"My lords—" The burly maid standing to the left of the door spoke first. "Our master wishes to see you both. Please change your clothes—"
"Um... could you go outside first...? I don't dare change with you watching..." Denolan curled up at the bottom of the pool.
"In theory, we can—" The maid on the right spoke as well. "However, to ensure our master's safety, we will conduct a thorough full-body inspection before you finish changing—"
"A full-body..." Every hair on Denolan's body stood on end. "Um... isn't that a little too... terrifying...? We were invited here for a banquet..."
"To ensure our master's safety—" Maid Number One brought her fists together, then shouted, "Rise—"
The force of the impact sent the entire pool's water soaring into the air.
"Please excuse us—" Taking advantage of the gap while the water hung overhead, Maid Number Two gave both of them a thorough inspection.
"No abnormalities—" Maid Number Two said, kneeling on one knee. "Not monsters. Safe—"
The falling pool water splashed down over Tiadam and Denolan.
"It feels like you just want to take advantage of us two men..." Tiadam nudged Denolan beside him. "Don't you think so...?"
"You are mistaken—" Maid Number One must have heard Tiadam's whisper to Denolan. She fixed them with a scorching yet stern gaze. "You two are too small. We have no interest—"
Tiadam: "Hm?? Hm!! Hm?! What do you mean by that, you XXXXXXXXXX, XXXXXXX!"
Denolan: "Calm down—calm down—"
After changing, Tiadam and Denolan headed toward the banquet hall in aristocratic attire carefully selected by the master of the estate.
Tiadam wore a close-fitting garment woven from silk and gold thread underneath, a silk-wool blend shirt over it, a sleeveless Damascus Leather vest, and tall leather boots, looking every bit like an aristocrat from the royal capital.
"I feel like... these clothes are a bit tight..." The clasps on Tiadam's outfit made him uncomfortable. "And these buttons and clasps are pressing into me..."
"Just bear with it for now—" Tiadam straightened the Central Asian-style cap on Denolan's head. "I don't like wearing these clothes either, but... for our cause..."
This bandit was unexpectedly gentle. Looking at Denolan, he said, "Please endure it for the time being..."
Denolan could see a certain pride in Tiadam's eyes, but the confident smile he gave him afterward left Denolan somewhat confused.
Then that fool who knew no fear shouted toward the banquet hall, "Just you wait, one day we'll leave this city and become kings who rule an entire region—"
"Kings—what interesting fellows..." A high-ranking noble on the upper floor of the banquet hall watched the two inexperienced youths below. "You two? Don't make me laugh..."
The noble sneered at Tiadam's unrealistic dream. "Mere chess pieces dreaming of becoming kings—what a joke."
"O-Okay..." Denolan stammered. It felt as if lightning had struck his heart. Being watched like this, having someone place hope in him—he had never experienced such a feeling before.
"I was joking. Come on—rather than being a king, I'd rather become a wealthy man with no worries about food or clothing~" Tiadam stepped into the magnificent banquet hall ahead of Denolan.
Music echoed through the golden hall as countless young elves danced gracefully...
"A king... a king's authority is supreme. Does that mean a king can make all their dreams come true? If that's the case..." Denolan whispered, "Then I want to become a king too..."
Shadow was part of light, and light was part of hope. The young elves had golden hair and blue eyes, refined manners, translucent skin like milk, and slender hands linked with those of their partners as they whispered to one another.
"A-Are all the guests at this banquet... elves?" This was Denolan's first time seeing living Forest Elves. Most of the ones he had seen in Elrina Forest before had been corpses corrupted by monsters.
"Yeah—this is my first time seeing so many Forest Elves too. Looks like the owner of this estate is wealthy enough to support this many Forest Elves." Tiadam's tone was far calmer than Denolan had expected.
"F-Forest Elves... You're seeing Forest Elves! My grandmother said that any mortal who sees a Forest Elf will have good luck for an entire year!"
"Huh? What kind of superstitious legend is that? Forest Elves are just ordinary creatures." Tiadam picked up a glass of red wine from the table. "Compared to that, I'd rather find a beautiful human girl to soothe the heartbreak I suffered before."
