Kraft Joins the Journey

It was a good thing that the Three-Race Allied Forces were clearing the monsters from this world.

The Human Race would benefit as well, and their living environment would improve greatly.

After all, between a race that could communicate and one that was completely impossible to communicate with and knew only slaughter, the former was obviously better.

After struggling with the decision again and again, Serie ultimately shook her head and refused.

"I'm not interested in war!"

Kraft was clearly stunned by those words, and even Rhode shot her an incredulous look.

Hearing those words from Serie was as surprising as hearing an old miser say, "I'm not interested in money."

"This really is..."

Kraft did not know what to say, but since Serie had said so, he could only refrain from bringing it up again.

After all, in a war between nations, Serie's strength alone was still too insignificant.

If she were given another thousand years or so, she might become a renowned mage among the elves, but the current Serie was clearly not strong enough.

"By the way, why did you cross this swamp? That member of the Winged race should have told you this place was dangerous, right?"

Serie said nothing. Instead, she looked at Rhode, signaling for him to explain himself.

Rhode could only step forward. "I heard there was a Human Race settlement in Gremir Forest, and I wanted to take a look. That's why I risked entering this swamp. I just didn't expect..."

Rhode had thought they had been careful enough. Not only had they avoided monsters the entire way, but they had also cast plenty of Detection Magic and Warning Magic.

Yet they had still been discovered by those Demon Race members.

He would have to be more careful next time.

He had always been reckless in this world, but he also had to consider Serie's feelings. After all, if not for his request, she would never have stepped out of the Elf Forest.

If Som had not suddenly joined in, they really would have had a hard time breaking out. That Magic Scale Beast alone would have been enough to give the two of them a miserable time.

"I see. I've seen that settlement too. It's a fine place."

Kraft nodded, clearly agreeing with Rhode.

That Human Race settlement had left a very good impression on Kraft. Every human there had been extremely friendly, and Kraft had stayed there for a while back then.

During that time, two children had hoped he would teach them martial arts. Kraft had agreed, since he had honed all his skills himself and was not bound by the rules of the Elf Forest.

Those two human children had been highly talented. Unfortunately, their human bodies had ultimately limited them. Otherwise, they would certainly have become powerful warriors.

Ten years had passed since then, and the two of them should have grown up by now. Kraft suddenly wanted to see how far their martial skills had progressed, so he made a suggestion.

"Gremir Forest is still some distance from here. I'll come with you."

"What about your scouting mission?" Serie glanced at him.

"Don't worry about it."

Kraft whistled, and a small emerald-green bird flew down. He used magic power to write a message on a piece of paper, then the bird carried it off into the distance.

"It seems you've learned quite a few interesting spells over the years."

Serie could tell at a glance that the magic Kraft had just used had never been recorded among the elves. He had likely learned it during his travels.

"Can't be helped. I can't learn advanced magic, so I had to look for magic I could learn."

While the two were talking, Rhode found time to approach Som. "By the way, how did you track us?"

Based on Som's earlier brief explanation, it seemed that not long after Rhode and Serie had set out, he had followed them.

He had then trailed behind them the entire time, which made Rhode's heart tremble. He had never noticed him at all.

It was fortunate that it had been Som, a Dwarf. If it had been another race, or even those Demon Race members, Rhode might not have known even if someone had slit his throat in his sleep one day.

Som smiled awkwardly. "Actually, I didn't dare get too close. I kept figuring out where you were headed by following the ashes from your campfires."

"Are you really a Dwarf?"

Rhode stared in disbelief at the beardless Dwarf before him.

Was this really the rough, bold, free-spirited Dwarf from his understanding?

"Of course I'm a Dwarf warrior!" Som puffed out his chest, his tone incomparably serious. "One day, I'll become the strongest Dwarf warrior. I'll make everyone in the village see me in a new light."

"Not a bad ambition."

Since Som had followed them for so many days, Rhode felt too embarrassed to drive him away. Besides, they truly needed a warrior at the front.

The Dwarf Som had been a great help during their escape through the swamp.

If he had not kept covering their retreat, then with Rhode's limited combat ability alone, they might not have escaped unscathed.

Moreover, Som's attacks had been what broke through the Magic Scale Beast's defenses at the end.

Just as Kraft had said, Som would surely become a powerful warrior in the future.

There was no harm in bringing him along.

In truth, Rhode also wanted Kraft to join his party. Kraft was even stronger, and he knew some magic as well. Whether they explored the Dwarven Ruins or traveled to the Land of Fallen Gods, he would be a valuable ally.

But unfortunately, Kraft did not seem interested in any of that.

Because after hearing Serie's destinations, Kraft, who stood not far away, was clearly concerned.

"Serie, as a fellow elf, I still have to advise you. Neither the Land of Fallen Gods nor the Dwarven Ruins is somewhere you can explore at your current level."

Not even at the Three-Race Kings' Conference did anyone dare suggest investigating those two places.

The Dwarven King greatly wished to reclaim his homeland, but the other two Kings would never agree to his request.

Because that place had effectively become a kingdom of monsters.

The three races had joined forces to clear out the monsters overrunning this world, not to declare war on this kingdom of monsters.

Only one day, when they took the initiative to leave the Dwarven Ruins and began invading the surrounding areas, would the three races consider launching a war against them.

As for the Land of Fallen Gods, its name alone made it clear that it was not a place ordinary people could enter.

Besides, over the past thousand years, countless creatures had entered it, but not a single one had ever come back out.

Those who entered never returned.

That was the terrifying nature of the Land of Fallen Gods.

Hearing Kraft's warning, Serie frowned slightly. She did not answer, instead looking at Rhode.

She would not tell Kraft that Rhode possessed the talent for Creation Magic. That was far too shocking.

Before Rhode became powerful, letting others learn of it would only bring danger upon him.

Nor would Serie drag Rhode to explore those two places right now.

In her plan, they would only attempt it after Rhode had grown stronger—after he possessed at least seventy percent of her current strength.

Before then, she had to make Rhode learn more and stronger magic. Only then could he create magic capable of killing gods.