Chapter 321: Can't Escape

Chapter 321 - Can't Escape

"By the Gods... even I, who is not well-versed in matters of the outside world, know the names of the Six Supremacy and the Seven Heroes... Espie ...... you are one of the Seven Heroes?"

"Un! That's why I'm going to beat up the Ogres a bit!"

Espie declared proudly and confidently.

"Well, that's right. And now it's not just Espie, but also me and Slayer are here. I'll lend you a hand."

"Ogres... it will be a good experience."

And we're here too, so there was nothing to worry about.

A smile flashed across the faces of the elves, who were surprised by Espie's title of the Seven Heroes, but soon they all looked puzzled.

"W, wait, humans... what is it you want?"

"Huh?"

At that moment, one of the elves asked, as if trying to gauge our expressions.

What do we want?

"I doubt a covetous human would act without recompense. What do you desire? Wealth, perhaps? Or... women?"

"N, no, what..."

"Wait! Come to think of it, you mentioned doing something obscene to a young female warrior ... and even now, you're accompanied by such a child... you...... could it be that your tastes are as such... that you seek elven maidens... eh! You beast!"

"Wait, wait, wait, wait, why is this happening!? You took care of us overnight, don't take it too seriously. I mean, I don't have a dangerous hobby! I like decent women! I mean, it's you guys who are all sorts of savages!"

"Wh, what. You!"

They seemed to have doubts about us doing something for free, and because of that, they got some kind of weird suspicion.

And then......

"Well, that might be the case... leaving aside the true nature of his hobbies and interests... this young man... truly isn't seeking anything in return."

"Chieftain!?"

"There are all sorts of humans... it might be difficult to comprehend for those who only know the Bockmati, but... I suppose people like this young man are a minority."

Apparently, the Chieftain was the only one who didn't doubt me.

But, the elves were puzzled by the Chieftain's words.

On the other hand ...

"But still~...... be that as it may.... I do feel a bit awkward~"

"...... Huh?"

"Perhaps, with the help of the young man and his companions... we can really prevail over the Ogres... but...... even so, I wonder if anything will really change..."

The surprising words of the Chieftain. I didn't know what that meant.

"The enemy is of notable repute... even if driven away, even if slayed, stronger foes may emerge afterward... a powerful force from the ranks of the Demon King Army. One of the Six Supremacy, or perchance the Great Demon King himself, might descend upon us... as with the fall of Shiznautmy, where our hopes were dashed... the more we wage war, the more it seems unending... a cycle of strife that has ensnared humans and demons, the Surface World and the Demon Realm, for so long... thus, by engaging in this ceaseless battle, we'll fall into the same hole... bound to an eternal conflict with no resolution in sight..."

The Chieftain spoke with a cold, dismayed, and reluctant tone.

Even the battle for survival between humans and demons that is currently taking place in the world seemed absurd, he found it all ridiculous.

"You... so what would you have us do then?"

"That's why I propose we flee. Is this land truly ours? Can we not let them through? It's just by chance that our forebears dwelt here, and our dominion is not acknowledged globally. Yet, to engage in such disputes would bring forth further vexations... so, let us not engage in battle but flee instead."

"......... dear........."

"I don't like it. The life of an elf is a long one, and I have no desire to be entangled in such matters, which, once entered, are difficult to escape. A quagmire from which one finds it hard to extricate oneself."

"How selfish... truly, your thoughts are fundamentally different from the rest of us..."

"Surprisingly, perhaps I am not truly an Elf. Mayhap, in a former life, I lived in a peaceful world as a human."

"Yes, yes, not at all ... but even so... you won't just depart alone in haste..."

"...... Because it's a lengthy life indeed... To marry against my will, forsake those who have affection for me, and carry the burden of such guilt for decades is not to my liking. This is one of the quagmires difficult to escape once entangled. Hence, marriage is akin to a graveyard in one's life."

"Fufu. Just be honest and say you don't want to lose a devoted, loving wife like myself."

In a sense, the Chieftain's thoughts were self-centered.

