Dawn Traveler - Chapter 6

Jiss’s Activity

Part 1

Jiss left to meet with Lishiansus.

Though they were safe now, Nedhand and Hereseh’s safety were not guaranteed.

Lishiansus was the person who could fix this problem.

“I have a request to make sir.”

“What is it?”

“Two people who are very important to me recently left the forest, and it seems they are in trouble not so far away. Could you please help so that they may return to the forest safely?”

– Are the humans that came together with this kiddo in danger?

Lishiansus was not a kind elf, who would accept requests just because someone asked desperately.

Lishiansus, with his long life experience, knew how to pull pranks and manipulate weaknesses to make demands as humans do.

“Why should I do that?”

“Because their lives are in danger.”

“But they are not elves. Moreover, they are not my friends.”

“I have learned that all lives are precious, regardless of their race. Are you not Sir Lishiansus who treasures even the animals in the forest?”

“Though that does not sound like something a meat-lover such as yourself would say. Fine. It is cumbersome but I shall rescue them, however let’s increase the archery training time to 7 hours a day.”

“Sir that will be too torturous for a young boy like me. There is a saying in the human world, reasonable training brings forth the best accomplishments. I have not seen even elves train that hard.”

“From my experience, humans became better and better the more and more they were pushed. If you complain anymore let us pretend this conversation never happened.” (Zix: Lishiansus senpai you so evil.)

Jiss had no choice but to comply with increasing the training time.

He had to practice archery anyways to prepare for the future. If he really wanted to rest, he just had to switch to the other world and come back later.

Life of an elementary student still had many opportunities to play around.

Thanks to that Jiss’s focus did not blur even when he had to train vigorously.

“Let us go sir.”

“Why you as well? It is fine for you to wait in the forest.”

“The one who made the request cannot afford to be lazy.”

“Hm. If it is that kind of reason….. You may come.”

Jiss knew exactly how strong of an elf Lishiansus was.

Jiss had faith nothing bad would happen in his company, no matter what situation may hit them.

Part 2

“There are quite a bit of monsters.”

Jiss and Lishiansus left the forest without anybody else.

As they crossed the plains and the mountains while drinking the breath from the vegetation, they discovered monsters.

They were about 2 meters tall, had dark navy skinned and were drooling obscenely.

Lishiansus recognized these beings.

“Those things are of the Pleyisen race. Annoying bastards. So they have come this far.”

“What will you do sir?”

Jiss and Lishiansus were hiding crouched behind a hill.

“It seems there are about 700 of them. I don’t want to waste my precious arrows. Let us avoid them.”

“Yes sir!”

Lishiansus actually was able to shoot mana as if they were arrows.

It is said Pleyisen skin cannot be penetrated by swords, however Lishiansus’ mana arrow was more than strong enough to penetrate and obliterate the Pleyisen.

Lishiansus chose to avoid the fight just because he found it cumbersome.

There were rarely elves that enjoyed taking the lives of others.

‘It would have been such a good opportunity………..’

Jiss left in disappointment and took the big detour.

Lishiansus fighting, which he was looking forward to, rarely happened.

– I killed many Pleyisens with my friends in the past. Was it about 8000 of them a day? I should avoid pointless killing if possible.

“Keureuuk. Human meat is the most delicious.”

“Isn’t juice dripping raw meat more delicious than fried?”

“Nothing compares to fully boiled female elf meat.”

“That was really delicious.”

There were a bunch of Pleyisen race scattered and scouting along the boundary.

Lishiansus’s eye sights were extremely sharp and his hearing was also extremely sensitive.

“Unpleasant bastards as usual.”

“Sir?”

“No need for kids to know. If I was a few years younger, I would have swept all of them.”

The Rognak army that destroyed the Volgen castle!

This was a deed done by the fifth prince of the Gratess empire, Rognak, who allied with the Pleyisen race.

“It is going to take a quite a long time to pass by unseen, since there are so many of them. If you get tired tell me, I will give you a piggyback.”

“It is ok sir.”

He did not know what kind of spectacle would occur so he couldn’t afford to ride on piggyback.

He also already experienced two lifetime’s worth of piggyback already as a child.

“I am going to move rapidly so follow me well. Since I do not want to delay our time any longer….”

– If there are any bastards blocking the way, instead of avoiding them, I should just obliterate them.

His benevolence and mercy as a high elf were gone after listening to the Pleyisens’ conversations.

