Chapter 131: AOTG Battle: Ellie's side

-This chapter is written using Ellie's POV-

Unlike the elves around me who enjoyed what nature gave them, and saw themselves as simply flowing with the world's motions, I grew up curious about my surroundings.

I wanted to see and taste new things, and I often ventured to the border of the woods to collect items that people left behind or that the other elves threw out of the forest.

Hoarding these items was fun for me as I tried to understand and think about what stories could be behind them... But suffice to say, this never satisfied my curiosity... if anything, it only ended up growing stronger.

I wanted to see more.

But our way of life didn't allow for something like that... we were stagnant. We would hunt the same animals, and plant the same crops. The quantity would hardly vary too.

For two babies to be born in the same decade would be a miracle, so I already knew everyone's faces and personalities, as well as their ever-repeating routines.

I would never be able to be satisfied while in there. I knew that my heart was calling for something different.

It wasn't anyone's fault. I wouldn't like to change their way of life to fit mine either... it's just... home felt... somewhere else.

So... even though I knew I'd probably never be able to come back after I left... even while knowing full well that it would be dangerous...

I went out.

And I saw the world.

For two decades I traveled far and wide. I visited a bunch of countries, learned about their history and their culture, and met so many different people that I cannot even remember everyone's faces and names.

Along the way, I would often meet people looking to hurt or exploit me, but I'd also find kind people who helped even when there was nothing I could offer in return.

In my voyages, I also got to taste a bunch of different cuisines, which, truth be told, was probably the best part of it all.

As I had already visited most of the countries in the continent, in my last years, I was starting to settle down with a party of adventurers.

We didn't travel as much as I'd like, but since we had some notoriety, sometimes we would receive special requests.

One such was the last fight I participated in before my death.

Thanks to everyone's help, we managed to slay a dragon.

That, of course, called for a celebration. By selling its scales, heart, and horns, every single one of us had become rich enough to buy a small county or two.

With that amount of money and what I had saved up, I could buy the counties where the forest I grew up in resided.

That place had been attacked a few years after I left due to some incidents regarding claims of the land.

Since my people didn't really consider themselves owners of the forest, some greedy men started questioning if the territory wasn't simply up for grabs.

Due to that, the forest ended up way smaller than before, and the population probably decreased as well... but maybe I could have them under my protection.

I could even bring them my favorite things from the outside.

Who knows? Maybe they could change their minds a little bit if they came to know and like them...

Maybe they would understand me a bit better.

Maybe they'd let me in again...

I had traveled way more than most people. I got to know so much about the world. But... I never found my home.

The forest and the party I was in... they were the closest to it... and the consequence of leaving the forest... started becoming too heavy for me.

There were so many people that I loved that still lived there... I wanted to see my family and friends again...

In my ideal world, I'd have both a home to return to and the opportunity to explore new things every day.

Perhaps I was asking for too much...

But I could certainly hope and dream... a dream where I could continue experiencing the world, meeting new people... and when I became tired or had enough... I could go back home, to the people who I loved.

It was while dreaming about this that my life came to an end.

The next thing I knew, I was in the middle of a room, facing an unknown man. Surrounded by a bunch of naked women.

One look at myself and my status made me realize that something was wrong.

And after his explanation, I understood that I had died in my sleep.

It's hard to say what exactly happened but... it's more of a matter of me trying to deny reality.

Miwen and the others don't say it out loud, but I know what they think.

After all, I also think the same.

I wasn't ill or injured. We hadn't picked a fight, and I would certainly notice an assailant during the night.

Thus, the possibility left was that... during our celebration... someone poisoned me.

And there was a good chance that it was someone in our party. Perhaps they needed just a little bit more money...

Or perhaps they wanted all of it for themselves. After all, there's no guarantee I was the only victim.

Well... it's no use crying over that...

Even more so considering that I got something better in return.

It was not the way I envisioned it but... by being optimistic and perservering a little bit more...

I had finally found the place that felt like my own home. More than any before.

The feelings I have right now... especially towards Miwen... I don't yet understand them... I don't know where they come from, or why I feel so at peace when I'm with him.

But it says a lot that I'm not interested in discovering either. For the first time... I just want to enjoy what I have.

I want to be closer, closer, and closer to him. When we are together my anxiety and my regrets disappear alongside the doubts in my heart.

The special man who is so gentle and kind, and yet downplays himself at every opportunity...

With his family of odd girls...

He founded a place that I can call home.

And now that he needs me.

There was no way for me to deny his call.

No matter the opponent, I was prepared to give it my all so that I could return to them victorious. So that we could celebrate in our home.

AOTG Member: "Can't hide forever, cutie."

Ellie: "..maybe but I'll still try."

Finishing this without being seen became a matter of pride to me.

The way this guy looked at my legs... I was sure that if he caught me, fighting wouldn't be his top priority.

Even before our fight started, I could tell that he was checking every girl in our group, and he took a liking to Mia and me, probably due to our races being a novelty in this world.

But he quickly gave up on her and chose me instead.

