Chapter 63: Something That Isn't Human
Had his identity as a demon been exposed?
Impossible.
Elias's mind remained perfectly clear as he calmly observed Yug, already reaching his own conclusion.
As Vice Commander of the Allied Forces, Yug's battlefield instincts were naturally far beyond those of ordinary men.
But when it came to magical cultivation—
like many soldiers, he was the archetype of someone who despised suppressing his mana.
From what Elias could tell, the sheer volume of mana openly radiating from Yug was nowhere near enough to pierce his disguise.
So this wasn't detection.
It was a test.
A probe born from years of facing demonkind on the battlefield.
How frighteningly sharp…
And then there were the soldiers.
Within a fifty-meter radius, troops lay hidden in every shadow, coiled and ready to strike.
Had Elias shown even the slightest crack in composure just now, blood would already be soaking this alley.
"Heh… General Yug," Elias chuckled, breaking the silence,
"you came looking for me this late at night just to tell a joke?"
"Something that isn't human—what exactly do you mean?"
"Plants? Beasts? Birds?"
"Or perhaps something else…?"
"—Demons."
Yug spoke the word plainly, his expression severe, his tone cold and unmistakable.
When Elias showed no reaction whatsoever, Yug continued:
"After the all-out war began, the Allied Forces recruited powerful individuals across every region and recorded them."
"Human elites usually have names, lineages, reputations—often famous ones."
"But occasionally…"
"We encounter people like you.
Strong, yet with no traceable origin."
At this point, Elias already understood where the conversation was going and replied without hesitation:
"—Elves."
Yug's eyes flickered in surprise.
He couldn't help but marvel at Elias's quick reasoning.
"That's right. Elves."
"Elves live far too long. Even if they achieved great deeds in the past, time eventually erases them from memory."
"When centuries pass and they reappear before the world as powerful figures…"
"Situations like this arise."
At this point, Yug deliberately lowered his voice.
A cold glint flashed through his seasoned eyes.
"And yet, Elias…"
"I see no long ears on you."
Elias laughed.
Not an elf—therefore a demon.
Yug's conclusion sounded absurd at first glance, yet it followed a disturbingly coherent logic.
Elias couldn't help but think—
A thousand years ago, perhaps he should have chosen to disguise himself as an elf instead of an ordinary human.
No, that wouldn't do.
If he'd done that, Serie would have spent centuries—no, millennia—mocking him without end.
The instant that infuriating face of hers surfaced in his mind, inspiration struck.
…Perhaps he could borrow the old dwarf after all.
Under Yug's dark, scrutinizing gaze, Elias spoke calmly:
"—General Yug, I, Elias, am not an unknown nobody."
"Eight years ago, I participated in the three trials of the Holy Staff Examination."
"It's just that I kept too low a profile back then, so hardly anyone remembers me."
"—The Staff Examination?!"
Yug's expression visibly wavered. Clearly, he hadn't expected this turn.
"So you passed all three trials… and stood before Serie herself?!"
"—That's right."
Elias replied evenly.
"Unfortunately, I was still deemed unqualified in the end and failed to become a Grand Mage."
Yug took a slow, deep breath.
Given the deceptive nature often attributed to demonkind, he knew he couldn't let the matter rest without pressing further.
"With your level of strength… you were judged unqualified?"
"—Whether one qualifies has nothing to do with strength," Elias said flatly.
"Isn't it all just one sentence from Serie?"
"And why were you deemed unqualified?"
"—I don't remember clearly. Probably because I was too handsome, and Serie couldn't have me."
Yug frowned deeply, forced into thought.
Too handsome…
Serie couldn't have him…
So he was disqualified?
The reason sounded absurd—but when applied to that golden-haired elf, it somehow didn't feel out of place.
After all, eight years ago, Yug's own daughter had been declared unqualified simply because she dared not meet Serie's gaze.
If that was the case, then at the very least…
The man before him—Elias—had indeed met Serie, the being closest to an omniscient goddess.
And for someone who harbored an absolute hatred of demonkind, Serie would never have allowed a demon to live past that encounter.
If Elias were a demon, he would have been erased eight years ago—without question.
"Sir Elias, I owe you an apology. Tonight, it seems I misunderstood you."
The moment Yug said this, Elias immediately sensed it—
The soldiers lying in ambush all around them withdrew at top speed.
So… he'd passed the test.
Still, Elias felt it necessary to clarify one thing.
"General Yug, you're unusually vigilant toward outsiders. Has something happened within the military?"
Yug nodded approvingly.
"Elias, not only is your magic formidable—your instincts are also exceptionally sharp."
"Since you've now obtained the qualification to serve as Lady Leiya's personal guard, you can be considered one of our own."
"So there's no harm in telling you."
"I suspect that recently, the demons have begun to stir… and may have even infiltrated the Allied Forces."
"—Is that so?!"
Elias put on a look of righteous outrage.
"What audacity those demons have!"
After all, he himself was a demon who had infiltrated the Allied Forces—some acting was necessary.
"But General Yug, do you have any evidence of demons infiltrating the military?"
"—Not yet."
Yug let out a soft sigh.
"It's only a feeling born of wartime experience and a soldier's intuition."
"Ever since the front lines entered a stalemate, something about the Holy City has felt… off."
Elias listened silently.
So it wasn't just Serie.
Even the vice commander of the military had sensed the undercurrent.
This wasn't a coincidence.
Beneath the Holy City's surface calm, something was clearly stirring.
At that moment, Yug stepped forward and lightly patted Elias on the shoulder.
"In five days, General Theodore will host the Full Moon Ball. That will be your formal investiture ceremony."
"From that moment onward, the most important duty of your life will be to safeguard Lady Leiya."
"And one more thing—Lady Leiya is frail and often ill. You must remain constantly vigilant and prevent any enemy from approaching her."
"—Understood."
On the way back to the Restaurant, Elias mulled over Yug's words.
It seemed this assignment was far more complicated—and dangerous—than he'd anticipated.
If it weren't for Arisols, he never would have agreed to that old dwarf's scheme.
Right about now, that scheming shorty was probably lying in bed, laughing to herself.
"Flamme, Frieren, Julie—we should head back to the the Wolfwood inn."
All three women were sprawled across the table in perfect unison:
«(´✘✘)»(´✘_✘)(´✘✘`)
Elias: (ᇂ_ᇂ|||)
…Wait.
The other two, fine.
But why Frieren too?
He reached out and lifted Frieren up—only to be hit straight in the face by a hic.
…Alcohol.
"Frieren, didn't you say you were drinking pineapple soda?"
Frieren: «(´✘⩊✘`)»
"I mixed it up…"
"It wasn't pineapple soda…"
"It was pineapple-flavored alcohol~"
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