Is it wrong to be an Elf in a Dungeon?

...

Klause Pov

I was completely shocked when my friend, Aina, came to me with a letter, written by none that her Majesty herself, stating how I must help her son to leave the Alf's forest. I mean why chose me? I was no one but a common soldier. Though I couldn't refuse, firstly the person who asked me, was none other than my crush Aina.

Secondly, the letter was sent by her Majesty herself! She is a High-Elf, for her to choose someone as lowly as me to escort her very son outside the Alf's forest was a great honor for me. Apparently, Her Majesty had asked for Aina's help, and she recommended me, which also moved me, considering Aina trusted me enough to recommend me! That means I still have a chance!

It left me giddy, however it wasn't all sunshine for me. Firstly, following Her Majesty's command, meant going His Majesty's will. But after much thought I decided to follow her Majesty's will, since that meant going along with Aina's wishes as well! Poor Aina had begged me, to help them!

I felt a bit angry at His Highness, for making poor Aina a part of his plan! But well it's not that I understand why she was chosen to help him. She is Her Highness' handmaiden, and should know his highness very well, still it made a bit sour, that she came to meet me after so many years, because of His Highness' will.

Ugh! Why am I thinking like this?! Of course, it is his highness and her majesty's will, that's why she came to me, and chose me to show her trust in me! Thus, according to the instructions given I prepared everything needed for his highness to successfully leave Alf's Forest. The place where I live is a Border City, under Duke Crampton's rule.

It is quite a good place to live if you ignore the occasional beast tides, well I can always train safely in the training grounds, where there are some weak monsters are left alive to breed and used as targets. I really admire the grandfather of his majesty for making such a decision, at least these low-lifes are of some use.

Well, to ensure that no people are hurt due to His Majesty's plans, monsters are breeded in set perimeters and killed if they try to advance. Though some manage to advance through gaps, but then the fortresses come into play, they always have some items that attract monsters, keeping them out of harms away.

The paths are also guarded by soldiers regularly, and they quickly report for anything suspicious, and a team finishes off the monsters. It is quite complex and work consuming, but due to this all Elves are elites! Even if we aren't adventurers, no one would like to go against Elves from Royal Alf's Forest because of it. Even those battle maniacs like Amazons, have to think twice before crossing paths with us.

I am so proud to be an Elf, *ahem*, anyway, as instructed, I prepared for receiving His Highness, I even had to stalk someone whom I didn't knew, so that we can lead suspicion on him if anyone gets the gist of it. Thus, after a lot of preparation, I waited patiently for his Highness. Finally, he came riding on a white horse.

The very moment he came in front of me I got a bit tense wondering if it is him, then the next moment I felt something in my very being. ' This feeling! ', It was as if I was standing before a being superior to me, I wanted to kneel, prostrate, and serve him. It was the feeling of being in the presence of a High-Elf.

As much as I know, High-Elf can assert a certain aura on other Elves, though limited to their kind. They can also suppress that aura or highlight it. Though most high elves let their aura be on the normal level or, so Aina had told me. This aura couldn't be copied, and thus all doubts in my mind vanished, the person standing before me was his highness himself.

I wanted to kneel but decided on not to. It wasn't time for greetings, clock was ticking, and every second wasted can potentially lead to our failure. His Highness removed the cloth wrapped around his face, revealing a handsome face, with long-green hair, and mesmerizing blue yes, though on seeing his face I frowned. As for why? It didn't match quite the painting I have seen.

Everyone in the city has seen up various paintings of His Highness since he had been growing up, that much was the importance of him in Royal Alf's Forest, for us he was our future king, if we don't know the face of our future king, what kind of people we are? Well, it wasn't like he didn't match the painting but rather, he seemed more mature. Ugh- what to say?

" Is something the matter?", he suddenly asked me, sensing my emotions, I replied quickly," Well, his Highness, looks a bit different than what was shown in the painting ", he then explained me how he had done some make-up. Well, it did make sense, thus I quickly made him wear the armor, and explained about that person.

Soon, we both were inside the city, and I guided him to my house. " You live alone?", he asked, and I nodded," My parents live in a town, and I came here in hopes of honing my skills", I replied truthfully, I wanted to impress Aina, she had rejected me once, but I still had hope! As long as I can impress her, I will get her hand in marriage.

Once inside, I knelt respectfully, he stopped me and whispered in my ears," Don't act like that, for the time being act normally with me otherwise it can lead to failure", I nodded, and thus for the next few days onward I acted normally with him, doing last bits of preparation and waiting for a chance so that His Highness can leave the place.

Unfortunately, things didn't went as wished. " Listen everyone! The Royal Guards have arrived here! They suspect that His Highness is within the city! Thus, from now onwards the entire place will be on Lockdown and everyone will be inquired!", a soldier announced, and my pupils dilated, I swiftly made my way out of the crowd to my house.

...

