LIGHTNOVELONLINE Chapter 38
Chapter 38. The Fortress of the Night Elves
It’s Zilbagias, who has come to know that an acquaintance from my hero days seems to be captured by the Night Elves.
What should I do?
Returning to my room, I pretend to read by the window while pondering.
“First, what do you wish to do, I wonder.”
Well… I want to save them.
I’ve always felt that way. I wanted to help the human soldiers and those who were sacrificed as substitutes for the Teleportation Spell.
However… the situation didn’t allow it.
And it seems this time will be tough as well. If helping is impossible, then at the very least, I want to ensure they die without suffering. I’ll make it look like an accident, or pretend I lost my temper and kill them.
“…So it seems dying would be the better option. That’s not very much like you.”
In fact, it is better. If I were to be reborn as a Forest Elf and was about to be captured by a Night Elf, I’d end my life right then and there.
On the battlefield, I often saw the brutalized corpses of Forest Elves. Most of them were those who had become prisoners of the Night Elves.
—I recalled the many corpses I had seen on the battlefield.
They would go through such horrors, right? It would be better to just die quietly.
“Ugh… this is awful.”
The horrific nature of this is enough to leave even a Demon God speechless. The passion and tenacity the Night Elves have for tormenting and humiliating the Forest Elves far exceeds even our Demon Race’s strength.
“I believe I might just come to dislike those Night Elves. A portion of the forbidden power flowing into me could very well be due to them.”
Why would you come to dislike them?
If the power flows in, doesn’t that make you stronger?
“While it’s true I can gain power, the quality is poor… how should I put it?”
Hmm, after a moment of thought, Antendeixis said:
“To put it simply for mortals to understand, it feels like being force-fed crude oil through a tube and being made to fatten up against your will, perhaps?”
That… sounds unpleasant.
I imagined Antendeixis, plump and lazy-looking.
“Stop it.”
A phantom hand sprouted from my chest, carelessly poking my eye with a finger.
“Ugh!”
I feel no real harm, but I can certainly sense it!
“Master? What’s wrong?”
“N-no, it’s just that a tiny insect flew into my eye… nothing serious.”
Look, Garunya is looking at me worriedly! Don’t make me look foolish!
…What should I do, really?
“Well, how about considering the actual situation a bit more carefully? It’s a compromise proposal, but it’s an option.”
Whether to attempt a rescue or to put them out of their misery… that seems to be the only choice.
Either way, since it’s about the Night Elves, I decided to ask the Night Elves themselves, who would likely know the most.
“Hey, can I ask you something?”
“Yes, of course.”
I inquired about the captured High Elf to one of the Night Elf maids.
“Of course, I am aware of them…”
The typically stoic Night Elf maid grinned, her smile appearing rather sticky and sinister.
“From this alone, I can tell what’s going on.”
No doubt about it.
“I have never seen a High Elf before. I hear they are supposedly a survivor of an arrogant assault unit. I’d love to see their shameful face in whatever pitiful state they’re reduced to…”
As I spoke in a manner that seemed to please the Night Elves, she delightedly continued.
“To tell the truth, the officer in charge of the prison is a member of my clan.”
The maid said, her pointed ears twitching with pride.
“If I can guide you, Zilbagias-sama, it would be an honor. I will inquire with the officer first thing this morning, so please look forward to it.”
She bowed politely.
Today’s lesson.
The Night Elves are quite cooperative when it comes to humiliating the Forest Elves.
That’s a relief…
The next day, I received a positive response.
I was to visit the residing area of the Night Elves, guided by the maid from yesterday—apparently named “Viene.” The developments were faster than I expected, and I was somewhat perplexed. I’m still not mentally prepared…
The living area was located on the northern outskirts of the Demon Lord Castle. It seems this whole area has been designated as the territory of the Night Elves. I remember being turned away politely when I explored the Demon Lord Castle.
This time, with a member of their clan, Viene, I was allowed through easily. A Night Elf guard equipped with a compound bow opened the door to the district and welcomed me inside.
—What unfolded before me was a different world.
Amid the overall sturdy aesthetic of the Demon Lord Castle, the space of the Night Elves was—brilliant like a starry night sky. The walls and ceilings were painted pitch black, and the lights reflected off lamps and mirrors, shining brightly.
Here and there, pearl-like decorations were embedded in the ceiling, as if recreating the night sky. Even by Demon standards, it was rather dim. For the Night Elves, who excel at night vision, this might be just right.
Throughout the walls, there were peculiar talismans made from processed wood arranged in geometric patterns. The atmosphere resembled a lively shopping district, bustling with foot traffic.
And everyone there were Night Elves.
“Apologies for the visual pollution, but our area is not particularly favored by your kind.”
Viene bowed gracefully.
Indeed, the decorations are rather plentiful, and I can see why some might consider it weak and despise it.
“Well… it’s not bad.”
I answered neutrally. It’s a known fact that I am considered a “weirdo” by those under Platy. I’m also known for being tolerant of other races’ cultures.
“Though it is a bit too dark.”
I didn’t forget to express my dissatisfaction as a Demon. It’s more fitting that way. Whether she knew my inner thoughts or not, Viene had a slight smile at the corner of her mouth.
