It had been just over a week since Runa arrived in this world.
Even with little knowledge about the place and the situation she found herself in, Runa made rash decisions, driven by the ideals she wanted to fulfill in this world. Without hesitation, and reflecting her personality even more, she took actions that could be considered selfish, involving a great number of people in her own problems. However, she felt no guilt; after all, from her point of view, it was simply what the strong and privileged always do, and have always done throughout history. If she didn't do it, others would subjugate the village with their own selfishness-or, more accurately, they had already tried before her arrival. That's why reflecting on guiding the elves into war wasn't high on her list of priorities. However, if asked about her leadership experience, she would answer that the most she had ever managed was being class delegate in high school. That's why she took this trip to the human city-not only to learn about the weaknesses of her enemies but also to understand their strengths.
After arriving at the human city, she spent the entire morning and part of the afternoon spending the little money she had on street food.
The first thing Runa tried to do was to go to the city's commercial district. However, she couldn't stand the smell. After all, the streets were filled with the feces of the mounts that the city's residents used to transport goods. The use of mounts was necessary in that specific area because they were essential for carrying merchandise. Of course, the existence of magic in this world contributed to improved municipal hygiene; however, that didn't mean the streets smelled pleasant at all hours.
In contrast, the noble district and the city's main street strictly prohibited the use of mounts precisely because of the feces. Those areas were much cleaner and more presentable, though they still hadn't reached the standard of a modern city. Naturally, the pristine appearance and the upscale clientele of that district meant that food prices were higher. Since all goods—transported from the commercial district to the noble district's main street—had to be carried by hand or with the help of a mage, nothing in that area could be purchased with copper coins. Consequently, Runa spent all her silver coins on her first meal and then continued stealing food from the stalls using her invisibility cloak.
Although it consisted of meats, fried foods, and sweets she had never seen before, and didn't reach the gastronomic level of her previous world, but after a week of surviving on practically garbage in the elf village, that food tasted like the finest delicacy in years. After eating, she spent the rest of the time observing the city's defenses, analyzing the fortifications and the positioning of the soldiers guarding it.
The city, as part of the empire, seemed to be in a good economic position and had a well-structured military organization. The patrols were divided into shifts, changing every six hours to keep the soldiers fresh and vigilant, especially at night, when the risk of raids or surprise attacks was higher. Runa noticed how the guards, organized in mixed groups of mages and warriors, patrolled both the outer walls and the inner alleyways of the city, indicating a high level of preparedness and coordination.
Among the soldiers, the uniforms clearly marked their occupation and rank. The mages wore armor and robes in shades of gray with a faint green glow, which contrasted with the dark, dull gray of the warriors. This visual distinction made it easy to quickly identify the magical support units in the middle of a fight. However, what puzzled Runa the most was the emblem of the soldiers: a logo of... penguins?! The common soldiers and mages wore a shield with five stylized penguins, while higher-ranking officers wore one with only four, and the captains wore one with three penguins, signaling their authority and position within the empire's military hierarchy.
Runa also observed that, at strategic points along the walls, there were watchtowers from which a group of specialized mages could detect unusual movements within a radius of several kilometers using a mechanism that utilized light refraction with magic, making it difficult to organize a surprise attack. The empire was a hard place to invade, just as expected.
After her brief inspection of the city's defenses, she set out to investigate the presence of other players in this world, but found nothing of relevance. When she tried to look in the most obvious place a player might go if summoned, she was surprised to find that within the Empire, there was no such thing as an Adventurer's Guild. The closest thing was a mercenary association that could be hired in the city's middle-class districts. However, when she asked around, she learned that in the neighboring country, the Kingdom of Vectoris, there was indeed an Adventurer's Guild and similar organizations. She simply had bad luck to be transported to a place like the empire in this world. She also learned about the existence of demi-humans: they were basically humans with animal-like ears and other small animal traits. They had a slight physical advantage over humans, but it wasn't much. The biggest difference would be seen in a hand-to-hand fight where their claws and fangs provided a clear advantage, although that advantage was reduced when both parties were armed. Apparently, both humans and demi-humans made up the population of the Empire of Algorythia, which seemed strange because they simply couldn't get along with the elves. Maybe it was due to compatibility or something like that-humans and demi-humans could reproduce with each other, but it wasn't the same with elves. Or perhaps, just maybe, due to her bad luck, this world was configured to her inconvenience.
