The elf village was bustling with energy.
It was a rare occurrence in the cold and dry northern region. Elves were known to minimize calorie consumption due to the scarce food supply.
There weren’t many days when they gathered together, making a lively noise.
If the elves were creating a commotion, it had to be due to two possible reasons.
First, a significant crisis threatening the village’s existence had occurred.
Or second, they were so happy that they didn’t even think about their insufficient food.
Today’s gathering fulfilled both conditions.
Just a half day’s journey away, traces of humans had been discovered. This news was enough to dampen the village’s atmosphere in an instant.
They might have to leave their beloved village.
Around a dozen residents each expressed their opinions, engaged in a sluggish discussion. Yet, no satisfactory answer emerged.
For elves, the invasion of humanity was akin to a natural disaster.
It was the kind of catastrophe that couldn’t be resisted just by worrying beforehand. All they could do was report to their headquarters and hope for support.
Of course, the chances of that support being reciprocated were slim.
Elves were always struggling with a significant power disadvantage. They didn’t have the resources to look after even one small village.
In the end, the elves of the village decided to forget the sad news.
No matter how much they pondered, the situation wouldn’t improve, and a splendid gift to replace their worries had just arrived.
At the village’s entrance, carcasses of beasts were piled up like mountains.
With their enormous bodies and fierce teeth, it was clear they were snow leopards, which ruled as the white terror of the coniferous forest.
Some elves still wore expressions of disbelief.
Snow leopards were strong and cunning.
If one could hunt even a single one, they would be recognized as a seasoned elven hunter. Pope Eyong had also become a respected hunter in the village after hunting a snow leopard.
Furthermore, they were famous for their excellent taste. Their tender, resilient muscles provided a unique texture for consumption.
And what about the warmth of their fur?
Elves who had migrated from the south were particularly vulnerable to the cold. They usually wrapped their whole bodies up tight, but with snow leopard fur, there was no need for that.
Just draping a single piece over oneself was enough to feel warm.
Thus, the value of a single snow leopard equaled that of treasure. And now, with as many as a dozen of those precious game at their disposal, the elves couldn’t hide their astonishment.
Even more shocking was that the one who had hunted them wasn’t an elf.
An outsider with black hair and golden eyes, who claimed to have lost his memory.
According to testimonies, he single-handedly took down an astonishing number of snow leopards.
Yet, the man showed no signs of excitement from his achievements.
He simply assisted the elves in quietly butchering the snow leopards. With every swing of his hand axe, parts of the snow leopard’s body were chopped off.
It was an intimidating display of strength.
The strong bones of the snow leopard couldn’t withstand it; what would happen to an elf’s frail body if caught by that axe?
It was a chilling thought. Some elves squeezed their eyes shut and trembled in fear.
They still couldn’t fully trust the unfamiliar outsider.
Fortunately, there were unique individuals like Lugate, Dolf, and Miela, who sincerely welcomed the newcomer’s contribution.
Their expressions bore a subtle pride.
Of course, the excited elves weren’t limited to just them.
Ishya, who had accompanied the man on the hunt, was more animated than ever. In front of the gathered elves, she was passionately recounting the day’s events.
“So, can you believe three snow leopards fell in an instant while I was lost in thought? I’ve never seen an elf handle an axe like that!”
“Well, that’s because he’s not an elf; he’s a human.”
Pope Eyong’s gruff remark followed, but Ishya completely ignored it. You could sense her inflated pride in her tone.
It was the pride of someone who had witnessed a historic moment.
“I think, before he lost his memory, this human must have been someone great… maybe a hero of humanity?”
“Arthur, Arthur.”
However, Ishya’s hypothesis was soon cast aside.
It was Dolf’s counterargument that caused it.
“Why would such a notable human come all the way here to save just one elf? Maybe if he were a wandering swordsman hiding his skills, that might make sense.”
“Is that so?”
