The Indomitable Martial King

[ Chapter 97 ]

But Repenhardt already knew how to earn the elves’ trust. It was the same situation when he first met them in his previous life.

“I understand perfectly! Henceforth, I will show you the basis!”

After shouting in Elvish, Repenhardt slightly bent his knees. Then, he drew up the aura from his entire body.

Whooosh!

Golden aura burst forth like flames. The elves, already sensitive to energy, were startled by the sudden surge of intense destructive power and switched to a defensive posture.

“Ugh?”

“Gasp!”

In that state, Repenhardt suddenly looked up at the sky and delivered a powerful strike into the air.

“Calamity Soul!”

A dazzling golden light pierced through the desert sky. The pillar of light pushed against the atmosphere, dispersing tremendous energy in all directions. The atmosphere vibrated, and ripples spread, clearly marking their trail on the sand.

Crash!

With a thunderous noise, the pillar of light pierced through the desert sky. The immense power altered the expressions of the elves. Relhard murmured in astonishment.

“…An aura user?”

The opponent was an aura wielder! Among the chosen superhumans, a solitary figure equivalent to an army in might! Moreover, the tremendous energy showed that not even the entire Dahnhaim clan could inflict a scratch on him!

Rumble!

As the Calamity Soul pierced the sky and shook the atmosphere with a loud noise, it vanished. Repenhardt pulled back his fist. Standing by his side, Siris turned pale and questioned him.

“What are you doing!”

This seemed like an act of provocation. Peaceful approaches were insufficient, yet he demonstrated brute force! Siris’s criticism was met with Repenhardt’s broad smile. She was visibly nervous, continually glancing at her kin.

“Humans would certainly perceive this as a threat…”

Clearly, Siris had spent too long among humans. Her way of thinking was uncharacteristic of an ‘elf’.

Repenhardt subtly pointed towards the elves. Siris unwittingly followed his gaze, and was startled. The elves, previously full of hostility, were now looking at them with faces filled with goodwill.

“…Eh?”

Relhard sheathed his sword at his waist and shouted with a bright voice.

“With someone of your strength, there’s no need for traps! We understand that you have approached us with genuine goodwill!”

“Elves think rationally, you see?”

Repenhardt shrugged as if to say, ‘See what I mean?’ Originally, in his past life, he had asserted his presence by demonstrating powerful magic, but displaying his aura abilities now would lead to no different an outcome.

Siris muttered as if she couldn’t believe it.

“No, even so, to just blindly trust like this…”

Even if Repenhardt was an aura master capable of confronting the entire Dahnhaim tribe, it wasn’t entirely impossible to consider traps. Couldn’t the slave hunters also muster enough strength to confront the entire tribe? What if Repenhardt had deliberately let his guard down to allow the elves to escape, then secretly called his comrades to ambush them from all sides?

However, the elves had already completely dispelled their doubts about Repenhardt, relaxing their defensive posture and descending into the canyon to meet them. Siris shook her head.

“Logically, shouldn’t we have more doubts about this?”

Repenhardt whispered in response to her query.

“Huh? I didn’t trust him for that reason.”

“Then why?”

“It’s a bit embarrassing to say out loud, but you know, I’m an aura master, right? And quite a strong one at that.”

“That’s true.”

“Why would I come all this way to this remote area and bother with the tiresome task of capturing wild elves to sell? There are much easier ways for an aura master to make money.”

“Ah?”

That made sense. A powerhouse like Repenhardt wouldn’t bother coming to this annoying desert just to catch some wild elves. An aura master could be treated well anywhere. Take Lantas, for instance, who committed atrocious crimes yet still lived comfortably without worry. Have you ever seen an aura master or a great sorcerer leveling a village just for some quick cash?

At least, the possibility of a great mage or aura master coming to this remote place just for money was extremely unlikely. This was the reason, both in past and present lives, that they had resolved their doubts about Repenhardt.

“That makes sense…”

Siris admired as she watched her approaching tribe members. Even in such a brief moment, and under these pressing circumstances, how could they maintain such clear rationality?

A proud pride filled her chest. Despite the harsh conditions, the Dahnhaim tribe had never lost their elven wisdom. They were still a tribe to be proud of. That fact was almost overwhelmingly joyful…

“Thank you sincerely for saving our children.”

Relhard, coming closer, placed his right hand on his shoulder and bowed his head. It was a gesture of sincere gratitude in elven etiquette. Repenhardt reciprocated by placing his left hand on his shoulder, a gesture of humility in elven custom.

“Not at all, the true thanks should go to someone else.”

Repenhardt pointed at Siris.

“She is the one who truly saved them.”

Relhard nodded and this time, expressed his gratitude towards Siris. Siris was taken aback. She did not know the etiquette of the elves as Repenhardt did. Eventually, she shrugged her shoulders and waved her hands ‘like a human’.

“No, no. It was surely Repenhardt who took care of most of it…”

While replying, Siris sighed inwardly. It was embarrassing for her, an elf, not to follow the elven customs even though humans did.

At that moment, Relhard carefully observed Siris and continued speaking.

“But the energy in that hair and skin seems somehow familiar.”

Shailen joined the conversation.

“It’s Serendi, Relhard.”

“Hmm?”

Approaching Siris, Shailen spoke in a gentle voice.

“The daughter of Areliana and Piana, Serendi. Do you remember?”

Relhard’s eyes widened in shock. As the leader of his clan, he remembered every member who had been born and died. As soon as he heard the name, memories from the past clearly resurfaced in his mind.

