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CHAPTER 117 – The Elf’s Reward
Ryu Min did not alter his face.
In Black Scythe’s form, exactly as he was, he knocked the traitors unconscious.
‘They’re dead men anyway. Even if I don’t kill them myself.’
Elves were colder than you’d think.
Especially toward assassins who targeted the princess—they showed no mercy.
That was why Ryu Min didn’t bother hiding his identity.
Because the only traitor who would survive would be him.
Tap, tap—
He prodded the unconscious men with his foot.
One had his wrist cut off, while the other two were intact.
‘They’re definitely out.’
With a knifehand backed by Strength 464, he struck the back of their necks.
They wouldn’t be waking up suddenly to expose Black Scythe as a traitor.
Step— step—
As Yugrito approached, Ryu Min raised his head.
“……”
Yugrito didn’t ask who he was.
First, he needed to stay calm and confirm the situation.
Yugrito’s gaze shifted to a rookie knight nearby.
“Jerif.”
“Yes!”
“Did you see what happened?”
“Yes! Four warriors from another world suddenly attacked the car— no, the carriage carrying the young lady. One of them died after being caught by the gravity spell, and the other three, as you can see, were struck by this person and knocked unconscious.”
“And the princess? Is she safe?”
“The prin— no, the young lady is safe—.”
“No need to hide it. At this point, her identity has already been exposed.”
“Ah, y-yes! The princess is safe. She was very startled, so she’s inside the carriage calming herself down.”
“So what you’re saying is this warrior from another world saved our princess?”
“That is correct. If he hadn’t stepped in in time, Her Highness could have faced something terrible.”
At that, Yugrito bowed his head to Ryu Min without hesitation.
There was no reason a rookie would lie, so the man before him being their benefactor was now confirmed.
“Thank you for saving our princess. If it is not too rude, may I learn the name of our benefactor?”
Ryu Min considered using a title, then dropped the idea.
There were no traitors standing around, and unlike with the dwarf caravan, there was no need to hide his name.
“I’m Black Scythe.”
“Black Scythe….”
Even though it was blunt, informal speech, Yugrito didn’t take offense.
Rather, he repeated it as if committing it to memory, then bowed once more.
“Once again, thank you, Black Scythe-nim. I’m sorry, but could you explain what happened? I don’t understand why warriors from another world would target Her Highness.”
Ryu Min nodded and gave a simple explanation.
The werewolf attack was already being wrapped up, and right now mattered more than hunting.
Because this was a chance to strengthen ties with the elf race.
As he listened, Yugrito’s eyes widened.
“Traitors? You mean there are traitors even among the warriors from another world?”
“That’s right.”
“Could it be… that they joined hands with the demon grand duke Plunictos?”
‘Demon, my ass. They joined hands with an angel.’
Ryu Min brushed it off vaguely.
“I don’t know that much. I think there are complicated interests tangled up here.”
“Ah… then, do you wish to secure their custody?”
“No. They’re not my concern.”
“Then… may we handle them according to our laws?”
“Do as you like.”
Yugrito looked down at the traitors, then raised his sword.
Slash— slash— slash—!
Three strikes, and he separated their heads from their bodies.
When Ryu Min stared with startled eyes, Yugrito answered without even being asked.
“Those who target the princess are to be executed immediately.”
You’d think they might keep them alive to interrogate them, but he killed them without hesitation.
‘It’s elf law that you can’t trust anything that comes from an assassin’s mouth.’
So elf law was this frightening.
Not that Ryu Min didn’t already know.
“Black Scythe-nim. Truly, truly, thank you for saving our princess.”
‘How many times are they going to say thank you? Hurry up and give me a reward.’
It was probably sincere gratitude, but if they were that grateful, shouldn’t they show it properly?
Part of him worried he might not get compensated, but that wouldn’t happen.
Saving the princess was, to elves, a debt of gratitude they’d have to repay for life.
“Kwaaaaang!”
At that moment, the last remaining werewolf died, and the situation fully settled.
“Whew, they’re all dead—.”
“Hey, look over there. Black Scythe is talking with the elf.”
Players who had blocked the attack finally started paying attention to Ryu Min speaking with the elves.
“You’re right. But those bodies over there… aren’t those players?”
“What happened?”
“Did the elf kill them?”
