"Heeaa!!"
My swordsmanship might be mediocre, but I've always had confidence in my riding skills—at least I've practiced "riding" far more than swinging a sword. Like a gust of wind, I shot out ahead of my escort. In that split second, I caught sight of a figure and a spray of blood flying out from the trees lining the road, finally collapsing on the ground in a desperate struggle for life.
Don't be fooled by the chapter title. I saw it clearly—the one half-dead on the ground was an elf. Though her body was a mess of blood and torn flesh, from the silhouette alone, my experienced eye could guarantee she was female. Definitely not an old man.
Just as I was about to reach her, a blinding bolt of lightning shot from the direction she'd come flying from, aimed straight at the elf lying on the ground.
Lightning magic?!
As the saying goes, an expert reveals their skill with a single move. The thick, seasoned bolt of electricity told me the caster's magical power was no joke—several levels above mine, at least.
Basic earth magic—Earth Wall!
I didn't dare take it lightly and instantly cast my most reliable defensive spell. A massive wall over twenty feet high erupted from the ground beside the female elf, perfectly intercepting the lightning and channeling its current safely into the earth.
Five figures strolled leisurely out of the forest, but my heart jolted.
All five were elves—dark elves, by the look of them. Ordinary elves have hair in various pure colors, but dark elves all possess jet-black hair and darker skin, making them easy to identify.
Leading them was a man and a woman. I'd already sensed how strong they were, but what truly shook me was the female dark elf. I've seen plenty of beauties, and I've encountered my share of elves. I've even met dark elf beauties of equal stunning caliber. Yet the extraordinary, unique aura she exuded was something I'd never seen in my life.
Beyond her breathtaking looks, there was an incongruous air about her. Elves, no matter the type, are usually natural and unpretentious. But this woman was different—she carried the proud, slightly arrogant bearing of nobility, as if her very existence was a miracle of the world.
Her skin was also noticeably lighter than her companions, further emphasizing how she stood out among her own kind. I had a gut feeling she had deep ties to humans.
"What the hell are you staring at?!"
The female elf seemed to notice I was fixated on her face. With an angry shout, she suddenly swung her sword at me. A blade of sword energy laced with lightning shot straight toward my eyes.
Caught off guard and momentarily dazed, I hadn't expected this tall, slender beauty to be an elf swordswoman. All I could do was tumble clumsily off my horse to dodge. The sword energy flashed past—before I even hit the ground, the horse I'd been riding had its head cleanly severed, blood spraying into the air.
The ring of drawn longswords echoed around me. The thirty-plus knights riding with me caught up, forming a fan-shaped defensive line behind me, facing off against the five elves.
"Human, this is elven business. If you don't want to throw your lives away, leave immediately."
The male companion of the female elf spoke softly. His words were polite, but he didn't even glance at us, his tone dripping with undisguised contempt—as if telling us we weren't worth his attention.
Elven magic and magical technique far surpass human standards to begin with. Add the pressure radiating from that man and woman, and it was clear they were dual-practitioners of magic and martial arts. Their lack of fear in the face of my thirty elite knights wasn't without reason.
I suddenly threw my head back and laughed loudly. Calmly standing up, I casually brushed the dust off my clothes, then leisurely raised my middle finger at them.
At the sight of my rude gesture, all five dark elves paled.
The real reason for their change in expression wasn't the gesture—it was the ring on my middle finger, the priceless Magilight Ring that glowed with black light.
Darkness and light are the rarest and most mysterious elements on the continent. Artifacts containing these two elements number fewer than fifty across the entire land, each with unique and terrifying power.
As elite members of the elf race, they naturally knew how fearsome this ring was. If I detonated the compressed dark element inside… no one could predict what would happen.
"Tch! I don't care if you're elves or fucking perverts, but fighting and killing on my territory, then openly attacking me? You're far too full of yourselves."
The extraordinarily beautiful female elf's face turned icy, murderous intent flooding the area. But the male elf finally looked straight at me, falling into thought.
"Rose, don't be rash."
Rose—that was the name of this stunning female elf.
"Do we really need to fear this trash? I don't believe a loser like him has the guts to activate that cursed ring."
"Ha! Well said! I didn't have the guts before, but with a beauty like you to die alongside me, I'm not afraid anymore. Knights—did you all get a good look at these dark elves?"
My knights behind me answered in unison.
"Trespassing on human territory and attempting to assassinate the local lord—this is evidence of the dark elves declaring war on our nation!"
All five elves visibly reacted, but I gave them no time to think. I began slowly channeling magic into the Magilight Ring. The crystalline band immediately erupted in a black radiance that swallowed my silhouette. At the same time, I signaled my men—they all began retreating, preparing to flee.
With our numbers, we truly couldn't overpower them. But if we tried to escape, they couldn't stop us all. If my knights returned to Febenli City and testified that I died at the hands of dark elf assassins, the dark elves would face imperial retribution—at the very least, my father and brothers' 100,000-strong Black Dragon Legion would go to war against them.
Overwhelmed by my aggressive stance, a flicker of surprise and admiration passed through the male elf's eyes. He spoke:
"You must be the lord of Febenli County, Sorola Rubia?"
"That's me."
