## Chapter 1134 – Elven Forest

Silence descended upon the training grounds.

“That was… impressive.”

Harkan was suddenly standing next to Sellathys.

“What?”

Damn it!

How did that bastard get down here so fast? I couldn’t even perceive his speed! He’s like some crazy extreme racer!

I raised my guard, watching him.

“He expanded the aura surrounding his body. I understand that much… but what happened after?”

Harkan looked at me, utterly puzzled.

This guy…

He’s after the secrets of the Heavenly Demon’s Advent Steps. He’s trying to analyze my technique.

That’s why I didn’t really want to show it, but of course, even the leader of the Guardian Warriors wouldn’t be able to grasp the mysteries of the Heavenly Demon Divine Art just by seeing it once.

“It’s a special technique.”
“Hmm… quite intriguing. But it seems the Vice-Captain is quite strong. Strong enough to make you use such a trump card.”

—Clap.

“That was very enjoyable.”

Harkan grinned, clapped once, and extended his hand to me. His face seemed to express great satisfaction.

“…”

I shook his hand. I didn’t sense any hostility.

Besides, there’s not much you can glean from that smiling face. This guy seems suspicious in many ways, so I need to be careful while I’m here.

“You are a hero worthy of meeting the World Tree. Welcome once again, Paladin.”
“Thank you for the welcome, Guardian Warrior Leader.”
“Did you enjoy the sparring?”
“Very much.”

Actually, it was fun.

“I’m glad to hear that.”

Harkan released my hand, still smiling, and placed his hand on Sellathys’ shoulder.

“Sellathys, it’s unfortunate that you lost.”
“…I apologize, Leader.”

She looked up as she answered, her head bowed.

“Do you think you should apologize?”
“…”
“Never mind.”

Anyway…

I’ve confirmed that the Heavenly Demon’s Advent Steps is a very effective technique. I didn’t even use it at full power. I only used it for suppression, but it was enough to make a warrior of that level lose their balance and kneel.

I need to control my power better in the future.

If I mess up, the bodies of nearby civilians might get squashed like rats in a factory press. That kind of future must never happen.

“All three friendly sparring matches have ended in the Paladin’s victory. I’ve seen your incredible skill. To be honest, we wanted to show the Paladin our strength, but since we’ve lost like this, we’ll just have to try harder. Isn’t that right?”

Harkan looked around at the audience and gave a speech.

“Now, let’s have a celebration.”

He ordered a final celebration.

—Waaaaaaaaaah!!!
—Waaaaaaaaaah!!!
—Waaaaaaaaaah!!!

Cheers erupted.

The elves in the audience were cheering and looking at me.

“…”

Looking closely, there was no hostility in their gaze. No uncomfortable atmosphere. This was the kind of atmosphere you get when you’re welcomed in an arena.

“Well, well.”

It seems I’ve gained the favor of the Elven Guardian Warriors.

It’s because Kim Katz is so exceptional and outstanding that he can’t help but gain people’s favor wherever he goes.

“Hehehe.”

I smiled contentedly, greatly admiring my charm and abilities. Yes. I feel good. It felt like I was on a trip. I could feel this kind of feeling as much as I wanted. It’s a feeling that a hero deserves, and truly a feeling befitting a Heavenly Demon.

Gaining the favor of the elves today will be helpful someday.

As I was thinking that, Harkan disappeared.
The elves in the audience began to rise.

Only Sellathys and I remained in the training grounds.

Should I move too?
Saintel will probably come and tell me if I stay here.

“…If it weren’t for that technique.”
“What?”

Sellathys suddenly spoke.

“Technique?”
“I would have won.”

Her voice was filled with great dissatisfaction… This bitch.

She’s still upset about the match.
The cry of the loser is so sweet.

“Come on now. Accept your defeat cleanly.”

I shook my head with a bright smile.

“Accept it…! You were hit in the head by my kick!”
“That?”

That high kick from earlier.

“It doesn’t even hurt anymore.”

It hurt like hell the moment I was hit, but it doesn’t matter now. That can’t be called a decisive blow. It was just a light touch.

“If that had been a valid hit, would I be standing here conscious?”
“Ugh…!”

Sellathys glared at me as if she was truly frustrated.

