Chapter 244

244th Episode

The Elves of Albrheim 244 – The Elves of Albrheim #4

The place where Kalidur was supposed to meet the elven envoys from Albrheim was a tavern named Sarpian, located near the east gate.

After asking around under the blazing sun with Luna, we eventually found the shop. As soon as we opened the door and entered, I instinctively reached out my hand, sensing something rushing toward my neck.

Clang!

At the same moment, something flew toward me. To be precise, it lunged at Luna, who was standing helplessly next to me. Without thinking, I extended my palm and blocked it, only to realize, upon regaining my focus, that it was a person.

A person had flown through the air and was now rolling on the ground.

“What is this, you brute?”

Originally, taverns in this world were known for being hotspots for both fights and lucrative one-time jobs. I was aware of this, but even so, being suddenly faced with such a situation left me, and Luna too, bewildered.

While we were still surprised by this unexpected welcome, a large man standing in the middle of the tavern spoke out boldly.

“So this is the average of Bronze Tier adventurers on this continent, huh? You’re weak. Too weak. At this rate, you wouldn’t even serve as a warm-up.”

The man’s stature was about the same size as mine.

His head was shaved gray, his hair ash-like. His pointed ears stood out prominently, and he wore a brown robe over his body, with light leather armor and strange ornaments engraved with cryptic patterns hanging around his waist and chest.

His appearance, reminiscent of a monk, was already somewhat familiar to me. No doubt, these were likely the Albrheim envoys I was supposed to meet.

I came in a light-hearted manner, never expecting that they’d be troublemakers.

“Dermod, you can’t just go throwing people around like that.”

“Aye, so it seems. Here we go by the rules of the place. But I never imagined you to be so weak.”

Standing beside the awkwardly scratching his neck giant was a woman leaning nonchalantly on a chair, observing this scene.

Unlike Kalidur or the large man, her short, gray hair wasn’t as long as their standards but was still relatively short for a woman. Her ears were undeniably pointed.

“…”

And beside her, an elf man, shorter than me by a head, casually sipped his drink. Indeed, it was as Kalidur said – three of them.

This large man was probably Destroyer Dermod.

The short-haired woman must be Mimir of Circulation.

And the quiet man drinking alcohol is Daltor of Flash, right?

Recalling the stories Kalidur had mentioned earlier, I carefully analyzed the elves. Then I addressed them.

“Are you the envoys from Albrheim?”

The elf Dermod, who still hadn’t fully recovered but was already grinning at the surroundings, replied,

“Aye, indeed. And who might you be? Could you be someone looking to test my Blackened Fist?”

“Not at all. I’m here representing Kalidur.”

“Kalidur? So it seems, by sending someone else, they reject our offer. We have nothing more to discuss with you. We will proceed as per our original plan to eliminate that hag.”

What is this, brute?

Before I could say anything, the matter had already concluded. Is this how the commission fails? It was an event that would leave a significant blot on my adventurer career, just as I was about to upgrade to the Silver Tier.

“Still, you should at least hear the story once.”

“Monk Dermod doesn’t listen to weaklings. If you want me to listen, try and subdue me by force.”

Slosh, slosh.

As Dermod spoke, the atmosphere around became noticeably restless.

“Are they going to fight again?”

“How many people has he beaten already? Bloody hell, can we keep losing to outsiders like this?”

Judging from the reactions of the crowd, it seemed this Dermod had already brought down several adventurers and fighters. He was truly a lawless brute.

Since most elves are typically like this, it wasn’t much different to me. Indeed, Elpride was the standard, and Kalidur was the exception.

At that moment, someone spoke up.

“Wait, isn’t that the black-haired guy with the club? Isn’t that Mars Guild’s Bronze Tier, Hassan of Samaria?”

“It does look like him. If he’s Hassan of Samaria, isn’t he the one who rescued adventurers from the Abyss?”

“Hey, if we play it right, can’t we put those guys in their place?”

As if recognizing my identity, several pairs of eyes began to dart around. The atmosphere that had just been filled with fear gradually turned fiery.

Because of this atmosphere, or maybe due to the strong smell of alcohol in the tavern, I hadn’t even touched a drink but felt slightly tipsy.

“Hassan! Show us the power of Gaia Continent!”

“Hold on, isn’t he an outsider too?”

“Still, a valiant Samaritan is better than a boasting elf.”

“That’s true.”

