Vaun(???) stood and slowly unfastened the small silver buttons on her tunic, then popped it open, revealing layers of cotton wrapping her chest. "You see, elves and women are extremely despised by humans for some reason."
'A history of wars will do that...'
"Then why did you act like a man all this time? I would have accepted anything!"
"I've been playing this role for almost half my life now; is it not obvious I would become comfortable with this identity?"
"I see." Luka nodded, taking a glimpse of the fair skin peeking from beneath the wrapping, a little smaller than Luvia, but larger than Iris. 'The poor Dwarf losing to an elf might be the biggest tragedy known to man.'
Dwarven women were known for their height and disproportionately huge assets, after all.
"Why show me now?"
"From the moment your change began, I have been watching and observing you. Though I am not sure if you are the Luka de Babylon I knew in passing a month ago."
The beautiful elf with faint dark hair took a deep breath, kneeling.
"However, the Luka de Babylon standing before me is the one we desperately yearned for and need. Thus, I wish to follow you with all my existence—that's not even mentioning this power you've granted me!"
Luka took a glance at Vaun's Destiny panel and raised his brows.
'Ah...'
[Lucifer Record]
Name: Vaun (??????)
Title: Devotee (New!)
Age: 62
Race: Half-Elf (Human, Elf)
Rating: Gold --> Platinum
Level: 2
Class: Elven Ranger
Talent: Elven Accuracy, Natural guide, Increased Vigour, Feminine Guile
Skill: Bow Mastery (Level 8), Longbow Mastery (Level 9), Hunting (Level 8), Herbalism, NaturalCharm (Level 5), Leadership (Level 5), Transformation (Level 4)
[Combat Attributes]
Strength: 10 --> 12
Endurance: 15 --> 16
Dexterity: 14 --> 16
Agility: 16 --> 18
Willpower: 11 --> 13
[Extra Attributes]
Loyalty: 100 --> 105
Affection: 92 --> 93
Corruption: 10 --> 15
Charm: 23 --> 29
___
"Well, I am not sure how to treat you."
Luka scanned her body once again before shaking his head.
"If I manage to earn your complete dedication and belief, tell me your true name on that day. For now, I will treat you the same as before, Vaun."
"Yes, Sire!"
Excited, the elf hopped up and down, shaking her bandages free.
Though he caught a glimpse of her pale pink buds, Luka turned away and headed back to Reina, petting her neck. He wasn't an irredeemable pervert and remained calm despite seeing her nipples.
'Though she's pretty, I need an archer captain, not another elven consort.'
Babylon came first.
"Argh?! Cursed dark being, release me!" Vaun's feminine voice rang as she swatted the air.
Luka saw the familiar outline behind her. A certain dark elf was now touching and cupping Vaun's chest while using her newly acquired Prowl skill.
He immediately shouted.
"Cut it out, the usage of skills takes a huge toll on the body, Luvia!"
"Ack?!"
Luka weaved the Apostle skill into his shout.
He didn't know the extent of the punishment Luvia would receive, or what might happen. But she seemed fine after convulsing on the spot and dropping to her knees.
Of course, no longer hidden.
"Alright, stop fooling around and come with me. Vaun, please remember the forest paths and keep an eye on Brea. If she's in danger, support her from a long distance for me."
"Y-Yes, Sire!"
The elf seemed overjoyed to be hunting, her silver eyes glinting as she skipped into the forest, hardly resembling the gruff old man he'd known.
Meanwhile, Luvia scoffed and complained beside him, drawing figures in the mud with the tip of her dagger.
"D-damn perverted human... and his pet racist ass high elf... I won't lose..."
Luka squatted beside her, folding his mantle over her shoulders, "What won't you lose?"
She seemed a little invested in her drawing and didn't react to his approach; instead, she drew what appeared to be Galatea, Vaun, and him from the shapes.
Of course, in the stick picture, he was on his hands and knees wearing a leash, and the short woman behind him held it.
"Against that perverted handsome bastard—Ah?!"
"Oho, am I handsome?"
"Humph, shut up when you know the truth. Let's go kill some goblins, I'm tired of being forced to submit to you!"
'Even if we hunt goblins, it won't change your current role.'
But he just harmlessly smiled back at her and pretended to agree.
...
The large wolf crept along the forest floor, sniffing the air as Luka chose to traverse the dangerous south-western path.
Thanks to the lovely minions working hard in the northwest, he no longer needed to hunt as many goblins. So he planned to find the source of the whirring mass of Miasma corrupting the forest.
To do this with the best efficiency, he held his right arm before the wolf's nostrils.
Then clenched his abdomen and stirred his Miasma.
Once the dark magenta glow spread from his pores, the wolf sniffed twice, rubbing her snout against his gauntlet affectionately.
"Can you sense it, Reina?"
She peered down at him with two golden slits.
"Wuu!"
Then rushed ahead with her tail swishing from side to side like a common hunting dog.
"H-hey, how did you do that?"
Luvia's question came from behind him.
"The forest is strange because of this, Miasma, surely you know about this kind of thing as an Elf, even if your kind live underground like moles."
"W-Who is a mole?! Our tribe lives above ground!"
"Yeah, yeah, then you know even more so. It's because of an object, or creature, leaking an abundant amount of Miasma that's causing the trees to wilt like this."
He tapped a random mossy tree trunk leaning to the side, and it split, revealing a bubbling mass of putrid pus instead of the sweet sap.
"Ugh, it stinks! Why'd you do that?!"
"To show you."
Luka shook his head and continued following Reina.
He couldn't help but lose faith in the dark elf who almost took his life when he first met her.
'Did meeting me change her, or was this her true nature...'
Countless questions loomed inside his mind, but he forced them back to the depths and focused on the winding path. Soon, the mud became sticky and loose as they approached a small river flowing westward, away from Amol Village.
"W-What's wrong with this water?" Luvia squatted with her thighs spread, poking the slushy, multi-coloured water with a stick.
"Careful, don't let it touch your skin or drink any."
Luka frowned, his eyes scanning the entire forest before shaking his head.
"This isn't good! The Miasma is strong enough to decimate the fertile lands of Babylon. But how, or who would do such a thing?!"
Though a subtle guess lingered in the back of his mind.
He truly wished it was just his imagination.
"Luvia, let's go. We must hurry to the centre of the forest and deal with the source, otherwise everything will become pointless!"
Because if it were true—
He rushed along the river, grabbing Luvia's hand tight as she struggled.
"W-Wait... slower... I'm still naked! It's going to splash all over me!"
However, he remained silent, brooding and dashing along the river with Reina's large body leading him like a giant beacon.
Even a monster like Reina avoided the water as if terrified.
Then it meant his brothers were against him from the very beginning.