I Tried To Be Her Loyal Sword

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238th Chapter

“It’s an honor to meet you.”

I gave a light nod in greeting. Peisha took a puff from her pipe, inhaling the smoke.

“I know the situation outside isn’t great. We need to leave quickly. Let’s skip the formalities. We should be thankful that this situation isn’t treated as an invasion.”

She smiled faintly, but there was no warmth in her voice.

Remembering the expressions of the beastkin watching us, I felt it was fortunate that they hadn’t immediately torn us apart, so I readily agreed.

“The reason we came here is…”

“Wait a moment.”

Step by step.

Just as I was about to speak, Peisha raised her hand to stop me. I turned my head at the sound of several people approaching from behind.

“The Silver Wolf beastkin make all decisions through a council of elders, as is their tradition.”

A chill ran down my spine, and my heart began to race.

It’s been a long time since I felt this tense.

The elderly beastkin entering the cave were each a formidable presence. Individually, they belonged to a race known for their outstanding overall abilities.

Leo instinctively tightened his grip on the sword’s hilt, while I lightly bit my cheek.

It certainly seemed like the criteria for elder selection was based on strength. If a battle were to break out with them, it would surely be a headache.

“Let’s talk.”

After everyone took their seats, Peisha, seated at the head, rested her chin thoughtfully on her hand.

‘What do you want to say first?’

As Leo fiddled with his sword sheath, he turned to me. I let out a short hum.

We had two points to present. Leisha, Leo’s caretaker, and the involvement of the Silver Wolf beastkin in the war.

A lot of meaning passed through our exchanged glances.

‘Let’s talk about Leisha first.’

I figured asking for their immediate involvement in the war would only raise their suspicions. It was better to first establish our connection with Leisha.

Nodding, Leo faced Peisha.

“Do you know Leisha?”

“… Leisha.”

The room erupted in chatter.

“Are you talking about that Leisha who went outside?”

“How could those guys…”

The elders whispered, their eyes widening as they cast sidelong glances at us. Peisha, oddly unfazed, striking the table with her palm.

“Silence.”

At that one word, the commotion abruptly ceased. It was a clear indication of how powerful Peisha’s authority was in this place.

She examined Leo from top to bottom.

“Certainly. She must be around that age now.”

While everyone else looked confused, it seemed Peisha knew something. She smiled a chilling smile.

“The king of the east, who grew up on Leisha’s blood, were you happy?”

Thud.

“No, Leo. Hold on.”

I whispered, stopping Leo from drawing his sword.

His hand trembled faintly as he glared at Peisha with eyes dilated in fury, the ties of reason seemingly severed. My heart ached at that sight, but I couldn’t let anything happen that couldn’t be taken back.

I pressed down on his flickering hand and turned back to Peisha.

“We came to have a conversation.”

“Did I say something wrong?”

Peisha tilted her head, her long scar stretching across her smile. Leo clenched his fist in frustration.

“A foolish child who gave up living with her kind for a promise to a human friend. I warned her countless times it was dangerous, but she went anyway… and it was because of you she died?”

Her words poked at Leo’s vulnerable spots, digging deeper.

Boom!

At that moment, mana exploded from Leo like a burst dam, and I forcefully pressed his head down onto the table, restraining him.

Red blood trickled down from his torn forehead. With his eyes losing focus, Leo writhed like a fish speared through.

“Let go of me.”

“I’m sorry. Please hold on.”

I whispered earnestly.

Even I couldn’t guarantee a victory against all the Silver Wolf beastkin. I understood Leo’s anger but couldn’t just watch it unfold.

“Are you going to talk, or not? If you don’t want to converse, just say so. Are you looking for a fight?”

No matter how strong the Silver Wolf beastkin were, Peisha wouldn’t choose a needless and dangerous path. Trusting that, I gave her a cold look as she flicked ash from her pipe.

“I can’t even joke around anymore.”

“That joke crossed the line.”

Peisha’s slitted pupils gazed at me, not one bit shying away. I finally released my grip from Leo, as he seemed to return to himself.

Peisha narrowed her eyes.

“Have you ever met the Silver Wolf beastkin before?”

“Huh? Why do you suddenly…?”

“Answer the question.”

“… No, I haven’t.”

“You just don’t remember.”

Her sudden inquiry was laced with deep meaning.

Did I frown in confusion? She waved her hand dismissively, as if my confusion was irrelevant.

“Enough. Let’s hear your business.”

The conversation was being dictated by her whims.

I swallowed my discomfort and turned to Leo.

