Chapter 19
"You've come a long way, Rael. Well done."
"When His Highness summons, I run no matter where I am."
With those words Rael bowed again. Yaan grimaced at the exaggerated, theatrical gesture.
"Let me introduce him properly. This is Rael, my personal informant. He watches the local elves and gathers information."
Listening to Prince Klaus, Yaan studied the half-elf before him.
Beneath the hood and poncho showed matte-black leather gear, an explorer's outfit suited to trackless forests or rough terrain.
"He moves among the scattered elf tribes north of this front, bringing me word of Elf Kingdom movements and the locations of ruins."
"I also survive by handling the knights' private requests. All thanks to Your Highness's favor."
He meant smuggling jewelry, artwork, timepieces-elven specialties now cut off by the blockade.
A trade impossible without the army's tacit consent.
'I'll allow the trade; you sell me information. Not a bad bargain.'
A symbiosis profitable to both Rael and Prince Klaus. For a haughty royal, it was a surprisingly sensible deal.
"Thanks to him I get front-line news quickly-enough to let me arrive right on time."
Meaning he had been watching this front for a while. What news had reached even a thirteenth prince, lowest in the succession, to make him care about this frontier?
"Besides the front-line news, I've found something new-important enough to bring it myself."
"Oh? A discovery worth your personal visit?"
"Yes, here."
Rael held out a sheaf of papers; Klaus's eyes lit as he took them.
The first page was written in Elvish.
Inside were maps showing ancient ruins: location, scale, entrances.
"They already knew where the ruins were."
"Many villages round here were plundered by humans-especially the so-called Penal Corps-so most tribes now aid Alfraia."
The massacre of an elf village on the commander's orders not long ago. Yaan pictured the elves herded into a pit under his command.
At mention of the Penal Corps, Cain spoke up as if to defend them.
"That was the commander's sole decision at the time. Had I been at the tactical meeting, I would have-"
"So that's why the elves overreacted to your withdrawal order, Second Lieutenant. Now I understand."
Yaan nodded, as though he finally understood.
His voice showed no trace of emotion when he spoke of the elves killed on his orders.
"Corporal Yaan, you-"
Seeing the reaction, Cain glanced at Rael, but Rael seemed not to care.
"Cain."
"Yes, Your Highness."
Prince Klaus opened his mouth.
"Who gave the final approval to open fire on the elf village?"
"Major General Goubert."
"Good. I'll send a personal letter to His Majesty. Desertion on the eve of battle, war crimes-I cannot overlook it."
Cain's face, stiff until then, seemed to relax a little.
A letter from the thirteenth prince. Once it reached the Emperor, the fire would burn not only Goubert but his entire house.
'Minimum: dishonorable discharge or loss of rank; maximum: extinction of the family.'
Yaan pictured the list of punishments in the military code.
A fate more terrible than dying in battle awaited him.
"Effective immediately, indiscriminate fire when entering elf villages is forbidden; any breach will be summarily executed under the authority of the thirteenth prince, regardless of rank."
"Understood."
So we won't have to repeat that troublesome affair.
Yaan sighed with relief.
"We've strayed. Back to the main point."
Prince Klaus sat and spread the map from the documents on the desk.
"Our objective is the ruin entrance."
A perimeter line drawn across the entire central forest showed how vast the ruins must be.
"The enemy got the information first, but we hold the ground. While Alfraia hesitates, we'll fortify the entrance."
"Once we secure this area the enemy's armor will come straight here. Forest battles will cost infantry and artillery dearly."
Unlike trench warfare on open ground, the dense forest-where vision was blocked by trees and undergrowth-favored the enemy.
It was the goblins' favored battlefield, their short stature and night-vision eyes giving them the advantage.
"Clearing the trees round the entrance and building defenses will take at least two weeks."
"Until then we'll have to protect the construction crews with the colossus."
Cain's expression darkened.
If the knights who had retreated last battle were here it might be possible, but not now.
