The Regressed Mercenary's Machinations-Chapter 735: You Have to Trust Me (2)

Ereneth was destined to become the High Chief of the elves.

She would one day fight alongside the Hero in the war against the Demonic Realm and lead them to victory. A thousand years later, she would once again battle the Salvation Order and become a key figure aiding the Allied Forces of humanity.

An elf who truly transcended her race — a living legend.

Someone like her wouldn’t be living just anywhere.

Ghislain had suspected she might be in the most vital part of the elven forest — and as it turned out, the younger Ereneth was here.

Ghislain watched her, half delighted, half tense. But then something began to feel off.

What is this?

Ereneth kept looking around as if searching for something. She tilted her head, staring in random directions, inspecting tree after tree.

No way...

He knew that Ereneth would one day become unimaginably powerful. But right now, she hadn’t reached that level.

There was no way she could precisely detect him — someone who had already mastered the manipulation of will.

And yet...

Ereneth’s eyes suddenly fixed on a specific spot. She narrowed her brows and stared directly.

Ghislain’s eyes widened in shock.

How...?

They were making eye contact. It wasn’t a coincidence — she wasn’t just looking in his direction.

Even the best stealth arts only worked if the enemy didn’t know where to look. But if someone had a solid idea of his location, and they had /N_o_v_e_l_i_g_h_t/ skill — they could find him.

Sure enough, Ereneth gave a faint, cold smile and slowly raised both hands.

FWOOSH!

In a sweeping arc, a massive blaze erupted toward Ghislain.

“Hm?”

He retreated, but by then, fire spirits had already closed in on him, their forms twisting into burning columns.

BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!

Flames shot high into the sky. Yet oddly, none of the fire spread to the surrounding forest.

Ghislain ducked low and evaded the pillars of flame. His mind was moving faster than ever.

She’s signaling the nearby elves.

Several fire columns had risen — enough to summon a swarm of elven warriors to this location.

He could escape now if he wanted to. But Ghislain felt a twinge of regret.

He might not get another chance to meet Ereneth. She was one of the most important allies of the Hero.

And if... if they could communicate now—

It could change everything.

Let’s try.

With resolve, Ghislain drew out his mana. A soft blue glow enveloped his body.

PAANG!

Instead of fleeing, he surged forward — straight toward Ereneth.

Ereneth scoffed and flicked her hand lightly.

“Hmph.”

KWAHHHH!

A spirit of wind exploded from the ground at her feet. It instantly transformed into a barrage of slicing whirlwinds and flew at Ghislain.

He narrowly forced his way through. The blades of wind ripped his mask and clothes in several places, but he didn’t slow down, closing the distance between them.

In that moment, Ghislain saw it — curiosity flickering in Ereneth’s eyes.

Just as I thought.

BOOM!

Still, her attacks didn’t stop. From cracks in the earth, sharp stone pillars shot upward.

Ghislain leapt into the trees, bounding across their branches.

So many attacks in just a few breaths of time — Ereneth’s skill was truly impressive.

No doubt she had the talent to become the High Chief of the elves.

But even so, Ghislain was still at a higher level. When he broke through all her attacks and closed in, Ereneth bit her lip.

FWAHHHH!

Suddenly, blazing fire spirits appeared in midair. They encircled Ghislain from every direction and rushed in like they meant to self-destruct.

“Hup!”

A surge of blue energy erupted from Ghislain’s body, expanding outward like a shield. The fire spirits were repelled by the burst.

BOOMBOOMBOOMBOOMBOOM!

Explosions shook the area, but Ereneth did not relent. She hadn’t expected her opponent to be brought down so easily.

She narrowed her eyes.

Around her, an even stronger spirit energy began to spiral.

She was just about to launch another attack—

When Ghislain, emerging from the blast, shouted,

“Ereneth! Stop!”

“...Huh?”

Ereneth flinched and halted her spell. Seeing that, Ghislain smirked slightly.

Just as I thought — still inexperienced.

The future Ereneth would’ve kept attacking without hesitation. Ask questions after disabling the threat.

But this Ereneth didn’t have that cold clarity yet. Hearing her name from a stranger had clearly shaken her.

Paak!

Ghislain suddenly appeared right in front of her face. Ereneth froze in shock.

It was a reaction the Ereneth of the future would never show.

Suppressing a grin, Ghislain said softly,

“Ereneth, I need your help.”

“W-what? Who... who are you?”

“I’ll explain everything later. I’m not your enemy. I’m your future friend. I came to help you. I came to help the elves.”

“M-my... friend? You came to help me?”

“That’s right. The elves are chasing me without knowing the truth. I really did come to help.”

Ghislain paused and turned his head. He could feel the approach of spirits and elves.

FWOOSH!

He turned back into shadow and slipped behind her.

As he retreated, he called out one more time.

