The Failure Marquis Is A Genius [EN]: Chapter 84

Elves: The Impatient Young Master

If I were the Great Elder of the Elves, how would I deal with the approaching enemy army? I constantly ran simulations in my head. Of course, assassinating the commander was also one of the options.

Even so, sending assassins before the war even started was unexpected. I didn’t know exactly what kind of person Great Elder Richard was, but it was clear that he was excellent in taking action.

“Did the Great Elder send you?”

The elf assassin’s face was filled with deep embarrassment when I immediately pointed out the person behind her. Then, she glanced at Sasha next to me and seemed to understand. She had stumbled when she saw Sasha earlier; could they be acquaintances?

“You’re quite sharp, but that’s as far as it goes. If you surrender quietly, I promise humane treatment.”

I was serious. There was a lot of information I could get from her, and her skills were also a waste to lose.

Except for executives like Gluttony, it had been a long time since anyone had reacted to an attack that properly utilized the Quick Step. I don’t know the exact level of the Elves, but she must be one of the top in the tribe.

“Damn it.”

The elf, who had disguised herself as a maid, showed the behavior of a typical assassin. As soon as the operation failed, she spat out a curse and ran out of the tent without looking back. Naturally, I chased after her.

“It’s an enemy! Catch her!!”

When I amplified the message with mana in my voice, the entire camp echoed. The soldiers guarding the camp moved in unison at the word that an elf had appeared, forming a siege. It was clear how Mercenary Captain Rakan had trained them regularly.

However, the elf’s level and response were completely out of common sense. Taking out a fist-sized leather pouch from her bosom, she threw it on the floor without hesitation.

Bang!!

At the same time as receiving a strong shock, the pouch burst and thick white smoke billowed out.

“Ugh! What is this!”

“I can’t see anything?”

“Aaaah! My eyes! My eyes are stinging.”

“Cough! Cough!”

“Don’t breathe! Hold your breath!”

The white smoke turned the place into chaos. The smoke also entered my nose. The moment I inhaled, a spicy and pungent taste shook my mind.

[Poisoning — Tear Gas (CS gas)]

[Self-purification activated]

[Immune to abnormal conditions]

No way. Tear gas, also known as CS gas, existed on the Arnia continent. Moreover, the tear gas used by the assassin was a higher version than the ones commonly used on Earth. The smoke screen effect that obscured the view was also effective.

Anyway, thanks to the tear gas, the elf assassin was able to escape effectively even against a large number of people. She was also exposed to CS gas in the same way, but she was very calm, perhaps because she had undergone adaptation training in advance. She quickly ran away, using the heads and shoulders of the bewildered soldiers as stepping stones.

[Wind Control]

[Quick Step activated]

I can’t let the assassin who wielded a knife right in front of me get away like this. I slowly started the engine. The power of the wind wrapped around my ankles gently pushed me.

Pa-pa-pa-pang!!!

I rushed forward, kicking the air. The elf assassin, who thought she had successfully escaped and was relieved, looked back. She was horrified when she saw the pursuer catching up at a terrifying speed and scattered additional tear gas.

Pung! Pa-pa-pung!

[Poisoning — Tear Gas (CS gas)]

[Self-purification activated]

[Immune to abnormal conditions]

It’s no use. The Druid’s abnormal condition immunity skill was activated, and the hook-shaped fine particles that scratched my lungs were immediately erased.

The smoke effect contained in the gas was also useless. The view was opaque because of the thick smoke, but as a Druid, I had a third eye.

[Live Control]

[Share vision]

[Sharing target — Common broad-leaved tree]

The trees on the path told me clearly where the assassin was running.

“Crazy bastard!”

Finally, profanity burst out of the elf woman’s mouth. I thought it was understandable. She was unharmed even if she was poisoned, avoided even if she wielded a knife right in front of her, tear gas didn’t work, and even her pursuit speed was monstrously fast.

Eventually, the assassin stopped walking. When she stood still, I also stopped at a certain distance.

“Have you given up? You’ve done enough. Now, surrender quietly.”

“You’re the one who’s caught. You stupid human.”

The assassin showed a strange composure. Did she still have any tricks left? In my consciousness, the voice of the Heavenly Demon rang.

-There are quite a few enemies around.

-About thirty people.

Did she have reinforcements? It seemed like a force waiting to defeat the pursuers and break through the path when the assassin succeeded in the operation and escaped. Although the assassination failed and she was in a strange situation where she had to assassinate the target again with the support troops.

The assassin, who had become emboldened with her comrades behind her, stepped forward and said.

“Honestly, I was surprised. You’re the first human I’ve ever tried to kill and failed. You can be proud of yourself.”