Speaking of semi-humans, after running low on coins, Runa decided to head to a tavern to make some money from arm-wrestling bets. With her slim appearance, people would likely think they could easily defeat her and bet without hesitation. Plus, if a scandal broke out in the tavern, it would be attributed to a drunken brawl, so she wouldn't have to worry about being noticed.
It was there that she met Alysia, a semi-human who reeked of alcohol and had dust all over her body. The reason she caught Runa's attention was that she wore a military uniform slightly different from the mages and warriors-lighter in tone, leaning toward white with some red embroidery. She spoke about her role as a "Mana Doctor," a term unknown to Runa.
In Runes and Worlds, there was no such thing as a "Mana Doctor," and the inconvenience of having to clean the mana around due to spell elements was unheard of. Of course, it could just be the nonsensical ramblings of a drunk, but Runa decided to give her the benefit of the doubt, since she didn't know how mana worked in this world.
Alysia started complaining about her captain and the treatment she received in the army, which Runa couldn't have cared less about, but she decided to humor her to get more information. Thanks to that, Runa managed to gather valuable intel about the strength of Alysia's captain and the important figures in the city, especially the duke.
After infiltrating the duke's mansion using her invisibility skill, Runa had a clear objective: gather information about the presence of other players and dig deeper into the secrets of this country. However, while quickly scanning the office, something caught her eye. On the duke's desk were several scattered notes with detailed plans for an imminent invasion of the Zhyrithia tribe, along with maps showing their location in the forest.
Runa frowned. An invasion of Zhyrithia? She didn't have much time to think when three voices came from a hidden corner of the office. She sharpened her senses and moved silently toward a small adjoining room where they seemed to be having a discussion.
Valeria: What if we hang all the elves in the city on the walls? That way, they'll want to come to rescue them, and we could defeat them without having to enter their territory.
Roderick: I don't think that'll work, Valeria. These elves aren't loyal to any kingdom. Plus, being a hostile tribe, they don't have a true sense of camaraderie.
Duke Coreline: Roderick is right. Those elves wouldn't react impulsively, even if we burned their slaves alive in front of them. We can't even be sure that the prisoners we have are really important to them. It would be like expecting the Empire to cry over the hostages from the Kingdom of Vectoris.
Valeria: I understand. I was just proposing options to discuss...
Duke Coreline: For now, focus on preparing the troops for the invasion of the village in three days, as we agreed. Don't forget, they were the ones who started this war.
Roderick: (seriously) No delays, Duke. My men will be ready.
Duke Coreline: That concludes the meeting. If there are no objections, you may leave.
Roderick and Valeria: None, Duke. It will be as you command.
Runa held her breath as the three of them left the room. Once alone, she allowed herself to mutter under her breath.
Runa: Weren't the Zhyrithia allied with the Empire?
The information didn't add up. Everything pointed to the alliance having been betrayed, but by whom? She pondered the recent events.
Runa: Was it just a facade from the beginning? Or maybe... during the failed raid on our village, the Empire assumed that Zhyrithia had betrayed them first?
As she organized her thoughts, an idea began to form in her mind. Of course... that made sense. It was logical to think that in an alliance of powerful factions, constant suspicion would be inevitable. Each side would fear that the other would betray first to take all the benefits. Alliances of convenience, especially between potential rivals, always hung by a thread. What other explanation could there be for the Empire's distrust of Zhyrithia? It was easier to believe that a hostile tribe would betray them rather than a peaceful village with no apparent power having the courage to rise up against them.
