The Elves' Faith

Day twenty-two of the adventure.

With Kraft's addition, Mr. Rhode and Miss Serie's journey became much easier.

Especially the dwarf Som, who always charged in first during battle; sometimes Mr. Rhode hadn't even exerted himself before the fight was over.

If the enemy couldn't be dealt with quickly, Kraft and Serie would step in too, and basically no monster could withstand the attacks of these three.

During this time, Mr. Rhode also persisted every day in raising his own mana level.

He even found time to ask Serie to teach him that light-pillar missile magic, and Serie naturally agreed, guiding him hand by hand on how to condense light and then make it explode.

Seeing this scene, Kraft could only smile wryly and simply move aside to avoid watching the two.

"Delicious, delicious! Give me another bowl, Mr. Rhode."

By the campfire, the dwarf Som praised the wild vegetable and mushroom soup in his bowl, having never tasted such refined and flavorful cooking before.

"Just call me Rhode."

Rhode filled another bowl for Som. This guy, aside from his fighting and appetite being like a dwarf, was nothing like a dwarf in other respects.

Just the fact that he could sew clothes made Rhode a bit unable to hold it together.

He had no idea how those big hands of his could wield such a tiny embroidery needle so skillfully; he could only say that sometimes stereotypes really do a number on you.

"It really is good. I suddenly understand a bit why you, Serie, would travel with Rhode."

Kraft ate large skewers of grilled meat, praising it heartily.

"That's not the reason."

Serie retorted, holding a bowl of mushroom soup and sipping it slowly.

Ever since she'd been scalded last time, she'd learned her lesson and blew on it twice before each sip.

"But I'm surprised you actually accept these foods."

Kraft, back in the Elf Forest, had been a pure vegetarian like herself—except she hadn't had a choice, and occasionally tried novel foods.

Like the grilled mushroom skewers Rhode had handed her when they first met.

And now Kraft eating meat so heartily did surprise Serie a little.

"In these hundred years of adventuring, there haven't been the fruits and plants of the Elf Forest, so when you're hungry, you eat whatever's available. Basically, every adventuring companion ends up like this in the end."

Hearing Kraft say this, Rhode had a bold guess in his mind.

Could it be that thousands of years later, all these ancient elves would turn into elves like Frieren, eating meat with gusto?

Rhode felt he was vaguely touching on the truth of history.

"By the way, I thought you elves only had the Elf Forest as your base, but it turns out there's an elven nation too." Rhode remarked with a sigh.

"That would be about two thousand years ago." Kraft spoke slowly. "At the start of the War of the Gods, the elves in the Elf Forest had a disagreement over the war."

This even involved the beginning of the Age of Gods?

Rhode quickly shifted his body closer, ears perked, ready to learn this hidden history.

But he didn't notice that his whole body had pressed against Serie. When he realized it, he saw his thigh tightly touching hers, and he could even smell the faint fragrance coming from her.

Fortunately, it seemed Miss Serie didn't mind this.

For her, as long as Rhode didn't restrain her like he had in the tent before, it was fine.

Seeing that Serie showed no sign of refusal, Rhode simply didn't move away, shamelessly staying seated beside her.

And Kraft's narration continued.

"Elves are believers in the Goddess of Life, but the Goddess's favored race isn't elves—it's the Winged race.

In the War of the Gods, the Goddess of Life was also drawn in. Some elves believed they should fight for the Goddess, while others thought an elf's choice had nothing to do with faith.

In the end, some elves left the forest, abandoning the title of Ancient Elf."

"Sounds a bit like the story of the strongest elf in history and the strongest elf of the modern age."

Rhode let out an inexplicable remark, which no one else understood.

"The strongest elf in history?" Kraft asked with interest. "Who do you mean? Lucimi? Ladorath? Or Kevin Trell?"

Kraft rattled off a few names Rhode had never heard before.

But they must have been famous elven powerhouses from history; it seemed Kraft had misunderstood his meaning.

So he quickly laughed it off. "Ah, just a legend I heard in the tribe. I can't even remember the names."

Serie gave him a suspicious look. "Human tribes have legends about elves?"

She had asked Rhode where he came from before, and he only said he'd sailed from across the eastern sea, from a very, very large human nation.

Whether it was true or false, Serie couldn't tell.

After all, she didn't know what was on the other side of that sea either.

"Well..." Rhode continued his lie, "maybe it's a story told by some traveler who once saw an elf."

Anyway, in this kind of continent-style other world, no one knew what lay beyond the sea.

So Rhode could just make up whatever he wanted.

Kraft laughed heartily. "I see. So we elves are quite famous among humans after all!"

Famous indeed, though their reputation had gradually twisted over time.

Rhode grumbled inwardly, but this time he kept his mouth shut to avoid more questions.

Som suddenly interjected: "What happened afterward? What became of the elves who left the forest?"

Rhode could already vaguely guess the rest of the story.

Kraft's expression turned serious. "They founded an elven kingdom and joined this war of the gods that has lasted two thousand years."

"Up to the present day," Serie added softly. As a member of the Elf Forest, she actually envied those elves a little.

Being able to participate in this war openly and without restraint.

After Serie finished speaking, the group fell silent for a moment. The wind stirred the campfire flames into a dance, until Kraft spoke again.

"But, Serie, haven't you changed your mind yet?"

Kraft's sudden question caught no one off guard—both Serie and Rhode knew exactly what he meant.

Seeing Serie remain silent, Kraft sighed. "Very well. Don't rush to those places until you feel your strength is sufficient."

His journey with these few would end at Gremir Forest; from there, he would travel alone.

So this was his final attempt to dissuade her.

Serie nodded. "I know my limits."

"Good." Kraft turned to Rhode. "Take care of her."

Rhode couldn't help but smile wryly. "I think she should be the one taking care of me."

Kraft's lips curled with amusement. "In terms of strength, that's true. But—"

He gave Rhode a meaningful look. "You're the first one to earn such regard from Serie."