There was another group of Pleyisen scouts passing by. To not be seen by them in the large plains, Jiss and Lishiansus had to take a big detour.

Lishiansus took out a bow from his back.

A long wooden bow with beautiful decorations.

“Let us just go forward here.”

As Jiss expected Lishiansus shot an arrow without placing an arrow on the bow string. (Zix: He shot a mana arrow.)

Pewshoshoook!

The heads of 8 prowling Pleyisen scouts exploded practically at the same time and the bodies below collapsed to the ground.

This happened right after Lishiansus barely looked at the enemies and released the arrow.

“Let’s go slightly towards the right.”

– I don’t want to show such a brutal scene to a kid. Especially since human children have a sensitive receptive mind.

The mana arrows were not just piercing through the head or the body, but rather obliterating their entire beings.

‘Oh yea! Now this is archery!”

This was Jiss after he saw the Pleyisen scouts about 300 meters away collapse on ground.

Ever since Lishiansus drew his bow, his expectations were overflowing

‘Yes! How exciting. This is what I wanted to see!’

A spectacle innocent kids could only see in picture books!

Lishiansus eliminated all the Pleyisen scout groups that got in their way without a word.

– Their signaling system is horrible. It is going take a while until the bodies are discovered. We should be able to enter the mountain range before then.

No enemies were fearsome to elves in a place filled with trees.

Lishiansus was a powerful existence capable of destroying the Pleyisen army even if he were to be surrounded by them on an empty plain.

Since it was night time, in reality, they could have just took a bigger detour and utilize the gap between the scout rotations to pass by.

However Lishiansus just indifferently charged through them and eliminated them

‘Get discovered faster.’

Jiss hoped for the Pleyisen corpses to be discovered by their comrades faster. Since that would cause the situation to escalate.

‘Was it Pleyisen race? What are these bastards doing. What is the point of scouting if they can’t find anything?”

Sadly, nothing happened as the excited hopeful Jiss passed through the Pleyisens.

This was because every time Lishiansus shot his arrow, all the enemies simultaneously collapsed to the ground like toys without making a single noise.

Lishiansus also shot down all the scouts that were in the way simultaneously, thus they were able to reach the Proeh gorge safely.

Part 3

“Big sister. We are gonna die.”

“It will be fine. Monty.”

“We will all be eaten.”

“I will protect you. Sleep, even if for a little.”

A little girl of about 13 year old hugged the boy two years younger than her tightly.

For refugees, they had extremely clean cloths and had no foul odor emanating from them.

The girl especially had unique mystical emerald color hair, which was not a common trait amongst commoners.

This was a trait the royal family or the high noblemen possessed after the rule of the first emperor.

She had her hair tied by a simple white cloth, however the determination and the strong aura her big eyes and her facials features gave out were not normal.

“We will definitely be able to escape from here without fail. And then, we will get our opportunity to enact our revenge. Monty. Even if you weren’t to do it, I will without fail……………”

The boy fell asleep on her bosoms.

His body and mind were both completely exhausted due to living as a refugee for over a month.

“Uncle Gillian.” (Zix: Not blood related. Koreans have a word for middle aged men, which is kind of like uncle.)

“Yes.” (Zix: He uses respectful ‘yes’ here.)

The man with the robust physique, who introduced himself as the girl and the boy’s father to the others when they entered the cave, answered the girl politely.

“How long do you think we will be able to stay here?”

Gillian studied the inside of the cave carefully.

Other than them and their party, the strangers only included one more human and his dwarf comrade. He did not know of their identity but he did not have to worry about them.

This was because dwarfs were usually indifferent of power struggle between human and sometimes even showed antipathy.

“It seems we may remain calm for the moment in this hiding place. The cave is well camouflaged and it was naturally formed, and it is out of the field of view so this is a very difficult place to find. At the least, it will take the stupid Pleyisen race or the Rognak army around a week to discover this location.”

“Then afterwards?”

“They will probably think we have already left the area and will look else where.”

“Haa…. then some other poor place will be pillaged again.”

The girl breathed out a deep sigh.

They been surviving off the deaths of the people who’s been protecting them.

They haven’t had a moment of comfort.

There were still about twenty people there protecting the girl and her brother, but this was not even one tenth of the initial number of the guardians.

“Please rest sir.”

“Late night. Hope you will spend it peacefully.”

Finally she tried to get a little rest.

Then suddenly the grass and the branches covering the cave entrance were cleared away.

