Surviving as a Barbarian in a Fantasy World

Chapter 115 – High Elf (2)

‘I’m not sure.’

Various thoughts crossed his mind, but ultimately, it was something he couldn’t understand at the moment.

Arkamis’s curiosity about Ketal was somewhat satisfied.

Next, it was Ketal’s turn.

“Then it’s my turn to ask questions now.”

“Well… yeah.”

Arkamis, after a moment of hesitation, spoke with a determined expression.

“I am a High Elf.”

Ketal nodded.

She was not an ordinary elf.

She was a High Elf.

“As I mentioned before, I am a special existence.”

Arkamis suddenly stopped talking.

High Elves were indeed special.

They stayed only within the sacred land of the elves, Elfo Sagrado, and did not venture outside.

Except for Arkamis, the last recorded appearance of a High Elf was 200 years ago.

They appeared even less frequently than demons.

However, the barbarian of the White Snowfield was even more special.

A being from legends, one who had never shown themselves.

Talking about being special in front of Ketal felt somewhat strange.

Arkamis shook her head.

“Just like you, I didn’t hide it on purpose. I was afraid you would be repulsed by it.”

“Is there any reason to be repulsed by that?”

Ketal couldn’t understand.

The existence of a High Elf did not seem repulsive at all.

“I told you. I’m a special existence.”

Arkamis sighed softly and said.

“Ketal. What do you think an elf is?”

“A very long-lived being of nature.”

“Right. Elves are beings close to nature. They are much more nature-friendly than humans, and thus can handle spirits. But the basic characteristics of the race share commonalities with humans.”

They maintain body temperature, are born from their mother’s womb, and receive nutrition through milk.

In those aspects, elves and humans were the same.

Ketal nodded.

“I understand.”

‘You mean they share characteristics of mammals.’

But High Elves were different.

Arkamis spoke.

“I am an entirely different being from you all. I was not born from my mother’s womb.”

“Oh?”

Ketal’s eyes widened.

Arkamis bit her lip as if afraid of his reaction, but continued speaking.

“High Elves are born through the World Tree. There is no concept of growth. They maintain their birth appearance until death.”

Though they are called elves, strictly speaking, they were a different race.

Elves had a sense of reverence and distance towards High Elves.

Hence, Arkamis was afraid Ketal might feel repulsed by her.

She looked at Ketal with anxious eyes.

“I see.”

Ketal’s eyes sparkled with interest.

“So, does that mean you don’t need any nutrition at all?”

“Huh? Oh, no. That’s not it. Water and sunlight are necessary.”

“In other words, nothing else is needed. So, eating my cooking was a matter of personal preference.”

“That, that’s right?”

“Why do you take on the form of an elf?”

“I, I don’t know about that….”

“Is it the opposite of cause and effect? Could elves be an imitation of you?”

Ketal murmured with a delighted expression.

Arkamis was bewildered by Ketal’s attitude.

‘W-What?’

If he had felt repulsed, she would understand.

If he accepted her, she would be grateful and understand as well.

But it was neither.

He seemed to be fascinated by the High Elf race.

It was completely unexpected.

She stammered.

“A-Aren’t you afraid? Don’t you feel repulsed?”

“Is there any reason to?”

To him, this was a world of mystery and fantasy.

There were more special and less special things, but nothing was not special.

A child born from a tree.

How mysterious.

He had no reason to feel repulsed by the fact she was a High Elf.

“Then why did you come out into the world?”

“Uh, um.”

Arkamis, taken aback by the unexpected reaction, spoke.

“High Elves have a sense of pride in themselves. Though I don’t know what pride I’m supposed to have.”

“You don’t like being a High Elf, do you?”

“Right.”

Arkamis frowned.

“High Elves do not have a sense of camaraderie.”

The concept of a community did not exist for them.

The reason was simple.

They were born through the World Tree, already in a grown state from birth.

They didn’t need anyone’s help.

Since they never had a community, the concept didn’t exist, and they didn’t desire it.

“They value nothing in this world except themselves and the World Tree. That’s why they are emotionally deficient. They praise themselves as special beings, but what’s the point of that?”

Arkamis spoke forcefully.

“I want to have friends.”

Friends with whom she could spend time on trivial matters.

“I want to have comrades.”

Comrades who would have each other’s backs and protect each other’s lives.

“…I want to have a family.”

At this point, Arkamis hesitated.

Ketal waited silently.

After a long moment, Arkamis spoke.

Her golden eyes looked at Ketal.

“I also… want to have children.”

* * *

Ketal paused at those words.

Arkamis fidgeted with her fingers, head lowered in embarrassment.

“Uh, I was born through the World Tree, right? I may look like an elf, but my essence is entirely different. So, I can’t have children.”

But she desired a bond.

She wanted to experience having her own child.

She wanted to feel the love of a family, of blood relations.

“So, that’s why you came out into the world.”

“It’s an impossible wish in the sacred land.”

Her desire was an affront to the High Elves.

There had been many conflicts and clashes.

In the end, she left Elfo Sagrado.

