“Marko, now it’s your turn to guard.” Henrik shook his red-haired friend’s body.


    At first, Marko just squirmed in his sleeping bag, but he immediately jumped when Henrik hit him on the head.


    “Hey, I’ve told you so many times not to hit my head when you wake me up!” Marko grunted as he rubbed his head.


    “Hurry up.” Henrik pushed his friend. “I’m so sleepy.”


    Marko scowled, then climbed onto a rock the size of a buffalo, watching hisrades sleeping around the bonfire. The young man raised an eyebrow when he realized Yua’s sleeping bag was empty.


    “I can’t sleep.” Yua’s words triggered Marko to jump again. The kunoichi was already sitting beside him, facing the other way. “So, I will apany you on guard.”


    “Uuh… You startled me.” Marko rubbed his chest.


    Yua found that the man didn’t stare at her cleavage and thighs, even though she had positioned them in such a way to look seductive._.


    “Huh, looks like he’s a dense guy.” Raymund chuckled. He felt this was the right decision. It was better to ask Marko than Henrik, who showed signs of being interested in Yua. Marko also seemed to be a simple man, so Yua could easily extract information from him.


    “By the way, how did you persuade Vilja?” Marko nced at his blue-haired colleague. “When she’s made up her mind, she’s tough to argue with.”


    “I’m just saying that my father was killed by a smander, and I wanted to fight the smander as my revenge.” The kunoichi shrugged.


    “Ah, her parents were also killed by a monster. Maybe she can rte to you.” Marko nodded. “But still, you must have greatmunication skills to be able to persuade her.”


    The two of them then fell silent, looking up at the night sky full of stars.


    “So, as per the theory of Vilja’s teacher, you need seven great magic items from each element, huh? Water, air, earth, nts, and what we will take from the smander: fire. After that, darkness and light.” Yua repeated the briefing she had heard earlier. “I’m sure it must have been a formidable task. You guys really have incredible determination.”


    Mark closed his eyes. “That’s why they called us crazy. We looked for those things without knowing whether the ritual would work or not…. We kept going, even though half of us had died.”


    “You really want the glory of the elves back, don’t you?”


    The red-haired warrior stood up. “My sister’s death could have been prevented. But, the healing methods for her illness only exist in the human world.”


    Yua saw Marko’s hands were clenched so tightly. “I’m sorry to hear that.”


    “I won’t let the others be like my sister.” The man’s breath became heavy.


    “Isn’t it possible to negotiate with the humans?”


    A bitter chuckle escaped Marko’s mouth. “How many times do you think the government has talked to them? In the end, it’s all the same. We’re locked up here and restricted in ess to things. Yesterday you heard Henrik say we all have enough. That’s bullshit! He’s a rich man’s son, so he’s never felt hungry. He doesn’t have to struggle to just live…. Ah, sorry…. I’m just tired of all this.”


    The man massaged his forehead and caught his breath. Yua chose to remain silent.


    ***


    Yua used the torch, leaving the camp with Elise. They told Marko they were going to pee.


    “I’ve called all my contacts on Levidna. Hitomi and Olga don’t know about elves, and Renee hasn’t answered me yet.” Raymund exined. “Maybe because the relocation of the elves happened many years ago, it was forgotten, and the record was hidden. So, people only know of thend covered in mist.”


    “Ah, that makes sense, sir,” Yua replied.


    “The gods I know haven’t answered either.” Raymund sighed. “Anja said there was indeed a big meeting for some gods.”


    “I see.” Yua stopped behind a tree, checking the camp from afar, ensuring that no one saw her and Elise. “But, this is dangerous, sir. If Vilja and her friends manage to carry out the ritual, there will be a war between the elves and the humans. We don’t know how much power the ritual brings. I’m afraid of a big disaster.”


    “I know, Yua.” Raymund sighed again. “We should stop them.”


    “Yes, I agree, sir,” Yua answered. “We have to stop the ritual.”


    “Actually, who are you talking to?” Kimi walked over to the servants out of nowhere. “Is that the god you mentioned?”


    “Sorry, Kimi.” Yua’s tone turned cold. “I can’t help them continue this mission…”


    Yua stopped her speech as Kimi started ying her lute. The resulting melody is different from yesterday, faster and tighter. The instrument’s tip then emitted two bracelet-shaped lights, which moved swiftly and wrapped around the two women’s wrists, then vanished.


    “What?” Elise checked her now warm wrist. She and the kunoichi didn’t have time to dodge. The movement of the bracelets cannot be followed by the eye.


    “What did you just do?” Yua red at Kimi.


    “You guys will still help with their mission unless I say otherwise,” Kimi exined in a colder tone. “Or you will die.”


    “It turns out you’re not on our side, huh?” Yua let out a bitterugh. “I should have known.”


    “Shit.” Raymund cursed. His UI screen shows that the two servants will really die if they don’t follow Kimi’s words.


    “And to whoever spoke to Elise and Yua.” Kimi looked up. “Don’t talk nonsense even though you know something. If they had known more, this mission wouldn’t be sessful. Do you know what that means? Again, they will die.”


    “Sir Raymund has a message for you.” Yua’s manner of speaking grew fiercer. “How does he know what to say or not? How about helping us with a winning strategy?”


    Kimi was silent for a moment. “Isn’t he a god? Why…. Ah, it doesn’t matter. Tell your master. He can only guide you when you fight. And remember, I may not be able to hear your master, but I can tell if you two get new information. I can read your lips and see your expressions.”


    “One more question.” Yua took a step forward. “Why don’t you help your friends? Why did you choose to leave instead?”


    “That’s none of your business.”


    “I hate this bitch.” Raymund gritted.