Before dawn, a shadow darted through the dark forest, accompanied by the patter of heavy rain on leaves and branches. The figure was lithe and agile, moving with a grace that spoke of years of training and discipline. As she ran, her thoughts raced just as quickly, turning over the events that had led her to this moment.
(Damn, I had to flee so miserably.)
The woman who muttered these words under her breath was no ordinary mortal. Her pointed ears marked her as a member of the elven race, and her lithe, toned body spoke of a lifetime of combat training. She wore skimpy light armor and carried a long sword at her waist, ready for any danger that might cross her path.
As she ran, her long, glossy purple hair streamed out behind her, whipping around her face in the wind. Her crimson cloak billowed out around her, adding to the impression of a figure in constant motion. Her eyes were as green as jade, and her nose was high and elegant, giving her a dignified yet beautiful face.
Peeking out from under the racy costume was a muscular, toned, yet plump brown body that showed she had been through rigorous training yet had a voluptuous body that overflowed with the ultimate sexual charm as a woman. The limbs were finished.
Her name was Inerva Veregst, and until recently, she had held the position of magic general in a certain dark elf country.
–Until recently.
“I found her! General Inerva, she is here!”
Suddenly, a scream tore through the forest, breaking Inerva’s concentration. She came to a stop, scanning the trees around her for any sign of danger. And then, just as quickly, a shadow leapt out in front of her. He has the head of a humanoid dog, and in both hands he holds a large ax as long as his body. He is a beastman warrior called a kobold.
‘Hahaha, Even the best magic swordsmen in the kingdom have failed to escape us. Are you fleeing to a human country? hahaha’
“You can say whatever you want, but know this: I will come back and take all of your heads.”
“Ahhhaaaa, nice joke. It’s time to die.”
While looking for signs around him, he drew his sword and prepared himself.
I don’t think they are soldiers, but perhaps they are some kind of bounty hunter who is dazzled by the reward.
“I can’t collapse here. I have to rebuild the kingdom.”
“Then you will die while cherishing that petty ambition for the rest of your life!”
Before she could say anything, the kobold warrior charged forward while raising his ax.
“I’ll cut your head here and take credit for it!”
“You are the one who will die fast!!”
With a fierce battle cry, she drew her sword and prepared to defend herself against all comers. This was her moment of truth, and she was ready to face it head-on.
A fierce exchange of slashes unfolds in the fierce wind and rain that dye the field of vision.
Inerva’s long sword cannot squarely fight against the huge axe.
On the other hand, in this situation where the distance between them has been narrowed and the footing is unstable, coupled with the fact that visibility is extremely poor, it is too risky to try to solve the situation with magic.
Naturally, Inerva had no choice but to fight in a hit-and-run style, but perhaps because her opponent was also a trained warrior, she didn’t really have a chance to attack despite her large attacks.
A battle where both players move in an arc, lacking effective attacks.
However, the turning point that decided the match came unexpectedly quickly.
Inerva got stuck on the ground, which was deeper.
(Oops!)
“got you!”
Just as I thought this was going to be bad, a large axe as long as my body was brought out.
“Argh!”
An axe is swung with a full-throated attack. I quickly jumped back to avoid a direct hit, but a dull pain ran through my side.
The light armor that Inerva wears is imbued with a great deal of magical power, and the exposed parts are protected by a magical barrier.
However, it was not possible to block all the power of the massive slash, and fresh red blood gushed from her side.
After a crushing defeat in the royal capital, Inerva was completely exhausted, having let her subordinates escape first and running away without even eating. The exhaustion of her long life on the run had slowed her reactions more than she expected.
(But…I can’t let my life end here…until someday I can take back the royal capital and place our queen on the throne again.!)
“I’m not going to die!”
Perhaps he knew that he would definitely hit the injured person directly, and this time he raised his large axe upwards and tried to cut it down in one fell swoop.
‘Time to die…’
If she were to be hit, a blow in two would be unavoidable, but Inerva dared to step firmly into the enemy’s direction. He turned once so that his back was facing the blade and narrowly dodged the vertical blow.
“Gaaaaaaah!”
