I felt a sense of déjà vu.

That was Miseri’s own answer to her ancestors’ words not to love humans.

In the end, your daughter will walk the same path as you.

It was so pitiful and pitiful.

There was only one thing to say to her.

“… Be happy.”

“Yes. I will.”

Mercy smiled brightly even as she shed tears.

*

Lucia’s disassembly work proceeded immediately.

The elves in charge said it would take about half a day, so Ian and his group decided to stay for one day.

Mercy, who returned, could not make eye contact with Katy.

“… … .”

Kati was able to quickly understand the meaning.

And Vivian, who watched the awkwardness between the two from afar.

Late at night when everyone else is asleep.

Ian stayed by Lucia’s side along with the elf shamans in case of any unexpected situation.

A guest came to him.

“Human! Please take us with you!”

“… Yes?”

“There are still so many things we don’t know! I think you should learn! So, please!”

Several elves volunteered to be workers.

*

-dump… .

The crutches fell.

The body that was leaning against it also fell.

The hand that was holding it also fell off the arm and rolled on the floor.

Dry sand rose.

“Ah… .”

Beatrice fell and moaned a beat later.

She lost the leg below her right thigh and below her right elbow and was adjusting to a prosthetic arm and crutches.

However, it was not easy to use crutches with a prosthetic arm that could not be moved and was only fixed to the elbow.

She fell and struggled, unable to even get up.

The eyes were unfocused.

It looks like a broken doll.

Aria, who was worse off, sneakily approached her and helped her.

“… … .”

The two didn’t say anything.

Kylie, who only lost her right arm, was in a much better situation than Beatrice.

Sylvia looked at them with mixed eyes, then glared at Penny, who was walking behind her.

The sleeves of her armless dress fluttered in the wind.

‘If it weren’t for that, it would have been better… .’

No one person was fully responsible.

Still, there was a need for an offering to blame.

Sylvia soon shook off her selfish feelings.

‘ha… . What’s the use of it all? At least I would have done well… .’

Guided by the military police, they headed to the court.

This is the place where the trial of the first warrior party will be held.

The tall and spacious court building even felt solemn.

Because access to the area was restricted, there were not many onlookers.

However, there were many people who came to watch this trial at least a little bit.

This is because I could feel the seething crowd from afar.

When the trial begins, spectators will flock in.

‘I want to see Ian…’ .’

If he were by my side, I would feel a little more at ease.

Sylvia habitually thought of him and climbed the stairs.

It was the day of the first warrior party’s trial.