Chapter 27 - First Quest(3)

10:00 AM

In a brightly lit white room filled with greenery and many monitors on one of the walls can be seen.

Many elves working can be seen and looking at their expressions, though they are exhausted, they had a determined look in their eyes.

The atmosphere of the room seems tense.

A few men are standing and observing the monitors. They also seem to be discussing about something.

ZWAIN'S POV:-

"So many devils were lurking in this city and we didn't even know." One of my underlings spoke with disbelief in his voice. His was completely shaken.

-Sigh

We found about 200 devils after thorough investigation and about 5000 collaborators.

This came as a shock to many people.

After finding more information, we found out their purpose.

They wanted to take control over Eslaine.

'Couldn't be more obvious.'

There were also elves included in them.

Most of them are either middle elves or upper elves. Some even from the administration.

When asked why were elves collaborating with the devils?

The answer was simple: Power.

•A part of Eslaine along with a small part of Lesser Fruit of Gaia will be given to them, to enhance their power rapidly.

•The outgrowth of Yggdrasil, the sacred tree of Eslaine. Training near the roots of the trees will enhance your mana proficiency 2 times faster. Eating the leaves of the tree will give you a temporary growth of mana.

•Most importantly, the Lesser Fruit of Gaia, a fruit that enhances your life span and power.

'Because the fruit is monopolised by the higher ups of humans and elves with a small part given to pixie queen and wood fairy queen.'

'That's why those elves were tempted.'

Under normal conditions, elves with their higher life span won't be tempted but...

'Those who couldn't reach middle or upper stage even after a century of training due to lack of talent will get tempted.'

After all, your mana determines your status in Alfheim.

'Especially those who are closer to break into the Supreme rank'

When elves reach the Supreme rank they can communicate with nature.

'Who would turn down a chance to get an almost infinite amount of mana?'

-Sigh

A sigh escapes my mouth.

'Just how are we going to handle this mess?'

Though I already have sent a message to Alfheim, it will take roughly a week for reinforcement to arrive.

'It was supposed to be a relaxing vacation, damn it.' I sigh again.

'I am sighing a lot these days.'

I shake my head to clear my thoughts.

Then I turn around to see my search analysts.

"Any news on Princess Lia?" I inquire.

"No sir" He replies in a low voice.

Princess Lia is still not found.

'Just where have those bastards kept her?'

Is there any way to find a hint about her?

Thinking about it, a solution does come to my mind.

'Should I go and ask for help from that monster?'

Thinking about what had happened before, I shudder a little.

'Let's wait one more day, if we still don't find a trace of Princess Lia then I'll ask him.'

I look at my analysts again.

They have been working for 3 full days now without any break.

Sigh

'It's going to be another long day' I mumble as I relax on a chair.

Later, I will be meeting the human Royal Mage, Karina, Pixie Queen and Wood Fairy Queen to discuss more about our plans and also about our next move.

...

IN THE FOREST( GREATER LEAF FOREST(WEST))

An adventurers camp within the woods can be seen and a girl in front of the camp is visible.

A few 100 metres away, a small group of people is also visible hiding behind a couple of trees.

LIGHT'S POV:-

We are hiding and observing Lisa from a distance.

There is Leraye, Leena, Kaneto and pixies with me right now.

Pixies are here to guide us to the Queen.

Since Pixies can feel their relatives, Princess Ilia is also with us here along with her guards. Plus a Pixie specialised in tracking has also tagged along just in case.

I recall back to what has happened until now.

.

Lisa lost her mother's memento, a pendant, as soon as she entered Eslaine.

It is the only thing left that she could use to find her father.

She filed a report about it but no news was heard about the pendant.

She said that the pendant is more important than her life to her.

Later she met Leena, who offered to help her in her search after she heard the story.

'Honestly, I found Leena herself suspicious.'

And Lisa too had the same feeling.

She even tested Leena many times to see if there were any hints of lies, but after multiple tries, she didn't find anything suspicious. So she stopped doubting Leena.

