Chapter 21: Kraft's Companion
The Three-Race Alliance will benefit from clearing out the monsters in this world.
The Human Race will also gain from this effort, and their living environment will improve significantly.
After all, between a race that can communicate and a race that cannot communicate at all and only knows slaughter, people obviously prefer the former.
After much deliberation, Serie ultimately shook her head and refused.
"I'm not interested in war!"
Her words struck the air like a stone dropped into still water. Kraft's expression shifted from expectant to bewildered, his mouth opening slightly before closing again.
Even Kurtz stared at her in disbelief, his eyes widening as if he'd misheard.
Hearing this from Serie's mouth surprised them as much as hearing "I'm not interested in money" from a merchant.
"This is truly..." Kraft began, then stopped, running a hand through his hair. The warrior who'd faced down countless monsters seemed genuinely at a loss for words.
Since Serie had already made her position clear, he had no choice but to drop the subject. The distant sounds of the swamp settling around them filled the silence that stretched between them.
After all, in a national war like this, Serie's individual strength remained too small, though Kraft suspected she might disagree with that assessment. If someone gave her another thousand years or so, she might become a famous mage among the elves.
But the current Serie, despite her obvious talent, clearly wasn't ready for conflicts of this magnitude.
"By the way," Kraft said, shifting to safer ground, "why did you cross this swamp? That Skywing Clan member should have told you that it's very dangerous here, right?"
Serie didn't speak but instead looked at Kurtz, a subtle gesture that somehow managed to convey delegation. Her violet eyes held that familiar glint of someone who preferred others to handle tedious explanations.
Kurtz stepped forward, clearing his throat. "I heard there's a Human Race tribe in Gemier Forest, and I wanted to see it, so I ventured into this swamp, but I didn't expect..."
He trailed off, gesturing vaguely at the carnage they'd left behind.
He thought they had planned carefully enough. They'd avoided monsters the whole way, cast various detection and warning spells extensively, even taken circuitous routes to avoid obvious danger zones.
Yet, those Demon Race members still discovered them.
The memory of red eyes gleaming in the darkness made his shoulders tense. Next time, he would have to exercise even more caution if another time came.
He had grown accustomed to taking risks in this world, pushing boundaries, and testing limits.
But he also had to consider Serie's safety now. She wouldn't have left the Elf Forest without his request, and that responsibility weighed on him more than he cared to admit.
If Dwarf Somo hadn't suddenly intervened, breaking through would have proven nearly impossible, just that Demonscale Beast alone would have overwhelmed them both.
"I see." Kraft nodded slowly, his expression warming. "I've also seen that settlement; it's a good one."
That Human Race settlement had left a deep impression on Kraft. Every human there had shown genuine friendliness, not the wary politeness he sometimes encountered elsewhere. He'd even stayed there for a while, enjoying their simple hospitality.
During that time, two children had approached him with bright eyes and earnest requests, hoping he could teach them martial arts.
Kraft had agreed readily; he had taught himself his martial arts, so traditional restrictions of the Elf Forest or any formal school didn't bind them.
The two children had displayed excellent talent, learning quickly and improving eagerly. But unfortunately, their human bodies ultimately limited them. With longer lifespans, they could have become truly formidable warriors.
Ten years have passed since then. Those children would have grown into adults now, probably with families of their own.
Kraft found himself curious about their progress, wondering how far they had developed their martial arts. The thought sparked something in him, a sudden desire to reconnect with that simpler time.
"Gemier Forest still lies a bit far from here," he said, making up his mind. "I'll go with you."
"What about your reconnaissance mission?" Serie glanced at him, one eyebrow raised in that way that suggested she already knew the answer.
"Don't worry."
Kraft whistled sharply, and a small emerald green bird descended from the canopy above, landing gracefully on his extended finger. He pulled out a piece of paper and used magic to write a passage of text in flowing script, then tied it carefully to the bird's leg.
With another whistle, the bird took flight, disappearing quickly among the trees.
"It seems you've learned quite a few interesting spells over the years." Serie's tone held genuine curiosity beneath its usual dry observation.
She could tell at a glance that he had just used spells that elves had never recorded, practical magic born of necessity rather than academic study.
He must have learned them during his adventures, picked them up from various sources, and adapted them to his needs.
"I had no choice," Kraft replied with a rueful smile. "I can't learn advanced magic, so I had to find spells I could actually master."
