⑭ 'My Gift "Additional Bonus," Which Was Treated as the Weakest, Was Actually the Strongest Skill That Could Obtain Allies, Weapons, and Rewards' - Chapter 15

Recap of the previous chapter

Having passed the guild exam, Asura and his party have officially become the "Dawn's Covenant."
The days of being mocked as the weakest are a distant past. Now, a new journey walking alongside his allies is about to begin.
What was entrusted to them by Guild Master Dolgan was a mission of reconciliation to the land of the elves.

~Chapter 15~ Crossing the Forest to the Land of the Elves

The tension drifting through the reception room grew heavier with every word exchanged.
Dolgan placed a scroll stamped with the kingdom's seal on the desk and spoke quietly.
"The kingdom desires reconciliation with the elves. However... several adventurers have been ambushed at the border, leaving behind nothing but traces of blood. All suspicion is directed at the elves, but the truth remains in the dark."

"That means... it could lead to war," Milia's voice trembled.

Dolgan nodded deeply.
"That is precisely why I am entrusting this to those I can trust. To you, Asura, and the 'Dawn's Covenant.'"

Something hot welled up deep in his chest.
Asura looked at his allies and answered quietly.
"We will definitely deliver this document. To prove... our dawn."

The Road to the Forest

The next morning, they left the city.
The great forest, spreading out like a sea of green, blocked the sunlight, leaving it dim even during the day. The humid air felt heavy, and the cries of beasts echoed from somewhere.

Zeke spoke from the shadows, "...I feel a gaze. It's been there for a long time."
Fenrir growled low, and Ifrit's flames flickered.
"Just as the rumors said..." Cain reached for his sword.
Asura clenched his fist and hugged the scroll to his chest.
"From here on, this will be a journey to ascertain someone's intentions. ...Don't let your guard down."

The Ambush

Half a day into the forest, an arrow suddenly flew.
It grazed Asura's cheek and pierced a tree behind him.

"Ugh... everyone, get down!"
Men in black attire appeared from the shadows of the trees. They wore adventurer-style gear, but their eyes were stained with madness.
"Human... no, Humes' errand boys! Die here!"

Ordo deflected the arrows with his shield, and Sophia immediately fired arrows of light.
Cain and Zeke dashed through the shadows, and Leon's words slowed the enemies' movements.
After a short, fierce battle, the enemies fell. However, what was engraved on their equipment was—the kingdom's crest.

"This is... the work of humans against humans?" Milia turned pale.
"...Someone is intentionally framing the elves," Asura gritted his teeth.

Encounter with a Peerless Beauty

Pushing aside the unsettling atmosphere, they ventured deeper into the forest.
Before long, a tense voice rang out from between the trees.
"If you take one more step, your lives are forfeit."

In an instant, over a dozen arrows were pointed at them from the branches above.
At the center of it all—was she.

Her golden hair, as if woven from moonlight, swayed in the wind, and her long ears held a translucent glow.
Her skin was as smooth as porcelain. Her ice-cold blue eyes pierced through Asura and his party, stealing even their breath.
Clad in light green armor and holding a long silver bow, she looked like a spirit of the forest itself.

"Human adventurers... why do you step foot into our sanctuary?"
Her voice was cold, yet it contained a deep, underlying sorrow.

All of his allies gasped.
A being draped in both beauty and intimidation—the elf archer, Selene.

Asura steadied his trembling knees and stepped forward.
"We didn't come to fight. We came... for reconciliation. To deliver this document to the land of the elves."

Selene's blue eyes wavered slightly. But she did not lower her arrow.
"Reconciliation...? You likely do not know how empty those words are when spoken by humans."

Tension ran through the forest.
Would an arrow be fired, or would the words reach her—Asura and his party stood at the crossroads of fate.

Afterword (Chapter 15)

The diplomatic mission entrusted to the "Dawn's Covenant" was no mere escort.
A conspiracy between humans, and an encounter with the peerless elf beauty, Selene.
Pressed against the cold arrowheads were their hearts of faith and their will for reconciliation.
In the next chapter, how will Asura's words and his "Additional Bonus" resonate in her heart—?

To our readers

Thank you for reading this far!
How did you feel about the meeting with Selene?
"What kind of trials do you think are necessary before she becomes an ally?" Please let me know in the comments section! ✨