The Dark-Skinned Elf

“…Persistent.”

Titancia was being pursued through the forest halfway between Mittenberg and the capital by a group of men wearing black masks.

Their target was certainly the small wooden box she was carrying for the job.

Every time she accepted this same request from the Guild, she was attacked by the same masked group.

Given that, this time was clearly their doing as well.

“I wish that person would finally stop working me to death.”

Titancia leapt between branches at full speed, grumbling under her breath.

Even as she complained, this job was tied to her own wish, so refusing was never an option.

Yes… because Titancia had something she absolutely had to achieve.

“…What should I do this time?”

Having gained enough distance from her pursuers, she perched on a branch, turned back, and thought.

As an Elf, the forest was essentially her garden. Taking out the pursuers with her bow would be simple… but sadly, she couldn’t.

Because if something happened—something irreversible—it would be a problem.

Even so—

“As long as I don’t kill them, it’s fine.”

Without changing her expression, Titancia silently raised her bow.

Her targets were, of course, the masked pursuers.

“Three in total. I’ll praise you for keeping up this far… but you’re losing focus from fatigue.”

She drew the bowstring and released an arrow.

“Gah!?”

“Hit. Next.”

An arrow pierced one pursuer’s thigh, sending him crashing down.

Without even glancing his way, Titancia shifted to another tree to aim for the next target—but—

“…They’ve gotten a little smarter.”

The remaining two spread out, weaving through the trees to avoid giving her a clean shot.

However—

“Too bad.”

“Guh—!”

Titancia was already waiting overhead for the man attempting to flank her from behind; her arrows pierced his left shoulder and right leg.

The forest was unquestionably her domain. The pursuers were well-trained, but nowhere near her level.

“That leaves just you. Continue fighting if you like, but you can’t win.”

“…………………”

She aimed her bow at the final pursuer and pulled the string tight.

All she had to do was release her right hand and the arrow would pierce him.

Then—

“…Fine. We’ll withdraw this time. Just spare my comrades.”

The pursuer removed their mask, revealing their face.

It was the hostess of Sunbeam Pavilion.

“No. That’s not your real face. If you insist on keeping up this charade…”

“…You’re right. My apologies.”

At Titancia’s words, the woman’s face blurred like mist—and then revealed her true form: a beautiful dark-skinned woman with amethyst eyes and long ears.

This was the pursuer’s real face.

“I knew it was you.”

“…………………”

Even after Titancia spoke, the dark-skinned woman remained silent.

But it was obvious there was a history between them.

“I stopped your attack again. Please, just give up already.”

“Sorry, but we can’t accept that. We, the Swart Elf, can no longer stop. You understand that, don’t you?”

“…………………”

This time, Titancia fell silent.

It was clear she didn’t want to fight this woman.

Otherwise, Titancia wouldn’t be biting her lip, looking so pained.

And the dark-skinned woman facing her felt the same.

“Then I’ll be taking this one back.”

“…Do as you like.”

The dark-skinned woman lifted the masked pursuer who’d been shot through the thigh and prepared to leave.

“…As for that boy—by now, another squad of the Swart Elf should have secured him.”

“—!?”

Titancia’s face hardened at the woman’s words.

“I thought so even back there—you really are attached to the boy. Unusual for someone who normally isolates herself. But this time… that attachment betrayed you.”

“Don’t tell me… you, Zeria, gave the order?”

With murderous intent she had never shown before, Titancia nocked an arrow and drew the string back.

It was the first time she had ever shown hostility toward the dark-skinned woman—Zeria.

“No. It was the work of other comrades who happened to be present.”

“…I see.”

“You were careless. Not noticing the possibility of our comrades being nearby—very unlike you. More importantly… if you don’t hurry, who knows what they’ll do to the boy. Unlike me, they are not gentle.”

“Jonah!!”

At those words, Titancia slung her bow over her back and sprinted into the forest.

Ignoring Zeria and her companions altogether, leaving her back completely exposed.

“………………… No.”

Zeria raised her right hand toward the defenseless Titancia—but slowly lowered it with a shake of her head.

“Jonah… JONAAAAAAAAH!!”

Screaming his name, Titancia dashed through the forest at full speed.

It had been exactly one day since the stagecoach left Mittenberg. According to schedule, they should be staying overnight in the mid-route village.

If Jonah wasn’t there, it meant he had been kidnapped.

“Please… be safe…!”

She murmured the plea like a prayer while running.

At that moment—

“Huh…?”

Her long ears picked up the sound of countless trees collapsing.

She knew that sound.

“No way!?”

Titancia sprinted toward the direction where the trees were falling.

She didn’t yet understand the situation, but there was only one person who could cause that.

“Hah… hah… I—I knew it…”

“Ah…”

Seeing Jonah holding his head in frustration—still unable to control the power of his magic—Titancia collapsed to her knees in sheer relief.