While the two elves continued their conversation, Kurtz seized the opportunity to approach Somo. The dwarf was cleaning his weapon with practiced motions, but looked up when Kurtz drew near.
"By the way," Kurtz asked quietly, "how did you track us?"
According to Somo's earlier explanation, he'd set off shortly after they had, then somehow managed to follow their trail through the treacherous swamp. This made Kurtz's skin crawl.
Somo's expression grew sheepish, almost embarrassed. "Actually, I didn't dare follow too closely. I've been inferring your movements from the embers of your campfires, the direction you broke branches, things like that."
"Are you really a dwarf?" Kurtz stared at the beardless figure before him in amazement.
This level of tracking skill, combined with tactical awareness and restraint, seemed completely at odds with everything he knew about dwarven nature. Where was the rough, uninhibited, charge-first-ask-questions-later mentality he'd expected?
"Of course I'm a Dwarf Warrior!" Somo puffed out his chest, his tone growing fierce with pride.
"I'm going to become the strongest Dwarf Warrior in the future, and I'm determined to make everyone in the village look at me with new eyes."
Something in his voice revealed deep hurt buried beneath the determination, old wounds that hadn't quite healed. Kurtz recognized that particular brand of pain; he knew familiar territory when he saw it.
"Not a bad goal," Kurtz said simply.
Since Somo had followed them for so many days through dangerous terrain, Kurtz felt it would be cruel to simply send him away. Besides, they genuinely needed a vanguard warrior, someone who could take hits and dish them out in return.
Dwarf Somo had proven invaluable during their escape from the swamp. If he hadn't covered their rear the entire time, Kurtz's combat strength alone might not have gotten them out unscathed.
Moreover, that final Demonscale Beast had turned both magic and conventional weapons with its hide. Only Somo's attacks had penetrated its defenses, his raw strength and specialized techniques proving decisive.
Just as Kraft had observed, Somo would definitely become a powerful warrior in the future. Having him along could only help.
Actually, Kurtz really wanted Kraft to join their small group as well. The elf was stronger, more experienced, and knew useful magic that would prove invaluable whether they explored dwarf ruins or headed to Godfall Land.
But unfortunately, Kraft didn't seem interested in those particular adventures.
Not far away, after hearing Serie's ultimate destination, Kraft's expression had grown troubled, his earlier warmth giving way to concern.
"Serie," he said carefully, "as a fellow clansman, I still have to advise you—neither Godfall Land nor the Dwarf Ruins offer places you can explore at your current level."
His words carried the weight of experience, of someone who'd seen too many promising young mages venture into dangers beyond their capabilities.
Even at the Three-Race King's Council, no one dared suggest investigating these two places. The very topics were considered too dangerous to discuss seriously.
Although the Dwarf King desperately wanted to reclaim his ancestral homeland, the other two kings would never agree to such a request. The political implications alone staggered the imagination.
That place had clearly become something else entirely, a monster kingdom with its own terrible hierarchy and power structure.
Their three-race alliance existed to clear out the rampant monsters plaguing this world, not to declare war on an established monster kingdom. The distinction remained crucial, both strategically and politically.
Unless one day the creatures there actively stepped out of the Dwarf Ruins and began invading surrounding territories, only then would the alliance consider initiating a war against them. But that day seemed distant, if it ever came at all.
As for Godfall Land, just the name alone suggested its nature. Over the past thousand years, countless creatures had entered those cursed grounds.
Adventurers, monsters, even entire expeditions had vanished beyond those borders.
All in, none out.
That remained the terrifying reality of Godfall Land, a place where even legends went to die.
Hearing Kraft's warning, Serie's expression grew thoughtful, her violet eyes distant. She didn't answer immediately but instead looked toward Kurtz, and some unspoken communication passed between them.
She wouldn't reveal to Kraft that Kurtz possessed the ability to create new magic; such knowledge was too dangerous to share carelessly.
Before Kurtz became powerful enough to protect himself, others knowing about this talent would only bring him harm.
And Serie had no intention of dragging Kurtz to explore these dangerous places anytime soon. She wasn't reckless, despite what others might think.
In her carefully laid plans, she would only attempt such ventures after Kurtz became significantly stronger, at least seventy percent of her current power level, maybe more, depending on how his abilities developed.
Before that crucial milestone, she intended to teach him more and more powerful magic, expanding his repertoire until he could create spells capable of challenging even the greatest threats this world had to offer.
Only then would they be ready for what lay ahead.
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