“And listen, even if you lost because of the technique, it’s your fault for getting hit by the opponent’s technique. Do you think that kind of excuse will work on the battlefield?”
“It was a hand-to-hand combat match!”
“I’m using my bare hands too, you idiot.”

I immediately struck a pose and showed off my muscles.

Martial arts are used in hand-to-hand combat too, you moron.

“That’s not what I meant!”
“Ugh, you’re so persistent. You’re older than me. Just accept it.”
“Grrr…!”

Her face grew redder as I mentioned her age.

Let’s stop provoking her.

“Hey, hey. Get stronger and come back. I’ll fight you again next time if you get stronger. Okay?”
“You’ll have to live a long time! I won’t forget today’s humiliation!”

Sellathys turned away abruptly.

“Okay.”

The elves came down to the training grounds.

I could see Saintel running over there.

* * *

I left the training grounds with the elves who had come down.

“You’re really amazing, human. To defeat even the Vice-Captain like that.”

Saintel, who was next to me, said in admiration.

“It’s only natural. Sellathys is no match for me.”
“It seems so. It’s a disgrace. It’s not like I lost, but it’s still embarrassing.”
“Hehehe, well, you win some, you lose some when you fight. Don’t be embarrassed.”

Of course, I would win every time if we fought a few more times.

“Hey, Paladin!”
“Saintel. I’d like to ask him a few questions.”
“What was the name of the martial art you learned?”

As I was walking with Saintel, the Guardian Warriors approached me and asked me questions, marveling at me. The awkward atmosphere from the beginning was nowhere to be found.

They were showing me goodwill.

“It’s a martial art called Shillang Kwonbeop.”
“Shillang Kwonbeop!”

I had no intention of telling them about the Heavenly Demon Divine Art, so I gave them the name of Shillang Kwonbeop to their questions.

“That was a very good martial art, human! Honestly, I didn’t think Rajinap would be suppressed like that!”
“We need to properly research human martial arts.”
“Is there anyone out on the border right now? We need to contact them to get some human martial arts books.”

As we were talking, we arrived in front of a large building. I followed the elves inside, and using the remaining time, I showed them the deadly moves of Shillang Kwonbeop according to their requests.

It was then.

“Ah, they said you can take a bath now. The Leader has given permission.”

An elf ran over and said.

“Oh! Good!”
“Is it break time from now on!”

They all shouted in joy.

“Saintel? What’s going on?”
“That’s…”

Then an elf interrupted Saintel.

“Hey, Paladin! It’s bath time now. The Leader told me to introduce you to our Guardian Warriors’ hot spring. Of course, a valued guest deserves to use our hot spring.”
“Hot spring?”

Is there a volcano near the World Tree?

Does that make sense?

“Well, let’s go!”
“It’s break time from now on!”
“He’s a valued guest after all!”
“Well, well, let’s go!”

Soon, all the male elves flocked to me, patted me on the back, and led me somewhere. I ended up getting separated from Saintel because of that. Are these guys planning to take me to that hot spring? Seeing them trying to guide me so happily, I suddenly wondered if I was being guided to some kind of murderous hot spring instead of a hot spring.

“Is it okay for me to use such a good place?”
“It’s the Leader’s order.”
“In that case.”

Well, they’re welcoming me, so I should enjoy it.
It feels like a tourist attraction, which is nice.

And so, I headed to the hot spring with the elves.

* * *

Thick steam obscures the view.

The unique warmth emanating from the steam seemed to melt my heart. Yeah, damn it. If you’re going to come to play, you need something like this.

The hot spring that I entered under the guidance of the elves was better than I had imagined.

This was a hot spring separated by gender, and I took off my clothes in the changing room and entered. This place is quite famous.

It’s supposed to be very good for the mind and body, so I decided to enjoy it properly.

“Lehehe.”

Anyway, I put a towel around my neck and was about to wash my body before entering the hot spring.

“Excuse me.”
“Hmm…?”

I was about to ask the elf right in front of me how to use it.

“Ugh!”

He looked back at me and sat down in surprise.

“What, why?”

What’s wrong with this guy?

“Wh-what is that!!!”

He was greatly shocked.

“What’s wrong!”
“Is there something there!”
“Wait! What’s going on!”