Before I knew it, the drunk patrons had started cheering me on in a somewhat hollow gaze, and Dermod slightly curled the corner of his lips.

“Barbarian of the Black Wilderness. You seem to be better opponents than these flimsy continentals. May I ask for a lesson?”

Whoosh.

This man named Dermod placed one hand on his waist and turned his palm towards me.

The motion reminded me of Kalidur’s battle with him last night, as he shook his hands like the sound of clacking sticks.

Boooom.

From this man emanated a strange and powerful presence.

The sensation prickling my skin. Normally, I would associate such feeling with intense tension, but this time it truly felt different.

This must be his energy, his aura. Maybe it’s mana? Whatever it is, it’s definitely that.

Though the sharpness of Kalidur’s blade-like aura seemed beyond this, I felt this was a battle I could manage from my impression.

My guess was that this man’s level wasn’t as high as Kalidur’s.

Of course, given the formidable size comparable to mine, I must not underestimate him.

Ultimately, to bring these people to the negotiating table, I’ll have to show some force, right?

“Hassan, are you okay? Shall I help?”

“No, the picky elves won’t recognize it. I’ll fight alone. Instead, could you hold this for me?”

I handed my club at my waist to Luna. Seeing this, Dermod slightly frowned and narrowed his eyes.

“You’re putting your weapon aside? What’s the use of that? I wanted to fight a full-strength barbarian.”

“I have my weapon right here.”

I clenched and then opened the gauntlet-covered palm. Then, I followed up with a somewhat impressive imitation of a line that Hippolyte had repeatedly told me.

“A warrior’s body turns any part into a weapon.”

“Excellent! Then come at me! Or shall I attack first?”

“I don’t need to be told.”

I quickly surveyed my surroundings. Then, I noticed a fork precariously hanging on the table beside me. I grabbed it and quickly threw it at him.

Whether it was due to my improved agility or the effectiveness of my recent training, the fork flew towards him at a high speed.

Swoosh.

It split the air like an arrow or b*llet heading straight towards his broad forehead.

“A throwing weapon, but that’s a predictable tactic. This must be a feint, and in reality…”

At the same moment I threw the fork, I had already braced my legs to jump. With a single leap, I closed a significant distance and found myself right in front of him.

GAAAAHH.

Just as I swung my clenched, screaming glove towards his face –

“Isn’t this your fist?”

Simultaneously, I clearly heard his voice, followed by something strongly striking my fist from above downward.

Pfft.

My body staggered significantly, tilting my head and torso forward. Right at this moment, a massive presence aimed at my face.

It was Dermod’s knee. This guy was going to strike my face with his knee after destabilizing my balance.

“Hassan!”

Someone shouted my name. That must be Luna. Before Dermod’s knee connected with my face, in that fleeting instant,

“I’ve been through this before, kid.”

I further tilted my already leaning body forward by exerting force on my legs.

Whoosh!

Thus, my body launched forward like a track athlete in a crouching start, propelled by momentum.

“HUH, WHAT!?”

My shoulder slammed powerfully into the giant elf’s abdomen, knocking him down.

He seemed greatly surprised, trying hard to break free from my grip. But once captured, no matter how fast and agile compared to me, it was futile.

Having mounted on top of him, I simply swung my fist straight at his head.

BOOM!

“Ugh-!”

It sounded like the final cry. Of course, my punch barely grazed the side of his ear, only creating a hole in the tavern’s floor.

“Alright, consider yourself dead. The repair costs for the floor will be on you.”

“How… this shouldn’t be possible…”

Dermod blinked in disbelief at his own defeat.

Just then, I felt a tingling sensation at the back of my head as I ducked—something swiftly passed above my head, embedding itself into the opposite wall.

Tink-Tink-Tink.

It was the fork. Someone had similarly hurled a fork at me.

“Do you have eyes on the back of your head too? To dodge that? Impressive.”

Recognizing the female voice, it seemed Mimir, the short-haired woman, had thrown the fork at the back of my head.

Swell, how did I dodge that? Maybe all that dodging of Hippolyte’s punches for a month paid off. Guess I’ll have to renew my subscription next month.

“Anyway, I’ve won, haven’t I?”

This is why Kalidur mimicked Dermod’s Black Fist Technique. Who knows, maybe that bald brute had anticipated and planned for all this.

“Then let’s sit down and talk a bit.”