“The slash that was swung cut through the chest of the strong warrior, including his armor. Inerva’s long sword has special magical processing that allows it to transform the owner’s magical power into sharpness.
Although she was not strong enough to fight head-on with a powerful giant battle axe, she was able to obtain enough power to pierce through thick steel plates. The kobold warrior let out a scream of death and collapsed to the ground, swinging his great ax down. The pouring rain continued to wet his motionless body.
(I managed to get rid of it, but this…)
After confirming that the other person was dead, she looked at the condition of her own injuries. Although she had avoided a fatal injury, the slash, with its large mass, grazed her body. Her side was deeply gouged, and blood, mixed with rain, was dripping from her wound. Fatigue is already accumulating, and if a new pursuer is found, it is inevitable that she will be forced to struggle even more. It would have been nice if she could use some kind of healing magic to heal her wounds, but unfortunately, Inerva had no such knowledge.
(Anyway, I have to find a place to rest.)
Binding the wound with a cloak and administering first aid, Inerva continues through the rain-drenched forest.
Eventually, she found a crevice in the rock at the bottom of a small hill.
When she entered the cave, she found that it was surprisingly spacious inside, with enough space for multiple people to live. It’s not the best place to hide, but it’s a perfect place to rest.
(It’s unlikely that your pursuer will find you right away.)
Inerva herself understood that she should have been more careful. However, due to the exhaustion of her long life on the run, her mind and body had reached their limits.
“I want to get some sleep.”
(I wonder if everyone was able to escape safely.)
“When I lie down and close my eyes, the scene of the battle over the royal capital comes back to mind. Enemy soldiers rush over the castle walls, and friends fight back. Did the people fleeing from the war, the Queen, who escaped through the hidden passage, and her subordinates, who retreated before her, all survive safely?”
All Inerva can do now is pray, but her mental and physical exhaustion has reached its limit to the point where she can’t even do that anymore. There may even have been more than that. Soon after, the Dark Elf female general’s consciousness fell into a deep sleep.
Inerva woke up to a strange feeling in her abdomen.
“Whataha…”
The inside of the cave is brightly lit, probably due to the sunlight shining through. When she turned her attention to her, she saw a bandage wrapped around her side where she had been slashed.
“Sister, are you awake?” a soft voice spoke, pulling the young elf out of her thoughts.
Turning towards the source of the voice, she saw a young boy standing there, looking at her with curiosity and concern. He was a human child, probably in his early teens, and was dressed in plain, simple clothes. He seemed to be brewing something over a small fire, which cracked and spat sparks into the air.
The young elf felt a pang of confusion and surprise. What was a human child doing in their cave, and why was he tending to her wounds?
“Did you do this?” she asked, pointing to her bandaged wound.
“Yes,” the boy replied, looking up at her with a solemn expression. “Onee-san, you were hurt really badly. That’s why I took care of it so quickly.”
“I see. Thank you.”
The elf nodded, still feeling a little dazed. She looked around the cave, noticing a basket full of medicinal herbs placed beside the boy. The decoction he was brewing over the fire was probably a medicine made from these ingredients to stop bleeding.
(But such a small human child…?)
But what surprised her the most was the fact that such a small human child had such a deep understanding of herbal techniques. Even from the Dark Elf’s point of view, it was unusual for a child to have such knowledge and skill.
“It’s strange,” she murmured aloud, her thoughts turning inward. “Even though humans grow faster than elves and learn quickly, he seems to be more skilled than most adults.”
The boy looked at her quizzically, sensing her confusion.
“Are you okay? Are you still here?” he asked, breaking into her thoughts.
The young elf shook her head, trying to clear her mind. “Yeah, I’m fine,” she said, giving him a small smile.
“That’s great!” the boy exclaimed, grinning widely. “I was worried for a moment there.”
The elf couldn’t help but feel a sense of warmth and gratitude towards the boy. Even though he was a human and they were supposed to be enemies, he had shown compassion and kindness towards her.
Inerva had always been fascinated by the healing power of herbs. As she wandered through the forest, she couldn’t help but wonder how these plants could be used to cure ailments and soothe pains. It was then that she stumbled upon a young boy who seemed to be gathering herbs himself.
“Excuse me,” she called out to him, “could you tell me how to make herbal remedies?”
