Long ago, in a distant past.
“…Did even the World Tree’s fruit fail to work, or did its potency fade because the tree was already dying?”
The ruler of the Demon Realm let out a deep sigh of disappointment and regret as she gazed at the brilliant golden fruit shining before her.
“I apologize for not being of help…”
Before her stood a priestess.
This priestess was a Dark Elf, born with a special power, and entrusted with the duty of overseeing the World Tree.
The Dark Elf lowered her head, her face showing a look of shame.
“You have no need to apologize. This was merely a product of my own stubbornness, my unwillingness to let go.”
The ruler of the Demon Realm tossed the fruit aside indifferently and looked into the priestess’s eyes.
“If there’s an issue, it lies with you and your people. The roots of the World Tree have dried up, and soon the upper part will wither as well. Blame and responsibility will likely fall on you and all Dark Elves. Are you sure you’re willing to go through with my request?”
She spoke of the grim events that would soon take place.
It was a warning of the bloody storm that would soon sweep through the priestess’s homeland.
“…It’s alright. This is an unavoidable fate. Even if the World Tree had survived, they would still find any excuse to wipe us out.”
“Your power structure is baffling. If the strongest being ruled over everyone, there’d be no need for all this scheming. Why go to such troublesome lengths to control one another?”
The priestess accepted it calmly, acknowledging it as an inevitable occurrence, while the ruler clicked her tongue, finding the ways of the Elves incomprehensible.
“Regardless, you’ve fulfilled my request, so I shall repay you. If you wish, I could eliminate all other Elves except the Dark Elves. Tell me if there’s something you desire.”
“That, too, is unnecessary. This is our matter. Borrowing the power of one such as yourself would only create more chaos.”
“You are ridiculously stubborn… I’m offering you anything you want, yet you refuse. I’ll ask one last time. Do you truly desire nothing?”
The ruler shook her head, deeming the Elves foolishly obstinate.
Seeing this, the priestess let out a slight chuckle and replied.
“If that’s the case, should you ever encounter Dark Elves in trouble, please offer them your aid. That is my wish.”
“Utterly frustrating. Very well, as you request, I shall help any Dark Elf I find in distress. Yet all you’d have to do is ask me to eliminate the others.”
With that, the priestess left the Demon Realm’s palace.
The ruler watched her retreating figure, thinking to herself.
‘Indeed, mortals are foolishly simple.’
***
Arsep held the child’s hand tightly as they ran.
Her breath grew ragged, and her legs began to ache, but stopping would mean being caught by their pursuers.
So she kept running without pause.
Fortunately, the glass bottle holding the milk was sturdier than she had expected, and despite her delicate strength, she was able to use it to briefly incapacitate a person with a blow to the head.
Though they would soon recover.
‘If I’d known this would happen, I would have brought him along…!’
She hadn’t anticipated such a situation, especially on the final day, just before they were to return to the palace.
Being a Dark Elf with fair skin did attract attention, but she hadn’t expected anyone would try to capture her in the middle of a city.
As she mentally noted how the world had grown more dangerous than it used to be.
“Ah?”
Suddenly, the child running beside Arsep pulled her into a narrow alley.
“She ran that way! I don’t know who she is, but if I find that wretch, she’s dead!”
Just as they hide in the alley, the man who had collapsed earlier regained consciousness and, with his companions, rushed past them.
His anger flared as he searched for Arsep, his hand trembling with a drawn sword.
The child must have sensed their approach beforehand and led them to hide.
Thanks to this, they avoided capture, but moving toward the inn would be risky now that their pursuers were headed in that direction.
Moreover, her body was weary, and running for too long after such a period of rest was already exhausting.
For now, she caught her breath in the alley.
If she pushed herself any further, she’d likely collapse midway.
“Haa… maybe he was right; perhaps I do need some exercise…”
Arsep panted as she wiped the sweat from her forehead.
“What’s wrong?”
The child tugged at her sleeve, as if they had something to say.
“I’m fine…”
The child shook their head, suggesting she leave them behind and go alone.
Staying together would risk both of them getting caught.
The child’s reaction indicated that they were no stranger to being chased by such people, as if this were not their first experience.
Arsep felt a mix of maturity and sadness from hearing such words from someone so young, wondering what kind of life they must have led to reach this perspective.