He dismissed ancestry, pride, history, war, and all those kinds of things as nonsense.

I'm sure the military guys fighting for their lives would be angry if they heard that, but I can understand why he doesn't want to be influenced by such things.

I also decided to quit being an Imperial Knight halfway through and live my life freely.

But......

"It's the same as running away. Do you think there's a convenient safe haven at the end of the flight? And if you're going to live alone and in hiding, why not with everyone else?"

"Slayer?"

Surprisingly, even Slayer disagreed with the Chieftain's idea.

"...... oh... the child has struck at the very core... oh...... It's a challenging matter~...... But...... Yes, you speak truth...... whether it's an era with no Demon King Army or humans... or an uninhabited world or distant stars, none shall be exempt from the toils of life..."

"Saying stupid things and evading doesn't change the truth. Just running away without fighting... thinking you can find your place that way... you're being naive."

It seemed Slayer had some opinions of his own brewing within.

Well, like Espie, he lives by himself at this age, moving around the world alone and earning a living as a Hunter.

What about his hometown? Who are his parents? I haven't heard anything like that, but I know he must have had a hard time.

I guess that's why he said what he did.

In that sense, Espie may be the same.

And me, who ran away from home.

But, the Chieftain seemed to understand that.

"Well, that's the quandary... that's why I can't push the issue... however, even if we fight, we can't win... not against the Six-Gates Eye ... even Lady Kaguya could not withstand the might of the Great Demon King Tre'ainar... the only possibility, the land of Shiznautmy, is occupied by the Demon King Army... it's nigh impossible... to begin with, we don't even have the key..."

『...... Hmm? ...... Hmm? ...... this one... 』

The Chieftain, looking down with a wry smile at the word of a child like Slayer, was mumbling something, but I couldn't quite make it out.

But, Tre'ainar reacted in some way ...

"Eeii, bastards... don't ignore me!"

But, at that moment, the captive woman, who had been stunned until just a moment ago, suddenly burst out and shouted.

"Why are you even here? Don't tell me that the Allied Forces are joining hands with the elves!?"

Larou'iph, who was surprised that we were here, shouted as he glared at us.

"No, it's a coincidence. Besides, we're acting without any connection to the Allied Forces."

"D, don't mess with me! And yet, are you going to attack Aonii and the others? That makes no sense! Either way, you are still the enemy of the Demon King Army!"

"Not an enemy, just annoying. It's just that there are times when you have to fight, depending on the situation. That Aonii is pretty dangerous, right? The Chieftain and his people seem to be in danger, and since we've become friends, I'm just lending a hand."

"Why, such sloppy reasoning from flighty humans! It's because of people like you that... that person...... that man who was kinder than anyone else..."

Why? She was glaring at me with eyes filled with murderous intent.

It's not my fault that she's being held captive like this right now.

"Shut up! White elves and black elves alike, don't get together and call humans dirty! I won't go so far as to say that I or humans are clean, but if I don't have to fight, I won't do it! Believe it or not... I have a good friend who is an Ogre!"

"...... wh... at?"

"""""Eeeeh!??"""""

I couldn't help but snap and say it. Well, it's not like it's a secret, so it's fine.

"Huh? Is that so?"

"Friends with an Ogre? Huh?"

"Big brother, is it true!?"

"Even though it's not a lie because it's Brother... friends with an Ogre?"

But, in this world of this era, it seems that "friends with ogres" is quite far-fetched.

Espie and the others were also surprised with an expression that says, "I can't believe it."

"What... was that? How is that possible? It's one thing if you're a resident of the Demon Realm like us, but a human like you is friends with an Ogre?"

But this is an undeniable fact.

"It's a fact. He... I met him by chance after I ran away from home... and even though I was a mess... he was kinder to me than anyone else."

Mr. Aka...... he's somewhere in this era.

Is he still in the Demon King Army? Or has he already fled from the Demon King Army?

I can't meet him in this era, and I can't give his name, but... Mr. Aka...... I'd like to meet him...