The boy turned around and flashed her a carefree smile. “Yes, I can. I learned it from my teachers. And you are.”
“My name is Inerva. Inerva Veregst,” she introduced herself.
“My name is Otis,” the boy replied. “I am the heir of the Duke household.”
Inerva was surprised to hear that she was speaking to someone of such high status, but she couldn’t help but be intrigued by his knowledge of herbs.
“What is your teacher’s name?” she asked.
“She is Merlin,” Otis replied, “and she is also quite skilled in the art of herbal remedies. In fact, she’s the one who taught me everything I know.”
Inerva’s eyes widened with curiosity. “Could you introduce me to her?”
“Of course,” Otis nodded. “I’m sure she would be happy to meet someone who shares her passion for herbs.”
“Why are you exploring the jungle alone?” Inerva asked, and her curiosity piqued as she observed Otis’ adventurous spirit.
“I love exploring and being surrounded by the beauty of nature. The lush greenery is absolutely amazing and I feel so at peace when I’m out here,”
Otis replied, a twinkle in his eyes as he spoke about his passion.
“Anyway I want to thank you for helping me. Your help was really important,” Inerva said, grateful for his assistance.
“Don’t mention it. It’s all part of the adventure in the jungle,” Otis replied with a smile. “By the way, are you hungry? I found some food earlier. Would you like to have some?”
“You’re so thoughtful. I’m really hungry. What did you manage to find?” Inerva asked, feeling her stomach grumble at the thought of food.
“I found some fruits and caught a few small rabbits. Let’s find a comfortable spot and have a spontaneous jungle picnic together,” Otis suggested, eager to share his bounty with his new friend.
“I see. Well, then, I’ll rely on my skills and cook for you,” Inerva offered, confident in her ability to whip up a delicious meal.
“Wow, I’m looking forward to it!” Otis exclaimed, his stomach rumbling in anticipation.
The pair found a cozy spot by a babbling brook, and Inerva got to work on preparing their meal. As she expertly cooked the rabbit meat in a pot over an open flame, Otis watched in awe, impressed by her culinary skills.
The time has passed, and it’s time for dinner.
“delicious!”
Otis was delighted with the meat pot made with rabbit meat that was placed on the table.
“Inerva-san is amazing! She can make any dish delicious.”
“Well, I’ve lived quite a long time. I’ve had many opportunities to learn how to cook.” The beautiful, dark elf narrowed her eyes as if tickled by the boy’s pure praise.
The time passed quickly as they ate and chatted, enjoying each other’s company. Inerva shared stories of her travels and adventures, and Otis listened intently, fascinated by her experiences.
As they finished their meal, Inerva turned to Otis with a serious expression on her face. “Hey, Otis,” she began slowly, hesitating for a moment before continuing. “I have something important to ask you.”
Otis looked up, surprised by the sudden change in her tone. “What is it?” he asked, curious to know what was on her mind.
“Isn’t my existence making you uncomfortable?”
At the sudden, heavy question, he put down his dishes and looked at her intently.
“Why does your existence make me uncomfortable, Inerva-san?”
Inerva-san hesitated for a moment before answering. “As you can see, I’m a dark elf, and humans hate dark elves, don’t they?” she said, her voice barely above a whisper.
“Of course”
Otis nodded, understanding the implications of her words. The dark elf race was widely hated in the human world, and they were subjected to discrimination and persecution. There were also many wanted individuals with bounties placed on them.
“But I don’t care about that,” he said firmly, looking straight into the dark elf’s eyes. “I only judge people by their attitude and behavior. So far, I can see that Onee-san is a very good person.”
Inerva-san was overwhelmed with emotion when she heard Otis’s words. She had never met a human who was willing to look beyond her race and judge her based on her character. She felt a warmth spread through her chest, and her eyes started to water.
“”Thank you,” she said, her voice choked with emotion. “Thank you for seeing me as a person and not just a dark elf.”
Otis smiled at her, his eyes crinkling at the corners. “Of course, Inerva-san. We’re all just people, after all.”
For a moment, they sat in comfortable silence, enjoying each other’s company.
Your gift is the motivation for my creation. Give me more motivation!
