Martial Elf

“I’m at my wit’s end.”

“You’ve been saying that since earlier. Aren’t you tired of being a man?”

While heading to the money changer due to the full pockets of silver coins ready to burst, Kyle kept mumbling.

“Is it reasonable that someone who’s just entered the human world has more money than what I’ve risked my life to save for over two years?”

Even though he was ecstatic when he won at gambling, his excitement quickly deflated when he held the silver coins handed over by the trembling gambler.

It’s not that I couldn’t understand him, so I let it be.

He would tire soon enough.

The money changers were clustered near the bridge, not far from the market.

I visited one of them and proceeded with the exchange.

“Today’s market rate is 28 and a half silver coins for one gold coin, and the exchange fee is 12 copper coins for one gold coin.”

“I’ll exchange 4 gold coins.”

I began to take out the silver coins one by one from my pocket and place them on the money changer’s counter.

The money changer started carefully selecting the decent-quality silver coins using a makeshift scale.

Even now, the currency of this era had differing issuers, and even if issued from the same place, the purity and form varied.

It seemed more likely due to a lack of technology than anything intentional.

Still, while the money changers could be picky about exchanges, as long as the coins didn’t feel overly inferior, most people would consider using them.

Maybe once more time passed and a nation or similar system was established, we might return to an era like in my past life where the quality of currency reflects the power of its issuer.

After that tedious process, exchanging the silver coins for gold left my pockets feeling lighter again.

I was satisfied to see that the weight wouldn’t bulge out and disrupt my clothing when tucked inside.

As I stepped out of the money changer, Kyle looked at the pocket on my chest with envy, then seemed to recall something and displayed a worried expression.

“Is it okay?”

“What do you mean?”

“Those gamblers.”

“Ah.”

“…What did you do?”

“Well, the opponent did start it.”

“That guy… looked like he wanted to kill. Usually, those kinds have dangerous guys watching their backs.”

I remembered the gambler with a pale expression handing over the money and the street performer who later glared at me with murderous intent.

Even when I was told to laugh, he didn’t listen at all.

Since he was playing the role of a street performer, shouldn’t he be smiling more during such times to uphold his reputation?

I merely shrugged and replied.

“Well, what can you do? It’s karma for engaging in illegal gambling. Those who try to betray others should know they might get betrayed in return.”

“…Aren’t you scared? They could do something to you… Those kinds would be bad news.”

“Scared? Me? Of them?”

I stopped walking and looked up at Kyle, pushing the hat up with my right index finger as I grinned menacingly.

“You’re joking, right? How could I possibly fear those ruffians managing a gambling den in the marketplace?”

It would be like a tiger being afraid of a rat, or rather, a flea.

I wouldn’t feel threatened even if a hundred of them came at me.

Especially since I hadn’t collected even a single point of energy in my body, and was dealing with a gang that only occasionally threw punches at other humans in the city.

Even if a thousand came, it would be no problem.

“Still…”

“…Well, you’ve kept all the trash from approaching us during the whole trip, so aside from the first time we met, I haven’t had to show my skills.”

“Huh? Where are you going?”

“Just follow me quietly.”

Once I understood how Kyle perceived me, my pride was stung, so I chose an alley branching out from the road and began to walk down any alley randomly.

As I went deeper, the sounds of conversations around us grew quieter.

“…This isn’t the way to our accommodation…?”

Feeling the eerie atmosphere as the presence around us faded, Kyle hunched his shoulders and followed me, using Rudolf as a shield.

Rudolf got annoyed when he clung from behind, shaking his body in irritation.

A guy with such a small frame.

“What in the world made you come this way? Are you sure you know the route? The safety isn’t that great around here.”

“Yeah, this is a place where someone could die or go missing, without anyone noticing. Quit the chatter, we seem to be almost there.”

“What kind of fearful words are those… Arrived? Here? There’s nothing here!”

Stopping in the middle of the alley, Kyle looked around with a perplexed expression.

I hadn’t explained enough to him.

“What I meant by ‘arrived’ is not ‘we’ but ‘them.'”

As my voice echoed in the eerily quiet alley, presences started to emerge everywhere.

Men with extremely delinquent looks appeared, blocking the alleys with sinister intentions.

Scars distorted their already distinctive faces as they pulled out clubs and other weapons, looking quite menacing.

But I didn’t feel threatened at all.

‘Is one of them an exception?’

One of the men had a face so swollen, it resembled a well-cooked dough.

The gambler I had met earlier seemed to be getting the blame for the failed outcome among his comrades, with a bruised face among the men.

“Yikes…!”

“You’re quick on the uptake.”

