## Chapter 903 – Otherworld Dungeon

“Alright, then let’s hear your excuses. Human. Why did this happen, and why didn’t you send an envoy to us?”

The emboldened elf curled the middle and index fingers of both hands like the pincers of an Anomalocaris, then held them to his temples and twirled them around as he spoke.

—Whirr.

At the same time, he stretched his neck far forward like someone with an extreme case of turtle neck, hunched his back as if imitating a hunchback, and made a pathetic figure of himself.

And damn it, his eyes were spinning wildly as if mocking someone. To put it in perspective, it felt like he was rolling his eyes like a chameleon spotting a fly. I don’t know what kind of crazy gesture that was, but it was clear he was trying to insult the knight.

“It would be most regrettable if you were to say you had no obligation to send one. In that case, we too would forget our `obligations` regarding everything that happens at the border.”

That, that son of a bitch, he’s right, but he’s saying it in such a goddamn awful way. Just as I’ve heard, elves are all inhuman psychopath serial killers.

“Why didn’t you send an envoy? Did you think we would shoot arrows? Did you think we were a barbaric race that would shoot arrows at an envoy, human? Why don’t you answer?”
“Uh… that’s…”

It was a clear attitude of mockery, but the knight scratched the back of his head and stepped back, as if he had nothing to say.

He’s clearly not a commander-level figure.

What’s the point of talking about envoys and such to a regular knight?
The higher-ups are the ones who decide that.

But the knight seemed to think that this was a valid reason for the border intrusion. Well… it’s annoying to argue about, but he’s right.

I’m not an expert on the relationship between the kingdom and the elves, but if this palace had appeared in elven territory, and a monster that creates mutants had appeared inside, the elves would naturally have had to send an envoy to our side.

“Sending an envoy is a matter to be decided by those above.”

At that moment, the commander of the royal army, who had been talking to the knights behind him, stepped forward.

“And it hasn’t even been a few days since we received that information. The exact truth of the matter hasn’t even been ascertained yet. We are currently discussing it internally, and our royal army has strengthened the defenses around that palace to fulfill our responsibilities. We have taken measures to prevent the monsters from escaping. If orders come down from above, we would naturally have sent an envoy.”

The commander said so in a calm tone.

“This place is very far from your capital. Shouldn’t the commanders on the ground have sent an envoy first, before waiting for orders from above? More than that, even if it wasn’t an official envoy, you could have warned us about the danger. Humans are too barbaric in their work. That’s like searching for the chickens after they’ve all been let loose.”
“Wh-what? Barbaric…!!!”

The commander, who had seemed calm, flushed at the word “barbaric.”

If I keep letting that son of a bitch talk, he’s definitely going to cross the line.

I understand that the elf is dissatisfied with the lack of an envoy, but publicly insulting them like that is a huge problem, even if it’s not a political issue.

If this goes on, a fight might break out.

That would be troublesome, so let’s go and stop them.

“I’m going to go and stop that for a second.”
“What? Is there really a need? Just leave them alone. They’ll sort it out themselves.”

Karin tilted her head, but if something goes wrong because of this and it hinders the extermination of the otherworld monsters, there will eventually be damage.

“I’m just going to mediate. I was the one who reported the information, after all.”
“…If you say so.”

I immediately pushed through the crowd and approached them.

“Now, now. Calm down a little.”

—Tsupat!

Instantly, three elven warriors looked at me and reached for their waists.

“…Who are you?”
“Stop.”
“Identify yourself, nomad.”

Are these bastards trying to draw their swords just because my hair is black? I raised my hands to show that I had no intention of attacking, nodding as I replied.

“I am a paladin directly under the Saintess of the Brass Holy Order, serving the god Verde, and the first person to report this incident. I directly witnessed the monsters creating mutants.”
“…I see.”

—Cheoeok.

When the long-haired elf raised his hand, all the other elves took their hands off their waists.

“I think it would be good to calm down a little. I’m not involved in the chain of command or envoys or anything like that, but as a religious person who serves a god, I would like to advise you that such an attitude is not very wise.”
“Advice…? You speak amusingly, human.”
“It will be more amusing if you listen. I think it would be better to have a rational conversation before provoking the anger of the humans.”

I looked around at the elves and continued.

“If you keep calling them barbaric, no amount of conversation will work.”

These bastards all look like they were born with the destiny of serial killers. Apart from being handsome, that kind of aura is pervasive. More than anything, their developed arm muscles and the bulging muscles hidden beneath their leather armor proved it.

The energy I felt was unusual.

These bastards were undoubtedly skilled.
Are they stronger than me?

“Isn’t that right?”

After saying that, I turned around to ask for agreement.

—Nod nod.

The royal knights and the royal army commander, who received my gaze, nodded as if to say that I was right.

“You said rational conversation?”

Soon, the elf replied.

“We initially tried to have a rational conversation. Of course. Because conversation is a basic skill for normal intelligent beings. But when we tried to have such a conversation, the barbaric humans, not knowing their place, only clung to the border intrusion. So there was no other way, was there? We have been very patient.”

That elf is really annoying to the end.

“…I understand, so please stop with the aggressive language. It’s not a good attitude if you want to have a conversation again, even now. I’m not saying this because I have any special qualifications, but just as the first discoverer and reporter, I’m giving you some advice.”

Anyway, let’s convey that meaning.

“The paladin is right.”