Ishya scratched her cheek thoughtfully, conceding with her expression.
In truth, Ishya knew little about human society.
Not just her, but all the elves in the village knew very little. They couldn’t infer the man’s past with the limited knowledge they had.
They could only pile their shaky assumptions like a tower of stones.
Thus, the arrows of questions naturally pointed toward someone else.
The only elf here who had lived among humanity and journeyed alongside the man from before.
Abiyang.
The elf girl with gray hair still wore a dazed expression. Her blue eyes were fixated blankly on the man’s back.
Seeing this, Miela couldn’t help but burst into laughter.
“Oh my, oh my… that’s an infatuated look you have for that man!”
“N-no, I don’t!”
Abiyang jumped up from her spot, denying Miela’s words.
Her voice came out in a choked, small tone.
“Who would… be enamored with a violent, inferior human like him!”
“Violent?”
Lugate tilted his head, throwing the question back.
Realizing her slip, Abiyang quickly sealed her lips. Nevertheless, as the elves continued to blink in confusion, she had to muster an awkward smile and provide an excuse.
“Y-you saw it, right? He changes completely once a fight starts.”
“Ah, that’s true. He was genuinely terrifying… covered in blood and looking like a demon from a nightmare!”
Fortunately, the group’s attention shifted back to Ishya.
This was due to the beginning of the man’s tale of valor. With every exciting detail, gasps emerged among the gathered elves.
Abiyang let out a heavy sigh to herself.
It was hard to grasp her own feelings.
The man was Abiyang’s enemy. That fact remained unchanged.
Though he had cheated, it was violence he used to subdue Abiyang. There would be no affection for someone who forced another to submit against their will.
Yes, that should be the case.
Every time Abiyang saw the man recently, she felt confused.
He was once a human who spoke nonchalantly about wanting to kill elves. Yet, these days, he seemed willing to suffer hardships for the sake of elves.
He had gone out to hunt snow leopards for that very reason.
With food still plentiful in his pockets, why bother hunting snow leopards? The more he did that, the greater the risk of his true identity being discovered.
He also nonchalantly shared his emergency food supplies.
Just the other day, she heard from Lugate that when he was invited by Dolf, the man treated them to a splendid feast.
And today, he even sacrificed his arm to save Abiyang.
The elf girl, whose legs had given way, should have felt pitiful, yet he didn’t utter a single word of reproach. Instead, he even helped to support her.
He was such a contradictory man.
It was while Abiyang was lost in thought, pondering this, that she heard a soft call.
“…Abiyang.”
At that barely audible mention, the girl turned her gaze absently backward.
And then, she was suddenly overwhelmed by a pungent smell.
Abiyang’s vision was instantly shrouded in darkness.
“Ah! What, what is this…!”
Abiyang could only scream and struggle. The thing that had suddenly covered her was thick and warm.
It was heavy enough that she found it difficult to escape.
The mischievous prank didn’t last long. A few seconds later, Abiyang’s sight brightened.
Standing there, silhouetted by the dazzling light, was the man.
With a playful smile.
“It’s snow leopard fur. Do you like it?”
“Who would like freshly skinned fur!”
Abiyang couldn’t suppress her frustration and shouted back.
She felt a mix of sorrow and unfairness.
While someone was tormented by her own issues, he seemed to playfully tease her without a care.
But the man just chuckled and laughed.
“That’s the skin of the smallest one. It should fit you perfectly.”
“Hmph, I’m good.”
“I’ll tell Miela to make you a winter coat. It’s of no use to me anyway.”
Abiyang pouted, turning her face away.
It was a rebellious demeanor that was much more pronounced than before. However, the man didn’t seem to take offense at all.
Once the man left, the elves who had been silently watching the two came back around.
Miela wore a knowing expression.
“See? You’re the only one getting special treatment!”
“That’s not true! It’s just… he’s just fooling around…”
With a scoff, the girl trailed off.
