9th Grade Civil Servant In Another World Chapter 44 - The Great Forest and Desert (3)

“……How long are you planning to keep sleeping? Are you pretending to sleep because you’re scared?”

“No way that’s the case. He was even snoring earlier.”

Faint voices tickled my ears as they drifted over.

‘How long was I unconscious?’

It felt like all the fatigue that had unknowingly accumulated from the reversed day-night cycle had completely melted away.

With my eyes still closed, I tried to focus my mind. I awakened my consciousness to shake off drowsiness and breathed strength into all my muscles.

‘Huh?’

Not just my wrists, but my ankles were also firmly bound.

‘Where is this place?’

Pretending not to have awakened, I tried to assess the surrounding situation while remaining motionless.

A soft texture touching my bare hands and feet. Something elastic that comfortably supported my body.

‘A bed mattress? It feels quite nice. The fabric seems pretty high-quality too……’

A gently blowing breeze brushed against my cheek. When I quietly inhaled, I felt clean, warm air.

Evening sunlight settling on my eyelids, the faint sounds of city noise.

‘The fugitives couldn’t have gotten far from Lüdelheim. I couldn’t have been trapped in that sack for long either. Seeing how peacefully I was sleeping. Then this must be some apartment or hotel in downtown Lüdelheim. And a fairly wealthy person’s place at that……’

Unlike me, a complete pauper, these guys seem to have a solid source of funding. That made me even more interested in these impersonators.

Well then, shall I wake up now?

“Mmmngh……”

I let out a groan and sat up.

Crack! Crack!

I turned my stiff neck like I was stretching and managed to yawn with difficulty.

“Slept great!”

I shouted vigorously and opened my eyes.

“Ah, you’re awake.”

My body had apparently been lying on a soft, expansive bed.

A lavishly decorated room.

Warm sunset light streamed through large, wide-open windows, illuminating furniture that sparkled with gold leaf.

Walls covered in silk wallpaper and floors laid with soft carpets, ivory sculptures.

But what caught my eye more than anything else was a slender man with gorgeous features sitting cross-legged on the sofa.

The man’s skin was bronze-colored—no, the color of milk coffee from a vending machine.

Almost white silver hair fluffily covered his forehead, and between the strands I could see gem-like eyes of deep blue mixed with violet.

His ears weren’t ordinary but pointed and elongated.

“Ohhh……”

An exclamation escaped me at the most exotic appearance I’d ever encountered.

He slightly furrowed his brow.

“Oh?”

I wriggled like a caterpillar on the bed and met his gaze.

“Are you the leader of the White Raven Order?”

When I asked with emphasis on ‘White Raven Order’, he shamelessly nodded.

“That’s right.”

“What an honor to meet you. But why am I tied up? I said I’d cooperate.”

“What kind of fool would freely release a hostage?”

The man’s voice was a perfectly pleasant tenor.

‘This is why there’s a prejudice that all elves are beautiful.’

Grumbling internally, I continued speaking while shifting positions uncomfortably with my bound body.

“That’s only when there’s concern the hostage might escape. I came to help you, so the situation is different.”

The man quietly folded his hands, then leaned back against the sofa comfortably and tilted his chin. His attitude said he’d listen, so go ahead and try explaining.

‘He wants me to show all my cards first. Son of a bitch.’

But I was the one who needed something.

Consoling myself that there was no choice, I lay on my side like a shrimp and began persuading him.

“Since you’ve already taken me hostage, make the most of it. I’ll play along with whatever you want. Whether you demand money from Kruger or whatever, I don’t care. You don’t seem to lack money anyway. You robbed the bank just to draw attention, right?

I didn’t understand earlier why you made those unrealistic demands like telling Kruger to step down from the throne, but now I see. The leader is an elf, the action commander is an elf—so you’re probably an independence organization of oppressed elves who’ve banded together.

You only sent elves who cut off their ears and hid among humans for terrorism, and instead of obvious slogans demanding elven independence, you called for Kruger’s resignation.

Even if elves formed some kind of union to respond, they’d just get crushed. Most citizens hate elves too, so it’s a fight that can’t be won.

So use me. Kruger won’t give up his power just because you’re holding me, but you can spread fear among the people.

That people dissatisfied with Kruger are operating in secret, that security is that unstable, that Kruger’s rule isn’t all golden.”

“……”

Clap! Clap! Clap!

After I finished my long speech and caught my breath, the elf leader, who had seemed lost in deep thought, clapped his hands.

“A remarkably clever human. To figure out so many facts about us just from a brief observation. I’m almost tempted. But we only accept elves……”

When he gestured, a man I hadn’t noticed because he was standing like a statue in a corner of the room approached and pressed my throat with his large hand.

“Kheueok!”

“Did you think a group radical enough to bomb a bank would let someone who figured out our secrets live?”

I writhed and squirmed, choking.

“Of course you’ll let me live! Because I’m a hero, because I’m a valuable enough hostage! And because you’re not such fools!”

When I shouted in a hoarse voice, it felt like all the air was being squeezed from my lungs. My vision darkened.

“That’s enough, Assad.”

“Yes.”

The man who had been pressing my throat withdrew.

From his build with a solid body, familiar voice, and scarred ear, he seemed to be the action commander who had handed me the detonator at the bank.

‘Assad, huh. Even his name fits a vulgar, filthy half-breed.’

The Lucas inside me didn’t miss the opportunity to sneer. It was absurd.

“Hueok, huu……”

I gasped for air desperately. The elf leader approached and looked down at me, asking,

“Right, you’re correct. I’m not that foolish. So there’s one thing I’m curious about.”

“Huff, ha, what?”

