Night, Wilderness Town, Allen's hall.
Yes, it was no longer the Lord's Longhouse.
Using brick and timber, Artimenner had built Allen a fully equipped villa on the original site.
Artimenner had suggested building a castle outright, but Allen had refused. That would cost far too much. With that kind of money, he would rather repair the roads.
Allen was lying in his bedroom, thinking about his meeting with Gandalf that day.
He was delighted that Gandalf had noticed nothing unusual about him. He felt that his luck had returned.
[Simulator starting.] [You arrived on the Pendor Continent.] [You chose the identity of the Child of Prophecy.] [Time: unknown.] [Location: Noldor Forest, Elaraclay.] [Your arrival caused a small stir in the castle. No human had visited this place in a very long time.] [Under the gazes of many Elves, you entered the tower of Israndil.] [Freya's father, the head of Israndil, was waiting for you in the tower.] [During your conversation with him, you learned that Freya was Israndir's only daughter and the family's sole heir.] [You wondered how someone so important could have been captured and sold.] [Worried about getting yourself into trouble, you did not ask. You were very reserved around the Noldor Elves. This was not Middle-earth, where humans and Elves could coexist peacefully.] [After some brief small talk, Israndir brought out his people's gift of thanks.] [It was a complete set of Noldor Ancient Plate Armor, consisting of a gem-studded Knight's Helmet, Silver Gauntlets, Ancient Plate Armor, and Ancient Plate Armor Boots. Engraved with elven rune magic, it was exceptionally light and tough.] [Ordinary weapons could not even leave a mark on it. Not only that, it could resist certain other forms of harm. Israndir told you that the helmet in particular could protect you against some malicious mental influences.] [However, Israndir added that there were few occasions to make use of such magic on the Pendor Continent today. He had only heard that a certain cult still possessed such powers.] [You were surprised that the Elves would offer such a valuable gift. You felt that rescuing elven captives might be more profitable than capturing and selling Elves.] [An even greater surprise awaited you. From an antique box, Israndir carefully took out an emerald necklace. You could sense traces of life force within the lush green gemstone.] [Israndir told you that the necklace was called Vitality. The Noldor Elves of ancient times had made it for a human friend, but unfortunately, they had never had the chance to give it to them.] [This was his personal gift of thanks. The necklace's effects were simple yet powerful: it could greatly extend a person's lifespan, accelerate recovery from injuries, and, if the wearer suffered a fatal wound, save their life at the cost of its own destruction.] [The necklace now belonged to you. Your surprise turned into shock, but Israndir's next words answered your questions.] [The Noldor Elves had always wanted to find a representative in the human world. In the past, they had placed their hopes in the Silver Mist Ranger Knights, and Israndir had even taught them some elven training methods.] [The Silver Mist Ranger Knights deeply sympathized with the Elves' plight and would help them as allies in certain battles.] [However, they were an official organization with a monarch they were obliged to serve. They could not do too much harm to human interests for the sake of helping Elves, especially the interests of their own nation's nobles.] [For that reason, Israndir had gradually given up on them, maintaining only a reasonably friendly relationship.] [Now, Israndir bluntly stated that he had chosen you. If you were willing, you could become the Noldor Elves' representative among humans-not in trade, but in armed force.] [Many Noldor Elves were imprisoned in nobles' towers and subjected to abuse by humans.] [This had continued for untold years. Israndir asked for nothing else. He only hoped that you could establish a human force, rescue the abducted Elves, and bring them home, just as you had done this time. In return, he could offer rewards you could not refuse.] [You fell silent. You were actually going to become a traitor to humanity here. This was a path you had never imagined taking.] [Yet every ruler on this continent was your enemy. You had almost no friends.] [After thinking it over, you decided that the Elves were a good choice. At the very least, they were far more trustworthy than humans.] [You agreed to the proposal and became friends with Israndir.] [The Elves soon provided you with several leads. You chose Long River Town, where Aelno had purchased two female Elves from filthy slave traders.] [After you decided on your destination, Israndir handed you a badge made from an unknown material. It would prove your identity to the Elves.] [Before you left, Israndir gave you his blessing, hoping you could bring them back safely.] [Soon, riding an Elves Horse and wearing a complete set of elven equipment, you caused a sensation in Long River Town.] [You took a room at Paul's tavern and publicly declared