The girl’s face hardened, and the knights who were poorly dressed as commoners without their horses or equipments froze as well.

Then suddenly an appearance of a young boy and an elf, which couldn’t have been anything but destiny!

“See sir? I told you they will be here.”

“To think you were actually right…… how did you know. Can it be a coincidence of miracles. Or is this some vile trick of a plan you have set out for me.”

“I told you it is the intuition of humans. A feeling. Don’t you know?”

“Complete words of ridicule.”

“Anyways, please let me play with Allium for a day later.”

“A promise is a promise…… Fine.”

The little boy was greeted cheerfully by the human and the dwarf who were already at the cave.

The magician Hereseh and the dwarf Nedhand looked at the boy as if he was of an impossible existence.

“You…. How at this place………. did you tell your mother before coming here?”

At that moment, Jiss made a face as if he was hit on the back of his head.

“No. I came secretly. I will be killed if I am found out.”

The girl and the knights had nothing to do but listen to their conversation dumbfounded.

There was no feeling of ‘enemies’ emanating from them at all.

Actually they were not even paying any attention towards the girls and the knights at all.

“Let us return to the forest sirs.”

“Hm. There are horrifying beings outside loitering around that have strong appetite for humans. We were going to stay here until things settled down……”

“Sir Lishiansus promised to help us.”

“Really?”

Hereseh looked at Lishiansus as if there was something wrong with him.

Elves usually keep a distance from humans and do not get along with them. However Lishiansus, peculiarly, volunteered first to teach Jiss archery.

To be able to learn archery from an elf, Jiss’s parents confidently gave permission as well.

Then now he was at such a dangerous place without a single ounce of fear or the jitters.

Elves were normally known to be afraid of battles.

“Come here for a sec.”

Nedhand whispered something to Hereseh.

The dwarf who had much longer lifespan than humans knew Lishiansus’s true identity. He also remembered the worldly incident that occured because of Lishiansus

“You sure?”

“Absolutely.”

“You are not drunk right?”

“I can confirm for sure by looking at his wooden bow. Have you ever seen a dwarf fail to identify an equipment?”

“Couldn’t he be an heir?”

“Looking at the life span of high elves, he is not of an age to be dead. Also there are not many arrogant elves like him.”

Though he tried to whisper, Nedhand’s resonating voice was not that silent.

Lishiansus and Jiss were hearing everything in the silent cave.

– Heh. Incorrigible dwarven race……. I wonder Lockhand who used to travel with me is still alive. He should be nearly about 200 years about now.

Then Hereseh stated as if he had reached a conclusion.

“If this person helps us, we shouldn’t have any worries.”

They repacked everything they had unpacked while they were living in the cave.

Then the knights blocked the exit as Jiss and Lishiansus were about to leave.

Gilshiun spoke as the representative of the knights.

“It is regretful but you cannot leave.”

Hereseh opened his mouth.

“We have to leave.” (Zix: He used respectful way. Unrude.)

“If your party were to be captured by the Rognak army, we may become endangered as well.”

“We will definitely not tell them anything. Though we will never get captured.”

“It is too dangerous to let you go with only your words as a guarantee. At the longest it will only be a week, so stay here with us and let us leave when situation becomes safe.”

The knights seemed as if they would even use force if necessary.

Then Lishiansus took one stepped forward with force.

“You humans. Move aside.”

It was a battle of glares, which usually occurred before a fight

Gilshiun has met many strong beings in the past, and has learned swordsmanship from them or even fought them.

However the light of Lishiansus’s eyes gave him a feeling of an unshapable, undefeatable being he has never encountered before.

It was not just a vague feeling of danger, but fear that he will be obliterated into thousands pieces if he decided to attack.

– Elf. No, he is a high elf. I knew they were strong but even if you say each race is different…… how can he give off this kind of an aura?

Gilshiun concluded no knights in the cave would be able to stop him.

Maybe if they used magic scrolls or used some other last resort they might have a chance, however such big commotion would attract the entire Rognak army.

“You may………go sir.”

“I appreciate it.”

Lishiansus, Nedhand, then Hereseh left the cave in order.

Knights and the little girl were pondering on what they should do.

After they leave, the cave may become no longer safe.

Well the cave was never a perfectly safe place to begin with. They hid here because this was camouflaged well compared to outside, and it was less cumbersome to hide than risk being discovered by the enemy while traveling on foot.

What can they do if the enemies never leave the area. Their food supplies were running low and everything was in dire situation.

