Raising the Elf’s Genius Slayer

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Chapter

Enok suffered significant damage during the battle with the nameless Demon Race.

While completing Pathos reduced the burden of the God of Thunder considerably, it didn’t mean he was unscathed. Moreover, all the wounds he sustained had translated into mental damage, and his overworked Ki Eye felt like it was on the verge of breaking apart.

It was only natural that Undine lashed out at Enok’s back as he turned to find his next opponent.

[You really might die, you fool!]

“Hmm.”

Even he thought it was a valid point, so Enok nodded in agreement. He decided to put this on hold. Not knowing what to do next, he looked at Rionne.

“First, let’s find a way out of this dungeon.”

“Oh, right, it was a dungeon after all.”

He had stumbled upon this place while investigating the recent surge in monsters, hadn’t he? He had almost forgotten for a moment.

“Hmmm.”

After a moment of thought, Enok opened his left eye. The rings rotated, illuminating the world around him, revealing clearly visible lines. There was no particular burden to see them.

‘Well, that makes sense.’

The difficulty in seeing the lines of the Demon Race stemmed from their intent to conceal themselves. But the lines of the dungeon were different. Although they were elusive enough that even Rionne struggled to sense them, they had no intent to hide.

“Let’s head that way.”

*

After walking for about thirty minutes, the party finally arrived at their destination.

[So, this is how it looks.]

An expansive desert seemed to end abruptly at a certain point. Beyond that stretched a darkness that was undeniably out of place.

“Shall we go?”

Rionne stepped forward. Without hesitation, Enok followed her lead.

Whoosh—

With a strange sensation, the landscape changed.

“Is this… a cave?”

As Rionne said, it was indeed a cave. However, they had moved into a massive, hemispherical chamber with an altar-like structure placed at its center.

“It seems we’ve been inside here.”

“Is that a glass orb?”

“Yeah. Look closely. Can you see the scenery we were just in inside it?”

Is this like a dungeon within a dungeon? How fascinating. Enok tapped the glass orb, but the texture felt just like normal glass.

“It seems there were more of them, but they’re all broken.”

“Rionne.”

“Yeah?”

“Let’s leave this one as it is.”

Enok carefully withdrew his hand from the glass orb.

“I think it’d be great to train here whenever we have the time.”

Isn’t this fate? If left and visited regularly for training, tremendous growth would be possible.

But what could possibly go wrong?

Crack—

The glass orb cracked and shattered like the other ones beside it.

“Ah…!”

“Oh, what a waste.”

Despite her words, Rionne oddly seemed pleased.

“…You didn’t break it, did you, Rionne?”

“No, no! I would never do such a thing!”

Well, it couldn’t be helped. Enok sighed and looked around.

“Then, shall we take a look around for now?”

While he saw the lines leading into the dungeon with his Ki Eye, it was uncertain if that was related to the monsters that had increased lately. After all, he hadn’t even seen the lines connected to the monsters.

Still, it didn’t change the fact that they needed to find an exit.

Enok moved toward the passage leading from the vast chamber. He sensed several presences from afar. Using those presences as a compass, he drew closer, and faint sounds began to reach his ears.

– …Ugh. …Help me.

Exchanging glances with Rionne, Enok quickened his pace. The presence? He wasn’t reducing his speed. There shouldn’t be any danger unless a demigod suddenly jumped out.

What he encountered was a man.

“Ugh…”

A human man, covered in blood and on the verge of death. What was a human doing here?

“P-please, kill me…”

His confusion was momentary. Enok hurriedly raised his foot.

“E-Enok…! S-stop…!!”

Enok turned his head away just as he was about to stomp down and crush the man’s skull.

“Why?”

“You can’t just kill him out of nowhere!”

“He asked me to kill him!”

“That really means he wants you to save him!”

It meant he was suffering so much that he wanted to die, but secretly hoped to be saved.

Rionne rushed over and gathered a swirl of light in her hands. As the light touched the man, his expression began to ease.

“Ugh…”

In fact, it seemed he was so relieved that he just fell asleep.

“Wake up.”

“Gah…!”

As Enok kicked him, he jolted awake immediately.

“What are you doing here? You can’t be a foolish human who doesn’t know you’re in the Elf Union.”

Enok thumped his foot on the ground, causing the man’s gaze to shift to that spot. He must have realized that if he wasn’t careful, his head could be crushed underfoot. He spoke urgently.

“I-I didn’t know!”

“Oh dear. Be on your way.”

It seemed he was an elf hunter. Just as he was about to crush the man’s head, he instinctively shouted.

“I-it’s true…! I was in Tetika!”

“Tetika?”

