5. Bread and dagger (14)
Avian was a young elf just over 100 years old.
If I told this to a human, they would usually snort and move on. It was because the time allowed for most short-lived species was shorter than that.
But elves were different.
They were beings blessed by the World Tree of Order from birth.
He is particularly talented in archery and spiritism, and does not even age until right before he dies. The average life expectancy of elves, who enjoy eternal youth and health, reached 500 years.
So, Avian did not hesitate to call himself ‘Little Elf’.
As the saying goes, 100 years old in the society of the elves was also the age to go through the coming-of-age ceremony.
Although he was unable to properly attend the coming-of-age ceremony because he was working as a servant, Avian vowed to work more diligently for the prosperity of the elves as he became an adult.
Avian’s mission was just as enormous.
It was the role of gathering information and procuring necessary resources for his people by mixing in the gaps between humans.
It was difficult to escape the northern part from the strict surveillance of the Yurdina family. Naturally, only a few were allowed to fill these roles.
Without his unique talent for transformation magic, it would have been impossible for Avian to be selected as Sejak.
It was a rule not to select young elves as spies because they were usually immature and weak.
Breaking that old custom and becoming a spy, Avian could learn a lot from the village elders.
Humans were the only ones who could not be trusted at all.
It was once said that the elves once put humanity under their feet.
Primordial mankind was nothing more than an insignificant race. Its strength was incomparable to that of the elves who were blessed with all sorts of blessings.
Avian truly believed that the time was right.
Humans are mostly greedy and have eccentric ways of thinking. Avian still shuddered whenever he thought of the human army that attacked the village that day.
And even the one human that flowed into the village that day.
All of them were strange or violent. Night after night, Avian would tremble as he remembered the feel of the blade against his skin.
Such evil beings needed domination. The good elves had no choice but to guide and guide them.
Yes, actually Avian was afraid.
I looked down on humans and ignored them, but it was out of fear. Otherwise, Avian could hardly bear the fear.
Humanity was like a living plague.
They devastated and polluted the places they passed through. Elves were no exception to this.
The elves were going mad.
All of this was also the fault of humans.
The adults in the village are going crazy, the cursed seeds are planted in Avian’s body, and the world is a mess.
It was also the fault of Avian that did not fit his subject.
As the madness of the elves got worse, the number of goods they received from their hometown was decreasing. But Avian had too many people to feed.
If they could not pay the fixed amount each month, they would starve to death.
A noble elf’s pride wouldn’t allow it, but a hungry belly would sometimes think before its brain.
In the end, Avian decided to sell his pride in exchange for his people.
That being said, it was a scam that was nothing more than mixing a fake with a product. Even with that clumsy trick, most of the customers were fooled.
This is due to the trust that has been built over the years.
Avian was able to breathe.
Although it was the first sin in my life, I was impatient.
A fraud was a fraud, no matter how timid. I don’t know how many times I’ve imagined being taken to the guardhouse for committing a crime.
Then what if the fact that he was an elf was exposed?
It was terrible. There were dozens of times Avian had a similar nightmare and woke up grunting.
However, even after several days, no one came to capture Avian.
A few guests came to visit, but no one noticed the presence of Avian, who had transformed into a cat. It was a fortunate thing for Avian.
Avian thought.
Let’s hold out like this until the proper ingredients come from our hometown.
It was then that he had to confess his mistake and pay the price he deserved. If so, most guests would forgive Avian.
It was around the time that I finished my easy calculations and slowly returned to my leisurely daily life.
A man came to Avian.
After that, it was a series of blood and flesh splashing scenes.
Avian thought while being slapped in the face continuously by the man.
Oh yeah.
Humans are still scary.
The one who refused to talk was Avian.
And she was the one who wielded violence first, but she couldn’t help but be fed up with the man’s ruthless violence.
Not to mention, the man didn’t even hesitate when he saw Avian’s real face.
He kicked his temples without hesitation, and lost his mind for several hours.
Avian opened his eyes, thinking of the malicious man.
Her panting breath was representative of her unstable psychological state. Blue eyes twitched and scanned the surroundings.
It was a dark room.
In the room where not a single ray of light leaked in, a single lamp was the only light source. Two people stood with their backs to the shadow of the fire.
No, to be more precise, it was different.
A man was sitting across from Avian.
Avian was chained to a chair with his entire body restrained, and at first glance, liberation seemed difficult. Even with all his might, it seemed that he would not be able to untangle this string.
At first, Avian was embarrassed.
However, the more the memory returned, the more naturally he began to recall who the man in front of him was.
The terrifying human who mercilessly assaulted Avian.
The golden eyes were cold. Avian wanted to scream at the moment.
And next to the man was a woman with brown hair.
Standing politely, she looked like a man’s subordinate. The dark green pupils glancing at Avian were magical.
A woman close to a snake.
Avian managed to calm the instinctive fear that rose up. Noble elves couldn’t be intimidated by humans.
Even so, he couldn’t stand the sound of crying, so Avian let out a scream.
“you you! what the hell did you do to me… … !”
“There is one thing I need to make sure of first.”
The man’s voice was so indifferent.
It was as if he was reciting plain truths.
While Avian paused for a moment, he continued his relaxed tone.
“I was trying to talk to you. But you rejected it… So I hope you will understand if I do something a little rude.”
What is ‘conversation’?
Avian was dumbfounded, perhaps because he had heard the word so unexpectedly.
Who were the people who slaughtered the people of Avian who had been crying out for dialogue?
Who else drove the elves from the warm and bountiful Great Forest to the cold and cold northern plains?
It was mankind.
Aren’t they the ones who corrupt even the people of Avian’s hometown?
Avian shouted, his head heating up with hatred.
“Conversation?! Why am I talking to you humans… Gagging!”
However, the blood that could not be controlled was the law that called for anger.
With a snap, the man’s kicks dug into Avian’s stomach without hesitation.
Avian couldn’t even finish his words due to the suffocating pain. All he could do was sway the chair and let out a choking moan.
I wanted to tap my chest, but it was impossible because I was tied up.
Tears welled up in Avian’s eyes, but the man showed no sympathy.
All he could do was call the name of the woman who was sitting next to him.
“… … Neris.”
“Yeah.”
Without a word, the woman raised the chair Avian was tied to.
It was the attitude of an obedient maid.
Avian looked at the man in disbelief. There was amazement in those bulging eyes. It was the first time in Avian’s life that he had been treated like this.
After all, he was trained as a spy and assumed the worst.
However, there was a gap between imagination and reality as high as the sky and the earth. In addition, the elves who lacked everything did not even have enough time to educate proper spies.
The result was Avian today.
As it crackled, it seemed as if a crack was opening in the girl’s brain. It was a sign that the spirit that was forcibly attached by pride and the desire for honor was on the verge of collapse.
Elves have a stronger desire for life than any other creature.
Since ancient times, instincts cannot be suppressed forever.
The man warned in a cold tone.
“I told you, you were the one who refused to talk… And from now on, it won’t end with kicking.”
And the ax blade stuck in the armrest of the chair with a bang.
It was a speed that I did not know when it was taken out.
Avian was stunned by the short display of his skills.
I should have realized it before, but I realized it again.
that guy is strong
Avian would not even be an opponent. In all my years, I wouldn’t have lived half of Avian!
The seeds were different.
Ever since he was born, Avian had been defeated by that man.
Soaked in that terrible sense of defeat and fear, Avian hid and shed tears.
The elf girl’s bravado was gradually crumbling.