The elves with weapons formed a circular siege and slowly narrowed the distance. I smiled at the sight. The elf assassin frowned as if she didn’t like my calm attitude.

“Don’t you understand the situation? You’re going to die soon.”

“Do you really think so?”

“Of course. There’s no match for numbers.”

I shrugged at her words and glanced around to gauge the level of the elf warriors. Indeed, they exuded considerable energy. Even a master-level expert would have difficulty surviving here.

“Let me ask you one thing.”

“Speak.”

“Is there anyone stronger than you among the warriors here?”

But I’m not just any master.

I’ve already calculated everything.

“Why are you curious about that when you’re about to die?”

“If you’re the best, there’s no need to fight. Let’s solve it peacefully without sweating hard. Surrender.”

“You have a lot of delusions. I hope you keep that unlucky expression on your face when your head flies off.”

The warriors rushed in all at once.

I immediately used Quick Step to leap into the sky.

The enemy’s spears and swords poured down on the spot I had evaded.

“You fool. To float in the air. You’ve made the worst move. Shoot arrows and turn him into a hedgehog!”

The ten elite archers, who had placed arrows on their bows and pulled the bowstrings, aimed at me in the air and fired arrows.

“You can’t change direction while floating in the sky. It’s over.”

The elf assassin smiled triumphantly, citing common sense.

But what should I do?

I’m far from common sense.

[Wind Control]

[Quick Step activated]

[Quick Step activated]

[Quick Step activated]

I moved zigzag in the air, kicking the air. My figure stretched out and the arrows pierced through my illusion.

“No way!”

Leaving behind the elf assassin who was bursting with astonishment, I jumped at the elf archers who were relatively weak in close combat.

The Heavenly Demon Sword flashed with a chilling aura.

Bloodstains dyed the dirt floor red.

Swish! Swish!

The elves, whose arms and legs were severed, screamed and collapsed, unable to bear the pain. Those whose heads were blown off couldn’t even do that and were forever silent.

“How dare you!”

The enraged swordsmen rushed in to protect the archers. Their sword blades were covered with a bluish mana sword. I was surprised for the first time since the battle began.

“Mana Sword? You were an expert?”

“That’s right. Do you feel a sense of crisis now?”

“But why are you so weak?”

They were too weak for experts.

Did my provocation work?

The warriors rolled their eyes and rushed in.

Clang! Bang! Kwaaang!!

Emerald light soared and parried the opponent’s mana swords one by one. Even with the same mana sword, the concentration and quality were different. The swordsmen retreated, groaning at the shock that shook their wrists every time they exchanged blows.

Still, an expert is an expert, and a mana sword is a mana sword. Dealing with a dozen experts made my mouth dry.

[Tenacious Vitality activated]

[Increased health recovery speed]

Of course, even that quickly returned to normal condition. On the other hand, the breath of the enemy facing me gradually became rougher. It was clear that the one who was alone should be tired first, but I was as fresh as the first time. Now, fear slowly permeated the eyes of the enemy looking at me.

“I’ll finish it.”

[Wood Control]

[Bind]

The tree roots that sprang from the ground tied the ankles of the survivors. The opponent, who was trying to avoid the pouring attacks, couldn’t move as if he had stepped on glue. He was startled and looked down, and that was his end.

Swoosh!

His head flew off. From then on, it was a repetitive task. The enemies who had been swayed by me from beginning to end lost their lives one by one. Even proper resistance was impossible. It was truly a massacre. It was a manifestation of overwhelming force.

Saaa

A cold wind hit my face. The surroundings were full of corpses. When did I get this strong? I’m surprised again. Then, a thought suddenly flashed through my mind.

“Wait, where did that woman go?”

The Heavenly Demon replied.

-You were so engrossed in your power that she slipped away.

Was I careless because it was too easy? I missed the assassin because her movement speed was outstanding. I was going to capture her because she looked like the leader and then extract information, but it was a pity. Instead of a pheasant, I collected as much information as possible by examining the corpses of the dead elf warriors.

“Heavenly Demon, isn’t it strange?”

The strangest thing I felt during the battle was the mana swords that the elf swordsmen had taken out. Usually, expert masters gain enlightenment and awaken the mana sword. But the elf warriors I just fought felt like they had artificially taken out the mana sword.

-It’s not that strange.

“Is that so?”

-Didn’t you see that they were using sorcery?

I was startled by the word sorcery.

“Really?”

-They forcibly raised their level. It happened often where I was.

Was this the subtle discomfort that had been bothering me throughout the battle? No matter how much I am a master who is different from ordinary people, it is difficult to deal with a dozen or so of the same expert masters.