yourself an Elf killer, claiming combat skills superior even to those of elven knights and saying you had killed countless Elves.] [From then on, nobles came to visit you in an endless stream. They all wanted to recruit you. Such was the demand for powerful fighters in this age.] [You merely observed the various families without revealing your intentions, randomly accepting invitations from a few nobles to visit their homes while demonstrating your formidable fighting skills.] [With your elven equipment, not even the renowned Horn-Call Horse Archers of Long River Town could produce anyone capable of matching you.] [Before long, your fame spread through every street and alley in town.] [Aelno was, of course, among the noble families you visited. You quietly studied the layout of their estate and their defenses, then continued investigating everything about the family over the following nights.] [Finally, one night, you began your slaughter of this ancient family. You felt no guilt. After all, they had betrayed your family first.] [You secretly slaughtered most of the family's adult men and took away the two Noldor Elves.] [The next day, news spread throughout Long River Town. Powerful and mysterious, you became the prime suspect.] [By then, you had already left Long River Town overnight and reached Noldor Forest, where you handed the female Elves over to Israndir, who was waiting there.] [Israndir gave you a corpse. It was an Elf who had died at the hands of the Khergit Raiders a few days earlier.] [He could serve as proof of your innocence, but Israndir hoped you would bring his body back. You could dispose of his equipment however you wished.] [You soon returned to Long River Town with the elven corpse and blamed everything on the Elves. You claimed that you had left only because you happened to encounter one and pursued him through the night.] [Faced with the corpse of a fully armed Elf, the nobles of Long River Town temporarily set aside their suspicions. You then told everyone that you had some elven equipment for sale at Paul's tavern.] [Elven equipment was always sought after. Even a single set attracted a considerable crowd.] [You used the confusion surrounding the sale to cover for Paul, allowing him to escort the elven corpse back to the forest.] [Afterward, you stayed in Long River Town for quite some time, maintaining friendly relations with many nobles.] [Once you had almost entirely dispelled everyone's suspicions, you found an excuse to return quietly to Elaraclay.] [Israndir was very pleased with the outcome and held a small banquet in your honor.] [After learning about your fighting style, he gave you a Noldor Longsword and a Noldor Magic Shield, finally completing your set of Noldor equipment.] [But those were nothing compared to what came next. At the end of the banquet, Israndir brought out a radiant sapphire.] [He told you that it was a Dragon Tear Gem. Countless humans had pursued its radiance, one after another.] [This gem celebrated the perfect beginning of your friendship. It was both a gift and a reward.] [You stared at the beautiful gemstone, stunned. It represented far too much.] [You could not understand why Israndir would offer something so precious, but you accepted it because you needed it badly.] [Israndir told you that if your friendship continued to deepen, he still had a few more of these gems and could give them to you as additional rewards.] [After the banquet, you took the gem back to the room the Elves had arranged for you.] [This simulation has ended.] [Your identity as the Child of Prophecy on the Pendor Continent has been retained. You gained the friendship of the Noldor Elves. Current relationship: friendly.] [This simulation yielded a set of ancient elven plate armor, a Noldor Longsword, a Noldor Magic Shield, some Noldor Arrows, a Dragon Tear Gem, the necklace "Vitality," and two bags of diamonds. Please note: after redeeming items, the simulator will enter cooldown, and those items will be removed from the simulation.] [Rewards gained: 1 honor, 20 renown, and 1,000 denars.] [Congratulations! You obtained a Dragon Tear Gem, a special exchange item on the Pendor Continent. Please review the exchange list below.] [Elixir of Immortality: drinking it grants roughly 50 years of life and slightly improves physical attributes. Each person may consume only three bottles.] [Siyuan City Potion: drinking it improves memory and comprehension. Each person may consume only two bottles.] [Enhanced Rune Weapon: upgrades an ordinary rune weapon into one imbued with fire or frost energy.] [Enhanced Rune Equipment: upgrades ordinary rune equipment into equipment imbued with life energy, increasing stamina recovery.] [Elven Aid (friends of the Elves only): there are always some Elves who wish to follow you, their friend, and venture into the human world.] [Continue the simulation? Yes/No.] [No.] [Are you sure you wish to exchange the Dragon Tear Gem for an Elixir of Immortality?] [Confirm.] [Are you sure you wish to redeem all items except the Elves Horse?] [Confirm.] [Simulator on cooldown. Cooldown duration: 83 days.]