A knight I hadn’t seen before approached from behind, rattling his armor. Judging by the decorations on his armor, he must be a knight of high rank.

“And you are?”
“I am Oslaiden Strovebringer, Knight General of the Royal Knights.”

He answered my question.

He was a friendly-looking man in his mid-30s with light green hair. Knight General is the equivalent of a regimental commander. Just below Master Knight.

“I think it is only natural that the elves are angry about not sending an envoy. But our knights can also be angry enough about the border intrusion. In other words, both sides are angry, so as the paladin said, I think it would be good to calm down for now.”

He began to mediate the situation.

“Those who wield weapons tend to have strong pride. If a pointless dispute arises, both sides will be exhausted.”
“Hmm, that’s right. That’s true. But are you the highest-ranking human here?”

The elf, who nodded, didn’t seem to understand what he was saying and pointed his finger while saying “you.”

“We each belong to different organizations, so I can’t say I’m the highest-ranking, but the most powerful military group in the kingdom has entrusted this incident to me.”

The Knight General didn’t seem to care much about that.

Is he very patient?
Or is he simply experienced?

“Alright, then we can talk. Good. Then let’s have a conversation again, as that human who serves a god said.”

Anyway, the elf, who pointed at me once, said.

“The elves of our Eastern Forest are also keenly aware of the summoning of that otherworld fortress. Since it was summoned in human territory, we are leaving it alone according to the treaty, but we can’t just stand by if we get information that it is also a threat to our forest. The reason for the border intrusion is precisely this. More than anything, if such information arose, you should have sent an envoy to us according to the treaty.”

Listening to the story, it seemed that they should have sent an envoy according to the treaty. But it seemed that they hadn’t sent one because it hadn’t been many days yet and they were waiting for orders from above.

Maybe if they had waited a little longer, they would have sent one on their own, but it seemed that the elf had hastily intruded on the border.

“I understand. But what is your name…”
“I am Glünafr Ohaiden Marsgutter Kesein Tug di Quienard Vaiveiron of the Forest Murderers, belonging to the Forest Keeper Division under the Eastern Forest.”

What the hell is that name.

“Do you think it’s long? Well, humans have short names. Anyway, there’s not really any reason to call our names, human. So don’t worry.”
“…”
“Anyway, back to the story, since such a thing has happened, we will also send troops to explore that fortress.”
“…Send troops?”

The Knight General frowned.

“Our elves are not completely ignorant of the otherworld. Do you humans really think you can exterminate all the monsters that are swarming like maggots inside that huge fortress and prevent them from escaping?”

A sharp point.

“If you believe that and a problem arises that damages the forest without acknowledging our troop intervention, the compensation will naturally have to be paid by you humans.”
“…”

The Knight General was silent at those words.

“But if you acknowledge our troop intervention, even if an unforeseen accident occurs and the forest is damaged, the responsibility will not fall on the humans. This is the will of our Eastern Forest. I came as its representative.”
“…”

If you take away the fact that this bastard’s tone is awful, he’s saying the right things, so I didn’t seem to have anything to say.

But doesn’t this mean that the elves are officially sending troops? It is a very sensitive matter for a foreign army to enter one’s own land and conduct military operations.

It’s natural that the Knight General is silent.
It’s not something he can decide.

“Human. Answer. Humans always close their mouths when they’re at a disadvantage.”
“…It seems like we need to discuss that. It’s something that requires instructions from above.”
“The situation is right in front of us, how long are you going to wait for that? Does your human army not have any discretion?”
“It’s not a matter of discretion… what if a similar incident happened in elven territory and our human army said they would go in and conduct military operations there.”

As the General spoke.

“If the matter is important, we will allow it.”

The elf answered immediately.

“Because we have such a treaty. Well, of course it would be unpleasant. But what can we do? We can’t let the beings of the otherworld ravage this land.”

This bastard is talking so shamelessly as if it’s not happening right now.

“Hehehe, human. Are you afraid of our elven troops? There’s no need to be afraid. Unless you’re slave hunters or something.”
“Do you need time? Then say it exactly.”

The other elves behind him snickered and muttered.

“We’re not going anywhere else, we’re just going to move with the goal of guarding this area, exploring the fortress, and exterminating the monsters. Unlike humans, our elves do not lie.”

The long-haired elf spoke as if he were grilling the General.

“Do you think we’ll steal some otherworld artifact or something? Oh, dear. Humans are so greedy. Alright. If we find an artifact, we’ll share half of it.”
“…”

Continued silence.

Damn it, this is not going anywhere.

The elves are being unreasonable. How can you make a decision to station troops in a foreign country in a day or two? It’s ridiculous, but I’m not a royal official.

It’s not my place to say anything.

“Katt. It looks like this is going to be a long story, I think it would be better to go to the palace in the meantime.”

At that moment, Claudia pushed through the crowd and approached me.

“Yeah, it looks like it. Let’s just go in. This is not going to be resolved.”

Claudia is right.
It would be better to just explore the palace now.

“What…?”

Instantly, the elves’ gazes turned to us.

“…There’s a half-elf.”
“And she’s a dark elf hybrid.”

What?

“In this world, good heavens. God of the Eastern Forest.”
“And the great World Tree.”
“A half-elf.”
“And a dark elf hybrid.”
“I can’t believe it.”
“How can this be?”
“Amazing.”
“A hybrid with a human.”
“A dark elf.”

Then, they widened their eyes and started muttering those kinds of words while looking at Claudia.

…These bastards?