“Send the others in a different direction. We’ll talk again afterward.”

“W-wait!”

“Ereneth, you have to trust me.”

She reached out — but Ghislain had already vanished.

Of course, Ereneth, knowing the general direction he went, could roughly sense where he was hiding.

But she didn’t pursue.

More elves and spirits were already approaching.

How does he know my name...?

She had never once left the forest. She had begged the High Chief many times, but permission was never granted.

And yet this man — this human — called her by name.

Said he was her friend from the future.

Said he came to help.

Ereneth stood there, overwhelmed.

And confused beyond belief.

Just as Ereneth stood frozen, unable to move forward or back, other elves finally arrived and quickly surrounded the area.

“Ereneth.”

The elf at the front called her name. Ereneth turned her head in alarm.

“Elder?”

He looked like a young, handsome elven man on the outside, but in truth, he was one of the elders — an elf who had lived for centuries.

Ereneth’s face turned pale. If even an elder had stepped in, it meant the situation was far more serious than she had thought.

The elder studied her for a moment, then let out a breath of relief. She was unscathed.

Even from the traces left behind, it was clear that a battle had taken place. But seeing Ereneth unharmed allowed him to relax — at least momentarily.

The elder gazed at her steadily and asked,

“The intruder was here, wasn’t he? Where did he go?”

His concern was enormous. The intruder’s abilities were exceptional — that much was clear.

They had to catch him quickly. If not, other elves might be harmed. Somehow, the intruder had evaded their perimeter with uncanny precision and was now slipping through the forest.

They had finally gotten a reading on him and chased him here — but once again, he vanished.

Ereneth swallowed hard. She had to answer.

She knew where the intruder was hiding. She couldn’t sense his presence anymore, but she still knew the general direction. If she pointed it out, they’d find him soon.

She should report it. The intruder was dangerous — even the elder’s presence confirmed that.

After a moment’s hesitation, Ereneth slowly raised her hand and pointed in a direction.

There was one thing Ghislain didn’t know, having only encountered the slightly... unhinged elves of the future.

It was the mindset and code of the elves of this era.

Elves do not lie to one another.

Elves do not hide things from their kin.

Elves do not betray each other for personal gain.

Elves treat the fate of their race as their own.

Elves embed the will of the group in every choice they make.

And so...

“He ran that way.”

Ereneth pointed in the exact opposite direction from where Ghislain was actually hiding.

A flushed face, a trembling voice, wavering eyes.

Had she been human, anyone would’ve instantly known she was lying.

But not the elves here. Not a single one doubted her words.

Because this was the elven people — bound together within the embrace of the World Tree, functioning as one.

“I’m glad your skills are sharp. Still, just in case, be cautious. It’s better to stay with others.”

“Yes, understood.”

“Let’s move. He can’t have gotten far.”

At the elder’s signal, the other elves followed behind him. The summoned spirits accompanied them as well.

Once everyone was gone, Ereneth clutched her chest tightly.

Thump! Thump! Thump!

Her heart was pounding like mad. Her first-ever lie struck her with a painful intensity — and a strange, guilty thrill.

“Haa...”

Her face was still flushed, and her breath came fast and uneven.

That single lie had shaken her to her very core.

And in that moment, Ereneth felt as though... something inside her had shattered.

“This... this is a lie... This is... what humans feel...?”

Elves love harmony and peace. They wish to breathe in unison with the world, nestled in the rhythms of nature.

That is their destiny — their silent vow, kept until the day their life ends.

Thus, they feared and avoided the overwhelming emotions of humans. The more they were swept into emotional storms, the further they drifted from their essence — their bond with nature.

Elves dispatched to cities are isolated upon return. Contact with others is limited until they regain harmony with nature.

It’s not for their sake — it’s to protect the other elves.

That’s how strict and severe their code was. And yet, Ereneth had just broken it — out of personal curiosity.

And the cause of that violation, the intruder, Ghislain, appeared casually before her.

“Ahaha, thanks. I kinda put you in a tough spot, huh?”

He smiled shamelessly. Ereneth glared at him.

“Human...”

To be honest, even she didn’t know why she had lied.

Her heart had simply moved that way in the moment.

Well, what’s done is done.

Ereneth consoled herself with that excuse, dismissing it as something she’d been swept up in.

What’s done cannot be undone.

Now, it was time to ask the intruder what she needed to know.

“Who are you? How do you know my name? Why did you trespass into the forest?”

Ghislain cleared his throat awkwardly. From here on out, he planned to act with flair — the kind of performance that would even make Claude proud.

He composed himself, then spoke with a serious expression.

“My name is Astion. I am a messenger of the goddess, sent here to save the elves.”

“......”

Ereneth narrowed her eyes and folded her arms.

The man standing before her reeked of the very thing she’d heard about in stories — the stench of a human con artist.