“But…can something like this happen… This body is Dermo of the Mother’s Spear Tip. To be defeated by a mere Bronze Tier adventurer…”

The hulking elf, Dermod, looked as though he couldn’t believe he had lost to me.

Similarly, it was the same for the onlookers, who moments ago were doubting this duel but now toasted their glasses boisterously.

“Well done, you pointy-eared b*stard!”

“You elves, don’t get too cocky just because you’re tall and strong, see how it ends?”

“Hey, that was an incredible fight. I couldn’t even tell what happened.”

The surrounding became incredibly noisy, almost hurting my ears, but everyone was praising me, so it wasn’t entirely unpleasant.

Because this made me feel vividly that I had won against a higher-leveled opponent purely by my own strength, without the aid of necromancy or divine favor.

Whoosh.

I helped the elf giant back to his feet. When I grabbed his wrist, the familiar artificial chimes rang out along with the floating text.

『Name: Dermod lv. 31

Traits: Broad Forehead》 Sparse Hair》Dandruff》』

His level was 31. He could be considered an adventurer in the Silver Tier class. If I had beaten someone like that, should I consider it good fortune and circumstances?

What the? Why does he have all three signs of balding?

He started looking pitiful all of a sudden.

I felt like a real j*rk.

*

“Dermod. Your idiocy got the plans messed up.”

The shorthaired elf woman Mimir snarled while munching on a sausage. In response, Dermod merely massaged his chest, his eyebrows slightly furrowed.

“I did my best. I just underestimated slightly. I should have assumed that anyone mentioning Kalidur would have experience with Albrheim’s martial techniques.”

“That’s all your lack of attention. If this was a real fight, you’d be dead. There’s not a second chance.”

“Understood. Nonetheless, Hassan of Samaria, you exhibited commendable martial prowess. Gaia Continent actually has warriors like you—this comes as quite a surprise.”

Actually, I’m not from Gaia Continent. Samaritans are barbarians from the Black Continent beyond the sea.

Of course, I’m not a Samaritan either, but I chose not to point that out.

“Anyway, what about her?”

The shorthaired elf woman Mimir, her brows furrowed deeply.

Beside her, Luna was playfully braiding her hair and smiling.

“Elves have such shiny hair! It’s beautiful!”

“Thank you? That’s kind of you, but my ears and hair are sensitive areas. Please don’t touch them randomly. It gets me quite heated up. Right now, I’m already half aroused.”

“Oh, sorry!”

Luna hesitantly pulled back with a flustered expression.

Seeing how Luna, who had spent quite some time with me, so easily backed down like this, I was rather taken aback.

The elf woman Mimir, after smoothing her hair with a whoosh, spoke.

“So, Samaritan. We are sitting at the same table to honor our agreement, but in fact, our policy hasn’t changed. Now that we know where that cursed one—or rather, Elpride—is, we cannot waste another day.”

“Not even a day?”

“It’s impossible. We have to catch her tonight and immediately have her extradited. This is a bargain, after all.”

“Bargain?”

“What? Didn’t Kalidur tell you this? Elpride is no longer free. By the laws of this kingdom, her status is being revoked. She will be sentenced either to d*ath or slavery.”

“Elpride being-.”

I was unable to continue.

d*ath or slavery sentence.

This is one of the most severe punishments meted out to the greatest criminals in this world.

After all, this was the exact reason why I, Hassan, ended up as a slave after setting fire to the Deathros Arena.

But for such punishment, to befall someone who seemed least likely to get it like Elpride.

That must indicate how grave Elpride’s act of setting fire to the World Tree was. Definitely not a simple arson.

“Hmph, d*ath sentence or slavery? Do you think you can punish the girl with such lenient measures? Humans in this kingdom are too lenient.”

Of course, this elf woman Mimir talked as if even such punishment were too light. Indeed, in cases where enslavement sentences are involved, there are chances, like me, for eventual freedom.

“So, savage. Tell Kalidur this well. The operation is set for tonight. Also, tell Kalidur to stop fleeing and fulfill his duty. Her Majesty is watching closely with fire-like gaze.”

[Author’s Notes] The annoying bunch have shown up in large numbers!!

The cowardly bunch not only have their forces but are using human wave tactics to overwhelm native nymphs of the continent!!

If you hit the like and coupon buttons, relief goods and barley porridge will be provided to the poor nymphs…!!!

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