'In just 15 minutes. He obliterated all of them…' Takeshi gulped.
'I didn't even see him use a skill or magic. What the hell is he?!' He looked at Van as he stood among the pile.
"Uhm," Takeshi cleared his throat, "Y-you really did me a solid there, whoever you are. I trust that we don't have to fight?"
'This voice…' Van narrowed his eyes as Takeshi approached.
Van's hand twitched.
"I'm a knight of Varolon." He said, extending his hand to greet Van, "Call me uhm… sorry, can't really say my name. But, like… you saved my life. Thank you."
'... Not anyone I recognize,' Van looked at his palm. 'But the way he speaks sounds off...'
"VAN!!" Sato yelled, running in the distance.
Takeshi lowered his handshake as Sato approached.
"Haah.. Haah! I finally got here…!" He huffed and puffed as he stood next to the two, "Man, d… Did you see these monsters? Did you clear them already? Haha…"
Takeshi kept looking at Sato.
"Ah," Sato looked at Takeshi, causing him to flinch away. An exhausted smile on Sato's face.
"I'm Sir M-maglodune..! This is my bodyguard, Van Hellix! We traveled to the elven forest in search of a… wondrous potion that can cure all wounds!"
Van cringed.
'This sounds so fake, even to me.' Van thought with a sigh. 'Who's gonna believe that? With that dumbass name.'
"Ah," Takeshi opened his mouth. Then closing it.
Then opened it again beneath his helmet.
"S…" Takeshi coughed, "Sir Maglodune, huh?"
'..?' Van looked back at Takeshi.
"I see. You…" He took a deep breath, "must be quite an important lord, huh? Sir Maglodune."
'His voice's hoarser now.' Van noted. 'That aside, he bought it? Seriously?'
"Ah, haha." Sato scratched his head, "I hadn't realized just how ridiculous my name sounds spoken by other people. Yeah, me and my knight here were—"
"It's," Takeshi quietly cut him off.
"It's not…"
"?" Sato tilted his head as he looked at him.
"... It's not ridiculous. Not at all." He said, his voice coming out more whispered than he intended.
"Sa…" He cleared his throat, "I've met those with dignified, so-called…" He coughed again.
"... Normal names. With nasty personalities." He cleared his throat again.
"You sound really terrible!" Sato said, "are you alright?! You don't have to force yourself to—"
"You…" Takeshi cut him off.
He took another deep breath as he kneeled.
"... You saved my life, sir Maglodune. I wouldn't…"
His breath was shaky.
".. Be alive right now if not for you."
Sato blinked at Takeshi, his mouth slightly parting.
"... Thank you. So much." His voice now barely over a whisper.
"..."
"Haha," Sato looked away with a chuckle, "C'mon now, stand up… You're making me blush! And it was my Knight who saved your life!" He said casually as he pointed at Van.
A beat. Takeshi then took another breath.
"It is common courtesy to bow to your savior," Takeshi said in his hoarse voice as he slowly stood up, "And yeah, I'm equally thankful to you." He said, giving Van a bow.
Van stood still, eyeing Takeshi from head to toe.
A few moments passed, Van not saying a word.
"Ahh, don't mind Van!" Sato jumped in, "He's not a big talker!"
"We're surrounded," Van let out, looking beyond Takeshi.
Both Sato and Takeshi turned around. Elves aiming their bows at the three, forming a semi-circle.
'They're fast,' Van noted, 'reaching from the treeline to here.'
The three stood facing the group of elves.
Takeshi clenched his grip on his sword.
'They seem scared as shit,' Takeshi thought as he looked over them, 'Bet they are, seeing this dude destroy all these abominations the way he did.' He glanced over to Van.
'Is he a hero of this world or something? Where the fuck did he come from…?'
"Two humans," One of the elves called as he stepped forward.
"One from the royal capital. One is a human lord… And then there's you." He spoke slowly, his gaze landing at Van.
"Whatever your race is, if you really do serve under a human; then you're even more despicable than them."
"...?" Van tilted his head, causing everyone to jump, even Vaelthir flinched. Their bows more stretched than ever, their casters already emitting their magic in anticipation.
"..."
Silence ensued.
"Sir M… Maglodune," Van spoke flatly, causing Sato to blink his frozenness away.
"You wanted to tell them something." He said, signaling with his head.
"...!! R-right!" Sato scrambled, tripping slightly as he stepped forward ahead of Van and Takeshi.
Vaelthir frowned as Sato approached, scrambling to a bow.
"Excuse us for our transgression, oh esteemed elves!"
Vaelthir tilted his head, blinking at the gesture.
"We'd like to ask your—"
"A young human lord with respect? How rare." Vaelthir spat as he stepped forward, "But my business is not with you, human trash."
He then pointed at Van.