“What? Thanks to that, didn’t I gain quite a bit, huh?”

I provocatively jingled the bag of gold and silver coins.

The provocation seemed to have worked, as the leader of this group, a street performer, spoke in a low voice.

“I don’t know what tricks you pulled, but thanks to you, not only did our business go south today, but we also suffered significant losses. Everything we managed to earn here has gone down the drain.”

“Business refers to mutual gain through transactions, not trash indulging in gambling to tease the common folk.”

“…Ha! I wonder what a little girl like you is being so cocky about. Don’t you understand the situation?”

I dramatically turned my head, looking around as I replied.

“The trash is blocking the path in front of me, not knowing their place.”

“…You little b*tch.”

The street performer spat out vulgar words like trash and tried to lash out, but a giant figure, larger than the man, appeared from behind and grabbed him by the nape.

“Don’t get cocky, Gide.”

“Adreel, captain…!”

The ruffians called the man Adreel, who walked in with an impassive expression.

Was he about 1.9 meters tall?

Considering the average height of men barely surpasses 1.6 meters in this era, he was indeed tall enough to require me to tilt my head back uncomfortably.

Kyle flinched every time he got closer, and by the end, he was huddled behind me.

What a pathetic man.

“Are you the leader of these thugs?”

“Little girl has quite a mouth. Yes, are you the one who wrecked our business?”

“Setting aside your vulgar language, what I obtained was through a fair contest.”

“The end of that game is always our victory.”

“…You’re not even hiding the fact that it’s illegal gambling.”

Adreel said, crossing his arms and looking down.

“Compensate for the disturbance to our business.”

I chuckled at his more brazen attitude than I had expected.

His confidence was so overwhelming that I almost mistook it for a wrongdoing on my part.

I wondered just how audacious one could get.

“How much do you want?”

“Ten gold coins.”

“You crazy!”

At those words, Kyle, who had been huddled behind Rudolf, shot up in an outburst.

Even as Adreel’s eyes rolled to give a threatening look, Kyle pointed at him with no fear and began to argue.

“We only won about three gold coins from you! How does that turn into ten gold coins!”

Truly a merchant, or rather, a desperation-driven fool.

Now that I think about it, it was Kyle who risked his life for the trade since we first met.

It’s amusing how he had been trembling moments ago but turns so brave at the mention of money.

“There are other guests who also lost money. Above all, our comrade suffered a significant injury, so this is also compensating for that.”

As I spoke, I slightly turned to point at the gambler with his swollen face.

“…You made him like that, didn’t you?”

Kyle said incredulously, but Adreel continued without a care.

“If you can’t pay the compensation, you’ll have to repay it with your body.”

While saying that, Adreel tossed the hat I had been wearing behind me.

Meeting my eyes, he momentarily wore a dazed expression, but quickly collected himself and spoke.

“Indeed, with this, I could sell it for a high price.”

“Are you resorting to human trafficking now? How do you plan to repay your building debts?”

“Well, I’ve lived like this till now and have never paid a price once.”

“…This is unacceptable—”

“You’ve been noisy since earlier.”

Suddenly swinging a fist towards Kyle’s face, I grabbed Kyle by the collar and pulled him away.

Adreel, taken aback by suddenly having to swing at empty air, looked down with surprise, but I ignored him and looked at Kyle as I spoke.

“Kyle, I wish you had been a woman.”

“…What are you talking about all of a sudden?”

“In an alleyway with few people, saving a damsel surrounded by ruffians is one of the romances, you know.”

“…?”

“Well, don’t take it too seriously; it’s just a thought.”

Stunned by Adreel’s strike, Kyle mumbled nonsensical thoughts like, ‘A girl…? Does he like girls?’

Adreel, having missed the punch and feeling ignored, gradually became more furious, and slowly opened his mouth.

“It’s better not to touch fragile merchandise like that.”

Saying that, Adreel kicked me with all his might.

“Bang!”

“I think you need a bit of education!”

“Araya!”

“Let’s make this a bit more decent… Ah… Aaaah!!”

“Huh…?”

Kyle screamed at the horrific sound of bones cracking while I calmly looked down at Adreel, who had fallen on his face, clutching a leg bent in an impossible direction.

“Now the height is fine. My neck was getting sore looking up.”

“You… you little b*tch…! Kill her! What are you doing! Kill her!”

“Don’t use such strong words like killing; I wouldn’t recommend being so assertive.”

As I relaxed my neck, I glanced at the ruffians cautiously narrowing the distance, alternating my gaze between Adreel, who was writhing on the ground, and them.

“They seem weak.”

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