But it was the most convenient scenario. She couldn't just wait for more information and make the right decision later; after all, they could contact the Zhyrithia tribe, who were probably thinking the same thing about the Empire, and get to the bottom of things-thus destroying any opportunity to gain the advantage in the situation. If she had to act, it had to be now after all, fortune smiles on those who take the initiative.. So, Runa kidnapped the duke and left a note on his desk, declaring war in the name of the Zhyrithia tribe, intending to make both sides turn on each other.
The sun had already risen on the horizon when Runa was on her way back to the elven village. She had left her trusted olux tied up in a safe place outside the city before infiltrating the duke's mansion. Now, she was pulling a cart loaded with provisions taken directly from the noble's pantry, a small reward for her risks. The journey was long; from the city to the village usually took six to seven hours by cart, and she had left in the early hours of the morning, taking advantage of the dim light to cover her tracks.
Regarding the Duke, Runa had made a cold but calculated decision. After kidnapping him and carrying his unconscious body in the carriage, she tried to interrogate him for information. However, the man was too proud, unable to yield even under threats. It seemed like even torture wouldn't make him speak. Faced with such resistance, Runa chose to eliminate him. There was no use in keeping someone so troublesome alive. She killed him and left his body in the forest, allowing the beasts to devour it, and carefully burned his clothes to erase any trace that might lead to his disappearance.
A hostage? That would be the most foolish thing she could do. Once the Empire got him back, they would never leave the elves of the forest alone until they had exterminated them completely to demonstrate their nation's power and restore their reputation. Many people underestimated how important it was for the strong to show who held the power, to prevent others from rising up against them. Runa knew this well. Besides, her goal was to take over that city, so for now, she just had to let things flow.
As she reflected on this, the first houses of the village began to appear between the trees. Upon arrival, she detached the carriage from the olux and tied it in its usual spot, making sure it was comfortable and well-fed. Then, with a bag of supplies over her shoulder, she took the cabin to ascend toward the main village.
The first to greet her was Lynell, who ran toward her excitedly.
Lynell: "Runa-sama, you've finally returned!"
Runa: (with an urgent tone) "Not now, Lynell. Call Elendor and tell him to prepare an emergency meeting. Also, notify Reinell if you see him."
Lynell nodded, a bit disappointed by the abruptness, but understanding the urgency. Runa felt a slight pang of remorse for cutting her off so quickly, but there was no time for trivial conversations; it had been two days since she left the village, and it was crucial to check the progress of preparations.
As she headed toward her cabin, she passed Fimas' old house, which was practically next to hers. It reminded her once again of his death and what that implied-they had a spy among them. It was likely that this spy had been watching everything she did from the moment she took command of the village. She couldn't allow more information to leak to Zhyrithia; this could ruin all her plans, especially if news of the Duke's kidnapping got out.
That's why she had assigned Reinell the task of constantly monitoring who entered and exited the village. If anyone disappeared for too long, Runa would know.
Moreover, all the elves in the village were strictly forbidden from approaching Runa's cabin. She had implemented this rule to prevent the spy-or anyone-from stealing her precious belongings. She didn't have enough personnel to assign guards 24/7, so she asked Lynell to check in from time to time. Besides, if any other elves saw someone near her cabin, they would report it. Additionally, she had set traps and hidden her belongings in an abnormal cut in the floor of the cabin's tree. Due to the shape of the cut and the size, it was impossible for a normal person to lift that piece of wood because of the friction it created when trying to lift it.
Runa grabbed the piece of wood and stretched it, making a sound similar to a large rope being stretched to its limit. Finally, she removed the stopper, which had an abnormal thickness, and beneath it were her belongings.
Searching through her things, she took out two potions and about five arrows. She probably wouldn't need her shield yet, but she would carry it on her back just in case.