Jiss spoke after taking notice of their vexing situation.

“It is okay for you guys to come too.”

“We are……..”

The girl hesitated for a moment.

“There are people targeting us. I appreciate your concern but since you will also be endangered, you may go without worry.”

“Whatever you want.”

As Jiss was lifting his foot to leave the cave, he stopped once again.

‘How annoying. This feels like I am committing a crime.’

He if he were to leave, they would soon be discovered by the Rognak army.

If that were to happen, Jiss and Lishiansus would be highly responsible for their capture.

As they obliterated much Pleyisen scouts, the scouts would race their security as well.

The knights planned to hide in the cave until the enemies left the area. However even if they were blessed with luck, not being discovered was an impossibility.

‘Doing a good deed is not really my style……..’

However the opposite side was still a little girl and, excluding elves, she had more than enough potential to mature into the most beautiful woman.

‘It should be fine to become a little friendly with her. Since there is no problems of danger whatsoever.’

Jiss spoke with his best cool voice.

“It will be best for you to come with me.”

“Huh?”

“Honestly speaking I am not planning to put myself in danger just to bring you guys with me. So you don’t have to feel indebted rather you come with me or not.”

“Then why?”

“I am saying, even if you guys become dead weight, we won’t be in danger at all.”

“Do you think what you are saying makes any sense? The scale of the enemy that are chasing us…… Also how can I believe someone who I have just met?”

“I am nine years old.”

“……..”

The girl and the knights were shocked and dumbfounded.

When they re-evaluated the situation, they realized they had been listening to a nine year old kid so seriously.

If a high elf did not appear or the dwarf of the magician did not know the kid, he was someone they would have ignored completely.

“If a nine year old me can stay calm and not cry, isn’t that enough of a proof of safety?”

“You are kind of lacking in persuasion. Are you trying to lead us into a trap?”

“For what gain would I try to lie to you. If I wanted to sell you guys to Rognak or whatever, I would have just brought them here to begin with.”

The girl was puzzled at Jiss’s speech which did not seem to match his age. However there was truth in his words.

“Aren’t you guys being chased? I will save your lives so just follow me.”

As the girl was pondering, she looked at the knight Gilshiun to ask for his opinion.

Gilshiun made a small nod. This was not because of Jiss’s argument but rather because he was able to slightly measure up the unmeasurable Lishiansus.

He thought they might be able to escape the encirclement with the elf knight who had high level hearing and eyesight.

“I understand. We will follow you. Give me a moment, let me just wake up my little….”

“Hurry up and come out. I don’t like waiting.”

Jiss went outside of the cave.

The little girl mumbled as she awoke her brother and prepared to leave the cave with the knights.

“But I am thirteen………”

Part 4

“The soldiers and the Pleyisen race are grouped there. We have to cross over there to reach the shortcut.”

The knight Gilshiun stated as he was flat on the ground.

Gilshiun spoke after discovering about 5 to 6 enemies gathered around the bonfire.

“If we want to get away from here as quick as possible, we have to strike there. We knights can cause a distraction by giving them a frontal charge. How does that sound?”

Gilshiun asked after gathering courage.

Even for knights, fighting a race with cannibalistic custom was psychologically very difficult.

When they had to escape while watching their comrades being devoured, they even shed tears of grief.

He decided to become bait, with his life on the line, so that the girl and the others could escape safely.

Lishiansus shook his head at that statement.

“This is an easy task, so just stay there only watch.”

He took out his bow and demonstrated with ease.

Peeewwwwwwpewwwpewwwpeewwttt

Just as before, he shot a mana arrow invisible to the naked eye and gifted eternal sleep to the soldiers gathered by the bonfire in just one move.

The knights were shocked at the sight of the Pleyisen race, all collapsing at the same moment without any noise.

‘Unworldly….. impossible…..’

‘Even though they are vile beings difficult to challenge without a magic armor….’

After that Jiss lead the way and Lishiansus opened up the paths.

“Which path is next.”

“I think the south path will be better sir.”

“The reason being?”

“Because we came from the north.”

“Isn’t that conclusion too simple?”

“Enough time has passed for the corpses we have left behind to be discovered sir. I think many enemies will be gathered there now and are probably doing a search? Even if we think of a complicated plan, in the end we will have to go straight through somewhere eventually as well.”

“You are right. Let us go south. The enemy line on the south line is also not that thick yet.”

The knights made a dumbfounded face.

