[Empire Highway No. 12 Dungeon and Monster Subjugation Report]
[Reporter: Ronos, 3rd Army of the Empire, commanding one battalion]
…
[Damage Report: No allied casualties. Seven lightly injured. Two seriously injured. Nearby highway was completely destroyed.]
[Special Notes: Trolls appeared, not monsters from the existing dungeon. Countermeasures needed for each situation.]
[In the damage report, the destruction of the highway was not caused by monsters but by ‘elves.’]
*
“Hmm.”
This is unfair.
Why on earth do I have to be detained by the Empire’s forces?
I only did what was right and prevented unnecessary sacrifices.
The Baron’s children were on the verge of becoming unrecognizable victims!
But on second thought, perhaps I shouldn’t feel so wronged.
Saving people was indeed a good deed, but the results weren’t all that favorable.
When I came to my senses, not only the rocks but the entire highway was obliterated.
Elenia’s awkward smile.
The human commander looked horrified.
The only thought that came to my mind while looking at them was, “I’m doomed.”
No matter how good your intentions are, if the process is a disaster, there’s nothing more to say.
The strangest part is that the Empire is convinced my actions were due to “magic” or “spirit arts.”
Even though I confessed I did it with my sword, they insist that’s impossible.
Sure, elves are known for their exceptional magic and spirit arts, but isn’t this too much?
“…It’s all because of our people, isn’t it?”
“There were some who showed interest in martial arts, but very few pursued it seriously like I did. The ones I saw could be counted on two hands.”
That magic.
That spirit arts.
And if not those, then archery.
It’s not an unnecessary misconception humans came up with—it’s a self-inflicted stereotype by elves.
They themselves proclaim, “Magic is the best!” or “Spirit arts are supreme!” all the time.
So, when an elf suddenly claims they did something with a sword, who’s going to believe it?
Still, one fortunate thing is that, while I’m being detained, they’re not being overly hostile.
Even if elves are often troublemakers, they know where to draw the line.
And the ones who’ve ensured that are none other than the baron’s people who were with us.
“If there’s accountability to be had for this incident, we can’t absolve ourselves either. If we hadn’t been there, they wouldn’t have had to act so urgently.”
“I, Maria Heiner, the eldest daughter of Baron Heiner and a new student at the academy, can confidently assure you. These two elves did not intentionally damage the highway. In fact, they’ve often gone out of their way to accommodate humans, even in the barony.”
The reason the Empire’s forces look at me with wary eyes boils down to one thing:
If I have the skill to cut through rocks so cleanly, why didn’t I stop there?
They’re concerned that I disregard human laws and order, cutting whatever’s in sight—highways today, buildings or people tomorrow.
Such thoughts arise, and now they’re trying to figure out my true intentions.
It’s a ridiculous misunderstanding, but, again, it’s understandable.
To be fair, what if a power-drunk elf had decided to slash highways, passersby, and anything else?
From their perspective, they must prioritize verifying if I pose a danger to the Empire.
However, with the baron’s people staunchly defending us and the undeniable fact that I helped them, it’s impossible to ignore both points based on suspicion alone.
That’s why neither Elenia nor I strongly protested.
“…I apologize for the inconvenience, everyone.”
Less than an hour later, the man responsible for the Empire’s forces, Ronnos, came and bowed his head.
“We never intended to diminish the courageous actions of you two elves. However, regarding the highway damage, we at least needed to make an effort to investigate…”
They must’ve been in a difficult position too. Without us, there would’ve been casualties.
The help was real, but the highway was completely obliterated in the process.
And not just any highway—it’s the main road to the capital, which would cause immense inconvenience.
The military ultimately bears responsibility for that, so they had no choice but to investigate.
This isn’t about elves or humans; it’s a matter of national governance.
And I can understand that, having memories and experiences from my time as a human.
“No, we understand that fully. If anything, we’re sorry for acting so hastily without considering the aftermath.”
“Apologies.”
At those words, the human man, Ronnos, raised an eyebrow.
He seemed genuinely surprised that an elf apologized right away.
It must’ve been unexpected; they probably assumed I’d express displeasure instead.
“…I hear you’re on your way to the capital?”
