—————————————————————–
Translated By Arcane Translations
Translator: Xrecker
—————————————————————–
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇
After all, the animosity between the races wasn’t a recent development.
And the elves, in particular, were notorious for it, so there was no need to worry.
Looking around, I saw elves who hadn’t contracted the plague treating the injured, and the reinforcements treating the other races.
It was a battlefield in its own right.
“We caught a guy who was trying to incite the elves. What should we do with him?”
An elf ranger asked, as if he expected me to say I’d take him as a volunteer for my tests. I shook my head. I had already unlocked the Pharmacy Master achievement, so there was no need for any more experiments.
And the plague cure was almost complete.
“Just punish him according to the regulations.”
“Understood.”
“Aaaargh! Let go! Let go of me!”
An elf was dragged away, screaming. I watched him go, then turned my attention elsewhere.
Claire and Leventia were bustling around.
“The Hero’s Party seems quite busy.”
“Indeed.”
Yeonhwa, Lorelia’s adjutant, who had approached me at some point, murmured.
As the plague began to subside, other problems were emerging, and many were struggling to contain them.
What were the high-ranking elves doing in a situation like this?
“The chieftain of the Land of Plenty tribe is trying to impeach the chieftains of the Lightwing and Healing Tree tribes. Lady Lorelia is quite busy dealing with that.”
“Hmm… what will happen if they’re impeached?”
“Well, the chieftain of the Land of Plenty tribe has always disliked cooperating with other races. He might try to make the elves great again and kick the other races out of the Elven Forest.”
“Oh, so he’s going to use them and then toss them aside?”
“That’s a high possibility. That’s why… um, Evangeline is passionately speaking out against him.”
“What is she saying?”
“That they shouldn’t forget the kindness they’ve received. That there would be nothing more regrettable.”
Kindness.
They didn’t have to think of it as kindness.
Anyway, with Evangeline, a former member of the Hero’s Party, speaking out, the other chieftains weren’t taking the Land of Plenty chieftain’s appeal seriously, she said.
“…My sister?”
Rudhi, who was standing beside me, muttered under her breath. At her strange reaction, Yeonhwa and I looked at her, puzzled. Rudhi smiled faintly.
“Hehe, it’s strange, isn’t it?”
“What is?”
Rudhi shrugged and looked at the bustling people. Veronica, leading the priests and treating the injured, regardless of their race.
The dwarves, building shelters for the elven patients.
The beastmen and lizardmen, hunting for fish and meat.
And the other races who had joined them later.
Rudhi watched them, all busy helping the elves, and smiled faintly.
“The Hero… is supposed to be a courageous person, right? The one who wields the Hero’s sword and leads the people, according to God’s will.”
“That’s right.”
“But… it’s a little strange.”
Rudhi looked them over, then turned her gaze to me. Her eyes were filled with…
Respect.
And a question.
“He doesn’t have divine protection, and he’s not even a member of the Hero’s Party. Even those with such pride and self-esteem are struggling just to take care of themselves…”
“And?”
“…It’s just strange that you, the Sage, who has none of that, have become the center of everything. And…”
And.
Rudhi muttered, then shook her head.
The emotion she was feeling was clearly disappointment.
“The reason why someone who spoke so much of elven pride and honor couldn’t even keep their own word. And so…”
“……”
“The reason why they hurt such a kind person. I would never have done that.”
Rudhi looked at me and grinned. She gently tugged on the hem of my robe.
“Anyway, you’ve worked hard. If it’s alright with you, I’d like to treat you to a meal. What do you say?”
I had been subsisting on dry rations ever since I had arrived in the Elven Forest. Of course, I could have cooked for myself, but every minute was precious for the Pharmacy Master achievement.
So, I had set everything else aside and focused on my work.
“I heard you’re a good cook, Sage. My sister, Evangeline, is a terrible cook, so you’ve probably never had traditional elven cuisine.”
That was true. Not just Evangeline, but all the members of the Hero’s Party were terrible at life skills.
Claire was a little better, but in my opinion, she was still clumsy, so I had ended up doing everything myself.
“You know that all alchemists are good cooks, right?”
“That’s right. They say alchemy originated in the kitchen.”
“Hehe, yes. So, I’m a decent cook myself. I need to repay you for saving me… and also…”
She glanced at Claire and Leventia. She was looking at them, but perhaps she was really looking at Evangeline, who was somewhere else.
“…I want to atone for my sister’s mistakes, even in a small way.”
“There’s no need for that.”
“It’s for my own sake. If you’re alright with it…”
Just then, Veronica, having finished her work, started walking towards us.
She glanced at Rudhi, who was standing in front of me, then grabbed my arm.
“Hyun-woo, there’s something I need you to look at.”
“Oh? Really? What is it?”
“Come on, it’s hard to explain in words.”
“Then I should go. Rudhi, you don’t need to worry about that. And as for the meal… I’ll just take the thought.”
I had already collected all the recipes I needed for the cooking achievement. All that was left was to level up my proficiency.
Of course, there were probably some elven-exclusive buff-granting dishes, but I could get those later if I needed them. There was no need to go on a food tour now.
I waved at Rudhi and left with Veronica. She, who was standing beside me, gave me a sidelong glance, then chuckled.