Lishiansus was teaching Jiss even at a place like this.

‘Even though that little kid is just barely nine years old….’

‘However there are definite truths in his words. Even though it is amazing they already pushed through the Pleyisen race before, the boy’s decision isn’t incorrect either. Though a wise general would focus on the opposite side as well, the core reinforcements will still be focused mainly on the north side.’

Lishiansus and Jiss traveled much far ahead from the rest of the party to eliminate the enemy and secure the travel route.

There were rather many Pleyisen race on the hillside. In their headquarters alone had about 700 of them.

However Lishiansus found and suppressed even the stealthy scouts hiding crouched behind rocks.

It was a black night with even thick clouds in the sky, however Lishiansus’s arrow did not know how to deviate from its mark.

“It seems we should be able to leave completely unscathed.”

“It seems the bastards still cannot grasp our general location.”

The knights began to have hope. Then suddenly, well passed the hillside, thick strings of light penetrated the dark skies.

Then the intense whirlpool of mana, which can be felt even from far distances!

“It’s the magic armor.”

“The bastards are summoning the magic armors already?”

Guuuhhhhuuunnnnngggggg

Then the loud resonating sound of the rumbling came.

The knights of the Rognak army were summoning their magic armors.

As expected of knights of the royal family, the quality of their magic armors were of the highest grade. Alexander grade magic armor.

The resonating noise the activating magic armors made did not only have the ability to engulf surrounds monsters in panic, but also install them with unspeakable terror.

Night time, the stomping movements of the magic armor formed loud noises and earthshaking shock waves were felt along the ground.

“Please go ahead first. We will take care of things here. Jeron. Brodin.”

“Yes sir!”

“It seems you guys will have to be the distraction.”

“Glory to the Gratess Empire!”

The two knights moved forward. They had determined expression on their faces.

– So this is how I be will able to repay my king’s grace.
– I want to see my family one last time. However I shall battle with my all and leave no regrets behind.

These knights also summoned their magic armor. As they were knights once entrusted of protecting the palace, they also held exceptional skills and abilities.

Once honorable knights, were now baits prepared to deter the enemies’ focus with their lives on the line.

Until now, they have already been surviving by leaving their tails left behind. Casualties were always an inevitability. (Zix: Like how a lizard would detach it’s tail to run away from a predator.)

Jiss asked Lishiansus.

“Is it possible for you to go against a magic armor?”

“That is not going to be an easy task in the current situation.”

“I think messing up their movement alone would be enough.”

“Okay. That much is a simple task.”

The little boy, little girl, and the knights leaned their ears towards Jiss and Lishiansus’s conversation.

They have already been amazed ever since the fierce Pleyisen races were exterminated with ease. Now to think they are saying they can stop the humanities’ greatest weapon, the magic armor.

– I have heard stories of how elves look down on humans. How can he joke around when all of our lives are on the line.
– The magic armor isn’t just a simple large armor. Do they not know it is a product from an ultimate magic research? He probably does not know because elves only live in the forest.

On the other hand Hereseh and Nedhand didn’t seemed shock at all but rather had interested expressions.

Lishiansus finally drew an actual arrow from his quiver. Then he asked Jiss.

“Can you see them?”

“Yes.”

Even though it was a dark night, Jiss was able to see the movements of the magic armor under the starlight falling between the clouds.

The pure silver that was coated on the magic armors were reflecting the star light faintly. The noise from the magic armors’ movements also gave off their locations.

Magic armor users completely ignored covertness since magic armors were weapons designed to completely overwhelm and obliterate the opponents.

Jiss read the minds of the knights riding the magic armors.

– Little rats, just wait until I find you. I will stomp on you alive. Kukukuek. It would be entertaining to watch the Pleyisen eat them alive as well. As for princess Aseulian, it is a waste to just kill her, I will be spending some fun times with that beauty.
– Master Rognak promised to promote me to the leader of the Gold Cross Knights if I take care of this mission throughly. If a man has ambition, he has to atleast become a leader of the knights. Aseulian, I, Puel, shall claim your neck.

The identity of the little girl was princess Aseulian.

Even though he already had predicted she was probably of some royalty or a high noble, he was surprised nonetheless.

He had heard of her name before even as a commoner, because she was known around the empire for her beauty, nicknamed the ‘white flower’.

‘She still only just a princess.’

Jiss thought the Pleyisen race, who were recorded within the history of many empires, were much more impressive than the princess with superficial fame.

