Twilight Harem: Reborn as an Elf, Conquer Every Foe and Rise to Power - Episode 6

The cold stone bit into her back. Serafina clenched her teeth and struggled, trying to tear apart the rough rope wound around her arms. The skin on her wrists split, blood seeping through. But she didn't care. Her vision was still blurry. From the altar where she'd been standing moments ago, she'd been thrown into a cage. Nearby, she could make out Gilda's form. "Damn it... Serafina, are you alright!" Gilda shouted, kicking at the iron bars. Her arms were also bound, and bruises marked her face. "Yeah, I'm fine. Just a little pain in my wrists." Serafina answered curtly. In truth, her body felt heavy as lead from having her magic essence drained. Her extremities were freezing cold, and her mind was clouded with fog. But this was no time to complain. The mastermind standing before the altar slowly walked toward her. Marguerite's husband. His cold gray eyes looked down at Serafina in the cage. "What's wrong? Has your bravado from earlier vanished? An elf branded with exile, and yet all you have is a sharp tongue." "You're the one who seems to be having a grand time. What's so amusing about draining people's magic essence? I honestly can't fathom it." The man twisted his lips into a smile. "You don't need to understand. This is a great undertaking of research. The magic essence of you elves is the key to creating a new order for this nation. This is not my plan alone. It is a state project, approved by the Seven Wings Council." At those words, Gilda choked on her voice. "What...!? The Council... there's no way! You're violating the Sentient Species Protection Act!" "The Protection Act is a mere formality. All the nobles secretly desire elven magic essence. You're right, this is illegal. But—no one can stop it." The man snapped his fingers. The dark elf Razuri approached, carrying a silver tray. On it were thin tubes and small crystals lined up. "You're next. I'm looking forward to this." Razuri crouched in front of the cage and gently pressed a silver blade against Serafina's cheek. The cold sensation of metal. Her eyes were vacant, as if she'd been made to believe in something. "Razuri, are you really okay with this? You're an elf too. Do you understand what's being done to your own kind here?" Razuri's hand stopped for a moment. "...I never had a choice." "You still do. I'm not asking you to help me. But—just don't get in my way." The dangerous light deep within those eyes sent a small crack running through Razuri's heart. Razuri stood up silently and took two steps back. "What are you doing? Hurry up and drain that elf's magic essence." At the man's voice, Razuri trembled. But her feet wouldn't move. In that instant. BANG!! A heavy impact echoed throughout the cavern. "What was that!?" The black-clad men panicked. Fragments of stone pattered down from the ceiling. Serafina didn't miss that opening. She pried open the wound on her wrist, using the blood as lubrication to slip out of the rope. The skin tore further, exposing flesh. But she paid no mind to the pain. "Now, Gilda!!" Serafina slammed a full-force kick into the cage's lock. CLANG!! The rusted lock flew off. The cage door swung open. At the same time, Gilda had cut her own ropes with a stone shard from the ground. "Don't move!!" The black-clad men closed in, weapons at the ready. Serafina picked up a dagger that had fallen on the floor and closed the distance in an instant. A single flash. She dodged the man's sword and drove the dagger into his side. With the returning blade, she slashed another man's wrist. "Gyaaah!!" Blood sprayed. The men faltered. "What are you fools doing! Capture them, quickly!!" The mastermind roared. But his voice had lost the composure it held moments ago. Serafina stood back-to-back with Gilda, glaring at the five men surrounding them. "Gilda, can you fight?" "Of course! Who do you think I am!" "Good, that's the answer I wanted. Well then—" The moment Serafina grinned. Three shadows dropped from the ceiling. "Eh!?" It was Malta who landed. Along with two unfamiliar female warriors. One was a large woman with red hair, the other small with silver hair. All three had their weapons ready and stood before Serafina and Gilda. "Honestly, how much are you going to make me worry? I told you I wasn't going to interfere." Malta said with an exasperated look. In her hand was a well-worn dagger. "Malta...! Why are you here!" "There'd been no movement since you two charged in. I figured things had gone bad. So I borrowed some backup from Iris's place." The large red-haired woman dropped the greataxe from her shoulder onto the ground with a thud. "Message from Big Sis Iris. 