Kays Translations

Chapter 11: Torquetum ①

Greetings.

I am Lupinus.

Lupinus Lord Denton.

I am the leader and tank of Torquetum.

Our members include Pakira, a feline beastkin elemental user, and Liv, a mysterious girl and master swordsman.

And then, there’s me, an elf.

Not just any elf, but an elf among elves. You could say I’m nobility.

I am an Elf Lord, a member of a viscount family.

I wield the Aquileene Shield, an ancient relic passed down through generations.

My role is to protect everyone using the relic’s power, Fortitude.

For the record, I am 18 years old. Exactly 18.

I am not 28, 38, or 48, thank you very much.

It’s rude to assume I’m older just because I’m an elf and look mature.

Though, being called mature isn’t entirely unpleasant.

Since I’ve reached adulthood, I’m technically an adult.

But strangely, it doesn’t feel that way.

Pakira and Liv are also past adulthood, yet no one treats them as such.

They’re still called girls, young ladies, or kids.

To be honest, even I find it hard to think of them as adults.

And in this world, you can’t drink alcohol until you’re 20, even if you’re an adult.

I can’t help but question what being “of age” at 14 even means.

That aside, all members of Torquetum are Grade III Slayers.

Seventy percent of all slayers are Grade V.

Grade IV is known as the “unreachable wall,” and we stand a tier above that.

To achieve Grade III in our teens is exceptionally rare.

Although we don’t flaunt it, we are undeniably talented.

It’s not arrogance—it’s simply a fact.

Despite being celebrated as rising stars,

Torquetum nearly met complete annihilation.

No—

We did face annihilation.

Our opponent was a chimera encountered in the lower levels of a dungeon.

A low-ranking silver-grade monster.

Normally, it wouldn’t be such a difficult foe.

But this chimera was white—a white chimera.

Its strength was formidable, even for us, as grade III slayers.

It was an albino, a rare variant of dungeon monsters.

This was our first time encountering one.

Its relic tails, imbued with fire, lightning, and wind, were incredibly powerful,

and its movements were as swift as a lion’s.

The most terrifying part, however, was its relic: Evil Eye.

This vile relic momentarily paralyzes anyone who meets its gaze.

Even a split second of stillness can be fatal against a monster of this caliber.

And it was an albino variant.

Despite our best efforts, its Evil Eye immobilized us,

and Torquetum was completely wiped out.

Or at least, we should have been.

Yet here we are, alive.

How is this possible?

What’s more, we were found completely unscathed.

Yet the pain, the wounds, and the humiliation of defeat are still vivid in my memory.

So, what happened?

Liv says someone must have used an Elixir.

The legendary relic, often called the Potion of the Gods.

The Elixir of Life and Soul.

It’s true that an Elixir could save us from the brink of death.

But who used it? Why?

No one would use such a priceless relic for free.

No matter how much I think about it, I can’t figure it out.

And there’s another mystery.

The return stone Pakira carried was gone.

But none of us could have used it.

We were unconscious—on the verge of death.

Someone must have used the Elixir on us

and activated the return stone to bring us back.

An absurd story… and yet, it happened.

To uncover the truth, we volunteered for the guild’s investigation team.

When we returned to that dungeon floor,

the chimera was gone.

But faint black stains dotted the ground.

“Liv, what do you see?”

“Hmm… blood from two of us.”

“I see.”

“Hmph. That’s decisive evidence.”

There’s no doubt about it. Someone healed us with an Elixir.

Then they used a return stone to save us.

“Why?”

And yet, they still haven’t come forward.

It’s strange.

There must be some purpose behind their actions.

Especially when using an Elixir—something that could never be given away for free.

As an explorer, or even as a person, such selflessness is inconceivable.

There must be an ulterior motive.

One day, a group of knights in black armor might appear before us.

Or perhaps a noble.

Or even the supreme race of Edda—such thoughts only fill me with anxiety and fear.

With this unease, we continue to fulfill our requests, remaining cautious and vigilant.

But nothing happens.

The days pass meaninglessly.

In the special suite of a luxury inn that serves as our base,

I was enjoying a refined cup of tea at my beloved table and chair set.

“Hmm… you two… Liv… I just remembered something I had completely forgotten…”

As she sat across from me, she suddenly muttered those words.

“That’s rather abrupt.”

“What’s this now?”

This girl. She always does this—completely out of the blue.

We’ve spent quite some time together since forming Torquetum.

And yet, I still don’t understand her personality.

It’s not just her personality; her appearance is equally puzzling.

In fact, I don’t even fully know who or what she is.

But I don’t dislike her. She’s a comrade, after all.

“… I once met a boy… who smelled of Elixir…”

“What?!”

“What did you say?!”

“Hmm… I forgot…”

I let out a sigh.

Honestly, this girl is just… unbelievable.

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