There was nothing noble about being a princess, as they were mere tools of setting alliances by marrying them off to some other noble or royalty.

‘Sigh. It seems there are many kid lovers regardless of which world I am in. I can agree that she is pretty but, as a woman, doesn’t she have much growing left to do?’

Jiss didn’t think the knights were worth keeping alive.

“You may decide. Who do you think I should shoot first?”

There was still a great distance between them and the knights, so the magic armors did not pose a threat yet.

“The right one sir. He seems like a captain.”

“Not a bad evaluation.”

Lishiansus shot his arrow.

With such ridiculous speed, it seemed the rapid arrow seemed to have just vanished. Then there was already an another arrow on the bow string.

Kooooooongggg!

Sound of the knees of the magic armor hitting the ground was heard.

The defense of the magic armor is consisted of three layers of external steel shields and a magic barrier.

Unless participating in a total warfare between the nations, the users typically used only used one layer of steel for better movement. Even so it was rare for the actual magic armor itself to get damaged.

Lishiansus’s arrow did not only penetrate the magic barrier but also penetrated the layer of the steel and penetrated the knee joint of the magic armor.

– How can this be……!
– I cannot believe he was able to damage the magic armor with an arrow.
– Even if the armor was not wearing the 2nd or the 3rd layer, how can this be!

The first layer of the magic armor counts for about 20% of the magic armor’s total defense. Even so, the magic refined steel shield was boasted of being able to withstand being hit by a siege weapon directly.

“This time that bastard, the one two from the right. His reactions were good. He is moving forward this way as if he felt something sir.”

“I noticed as well.”

The arrow left the bow strong and hit directly on the left shoulder of the running magic armor.

Kooooooahhhhh!

Bright white light spilled out towards the sky from the magic armor. The magic core driving the magic armor had been damaged.

The location where the magic armors were illuminated brightly.

“The three of them gathered on the left side, do you think you will be able to hit all of them sir?”

“What makes you think that is a difficult task?”

Lishiansus spoke as if it was nothing but he slowly drew his arrow on the bow string.

To penetrate the shell of the magic armor to break it or damage it, a great amount of strength was required.

– It has been a while since I used my real strength in an encounter. Will this kid be able to learn anything just because he gets to observe me from the side?

This time Jiss widened his eyes and focused.

‘I must watch carefully. I might be able to learn something life changing.’

The mana of nature near Lishiansus gathered to his arrow.

Enormous amount of power nestled within the arrow in a short moment.

The rally of the pure mana was shiveringly shocking.

The strength swordsmen earned when they reached the peak of their mastery!

The compressed mana’s strength was extremely destructive, yet it maintained balance and did not deform the shape of the arrow.

Even as the arrow left the bowstring, it sucked in more surrounding mana as it flew forward.

Its power grew larger and larger as it flew and became unstoppably destructive.

The arrow that gathered much mana in the great distance finally hit the joint of the magic armor.

Jiss sighed lightly.

‘This is something I can’t learn just by watching.’

He somewhat understood the concept but had no idea how to recreate it.

‘This is like showing me an airplane at the airport then telling me to create my own airplane.

Poooshooooshoook!

The air splitting arrows flew through the dark night and penetrated the joints and magic core areas of the armor.

Godlike accuracy and penetration ability.

The already assaulted magic armors summoned shields to protect their front.

The magic armors started to take much less damage from that point. However Lishiansus’s arrows made impossible angles mid air and turned sideways or even fall straight down.

Though the magicians’ flares brightened the sky, Lishiansus’s arrows flew along the ground slithering like snakes.

“Just where are the arrows coming from.”

“We cannot see them sir. Though it seems like they are hiding somewhere nearby…… Magician!”

“I command in the name of mana. Reveal the identity of the living!”

The magicians scanned the surrounding, but the magic did not detect anyone.

Not only Lishiansus and the others were very far away from the magic armors, elf magic allowed their presence to become one with the earth.

Though the knights would attack them like mad boars if discovered, they couldn’t do anything because they couldn’t locate them.

There was nothing magic armors could do to avoid the invisible arrows other than one method.

They were circling in their area like fools and danced, swaying their arms and legs back and forth.

“Keek!”

The little girl, Aseulian, laughed for the first time ever since she ran from the palace.

The eyes of the knights were also full of awe as they watched Lishiansus.

– He is a master archer you wouldn’t even be able to find in the palace. If it is commander Raykahndor  protector of the west of the empire,  will he be able to demonstrate such power as well?
– Such skill…….! Am I witnessing a miracle today?

