Vaelthir then detailed the attacks.
There wasn't much to it.
The demonic forces would consistently send weak creatures from all sides. Those were the abominations Van had killed.
"We tried to find their source or main encampment," Vaelthir continued, "But they must have some powerful teleportation magic at hand. Every time we reached what we thought was an encampment, it was gone and abandoned. That plus, since our forest sits in the middle of such large plains, it gives them the advantage of attacking from anywhere they want."
He cleared his throat.
"If this wasn't enough, they seem to attack randomly… And then exactly when we're trying to build defense. These creatures can't even break the wooden spikes we put out, but there's just too many of them for us to focus on shielding ourselves. The fact that they can do such a thing leads me to believe a scout watches us at all times. Even our best trackers couldn't find him."
Van hummed.
"Basically, they can attack from everywhere. Whereas we can't be everywhere at once, since the forest is still too big for that, but too small to give us any advantage. And even if just one passes through… A child dies within these woods." Vaelthir concluded with a frown.
'I see now.' Van thought, looking down.
'That's…'
"They only send these weak abominations?"
"Yes." Vaelthir nodded.
'Exactly how I would've done it.' Van thought, the wolfbeast flashing in his mind. 'The demons attack the elves' sleep, instead of meeting them with force from the start… Could it be that,'
"I see."
'The demons are too weak to fight them head on? So they weaken them. Make them desperate.' Then he saw the goblin and the skeleton.
'Pummeling at them until they run out of everything.'
Vaelthir looked at Van as he stared downward, not saying a word.
'I have no idea where to find those demons or where to start. There's a good chance I'm being watched too.' Van thought. 'Killing them at their source, for now, is impossible.'
'Then what do I do?'
Van rubbed his helmet.
"Makoto," She called.
"Remember,"
"You gotta look at things you already solved!"
Van blinked.
'When I fought that goblin… or really any of them… What did I solve?'
"…!!"
'I know.'
Van turned to Vaelthir.
"My first priority. I need to—"
"COMMANDER!" An elf dropped from the treeline, "There's a demon at our gates!"
"Singular?" Vaelthir clocked immediately.
"Y-yes… Y-you wouldn't believe who. He simply wanted to wait until you arrived. We have him surrounded."
Vaelthir narrowed his eyes.
"He claims… He's Varlog…! He came to negotiate."
"WHAT?!" Vaelthir tapped her shoulder. "Lead the way, immediately!"
He glanced back at Van. "We'll continue this later!"
'He seems just like some brute anyway,' Vaelthir clicked his tongue as he dashed faster than the eye could follow. 'The way I am now, I can finish this war—'
"How big is this forest?"
'W-what!?' Vaelthir looked sideways mid-dash. Van was right there, threading between the treelines alongside him. 'He caught up!?'
'To me!? In my PRIME?'
"How big. Is this forest."
Van repeated.
After a moment of hesitation, Vaelthir told him.
'Basically a big-ass circle of forest, open from all sides.'
'Hmm.' Van thought as he looked ahead toward the forest clearing. A row of elves stood alongside Sato and Takeshi as he landed beside Vaelthir.
All of them surrounding a single demon.
He had glasses, a somewhat dignified robe with a goatee, while folding his arms neatly.
'I'll assume that thing's a demon. Looks like some red-skinned old man with horns. Bet I could find someone like that in Florida.'
All weapons trained on him.
The demon smiled at Van briefly before turning to Vaelthir.
"My," he said. "I had expected to see your queen…" He rubbed his goatee gently. "I suppose she's too tired to come, hm?"
"Enough. You filthy demon. You'll die here." Vaelthir drew his bow.
"Oh, by all means, commander." Varlog rose to his feet. "Kill me. I suppose the Gods will judge how fair you've been."
Vaelthir lowered his chin, pulling the string further.
'Odd,' Varlog thought as he studied Vaelthir's face. 'He seems well rested and strong now.'
'My,'
'I thought he'd be weakened. This is a problem.' The smile stayed on his face.
'I shouldn't be careless. I might die due to his temper. Fufu.'
"Besides, if you kill me now," he continued, "You'll miss out on what I want to say. That could be unfortunate, no?"
"Unfortunate would be letting you walk away from here." Vaelthir pulled further. "The Gods should have no quarrels with us simply not letting you escape."
"DAMN STRAIGHT!" Sato shouted.
They all turned to him.
"You made my queen unwell, demonic advisor!"
"My, how straightforward!" Varlog smiled. "So she WAS unwell, fufu. Thanks for telling me. Send her my best regards."
Every eye in the clearing landed on Sato with a cold glare.
'Anime shit won't work here, you dumbass.' Van and Takeshi thought at the same time.
