Martial Elf

I walked slowly behind Alia and surveyed the surroundings.

Inside was a spacious yet modest area that hardly seemed fit for the king’s audience.

I didn’t expect to see the splendid decorations or rare treasures found in places like the Forbidden City where emperors live; even the wealthiest houses in the Central Plains would likely be more lavishly adorned than this.

The soldiers lined up on either side barely managed to maintain an air of dignity.

The tense atmosphere was palpable, as soldiers were prepared to draw their swords at any moment.

While the soldiers who had escorted me earlier wore bronze breastplates and helmets, most of those stationed in the audience were simply clad in basic leather armor, with only swords hanging at their waists.

However, as I drew closer to King Priegoss, the soldiers nearest to the king were properly equipped.

Though these soldiers were clearly tasked with guarding the king’s audience, I recalled tales from Kyle and the merchants about how it hadn’t been long since Priegoss began to be referred to as a king.

While Pohelrn and the manor weren’t bad, they seemed inadequate for a capital city and palace of a nation.

Following Alia, I finally arrived at the throne where Priegoss was seated.

Alia bowed her head toward me before stepping onto the platform and standing beside Priegoss.

Behind King Priegoss stood the women I saw the night before, taking on the appearance of ordinary humans—without horns, wings, or tails.

I raised my finger to lift my hat as I glanced up at King Priegoss.

The throne of Pohelrn was as unimpressive as this space used for the audience.

The platform where the throne sat wasn’t even three steps high to elevate the king’s sightline.

The throne itself bore no adornments of gold, silver, or jewels; it was merely a chair carved from high-quality stone.

He looked to be in his mid-twenties to late twenties.

King Priegoss sat on that throne, looking down at me with eyes filled with fatigue.

Yet, despite his nervous expression and tired eyes, he did not appear weak.

Even though he wore a loose robe made from heavily fabricated fabric, the contours of his developed shoulders and physique were evident.

And there was an inherent vigor in his gestures and gaze.

It was a spirit that belonged to those accustomed to killing.

The overall impression was less that of an emperor or king as typically imagined by the denizens of the Central Plains, and more that of a warlord leading ronin or soldiers.

Considering this man’s history, that perception wouldn’t be incorrect.

“I heard from my advisor that you wish to speak with me as a representative of your kind known as elves.”

King Priegoss began speaking in a calm tone, contrasting the ominous atmosphere surrounding us.

“Indeed. I am the king of humans.”

“If we are to speak honestly, shouldn’t we look each other in the eye and speak face to face?”

“My apologies. It seems I have committed a rudeness in your lord’s house. I am the elf Araya from the west.”

At those words, I pushed my hat back and revealed my face.

The atmosphere among the soldiers, who had been tense, softened momentarily with gasps.

King Priegoss, his previously fatigued eyes opened wide in surprise, then stroked his neatly groomed beard while looking at Alia, beginning to speak.

“I hadn’t heard of this from my advisor.”

“I deemed it not too important.”

“That is true.”

After concluding a brief exchange with Alia, King Priegoss turned to me to continue the conversation.

“It is sudden, and this is the first time I am receiving a representative of another race, so I hope you can understand if I seem inexperienced.”

“Don’t worry about it too much. It’s quite alright.”

Priegoss surveyed the soldiers around him and spoke.

“We’ve recently had issues with the barriers protecting the city. The resulting tension has caused our soldiers some discomfort, so I hope you will understand that.”

The current atmosphere was indirectly blaming me for the barrier’s breach.

With nothing much to say in return, I simply nodded in acknowledgment.

With the soldiers still watching me closely, King Priegoss seemed disinclined to press further and shifted the topic.

“You mentioned you are an elf from the west? I see you indeed have longer ears compared to humans. Are all elves like you?”

“I am still not fully grown, so I am somewhat shorter, but I would say we are not too different.”

“Ha! A land filled with beauties akin to you would indeed be a paradise.”

King Priegoss’s words made me think of the forests where elves reside.

…Paradise?

A place abundant with forests and jungles, where even in their early days, there were beasts and monsters posing a threat to elves, but they merely respected each other’s territory, preventing conflict while wild deities overflowed everywhere?

I considered both King Priegoss and the lined-up soldiers.

‘…I don’t think I could last even two weeks here.’

Not only King Priegoss but also some of the soldiers, though lacking mastery over their life force, contained genuine energy within their bodies. Yet without the proper ability to manipulate such energy, they were merely faster and stronger humans.

At this time, humans seemed too weak biologically to endure life alongside elves, even for a moment.

“You said you came from the west.”

“That is correct.”

“Humans inhabit various parts of this land, engaging in exchanges big and small, yet the west has seen little interaction, making it hard to hear stories. Could you tell me how you made your way here?”

At King Priegoss’s request, I began to recall and relate the tales of the past few months.

It began with a strange energy carried by the winds from the east, enticing me out of the forest.

I described the various flora and fauna I encountered while traveling alone after leaving the woods.

The giant brothers who were committing acts of highway robbery.