After putting everything back in its place, she headed to her office in the center of the village for the meeting.
The atmosphere was tense as usual. Within the village, few dared to look their new boss directly in the eyes. This fear wasn't because she was a boss with a bad temper; in reality, she was someone who could be reasoned with. However, her gaze constantly conveyed a sense of anger, and if someone asked a stupid question, it was most likely that they would receive a sarcastic response followed by a reprimand. This made it difficult for the carefree elves of the village to endure the heavy meetings, as they never knew if their progress was enough or if they were fulfilling their responsibilities properly.
Runa didn't act this way just to be unpleasant. She knew that the elves had to understand their duties and not come to her every time a problem arose. She adopted this attitude to instill discipline in them, hoping they would dedicate themselves to their tasks more committedly. After all, elves had the tendency to procrastinate, since time passed differently for them than for humans. If she wanted to improve efficiency in the village, she had to be tough on them.
But this meeting, in particular, felt darker than usual...
Runa: So, what's with those faces? Don't tell me you've been slacking off for two whole days.
One of the elves, as if he had decided to sacrifice himself, stood up and exaggeratedly knelt in front of Runa.
Elendor: I am truly sorry, Runa-sama. I failed to meet your expectations.
Runa: Fine, then tell me what happened. I hope you have a good excuse.
Runa couldn't help but be surprised. The person responsible for the situation seemed to be Elendor, one of the few responsible and competent elves in the village. Since she had assumed the role of leader, he had served as her secretary, and she had never thought of him as someone who would make mistakes without a valid reason. Had she misjudged him? Could he be one of those geniuses who slack off when no one is watching?
Elendor: We've been working on the tasks you left before you left. However, the important orders, the ones I was supposed to distribute, couldn't be fulfilled.
Runa: I see. And what was the problem?
Elendor: My deepest apologies, but... I couldn't decrypt the message you left in time!
Runa: What!?
Runa: You mean you couldn't read what was written on the papers?
Elendor: Please, just give me a little more time. I'm sure I can decipher it. It was my fault for not anticipating that you would leave the important orders encrypted. If necessary, I'll pay with my li-
Runa: That's enough, Elendor. That was... that was part of my plan. Don't worry.
Runa murmured to herself: Damn, I messed up.
What the hell was going on? Didn't they understand Japanese? Since she arrived in this world, everyone seemed to speak the same language and understand everything she said. Also, she could read perfectly the texts of this place, as the characters matched those of the Japanese she remembered. But now, she faced a disturbing doubt: could they read what she wrote? Until now, she had assumed they could, but this situation suggested otherwise.
Runa: Elendor, write something simple on this sheet.
Elendor: P... of course.
Elendor hurried over and wrote a sentence on the sheet Runa handed him. As he did so, she watched carefully. The words that appeared were clear: "I'm so sorry, Runa-sama." However, the characters written didn't match the movements of the elf's hands at all.
Runa (muttering): Damn, this is bad.
It wasn't just the worry that her preparations were still incomplete. Sure, she would have loved for Elendor to be one of those genius characters from fantasy novels, capable of deciphering entire languages with just a word. But this world, while fantastic, wasn't that unrealistic.
However, what troubled her now was something far more concerning.
If the elves in the village couldn't read what she wrote, that meant the letter she had left at the Duke's mansion... couldn't be read either.
The chances of the plan failing because of this were slim, but they existed. Now she would have to find another way to incriminate the elves from Zhyrithia.
With a slight frown, Runa took a breath and raised her voice to address everyone present.
Runa: Listen up. From now on, I will give the orders verbally. But before anything, I want to hear your reports.
She paused briefly and added firmly:
Runa: Let's start with the chief healer.
From the crowd, a small figure stepped forward and knelt on one knee, bowing her head respectfully.