I swear when this is finished I'll start doing some push-ups with Mia and Anna. If I had half their muscles I think this would happen way less to me.

But It would also help a lot if the people from this world didn't have this weird fetish with elves either.

It was only thanks to Miwen sending Apollo after me that I managed to escape...

I really don't think I'll ever be able to repay his kindness...

But at least I won't fail him.

This, I swear.

Even if I'm operating at only 60% of the capacity I should have... the effects I applied to him ought to have leveled the playing field.

I wasn't going to be able to take all of his status like he was doing to me, but by focusing on his most important ones my chances should have risen considerably.

With these effects applied to my opponent, my Gift should trigger reliably even if my status decreased even further.

But just to be sure, I decided to use some of the stronger effects I had.

They are not something I use willy-nilly either, but... it's worth it.

I don't mind becoming feared or losing my place again if it means I'll do it for him.

After all, I know he'll love me no matter what.

So, with the distance I had created between me and my opponent, and the preparations I had laid basically all done, I started firing again.

Two arrows flew aimed at his head as I was going for a combo I hadn't yet used in this world.

But... my opponent wasn't a monster, and he was capable of determining the effects of my Gift too.

Thankfully in this dark place, while he could defend himself, it was really hard for him to avoid the arrows, and had no choice but to block them with his arms.

This made me change the effects before they applied though, and I chose [Strength Down] and [Weight Up]. Together, they made him fall to the ground, making for easy prey.

The moment he raised his arms I already knew I was going to have to shoot again, and I didn't want to risk doing it with my status even further decreased, so I shot them in quick succession before the others had hit.

Sadly, one of their effects didn't apply, but both arrows grazed his forehead, causing [Disruption]. Together with [Confusion], both effects affecting the mind, I had hoped that his brain was going to shut off, but...

This only led him into a berserker state, and even though he was still suffering from [Strength Down] and [Weight Up], he came rushing at me.

With my status now only 20% of what it used to be, the only way I could escape was by using wind magic to jump above him and get behind his back as he was too fast for me to dodge normally.

Since I couldn't count on speed, surprising him was the only way I could think of avoiding his last attack.

As for what I would do after... my options were running out, and soon the effects were going to disappear too so...

Ellie: "I'm really sorry about this..."

He once again charged in his frenzied state.

But the arrow I shot at his head this time had the [Dissolve] effect.

While I knew the danger of aiming this at someone's head... it was my last chance.

In case this failed, I was pretty much done for and would have no choice but to go for a draw.

I didn't want to kill anyone, so I hoped this was only going to put him down for the night.

But once the arrow hit, it was all up to him.

It should be okay if he develops a few after-effects... a good healer can probably help him out...

I'm like... 30% sure!

Ellie: "Um... You're not pretending to attack me, right? J-just so you know I have another thing prepared and you'll really suffer if you attack me, yeah?"

I thought it was safe to approach him as I had regained my status after he fell face-first on the ground.

This guy was heavy as hell though... I thought it was because of his size, but then I remembered that it was also my fault.

Either way, I had to use both arms to move one of his, but when I did, I saw his fingers moving too, so this should mean that he's fine...

Bea: "Ellie! Big Sis is here to help!"

Ellie: "Wait, wait! Bea... careful where you're stepping."

Mia: "Hm? What is this...? Are you changing jobs to an artist?"

The floor was filled with arrows I had fired and held on using wind magic and some elastics that I found in the desks.

In case I had been defeated, my wind mana would dry up, and... this was going to trigger.

All of them had even worse effects than the last one I used on him, but...

I had to guarantee my victory one way or another.

Bea: "...Ellie, Angelica is going to do something a bit nasty now... let's wait outside alright?"

Ellie: "Hm? What do you mean-"

Angelica: "No need to worry. It's not going to trigger. I need to be the one to kill, remember ?"

...?

I was very confused about what was happening.

Anna: "Are you saying that...?"

Angelica: "Well, I get that you might not believe me but... yeah, this one is already done for."

The moment she said that... everyone turned their faces around and looked at me with surprise.

Ellie: "U-um... W-well... you know? Must've been when he fell... he hit his head pretty hard..."

Sure... dissolving his brain obviously didn't have anything to do with that.

Damn... I'm sure they will look at me with different eyes from now on-

Mia: "Damn. Didn't know you had it in you."

Claire: "And here I was worried... sorry about that Ellie! You've got guts!"

Eh?

You guys do realize I just killed a man right?

Why do you look so fine with it?

Actually, why are you cheering me on over that?

Bea: "I guess it was our mistake for underestimating the quiet one... then, should we go for Licia now?"

Claire: "Sure!"

I suppose most of them were soldiers... and the other is a self-proclaimed evil witch... they probably did the same to their opponents too, so to them, it's not a big deal.

Miwen and Licia might think otherwise though... but I'll accept responsibility for my actions when the time comes.

It's strange to feel so accepted, but... it also feels good.

But also, I really need to search for non-lethal effects...

I'll ask Miwen if he can help me out later.