novelThe Hero's Attribute is…
| ← Ch.142 | Ch.144 → |
At the behest of the Elf King, the spirits defending the Elfheim Palace were friendly to me but didn't welcome other uninvited guests. The spirits buried the trespassing elves in the ground. The reason they let them breathe without burying their head was probably that they found it more fun to do it that way.
After all, the spirits were quite moody.
"It's none of my business whether you come out or not, so tell me why you broke into the palace like a stray cat. Don't tell me, is it because of the Relics of Chaos again?"
"How do you...?! Ugh?!"
"Where is it?"
"D-Don't make me talk... I'm at my limit..."
Thief E's face turned blue. I had been patient up until now, but it seemed that the tension was relieved by the vain hope of 'I'm alive now!' after meeting me. Once loosened, the reins couldn't be tightened again.
"Answer the question. Then I'll get you out."
"F-Firstly..."
"If you don't want to, don't."
"You devil...! Huhuh-?! Come on! Hurry, ask the question!"
I was able to get all the information I needed. The location of her home in the Southern Continent was still unknown, but I could tell why she had infiltrated the royal palace. As expected, it was because of a Relic of Chaos. They were quite extraordinary because they were objects of memories that contained the powers of the First Hero. Some of them must have been classified as treasures.
It seemed like a good idea to rob the treasure trove of each country instead of looking for them while depending on luck. Anyway, as a righteous warrior, I took Thief E out of the ground as promised. She spoke with her thighs curled up.
"If you peep on me, I will curse you for the rest of your life...!"
"Even if you ask me to, I won't look."
Thief E rushed to the corner of the beautifully decorated garden and returned sooner than expected with a face like one who owns the world.
"I thought I was going to die."
"You didn't run away?"
I thought that Theif E would just run away. Much to my surprise, she came back.
"It's because I can't break through the garden, let alone the palace, by myself. I can't avoid all the spirits with my stealth skills."
"So you want to hitchhike with me?"
"Please!"
Thief E bowed her head politely, and she then explained."If the palace falls to the Demons, I will not be able to collect the Relics. It has been difficult before, but I cannot let the Relics fall into the hands of Demons who are not of our kind."
"I see."
I didn't care as long as I could return to Earth. I was even willing to trade with the Demons. Therefore, the idea of using the Relics of Chaos to move through dimensions was interesting. If it was difficult to graduate from here normally, and I was even thinking of escaping by force.
The Relics of Chaos. I was not interested in the memories of the First Hero that dwell in it, but there may be some helpful information.
However, I didn't go looking for it right away. My purpose was to meet the First Spirit; I mustn't forget my priorities. Also...
"Thief E. Come with me."
"Isn't this a sewer?"
"Don't ask. Follow me."
"Then why are you calling me so naturally? This must be our first time meeting today."
Thief E, with her forehead wrinkled, asked in an affronted tone. As I was walking in front, I answered.
"You may not remember me, but I know everything from your secrets to your name."
"You know my name?! No way...I have never told anyone my real name except for my family."
"Your name is...hmm? Wait."
Miss Trainee Teacher. What was Thief E's real name?
?Absurd: I didn't know you didn't know her name. The elf girl's name is Ileana unless it is an alias.
Thanks! I think that was her name!
"Ileana."
"Huh?!"
"I was promised to be your husband even before you were born. We're already family! You should thank me for accepting you with a humble heart."
"I'm not that unattractive!"
"Aren't they fake?"
"H-How did you know that...!"
I was anxious to try without relying on my skill, but Thief E seemed to have been deceived. She muttered with a look of despair.
"Did my mother want to marry me to such an inconsiderate human male?"
"I call you Thief E because any man other than me can trick you if he knows your real name."
"...On second thought, you seem like a caring man. I didn't even know it was a name that had been considered that much. I'm sorry."
It seemed to be going just fine. Thief E glanced at me and turned her head in surprise as our eyes met. It seemed there was more meaning in her real name than I expected. Looking back, Thief E in the 9th playthrough was also condescending as she told me her name. But I didn't expect her to trust me so easily. It would never happen, but I should use her name again if I ever get to the 11th playthrough.
We moved down into the sewer. The maze and traps were easily skipped because I had been through it the last time.
"That..."
At some point, Thief E, who had become less talkative, suddenly pulled my collar and hesitated.
"What?"
"I don't know what to call you. An unexpected marriage is suddenly in front of my eyes, and I don't have my head on straight."
"Call me Hero."
"Hero?"
"Haven't I told you yet? I am a Hero."
"Indeed...I understand now. There must have been a reason why my mother, who values our lineage and tradition, chose a human as her son-in-law. If so, do you also have the Holy Sword?"
I summoned the Holy Sword Nucleon.
"Tsk, tsk. You believe me now, only since I showed it?"
"I'm sorry if you misunderstood. It's not that I don't believe you are a Hero. I just wanted to see the Holy Sword. This is just amazing. It seems to have stronger divine energy than the Holy Sword stored in the main house. Its properties are also quite different..."
Thief E was amazed. I secretly directed the conversation.
"Are you still living there?"
"Yes. Few places in the world are as safe as there, but my mother is also too mean. She decided to marry her daughter while keeping it a secret from her. Oops! I don't mean that as a complaint, so I hope you don't misunderstand. I'm very grateful that you have freed me from that time of terrible torment."
