Reincarnated Elf Chapter 39

 Reincarnated Elf (108), translating the Demon Tribe language

About six months have passed since we left Quarta Village.

On our way to Lastesia, we encountered several villages that had been completely destroyed.

In one corner of such a village, Minoru brushed off a sign covered in ash and dust.

"It seems to say 'Rodd Village'. There are traces of conflict with demonic beasts."

"Even if we trace the magical power in this area back half a year, there are no remnants of magical use. It's reasonable to assume it was unilaterally ravaged."

"Y-you can understand even that!?"

"In the Demon Tribe's magical books, there were explanations on how to read traces of magical power. Our understanding is fundamentally different from those who activate mysterious powers only when using magic."

"S-so, you can now read magical books in the Demon Tribe's language?"

"Somehow, the magical books circulating in the human realm are ultimately derived from those in the Demon Tribe's territory. The structure of the language seems somewhat similar."

Magical books started circulating about 700 years ago, around the time when the hero defeated the Demon King.

If I recall correctly, the oldest magical book that Garius brought back during the era of 'Yggdrasil, the ancient tree' was quite similar in style to this. It was the prototype of the oldest magical book that depicted the battle between the hero and the Demon King – 'The Heroic Tale of the Magic Misfit.'"

"But the magical books in the Demon Tribe's territory are interesting, different from those in the human realm. It looks like the range of dark attribute magic is about to expand all at once."

In the magical books circulating in our human realm, the main content focuses on ways to use existing attribute magic based on their characteristics and methods to output magical power. However, the magical books existing in the Demon Tribe's territory seem to have a different perspective on magical power.

They cover the use of dark attribute magic, the control of magical power flowing through the body, and even the use of magic from non-attributed sources.

Living in places ecologically similar to miasma and evolving alongside magical power, magical power for the Demon Tribe, who have made such an environment their home, seems to be a force immediately adjacent to their daily lives, more so than for us.

...As for points of concern, the magical books in this area lack any records of the traces of the hero and the Demon King's battle that happened 700 years ago. I'm curious about how that battle is depicted from the perspective of the Demon Tribe's territory.

Entering the village, a cute little cough can be heard.

"Please take up to three days."

Turning around, I see Minoru, who pouts with slightly puffed cheeks. She's preparing a makeshift tent using magical tools brought from the human realm.

"I've been watching you, Sir Reese. You've been deciphering the magical books here day and night. Are you planning to search for new magical books here as well?"

"...I'll definitely finish in three days."

I recently got scolded by Minoru for being too engrossed in searching for magical books, spending nearly a week immersed in them in a ruined village. I've also been feeling that my sense of time is gradually drifting away from that of humans. I'm truly grateful to Minoru for keeping up with me at this pace.

●●●

And so, the third day with Minoru, as promised, arrived quickly.

The archives of Gurgea Village contained many magical books. However, in front of the stacked books in one of the archive rooms, I sighed.

"No mention of the Demon King and the hero anywhere..."

In the end, no matter which book I checked, there was no description of the battle between the hero and the Demon King. What I found was only phrases stating that when the absolute ruler, the Demon King, reigns in this world, it would be the time for the Demon Tribe to dominate the world.

Perhaps, the fact that the Demon King lost to the hero has not been passed down, and in the Demon Tribe's territory, it might still be considered that the Demon King has not resurrected.

Come to think of it, Grandma Quarta had also mentioned it.

"No matter how much I waited, the Demon King never appeared. I've lost my fighting power, and when it comes to using magical power, I can only set traps to ward off demonic beasts."

Her lonely smile revealed words that had come forth from a heart that had been eagerly awaiting the Demon King's resurrection for nearly 200 years. Concealing the defeat to the hero within their own kind for 700 years, she scattered as many magical books as possible to the residents of her territory, encouraging each of them to gain strength before the Demon King's resurrection. In the end, they even sent assassins to the human realm in anticipation of the hero's appearance.

If that's the case, winning against the Demon Tribe, who have wielded magical power since birth, with the magic learned haphazardly by the human side, would become quite challenging.

During these 700 years, the Demon Tribe must have made meticulous preparations for the Demon King's resurrection.

If Jin, with the factor of the "hero," were to eliminate the Demon Tribe members attempting to be used as pawns, it would be easy. But...

"…It wouldn't feel right to live if even innocent people were to die."

I spoke my mind to Grandma Quarta.

I believed that her sons would surely come back. As for Jin, I wanted him to defeat the Demon Kings, but it didn't mean I wished for the slaughter of even kind-hearted members of the Demon Tribe. There might still be plenty to do in the Demon Tribe's territory.

Although the solution didn't come to mind, I looked up at the purple sky, and that's when it happened.

"…?"

Suddenly, I sensed a group of magical powers approaching from a distance.

They were easily over a hundred in number, a formidable group with powerful magical auras.

"Sir Reese, I've set up an invisible barrier around the makeshift tent. Please hurry. However, this ominous chill—?"

After hastily storing all the books on the floor into the archive, Minoru, who likely sensed the presence a bit later, jumped into the archive.

"Oh, probably demons. Moreover, individuals with powers close to the Demon Kings."

It was the first time I felt such a presence since coming to the Demon Tribe's territory.

It was as if the magical power they possessed was similar to the one the demon, who had once rendered Grillet unconscious, had.

Previous Chapter    ToC    Next Chapter