Chapter 126 – Parent of the Elves (Part 3)

===================

Translated by Pratt

Read it only at Novelbyu.com & Utoon.net

===================

For the past few days, Elbridge sparred with the three Sentinels and received their teachings.

Bella spoke.

“We’ll stop here for today.”

“Understood. Haah, haah—hoo.”

Supporting himself with his sword like a cane, Elbridge caught his rough breath and flopped down onto the ground.

His breath rose to the tip of his throat, but his mind was clearer than ever.

Elbridge had not won a single one of the dozen or so spars he had fought against the Sentinels.

He was not disappointed. This was because he knew better than anyone that he could not defeat a Sentinel with his current capabilities. Rather, wouldn’t he have been disappointed if he had won?

Therefore, Elbridge’s goal was not to win, but to imprint the movements of the three Sentinels in his mind as accurately as possible.

Elbridge closed his eyes.

Bella’s image rose in the darkness. Then he saw his own self standing in front of them.

Feeling as if he had become a spectator, Elbridge began to trace the movements the three Sentinels had shown and his own movements. To an accuracy that surprised even himself.

In the darkness, Elbridge moves slowly.

Bella approaches Elbridge with her sword hanging low. Elbridge swings his sword, and Bella parries it. Bella twists her wrist, aiming for Elbridge’s shoulder with the tip of her sword. He blocks it. Bella’s next strike targets Elbridge’s thigh. He deflects it. And in the next moment, Bella’s sword is resting beneath Elbridge’s chin.

Elbridge traced that flow slowly, over and over again.

He imagined Bella’s sword from his own perspective, and observed his own movements from Bella’s perspective.

He strove to read her intentions, to understand what reason lay behind Bella’s movements.

‘It’s difficult to understand.’

Though he couldn’t comprehend it, the movements and judgments Bella displayed were undoubtedly close to the correct answers. Had she not proven it with the results?

However, the enlightenment lying before Elbridge was faint, as if shrouded in fog. It was still difficult to understand.

Having caught his breath, Elbridge rose from his spot and slowly moved his sword.

In order to gain even a little bit more.

‘There’s a large gap in skill even among the Sentinels.’

The youngest among the Sentinels was Orion. Orion’s movements could be understood to some degree. It felt as if he might somehow be able to catch up if given enough time.

But Jean and Bella were different. The skill of those two lay outside the domain that Elbridge could comprehend.

Jean, who had been watching Elbridge’s movements, laughed.

“Somehow, it feels futile.”

“What is dispiriting?”

“You, Elbridge. You’re reviewing your spar with Bella just now, aren’t you?”

“Indeed.”

“Watching you makes me feel like the time I spent teaching the reserve Sentinels was a waste of effort. It shouldn’t be like this, though.”

There was only one reason for Jean to say such a thing.

“It seems the reserve Sentinels are slow to learn.”

“Yes. To the point where it’s hard to compare them with you.”

It was a conversation they could only have because the reserve Sentinels were not around.

Jean leaned back against the sacred tree as he sat and spoke.

“It’s not strange. Because elves are far fewer in number than humans. The talented ones are correspondingly rare. Those who have talent and wish to become Sentinels are even rarer, and those who actually put in the effort are rarer still.”

Elbridge recalled the reserve Sentinels he had observed over the past few days.

They diligently sought out the Sentinels to receive teachings. At the very least, couldn’t their sincerity be recognized?

“It would be presumptuous of me to evaluate their talent. However, they all seemed to be putting in effort.”

“It’s true they are on the diligent side for elves. Actually, the biggest problem is their mindset. Not a single one of the reserve Sentinels pursues power fiercely and desperately. Sincerity without that kind of mindset never yields satisfactory results.”

“Elves have long lifespans, after all. There would be no need to rush.”

“True. Even if they don’t receive the authority of longevity from the Goddess of Thorns, they will live for about a thousand years. As long as they don’t give up, they’ll manage somehow. That’s what they think.”

Jean crossed his legs and propped up his head with his interlaced hands.

