Abiyang was a young elf who had just turned 100 years old.
If this had been told to humans, most might have scoffed and moved on. This was largely because the lifespan granted to most short-lived species was shorter than that.
However, elves were different.
From birth, they were beings blessed by the World Tree of Order.
They displayed exceptional talent in archery and spirit magic, and they did not even age until just before death. The average lifespan of elves enjoying eternal youth and health reached up to 500 years.
Thus, Abiyang did not hesitate to call herself a ‘young elf.’
As the saying goes, in elven society, 100 years was the age just suitable for coming of age ceremonies.
Although she didn’t properly partake in one due to her role as a servant, Abiyang swore to work even more diligently for the prosperity of her kind now that she was an adult.
Abiyang’s mission was equally monumental.
Amidst humans, she was responsible for procuring resources and gathering information necessary for her kin.
It was challenging just to escape the Northern Region evading the Yuridina Clan’s stringent surveillance. Naturally, only a few were granted permission to undertake such roles.
Had she not possessed a unique talent for transformation magic, it would have been impossible for Abiyang to be selected as a servant.
Typically, young elves were deemed too immature and weak for such selections.
Breaking that long-standing convention, Abiyang was able to learn a great deal from the village elders.
Humans, however, were utterly untrustworthy.
Once, it was said that elves had looked down on humanity.
In ancient times, humanity was merely a pitiful race. Their strength was nothing in comparison to the numerous blessings bestowed upon elves.
Abiyang genuinely believed that those times were justified.
Most humans were greedy and had bizarre mindsets. Even now, she shuddered at the thought of the human military that had invaded her village that day.
And even the single human that had flowed into her village that day.
Each of them was either strange or violent. Every night, Abiyang trembled at the memories of the blade’s touch against her own skin.
Such wicked beings required control. It was the only way for good elves to guide and lead them.
Yes, the truth was that Abiyang was afraid.
Though she secretly looked down on and dismissed humans, it stemmed from fear. Without such feelings, it was difficult for her to endure the terror.
Humanity was like a living plague.
They desolated and polluted anything they touched. No exception existed for elves either.
Elves were slowly becoming madder.
All of this was also the fault of humans.
The elders of her village going insane, the cursed seed planted in Abiyang’s body, the disarray in the world—all of it.
Even Abiyang’s audacity exceeding her status was due to that.
As the insanity of the elves deepened, the number of goods supplied from her hometown diminished. However, Abiyang had too many kin to feed.
If she failed to pay the set amount each month, they would have to starve.
Though her noble elven pride would not allow such action, a hungry belly sometimes acted before the brain.
In the end, Abiyang decided to sell her pride instead of her kin’s.
It was only a small trick of mixing some fakes into the goods. Even with that clumsy scheme, most customers were easily deceived.
It was thanks to the trust she had built over several years of business.
Only then was Abiyang able to breathe a sigh of relief.
Though it was the first sin she had ever committed, it made her anxious.
No matter how timid her actions, it was still a deception. She couldn’t count how many times she imagined being dragged to the garrison for committing a crime.
What if her identity as an elf was exposed?
It was terrifying. Abiyang had woken up dozens of times, tossing and turning from nightmares similar to that.
Yet, even after days passed, no one came to capture Abiyang.
Some customers did visit, but none noticed the presence of Abiyang transformed into a cat. It was quite a lucky escape for her.
Abiyang thought.
She just needed to hold out until proper materials arrived from her hometown.
Then, she could confess her mistake and pay the appropriate price. Most customers would forgive her.
As she finished such a careless calculation and was about to return to her leisurely daily life.
A man came looking for Abiyang.
What followed was a continuous scene of blood and flesh splattering.
Receiving repeated blows to the face, Abiyang thought.
Ah, right.
Humans are indeed terrifying.
The one refusing to talk was Abiyang.
And though she was also the one who first wielded violence, she could only feel utterly powerless against the man’s merciless assault.