“What??”
“I was just thinking that you have a lot of enemies. So? The plague seems to be subsiding. Do you have to stay here?”
“I need to see it through to the end. I’m going to stay until the last patient is cured.”
“Hmm… I was just wondering if you needed to stay in such a chaotic place. You came here to stop the plague, right?”
“That’s right.”
“You’re the type to leave as soon as you’ve accomplished your goal. But you’re staying… so I was wondering if there was something you wanted. For example…”
For example what?
As I looked at her, Veronica scratched her cheek.
“Chieftains Lorelia and Su-hwi said they would make you the greatest friend of the elves. I was wondering if you were after that.”
The greatest friend of the elves.
The highest honor the elves could bestow upon another race.
So far, only a few had received it. Claire was the only one who currently held the title.
The effects were nothing special. You could freely enter the Elven Forest and buy goods at a discounted price.
And you would be recognized by all elves, and your affinity with them would increase significantly.
In other words, it wasn’t something I needed.
“I’m not interested in that. I’ll just take what was promised in the beginning.”
“I thought so.”
Veronica grinned and gently patted me on the back.
“Then I can handle the cleanup for you. I can also receive what you’re owed and deliver it to you.”
“Oh? Really?”
“Yes. Things like post-incident arrangements require negotiation, right? That will take time. Of course, if you’re there, the negotiations will end quickly.”
That was a welcome offer.
Of course, if I participated directly, I would get more, but I had already gotten what I needed.
So, if Veronica could handle it for me… it wouldn’t be a bad deal.
I could use that time to do another quest from the Adventurer’s Guild or the Church.
“What do you get out of acting as my representative?”
“The Church could get a larger share of the goods from the Elven Forest…”
“No, what do you get? That would be the Church’s asset, not yours.”
“Hmm…”
She put her hands behind her back and took a step forward. She turned slightly, leaned down, looked up at me, and winked.
“I can boast to others that I’m trusted enough to be the Sage’s representative.”
“You’re dreaming.”
“Huh?”
“You’ve been doing that from the start.”
She was one of the few sane friends I had. Of course, I trusted her.
“O- Oh? I- Is that so? Then…”
Veronica raised a finger and poked me on the cheek.
“Just give me some of your time, whenever you’re free. There’s a place I want to go with you.”
“If it’s just that.”
That wasn’t a difficult request.
The plague treatment was almost over. I could do that much for her.
I checked my achievement list and smiled.
The day I could return home was not far off.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇
“Sage, don’t you think it’s gotten a little better?”
Veronica, who had been enforcing the quarantine and treating the plague in the Elven Forest, stopped in her tracks.
She had overheard the elven alchemists working in the infirmary and the lab.
Elves were, by nature, more beautiful and physically gifted than other races.
So, they were arrogant and looked down on others.
But they were speaking positively about another race.
Considering their nature, their tendency to not easily express their feelings, even if they had a good impression of someone, this was a serious matter.
“I don’t think I’ve ever seen a human as kind as him.”
“Yeah. And his knowledge… And he’s so calm, even when he’s dealing with those who don’t understand the situation.”
Veronica bit her lip as she listened to the alchemists’ conversation.
Yes, that was Hyun-woo.
Those who didn’t know him disliked his easygoing attitude.
But the more you got to know him, the more you saw his true worth. If you spent a long time with him, you couldn’t help but fall for him.
Like herself.
And like the members of the Hero’s Party.
‘It’s fine for now.’
As long as they were just whispering behind his back, it was fine. Hyun-woo was the type of man who didn’t care what others thought of him.
Reassured, she headed to the infirmary. She saw Hyun-woo and flinched.
Because she had found an elf who was directly approaching him.
Rudhi.
Evangeline’s younger sister, and a talented alchemist of the Lightwing tribe.
A woman who had been saved by Hyun-woo and had since become his assistant, diligently working on the plague cure.
A woman who had been by his side throughout the plague treatment, who knew his charm better than anyone.
Unlike the others who just whispered behind his back, this elf was dangerous.
So, Veronica stepped in and tried to subtly pull Hyun-woo away. Thankfully, he followed her lead and left.
And as they talked, she had even received confirmation that he trusted her.
In that moment, Veronica felt a surge of joy.
Ah.
How grateful she was.
How happy she was.
That the Sage, revered by so many, trusted her.
And as proof, he had even made her his representative.
“Then I’ll take one more thing. Just give me some of your time, whenever you’re free. There’s a place I want to go with you.”
So, would he accept her date request?
As she finished speaking, she felt a sharp gaze on her. She glanced over and saw Claire and Leventia.
And Evangeline’s younger sister, Rudhi, who was currently trying to seduce the Sage, was staring at her.
“If it’s just that.”
And yet, Hyun-woo had answered positively. Veronica smiled.
Joy flowed through her, bringing a thrilling pleasure, which soon turned into a sense of superiority, making her reveal her true feelings to them.
Hyun-woo wouldn’t notice, but anyone who had feelings for him would. So subtly, so clearly.
She raised the corner of her lips slightly.
You guys…
Can’t.
“Never.”
Because I’m the only one he trusts.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇
Tyftc