“Why did that ‘hero’ let himself be captured by us so obediently? Even giving advice on how to use a hostage. What benefit does that bring you?”

“……Because I’m not a hero.”

“What do you mean by that?”

I wriggled my hands pressed behind my back and looked up at him.

“You guys call yourselves the White Raven Order, right?”

“So what?”

As I squirmed my numb hands that had lost circulation……

“What do you mean ‘so what’? You’re talking bullshit!”

Whack!

“Agh!”

I swung and struck his plump coffee-colored forehead. I must have hit too hard because his body went flying.

“This bastard!”

Crash!

I was immediately subdued by Assad, but I thrashed and resisted with all my might. I had secretly wriggled earlier to loosen the ropes.

“Let go! You imposter!”

“Stop, stop! That’s enough, Assad!”

The elf leader got up, rubbing his reddened forehead. He approached me as I lay there panting angrily and extended his hand.

“Get up for now. Imposter? What are you talking about?”

I grabbed his hand and struggled to my feet, breathing heavily.

“I’m a member of the White Raven Order, you son of a bitch. Even if I’m not the leader, I’m at least a friend of the leader, something like an advisor. What were you planning to do by impersonating us? Since you can’t step forward as elves, you were going to pin crimes on the White Raven Order that’s currently the hot topic? Since destabilizing Kruger’s reign is the same goal anyway, you thought you’d use us?”

He blinked his sapphire-colored eyes in genuine surprise, then grabbed my sleeve and led me away.

“Come this way, let’s talk.”

***

In the middle of the hotel room, as spacious as a playground, sat a luxurious sofa. As I massaged my still-tingling wrists and ankles, the elf sitting across from me personally poured tea.

A sweet fragrance rose that was different from coffee and different from Earth’s tea.

“Please enjoy it without any burden. Shall we start with introductions? My name is Fa-Elhar. I’d appreciate it if you’d call me Fael comfortably.”

“Seeing the tribal name attached, you must be quite a distinguished person?”

When I sneered fully, he shrugged his shoulders.

“I am the chieftain’s son. Though that probably doesn’t matter much in these times. Anyway, should I call you Lucas?”

“Whatever.”

“Good, Lucas. Honestly, I was really surprised. The famous Lucas Redan being part of the White Raven Order—I can’t believe it. I’d like to see some proof.”

“What kind of proof would there be?!”

I snapped back sharply and grabbed an apple pastry from the table. I was quite hungry, and I needed to charge up on sugar to think properly.

“But I can explain how I’m a fabricated hero.”

“A fabricated hero? Like earlier, you don’t mean……”

I nodded lightly.

“Exactly that. It was all lies and fake. It was chosen as a means to catch Supreme Leader Kruger’s eye and spread the White Raven Order’s name.”

Fa-Elhar watched me licking sugar off my fingers with a dumbfounded yet interested expression.

“……That’s really surprising. Could you tell me how you fabricated it? Up until now, your words might be made up.”

“It’s quite a long story.”

“That’s fine. We have plenty of time.”

Through the wide-open window, I could see the sky gradually darkening.

I began my story.

Using newspaper articles to lay the groundwork. Pretending to kidnap a member. Similarly receiving treatment from a member who was a doctor to hide self-inflicted wounds.

Fa-Elhar, seriously absorbed in the story, only occasionally let out exclamations without interrupting.

Then he asked just one question.

“That was self-harm?”

“As you can see.”

I rolled up my sleeve to show the scars on my forearm.

“Look, if you stab with your right hand, it would come out exactly like this.”

“Certainly…… Impressive. Continue.”

Receiving a medal from Kruger and achieving the goal. But the aftermath making the White Raven Order excessively famous and intensifying oppression of innocent people.

After hearing the entire story, Fa-Elhar finally had an expression of understanding.

“Hmm, it certainly doesn’t seem like a lie. It would be impossible to make up such a story in such a short time. Is the White Raven Order smaller than I thought? But the news said there were many sponsors providing funding……”

When I stared at him silently without speaking, he made an ‘oh!’ sound as if realizing something.

“That was all lies too.”

“Probably delirious testimony under torture. That person has nothing to do with us, and we’re poor.”

“But you personally appeared on the radio and framed him as the culprit?”

“I had a contract with Ossel.”

Fa-Elhar was now laughing as if truly enjoying himself.

“You’re really, really amazing. To join hands with those Ossel bastards. Well, since you act like a hero on the surface while sharpening knives behind the scenes, I suppose it’s natural?”

“Please stop with the flattery.”

“No, I’m serious. From what I hear, you—that is, the White Raven Order—and we seem to be complete opposites. You have recognition and connections, while we have money and power.”

“Yeah, seems that way.”

I replied curtly.

“Starting with this room having an extremely luxurious feel, and just the rings on your fingers—how many are there? One, two…… five. You’re clearly a rich young master. And during the bank robbery too. Rifles and bombs—you must have spent quite a bit. For homemade weapons, they seemed pretty well-made.”

“You know about weapons?”

‘I’m a Reserve Sergeant from the Republic of Korea Army, you bastard.’

I wanted to tell him that, but I couldn’t. Instead, I reached for another piece of bread.

“Being the chieftain’s son, you’d have inherited a massive fortune. Anyway, I understand why you wanted to meet me.”

When Fa-Elhar stared at me intently, I bit into the jam-filled bread and nodded roughly.

“It’s as you said. We can give each other what we want, right? And we have the same goal.”

“To bring down Kruger……”

“To bring him down.”

We looked at each other and smiled. I grinned with the corners of my mouth turning up, and Fa-Elhar smiled elegantly and gently.