Moreover, the man didn’t even hesitate upon seeing Abiyang’s true form.
Without hesitation, he delivered a kick to her temple, and after losing consciousness for several hours.
Abiyang woke up recalling that malicious man.
Her gasping breaths mirrored her unstable mental state. Her blue eyes trembled and scanned her surroundings.
It was a dark room.
No beam of light seeped in, and the only source of illumination was a single lantern. Two figures stood backlit by that light.
No, to be more precise, it was different.
A man sat across from Abiyang.
Bound and tied, Abiyang was restrained to a chair, and even at first glance, it seemed impossible to escape. Even with all her strength, it seemed unlikely she could untie those ropes.
Initially, Abiyang was flustered.
However, as memories gradually returned, she naturally began to recall who the man before her was.
That terrifying human who had mercilessly assaulted her.
His golden eyes were chilling. Abiyang felt like she could scream at any moment.
Beside the man stood a woman with brown hair.
She stood with a courteous posture and seemed to be a subordinate of the man. Her intense green eyes glancing at Abiyang were sinister.
A woman resembling a serpent.
Abiyang instinctively forced down the rising fear. A noble elf could not be frightened by mere humans.
Yet, the choking sobs were unbearable, and Abiyang screamed.
“You, you! What on earth have you done to me…!”
“First, there’s something I need to clarify.”
The man’s voice, casually delivered, felt incredibly indifferent.
It was as if he merely recited a bland truth.
In the brief silence where Abiyang hesitated, he continued in a relaxed tone.
“I wanted to have a conversation with you. However, you refused… So I hope you can understand that I committed a somewhat rude act.”
“Conversation?”
Abiyang was left dumbfounded by the unexpected word.
Who were those who had massacred her kin who had longed for conversation?
Those who drove elves from the warm and plentiful Great Forest into the cold, desolate northern plains.
That was humanity.
They were even the ones who had corrupted the people of Abiyang’s hometown.
Abiyang’s head burned with hatred, and she shouted.
“Conversation?! Why should I converse with you humans… Ugh!”
But her uncontrollable anger called for response.
With a thud, the man’s kick mercilessly struck Abiyang’s solar plexus.
Abiyang could not finish her sentence due to the crushing pain. Instead, she merely toppled over in her chair, gasping for breath as muffled cries escaped.
She wanted to pound her chest, but being tied up made even that impossible.
Tears gathered in Abiyang’s eyes, yet the man showed no trace of sympathy.
He merely called out to the woman who had been standing quietly beside him.
“…Neoris.”
“Yes.”
The woman silently stood Abiyang’s chair back up.
Her demeanor was that of an obedient servant.
Abiyang gazed at the man with distrust. Her wide eyes were filled with horror. She had never been treated this way in her life.
It was true that she had anticipated the worst during her training as a spy.
However, there was a vast difference between imagination and reality. Moreover, the elves, lacking in sufficient resources, could not even afford to properly train spies.
And the result was Abiyang in her current state.
Her mind felt like it was cracking, reminiscent of a girl’s consciousness fracturing. The spirit patched together with pride and a desire for honor was on the brink of collapse.
Elves had a stronger desire for life than other living beings.
Ultimately, instincts could not be suppressed forever.
The man warned in a cold tone.
“I told you, the one refusing to talk is you… And next time, it won’t just be a kick.”
And with a swift motion, an axe blade lodged into the armrest of the chair.
It was so fast that Abiyang had no idea when he had drawn it.
She was taken aback by that sudden display of skill.
Though she had realized it long ago, she felt it again.
That man was strong.
Someone like Abiyang could not even be a match. In terms of age, he had likely lived less than half of her life!
Their very nature was different.
From the moment of her birth, Abiyang had been defeated by that man.
Bathed in that overwhelming sense of defeat and fear, Abiyang whimpered, tears streaming down her face.
The pretenses of the elf girl were gradually crumbling.