A heretic among High Elves.

That was Arkamis.

“You learned alchemy for that reason too, I guess.”

“Alchemy is fundamentally about the transformation of matter, so I thought it could change my essence.”

So far, she had no success.

It was a concept no one had thought of or attempted before.

But now, a possibility had emerged.

“Those iridescent grains. With them, it might be possible.”

A mysterious catalyst that could substitute for all things.

With that, it might be possible to change her essence.

Of course, it would require a lot of research, but the possibility was there.

“This is my wish.”

Arkamis exhaled.

“My goal.”

“I see.”

Ketal nodded.

“Then you’ve already partially achieved your goal.”

“Huh?”

“I consider myself your friend and comrade. What do you think?”

Arkamis’s eyes widened at those words.

Then she smiled.

“Of course.”

* * *

Her tone lightened, having unburdened herself somewhat.

She started talking more freely.

Ketal also asked about things he was curious about.

“Was going to the Empire also for that reason?”

“Yes.”

Arkamis nodded.

“The strongest group of humans on the continent. I thought I could achieve my goal there.”

“It seems that was impossible.”

She was here now.

That alone revealed how it turned out.

But Arkamis shook her head.

“No. They said it was possible.”

“Hm?”

Ketal looked surprised.

“Is the Empire capable of such things?”

“I was surprised too and asked if it was really possible. They said it was. At first, they tried to accept me outright… but the more we talked, the stranger it seemed.”

Arkamis said with a troubled expression.

“They said they could turn me into a body that could have children. But there was a condition.”

“A condition?”

“They said I wouldn’t be able to exist as myself anymore.”

“Hm?”

Ketal made a puzzled face.

“That’s a strange thing to say.”

“Right? I asked what they meant, and they said it was literal. I thought about it and eventually gave up.”

Arkamis leaned back on the table.

“I stayed there quite a while, but I still don’t know what that place really is. There were many areas in the Imperial City that were off limits. It was a very strange place.”

“Is that so?”

The Empire.

The largest group of humans.

It seemed to be as peculiar as its reputation suggested.

After saying this, Arkamis hesitated for a moment before asking.

“Ketal, you’re from the Snowfields, right? Did you have family there?”

“I didn’t have a family. Since I can remember, my parents were never there.”

“Oh, I’m sorry.”

“No need to apologize. I don’t remember them anyway.”

Ketal said it indifferently.

“There was a tribe, which could be considered a community. If you call them family, then I guess they were.”

“Don’t you miss them?”

“Not really.”

Ketal frowned.

“They were stupid and foolish. Hard to communicate with. Just being around them gave me a headache.”

“Really?”

“I do wonder what they’re up to now, though.”

He did wonder what his tribe members in the White Snowfields were doing now.

They had spent so much time together that even dislike had turned into a kind of attachment.

Though he had left after explaining his intentions, he wasn’t sure if those dumb folks had understood.

‘They’ll manage somehow.’

Having thought that far, Ketal lost interest.

“I see… So, you’re not really tied down to anything….”

Arkamis murmured softly.

She looked at Ketal with a thoughtful expression and cautiously spoke.

“Ketal, is there anything you wish for?”

“Not really. If I had to say, it would be to acquire mysteries and travel the world.”

Besides those two things, Ketal had no major interests.

Arkamis’s expression brightened a little.

“Traveling? That sounds good. Then, are you interested in visiting the sacred land of the elves?”

Arkamis quickly continued.

“Even though I left, it’s not a bad place. Besides the old-fashioned High Elves, it’s quite nice. I plan to return there once everything is settled. It’s a serene and peaceful place covered in nature. Are you interested?”

“Of course, I’m interested. I’d like to visit it if I get the chance.”

“Good. So, you have no aversion to High Elves….”

Arkamis murmured to herself.

A strange light began to shine in her eyes.

“What’s going on?”

Ketal tilted his head in curiosity.

[PR/N: Ahem Ahem. Barbarian and Elf child bro.]

Arkamis’s behavior seemed odd.

She quickly snapped out of it and shook her head.

“It’s nothing. Nothing at all.”

Time passed.

At some point, the moonlight started shining down on them.

Ketal stood up.

“It’s getting late.”

“Yes, it’s already that time.”

“I should head back. You should get plenty of rest since you’re still not fully recovered.”

“Y-Yes.”

“See you tomorrow.”

Ketal left the house.

As he walked back to the capital, he heard Arkamis muttering.

“…Could it be possible?”

Arkamis leaned back in her chair, staring at the closed door.

“Hmm…”

She let out a groan.

She had told Ketal about her desire for comrades, friends, family, and having children.

But those were just secondary wishes.

Her true desire was something else.

But when she tried to say it, she felt extremely embarrassed and couldn’t bring herself to speak it aloud.

The sacred land of the elves.

There, she had come across a human fairy tale book by chance.

It was a story about a man’s adventure.

She read that book over and over until it became tattered.

In it, there were tales of friendship and camaraderie.

And also.

“Love…”

She whispered softly.