The place where Pope Eyong was staying was a small cabin.
Although he was a respected hunter in the village, his life was not very different from most elves. He too lived in a shabby hut, worrying about his meals for the day.
Recently, however, that need had diminished.
The snow stag’s height far exceeded that of an ordinary elf. In fact, from skin to meat and bones, nothing was wasted from the hunted snow stag.
Just one could hold a feast.
Yet, recently the number of snow stags he had hunted had reached as many as ten. Even if the villagers ate their fill, they wouldn’t need to worry about food for a while.
The cold of the north was conducive to making preserved food.
Every time the cold, dry wind brushed by, the snow stag meat became leaner and leaner. However, that meant it could be stored for a long time.
At least for about two months, they would have enough to eat.
This was truly a revolutionary event for the elf village. The village had been home to many elves who barely survived on just “tree porridge,” let alone a full meal a day.
The villagers appeared stunned simply at not having to starve. Pope Eyong was no exception.
When I arrived, Pope Eyong greeted me with a somewhat troubled expression.
His green eyes fixed on me in silence revealed a complex state of mind.
He seemed a bit displeased, grateful, and also irritated at the same time.
One thing was clear, though.
Pope Eyong no longer hated me as he once did.
Hunting the snow stag had its value. In addition, there was also the merit of having helped with village affairs quietly.
I smiled warmly and extended my hand.
“It’s been a while, Pope Eyong.”
“What is it you want?”
His attitude towards me was still extremely cold.
I had never expected anything different.
I decided to quickly follow Pope Eyong’s lead. At his request, my mouth began to delve straight into the matter.
“I heard there was a fire last night. Could you possibly direct me that way?”
Pope Eyong scoffed at my request.
He followed with a sarcastic question.
“What do you want to go there for? Are you planning to pick up the burnt animal corpses or something?”
“That wouldn’t be a bad idea. But I’m a bit anxious about it.”
At that point, I paused momentarily.
I wondered how I could gain Pope Eyong’s cooperation.
The conclusion I arrived at was straightforward.
After all, I was not a silver-tongued individual like Reto. I was just a simple-minded student from the Swordsmanship Department.
So there was no reason for me to act clever. I had no choice but to push forward with the truth.
My tongue spilled forth with unvarnished honesty.
“Isn’t that the place where human tracks were discovered last time?”
Pope Eyong’s mouth clenched tightly.
The coniferous forest was entirely made of trees. So it was easy to lose one’s sense of direction as soon as you entered. Most of the time, once you stepped onto an unfamiliar path, you couldn’t even tell the general direction.
Only those who had adapted to the geography of the forest for a long time could point out exact locations.
The one who took on that role in the elf village was none other than Pope Eyong standing right in front of me.
After a moment of silence, he stepped aside without a word.
He then turned and began to walk away. Although he said nothing, I sensed that it was an unspoken invitation.
I carefully closed the door and stepped inside Pope Eyong’s cabin.
Perhaps due to living alone, the interior was sparse. Only the minimum necessary furniture was present, giving it a desolate feel.
Pope Eyong brought out two cups from a small table.
I sat in what I assumed was the spot opposite him, and even though he scoffed, he did not stop me.
The hot water flowed into the cups with a soft gurgle.
It was a sign that he acknowledged me as a guest.
Just a short while ago, merely hearing the word “human” would have sent Pope Eyong into a rage. The fact that he was treating me as a guest was a remarkable development.
He sat across from me, glaring at me with a cold gaze.
“How can I trust you?”
“Pardon?”
It was quite an unexpected question.
Hadn’t we just moved into a trusting atmosphere?
At my bewildered tone, Pope Eyong prodded me again.
“You are a human, aren’t you? You could easily go to them, reveal the location of the village, and come back amicably… So why should I trust you?”
It was an awkward question.
Trust is usually unconditional. No matter how much you guarantee or offer, trust fundamentally comes from faith.
Once someone begins to doubt without reason, there is no ending to it.
How could I appeal for him to trust me? Especially since I was set up to have lost my memory, I couldn’t use my reputation or wealth.
Yet there was something peculiar about that question.
If he didn’t trust me, then he didn’t. So why bring me all the way to his cabin to interrogate me? As I sipped the hot water, my brain started spinning.
Suddenly, Benedetta came to mind.
She was the first elf I had interrogated. And she was also the first elf I had killed.
I hadn’t realized it then, but now I trusted her sincerity.
Benedetta had given me a piece of advice that was completely genuine.
That was the elf’s principle.
Bread must be repaid with bread, and a dagger with a dagger.
It was then that my tongue acted of its own accord.
“Shouldn’t bread be repaid with bread?”
There was no reply in response.
Pope Eyong silently drank from the steaming cup. Regardless, I continued to string my words together.
