Elves.
When one thinks of elves, the image that comes to mind is usually a graceful race skilled with bows, attuned to spirits, and in harmony with nature.
But the elves of this world are a little different.
They bear only daughters, requiring others to provide them with “seeds.”
Contrary to the common trope of orcs assaulting elves in the shadows, here it’s a different story altogether.
“Please, I have a family!”
“Shut up, pig! Hand over your seed now!”
Such is the grim reality of this world.
This world comprises multiple nations.
a single Empire,
kingdoms primarily composed of humans,
and nations established by other races.
The labyrinth emerged within the Empire’s territory, but its entrances are not confined to the Empire.
There’s the World Tree, the sacred land of the elves.
The Dragon Veins, sacred to the beastfolk.
The Highlands of Giants, sacred to orcs.
The Eternal Flame, revered by dwarves.
Entrances to the labyrinth exist in these sacred sites as well.
The labyrinth is a place where time and space are a chaotic mix, allowing encounters that should never happen.
Normally, such clashes would be impossible, but with intent, one could invade another’s domain.
In the early days of the labyrinth’s existence, such chaos was rampant.
At that time, agreements existed among the races, as the Demon King—a mutual threat to their survival—loomed over them.
But as time passed, and countless powerful individuals emerged from the labyrinth,
the agreements began to falter.
This led to a great war.
Empowered by the forces gained from the labyrinth, nations began encroaching on each other’s territories.
The result? Near-total devastation.
Barely avoiding extinction, they forged new agreements, vowing that anyone attempting to break them in the future would face collective retribution.
“…This is why the Earfolk are such a problem.”
Erme let out a long sigh as she spoke.
This was Erme’s explanation so far.
However, there were a few points that didn’t sit right with me.
“But why are they attacking us now?”
“Well… while the agreement prohibits outright aggression, I think this time is a bit different.”
“What do you mean, different?”
“What I mean is…” Erme continued, “as I mentioned, the elf race is structured in a peculiar way—they can only give birth to daughters and must acquire seeds from other races.”
“That’s right.”
“So, as part of the agreements, the elves included a clause. When it’s time for them to gather seeds, they’re allowed to invade other labyrinths and take the seeds of men.”
“…”
I didn’t even know how to react to that.
I understood it was tied to their racial traits, but…
“This is just plain stupid.”
Couldn’t they have come up with a better justification?
“Moreover,” Erme added, “even if battles occur in the process, both sides have agreed to turn a blind eye.”
“…So killing them is allowed?”
“Yes, it’s not an issue.”
I didn’t expect myself to say this, but in an age of such barbarism, survival often meant accepting the unacceptable.
“Still, it’s best to avoid fighting them if we can.”
“Why?”
“Elves are at their strongest in labyrinths like this. Beyond their physical superiority to ordinary humans, their true strength lies in their mastery of stealth.”
“Most people can’t even detect when they’re hiding,” Erme explained.
“That does seem to be the case.”
I nodded in agreement. After all, the elf nearby had approached us, and I had only sensed them much too late.
But… this might actually be doable.
We could potentially get through this without losing anyone.
Still, I chose not to voice this thought. It would be unfair to ask the team to place their faith in my uncertain intuition.
“For now, let’s get out of here quickly.”
“…It’s a shame to abandon this labyrinth. With them around, clearing it will be too difficult.”
“There’s still plenty to learn at The Cradle,” Erme said. “Withdrawing isn’t the worst option.”
The group settled on retreat as the best course of action. I nodded without protest.
Once the decision to retreat was made, Erme led us out with impressive speed, as if our safety was her absolute priority.
“The more time I spend with her, the more I realize…”
She’s truly an exceptional leader.
She keeps her promises, makes quick decisions, and when it comes to combat, she’s relentless.
The problem was that Erme’s skill was almost too overwhelming, and she trusted me far too much.
“Nobody’s perfect,” I thought.
But that flaw of hers was a big one, considering I preferred to keep a low profile.
“Five goblins ahead.”
I also sensed faint traces of movement down the path to the right—two presences.
I quickly relayed this information to Erme.
“There are five goblins in front of us, and I think there are elves hiding on the path to the right.”
“Can you locate the hidden elves?”
It seemed like Erme was eager to eliminate the elves if possible.
“Well, of course.”
Five goblins wouldn’t pose much of a threat, but if the elves launched a surprise attack from behind, it could be dangerous.
“I’ll give it a try.”
“I’m counting on you.”
She usually spoke formally, but in urgent situations, she always switched to casual speech.
Not that it mattered right now.
I focused on the two presences. I trusted the information provided by Thief’s Pinnacle (S), but…
“It’s not guaranteed to be perfect.”
I carefully aimed my bow toward where I sensed the faintest of movements.
Creak!
The elves, startled, betrayed their positions with the subtlest shift.
Even if I couldn’t see them clearly, my instincts were sharp.
Then, something in my vision shifted—a faint blue line shone brightly, guiding me.
“Innate Combat Instincts (B).”
At the same time, I felt a strange certainty that this arrow would hit the enemy’s most vital spot.
I loosed the arrow, aiming along the glowing blue line.
The arrow curved mid-flight as if pulled by an unseen force and struck an elf squarely in the face.
Thwack!
“Nice shot!” Erme shouted with glee.
Without hesitation, she charged forward, beheading the other elf in a single, clean strike. Blood splattered across her face.
“Her swordsmanship is downright brutal.”
Thanks to her combat instincts, it was clear how eerily skilled she was with a blade.
During a short rest, Erme suddenly made a remark.
“These Earfolk are way too weak.”
But that wasn’t entirely correct.
It wasn’t that the elves were weak.