'That aside,' Van scrutinized Varlog from head to toe. 'This demon… Speaks like Kazuya.'
'But different, somehow.'
"Either way," Varlog raised his head again, eyes moving between Van and Vaelthir. "If a fight were to start, I'd… probably not wish to die here. You understand, right, commander?"
Vaelthir's eyes narrowed. "Threats won't work on me, scumbag."
"Hardly a threat," Varlog shook his head. "Would you not do what you can to escape your pursuers? Even if it means being… an inconvenience to others?"
Vaelthir clicked his tongue.
"Then what have you come here for, filth?" he growled.
"To talk," Varlog said. "And if I get to keep talking, I assure you I'll leave without being an inconvenience."
He turned his head gently to Van.
"To that young man, specifically."
'To Makoto..!?' Sato's breath caught.
"You bastard!" Vaelthir rounded on Van. "Were you their ally all along—"
"No." Varlog's voice sharpened, just once. "I am not acquainted with this youth. Please, commander. Try not to toss your allies away. It is disadvantageous, wouldn't you say?"
Vaelthir clenched his teeth.
Van said nothing.
Varlog took a step forward, smile back in place.
"Young man," he started, addressing Van completely. "You've seen it just now, haven't you?"
Van kept quiet.
"This whole lot," he glanced around. "Immediately assumed you're an enemy."
The elves looked away. Vaelthir held his breath.
"Just because I wanted to speak with you."
A beat.
"Imagine if I hadn't clarified I don't know you. They'd simply take my word over yours. Even after they took you in to meet their queen. A queen that had already approved of you, no less."
No one spoke. Not even Vaelthir, who opened his mouth and then closed it.
"Their distrust of humans is quite the issue, wouldn't you say?" Varlog sighed, looking down. "To the point where I'd seriously doubt they'd ever grant you what you desire, even if you do defeat us—"
"That bastard," Takeshi growled. "You're trying to win him over!"
"Remember what I said," Varlog turned to Takeshi. "About not being an inconvenience…"
"If you just let me speak?"
His eyes glowed.
Takeshi flinched.
The smile returned.
"Thank you. Now, where was I…"
He cleared his throat, looking at Van.
"Me and my comrades and the elves of this region are at… an argument. I won't shy from that fact." Varlog said. "We want to take over this forest as our encampment. The elves can leave without a drop of blood being shed if they so desire. Help us do that,"
"And unlike some group that is desperate and weaker, we'll immediately work to give you what you want… What was it,"
He looked up, wistful.
"A revival spell that our majestic demon lord can use."
'They even know what he wants?!' Vaelthir flinched. 'They have eyes and ears everywhere! Even… To dare eavesdrop on the queen…!!'
"Granted, past a certain point it'd be just necromancy. But you specified in your talk with the queen… was it, 20 seconds post mortem? Our spell would guarantee results then. And you'd forever have us, the stronger side that has been pressuring the elves, as your permanent allies."
He exhaled.
"The poor elven queen had to beg because she's simply that desperate. For us, it'd be a day's worth of work to grant you what you want." Varlog took another step, arms behind his back.
"What do you say? Will you join us? I won't ask you to do something ridiculous like killing everyone right now. Just walk with me to our encampment. That's all."
A moment passed without Van saying a word.
Then another.
Then another after that.
"V-van," Sato started, turning around. "Y-... You can't be seriously considering this, right!? He's the Demon Lord's second in command!"
"Please, young man," Varlog placed his palm gently on Sato's shoulder. "Try not to pressure him. This is his own decision, after all."
'Just,' Sato gulped. 'When did he put his hand on my shoulder? I didn't even notice!'
"Besides," Varlog shook his head. "I've been exiled. My actions right now are completely separated from the Demon Lord's main agenda or the will of the demonkin."
'What!? What does he mean by that?' Sato blinked. 'That's… That's just a blatant lie!'
'That aside,'
'He's manipulating Makoto. It's clear.'
Sato bit his lip.
'But that rotten demonic advisor…'
'Treated him better than every elf here combined. He's also not told a single lie throughout the whole exchange, assuming the Demon Lord is that competent. Someone that terrifying is his second-in-command?!'
Sato's grip tightened around his leather book.
'Just please, God.'
'Make Makoto refuse his offer, somehow…!'
'CURSES, that silver-tongued bastard!' Vaelthir's breath quickened. 'Do we fight the humans now!? Surely they'll fall for his manipulations…' His grip on his bow tightened. Then he looked at his own wrist, recalling just how easily Van had crushed it.
How easily Van had caught up to him, even fully rested and healed.
And now, how he'd called him a traitor without a second thought.
That's when he glanced at an elf standing near Van, looking at him with fear written plainly across her face.
