.｡.:✧ Chapter 57 ✧:.｡.

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Translated By Arcane Translations
Translator: FusionX
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Ares walked dejectedly, feeling an odd sense of déjà vu.

Usually surrounded by many students at the academy, he had thought the holidays would feel a bit lonely. However, being alone didn’t feel much different from those times.

Unsure whether to take this positively or negatively, Ares, upon returning home, didn’t even stop by his house but went straight into the forest with his sword in hand.

The training dummy that still stood there was a reminder of the days when he, Daniel, and Rin would swing their wooden swords together.

“I always won against him here.”

Now, he had to admit that he was weaker than before. Not only had he been defeated by Daniel, but he had also suffered a humiliating defeat at the hands of Elise in the practical exam.

The peculiar emotion he saw in Elise’s expression during that time was something he had never felt before.

“Genzaaaang!”

Ares swung his sword fiercely, and the old training dummy couldn’t withstand his power, breaking apart.

The power of Helios surged from his knuckles. Although he hadn’t used it during the duel, he was confident that it could make him stronger.

As Ares was about to start over with his efforts,

“Ares?”

“You’re here! I’m so glad to see you!”

“Wow, you’ve gotten even more handsome.”

While the academy had its social circles, his hometown had its own. Most of the village girls, though commoners, harbored their first love for Ares due to his uncommonly handsome looks.

As Ares had gone to the academy, those feelings had diluted over time, but seeing him return more dashing reignited their affections.

Ares, momentarily glancing at his sword, smiled slyly, put it down, and approached the girls.

“It’s been a while, everyone.”

This was life.

He felt as if he was being compensated for the humiliations at the academy.

At 18, Ares mingled among the girls with a sly intent, returning to the village.

Though the academy girls were incomparable, to Ares, more was always better—a principle he lived by.

During their conversation,

A woman with a great sword on her back entered the village, wearing a uniform similar to Ares’s but in a slightly different color—a uniform he hadn’t seen before, as all the fifth-year students were currently on field training and were expected back after the holidays. Why she had returned to the village right at the start of the holidays was curious.

“Hey, long time no see, kiddos?”

“Um, sister…”

“You’re back already?”

“Yep.”

The country girls, intimidated by the newcomer’s presence, slowly backed away, leaving Ares alone with her.

“Skinny, how have you been?”

“…Yes.”

Everyone has their traumas, memories they wish they could forget.

For Ares, this woman was his trauma incarnate.

Whether it was getting too heated in a duel with Daniel or the time he had to put down a sick dog at Daniel’s insistence, she was always the one to sort things out in the end.

Diana McLean, Daniel’s older sister and a fifth-year graduate of Aios Academy.

“Where’s Daniel, by the way?”

Seeing her dismount, Ares knew this holiday wouldn’t be easy.

***

“Yawn.”

Stretching and yawning, he stepped off the carriage.

A week into the holiday, all he had done was sleep or daydream in the carriage.

Though he occasionally joined Hayun for sword practice during the horse’s breaks, it was hardly enough for someone accustomed to constant activity.

“The first day was fine.”

“Right…”

Rin and Hayun, too, seemed worn out, stretching their stiff bodies and complaining.

Crossing the border had been anticipated to be troublesome, but showing their Aios Academy student IDs simplified the process more than expected.

After paying a little extra, they thanked the coachman who had brought them to the entrance of what could be called the Elves’ forest. After a quick meal, they ventured inside.

“This forest is nauseating.”

Compared to the Demon Realm Forest, this was practically pristine.

The Elves took their stewardship of the forest seriously, making the word “nature” palpably significant.

“Wow, it’s amazing.”

“But are we allowed to just walk in here?”

While Rin looked around in awe and Hayun voiced his concerns, he remained confident.

“We have a recommendation letter, and I was invited by Eris. There’s nothing to fear.”

Normally, Hayun’s reaction would be considered typical, given the Elves’ hostility towards other races, with most humans believing that entering their forest would result in immediate attack.

Whiz.

“Damn it.”

Having deflected an arrow that was truly aimed at me, I looked incredulously at the male elf standing in the distance.

Rin and Hayun seemed not to notice, but I locked eyes precisely with him.

“Just wait, I’ve found our guide.”

And be aware, you’re in for a rough time.

The elf, initially startled upon making eye contact, quickly turned and started to flee, with me in hot pursuit.

Chasing an elf through the forest is said to be as futile as chasing the clouds.

It felt like I was running uphill while my opponent was going downhill.

They say if elves really put their minds to it, they cannot be caught.

“But there’s always someone flying above those who run.”

I was the Sherpa who roamed the Demon Forest as if it were my own home.

