Raising the Elf’s Genius Slayer

---

Chapter

The duel between a human boy not yet twenty and the Rangers had become quite a significant issue in the calm and peaceful Elf Society.

“Did you hear the news?”

“Of course! I’m going to watch it later, let’s go together!”

“The neighbor Shaon is showing off her skills, so we should bring some ingredients.”

“Oh, Shaon? She usually complains about it, but now we absolutely have to go.”

Is it a festival disguised as a duel? Excited elves, thinking of tasting all kinds of delicacies for the first time in ages, began pulling out rare ingredients one by one.

“Hey? Is that Behemoth meat? Where did you get that?”

“It’s some that my father brought back when I was a kid.”

“When you were a kid means that’s like two hundred years ago, right?”

“Yeah, exactly. I preserved it well, so no worries.”

Some items that aren’t easily obtainable even with money seem to pop up now and then.

Since they are elves, they can easily collect materials that are impossible to find in today’s world over the span of a thousand years, creating a breathtaking scene that would leave humans doubting their eyes.

“Still, I’m worried. The kids need to be careful.”

“Come on, what’s there to worry about? They’ve all been living for three hundred years, can’t they adjust their strength against a child?”

“Right?”

If a child under twenty loses heart, it would be a disaster. As the elves prepared for the festival with mixed feelings of worry and anticipation, a booming voice echoed from afar.

– The kids are here, so everyone get ready!

They had already made arrangements with the human child to hold the duel in the massive arena.

The elves quickly filled the circular arena built about two thousand years ago, while those in charge of cooking busily moved around preparing the food.

Chop-chop-chop-chop-, cleavers swung, leaving afterimages. Only neatly trimmed ingredients remained where the greenish traces of the blade lay, and one elf standing in front activated magic to proceed through the intricate steps.

Achieving the perfect temperature for the fire, ingredients were placed in the pot in order, and a sauce carefully made by a chef with six hundred years of experience was poured in.

“Hmm, not bad. Take this over there.”

“Yes, sister.”

“Are you still calling me sister? There’s only a fifty-year difference; it’s a bit upsetting.”

“Hehe, is that so?”

Tsukiyo, watching the scene while heading to the arena, quickened her pace with a look of disgust on her face.

“Ah, Tsukiyo! Let’s go together!”

“Seriously, these elf folks still don’t have a sense of time.”

“Hey, Tsukiyo, you’ve lived as long as an elf too!”

“You, you…! Didn’t I tell you not to say such things?”

“Oh no. Hehe.”

In any case, whether it’s because of her youthful appearance or not, she was treated like a child.

Tsukiyo, with her lips poking out, found a suitable place to sit. After all, it must be something elves are good at—designing a seat that allows even someone of her short stature to see exceptionally well.

“Deru, when does it start?”

“Well, not exactly sure. There isn’t a fixed schedule.”

“Hmm….”

After a moment’s hesitation, Tsukiyo finally pulled out a tiny plastic pack from her bosom.

“Ah, that’s Churu, right? I’ve heard of it a few times, but this is my first time seeing it!”

“Ugh… I’ve wasted my life as an elf.”

Tsukiyo squeezed her eyes shut. With the few remaining Churus she’d brought from the Beastman Alliance, it would feel a bit much to hoard them when she hadn’t had one in her life yet.

“Fine, I’ll give you one.”

“Wow, really?”

Deru grinned widely as he took the Churu. Tsukiyo, with a pained expression, pulled out a new Churu from her bosom, unwrapped it, and bit into it.

And then, *slurp*, as she savored the indescribably delightful flavor, her brain was flooded with pleasure.

“Phew… Indeed, Churu from Bohemia is the best.”

Her cat ears twitched, and her slightly flushed face was filled with happiness. Seeing this, Deru eagerly took a big bite of Churu.

“Yup…!? Eww….”

The Churu fell from Deru’s mouth. Tsukiyo, with a devastated expression, watched as he couldn’t muster the courage to swallow it.

“W-what a waste… I finally gave it to you!”

“Ngh… It’s so fishy I can’t eat it….”

“You wretch! Give it back!”

Tsukiyo, having snatched back the Churu from Deru, pouted and turned her gaze toward the arena. Sensing something, it seemed like they were about to begin.

“Ugh… There’s not much time left. How unfortunate….”

As Tsukiyo licked the opening of the Churu wrapper while waiting, she soon spotted the human boy trudging into the arena.

“Hah, how’s he going to fight when he’s that weak?”

“Isn’t he just average-sized?”

“A man ought to have muscles. With that skinny frame, one hit would probably break him.”

On the opposite side, the elf opponent made his entrance. As expected, with a slim physique typical of elves, Tsukiyo clicked her tongue, but her voice was drowned out by the cheers of other elves.

– Wowwww…!

– Arcane! You know what happens if you make the kid cry!?

– Go, little guy…!

The overall atmosphere was one of support for the little human. Tsukiyo sighed and leaned back in her chair.

“So that’s Swordmaster.”

Rionne Estor, playing the role of the referee. As expected, she was impressive. Despite her modest height, her bust was staggering. With wide hips, she looked like she could have children at any moment.