He couldn't help but recall Sylva's words, just before he'd struck her.
["You'll lead everyone to their deaths with your pride."]
Vaelthir's grip on his bow loosened.
'Lady Sylva.' He closed his eyes.
He took a breath and sheathed his bow. Quietly. Without ceremony.
'In his position,' He shook his head. 'In that human's position… Would I have even considered helping us at all?'
Van looked up at the sun just slipping behind the treeline. The elves held their breaths.
Several moments passed.
Then.
A thought crossing his mind.
'If only…'
He took a deep breath, the elven queen surfacing in his memory.
'If only that bitch didn't beg the way she did.'
He bit his lip.
'Acting like a mother out of nowhere when she's just a selfish bitch…!'
'Fuck! FUCK everyone!'
He released his lip and breathed in slowly.
'I'm gonna regret this.'
"No," Van said, lowering his head toward Varlog. "I'll help the elves."
Vaelthir's eyes went wide, mouth slightly open.
'Makoto…!!' Sato felt his shoulders loosen all at once.
'He's choosing to stay…!?' Vaelthir's mouth stayed open.
Varlog raised an eyebrow.
"May I ask why?" he said calmly. "I believe you have nothing to lose from my offer. And you'd unnecessarily struggle against us when we hold a clear advantage."
Van stayed silent. Cracking his neck.
"Haaah… Something about pride. Blah, blah morals. Yadde-yadda elves are good. Demons are bad, etc." Another crack.
Varlog inhaled.
"I see. You can't tell me, then. That's fine." He exhaled. "Unfortunate."
"Besides," Van cut in before Varlog could continue.
"You can talk. But I can see."
"…?" Varlog straightened.
The circles of the abyss flashed before his eyes.
"Trying to make me go to your side," Van leaned slightly forward.
"Someone with an advantage over their enemy wouldn't've bothered negotiating the way you just did."
'Holy shit..!' Takeshi stifled a laugh. 'Nice one!'
Varlog opened his mouth. Closed it.
"The advantage is where I'm at, then." Van concluded.
Varlog blinked, lips pursing slightly.
"My," he let out. "You're a bit dangerous, aren't you?"
"But," Varlog raised a finger toward Van. "You failed to consider,"
"…!!!"
"That maybe I'm just that nice." He smiled. "By the time you return from where I'll send you, we'll have won this battle. And you'll have won nothing."
"IT'S A SPELL!" Vaelthir shouted. "ATTACK!!!"
Spells and arrows tore through the air all at once.
'He attacked first! It's fine! The Gods will smite them!' Vaelthir thought as he shot repeatedly.
But every attack was absorbed into a forcefield after Varlog crushed a stone behind his back.
In a flash, Van cast.
"HARD SWING!!" He swung with everything he had against the barrier.
Nothing. Except the wind pressure that sent several elves stumbling.
'FUCK!' Takeshi shielded his helmet. 'Just how strong is that guy!?'
"My," Varlog shook his head. "Attacking so ruthlessly when I'm simply trying to defend myself. How brazen. The Gods will surely frown upon you." He smiled at Vaelthir, then turned to Van.
'What's this about?' Sato tilted his head.
"What terrifying strength. It really is a loss to not have you with us." Varlog addressed Van directly.
"But even your strength right now is futile. The item I just used was the culmination of years of magic research. A law level item. It gives me absolute protection, but it only lasts for a few seconds. Just about enough to leave after sending you away with yet another law-level spell."
A purple circle of magic encircled Van, Vaelthir and Takeshi.
'Law!? The fuck is law!?' Van thought as he kept pummeling the forcefield, casting Hard Swing over and over. His muscles burned. Blood erupted from his fists.
"HRM..!!" He hit it again.
"DAMN IT!" Vaelthir lunged toward the circle's edge, only for his strike to meet equal force and throw him back in.
"A pleasure knowing you, Van Hellix," Varlog said. "Farewell, for now."
[TELEPORTATION IMMINENT!] appeared before Van.
[You cannot undo this action!]
'Damn it. It completely bypasses my Resistance stat since there's no effect applied on me. And since I don't know my way around this world, I'll get lost if he sends me too far! I'll have to rely on this elf who's way slower.'
'I messed up. I should've just jumped out of the way before he used this Law item!'
"Hmph."
[TELEPORTATION MAGIC DETECTED!]
{Initiating [PASSIVE: Disruption].}
[TELEPORTATION MAGIC DISRUPTED.]
The circle vanished.
'It was… Dispelled? The Law level item was dispelled?' Varlog blinked.
Between him and Van stood Sato, book raised.
"Don't think you're the only one with tricks…"
"You fucking demon! Hurting my elven babes!"