"Aren't there plenty of young elf women here...? Aren't they good enough?"
Tiadam: "Don't be ridiculous... They all came with boyfriends..."
Denolan: "Aren't they all girls? Where did they get partners?"
Tiadam patted Denolan on the shoulder. "It's hard to tell a Forest Elf's gender by appearance."
Denolan: "What does that mean...?"
"Take a closer look—" Tiadam pointed at a "female" Forest Elf talking with someone. "Look at his ears. Male Forest Elves have earlobes, while females don't. And look at how flat his chest is..."
"Now that you mention it... there really is a difference..." Denolan asked, "But how do you know so much about this?"
"It's simple. My previous girlfriend was a half-elf. She taught me." The moment Yalila came up, Tiadam's expression darkened. "That damned half-elf. If I see her again, I'll definitely—I'll definitely—"
"Definitely do what?" Yalila suddenly appeared behind Tiadam.
"Y-Yalila..." The instant Tiadam saw Yalila, the wineglass in his hand crashed to the floor. "Why is a half-elf like you here too...?"
"Why can't I be here~?" Yalila touched her freshly dyed golden hair and said disdainfully, "I'm an elf too~ Of course I... can attend a banquet hosted by the elven grand duke~"
"As for you two—" Yalila pointed at Tiadam and Denolan, then shouted at the surrounding elves, "Two worthless humans! This is an elven banquet. What makes you worthy of being here? Someone! Someone!"
"Humans—humans—two humans snuck in here! Everyone, come look!"
"Um... um... could you stop shouting...?" Denolan moved to stop Yalila. "We're not bad people..."
"Not bad people?" Yalila slapped Denolan hard across the face. "Not bad people? You're humans! Elrina Forest ended up like this because of that human hero Okasht, and you say you're not bad people? What a joke!"
"Humans..."
"Humans..."
The Forest Elves at the banquet began gathering around, drawn by Yalila's cries.
"Humans..."
"Humans..."
Denolan took two steps back and pressed himself against Tiadam's left side, whispering, "These Forest Elves... they... don't seem very welcoming toward us..."
Denolan could clearly see the rage and resentment buried deep in the Forest Elves' eyes. No amount of splendid clothing or pure makeup could conceal that hatred. It was malice—malice born from hatred rooted so deeply in their hearts that it had become instinct.
"Um... do you have any way... to escape?" Denolan asked quietly. "I feel like they want to slaughter us..."
"Let me think..." Tiadam swiftly scanned the banquet hall from every direction, then shielded Denolan behind him. "The walls are smooth on all sides, without a single foothold. There are no lamps on the walls; everything is lit by light magic. If we really have to run..."
Tiadam tugged at Denolan's clothes. "Have you ever fought anyone?"
"Uh... rarely... But when I was little, I went into the mountains with the old man next door and fought monsters..."
"That'll have to do..." Tiadam rose onto his toes. "See that main door of the banquet hall? I'll make the first move and draw their attention. You use the chance to run there. If anyone stops you, hit them around the navel. Forest Elves are physically fragile. Hitting that spot will disable them without hurting them."
"Oh—"
"If you understand, then let's begin—"
"Wait, what about you?" Denolan turned back and asked. "What will you do if I run?"
"Well... I really haven't thought that through... Forget it, if one of us can escape, that's enough!" Tiadam let out an angry roar, crossed three steps in two, and punched the nearest Forest Elf.
"Foolish human—"
A surge of magical energy emerged from the Forest Elf's eyes. The immense wind pressure sent Tiadam flying backward, while blue-white arcane energy flowed around the Forest Elf. These High Elves, who had once worshipped the Forest Goddess, seemed to have converted to another faith.
"Hasn't Elrina Forest already withered away...?" Tiadam stripped off all the heavy clothing and accessories on his body, revealing his solid chest. "Logically, you shouldn't have any magic left. So, ladies, would you be interested in introducing me to the boss backing you?"
"Human... you must pay for the sins your kind committed—" Dozens of Forest Elves began gathering arcane energy within themselves.
"What a completely irrelevant answer. Very Forest Elf-like..." Tiadam mocked.
Before you continue