Chapter 120

"It's okay, step back! Now!"

"But adventurer-!"

"I said it's okay!"

One of the elves clenched his jaw, frozen just before he could jump forward. He feared for the safety of his kin. Seojin ensured everyone was in their position and turned his gaze to Aisha.

"Do as you please."

The scene brimmed with tense anticipation as Aisha nodded. The elves watched her advance toward the spirit, which cowered without putting up any resistance.

'I was right.'

Belial wasn't the one meant to be killed. Seojin had already suspected as much after reading the elves' records. He soon gestured to Merhen, who was looking at him with anxious eyes.

-Calm down. If you draw your sword here, we're done for.

-Are you sure it's okay?

-Who do you think I am?

Merchen's hand slowly released its grip on the sword hilt. The elves and the two guild leaders followed suit.

Aisha eventually spoke up.

"Belial… You're trembling. Poor thing." Her face radiated warmth and a bittersweet smile. Belial's curled-up body relaxed slightly upon hearing her quivering voice.

"…Do you remember me?"

Belial emitted a sound akin to a whimpering puppy.

He remembered Aisha. And to Seojin's surprise, that noise was… a language.

Encountered: New language

Hidden trait of Silver Tongue: Natural sense

Learned fragments of a broken language - acquisition rate is low.

"… A broken language?"

He'd had never come across such a thing before. Belial whimpered again as Seojin focused on the words that appeared before him.

"I scared… why me bully?"

It was a translation.

'… So that's what he meant.'

Broken Language

* A language lacking a complete structure or system for an unspecified reason.

* Speakers of broken languages cannot understand what others are saying.

* Language Status: Severe. Cannot engage in normal conversation.

"…Aisha, stop. Say no more."

"Adventurer, please trust me for…."

"Listen first. Belial doesn't understand you. Use body language to communicate that we don't mean him any harm. We need to calm him down."

"Body language…"

Aisha decided to follow Seojin's advice for now. Instead of speaking further, she maintained eye contact with Belial, keeping herself at his level. Slowly, she reached out and stroked him. Belial flinched initially but gradually relaxed.

It was a tranquil scene—a young elf girl and a spirit, cuddling each other. However, it seemed not everyone appreciated the sight.

"Adventurer."

"Lower your voice, Berg."

"Elves may be forgiving, but that doesn't mean we easily forget our enemies. Have you forgotten how many elves Belial has killed?"

Berg was right about seeking revenge. If Seojin hadn't intervened, most of the elves present wouldn't hesitate to attack. However, Seojin knew one thing for certain.

"Belial didn't kill anyone."

"Not directly, but he caused…"

"It was Legia, Berg. Belial didn't want anyone to die. He was consumed by worry for his owner."

Berg's expression turned into a frown, unable to accept what Seojin was saying. All he knew was that Belial had led the elves into a deadly situation, and Seojin was denying it.

"Belial didn't have any intention to kill. The little guy was simply scared."

"I hope you have some evidence to support such a bold claim."

"That's what he's expressing now."

Even in its broken form, the language still conveyed meaning. It was just difficult to communicate with the spirit.

"Master… is painful… worried…"

"My master… where go… ? Elf… disappear… again… disappear…"

"Why disappear…? Help… Elf disappear… Why disappear…?"

"Disappear. Disappear. Disappear…Why? Why? Why…?"

Seojin could clearly hear the spirit's anguish and confusion.

"…It's true."

Maya affirmed that he was telling the truth.

"Ha, it's true?"

"Don't be stubborn, Berg."

"Stubborn. You dare to call me stubborn?"

At that moment, Berg's eyes blazed like flames.

"Adventurer, I didn't bring you here to listen to your nonsense."

"Then why?"

"Because I believed you could accomplish what we couldn't. And with that remark, you've already shattered the little trust we had in you."

"Berg, what he said is…"

"No, it can't be true. How can we seek vengeance for the countless deaths we've suffered if that's the case? Why have we fought and died? Why have we endured surviving in this desolate wasteland?"

Berg was almost gasping for breath. His face was red, his eyes trembling with determination to reject Seojin's words.

"Was your mission solely for revenge? Did you spend all these years to make the spirit pay with his blood?"

"It has to be that way. I have to do it, regardless of our mission. I must."

"Did the victims truly desire that?"

"They did. With all their hearts."

Seojin's gaze shifted to Maya.

"Is that true?"