The merchants I met and the incidents that arose while assisting them.

It was a time that appeared devoid of leisure, even at a glance.

King Priegoss listened to some stories with a serious expression, pondering deeply, showing curiosity when I described the giant brothers, and displayed rare excitement when I recounted my encounters dominating giants or visiting their home.

Meanwhile, the soldiers gradually began to loosen up and attentively listen to my narration.

As the last of my tales came to a close, the initially tense atmosphere of the audience had considerably relaxed.

King Priegoss leaned back in his throne, satisfaction evident on his face.

“Truly, it was an intriguing story.”

“I’m glad you found it interesting.”

“Hm, I have a question. May I ask it?”

“If it’s something I can answer.”

King Priegoss stroked his chin, contemplating, before seeming to arrive at a decision.

“You mentioned a martial art called ‘Mukong,’ did you not?”

“I think it’s somewhat different from what you may consider a martial art.”

“To our human eyes, you merely appear as a beautiful girl with somewhat long ears.”

I listened silently to the king’s words.

“Long ago, we humans expanded our territories to the west. We learned of the existence of giants and of their dangers. In fact, there is much consistency between the giants you described and the known accounts.”

“So I am curious. What is this martial art that enables a small girl like you to dominate giants?”

“The ability to utilize martial arts is really nothing more than tricking ignorant beings with a plausible deception.”

“I do not doubt you, but if you are willing, could you demonstrate this martial art to our soldiers?”

It was a lie.

King Priegoss would have realized my words were true after the destruction of the barrier and the clash from the night before.

I saw an insatiable desire in King Priegoss’s eyes.

He was a human who extended his domain by allying with unknown beings such as Alia.

Perhaps he was pondering if he could steal some new power.

In recounting the story of how I had taken the giants as my disciples, he might have assumed there was a type of power I could teach or relay.

I stifled a smile that wanted to break out.

‘If just seeing a martial art allows one to replicate it, then all martial artists would be practicing the Rising Martial Arts exclusively.’

It was evident that legendary talents akin to ‘Heavenly Martial Body’ existed as fiction in imaginative martial arts novels.

If such individuals existed, within the context of the martial world that holds its visions as dear as life itself, it would only lead to turmoil time and again.

While there was the leakage of visions, the ability to properly interpret a martial art could also mean it could be countered.

‘If that were the case, it would mean a martial god mastering all martial arts, beyond beings.’

After so many exposures to martial arts and having received an interminable lifespan, was I not closer to an unfathomable realm?

“Demonstrating isn’t overly difficult.”

“Then, can you allow about twenty of our soldiers to witness this martial art?”

I glanced at the now tensioned soldiers, who had started to relax in the atmosphere, and replied.

“It would be no trouble.”

“Then would twenty soldiers suffice?”

“Even all of them would be fine.”

At those words, King Priegoss’s expression stiffened, and the soldiers’ atmosphere turned ominous.

“Huh… Haha… It seems that, having dominated and taken giants as disciples, you possess substantial confidence.”

“……”

“Is there anything you need?”

“I would appreciate a sword.”

King Priegoss gestured to the armed soldier in front of him, and the soldier handed over his sword, still sheathed, from his belt.

Feeling the texture of the tanned leather that encased the sword, I drew it out.

It was a bronze-colored sword that shimmered like red gold, unlike the iron swords common in the Central Plains.

About 70 pate (70cm) in length, it felt quite similar to a large sword for my stature.

“It suits you well.”

Seeing a young child holding a sword half their height might have appeared quite comical, as King Priegoss said a word.

I ignored his remark and turned, slowly walking toward the center of the audience chamber.

Into the midst of the soldiers lined up on either side.

As I moved with a composed demeanor, the soldiers began to slowly place their hands on their hilts, sharpening their gazes.

‘Since this is the first official demonstration in front of humans, I want to show something astonishing.’

‘However, since it’s merely showing a martial art, I need to subdue them all without killing.’

‘While taking down one by one is doable, it would take time, and the shock likely wouldn’t be substantial.’

‘I need a martial art capable of subduing multiple opponents at once.’

‘The type akin to Nankun’s King Sword Form or Cheonma’s Cheonma Rule, where the territory is dominated, would be ideal…’

‘Yet, considering that it revolves around enlightenment or a completed mental state rather than relying on internal energy and knowledge, it would be difficult at this point…’

‘Then…’

As the sword only half my height began to vibrate and hum softly.

The strange phenomenon of a vibrating sword filled the faces of nearby soldiers with dread.

In an era where monstrous and terrifying beings walk the earth, the fear of an inexplicable occurrence seemed to resonate much larger among the soldiers.

The sword, making an odd sound, began to increase its volume and dropped from my hand.

When the trembling sword suddenly halted, several soldiers who felt their patience were wearing thin shouted and swung their swords at me.

At that moment.

Araya’s Grasping Catch

Spirit Snatching Sword Sound

The bronze-red sword shattered into pieces like charcoal crumbling to dust, sending sound waves radiating in all directions.

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