“We’re just too strong.”
Something felt off.
They weren’t supposed to die this easily.
The Earfolk were notorious for relentlessly hunting their prey in the dark, earning the fear and hatred of every race.
As Erme mulled over the situation, she glanced at Han Yuseong.
The reason the elves were underperforming was clear.
Whenever an elf came within range, Yuseong either dealt with them or detected their presence before they could act.
“What a shame.”
Yuseong, now out of stamina, had slumped to the ground for a rest.
While everyone had their weaknesses, his was rather glaring.
Perhaps because he was so talented, Yuseong never bothered with physical training.
“Even an assassin needs a minimum level of stamina.”
Watching him struggle to recover after just a bit of running, Erme couldn’t help but sigh.
Even Marcel, their bespectacled support mage, was only slightly winded.
Yet Yuseong, who also used a bow, clearly needed to train his strength.
While the dwarven-made bow he carried didn’t require significant physical force to use, it wouldn’t serve him well past a certain point of progression.
Still, compared to other thieves Erme had considered recruiting for her party, Yuseong was leagues ahead.
Most thieves came from the slums, and many had dubious morals.
The fact that Yuseong hadn’t tried to pickpocket their party members already placed him in the top 1% of thieves.
“You’re really something,” Theresa remarked, causing Yuseong to nod casually in acknowledgment.
But internally, Yuseong was deep in thought.
“The Earfolk are supposed to be dangerous, but this feels way too easy.”
The experience points, which he visualized as a resource, were rising steadily.
“Could these elves be a valuable source of experience points?”
The timing of their incursion into the labyrinth seemed suspiciously convenient for farming experience.
“No, I must be losing my mind.”
Perhaps living among barbarians for so long was affecting his judgment.
Though he tried to push the thought aside, Yuseong couldn’t help but view the elves as nothing more than walking experience points.
With a quiet sigh, he pushed himself to his feet.
Resting had restored more of his stamina than expected, and he felt ready to continue.
Then his expression hardened.
“Five of them… but one of them is unusually strong.”
This time, the approaching enemy didn’t bother to conceal their presence.
Instead, they made their presence abundantly clear, stepping out boldly in front of the group.
“You’re quite something, aren’t you?” the elf said, their voice cold and accusatory. “To have killed a full ten of my kin…”
“…This one seems to be an elite,” Erme remarked, her tone sharpening.
Marcel raised his staff, preparing for battle.
Erme stood at the front, ready to engage, while Theresa positioned herself behind Han Yuseong and Marcel, ensuring their protection.
“Hmmm…”
The elf, exuding an air of confidence, focused her gaze on Han Yuseong.
Her sharp eyes gleamed with interest.
Though drenched in sweat, Yuseong’s melancholic eyes and cool expression made him easily the most attractive man in the group.
“Quite my type…”
Her gaze briefly shifted to Marcel, the bespectacled man nearby.
Dismissing him as unimportant, she thought, “I’ll just throw him to one of my subordinates.”
“You, I like you,” she declared, locking her attention on Yuseong.
“For an Earfolk, you’ve got some high standards,” Erme shot back, stepping forward protectively.
“And who are you?” the elf asked.
“I’m the leader of this party.”
“What, nothing more than that? Well, even if you were his girlfriend, I wouldn’t back off.”
“You’re disgusting.”
“Relax. My name is Rishiel. And the black-haired man over there—what’s his name?”
“…”
“What, ignoring me? Well, I’ll forgive it because you’re attractive.”
Rishiel smirked, exuding an air of casual arrogance.
“Don’t worry; as long as you come with me quietly, I’ll guarantee your safety. I’m Rishiel, of the Darkmoon family—one of the three great families serving the World Tree.”
“And the others in your party?”
“Do I need to bother? I don’t see the point in sparing the women.”
Han Yuseong raised his sword.
He had no intention of going quietly, but Rishiel’s dismissive words made it clear that this would end in a fight.
To be honest, Yuseong thought, “She probably doesn’t intend to kill me.”
But that didn’t change anything.
As Yuseong took his stance, tension spread across the elves’ faces.
“If you insist on drinking the cup of punishment…” Rishiel said, drawing a long, elegant weapon—a rapier.
“Women who overstep their bounds must pay the price. I’ll turn you into a pincushion,” she said with a cruel smile.
“And don’t worry, I’ll make sure to aim only for your head. No need to fuss about anything else.”
“Your pride is intact, at least,” Erme muttered, stepping forward.
Just as Erme and Rishiel prepared to clash, the air shifted.
Han Yuseong stepped forward.
“You handle the others,” he said.
“Got it.”
“Are you sure you can manage this alone?” Theresa asked, her concern evident.
Han Yuseong thought to himself.
“She wants to take me hostage.”
That was Rishiel’s goal, and it gave him an edge.
He also had a hidden card to play—something that could turn the tide against her.
“This is the right move.”
Truthfully, Yuseong would have preferred to run away.
But with the number of elves Erme was facing, retreating would only leave them exposed.
Reducing their numbers quickly was the best way to maximize their chances of survival.
“She’s drawn to strength. That much is clear.”
Rishiel grinned, her confidence evident. “You’re intriguing. That spirit of yours makes you even more appealing.”
“This should be fun…” she said, drawing her weapon with a flourish.
Erme clicked her tongue. “Fine, just this once, I’ll let you have your way.”
Grumbling, she dashed toward the other elves, her blade flashing as she engaged them.
The fight against Rishiel was surprisingly easy.
The reason?
As Yuseong moved to steal her weapon mid-duel, his ability activated.
[You have stolen Rishiel’s soul.]
“Why did I steal that instead of her weapon?”
Something strange had occurred.
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