With my intrusion, the surrounding Night Elves began to watch us attentively. Just moments ago, it had been as lively as a marketplace.
However, unlike the adults, the Night Elf children, energetically running around, didn’t seem to care about my presence at all.
“Hey! Viene-neechan! Welcome back!!”
“Welcome back!!”
The young kids who were playing tag in the hallway recognized Viene and rushed towards her.
“You’re still working! Go back now!”
Viene, her mask of stoicism crumbling, hurriedly tried to shoo them away. The children’s gazes then shifted to me.
“Whoa! A blue person!”
“Got horns!”
A number of innocent red eyes were inspecting me intently.
“This gentleman is the Demon Prince!!”
Viene exclaimed in a voice that sounded almost like a scream.
“Hey, hurry back, or you’ll be punished! If you don’t, the Demon will eat you up! They’ll crunch you from your toes!”
At her frightening words, the children scattered like startled spiders.
“……”
Viene turned back, looking quite embarrassed and afraid.
“Um… I apologize for that… I was aware that His Highness would be visiting today, but…”
“I won’t hold a grudge over something so trivial.”
I chuckled.
It’s good that the kids are lively.
Even if they belong to a cruel and vicious race… the children are still innocent…
“And children are just like that. No matter how much adults lecture them, they act leisurely and carefree.”
“…Thank you for your understanding. I would go so far as to want them to drink the dirt under His Highness’s nails. They’re already ten years old, yet…”
Wait, they’re ten? They look more like three or four years old by human standards… I guess being a part of the Elf race means they develop slowly.
…That said, I thought I was wise, but I just realized…
I’m… five years old…
“……”
Viene’s face appeared as if she had thought the same thing and was struggling to contain laughter through her mask of stoicism.
“Should I perhaps join in on the tag?”
As I murmured seriously, Viene shook her shoulders and turned her face away.
“This way, please. I’ll guide you to the prison.”
…Come to think of it, that was my objective. I steeled my resolve.
We continued through areas that felt quite homely for a while, but upon passing through a heavy iron door and descending stairs leading underground, an unsettling atmosphere began to envelop us.
“Here lies our proud prison.”
The Night Elf man who had joined us midway, introducing himself as “Sidarl,” led the way. He appeared to be related to Viene and was the head of the prison.
A handsome elf in the typical style, yet his taped-on smile and somewhat goofy attitude seemed suspicious.
“We’ve never had a prisoner escape since the construction of the Demon Lord Castle, not even a single ant has been allowed through.”
Sidarl proudly indicated the gate before us. Beyond the descending stairs lay a notably secure metal door. It wasn’t just physically secure—it appeared to be layered with multiple magical seals.
At this point, I had given up on the option of secretly rescuing the Saint.
“Sidarl. Open the door.”
As Sidarl called out to the small window, a series of clicks echoed, and the gate to the underground prison swung open.
Suddenly, a horrid scream echoed out. It seemed the door had some soundproofing effects…
Beyond the door, illuminated by lamp light, were numerous iron doors lined up in a row.
And cries of unimaginable pain echoed from behind them…
“Oh, pardon me. It seems someone was busy over there.”
Sidarl offered a suspicious smile and lightly bowed his head.
“That’s fine. Still, it seems like a rather unhealthy place for education.”
Right beneath the lively area where children played tag, such a… such a space stretched out.
“Not at all. It’s a very educational place.”
Sidarl raised his eyebrows, looking taken aback.
“Here, young members of our clan learn the ins and outs of dismembering prey and torture. The Demon Lord Castle has excellent ventilation and drainage facilities; it’s exceptionally convenient.”
I see… so that’s what you all are…
As I continued deeper into the prison, ignoring the groans and screams around me, I couldn’t help but feel tense.
Without needing any bad premonitions, I knew I was bound to witness something horrifying…
“This here is the VIP room where the High Elf Saint is being held.”
The innermost room.
With a grin, Sidarl approached a thoroughly unremarkable, heavily secured door referred to as the “VIP room.”
—It opened.
…This is what you’d call a torture room. Axes, saws, knives—and an array of hideous metal instruments I couldn’t even dare to name hung from the walls.
The floor stained dark, and the cold stone room was set in place.
And in the middle, there she hung.
A High Elf, stripped bare, limbs splayed in an X-shape.
However, from her elbows down and knees down—there were none.
Those parts had been severed. The wounds had been fused with iron, chained and connected to the ceiling and floor.
Moreover, a rope was tied around her neck, rendering her in a half-hanging state.
Her disheveled golden hair, neck elongated by the weight of her body, her motionless form—
Wait, this… dies…
“Here she is,”
Sidarl, wearing leather gloves, said with a face as if introducing a masterpiece in a gallery.
“The High Elf ‘Saint’, Liliana.”
Grabbing her golden hair roughly, he lifted her face.
Ah—there’s that face, faintly remembered in my mind.
It’s her. It’s Liliana. Full of life, reckless—despite being among the long-lived races—
But her stunning beauty now cyanotic from lack of air, and her curious eyes were rolled back, looking nowhere. She merely drooled foam, devoid of life—
Yet, she was alive.
…She was being kept alive.