Instead of answering, I glanced at Elenia beside me.
It was true we were headed there, but I didn’t know exactly whom or where we were supposed to meet.
“Yes, that’s correct. We have someone we need to visit.”
“Someone to… visit, you say?”
Once again, their reaction was baffling.
From the elf’s mouth came the phrase “the person we’re going to visit.”
To Elenia, he’s a revered mentor, but to humans, such a title feels awkward.
Elves, as a race, are known to treat others as equals only when they deem them worthy, so this was quite unexpected.
“By any chance, are you talking about an elf living in the capital?”
“No, not at all. He’s a human. A human, but at times, I wonder… is he really human?”
“A human who’s not human…?”
Ronnos stroked his chin and exclaimed, “Ah!”
“Could it be… are you two going to visit Lord Noah?”
Lord Noah? Noah?
“Oh my! Do you know of him?”
Apparently, that’s correct.
The mentor of Elenia and the human who will teach me the ultimate state of nothingness.
But how does this Ronnos guy know that?
Is he an acquaintance?
A relative?
A descendant?
“I never thought an elf would describe him that way, but if such expressions are being used, then it must be Lord Noah. Recently, he was assigned to the academy, causing quite a stir in the capital. Since our unit is stationed near the capital, we’re well-informed about it.”
Ronnos suddenly clapped his hands and exclaimed as if everything made sense.
“Why didn’t you mention Lord Noah earlier? Knowing you’re acquainted with him would have helped me understand why an elf is using a sword.”
“From what I remember, my mentor never had a particularly great reputation. Has that changed in the past few years?”
“Well… no, that hasn’t changed. Haha…”
It seems the stir caused by his assignment to the academy wasn’t exactly positive.
But what kind of person has a reputation so poor that even Elenia confirms it immediately?
A strange sense of unease swept through me, but I decided to set it aside for now.
“If you plan to meet Lord Noah, head to the academy. He’s not someone who stays in one place for long, so you should head there without delay.”
“You seem to know a lot about him?”
“Well, he briefly served as an instructor for the Imperial Army. During that time, he turned fifty knights into invalids in half a day.”
“Haha…”
What is this?
What am I even walking into?
I’m supposed to meet a human, right?
Then why does it feel like I’m heading toward someone no different from the terrifying monsters I’ve fought before?
I had high hopes for Elenia’s mentor since she’s such an admirable elf, but why am I now imagining someone with the complete opposite nature?
Unaware of my concerns, the Imperial soldiers finally let Elenia and me go.
They assured us there were no confirmed dungeons or monsters on the way to the capital, so there’d be no need to use our swords.
If something did appear, they begged us to only slay the monsters and spare the surroundings.
*
“…They’re leaving.”
“There’s no reason to hold them any longer.”
Ronnos shrugged at his subordinate’s comment as he watched us leave.
The necessary formalities had been completed.
There was no reason to keep us any longer.
They weren’t imperial citizens, and their intentions seemed genuinely benevolent.
Dragging this out further or demanding compensation would only harm the Imperial Army’s pride.
“But, Ronnos, are those elves really acquaintances of Lord Noah?”
“Elves can be a difficult bunch, but they rarely lie. Besides, if their swordsmanship isn’t magic or spirit arts, it makes their connection to Lord Noah entirely plausible.”
“True, his swordsmanship is renowned even within the empire.”
The subordinate paused for a moment before continuing.
“But it’s surprising. Lord Noah isn’t that old, yet he has connections with elves?”
“What are you talking about? Lord Noah isn’t young at all.”
“Isn’t he? The last time I saw him, he seemed barely in his twenties…”
“He’s much older than us, you fool.”
“Huh? But he doesn’t look at it… Is Lord Noah an elf too?”
Ronnos shook his head.
If he were an elf, his ears would at least be pointed.
“Then what is he exactly…?”
“Don’t bother trying to figure it out.”
“I don’t know the details either. All I know is that he appeared out of nowhere, crushed a few so-called strong warriors, and then settled down. Beyond that, monsters have their own world, and we’re better off leaving it at that.”
Ronnos said this while watching his subordinates clear the wreckage from the road.
No one was to blame, but seeing the destruction still made him sigh involuntarily.