'If you're gonna borrow our hideout without asking, pay up front.' I'm Galda. Nice to meet ya." The small silver-haired woman spoke quietly as she nocked an arrow to her bow. "I'm Cynthia. I'll provide support." Serafina couldn't help but laugh. "...What a pain. But, you saved us. I'll thank you later." The mastermind's expression changed. "Don't mock me... What can you do with just a few more people!" The man raised both hands and deployed a magic circle. A gravity spell. The air grew heavy, and cracks ran across the floor. But Serafina already knew this magic. "I won't fall for the same trick twice." Serafina lowered her body and closed the distance in one burst before the gravity could take hold. Her movements were sluggish from having her magic essence drained earlier. But—even so, she was fast. "Wha—" Before the man could complete the magic circle, Serafina's dagger slashed his arm. Blood gushed out. The magic circle dispersed into mist. The gravity vanished. Without missing a beat, Galda swung her greataxe, sweeping away the black-clad men. Cynthia's arrows precisely knocked weapons from the enemies' hands. Malta took down one of the guards with her dagger. Gilda shouted. "Serafina! Capture him!!" The mastermind, clutching his wounded arm, was trying to escape deeper behind the altar. There seemed to be a hidden passage there. "Like hell I'm letting you get away!" Serafina ran at full speed. Her legs nearly tangled. The edges of her vision darkened. But—she didn't stop. She leaped onto the man's back and pinned him to the ground. "Guh...!" She slammed his face against the stone floor. A dull sound of a nose breaking. Blood scattered. "Don't move. Next time I'll break your arm." Serafina pressed her knee into the man's back and held the dagger to his neck. The man's body began to tremble violently. The elegant noble's mask from moments ago was nowhere to be seen. "W-wait... I am a member of the Seven Wings Council..." "Like I care. Whoever you are, it ends here." That was when it happened. Razuri slowly approached. In her hand was the silver blade she had been holding earlier. "...May I... have that role?" "What?" "I... was this man's puppet. I was made to help with the elf hunting. My own family, my comrades, with these very hands...!" Tears spilled from Razuri's eyes. Her voice trembled, and her hands shook too. But her eyes alone were steady, filled with resolve. "I want to end it with this. I won't ask for forgiveness. But... please, let me atone." Serafina silently gazed at Razuri. Then, she slowly got off the man's back. "Do as you like. But—what you've done won't disappear. From now on, live, and find your own answers." Razuri gave a small nod and stood before the man. "W-what do you intend to do! Stop!" "Goodbye, Lord Aldric." The silver blade flashed once. A moment of silence. Afterwards, the cages of the other elves were opened one after another, and the rescue began. Serafina lifted up the elven girl who had been bound to the altar. She was still unconscious, but she was breathing. "It's alright now. You're safe." Gilda rushed over. "Serafina... your wrists. They're a complete mess." Looking, the wounds on her wrists were still bleeding. From forcing her way out of the ropes, the flesh had been gouged. "Ah... what a pain. This actually hurts a bit." Honestly, it hurt quite a lot. But she couldn't get through this without turning it into a joke. Galda, readjusting the greataxe on her shoulder, grinned. "You're an interesting elf. Big Sis is gonna like you." "Big Sis, that's Iris, right? The boss of the Ash Bottom?" "Yeah. She got interested when she heard you were coming. Go meet her. Though, Big Sis is a bit... unusual." "It might be strange for me to say, but I don't dislike unusual people." Serafina stood up and looked around the cavern. Over a dozen elves had been rescued, hugging each other and crying. All the black-clad men had been captured. Malta approached and patted her on the shoulder. "I'll handle contacting the higher-ups. Preparations to hide you in the Ash Bottom are ready. You two go rest first." "Thanks, Malta." "No need for thanks. It's business. ...Still, it was quite an interesting night." Malta's lips softened, just a little. Gilda supported Serafina's shoulder as they headed for the stairs. Razuri followed a few steps behind, her head hung low. Serafina spoke without looking back. "Come with us, Razuri. If you have nowhere else to go, come with us." Razuri's eyes widened. "...Why? I betrayed you." "You were a victim too, weren't you? Besides—this is coming from someone who's already died once. There's no life that can't be started over. But decide for yourself. I won't force you." Razuri fell silent for a while, then gave a small nod. "...Yes. I want to go with you." Serafina nodded and started walking. (Well, the enemy is defeated. But this is only the beginning. I don't know how troublesome these Seven Wings Council people are, but—) Beside her, Gilda laughed quietly. "You've gained another comrade." "What a pain. But, well—it doesn't feel bad." The sky was beginning to lighten. The long night was ending, and the royal capital Fontire was welcoming a new morning. The pain in her blood-soaked wrists, her head spinning with exhaustion—carrying all of it with her, Serafina continued climbing the stairs to the surface, step by step. In Razuri's eyes, watching Serafina's back, a small light flickered for the first time.

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Episode 6

Name: Twilight Harem: Reborn as an Elf, Conquer Every Foe and Rise to Power
Author: Novelia

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