"… No, it's not."

In spite of the dire situation, Maya's insight still worked, even on the leader of the elves themselves… and even when many of the elves present seemed to agree with him.

"Berg, you… you're implying that their sacrifices were meaningless."

"They were meaningless because we couldn't achieve anything through their deaths. We've only reached this point by encountering an adventurer like you!"

"Are you entitled to speak on behalf of the fallen?"

"I led them! Who else could have done it if not me? !"

"No, Berg. You're not worthy."

The air turned icy, and a chilling hostility emanated from all directions. The elves fell silent, and only Berg spoke slowly, his gaze fixed on Seojin.

"The only reason I tolerated you was because you were helping us. But you're arrogant, adventurer. Haven't you realized that you've outlived your usefulness?"

"That's impossible. Belial is right before your eyes, and Aisha knows the whereabouts of Legia. This arrogant adventurer must have lost his purpose for being here."

"And yet, you still…"

"You're an inept leader, Berg. It's worse than being a heinous criminal. Do you know why?"

Berg's eyes turned cold. The flames within them extinguished, replaced by a chilling intent to kill.

"Tell me."

"It's because of the number of deaths they make, Berg. It's your misjudgment that led to the sacrifice of all those elves. They died because you were their leader, and you failed to find the right path."

If someone committed murder, they would face immediate consequences, as everyone recognized it as an unforgivable act. By punishing the criminal, the harm could be halted. However…

"It's difficult to remove an incompetent leader. Group members hesitate to entertain such thoughts, regardless of the number of deaths or the potential for more casualties. Especially…"

Just then, something flashed right in front of Berg, and a spray of sand dust settled where he had stood. A table materialized, appearing between Seojin and the enraged elf.

"…!"

The elves wavered as they witnessed Berg seated with a shimmering longsword in his hand. Seojin spoke from the opposite side of the table.

"Especially when it comes to a passive race like yours, the elves."

"What have you done?"

"I compelled you to listen to me. I'm not a tool you can utilize and discard at will."

"At this moment…"

"Silence and listen."

He cut off Berg, and amidst it all, the elves remained motionless. Only the two guild leaders and Merhen remained vigilant, weapons at the ready.

"You are utterly incompetent and, as a result, have failed. The cost of your inadequacy had to be paid with the lives of the elves."

Berg had made no attempt to change. Despite numerous failures, he always maintained the same demeanor. Elves just killed… and died.

"That's when I appeared, just around a month ago. I solved a problem that you've been grappling with for hundreds of years. Am I amazing? No, Berg. It's just that you were exceptionally inept."

"You have no idea what you're talking about."

"You attempted to kill me just now. I take it as a sign that you are confident you can handle things on your own now. But what will you do if similar circumstances arise in the future? Will you send your elves to certain death once again, waiting for a savior to come forth?"

Seojin shifted his gaze to the elves surrounding them, standing there as if unsure of what to do.

"And all of you will endure it again, obediently carrying out orders and restricting your thoughts to what is permitted."

No one responded, which was favorable for Seojin.

"No elf could have done it better than me because elves are all the same! Any other elf here would have…" "

Yes, I believe what you're saying is true, but only until I arrived."

Elves possessed an inherently passive nature. It was a characteristic of their race, and the larger the group, the more stubborn and inflexible they became.

"You can't single-handedly change our nature."

"That is also true, given the current circumstances. But Berg, you can no longer remain in that position. Acknowledge your limitations and step down to become a regular member."

"Then what? Who will take my place? I doubt you have the courage to nominate yourself, so if anyone wants it, step forward. I will gladly step aside."

Berg glared at the entire group of elves, and they remained still, not uttering a word. They knew that Seojin's words resonated in their minds, but they were still elves.

However, not all elves were the same.

"… Jin? You?"

There stood Jin, a boy with a determined gaze that belied his young appearance.

"I want your position."

"How dare you?"

"Berg, didn't you say you would gladly step aside?" Seojin interjected, not wanting Jin to become Berg's target.

"Now you're reneging on your own words, and not for the first time."

"This is our affair, not yours."

"Jin desired change. He didn't resent it when I changed Maya."

"… Adventurer, how do you… ?"

"Of course, you didn't voice it aloud, Jin. But words are not the sole conveyors of one's sentiments."

Jin's actions spoke volumes to Seojin. His expression and his response to the situation itself revealed his inclinations.

He was the only elf who embraced change.