“Yes, yes!”

Tetika was the name of a kingdom. It was neighboring the Labelion Kingdom and close to the Beastman Tribe, so Enok remembered it well.

“But why are you here?”

“I don’t know! I just… entered the dungeon with my clan members…”

Enok turned to Rionne. She nodded. Elves could vaguely sense the truth, so if Rionne said it was correct, then it likely was. Besides, she wasn’t just any elf; she was a high elf.

“How interesting.”

Enok nodded and continued walking.

“Rionne, let’s go.”

“W-wait…! Please take me with you…!”

“Why should we?”

Enok didn’t want to add another burden in a place they had come to without Rionne.

He was about to leave him behind, but Rionne gently patted Enok’s head.

“Let’s take him, Enok.”

“…Okay.”

“Such a kind boy. Big sister needs to give you a reward, doesn’t she?”

“A reward?”

As he stared at her, she took hold of his cheeks with both hands and planted a soft kiss on his forehead, leaving behind only warmth as she pulled away.

“Wow…?”

“Hehe, how was that?”

Was she asking for his impression?

Holding up his thumb, Rionne smiled proudly.

‘Today feels a bit strange.’

He hoped it would continue to be strange. Ideally, she would give him an even longer kiss.

With his cheeks slightly flushed, Enok gave his chest a few pats.

“Eri.”

[…Huh? What is it!?]

“Uh… never mind. Just rest well.”

He had intended to say something about dragging that man along, but his tone was a bit harsh. He had overexerted himself while fighting the Demon Race. If he pushed it now, Eri’s puberty might hit early.

Grabbing the man by the scruff of his neck, Enok began to pull him along.

“Let’s go.”

*

The man stumbled forward, following the unknown party with shaky legs. If he was dragged along like this, he felt like he’d soon lose the breath he had just regained.

“Hah…”

Maybe due to his slowing pace, he felt the burning glare of the boy who seemed ready to explode any moment, but he truly wanted to live.

“I’ll tell you everything I know!”

He had to prove his usefulness no matter what…! For that, it was advantageous to cling to the elves rather than the boy. That guy seemed way too prickly.

“I entered the dungeon about a week ago….”

“Don’t cling too much to Rionne.”

“Y-yes!”

Taking three quick steps back, he continued speaking.

“There were six of us, including me, who entered together a week ago. It seemed dangerous since it was a new dungeon, but if we got lucky, it could be a chance for some serious treasure.”

However, it didn’t seem like they were listening.

“Enok, you’ve got something on your face.”

“Yeah? What could be on my face? Dust?”

“No? It’s kimchi.”

“I didn’t have any kimchi?”

The elf pinched the boy’s cheek lightly.

“You’re pretty handsome.”

Seriously, it was unbearable. He was trembling, but he held on to the one wish — to live. If he laughed here, he would seriously be doomed.

“Rionne is beautiful too.”

“Really?”

“Yeah. Of course.”

“Actually, Enok is super cute!”

Hah, the man kept his mouth shut, sensing trouble. Clearly, they weren’t interested in his information or anything else.

[Hey, human. Feeling pretty rough, aren’t you?]

“Ah, no!”

[No, I’m the one who’s struggling. Don’t those guys really get on your nerves? I have no idea why they’re like that.]

“Hah, hah. Y-yeah.”

The spirited spirit flew off with a flap.

[Hey! They say they don’t want to see you anymore!]

“Yikes…!? N-no, that’s not what I meant…!”

Should he have just chosen to die earlier? The man began to seriously regret it.

*

Though the troublesome human was somewhat annoying, Enok felt good. Really good, in fact.

“Hehe.”

Rionne gave a strangely artificial smile as she brushed her hair back. Then she raised her arms in an oddly awkward stretch, tentatively lifting the corners of her mouth with a stiff grin.

“Ahm. Today. Is. A bit. Tiring. Isn’t it?”

He didn’t really understand what she was doing, but it felt nice anyway. It seemed like Rionne was trying to do something. Had she experienced some change of heart?

Humming a quiet tune, they proceeded through the cave until they finally encountered the source of the presence they had felt earlier.

Growl….

It was a dog with black fur. But it bore a daring stance, walking on two legs as if refusing to be ordinary, gripping a long spear with its fluffy hands, hinting that it had the potential for some kind of revolution.

Why wield a spear when it had natural claws? It also donned leather armor, which made little sense.

“Yikes…! I-I’ve found it…! Those guys have taken my clan members…!”

The human man stepped back in terror. It didn’t look very threatening. As he scrutinized it, Rionne let out a small, “Huh?”

“A Helldog? What is it doing here?”