“Actually, it would be fine if they were simply not desperate. The problem is that the mindset of those fellows isn’t just at that level.”

“What do you mean, not just at that level?”

“Elves believe that pursuing something desperately is not good. It might be hard for you to understand, though.”

Jean’s words were definitely correct. Elbridge could not comprehend that concept.

“Why is that?”

“Because a fierce attitude inevitably exhausts a person. Rather than running at full speed only to give up halfway, it is better to walk slowly without getting exhausted to reach the end. That is the way of thinking of an ordinary elf.”

Elbridge nodded.

“Just as there is a pace of life suited to humans, there must also be a pace of life suited to elves.”

“That’s true. But a Sentinel cannot be like that. What a Sentinel needs is not effort, but results. We must raise our capabilities to the point where we can protect the sacred tree and the Goddess of Thorns under any circumstances.”

“Did you make such fierce efforts, Mr. Jean?”

“Of course. For untalented individuals like myself and Bella, making fierce, long-term effort was all we could do.”

Elbridge’s eyes narrowed.

For Jean, who had defeated him countless times over the past few days, to speak of a lack of talent. Didn’t it sound like mockery?

“It doesn’t seem like you lack talent, though.”

At that, Jean laughed.

“Elbridge. How long has it been since you started practicing the sword?”

It would be right to exclude the two hundred years spent inside the seal.

“Roughly fifteen years… Even looking at it generously, it hasn’t exceeded twenty years.”

“It must have taken Bella a good three hundred years to acquire a level of skill similar to yours. It might have taken even longer than that.”

Hearing Jean’s words, Bella nodded. It seemed there was no exaggeration in his statement.

Jean asked Elbridge.

“Elbridge. Would you be willing to suffer for three hundred years to acquire the level of skill you have now?”

Three hundred years, indeed.

An ordinary person might say they could invest three hundred years out of a thousand-year lifespan.

But Elbridge was different. Elbridge had personally experienced just how long of a time two hundred years was. Since even two hundred years had been beyond painful, three hundred years was unimaginable.

“It doesn’t seem like it would be easy.”

Yet Jean and Bella had endured three hundred years. That period alone was enough to guess the depth of their desperation.

Suddenly, a certain curiosity he had harbored until now reared its head.

“Could I by any chance ask how old the two of you are?”

“Older than we look.”

It seemed they didn’t wish to answer. Elbridge cleanly gave up and threw out a different question.

“In that case, what did you endure such a long time for, Mr. Jean and Lady Bella?”

“To protect the Goddess of Thorns and the sacred tree.”

An immediate answer without a shred of hesitation.

Just as the dwarves of the mountain city served the God of the Steel Anvil, the elves served the Goddess of Thorns.

However, the reasons the dwarves and elves served their gods were different.

Dwarves chose the God of the Steel Anvil because they had no option to choose any other deity.

Therefore, the dwarves served the God of the Steel Anvil as though they were serving a ruler.

But elves were different. Elves would often refer to the Goddess of Thorns as their mother.

The emotions elves harbored toward the Goddess of Thorns were closer to love and respect, rather than fear and awe.

The downward love bestowed by the Goddess of Thorns, and the upward love offered by the elves to the Goddess of Thorns. Perhaps it was closer to the relationship between a parent and child rather than a god and their believers.

Elbridge murmured.

“You respect the Goddess of Thorns more than anyone.”

As Elbridge murmured, Jean wore a slightly strange expression.

“No. I don’t respect the Goddess of Thorns.”

“Then…?”

“But I love the Goddess of Thorns more than anyone.”

*

Elbridge was not the only one among the companions receiving teachings from the Sentinels.

Lately, Marcus had been squeezing in among the reserve Sentinels, receiving instruction alongside them.

This was not what Marcus had wanted, but was initiated at Jean’s request.

“Elbridge. Your skills are above those of the reserve Sentinels. Even if you raise your skills further, the reserve Sentinels won’t gain much insight. But Marcus is different.”

