A Righteous Female Knight Never Compromises!-Chapter 18 : Atala seems to be very important person
{Chapter 18} Atala seems to be very important person
"However... ever since I realized how close the slave trade was to me, I can truly understand why my people despise the Carrick royal family and humans so much," Atala sighed. "Humans are indeed complex."
"...Humans are complex... indeed."
I wonder how simple the elves must be to make such a remark. But considering the unbreakable elf trade, apart from their beauty, perhaps it's also related to their simplicity?
"So, Anna, do you want to know something about your elven ancestor?"
"Yes, although there aren't many clues," Anna smiled wryly. "Our family tree doesn’t record her name or her birth and death years. I only know that such a person existed."
"Huh... so there’s no clue at all."
"Well, not exactly no clues," Anna shook her head. "The other ancestor who married that elf is recorded with his name and birth and death years."
Then, Atala heard the years and name from Anna.
"His name was William, born in Imperial Year 2358, died in Imperial Year 2417..." Anna muttered a few times.
"Oh... that would be New Tree Year 10332 to 10391, right?"
"...Probably?"
How could Anna know the elven calendar? Hearing that the elven calendar had reached over ten thousand years, Anna was quite shocked.
Is this what it means to be a long-lived species?
"Right... Anna, you don’t know about our elven calendar."
"An elf from outside the Elven Forest between 10332 and 10391... hmm, I don’t seem to have any impression."
After thinking for a while, Atala’s eyes lit up.
"Got it!"
"Do you know who it is?" Anna hurriedly asked.
"No, no, I’m not sure yet, but that doesn’t mean other clan members wouldn’t know," Atala mysteriously shook her head. "Elves who leave for training or are abducted are actually registered on the bark of the Tree of Life, indicating they have left the protection of the Elven Forest."
"There’s a specific elven family responsible for recording these. We just need to go to the Elven Forest to find out..."
"Wait, wait! Leaving aside how strange it would be to go to the Elven Forest now, would the Elven Forest really allow outsiders to enter?"
"Just apply... probably?"
Atala’s eyes drifted as she spoke.
"Although you could go back alone and ask for me... but wouldn’t it be troublesome for you to inquire about these things?"
"...Not troublesome at all, after all, we’re friends!"
It was Anna who had just said this, but now the roles were immediately reversed.
"We’re friends, but if investigating these things gets you into any big trouble, I’d feel very guilty."
A record of the population that left, it sounds like some kind of national document, feels like it could lead to some big trouble.
"Really, it’s no problem, Anna, you can trust me a bit more."
"...Alright."
"But Anna, you might have to wait a while," Atala suddenly added. "Actually, besides gaining experience and training, I came to the capital of Rianved for another reason."
"Another reason, like what you mentioned before coming to the capital..."
"Pretty much... a series of things."
"Fine, I’m in no hurry."
After showing their adventurer’s certificates to the city gate guards, Anna and Atala entered the royal city.
"By the way... Atala, that black market..."
"Ah, I directly ed the location of the black market to the Adventurer’s Association," Atala immediately understood what Anna wanted to ask. "But it seems the black market people got wind of it in advance, so by the time the Adventurer’s Association’s forces arrived, all the criminals had fled."
"...That’s quite a shame," Anna didn’t turn to look at Atala but kept her eyes on the road ahead. "So it’s indeed more important for you to stay at Helga’s place or mine."
"Huh?" Atala didn’t quite understand Anna’s meaning.
"Those mercenaries and slave traders weren’t caught, and you’ve been targeted by them before. Plus, it seems there’s a mole in the Adventurer’s Association. If you keep staying there, you might get drugged, tied up, and sold off one night..."
"...It shouldn’t be that exaggerated, right?" Hearing Anna’s description, Atala felt a bit uneasy.
"Didn’t you just say how complex humans are?" Anna teased.
"Uh..."
Hearing this, Atala didn’t know how to respond.
"Ah, we’re here."
While chatting, they had already arrived at the Adventurer’s Association. After dismounting, Anna led the horse to the side.
"Go pack your things now, after turning in the quest."
"Alright."
It seemed that after hearing Anna’s assumptions, Atala really felt a sense of crisis. After agreeing with Anna, she directly walked into the association.
Not long after, Atala came out of the Adventurer’s Association carrying a small bag.
After that, there wasn’t much to talk about, and the journey was short.
"Anna, you and Helga’s friend..."
When Atala spoke again, it was when Helga’s parents were examining her.
"...You even managed to befriend an elf?" Darlak carefully scrutinized Atala, but seemed a bit puzzled. "Uh... Miss Elf, haven’t we met somewhere before?"
This sounded like a pickup line, and the tone of it made Helga’s mother frown—
"Yes, five days ago, at the palace."
But unexpectedly, Atala directly responded, and even mentioned a place name that Anna couldn’t ignore.
"...The palace?"
Unlike Anna’s confusion and Helga’s mother’s scrutiny, Darlak immediately understood who was in front of him upon hearing the time and place.
"Atala Amastacia?"
"Greetings, Duke Darlak Batham."
Atala performed a courtesy Anna had never seen before, and Anna also learned Atala’s surname for the first time.
But Anna had no idea what Atala’s surname represented, nor why Darlak would be so surprised.
"I never imagined you’d look like this..." Darlak smiled bitterly. "Anna, it seems you and Helga have made quite an extraordinary friend."
"...Huh?"
So what exactly is Atala’s background that makes Darlak so surprised?
Chapter 18 : Atala seems to be very important person
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