Later Leena brought a letter saying that if she wants her pendant back then she should bring 100gold coins with her in The Greater Leaf Forest; It was mentioned in the letter if Lisa wants, she could bring Leena with her but no one else should follow.

'Odd, why ask specifically Leena to bring with her? The only reason I can think of is that Leena is involved in more than one way with the theft.'

When I asked her the location, coincidentally it was on our way to find the Pixie Queen.

So I decided to help her since there won't be any harm in helping someone out on our way.

The plan is simple.

Lisa goes alone.

She tries to check the authenticity of the letter's contents.

If the group gives the pendant back, everyone will be happy.

Or

If they try something improper, we will teach them a lesson and almost everything will be happy.

Then we will go on with our quest.

But...

"You are ugly," said the man there.

'Interesting'

-pfft

A laugh escaped out of Leena's mouth and soon she started laughing.

Seeing her laugh the Pixies who are guiding us also started laughing.

Soon almost everyone except me and Kaneto was laughing.

'Odd'

'Is their sense of humour weird?' I mumbled watching the pixies.

Leraye was smiling at them.

'Maybe' I shake my head and turn back at Lisa who started crying.

The man had already rejected Lisa's proposal so...

'I guess this is as far as it should go'

I move forward and speak in a stern voice, "All right, that should be enough for the show."

Those adventurers are not alarmed.

They are even smiling.

Looks like they were expecting someone to come along with her.

Or

They knew exactly who will come with her.

Thinking that I glance at Leena once again.

Soon everyone comes out and stands beside Lisa.

'[Mana chain circuit: The One]' I channel mana and slow everything.

-Time stops-

Then I move towards the man and apply space magic precisely at the pendant, it doesn't work? Then I create a magic circle to erase all anomalies around that area and reapply space magic, this time it works.

I take the pendant and observe it.

Then I move back to my original position and undo my magic.

-Time starts-

"What's so special about this pendant?"

I speak as I glance at the pendant with an expressionless face.

A gold pendant with a red gem. Looking at it, it's a half pendant,

'maybe the other half is kept by her father.' I mutter as I glance at her, who is staring at me surprised.

I throw the pendant towards her, which she hurriedly catches and verifies.

She then turns toward the man, who is checking his pocket for the pendant but couldn't seem to find it.

"Did you lose something?" I ask him in a 'worried' tone.

Everyone started watching him.

He looks at me again. This time he is terrified.

"I have an anti-space artifact with me, so...how did you do it?" He says raising 4 fingers to signal his comrades.

Everyone flinches at that.

Then everyone turn at me.

Now they were a bit cautious...maybe wary of me.

I take out my dagger.

Everyone takes a step away from me, except Kaneto and Leraye.

Kaneto has a complicated look.

'Looks like he isn't completely used to my shenanigans.'

Leraye's eyes are glistening.

'That idiot. The more weird things he sees, the more excited he becomes, doesn't he?'

Leena is clearly terrified.

'Should I say boo and see how many would fall on the ground? Naah, let's save it for some other time.'

I look at Lisa.

She flinches.

"That's your pendant, right?" I ask her for confirmation.

"Y-Yes," she stutters. Observing her she is really scared.

'Well, that should have skipped a lot of unnecessary steps'

-Time stop-

I move towards the platinum rank adventurers and

-Time starts-

I speak, "Tell me what you know about that pendant," in a dominant voice. My face is emotionless at the moment.

-Thud

Those in front of me dropped to the ground.

" He might have a teleportation ability" someone shouted from the left,

after hearing that they relax a bit and then,

one of them suddenly jumped at me,

-Time slow-

I punch him away.

'That broke a couple of my fingers'

'[Growth acceleration: Heal]'

A simple spell that drastically increases my body's healing capacity. What should have taken months to heal, was healed in an instant.

'I don't think I'll be using this spell a lot though.'

-Time start-

I stare at them without changing my expression.

"Now, tell me..what you know about that pendant."

I ask again looking at them with emotionless eyes.