"Your knight. I wish to speak with him, and him alone. Stay out of it if you don't want to get killed." Vaelthir said with a glare.
Van's hand twitched.
"P-Please! My knight is not a big talker!" Sato insisted, bowing even more as Vaelthir approached even further, "We came to ask your advice about—"
SLAP. Tilting Sato sideways.
"Did you not hear me? Humans really are terrible at listening to anything but themselves." Vaelthir scowled.
The elves behind him snickered among themselves.
"YOU FUCKER—" Takeshi snapped, and then Sato placed his palm at Takeshi's face while recovering from the slap.
"No..! Sir knight. It's fine," He said, dusting himself off, "I just slipped."
Another twitch from Van. Imperceivable.
"Sa… Sir! But—"
"It's fine, it's fine! Thanks for your concern…" Sato insisted.
'We can't get into a fight with these people.' Sato gulped.
'If a fight breaks here, I'll forever lose access to my elven babes. And we'll be further away from helping Makoto. I can't have that!'
"The only reason you're still breathing, human knight scum," Vaelthir said, turning to Takeshi with a half-lidded disgusted stare.
"Is because of your aid earlier. But speak out of turn one more time… we will impale you with our strongest magic and arrows. Dying seems to have been your wish anyway."
Takeshi tightened his fist.
"Knight," He turned to Van, "Make no mistakes. We can kill you all right now. It's our generosity that you're still alive. So answer my questions."
Vaelthir folded his arms, "You—"
"PLEASE!" Sato said again, stepping in front of Van.
"M-... My knight isn't good with words. It is the lord's responsibility to look after their own! We only ask for—"
"That was your last chance, you filthy human..!" Vaelthir glared.
Then, in a flash.
Van stood in front of Sato.
"W-what… Just happened…?" Sato murmured as he then saw Van's palm clenching around Vaelthir's as he tried to drive a dagger into Sato's head.
'He stopped me?!' Vaelthir's eyes widened, 'so fast, that even I didn't see coming!?'
The elves went silent, all aiming their weapons at the scene.
'Holy shit… I didn't see either of them moving…' Takeshi held his breath.
Vaelthir winced.
'Torture to get what we want out of them, huh…' A flash went through Van's head.
["I'd appreciate if you stayed away from Rina. Your mom looks pretty hot… Bet she'd kill it in a bunny suit…"]
"I'd appreciate it if you stood down and answered my questions," Van asked, a mere inch from Vaelthir's face. "Otherwise, your elven females look really fucking delicious right now."
"You… Dare threaten—"
CLENCH.
CRACKLE.
"GRRRRHH..!!" Vaelthir's second hand was grasped. Same intensity. His bones crackling under Van's grip.
"I said," Van kneeled to face him, "I'd appreciate it if you stood down and answered my questions. Otherwise, they look delicious."
"COMMANDER!!!" The elves yelled behind him, "Hold on, we'll—"
"STAND BACK!!!" Vaelthir screamed before snapping his head to Van again. "STAND DOWN!!!"
"I'll… I'll answer!" He said through clutched teeth, "Your questions..!"
'That's… not someone we can win against..! I messed up!'
'It worked,' Van noted, gently tilting his head. 'Kazuya, it worked.'
"You fucking human!" One of the elves shouted, making Vaelthir's face pale, "YOU THINK THIS BLUFF WILL LAST LONG!?"
"V-van… That's enough..! There's no need to—" Sato's voice, cut by Van's.
"I don't know bluffs. Or word games. Or politics." Van replied.
"But I do know the looks of someone too tired to fight anything. Much less kill anyone." He said, the Abyssal Wolfbeast's image flashing in his mind.
"The looks of someone swinging and clawing at anything coming its way because it's desperate to get some rest."
Vaelthir's body tensed as he tried to blink the bags under his eyes away. The other elves tensing around them. The elf that jumped now looked away.
"But even if you claw, and swing at me… I don't sleep. This fight barely did anything to me." Van said.
Vaelthir gulped, looking up at his helmet.
"I don't need to eat." He said, "even killing me won't do much."
Vaelthir froze.
'What…?' Sato gulped, 'What does he mean by—'
"Odd," Van added, "You've been fighting things that do something close to that for a while, it seems.", his eyes landing on rotting corpses near the clearing, from a much earlier fight. Both of Elves, and those abominations.
"And they've gotten you this tired." Van glared at Valethir, from head to toe, "to the point where you can't bother to bury your dead."
Vaelthir then flinched, biting his lips as he looked away.
"If you won't listen to what my sir has to say," He added, glaring at Vaelthir through his helmet.
"Add me to that list of monsters."
'I…' Sato flinched, 'Can't say anything. If I do, that elf will likely be even more angry at me, because I'm a human.'