“I’m fine too. There’s no need to worry too much. Just a little further, and we’ll reach someone I trust. Once we’re with them, we’ll be safe, so don’t worry.”
Arsep reassured the child, gently patting their head.
Although she was anxious about the situation, she didn’t want to make the child worry.
Unfortunately, reality seemed far less forgiving.
***
Arsep scanned her surroundings and stepped out of the alley, intending to head back to the inn.
“Hey.”
No sooner had she emerged than another voice called out.
This voice was different from the man who had earlier run in the direction of the inn.
Outside the alley, a large man stood blocking the path in front of Arsep and the child.
Through the shadow of his worn hat, a menacing scar glinted fiercely.
“Let’s not make this difficult. Just hand over the kid, and I’ll let you go.”
The large man scratched his head in annoyance and gestured for the child.
“And if I refuse?”
Naturally, she wouldn’t hand over the child just because of his words.
“I don’t care; that was just something I said to pass the time.”
The man had no intention of letting Arsep go even if she handed over the child; his words were nothing more than empty talk to amuse himself.
In reality, he was already closing the distance, his hand gripping the sword at his waist.
“Hey! What’s going on there? Don’t you know it’s forbidden to draw weapons within city limits?”
At that moment, the city guards on patrol noticed Arsep’s location.
This area, after all, had more foot traffic than the alley where she had met the child, and thus, guards were more likely to be present.
“Put your sword away and raise your hands above your head!”
She breathed a sigh of relief.
“Alright, alright… Is this good enough, officer?”
‘Strange, he’s surprisingly cooperative for someone of his build.’
“Right? He looks like a thief.”
“It’s unwise to judge people by their appearance. I’m a model citizen, officers.”
When the two guards approached, the man complied, sheathing his sword and raising his hands.
It seemed he had no interest in causing trouble within the city.
“Are you hurt?”
“No, thankfully.”
Arsep felt a brief moment of relief as she saw the guards paying attention to her and the Dark Elf child.
“Wait, is it just me, or does it look like you’ve taken a hit to the head?”
“What are you talking—”
“Officers.”
“Arrgh…?!”
Suddenly, the man grabbed the guards’ heads with his large hands, easily able to grip an adult’s head, even with metal helmets on.
With terrifying force, he crushed their helmets and the guards’ heads together.
The moment of safety vanished instantly as the guards fell limply to the ground.
“Apologies, but I’m a model citizen… just not of this city.”
“This lunatic…”
Arsep took a step back, shielding the child.
Only a fool or a man entirely unbothered by attacking guards would commit such an act against the city’s security forces.
Assaulting guards was akin to declaring war against the city and the nation it belonged to, which would lead to a continent-wide bounty once word got out.
Yet the man dispatched the guards without a second thought, suggesting he was no stranger to crime.
“Hey! Did you find the kid?”
“And that damn girl who cracked my skull?!”
To make matters worse, his companions, who had disappeared earlier, were returning to the scene.
‘This is bad…’
There was no longer any opportunity to escape.
Arsep held the child close, closing her eyes tightly.
And then.
“And here we have our dear Demon Lord vanishing off alone in the middle of the night!”
“Who the hell is this?”
Suddenly, a voice sounded naturally among the man’s companions.
“And who the hell are you all?”
“Why do you care, dead man?”
Startled by this unexpected third-party arrival, the men immediately drew their swords and swung at him.
The Dark Elf child seemed shocked, but Arsep, now safe, felt her legs give out as she collapsed to the ground.
Crash!
A sharp blade sliced through the air, aimed directly at the newcomer’s head.
Strangely, when the sword struck him, it shattered as if it had hit solid rock.
Everyone, except Arsep, momentarily froze in confusion.
A blade should slice through a head, not shatter.
“No, hold on—”
But before anyone could react, something faster than sound struck the man’s face.
Thud!
The man’s body flew through the air, crashing into the wall.
Once again, everyone except Arsep paused in shock.
Of course, they were more stunned when they heard his following words.
“…Glad it didn’t explode this time.”
What exactly didn’t explode?
As the others looked at him in bewilderment, he alternated between glancing at his fist and the head of the man he had just sent flying, smiling with satisfaction.
It seemed his efforts to avoid making things explode had finally paid off.
Once again, Arsep was the only one who understood his words.