" So, this is the matter", I finished explaining everything to his Highness, he became silent. His Majesty had dyed his hair blue, which wasn't very uncommon for Elves, however his Green Hair only belonged to Royal lineage, or Elves descending from it. He sighed and said," I knew it wouldn't be easy, I guess I need to leave today, we can't afford to wait any longer", I nodded.

It was going to be a desperate run, and we must think of something to distract the soldiers, the already tight security is now at another level, without a major distraction it will be hard for his Highness to escape, after a lot of thinking we came up with the idea to spread out fake news. It wasn't the best idea, I would have preferred burning down some houses for the distraction, but neither His Highness nor I could go that extreme.

Finally, I started spreading the fake news, I thought I had did a good job, unless they came before me. " So you are the one spreading the fake news", the person said coldly with a sword in his hand, my hands were tied, they had captured me. " My name is Antolar, I am His Majesty's loyal confidant, a Level 4 adventurer", he said making me fell into despair.

I understood how I was easily exposed, with superhuman abilities, everything becomes much easier. I cursed at my luck," Now we can beat you black and blue to get our answers, or you can spill truth", he said coldly putting the tip of the sword against my neck. A terrifying bone-chilling aura came out of him, my legs started trembling and before I knew I had spilled the entire truth.

" I see, as his Majesty and our scouts reported. His Majesty seamlessly made his way to this border city, unfortunately for him, the security was already tight, and they were waiting for an opportunity to escape. Alas, we Royal guards came as well, this time we adventurers were pulled as well, His Highness now can't escape", he said and other nodded.

I kept my head down, guilt flashing through my mind. I recalled every interaction with his highness, on how he trusted me, how Aina put her trust on me, but soon negative thoughts flooded as well. ' He is just using me as pawn after all, otherwise which sane Elf will go against His Majesty? ', I thought, finally blaming his Highness for my circumstances, he must have used his lofty status to pressurize my poor Aina!

" Good, now Klause, your name was?", Antolar said, and I nodded," You will help us capture His Highness, if we barge in his house, he might get shocked and do something stupid. His Magical prowess is of Level 2, and it can be quite dangerous if he loses control in shock. With your help, we can ensure his safe capture", he ordered me, I gritted my teeth and nodded, reading myself to betray the person, that had put so much trust in me.

' You can blame only yourself, your Highness! Making me a pawn to escape! Ha! I would like to see how your childish dream to leave Alf's forest drowns in despair! ', I thought, and soon returned to my house. " You are back Klause", he said with relief, I snickered inside my mind. Although it would be wrong to say I hate him, I do dislike him, I hope he can become more mature after this setback and give up his foolish dream.

Why abandon all the status and power given to him? If I had that power, status, would Aina have rejected me? I would have gotten a harem of Elf beauties by then. Thus, convincing myself, I unhesitatingly laid out my escape plan and he nodded. Soon it was nighttime and a commotion erupted in another part of the city.

We swiftly made our way through the Alleys, running towards the second exit, as long as he leaves the exit and runs into the forest, he will be out of Alf's Forest, unfortunately for him, a group of soldiers surrounded him the moment I lead him to a deviant path, " Klause! Buy some time for me!", he said, and I almost wanted to snort at his arrogance.

" Sorry His Highness, but you are too immature, His Majesty's orders are absolute!", I pulled out a small broken sentence out of my mouth, he looked me in disbelief, and with betrayal as he was captured by them, without injuries. " Klause! I trusted you! Aina trusted you! Her Majesty put her trust on you!", he said with grief.

" Your Highness, did you think for a second about me before pulling me into your scheme? I am but a common soldier, what would be the consequences I must bear, once I am exposed with helping you run away? You must have pressurized Aina as well, to include her in this scheme!", I said with a slight grudge, though a part of me felt, I was being a hypocrite to mask my betrayal.

The soldiers grunted seeing me insulting the Prince, I quickly stopped, and lowered my head. Whatever the circumstance, Ember was still the prince, when I was a measly soldier. Suddenly, the Antolar guy walked before him, and nodded at the soldiers. They left the hold of his Highness, they had already consificated all his weapons, staffs and anything else swiftly, thus he could do nothing in front of a Level 4.

Antolar knelt before him, making me recall the identity of the person in my mind. " Your Highness, please forgive us. But we are ordered to take you back to Royal Capital with force now if you-", he suddenly stopped seeing his face, his expression took a drastic change, as his eyes widened, "D-Duke Phineas!", he muttered out a name shocking me.

" Haha, I thought I could play it for a day or two till I meet up with Larfal and my sister, but well it is you Antolar so I guess, this is as far as I can delay", he sighed, though a victorious smile on his face." I-Impossible! What about his Highness! Wait is this a distraction!", he suddenly glared at me, when he heard the strict voice of the Duke," Antolar! That person is innocent! Klause, I apologize for pulling you in our scheme, and I promise you on my name, no harm shall come upon you", he said with a bow.

I fell on my knees, realizing how stupid I was. I wondered why I was pulled into this plan in first place,' His intention was to get caught up from the very beginning, so he included me? But then not why his loyal confidant? Wait a minute Aina recommended me so- ', my eyes widened, and I didn't want to think about it any further. Aina knew me very well, I was a coward, and I had even betrayed them back during training, being scared of monsters, not once, but seventeen times.