If you appreciate it, just tell me the location of the house! It wasn't easy to figure it out. However, I was not a 33-year old veteran who would give up easily. I was well aware of the living environment of elves who beautified their lives like primitive people with poor welfare with the intention to harmonize with nature.
"The scenery is very nice there. Surrounded by large trees, it feels cozy."
"Hmm? I agree that the palm trees are big, but..."
I got new information. Palm Trees. The Southern Continent had a different ecosystem in the northern and southern regions. The northern part was so hot that humans couldn't survive, and it grew cooler as you went further to the south. If there were palm trees around the house, the chances were high in the northern area.
There were many uninhabited lands due to the infernal environment, but it was still possible to farm and live in the rivers and oases. However, the scope was still wide. Not only did I not know all of the rivers and oases in the northern part of the Southern Continent, but if the elves lived in hiding, the location was likely very secret.
"Really? That's too bad. Was the house built by logging?"
"I don't know about that."
"It's still a wasteland with no mountains around, still even for a few trees to be cut down..."
"Not necessarily. On a day when the sandstorms stop blowing, the haven of the Fire Dragon is dimly visible."
A specific proper noun had emerged. The Fire Dragon's haven. It was a dormant volcano where that very unfortunate dragon lived. Although it was old, it was a red-winged lizard that I couldn't mess with because of his deteriorating mental age. This was usually the case with dragons that humans called great titles such as Sacred Dragon, Spirit Dragon, Great Dragon, or Noble Dragon.
It was like leaving a nuclear missile switch to a child. I didn't think highly of evil and good dragons for a reason.
"The constellation that looks like a seat was very beautiful."
"Seat?"
"I'm talking about the chair."
"Ah! I know that constellation!"
I kept narrowing it down that way. And when I had some outline...
"We're almost there."
Flutter-
Eventually, we were able to reach our destination.
"How can a non-elf human come here...?"
Elf B, who had been living here since the beginning of the Elfheim Kingdom, asked me with a wary look. The stats were the same as in the 8th playthrough.
? Race: Grand Elf
? Level: 999+
? Job: Guardian (Protection → Damage↓)
? Skills: Spirit (Z) Blessing (MAX) Hypnosis (MAX) Rest (MAX) Agility (SS)...
? Status: Guarding, Thawing
In addition to this, her attempt to hypnotize me was the same. I didn't have any mental defense skills at the moment. However, the racial characteristics served to prevent the MAX level of hypnosis. Should I say the energy of the universe was helping me? In the 8th playthrough, my kiss was so intense that Elf B couldn't stand it. And so, this time, I decided to use it in moderation.
"Hump-?!"
"Slurp!"
I drank her saliva and experience points all the way. It was Elf B, who was struggling to escape from the strong forearms of the Hero wrapped around her waist, but as soon as I gently touched her long ears, the symbol of royalty, she straightened her back like a rail.
There was nothing difficult after that. Elf B, who had been ignoring the principles of yin and yang for a very long time, burned fiercely like dry firewood. No, like firewood doused in gasoline. There were just no embers left! She, who had been holding back her lust for the sake of being the wife of the third Great Elf King, clung to me, pretending to be defeated.
As a result.
Me: Level 1 → Level 1545
Elf B: Level 999 → Level 1
Elf B, her experience burned out, drooped in my arms. However, her eyes, drenched like cotton, were still not exhausted. They burned with a longing for something deeper. However, we weren't alone here.
"Thief E. Take her with you."
I handed over the completely neutralized Elf B to Thief E. She caught Elf B, dressed unconventionally with piercings and accessories, with a reluctant expression.
"How many hidden wives do you have?"
"Haha! Hidden wives, huh? If my mother knows, she's going to hit me in the head with a tennis racket! We met for the first time today. I was only going to eat her experience, but this lewd elf rushed in first, huh?"
"But you touched her sensitive ears?"
"I just accidentally touched it while looking for something to hold on to instead of between the 6th and 7th cervical vertebrae."
"Cervical vertebrae?"
"How ignorant. I'm talking about the neck bones."
I paid a lot of attention not to repeat the mistakes in the 8th Round.
"Hmm...I see."
Thief E, who had a sharp gaze like a wife who was suspicious of her husband's staying out late, nodded her head as if to agree for the moment. If I happened to get to the 11th round, I thought I would have to change my position to uncle instead of her husband. I wasn't going to make it to the 11th, though!
Let's put off getting information from the living Elf B. I walked to the being tied to the altar: the First Spirit. The female spirit with the demon's chains binding her limbs looked at me with dissatisfaction.
"You've come too soon."
"Do you remember who I am?"
"Of course. Kang Han-soo. Before, you were a human being blessed by nature, but now you have completely become a spirit?"
"Hoo?"
Even after returning, the First Spirit seemed to remember.
"Even if the world is divided, there is only one first. If there are two first, I will no longer be the first. So I am the only one."
"But the Demon King can't remember?"
"It's not that he can't do it; he doesn't want to. He doesn't want to keep the memory of losing to a Hero who is nothing.
I see! It wasn't very important information. There was something else I wanted to know, though.
"The First Spirit. If you know I'm a spirit, you know what kind of attributes I have, right?"
"Release me first."
"Tell me first."
"I won't tell you if you don't release me. This time I won't say it even if you do that with your fingers. It's a penalty for being late."
"...Tsk, okay."
I broke the demon's chains that bound the First Spirit. Having gained her freedom, she told me as she promised.
"A Hero reincarnated as a spirit. Your attribute is 'human'."
| ← Ch. 142 | Ch. 144 → |