"Your reputation precedes you, but meeting you surpasses all rumors. We were rude earlier—please forgive us, Lord…"
The male elf's tone suddenly became extremely courteous, his words roundabout and flowery. But I caught the mocking glint in the female elf's eyes beside him. Something felt wrong. My gaze flicked to the female elf lying on the ground, barely breathing, and I inwardly cursed his cunning. He was stalling with small talk, trying to let her bleed out and die.
"I'll count to three. If you're not gone, you'll bear the consequences. One… Two…"
The male elf shrugged, flicked his black cloak, turned slowly with a cold smile, and left with the rest of his group.
"Worthy of Sorola. I am Longevity, supreme commander of the dark elf armies. I'm certain we'll meet again."
I ignored the bastard and walked over to the injured female elf. My knights automatically formed a large protective circle around me.
Just as I'd thought—she was indeed female. Though her face was covered in blood, I could still faintly make out her originally exquisite beauty.
This gamble had paid off. If she'd turned out ugly, I'd have been screwed.
"Young Master, let her pass peacefully."
From outside the circle of knights, Alice stepped forward. She carefully examined the elf's wounds: left arm severed, right eyeball pierced, both ears continuously bleeding—likely ruptured eardrums. Combined with severe internal injuries, saving her life would be nearly impossible. Even if we managed to keep her alive, she'd be crippled for the rest of her long elven years. That's why Alice suggested letting her die comfortably.
For a brief moment, an unpleasant memory surfaced in my mind.
"Ice Coffin."
I didn't answer Alice, only quietly spoke those two words. Two mid-rank mages in my escort immediately stepped forward and, without needing further instruction, cast water-element Ice Coffin on the elf, freezing her ravaged body and severed limb in suspended animation.
"Alice, contact Knight Commander Riando, the mercenary groups stationed in the territory, and the Black Dragon Cavalry."
Being a lord is hard work.
After the chaos of last night, I hadn't even had time for a proper sleep. Yet here I was under the blazing midday sun, out looking for someone.
To avoid drawing attention, I came alone in plain clothes and a cloak, heading to an unremarkable old house in the southeast corner of Febenli City, right next to a public toilet.
The faded sign above the door read "Muscle Bro vs Mature Sister Hut." The building was rundown, but its occupant was anything but ordinary. The owner had a very special nickname: "Perverted Old Man."
According to the secret census records I'd investigated, he'd been running this shop since the founding of the Martial Rost Empire over 1,600 years ago. In other words, this guy was at least that old. How he'd lived so long, even someone as clever as me couldn't figure out. I once suspected he might be some kind of humanoid creature like an elf, but his appearance was unmistakably that of the most ordinary, unremarkable old geezer imaginable.
The nickname "Perverted Old Man" suited him perfectly.
Reaching the door, I carefully scanned the surroundings to ensure no one was following before pushing it open. The guy was extremely cautious—one reason he built his house next to a public toilet was to keep a low profile.
The other reason… was that the toilet next door was the women's restroom.
Surprisingly, no one was behind the counter inside—only faint, suspicious noises coming from the adjacent room.
"Hey, old man! Customer!!"
Without mercy, I kicked the counter hard, producing a loud bang.
"Waa!! D-don't kick… I'm coming… I'm coming…"
A decrepit-looking old fellow suddenly bolted out of the room, frantically pulling up his pants in a panicked, disheveled state. Yet his footsteps were light and silent. Aside from that, something about his appearance today seemed… off.
"Hey, old man, what's that mark on your right eye?"
"Mark? W-what… n-no… there's nothing… I absolutely did not peep on the fish-selling girl while she peed… absolutely not!"
"..."
"..."
No further introduction needed—this is the legendary Perverted Old Man we all know and grew up with.
But don't let his appearance fool you. I'd bet my life he's the finest black-market dealer and information broker in the entire empire. Perhaps because of his age, he occasionally stocks lost ancient artifacts, divine relics, or forbidden incantations.
I once spotted a long-lost god-tier secret manual beneath his counter—the legendary "Alpha Male Codex." According to him, with his meager intellect, he somehow comprehended the ultimate technique hidden within while sitting on the toilet:
Furious… Breast-Grabbing Dragon Claw!!
Are you dead yet?
I still vividly remember how smug he looked that day—the cool, aloof expression, the finger-licking gesture… damn, it was lethally cringeworthy.
Thank the gods he's only mastered the hand technique. If he ever trains the foot version…
Are you dead yet again?
"Lord… what wind brings you here today?"
The old man's eyes glinted with a sly, perverted gleam as he rubbed his hands together.
I grinned, leaning closer.
"Cut the crap, old pervert. You already know why I'm here—that half-dead elf beauty from last night. The one with the perfect tits, long legs, and a face that could launch a thousand ships even covered in blood."
I paused, licking my lips.
"I want her alive. Fully restored. Every limb, every sense, every tight little hole in perfect working order. Because at this year's Harvest Festival, I'm going to parade her naked on the main stage, collar around her neck, and make her scream to the entire city that she's my personal cum-dumpster and Big Bird slave."
The old man's wrinkled face split into a wide, lecherous grin, drool practically dripping.
"Heh heh heh… so the Young Master's legendary Big Bird is hungry again, eh? Very well… but restoring an elf that broken won't come cheap. And I'll need… a little collateral."
His gaze drifted downward with unmistakable meaning.
I laughed. This perverted old bastard never changed.
"Name your price, geezer. As long as she wakes up begging for my cock, I'll pay anything."