All that remained was his own half-repaired Silver Knight and Yaan's Glaepnir.
The elves would push to retake the ruins sooner or later; holding the area with only two frames was impossible.
"Fine. Two weeks is doable."
Prince Klaus's instant answer made Cain look at him in surprise. Klaus grinned at Cain and spoke.
"I hear Duke Lorenz is rather overprotective of his son."
Understanding the meaning, Cain could only smile wryly.
"It's been a while since I've seen my friends."
The two laughed together; noticing Yaan and Rael staring, they coughed in embarrassment.
"Thanks for the information, Rael. I'll reward you handsomely for this."
"I'm always grateful, Your Highness."
Prince Klaus turned to Yaan and spoke.
"I read your battle report. You performed excellently."
"Sir Cain's support was crucial."
"Haha, so modest."
Laughing, the prince clapped Yaan on the shoulder.
"I've heard about you from Cain. I'll summon you later."
With those parting words the prince tapped Yaan's shoulder again and turned away.
"The dig team arrives in a week. Until then, stay alert but rest as much as you can. Things will get busy."
"Understood."
Yaan saluted smartly. Behind him, Cain watched with a satisfied smile.
Click-
After meeting the prince, Yaan stepped outside the tent and lit a cigarette.
"May I have one?"
A soft voice from behind.
The elf called Rael stepped out, lifting the tent flap.
"...Elves smoke?"
"Half human, so yes."
Yaan raised an eyebrow at Rael's smiling answer, but Rael's playful expression didn't change.
"Field rations won't be worth smoking."
"That's fine."
Rael held out his hand as if asking for the cigarette he'd stored.
Yaan grimaced but couldn't refuse; one did not slight someone summoned by royalty.
"Ugh-cough, cough!"
As expected, Rael couldn't handle the harsh field tobacco and burst into coughing.
Ignoring him, Yaan took a long drag and stared into space.
"Ugh, that's strong. Humans smoke this?"
"Better than the stench of burning corpses."
Puff-
Yaan exhaled again and glanced at Rael.
Rael stood holding the lit cigarette, unsure what to do.
'Why ask for one if you can't even smoke it?'
Just as he thought that-
"Exactly. I shouldn't have asked. Elves don't smoke such things."
What?
"But humans say 'school ties, local ties, blood ties, smoking ties,' don't they? We'll be seeing each other often from now on, so I thought I'd at least try to start a conversation."
What the-, is he reading my mind?
Seeing Rael answer his own monologue so casually, Yaan's expression hardened.
'Must be a misunderstanding.'
Shaking off the unease that had flashed through his mind, Yaan quietly opened his mouth.
"Do you think humans and elves can get along?"
"Yes. At least I think I can get along very well with you."
Watching Rael smile as he said that, Yaan grimaced as if he didn't like it.
"At least you'll talk to me, right? Unlike those noble elves. The elves living in the kingdom of Alfraia consider someone like me something even lower than goblins."
An elf with human blood.
Compared to the joking tone, it wasn't a very pleasant story.
"I'm only talking to you because it's a direct order from His Highness."
"Still, you're much better than those guys. At least you treat me like an elf."
Yaan gazed quietly at Rael as he said that.
Beneath the deep smile, a strange atmosphere lingered, and the unease he'd felt earlier crept up again.
'He's dangerous.'
His instincts told him so.
That guy couldn't be trusted.
"The dig team will arrive and the defensive line will stabilize in about a month... Until then, whether we like it or not, we're stuck together. Corporal Yaan Verkut."
Saying that, Rael extended his hand.
Clicking his tongue, Yaan reluctantly took his hand.
'Shaking hands with an elf-never thought I'd see the day.'
"Shaking hands with a human-never thought I'd see the day. Right?"
Yaan's hand went rigid.
The suspicion turned to certainty, and it felt like chills ran down his spine.
'This bastard...?'