There was a wide disparity in the skills of the reserve Sentinels.

And Marcus’s skill was at a similar level to the lagging reserve Sentinels.

Jean’s idea was that if Marcus showed distinct progress, the other elves would feel a sense of urgency and approach their training seriously.

“Elbridge. Familiarize yourself with the faces, names, and skill levels of the reserve Sentinels. That way, you’ll be able to lead them when demons appear.”

What Jean wanted from Elbridge was not for him to blend in among the reserve Sentinels and fight.

Jean and Bella hoped that Elbridge would lead the reserve Sentinels on their behalf, as they themselves could not step outside the Forest of Thorns.

A situation where he had to assume the role of a commander for the very first time in his life. The pressure Elbridge felt grew heavier and heavier.

*

One evening, while spending their days busy like that.

Jean visited the cabin of Elbridge’s party.

Jean scratched the back of his head with an awkward expression.

“Sorry for coming by so late.”

A voice warmer than usual. And a faint smell of alcohol wafting from Jean.

According to Marcus’s experience, arguing with a drunkard was a foolish act. Especially if that drunkard was an incredibly skilled powerhouse.

Marcus immediately pulled out a chair to make a seat for Jean.

“No need to apologize. Aren’t we the ones imposing on you in the Forest of Thorns? Please, sit down.”

“Thank you. But could I get one more chair?”

Behind Jean, another silver-haired elf appeared. It was Bella.

And a faint smell of alcohol also drifted from Bella.

‘…Must be careful.’

Marcus without asking any questions pulled out a second chair. The two elves sat down and looked around with bashful expressions.

There was surely a reason for them to come to the cabin while drunk. Elbridge asked Jean and Bella, who were sitting across the table.

“Did something bring you here by any chance?”

The one who answered that question was Bella.

“We agreed to make a transaction, didn’t we?”

Since Bella was of a taciturn nature, she hadn’t opened her mouth much until now.

For Bella to speak instead of Jean. Could it be that the alcohol had loosened her tongue?

“A transaction… It is indeed a transaction.”

“You agreed to fight in our stead if demons appeared on the outskirts of the forest. In exchange, you demanded two things: that we teach you how to fight, and that we tell you how to deal with the Central Mage Tower Lord.”

“That is correct.”

“This is a transaction where we receive one and give two. It’s unfair.”

Bella spoke thus, pouting her lips. She seemed to be the type to act childishly when drunk.

Of course, Bella’s argument made no sense. The number of conditions doesn’t matter in such a transaction.

However, Elbridge and Marcus decided to listen further for now.

“What is it that you want?”

“Tell us stories. Stories of the world outside the forest.”

It was a trivial demand. Elbridge cast a glance at Marcus. Since it would be better for the smooth-talking Marcus to spin the tale.

“Hmm. What kind of story should I tell you? A story about a countess running away after having an affair with a local widower?”

Bella shook her head.

“No. Tell us about impressive places, and their scenery.”

A strangely specific requirement. Marcus scratched his chin.

“Well, that’s not hard. Shall we start with the East for now…”

Marcus spun his stories as if moving along the path they had traveled so far. The road from a small village in the East to Solenion. From Solenion to the Red Mountains and the mountain city. From the mountain city to Middlemarch in the center, and then to the south of the continent.

Bella closed his eyes and listened to the story while nestled in Jean’s arms. Jean also listened intently to Marcus’s words.

While listening to the stories, Bella occasionally asked Marcus questions.

Trivial questions, such as whether a mountain in that region looked like this, or whether there was a peculiarly shaped tree.

Watching the two of them, Elbridge realized two things.

That Jean and Bella were husband and wife or lovers, and that the footsteps of the two elves had trodden every single place Elbridge’s party had visited.

When that long story finally came to an end, the two elves bowed to Elbridge and Marcus as they left the cabin.

“Thank you.”

That was the end of their conversation.

But for the first time, Elbridge harbored questions about the two Sentinels. What kind of lives had they led? For what reason had they become Sentinels?