Lishiansus withdrew his bow.

“This should be enough. They are probably too dismayed to chase us now. Let us keep moving.”

It has been a long time since Lishiansus properly displayed his strength to humans. He also believed Jiss will seriously train in the bow since he showed him such a grand display of bow’s power.

Lishiansus thought his display was sufficient. However Jiss regretfully was not too shocked from the whole ordeal.

‘This was obvious.’

This was because he already knew Lishiansus had amazing abilities.

After all, he wasn’t nicknamed the ‘Silver haired executioner’ by the empire and the ‘Guardian God of the forest’ by the elves for no reason.

As long as long distance, darkness, and stealth were maintained, it was alright to have complete faith in Lishiansus.

“Let us go.”

As Jiss moved calmly, the knights were stuck with heavy feet as they were still shock from watching magic armors being repelled by arrows.

– Is this real life. Am I dreaming?
– Can it be I was captured and being brainwashed through some weird mind magic?

Though large amount of Pleyisen scouts were circling around, Lishiansus’s mana arrow mercilessly eliminated any obstacle.

when they were looking for Hereseh and Nedhand, Lishiansus and Jiss used the elves’ run by using the forest and the grass field.

This time to decrease traveling time, Lishiansus used the group movement magic, ‘The Ultimate Sprint’.

This magic was one of the highest level movement magic series. Even by taking just one step, the user traveled a distance of 10 steps and when moved quickly, the distance and the speed traveled grew even more dramatically.

Part 5

“Kay. I think this is a good point for us to take our separate ways.”

Jiss said to the knights, the boy and the girl.

The Elves’ Forest was just moments away.

It’s been awhile since they had lost the trackers, and the knights also wouldn’t be able to chase any longer without having to first visiting the magic tower to repair their magic armor.

It was now safe for them to separate and go towards their own destination.

The girl and the boy had already been wanting to go elsewhere before another encirclement was set. Jiss took the initiative.

Aseulian bowed towards Jiss.

“Thank you. I understood after escaping the encirclement, we would have been murdered helplessly if we stayed in the cave. Me, my brother and the people protecting us were able to survive thanks to your help.”

“Its fine. I didn’t even do everything.”

Jiss did not speak to Aseulian with respect. (Zix: More obvious in Korean. In Korea there are two ways you can speak, respectful or casual. You typically speak respectful way to anyone older, someone with higher status and strangers.)

Hereseh and Nedhand, even the knights, thought it was absolutely acceptable.

If they had been properly introduced in normal circumstances, Jiss wouldn’t even be allowed to stand and would have had to keep his head down. However the knights who received salvation did not enforce such rigid customs.

The empire’s royal structure was already in shambles and they were unable to reveal their true identity.

It would have been ludicrous to enforce such customs now, after receiving such a help from a small child.

Aseulian removed one of the rings she was wearing and handed it to Jiss.

“I won’t make foolish unkeepable empty promises nobilities, and keep it short. If the day comes when I can repay my debt, even if decades have passed I will repay the debt. But since I do not know if my situation allows even the sunlight of tomorrow’s sun, for now I will atleast give you this ring. This ring is also a precious item to me. However it is still less valuable compared to me and my brother’s lives, so you can sell it if you need to.”

“I will happily accept it.”

Jiss accepted the ring. It was a white gold ring, with a masterwork diamond embedded.

‘Mother might like it if I give it to her.’

He thought this amount of reward was granted since he had saved their lives.

This was also same as earning money for the first time for Jiss.

“Then stay well. Also thank you so much sir elf for helping us.”

Aseulian and her little brother Monty thanked and gave farewell to Lishiansus as well.

The knights also thanked him for saving their lives, and expressed their wonder on Lishiansus’s display of archery and magic. Then they begin to go their separate ways.

Their second meeting shall not come easily.

The lives of the knights, Aseulian and Monty may fall like withered leaves at any moment.

The Elves’ forest was coming closer to Jiss’s sight.

“Just a moment.”

“What is it?”

“There is something I accidentally forgot to say, so I will give my farewell real quick and come back sir.”

After receiving acknowledgement from Lishiansus, Jiss ran towards  Aseulian and the knights.

“So there is something I have to tell you.”

“What is it?”

Aseulian turned with a light hair flip. She turned with anticipation, just maybe the boy will give her a confession like how he has fallen for her.