Using the terrain to my advantage and following the shortest route envisioned in my mind, I quickly caught sight of the elf’s back.

He panicked, landing awkwardly and stumbling.

A single mistake like that, and the distance between us closed exponentially.

Finally, when I grabbed the nape of his neck,

Deadly intents burst from all around.

Numerous elves aiming their arrows at me.

They didn’t seem too impressive, maybe more like apprentices?

Regardless, I too smiled as I pressed a knife to the throat of the elf I had grabbed by the scruff.

“I knew you were conservative, but I didn’t expect it to be this bad.”

“Stranger, why have you intruded upon our forest?”

To the deep male voice, I pulled out a leaf imbued with a unique fragrance due to magical treatment from my pocket and waved it around.

“It’s a guest, you bastards.”

Proof given by Eris, the Guardian of Yggdrasil.

Having been told that this would allow me entry into Yggdrasil without any issues, I expected them to lower their bows, but,

“I’m so sorry!”

The elves immediately descended from the trees and knelt on one knee.

“……Eh?”

Though I was puzzled by their overly dramatic reaction, it seemed the tangled situation was smoothly resolving.

***

“So, you almost got hit by an arrow?”

“Yeah.”

Inside Yggdrasil, despite the stern looks from the elves, we could act confidently thanks to being with Eris.

She looked incredulously at the robust physique of the vigilante chief following us closely.

“Is this how you train your vigilantes these days? To shoot arrows at anyone who enters the forest?”

“No, that’s not the case. It seems the newcomers got excited and made a mistake…”

“A mistake? You shot an arrow with the intent to kill, and you call that a mistake? What if Daniel hadn’t reacted and got hit? Bleeding out in the middle of the forest, unable to receive treatment, leading to the worst scenario? Would you still dismiss it as a mistake?”

“……I have no excuse.”

“Of course, you don’t. Make sure you understand, vigilante chief. Your member didn’t just almost kill a human; they harmed a guest of the Guardian of Yggdrasil.”

“……”

“At the very least, have them come and formally kneel and apologize. Now, leave.”

Disgusted, Eris watched as the vigilante chief, twice her size, shriveled up and scurried away.

I couldn’t help but wonder if she always had such charisma, but given her position, it made sense.

“I’m really sorry, it was my mistake.”

“It’s not your fault, Eris. The rookie was at fault.”

“We must receive an apology.”

Rin and Hayun stated firmly.

As kind as they are, they weren’t about to let a reckless arrow shooter off the hook.

“Then, I’d like to introduce you to Yggdrasil, but… shall we eat first?”

After walking through the forest for a while, we were all hungry and nodded, heading to the dining area together.

Eris led us to a unique outdoor dining area with benches outside and a kitchen inside a giant hollowed-out tree.

Knowing that elves primarily eat vegetables and their dishes aren’t heavily seasoned, I naturally wasn’t keen on it.

‘Now it begins.’

There was one reason I came here, so I immediately took out ingredients from my bag.

“I’d like to treat you, let me borrow the kitchen for a bit.”

“Excuse me?”

“Daniel?”

“Embarrassing.”

The ladies looked at me perplexed, but I had already left my shame behind upon entering the elves’ forest.

I’m going all out to charm her!

The chef eyed me as if sizing me up, then gestured with his chin as if to say, “Let’s see what you’ve got.”

It seemed I had challenged the pride of an elf chef.

“Can Daniel cook?”

“He can manage on his own, but I’ve never seen him cook for someone else.”

“I’m worried.”

I could feel the three of them murmuring and sneaking glances at me, but I continued with the cooking meticulously.

“Here, try this.”

What I offered was a meat dish.

At first glance, it looked like nothing special.

But seeing the contents, the three of them smiled awkwardly, yet I confidently pushed the plate forward.

Rin and Hayun tentatively took a bite with their forks and then made a complex expression.

“This is…”

“It’s a bit salty, isn’t it?”

Their faces slightly grimacing, but our elf reacted differently.

“It’s delicious!”

Eris couldn’t help but smile.

“It’s so good! What is this? Are you a chef, Daniel? This is the best dish I’ve ever tasted!”

“Hehe.”

I brushed my nose with a finger and smiled.

‘I’ve never been much interested in food.’

‘Really? You made it just for me? Well, I’ll try it.’

‘Sherpa? What is this? It’s delicious! Too delicious! Please make this menu from now on!’

‘Sherpa, I’ll buy some meat from outside, can you cook this for me?’

The exact same response when I first made this in the Demon Forest.

She became embarrassed, twisting her body and pestering me to make this at every meal opportunity.

‘My plan is to captivate her taste buds first.’

My plan was just beginning.

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