Slowly looking at Rael's face, but Rael only kept smiling as he looked back.
"Yaan."
A clear, resonant voice broke the silence.
Yaan and Rael turned around at the voice from behind.
Ren with her white hair swaying was looking at him.
"Hm? That person is..."
Rael murmured, eyes sparkling, as Ren's gaze met his.
"...."
And after a moment.
Rael bowed politely, pulled his hood over his head, and left.
Yaan was puzzled by Rael's sudden change in attitude.
But after watching the direction he'd disappeared in for a moment, Ren, as if losing interest, dragged Yaan toward the quarters.
"Show me your eyes again."
"We'll do that later-what was that just now? An elf you know?"
"Your eyes are the most urgent. Come on."
After saying that, Ren stubbornly grabbed Yaan's hand and led him. But Yaan shook off her hand and asked again.
"Talk straight. I'm getting tired of worrying about getting hit from behind."
"Jealous?"
"Are you crazy?"
At Yaan's answer without a moment's hesitation, Ren let out a small sigh.
What, was she just disappointed?
"...I don't know. I'm not sure about him."
"About who?"
"You know I told you before. I lived with elves too."
So they might have met back then.
Yaan, about to ask more, gave up after seeing Ren's expression and took the lead toward the quarters.
She really doesn't talk about herself much.
Same as me, though.
"How's the distance?"
"Aside from the haze, everything looks the same. And since I can see the other side, I don't even feel it."
"Any pain?"
"None."
Inside the quarters.
Ren examined Yaan's eyes from every angle like a doctor, then pulled her hand away from his face. The situation where they'd grown oddly closer after the surgery suddenly felt awkward.
"I told you before. You're the Key."
"You did. About that kid too."
"A Key to what?"
Ren stopped speaking and looked at Yaan.
Her transparent jade eyes were fixed on his face.
"What did you hear?"
"I heard about the ruin. One so massive it makes Glaepnir look tiny."
Since it wasn't called a secret, it should be fine.
"Now I really need to hear it."
"...."
"Who you are, and why I can control this thing."
Whether it was the ease after the immediate tasks were settled, or if this too was part of her plan, the question he'd wanted to ask since first seeing her finally came out.
"Let me say it first: that Key to the ruin isn't me. The Key to that facility can't leave a designated area."
"Not that. I still haven't heard an answer to my question."
'Getting tired of worrying about getting hit from behind.'
As if realizing he couldn't brush it off like before, Ren lowered her eyes and seemed to be thinking.
"...You answered before. That you'd trust me."
"Right. I did."
At Ren's words, Yaan's face scrunched.
If she tried to dodge it again, he wouldn't let it go.
"Fine. I'll tell you."
That was surprisingly easy.
Thinking that, Yaan watched Ren approach and stand facing him.
Slide, slide.
Suddenly in front of him, Ren undid her dig-team work clothes.
"Hey, what are you doing...?!"
The thick field jacket, the apron with pockets, and the blouse slipped down one after another, revealing her pure white body hidden beneath.
Caught off guard by the unexpected action, Yaan's face froze mid-sentence the moment he saw Ren's body.
"You, your body...?"
On both sides of her waist, three each-mechanical connectors, similar to the device on his own nape but far more precise-were attached like scales.
Then the number 01, carved like a tattoo.
Numbers and symbols that looked like they belonged on factory-made products, not a human body, were etched onto her left shoulder.
"Designation 01, Exploration-type Biological Terminal, Human Federation Extinction Countermeasure Headquarters."
Fully exposing everything except her crotch, Ren said with emotionless eyes.
"As a biological terminal, my role is to survey the post-Great War environment and remaining facilities, and to secure human individuals adapted to the changed environment."
Humans? Adapted? What was she talking about?
Yaan's mind reeled trying to grasp Ren's sudden declaration. The pale girl looked at him with an expressionless face and said:
"Subject Yaan Verkut. You are the last remaining human candidate in this world."