“You can’t really consider this as a farewell……… anyways try not to misunderstand and just stay still.”

“Huh?”

Jiss touched Aseulian’s surroundings.

He was circling around her and touched the air with his hands as if he was softly touching a thread.

Even though there was some distance between Jiss and Aseulian, circling around and waving his hands near her was a weird act nonetheless.

Even though It was a creepy act, even a nobleman would have been punished for, everyone stayed still.

This was because they had high expectations  of the boy, who had a powerful elf as his companion.

– Kehuhu. Stupid bitch. She probably never anticipated such a day would come to the high and mighty royalty. To think she is crawling here by her own will. I shall pull out all her nails and teeth, jail her at the top of the tower, and play with her all her life.

‘Ehhhooo. Some circumstances you have………..’

Jiss looked at Aseulian with pity for a short moment.

As there were numerous golden light strings connected to her, there were a few with evil licentious intentions towards her.

And one of these strings signed a considerably dangerous situation that was soon to come.

However there were many people that cared for her as well.

– Ah ah. Kind and wise princess. I hope for your safety…..
– No Princess. You mustn’t come here…… Duke Anchulen has plans to do terrible things to you.  Only if there was a way to let others know….. Sir knight Paohnick. If the princess were to really come, I shall lift up my sword for you even though my life is the only possession.

He was able to understand the gist of her situation by reading the thoughts focused towards her.

Such a convenient skill that allows long distance mind reading!

‘So that is the situation. At the least there are still some people caring for her, so her situation is not completely hopeless. This is probably due to her virtue. Of course, her beauty probably was a big factor as well.’

Jiss spoke towards the girl.

“You are leaving to meet Duke Anchulen right?”

“………….!”

Aseulian’s eyes widened greatly.

This was a destination they had to keep secret even with their lives on the line.

“You!”

“Usually I shouldn’t tell you things like this but………. don’t go. If you go, you will die a wretched death. Or you will live a life worse than death.”

“On what basis are you making such crazy assumptions?”

Aseulian coldly refuted but her voice was already slightly trembling.

“I rather not go too deep about the duke’s secret inhuman hobby for the sake of our youthful mental health. Instead, someone you can trust more deeply and depend on is Marquis Tebode. You will be more safe if you were to go to him.”

“Based on what can I trust in what you are saying?”

“Because I am but a nine year old who don’t know how to lie yet.”

It was not really an answer that boosted confidence.

However he also talked about how he was only nine in the cave, and really saved them after he told them to follow him.

As Jiss’s mannerism depicted indifference, more strange doubts grew within Aseulian.

‘Marquis Tebode. He is someone I have met only a few times when I was young and also does not involve himself with the central area……’

Aseulian pushed these thoughts aside for now and asked Jiss.

“I will be even more indebted to you if your words are true. But why are you being so nice to me?”

“That is…….. because you are pretty.”

Jiss answered with complete honesty.

Part 6

Rendall received information from the guild within the city, Ellim, which was nearby the Elves’ Forest.

“The rumors that the Rognak army set the Volgen castle on fire were like waves. It seems Sir Nedhand and Hereseh are unable to return because of that situation.”

“Honey. They are not the only problem right now. Jiss disappeared!”

“What did you say?”

After that Rendall, Laurelle, and Grona searched the Elves’ Forest mindlessly hoping to find Jiss.

“Jiss!”

“Jiss. Say something if you can hear mom’s voice.”

The elves who knew Jiss also volunteered for his search.

Wolves and sparrows also struggled to find Jess all day by the elves’ requests.

“Jiss. Jiss!”

Allium also searched all the little ponds and the hills she spent time with Jiss with tears flowing from her eyes. (Zix: Jiss you dawg.)

Then Jiss suddenly returned with Lishiansus, Nedhand, and Hereseh.

“Mom. Dad. I went outside of the forest and brought uncle Nedhand and Hereseh!”

Jiss did a good deed. Not just that, he had saved two close people who were in life threatening situation.

He had even sacrificed himself and promised to train archery seven hours a day!

He was pretty mentally exhausted since this has been a long time since he was on an adventure outside of the forest.

It was ill-fated that Jiss was too busy scouting the surroundings, thanks to that he was unable to prepare for Rendall and Laurelle’s retribution.

“You little brat!”

“Jiss!”

Rendall and Laurelle were sprinting towards Jiss with thick rods in their hand.

Even Grona was picking out the branches with the best elasticity.