Yet, despite her petulant tone, her hands were tightly gripping the snow leopard fur, as if determined not to let anyone take it away.
Seeing this, Miela wore a bittersweet smile.
How nice it must be.
The festivities that night echoed with nothing but laughter.
The man brought out drinks, further lifting the atmosphere. Though he was held up all night listening to Dolf’s drunken rants.
Abiyang watched the laughing elves and thought.
What an awkward scene this was.
The kin she knew always wore gloomy expressions. Their pale, hollow eyes resembled those of dying corpses.
Yet, how could they emit such bright laughter?
She could eat until her belly burst, but the meat seemed endless. The flickering flames gifted warmth.
And at the center of it stood one man.
Abiyang stared vacantly at the wavering crimson shadow. Gradually feeling tipsy, she caught sight of the man’s suddenly flushed face.
That night, the girl thought.
Could this continue on like this?
Together with her kin, this happily.
If only her younger sister could join this banquet.
The girl watched the man all night, and Pope Eyong shuffled off, nursing his drink.
His gaze lingered on the man one last time before it fell away.
In the night breeze, the hearts of the two elves were quaking.
It was a sign that the man was steadily adapting to the elf village.
Suddenly, the tip of a blade plunged into the ground.
With a force as if digging into soft mud, it was a fierce motion. The awning glimmered with the blue flames dancing upon the blade under the night’s scenery.
In a dark forest, only a few torches illuminated the tent.
An elf stood silently, unable to even scream.
The blade was embedded right beside him. His eyes shook as he felt the icy chill.
He seemed ready to burst into tears at any moment.
Of course, the girl standing before him had no intention of allowing that.
She was a woman with gray hair and aquamarine-like blue eyes.
Her back turned against the moonlight, she was incredibly beautiful. A rarity even among the elves, who were known as the race of beauty.
Yet, it was her sunken gaze that was even more terrifying than her beauty.
The girl’s lips moved.
“Only answer the questions I ask. If you say anything foolish, I’ll start chopping off your fingers one by one.”
The elf struggled to hold back his tears as he nodded.
Without hesitation, the girl’s question followed.
“Is there a human in your village?”
At that brief question, the trembling elf’s body froze momentarily.
With a dazed expression, he looked at the girl, as if to say, “How do you know about that?”
The girl’s lips curled.
The grip on her sword tightened.
“Answer me! Is there a human?! If so, what’s his name?!”
“I-I don’t know!”
The elf could hardly bring himself to reply. The girl grew more anxious.
The sword, pulled out with a clank, now aimed directly at his throat. The elf let out a terrified scream, dragging his backside away.
But there was nowhere for him to flee.
This area had been sealed off long ago. The imposing presence of the silent women keeping watch was nothing less than fearsome.
The elf couldn’t escape alone.
In the end, through his tears, he cried out.
“I-I don’t know! I can’t betray the village!”
“…Huh.”
The girl let out a scoff as if finding it ridiculous.
And the sword was raised. The blue moonlight flowed down the blade.
It was about to become a line cutting through the night, spilling blood.
Just as the girl poised to swing down the sword.
“I-I forgot my memory!”
Abruptly, the girl’s breath halted.
It wasn’t just hers. The breath of all the women watching the elf came to a standstill.
Before she could dare ask her question, the elf cried desperately.
“That friend! He lost his memory! If he came pursuing the betrayer who ran off with an elf, please don’t torture him anymore!”
“What do you mean…?”
“That friend is our neighbor!”
It was a frantic scream.
The elf vomited out his suppressed grievances.
“So please, don’t torment him anymore! W-we didn’t do anything… we are happy living with him! We haven’t harmed any humans!”
But the elf’s desperate plea didn’t move the girl’s heart.
It had long since fallen silent.
The girl merely murmured in shock.
“…He lost his memory?”
And right after that.
“It’s an ambush! Someone set fire to the camp!”
Suddenly, flames erupted into the air.