The Guardian Warriors ran over, startled by the noise. They were all elves with sculpted muscles. I knew it. These guys may seem like pushovers, but their level of training is considerable.

“Heok!”
“Eok!”
“H-hey!”

But the other elves who appeared in the steam also gasped when they saw me.

“Huh? What’s wrong?”

What are these guys doing?

“Cover your lower body, human! What is going on!”

Then an elf pointed at my dick and shouted.

“Lower body? Ah.”

Looking around, all the elves were covering their dicks with towels around their hips. Ah, the culture is a little different from Korean bathhouses. I needed to cover my lower body.

“Hehehe, I made a mistake.”

I immediately took off the towel around my neck and wrapped it around my hips.

“Oh. The towel seems too small.”

But damn it, the towel was too small, and my third leg, hanging down, was completely exposed. What kind of maniacal outfit is this? My women would probably like it.

“…In-incredible.”
“How can that be…”
“Hmm…”
“Th-the size…”

Then the elves slowly turned their bodies, reacting in an incomprehensible way.

“Anyway, where can I wash my body?”
“Ah… over there.”
“Thank you.”

I immediately went in the direction I was told, scooped up water with a gourd, washed my body, and then entered a suitable tub.

My body…

Submerged in water.

“…Hoo.”

It’s beyond warm, it feels strangely mysterious. Is this the effect of this miraculous hot spring? I felt like my mind and body were recovering quickly.

“Hehehe, the water quality here is very good.”

It was a tub that made me feel very good.

“That was an amazing martial art, human.”

Anyway, as I was soaking in the tub, the elves nearby all started talking to me.

“Thank you for saying so.”

There’s nothing better than showing off your strength to gain the favor of warriors.

“There was nothing but admiration, human. By the way, Rajinap was soundly defeated.”
“Where is Rajinap?”
“He says he’s not coming out of his room. Lumiere is the same.”
“Haha. That’s understandable. How could they have been defeated so easily?”

They were talking among themselves about why Rajinap had lost.

“Haa… by the way. Paladin. I personally want to see your swordsmanship too. You were so strong with your bare hands, what if you used a sword?”
“Oh! I want to see it too, human! You said you learned a martial art called Shillang Kwonbeop! Then what about swordsmanship!”
“What kind of swordsmanship did you learn?”

My swordsmanship skills.

“Hehehe, I learned a swordsmanship called Shillang Geombeop. I personally boast that it’s at a similar level to the elves’ Elven Swordsmanship.”
“So what is that Elven Swordsmanship…”
“Anyway, an opportunity to show it… that seems a little difficult. It’s hard to show Shillang Geombeop unless it’s in actual combat.”
“I see!”

In that way.

I supported my body and talked with the Guardian Warriors. After talking to them a bit, unlike the impression of being serial killers at first, they were all good-natured people with good personalities. I heard they’re even going to treat me to a meal.

Everything’s good, but when am I going to see the Elven Queen?

* * *

I soaked my body appropriately and came out.

In the changing room, I put on a gown-like outfit that the elves had given me instead of my own clothes, and picked up the box containing my clothes. I just took a bath, so it’s a bit much to put on the clothes I was wearing. Besides, this is inside the World Tree’s sacred area. I could wear the gown to my lodgings.

Anyway, as I came out of the changing room.

“Ah. You’re finally out, human.”

Saintel was waiting.
She was leaning against the wall and called me.

“What is it? Were you waiting for me? Is there something to do?”
“No. It’s not that. I received a request to call you.”
“From who?”

Leader Harkan?

“From my comrades. Follow me.”
“Okay.”

I immediately followed Saintel… but not really.

It was right next door.
This was the entrance to the women’s bath.

What is this?

“Hey, damn it. This is the women’s bath. Are you going to make me go in here? Who wants to see me?”
“It’s a little embarrassing to say this… but the women want to see you.”
“Why are you seeing them in the women’s bath?”
“It’s okay since you’re wearing clothes. You could say it’s a separated gender, this is the only place to talk. Don’t worry.”
“…Really?”

Well then.

I followed Saintel into the women’s bath.

After all, if you go in, it starts with the hallway and the changing room.
It should be okay.