It was so shameful of me, even after that I foolishly proposed her, only to get a rejection with disappointment in her voice for me. So, I moved to a border city, to get stronger, to get braver, but alas, I remained the same as a coward deep inside. I gritted my teeth; I needed answers from her!

" Wh-Where is His Highness?", Antolar asked the duke who grinned much to his nervousness," Outside of the Alf's Forest! Yup Definitely outside of the Antolar forest!", he replied and Antolar cursed," Fuck!", we all have lost, beaten. Who could have imagined that the prince they were following after wasn't the prince at all? I bet they would have used a spell to determine if the traces belonged to a High-Elf, and with Sir Phineas taking the role. It was useless, they had lost the moment they got his trace.

...

3rd Pov

" That's how it was", Antolar finished explaining, Larfal became silent while Ada whose face was filled with worry was replaced with joy and erupted in laughter as if mocking Larfal's plight. " Sister, I did as you said!", Phineas said with a bow, Ada hugged him and said," Thank you so much Phineas! To go along with my selfish request!", Phineas blushed, enjoying his sister's affection.

" Sister, as long as you say the word. I will do anything!", he said with determination making her chuckle, Larfal rubbed his temples in frustration, what could he do? Blame Duke Phineas? No that would disrupt the harmony in Alf's Forest, Blame his daughter? Their relationship is already not so good, at least with Ember he could put up a conservation, but with his daughter leave it.

Blame Ada? Unless he wants to anger his wife further, and bear her wrath, he shouldn't even think of it. He had failed, yes, he the King of Elves, Larfal has failed. " Ada, your plan- It was without any mistake impeccable", he admitted causing the Queen of Elves to giggle," My plan? Larfal you must be mistaken; it wasn't my plan rather your son's. It seems he had surpassed you in that aspect as well", she said with voice filled with pride.

Larfal was shocked, but he quickly berated her," Y-You won, but you know where you have pushed our son? What if something happens to him?", he looked at her, and she said," Larfal, you shouldn't bind your children with your love, you should have faith on him, he is my son, our son", he grunted knowing well he would not get a straight answer out of her.

...

Meanwhile, Klause was standing before Aina demanding an explanation," Klause, I don't love you", she said, breaking Klause's heart, he quickly said," B-But Aina! I have worked hard! I have worked so much to change! I- I, you used to treat me good, despite me being a coward- I", he broke in tears, Aina gave him support, and washed away his tears.

" I thought of you, as a friend. I never thought you as a lover forgive me, if it pains you. Even if you are a coward, I trusted enough to let the disguised Duke Phineas seek help from you", she said though became awkward in the end realizing, Klause spectacularly failed again, Klause looked down in shame, though she consoled him stating, he couldn't have gone against soldiers who would have tortured him, if not for him spilling the beans.

However, Klause remained in shame," Aha- I remember, His Highness has written a letter for you", she said handing it over to him. Klause read it, realizing how much glad Ember was for his help, apologized for decieving him, and in the end said," She must have treated you well, but remember, don't take it for her loving you. As Harsh it maybe moves on, she isn't for you, and you aren't for her, one day you will find your own other significant half."

He became stunned, not knowing what to say. He could only feel ashamed of himself, for having vile thoughts against him earlier. What he didn't knew that Ember had saved him from being completely broken, when he found Aina married a human in the future. Thus, taking the lesson to his heart, he moved on from his feelings with Aina, and later got a reward from duke himself, making him quite rich.

...

3rd Pov

A horse galloped through the track, an Elf was sitting on top of it, the Elf was none other than Ember. " The plan seemed to have worked!", he thought, he had many troubles in refining this plan, even the fact there is a spell that could tell whether a High-Elf had been there or not was a pain from him, thankfully the spell only works up to six hours and only till then a High-Elf's trace can be detected.

It has already been two weeks since he had left Alf's Forest, and the spell was a congenital one, requiring very precise mana control. Thus, he was out of their chains. Yes, he was free." I am finally here", he said, stopping his horse, and looked at the village below the hill, it took a lot of effort for him to decide on where to settle down after leaving Alf's Forest.

This place was many one of them of his choices, if he can, he didn't want to go to any kingdom, or city for now. That's why, he decided to choose the smaller places, and he has arrived at his first destination, now for whether it will be the place he will stay for the feasible future, he will have to see, thus with renewed vigor, Ember started heading towards the Village.

To be continued...

(A/N: Give me the powerstones!

Next chap will be uploaded on monday and now one chap once every two days will be uploaded.

I am writing a Re Zero fic, the Mc is basically Nastuki's soul fused with an person who gives him otaku knowledge of his and different worlds. He has no system, just two abilities RBD from Natsuki Subaru part and other ability which doubles his entire existence value after each death, it means his speed, strength, endurance, senses, mana, talents, lifespan everything doubles.

It has been well received by the readers in discord)