*Thud*, Tsukiyo’s sharp gaze had her thoughts focusing on the flat chest she had just touched.

“Ugh…! When on earth is this duel starting!?”

Frustrated by the wait, just as Tsukiyo slipped a Churu into her mouth, the Swordmaster shouted loudly.

– Let the duel between Enok Estor and Arcane Quirun begin!

Enok Estor… He said he was a disciple, but now he’s got the whole name.

Tsukiyo’s eyes narrowed as she focused on the duel. The elf called Arcane appeared relaxed, maintaining an impeccable stance, while the human boy was just sauntering in front of him.

“Pfft, tch.”

This looks like it’ll end boringly. Just as Tsukiyo relaxed with a sigh, her keen ears caught the words of the human boy.

“You should start off full throttle.”

At the same moment, their hands moved. So fast that even Tsukiyo barely caught it. The flung hand sent a fragment of Ki shooting forward.

*Flick-*

Arcane’s eyes widened as he touched his cheek, finding blood on his hand.

As that scene was projected onto the central screen in the arena, amazed elves blinked in surprise. But that was just for a moment.

– Woahhhh!

– Not bad, little guy!

– Do it! Crush Arcane!

“Geez, what a crowd.”

Arcane forced a smile as he took his bow off his back. The carefree look was gone from his eyes as he stared intently at Enok. He took a deep breath, summoning up proper tension.

“Even so… I can’t lose to a kid at this age!”

*Thud!* Arcane struck the ground, launching himself high into the air.

*Squeak-*, the bowstring tautened. A green Ki conjured into the shape of an arrow in the air, three in total. Arcane took a deep breath before letting loose the arrow.

*Pew-pew-pew—*

The three arrows flew uniquely. Enok lightly waved his hand.

*Slash-!*

The arrows vanished into thin air with a swipe of his claw-like hand.

“Grain?”

Tsukiyo’s eyes narrowed.

Enok, after eliminating the arrows easily, lunged toward Arcane. Arcane was mid-air, gathering strength for a solid hit—but as expected from an elf, he was seasoned.

*Snap-!*

Pulling the string tied to the arrow lodged in the ground, Arcane’s form shifted rapidly in mid-air. Simultaneously, he drew back his bowstring.

*Squeak-*

This time, five arrows. Enok’s pupils stretched wide in shock.

*Thwack-!*

A Ki scattered, appearing right before Arcane. Shocked, Arcane’s eyes widened.

“What speed…!”

Desperately trying to react, it was too late. He felt sharp claws at his neck and breathed out helplessly.

“…I won’t give you more than five minutes of my time.”

He extended his hand wearily as Enok took it. Rionne soon declared.

– The winner is Enok Estor! Wow! Well done, Enok!

*

At some point, Tsukiyo had fallen silent, staring intently at Enok.

Unsatisfied after one duel, Enok called out for his next opponent, continuing the festive atmosphere. In the meantime, Tsukiyo’s sharp gaze remained fixed on Enok, looking quite out of place.

“He’s still young, but impressive! That’s already six opponents he’s gone through!”

As Deru had said, the duel ended in the blink of an eye. Since there seemed to be no intention to hide his power, the skill gap was evident and it ended quickly.

“Is that what they call a genius?”

The elf who had just lost in the duel clapped brightly, impressed by how he could instantly grasp and replicate his opponent’s techniques.

“I still don’t get the elves’ emotions. How can they be so happy when someone just stole their technique?”

“Greatness is greatness, no matter what.”

“Hmph.”

Tsukiyo watched with narrow eyes at Enok. It really seemed like a rotten brat. He was clearly showing off his hidden power; it was all too obvious.

I can do things like this too. So think of a way to deal with it. I intend to analyze it and use it as a springboard for my growth.

Isn’t that a rather twisted mindset?

“Ugh….”

“Why the long face? Want to fight? You could just step out.”

Since there’s no set schedule, one can simply join if they wanted to duel.

“Not so much that… It’s just… I’m a bit worried.”

While skill is skill, it’s that brief glimpse of the right eye. It seemed distinctly like a beastman…

“Come on, don’t be shy.”

Deru grinned, raising his hand high.

“Here! Here! Tsukiyo wants to duel too!”

“Wait, Tsukiyo?”

“Isn’t that the great warrior of the Beastman Tribe?”

“Yeah, that should be her!”

Thus, in no time at all, a duel was confirmed. Caught off guard by the unexpected turn of events, Tsukiyo rolled her eyes, but what could she do?

“Cough, cough.”

Clearing her throat, Tsukiyo gracefully leaped into the arena.

“Well then, seems we’ve got ourselves a little one.”

Her shiny black hair fluttered as her golden slit pupils fixed on Enok. With a pipe in her mouth, she tilted her head slightly.

“I am Tsukiyo of the Black Cat Tribe.”

“Little one?”

“What, are you offended? But considering our age difference….”

“Rionne, can she really fight a child like that?”

Oh, she’s talking about me? Tsukiyo’s eyes burned with indignation.

*Whack-!*

With a sharp slash cutting through the air, Enok’s eyes narrowed.

“It seems you’re practicing some blade techniques. Let me teach you a lesson, little one.”