“A child lost during the Day of Nightmares!”

Other elves began murmuring and looking towards Siris. No elf was unaware of the Night of Nightmares, the dreadful day when the Dahnhaim clan nearly perished.

An uproar ensued. Voices of surprise and welcome filled the air, along with words of thanks to Eldia for the miracle of a child thought to have been sold into slavery returning.

Relhard shook his head in amazement.

“Well, it is indeed a joy, not only to have found a family member we thought was lost but also to have an old family member return. Such a noble cannot continue to stand in such a place; would you come inside? We have a humble space where you can stretch your legs.”

“It would be an honor.”

Upon Relhard’s invitation, Repenhardt nodded politely. Accompanied by Repenhardt’s party, the elves began moving between the canyons.

That evening, the elves returned to their village, Delru Eldel. Repenhardt and Siris also left the canyon following them. Upon arriving at the village, the Dahnhaim clan conducted a ceremony. It was a ritual of thanks to the goddess, Eldia, for safely overcoming another ordeal.

A large flame, created using fire elemental magic, blazed without logs on the sands of the desert. Around this fire, a beautiful elf woman sang.

“Rachel Riand Elrin’s Pirana…”

It was the elves’ long-transmitted dirge, a ritual of remembrance for the warriors who had died protecting their clan. The celebration that followed welcomed back the clan members who had returned alive. Everyone danced and sang around the fire, celebrating for Shailen and her two children, and for Siris, who had returned after 50 years.

In the midst of the desert, the air began to fill with the lively sound of singing. Everyone looked joyful. Having returned to the village, they were now able to drink water abundantly and had plenty of food. Though the Dahnhaim tribe usually struggled with food supply, they now had as many as ten camels. Relhard had made up his mind to butcher four of them, and thanks to this, fresh camel meat sizzled and dripped fat as it cooked over the village fires.

Standing by a tent, Repenhardt cracked a bitter smile.

‘The sight of elves frolicking before a roast makes me feel strangely ambivalent…’

In ancient tales, the feasts of elves were always described as mysterious and marvelous events. Compared to the legends of old elves, who mingled with various animals in verdant forests and indulged in clear spirits and fresh fruits with their noble demeanor, the current scene could almost be considered decadent.

Yet, they were still beautiful.

They were neither as mystical nor as marvelous as the elves of legend, but this did not diminish their beauty. Even in a primitive life, their elegant grace reminiscent of the old elves remained.

After all, they had not changed, then or now. Adapting to nature, blending in, and living in harmony, whether in lush forests or barren deserts, their lives remained consistent.

The elves were still mysterious and wondrous.

Pleased by this realization, Repenhardt smiled broadly.

“Rel Dryd Shalahna…”

Savoring the tickling melodies of elfish songs, he watched the village scene. Adults reveling, young elf children bustling among them. The children were busy grabbing various meats, dried fruits, and nuts placed around the fire pits.

“Sweet!”

“Tasty! Nutty!”

“Try one too, Eiri.”

Watching the boisterous children, Repenhardt thought to himself.

‘Bringing the camels was a good move.’

These were originally part of the provisions Bright’s group had prepared for crossing the desert. The ten camels Repenhardt had brought were laden with food and supplies sufficient for more than forty people. To the children, who were always used to rough meals, even these stored rations were a feast.

Elsewhere, Siris was reconnecting with friends from her memories.

“I’m so happy you’re back, Serendi! Do you remember me?”

“…Jerain? Is that you, Jerain?”

“You remember! What about me?”

At first, it seemed awkward, but as everyone greeted her warmly, Siris, too, began to smile more and more. Repenhardt looked at her with a complex expression.

‘It’s good to see, Siris…’

Seeing her happy made him happy as well.

However, he could not purely enjoy this happiness, for Repenhardt’s sorrow lay in the fact that the happier she was, the less likely she was to stay by his side. The more the Dahnhaim clan welcomed her, the less likely she was to remain with him.

‘Will Siris, who is enjoying herself so much, really follow me?’

Doubts grew stronger. Perhaps he should have persuaded her more forcefully? But then, he would never win Siris’s heart for a lifetime.

After all, he had no choice. What he wanted was Siris as his beloved partner, not an elf slave to satisfy his lust.

Then there was only one conclusion.

He could only hope that she would choose him.

A sigh inadvertently escaped him.

“Hoo…”

At that, Relhard approached Repenhardt with a puzzled expression.

“It seems you are not in good spirits, my benefactor?”

“No, it’s nothing.”

Quickly managing his expression, Repenhardt shook his head and then stared pointedly at Relhard, clicking his tongue.

‘This gentleman really hasn’t changed a bit.’

It was the same with Makelin, but Relhard should have been met much later in the original course of destiny. Yet, curiously, his appearance hadn’t changed from his memory at all.

‘That’s why the long-lived ones…’

This was why humans, while disparaging elves and dwarves, also envied them. As he grumbled inwardly, Relhard made an embarrassed face.

“Thank you once again for your help. Naturally, I should repay you somehow, but given the circumstances…”

Living in such deprivation, there really was no way to repay him. Even this feast was made possible by the camel and food Repenhardt had provided.

Repenhardt waved his hand dismissively.

“There’s absolutely no need to worry about it.”

Suddenly, his gaze drifted to Siris, who was now far off, sitting next to Shailen by the bonfire, engaging in a quiet conversation. Every so often, Siris burst into laughter at some amusing story, a stark contrast to her usual stoic and expressionless demeanor.

“Just seeing that laughter is reward enough for me.”