Soon, after a flash of white light, all the items Allen had obtained on the Pendor Continent appeared neatly arranged on his bedroom floor.
He spotted the bottle of Elixir of Immortality at once.
The little glass bottle held a transparent green potion, like a piece of fine jade.
Bubbles continually appeared and vanished, as though the potion itself were breathing.
Allen stared at it for a while, pulled out the stopper, and drank it in one gulp.
It had no particular taste. After he swallowed it, a faint coolness spread from his upper body throughout the rest of him. Apart from that, Allen felt nothing.
Allen thought it might be because he was still young and could not feel the potion's power. If he had poured this bottle down Artimenner's throat, there would probably have been a tremendous change.
Among the pile of items, aside from the potion Allen had already drunk, the necklace was the most eye-catching.
Allen picked it up and admired its beauty.
He intended to give it to Ymira. Even if only for the dark circles that had not faded from her eyes in years, he ought to give the young woman a reward.
The necklace should suit her well, and it could also help keep her safe.
Among Allen's followers, Ymira was not particularly strong in combat.
Her strength lay in her versatility. She could manage logistics, provide medical treatment, and, although her combat skills were only average, she could still mount a horse and fight.
Most importantly, no one could replace Ymira in her current role.
Those capable of replacing her did not have Allen's trust.
So, whether for the sake of their friendship or because of Ymira's importance, Allen had decided to give her the necklace.
The next day, when Ymira received the necklace and learned what it did, countless thoughts flooded her mind.
She had always hoped Allen would notice her feelings for him, but she never dared bring them up herself.
Deep down, she saw herself as nothing more than a merchant's daughter. To repay Allen for saving her life, she had served as his maid all this time.
Allen came from noble lineage. Ymira knew there was an enormous gulf in status between them. A noble would never marry a merchant's daughter.
But now, Ymira felt as though the clouds had finally parted to reveal the moon.
Yet Allen's next words shattered her hopes.
"Ymira, I may have to go away again in a little while. Sorry for the trouble, but I'll have to leave the town's affairs to you again."
As he spoke, Allen was generous with his praise.
"I think you've managed things very well. You've done a wonderful job, and I've always trusted you."
Then he began arranging the other matters.
"You can leave military affairs to Firentis, and Artimenner will continue overseeing construction. If enemies invade, have Klethi ask Beorn and the others for help, and send Deshavi to the Woodland Realm for reinforcements. You can decide everything else. If there's anything you really can't decide, it can wait until I return. I trust you."
Ymira looked at Allen, who wore a slightly sheepish expression and was preparing to run off on another adventure.
Mixed emotions welled up inside her-happiness, disappointment, and hurt-all flooding in at once. In the end, they became a single sentence.
"Of course, my lord. Please take care of yourself and return as soon as you can."
"Of course. No problem. Go back to your work."
Ymira put the necklace around her neck, turned, and left.
Watching her leave, Allen sank into thought.
He was not a fool. It had been several years, and during his casual conversations with Jeremus and Firentis, both had dropped hints to one degree or another.
But for many reasons, Allen had not given much thought to that side of things.
He had once tried broaching the subject indirectly with Ymira, but then she had been the one to play dumb.
What could Allen do? He could only hope that, with her extended lifespan, Ymira would find someone of her own.
Forget it. Allen once again forced himself to stop thinking about it, tidied up, and prepared to speak with Firentis about the military arrangements for his absence.
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