“Damn it…”

He spat curses as he wiped the blood trickling down his forehead.

I clenched and released my fist, overwhelmed with guilt. Surely, every time I saw that wound without a scar, it would hurt me.

“We came looking to meet Leisha’s family.”

Leo’s voice was low and heavy. Although his demeanor was ferocious, thankfully, his eyes had regained focus.

The elders looked around at each other. Peisha’s violet pupils gleamed.

“What do you intend to do upon meeting?”

“I want to apologize.”

Thoughts swirled in Leo’s eyes, then vanished. His gaze sharpened with an intensity that felt palpable enough to tear someone apart.

“You say it was because of me that Leisha died, so I want to meet her and apologize directly.”

He confessed, his words resembling a desperate deathbed confession.

“… A human with such resolve, I commend you.”

Peisha chuckled lightly. While the underlying disdain for humans remained, she didn’t seem entirely displeased.

With a huff, she rolled her eyes.

“Leisha has no family. Her parents died at the hands of humans while gathering necessary information and supplies from the outside world. I pursued them to the end to find out why, and it was simply because they thought her skin would sell for a high price.”

Her violet eyes grew dark with hatred.

I was left speechless, clenching my lips tightly. There are certain things that can’t be determined just by belonging to a race, but those of the perpetrating race shouldn’t speak to the victimized race.

“I raised Leisha alone. A smart child; I even thought of making her the next leader. If only she hadn’t been so interested in the outside world and had just stayed with us, I wouldn’t have expected her to die so soon.”

In the blink of an eye, the fierce façade flickered. For that moment, she seemed more like an ordinary person than a strong leader.

“Let’s stop reminiscing.”

Immediately coming back, Peisha smiled, her lips stretching wide. Her eyes were painfully cold.

“Leisha has no family. Now that you know this, is that all you wanted to say?”

Releasing a quiet groan inwardly, I glanced at Leo.

He was staring blankly into space, shaking his legs in contemplation. He seemed to be deep in thought. Asking him would likely yield no helpful answers.

“Actually, there’s one more thing.”

It was difficult to say this in this situation unless I had lost my morals, but nevertheless, I had to. This could influence the outcome of the war.

Peisha raised an eyebrow as she put down her pipe.

“Speak.”

“I’m sure you’re aware there’s a war happening outside.”

A light commotion stirred among the elders. It seemed they all knew, as Peisha had said elderly ears were often aware of the news from the outside world.

Peisha nodded.

“Right. The Northerners started the war. Not only have they massacred other races, but they’re fighting among themselves, too. Humans are truly amusing.”

There was nothing I could say in response to her subtly mocking tone.

Other races lived harmoniously with nature, while only humans chose to harm nature, opting for mutual destruction instead of coexistence.

‘Yet, they’d still try to protect it.’

My loved ones were also human, so how could I possibly hate them? I had been struggling tirelessly to save that foolish race.

With a heart becoming heavier like a sponge placed under a dripping faucet, I finally found the courage to speak.

“The Northerners plan to wage war through monsters. You’re aware that those monsters emit mana, right? Their blood poisons the land as well.”

Winning the war against the North was one issue, but that wasn’t the sole problem. How we would deal with the carcasses of the monsters afterward would certainly become an issue.

“The scope of this war is bigger than anticipated, and what if monster incursions reach this forest? What will you do if the North wins and begins to eye this place beyond the Empire? What happens when the land starts to become polluted?”

The land is interconnected as one. If the North emerged victorious, the Empire would not be able to cleanse the polluted lands. The taint would spread and might eventually invade this forest.

“Even here, you can’t be completely safe from the war. You know that, right?”

They can’t stay isolated forever. They are part of the continent too.

With a mere gesture, Peisha silenced the growing commotion, resting her chin thoughtfully.

“So what’s the conclusion?”

I exhaled deeply. Then I faced her.

“Please help us and join the war.”

With that one sentence, the cave erupted into chaos.

“How brazen! Have you completely forgotten the atrocities of a century ago?”

“How much humiliation did we endure at the hands of humans back then!”

“You kill when you want and ask for help when it’s convenient for you!”

I involuntarily lowered my head. Their rage had built up over the years, remaining thick and heavy.

Asking for their involvement felt truly disgusting to me.

As I silently stared at the ground, suddenly—

“You.”

An authoritative voice pierced through the noise, seizing my attention.

Peisha’s face was stiff as she opened her lips.

“Do you know Anteia Hella?”

The name that emerged from her lips was utterly unexpected.