Kraft's Company

It is a good thing that the Three-Race Allied Forces are cleansing this world of monsters.

When the time comes, the human race will also benefit, and their living environment will improve greatly.

After all, between a race that can communicate and one that cannot communicate at all and only knows slaughter, the former is obviously better.

Serie hesitated for a long time, but ultimately shook her head in refusal.

"I have no interest in war!"

Kraft was clearly stunned by these words, and even Rhode cast an incredulous look her way.

Hearing such words from Serie's mouth was as shocking as hearing an old horse say, "I have no interest in money."

"Well, this is..."

Kraft didn't know what to say, but since Serie had spoken thus, he had no choice but to drop the matter.

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

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

"By the way, why are you crossing this swamp? That winged race member should have told you how dangerous it is here, right?"

Serie didn't speak but instead looked at Rhode, signaling for him to explain himself.

Rhode had no choice but to step forward: "I heard there's a human tribe in Gremir Forest, and I wanted to go see it, so I took the risk of entering this swamp. I just didn't expect..."

Rhode thought they had been careful enough, not only walking while avoiding monsters the entire way but also casting various Detection Magic and Warning Magic without restraint.

Yet they were still discovered by those demon race members.

Next time, he would have to be even more cautious.

He himself was used to being reckless in this world, but he still had to consider Serie's feelings. After all, if not for his request, she would never have left the Elf Forest.

If Som hadn't suddenly intervened, breaking out would have been truly difficult. Just that Magic Scale Beast alone would have been more than the two of them could handle.

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

Kraft nodded, clearly agreeing with Rhode's statement.

That human settlement gave Kraft a very good impression. Every human was extremely friendly. Kraft had even stayed there for a while back then.

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

Those two human children had excellent talent. Unfortunately, their human bodies ultimately limited them; otherwise, they would surely have become powerful warriors.

Now ten years had passed, and those two should have grown up. Kraft suddenly wanted to see how far their martial skills had progressed, so he made a proposal.

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

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

"Don't worry."

Kraft whistled, and a small emerald-green bird flew down. He used his magical power to write a message on a piece of paper, and the bird carried the paper 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 spells he had just used were never recorded among the elves. They must have been learned during his own adventures.

"What can I do? I couldn't learn high-level magic, so I had to find spells I could actually master."

While the two were conversing, Rhode took the opportunity to approach Som: "By the way, how did you manage to follow us?"

According to the other's brief explanation earlier, it seemed that not long after he and Serie set out, Som had also set out.

Then he had been following behind them the whole time. This made Rhode's heart skip a beat—he had never noticed at all.

If it had been anyone other than the dwarf Som, or even one of those demon race members, he might have had his throat slit in his sleep without ever knowing.

Som smiled sheepishly: "Actually, I didn't dare follow too closely. I've been guessing your movements from the embers of your campfires."

"Are you really a dwarf?"

Rhode looked incredulously at the beardless dwarf before him.

Was this the same rough, bold, and unrestrained dwarf he knew?

"Of course I'm a dwarf warrior!" Som puffed out his chest, his tone utterly serious. "I'm going to become the strongest dwarf warrior in existence, and I'll make everyone in the village see me in a new light."

"Not a bad idea."

Since the other had already followed him for so many days, Rhode couldn't very well drive him away. Besides, they really did need a frontline warrior.

The dwarf Som had been a great help during this escape through the swamp.

If not for him constantly covering their retreat, Rhode's combat strength alone might not have been enough to escape unscathed.

Moreover, the Magic Scale Beast they encountered at the end could only be broken through thanks to Som's attacks.

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

There was no harm in bringing him along.

In truth, Rhode also wished Kraft would join his team. The other was stronger and knew some magic, making him a good asset whether exploring the Dwarven Ruins or heading to the Land of Fallen Gods.

But unfortunately, the other seemed to have no interest in such things.

Because not far away, Kraft clearly had some reservations after hearing Serie's destination.

"Serie, as a fellow kin, I still advise you: neither the Land of Fallen Gods nor the Dwarven Ruins are places you can explore in your current state."

Even at the Three-Race Kings' Conference, no one dared to propose investigating those two locations.

The Dwarven King very much wanted to reclaim his homeland, but the other two kings would never agree to his request.

Because a nation of Monsters had effectively formed there.

The three races had united to purge the Monsters overrunning this world, not to declare war on that Monster nation.

Unless one day the enemy took the initiative to step out of the Dwarven Ruins and began invading the surrounding areas, only then would they consider launching a war against it.

As for the Land of Fallen Gods, just the name alone made it clear that it was not a place ordinary beings could go.

Moreover, over the past thousand years, countless creatures had entered it, but none had ever come out.

Entry without exit.

That was the terror of the Land of Fallen Gods.

Hearing Kraft's warning, Serie furrowed her brow slightly. Instead of answering, she looked toward Rhode.

She would not tell the Kraft before her that Rhode possessed the talent for Creation Magic—that matter was far too shocking.

Until Rhode grew strong, letting others know about this would only bring him danger.

And Serie had no intention of dragging Rhode to explore those two places right now.

In her plan, she would only attempt this after Rhode had grown stronger—at least to seventy percent of her current strength.

Before that, she had to make Rhode learn more and more powerful magic; only then could he create a spell capable of killing a god.