“Yes! I saw it earlier! That elf suddenly swung his sword and—like this—cut their heads off!”
Watching that, Yugrito let out a small sigh.
“Sigh… if we stay quiet, misunderstandings will only grow. In that case, may I explain the situation myself?”
“Do what you want.”
The moment Ryu Min gave permission, Yugrito stepped forward.
“Warriors from another world. Many of you must be wondering what just happened.”
His voice, carried by the wind spirits, reached the players’ ears.
“First, allow me to introduce myself properly. I am Yugrito, captain of the knights of Elsorium. And the people here are not merchants or drivers—they are knights of Elsorium.”
When he revealed they weren’t merchants, the players began to murmur.
“We were not traveling to transport goods. The identity of ‘merchants’ was merely a smokescreen to escort our princess. Though it was only for a short time, I apologize for deceiving you. I cannot tell you the full circumstances, but I ask for your generous understanding, as I am speaking the truth.”
The elves did not want to damage their relationship with humans.
That was why the knight commander personally cleared up the misunderstanding.
‘Whether that’s the world’s “written setting” or its real setting, there’s no way to know.’
Yugrito continued.
“Unfortunately, there was a group that sought to target our princess amid the monster attacks. The dead humans here are those assassins. According to Black Scythe-nim, they were traitors.”
“Traitors?”
“Huh? The number of traitors really went down!”
Checking the headcount, the traitors had been reduced to one.
No one even imagined that the sole remaining traitor was Ryu Min.
“I will not ask why there are traitors among you. Seeing your reactions, it seems you are confused as well. Regardless—if not for Black Scythe-nim, our princess may not have remained safe. I take this opportunity to once again express our gratitude to Black Scythe-nim.”
‘No. Seriously. Stop thanking me.’
As Yugrito bowed to Ryu Min, the words Ryu Min had been waiting for finally came out.
“Black Scythe-nim. There is a gift we wish to give you.”
Yugrito extended something from within his robes.
Ryu Min snatched it up, and at last, a smile appeared on his face.
[You have received ‘Ultra-Regeneration Elixir’ as a reward from Yugrito, Captain of the Knights of Elsorium.]
[Ultra-Regeneration Elixir]
-Category: Consumable
-Grade: Legendary
-Effect: Body regeneration for 10 seconds
-Use Restriction: Master grade or higher
-Description: Even if your body is torn apart, it regenerates instantly for 10 seconds. However, mental collapse from pain is not our responsibility.
‘Finally. Ultra-Regeneration Elixir.’
As the description said, it was an elixir that made you practically invincible for ten seconds.
‘If you use it with perfect timing, you can revive even if you die dozens of times.’
It was, quite literally, like gaining extra lives.
Since it was an item he needed to use in Round 15, he carefully stored it in his inventory.
“To hand over something this precious without hesitation. Thanks.”
“What could be more precious than our princess’s life? It is no exaggeration to say our elf race has received a debt from Black Scythe-nim that we can never repay in this lifetime.”
[The elves’ reputation toward Black Scythe has increased from ‘Neutral’ → ‘Friendly’.]
Seeing the reputation change message pop up, Ryu Min curled his lips into a grin.
“Either way, thanks.”
“The thanks is ours to give.”
At that moment, the rookie knight who had been waiting at the front of the carriage approached Yugrito.
“Jerif. How is the princess?”
“She was startled, but she’s much better now. Also, after I explained the situation to her, she said she wishes to personally thank her benefactor.”
“Her Highness wants to? Understood. Black Scythe-nim. This way.”
When Ryu Min approached the carriage with Yugrito, Yupinelsia stepped out as if she’d been waiting.
The instant she did, intense reactions burst out from all around.
“Gasp!”
“Whoa, damn.”
“What….”
Because her beauty was enough to make angels step aside.
“Hello, warrior from another world. I’m Yupinelsia of Elsorium.”
“Call me Black Scythe.”
Ryu Min spoke to the princess in informal speech too.
Even so, neither the princess nor the elves looked offended in the slightest.
‘Now that my reputation’s Friendly, nothing I do will become a problem.’
As long as he didn’t betray them, he could live his whole life receiving good treatment from elves.
“I heard you saved me. Truly… I don’t know how I could ever repay this debt….”