'Damn it!' Sato looked around.
'My babes are all scared of us… Must we really… Do this like that?!'
"Hnng… I've had it… WIth you human…" Vaelthir growlers as air gathered around him, "Threatening us this MUCH—"
CRRRRRRRRRRACK~
Blood erupts from Vaelthir's arms. The air immediately dissipated.
"GRRRRRRGGGGG…" Vaelthir clenched his teeth as strong as he could. "You…!" Vaelthir's teeth clenched.
"Ask.. Already..!" Vaelthir let out.
'Kazuya,' Van called again.
'It works.'
'It really works.'
It was at that moment, as he looked at Vaelthir's pained expression focusing on Van… That Van felt the breeze of a cool wind that didn't exist. Slightly heated by a sun that wasn't real.
Coming from a place that he both visited, and never been to.
His grip then tightened, causing Vaelthir to wince even more.
"My queen!" One of the elves called out as the queen emerged. Already standing behind Vaelthir directly.
"Please," a soft voice called from behind Vaelthir, "Will you please let this reckless child go?"
'...'
'I barely noticed her.' Van noted as he looked up. 'She's strong.'
"I shall answer all of your questions," She added, kneeling, "And tell you everything you wish to know."
"M…"
"My queen… You… To kneel to a human…!!" Vaelthir growled.
"Vaelthir," She called softly once more, "You know of all what I'm capable of."
"..." Vaelthir looked down, biting his lip with a frown.
"Please. Let it go. We cannot afford to lose you over something like this." She added.
"And you, esteemed knight. Please, let go of Vaelthir. His actions are the actions of one whose judgement is clouded by exhaustion. And we…"
She raised her head, looking into Van's helmet, "Are all tired."
'... Hm,'
Van thought. Everyone was looking at him as he knelt, holding Vaelthir in his grip.
Bows and arrows pointed at his face.
Vaelthir's squinted eyes, his clenched teeth and bleeding arms as he looked directly at Van.
For a moment, he hesitated.
Then, he gave Vaelthir one more firm squeeze. Looking at Vaelthir wince once more as a result.
Seeing the queen, and everyone around to flinch as they looked at him.
"Please." The queen let out.
Her voice barely above a whisper in the gentle wind.
"... Fine." Van said.
He then let go of Vaelthir's bleeding arms with an exhale.
"Only he speaks," Van stood up, pointing at Sato, "Or no one does."
"..."
The queen then exhaled as she nodded slowly with a subtle smile on her lips, "... Yes, of course..! Thank you. Truly."
Van blinked as he stepped away. Looking at the elven queen's warm expression a beat longer.
Wondering why.
"Van." Sato said as he boldly stepped forward, tapping his shoulder. His posture straightened.
"I'll deck your pay in one thousand silver coins." He said.
'Ah?'
"For hurting such a beautiful creation. Coming from yet another the most elegant being in this world,"
'He just turned into a shoujo dream,' Van blinked as he witnessed Sato's expression.
Sato then pulled out the Super Life Elixir Van handed him earlier. A bit still left.
He then kneeled before the queen.
"My queen." He said.
"My…" The queen tilted her head at him as he bowed to the ground, lifting up the potion.
"The m-most wonderful being I've ever laid my eyes on," He let out. "Please. This is a powerful health potion. It breaks my heart to see you in pain. I beg of you, if you may, please give this potion to your subordinate after taking some yourself!"
The queen tilted her head, placing a finger on her chin as she raised her eyebrows. Using another finger to grip the tip… of the potion. Lifting it up.
"Y-your majesty!" Vaelthir interrupted, "I-I'm fine! This potion is surely a ploy to—"
"Vaelthir," She called out firmly now, looking down at Sato's face.
"Be silent. And drink this potion immediately." She said as she immediately handed him this potion.
'A-... Ah?' Vaelthir short-circuited…
… As he saw the queen blushing at Sato.
"You," She called, bending over as she placed her finger on Sato's chin.
"Look too much like a child to be a lord." She let out.
"M… My queen… I'm… Willing to be anything if it means… Being with y-I-I MEAN Helping you… I…" Sato muttered as he stared, unable to take his eyes off the queen's.
"A child should act like a child, don't you think?" She said, her blush deepening, "Or do you take me as someone to play games on? Such a naughty child…"
"... Deserves to be punished, you know?" Her voice was sultry and low.
"I… If… It means… Being punished by you… I'll… Take any punishment… Only me…" He murmured as he looked to the side, unable to breath right.
"How bold," She brought her face nearer to Sato's, "You're willing to take on sole punishment from me…? What a brave child. I hope you're prepared…"
Van & Takeshi & Vaelthir & Every fucking elf around them:
'????????????????????????????????????????????????????????'
'That's not actually happening, right?' Van thought.