“I was accepted by the elves, even after losing my memories. I have no intention of betraying that grace. As I’ve shown you so far…”
“You’re not an elf.”
It was another direct question.
My lips clung together again, showing no sign of parting. Pope Eyong was correct.
Bread must be repaid with bread, and a dagger with a dagger.
This was the elven principle. There was no guarantee that I would follow it.
However, after a while of pondering, I suddenly recalled a certain fact.
Come to think of it, Pope Eyong had mentioned he was “blessed.”
That must be deeply connected to socializing.
“I heard someone named Leorick is also a human.”
Pope Eyong’s eyes immediately turned fierce.
Religion and faith are the most vulnerable points of the psyche. Carelessly touching them made it difficult to escape unscathed.
Yet, this was all I had to work with.
“Is the distinction between humans and elves that important? Coming here, I understand now. If I live like an elf, the other residents treat me like an elf as well.”
This was almost a confession.
It was a conclusion I had come to after spending a relatively short time in the elf village.
The boundary between humans and elves was surprisingly vague.
The fact that one had pointed ears alone could not wholly distinguish me from the elves. Why had I only just realized that now?
I could only understand it after killing so many.
I spoke as if I were confessing.
“So please, just trust me this once. You’re the last, Pope Eyong.”
In this village, the only elf who did not trust me was Pope Eyong alone.
The old man with the appearance of a boy closed his eyes and fell into deep thought. After some time, when the steam rising from the cup had begun to dissipate.
Pope Eyong sighed and rose to his feet.
With his arms crossed, he silently gazed at the bow and arrows hanging on the wall.
He exhaled in a sorrowful tone.
“… I don’t trust humans.”
At first glance, it seemed my persuasion had failed, but there was a strange resonance in Pope Eyong’s words.
It was as if he was hiding something deeper.
Before long, he began to unveil his past.
“My wife and daughter starved to death. It was because those human bastards burned our food storage… Their emaciated, hollow faces still haunt me. Do you know how painful that is? Life, when you think about it, was hell.”
I had heard that story somewhere before.
The statement that life was rather hellish was part of the socializing doctrine.
But for Pope Eyong, that empty slogan was his reality.
“And do you think that was it? My only remaining son was killed by humans… After that, I swore. I would live the rest of my life thinking of it as penance for not being able to protect my family.”
He sighed and caressed the bow and arrows hanging on the wall.
At that moment, his hand wandered and untied a knot that had been bound to the bow.
It turned out to be a peculiar vine.
It was certainly not a native plant of the north.
My puzzled gaze turned toward Pope Eyong. He looked down at the vine with his deeply set eyes.
“But now, I’m too tired… Life is still too painful. That’s when you came along. I once wanted to deny it, but now I understand. The village needs you.”
Pope Eyong extended the vine toward me, appearing drained.
As I absently accepted the vine, his explanation continued.
“It’s something passed down from our ancestors. Since the time we lived in the Great Forest… The village hunters used to wear this vine around their ankles. It would prevent them from getting lost.”
“What’s the principle behind that?”
“I don’t know now. The techniques of that time have long been lost.”
With that curt reply, he quietly turned his back.
It was an unspoken summoning.
“Now you are the village hunter. Take good care of Ishya; she still has a lot to learn.”
The village hunter.
In the short time I had spent in the elf village, I felt the weight of that title.
A hunter was a scout for the village and bore the heavy responsibility of ensuring food. Additionally, they also had to protect the village with their strength.
It was far too heavy a burden for me.
Above all, wasn’t I merely an outsider who would have to leave one day?
Before I could express my surprise, he added.
“As long as it’s while you’re staying in the village.”
Pope Eyong’s green eyes glanced at me. My mouth, which had been ready to make excuses, fell silent.
“You might leave someday, but until then… think of today as your first day as a hunter.”
Looking back, it seemed that searching for missing persons also fell under a hunter’s duties.
I forced a bitter smile as I grasped the vine.
If I was to receive such a treasure, I also had to bear the role that came with it. The age-old elven saying echoed in my mind once again.
Bread must be repaid with bread, a dagger with a dagger.
I couldn’t tell how long I would stay in the elf village. But I resolved within myself.
For that brief time, I would remain as the village hunter.
Thus, I became a recognized member of the village in every sense.
The only concern that remained for me was.
Just how worried my companions back in Yuridina city must be.
I had to return as soon as possible. Yet, I couldn’t simply abandon the elf village, which led to my internal turmoil.
It wouldn’t be long before that dilemma was resolved.
In a manner I could never have anticipated, my anguish came to an end.
The reason was simple.
On the day I finished the search for the missing persons and stepped outside the village.
I could only stand there dumbfounded.
The village was ablaze.
The sounds of clashing arms and screams rang in my ears.
It was the invasion of humanity.