In this situation, I won by using even the Druid skills in a limited way without acorns. It was like taking out only 50% of my power. That’s because the opponent was a fake expert.

The method they used to forcibly raise their level seemed to be related to the baptism that Sasha had told me about. They must have forcibly awakened the warriors with the power of the Golden Branch and the mixture of the Water of Life.

“What can they gain by doing this?”

-You’ve grown at a bizarre rate, but you’ve still honestly stepped on the level, so you haven’t felt it.

“What do you mean?”

-You’re an easy opponent. What if such mass-produced experts poured out to other knights or ordinary soldiers?

I felt a chill down my spine when I heard the Heavenly Demon’s words.

He’s right.

Even if it’s a fake that’s inferior to the real thing, it becomes a nightmare if you push it with numbers.

Moreover, according to what I heard from Sasha, the work of creating enhanced warriors didn’t seem that difficult.

What if hundreds of expert warriors went to the battlefield and faced thousands of serf soldiers on the plains?

A living hell unfolds.

That was Great Elder Richard’s aim.

‘I have to go to the Eastern Great Forest as soon as possible. It was a much more urgent matter than I expected.’

While I was worrying with a serious expression, a group of people rushed over from afar. Zion, Campbell, Aiden, and Rakan were gasping for breath.

“Vice Commander! Are you okay?”

“As you can see.”

I shrugged, looking around.

Zion stepped forward as the representative and knelt down.

“I’m sorry. I forgot my duty and couldn’t protect you, Young Master.”

“It doesn’t matter. It’s a good thing because I got good information at the same time.”

I stopped Zion from blaming himself.

That’s not important now.

“Prepare the troops immediately. We’ll depart for the Raven Forest immediately at dawn tomorrow.”

* * *

The waning moon sets in the evening.

The sound of insects chirping echoes quietly.

A squirrel eating acorns with its front teeth was startled by the sound of people and went into its nest.

The elf, wrapped in black masks from head to toe, passed by the place where the squirrel had left.

She held a brightly shining crystal ball in her hand, and through the ball, the figure of an elder elf with a long white beard was projected.

-Did you fail?

“I have no excuse. Great Elder Richard.”

A moment of silence followed.

The Great Elder spoke first.

-Amelia, you’re not the kind of person to do things so carelessly. Did you make a mistake?

“No. Everything went according to plan. It’s just···”

-Just?

“Lord Lloyd was abnormally strong.”

The elf assassin, called Amelia, reported in detail about what she had experienced today.

From the bizarre movements of gliding freely in the air to the tenacity of fighting without getting tired even against a dozen experts.

The high level of swordsmanship and the strength and agility that far exceeded the average, wielded with a different dimension of mana sword with a unique color.

Above all, the composure and fiery fighting spirit that overflowed throughout the battle were a torment from the opposing position.

“He’s hiding something. He’s not an easy person at a young age.”

-He’s just an inferior human. I’m disappointed.

“I’m sorry.”

-There’s no need to be sorry. It must be because you lack animosity towards humans. Come and receive baptism now. It’s time.”

Amelia’s face was embarrassed at the word baptism.

“I’ll think about it a little more.”

-I can’t wait long. Scott, who was similar to you, has already been baptized and has become stronger than you. You know that well.

“······”

-Unnecessary stubbornness is not good for you either.

“I’ll keep that in mind. And I have something else to tell you.”

She naturally changed the subject to avoid the continued pressure.

-Tell me.

“I saw Sasha. Lord Lloyd was with her.”

“!!!”

Great Elder Richard frowned.

It was the expression he made when something he didn’t like happened.

-Is that true?

“Yes.”

-Lord Lloyd, you said? He’s a troublesome guy in many ways. He’s really annoying.

“Great Elder, maybe Sasha is···”

-Don’t mention her.

Amelia, who was about to mention Sasha, became silent.

It was a very sensitive topic, so even she, who was called the Great Elder’s left arm, had to be careful.

The Great Elder, who was stroking his beard, opened his mouth.

-Lord Lloyd said he would pass through the Richard Forest, right?

“That’s right.”

-I’ll give you two thousand soldiers. Show me why elves are the strongest in the forest. In particular, be sure to bring the heads of Sasha and Lord Lloyd.

“I will obey your command.”

-I need to focus on the baptism, so let’s cut it off now. Report the results.

The light of the crystal ball went out.

Darkness returned to the Raven Forest.

Crunch!

Amelia’s teeth grinding could be heard.

“You stupid human with only strength. I’ll make you regret coming into the forest.”