“You don’t have to repay it. I simply did what I was supposed to do.”
Elves liked words like duty and the natural order.
Ryu Min said it deliberately to build favor.
‘If I leave a proper impression on elves who are strict about rules, it’ll help me in many ways.’
Sure enough, Yugrito and the knights’ gazes toward Ryu Min subtly changed.
He might be a lifelong benefactor, but humans were still, in the end, humans.
Yet with that statement, the line they drew—“human”—grew a little fainter.
‘From here, I can keep raising my favor little by little. Especially if I build rapport with the princess, even better.’
Because Ryu Min already knew what the elf princess liked, it wouldn’t be difficult.
“Princess, please stay inside. I’ll guard the outside of the carriage. Even if it costs me my life.”
“Th- th- th-thank you.”
Rather than feeling burdened, Yupinelsia blushed at the vow to protect her with his life and hurriedly climbed back into the carriage.
With a faint smile at her lips.
Seeing that, Yugrito approached with astonished eyes.
“It’s my first time seeing Her Highness smile like that.”
“Is it?”
“It seems she’s reassured by your words—that you’ll protect her, Black Scythe-nim.”
“Then that’s fortunate.”
Ryu Min, who had been looking on, spoke to Yugrito as if telling him not to worry as well.
“I’ll protect the princess, so focus only on reaching the destination.”
“If you do that, we’ll be grateful indeed.”
Smiling softly, Yugrito relaxed and returned to the front line, and the battles continued.
“Ki-eek!”
“Kyaaak!”
Monsters continued to attack elves and humans, and each time, Ryu Min harvested experience with his scythe.
Through all thirty waves, the monsters never once managed to approach the princess.
Because the massive wall called Black Scythe stood guard.
At that reliable sight, Yugrito approached and showed his respect.
“I knew you were no ordinary person, Black Scythe-nim… but I never imagined you were this strong.”
“Is that so?”
“Thanks to you, we were able to escort Her Highness safely. Thank you.”
Even as he said thank you, a hint of regret showed on Yugrito’s face.
Because the time to part from their benefactor was drawing near.
Yupinelsia must have sensed it too, because she peeked her head out of the carriage.
“Um… Black Scythe-nim.”
“What? Do you have something to say?”
“Th… no. It’s nothing.”
As if reconsidering something, the princess pulled her head back in—then peeked out again.
“W-we’ll meet again someday, won’t we?”
Ryu Min answered evenly.
“Yes. Until then, don’t forget me.”
“……”
Yupinelsia stared blankly for a moment, then slipped back inside without answering.
‘She’s embarrassed.’
She was, unexpectedly, an elf princess who liked cheesy lines.
Soon, the time came.
[Time remaining until arrival at destination: 00:00:00]
When it reached 0 seconds, Yugrito stopped the carriage and, sharp as a blade, offered his farewell.
“Warriors from another world. You have worked hard. We will not forget the kindness of you protecting us to our destination. Next time, may we meet again with smiling faces.”
Clop-clop— clop-clop—
The carriage procession moved on, and Yugrito gave Ryu Min a final look of greeting.
Yupinelsia, opening the carriage window, also watched Ryu Min growing distant with a shy, girlish face.
[You have safely escorted the elf caravan to its destination.]
[You have completed the quest: Escorting the Elf Caravan.]
[Shortly, all participants will receive experience as a reward for successful escort.]
[The experience granted is 2x the monsters hunted by yourself and your party members.]
When it ended, the experience reward came in.
‘Level 78.’
A satisfying level.
More importantly, he’d built reputation with the elves and obtained the elixir he wanted—nothing could be better.
As the time to part approached, Heo Tae-seok stood at his side with a reluctant expression.
“Black Scythe-nim. It’s a shame we have to part now.”
“What’s so shameful? We’ll see each other again.”
“Ah….”
Maybe those words moved Heo Tae-seok, because once again, his expression went blank like someone in love.
“C-can I see you again too?”
Beside him, Eom Jun-seok spoke timidly, and Ryu Min nodded.
That alone made the man grin broadly in delight.
It no longer felt like a follower candidate—it felt like he’d become a full-fledged follower.
‘Now, should I go to the human caravan?’
Ryu Min’s figure disappeared.
The last caravan remained.
Not one to protect, but one to destroy.