Runa couldn't help but notice how fragile she looked. Honestly, she didn't know why the elves had allowed such a young girl to take on the responsibility of being both healer and apothecary. It only reflected how precarious the situation in the village was. She felt a slight pang of guilt as she realized how much work she had delegated to that poor girl. Her face showed deep bags under her eyes, and a strong smell of herbs emanated from her. It was clear she had been overworking, and it was impossible from the start for her to have treated so many critically injured in such a short time. Children her age should be playing, picking flowers, and being adventurers like the ones she had seen earlier.
Runa: How has the treatment of the injured been progressing?
Before the meeting, Runa had taken two of her precious potions to deliver, assuming the wounded wouldn't be recovered yet. It was painful to use such limited resources, but the gravity of the situation required it. She also needed to relieve the burden of the young apothecary. She knew that at the end of this war, she would be called many derogatory titles, but she hadn't expected "child labor exploiter" to come so quickly.
The girl looked up with a mixture of pride and exhaustion.
Farida: All the injured have been treated and are ready to fight, Runa-sama.
Runa nodded automatically and began handing out the potions.
Runa: In that case, you can take these two potions...
She stopped abruptly.
Runa: Wait, what did you say?
Farida lowered her gaze, as if she had made a mistake.
Farida: Cough, cough... My sincerest apologies, Runa-sama. It took me longer than expected to treat the injured because I was sick and couldn't overload myself these days. Also, I'm the only healer in the village. However, I managed to cure them all just in time for your arrival.
For the first time since she arrived in this world, the insensitive Runa felt a sharp pang of guilt deep within her.
She looked at the little elf in front of her, her thin and tired shoulders, and noticed a look of determination that seemed unusual for someone so young.
Even when sick... she did the impossible to fulfill her task.
Runa: I see. Good job, Farida. It's a relief to have such an excellent healer in this village. You can retire and rest.
As the girl stood up, Runa thought she saw her clench her fist in a victorious gesture before turning to leave. Maybe it was just her imagination.
I'll reward her as she deserves later, Runa thought. But now, there are more urgent matters to attend to.
Hardening her expression, Runa refocused her attention on the meeting, ready to address the next report.
Runa: Next. Barmus, tell me how the training is going.
Barmus stepped forward. He was one of the most skilled hunters in the village, along with Reinell. You could say that both of them were the strongest, considering the modest power of the elves, which, honestly, left much to be desired. Still, his experience as a hunter at least allowed him to teach others the basics of archery and combat.
Runa sighed internally. If only she had more competent allies. But for now, this is what she had.
Barmus: At this moment, including the new recruits and the recently treated injured, we have a total of 36 soldiers available. Of them, 28 are archers and 8 are warriors.
Runa frowned and muttered to herself:
Runa: Damn... it's still a pretty low number. And besides, the elves barely have any warriors.
She thought for a moment, then raised her voice.
Runa: Barmus, divide the soldiers into four units of nine people. Also, train at least one person from each unit to handle a carriage.
Barmus looked at her with a mix of confusion and concern.
Barmus: But, Runa-sama, I don't even know how to drive a carriage.
Runa looked at him disdainfully and replied in a sharp tone:
Runa: So? Do you want me to go teach them myself? You know I can't do everything for you. If you really want to defend this village, you'll have to step up.
Barmus bit his lip, searching for a response. Before he could say anything, Elendor intervened from his spot in the room.
Elendor: Barmus, if you want, I can help you with that when I have a bit of free time. I've learned something about carriage handling from reading some books.
The tension on Barmus's face relaxed slightly, and he nodded respectfully.
Barmus: That would be very helpful. Thank you, Elendor.
Elendor: No problem. It's all to make up for my mistake.
Runa watched the exchange with some disappointment but didn't interrupt. At least they were taking some initiative on their own.
Similar discussions took place throughout the meeting, each elf receiving clear instructions to maximize the scarce resources available.
Finally, after what seemed like hours, Runa realized the room was completely empty. Each elf had left one by one to fulfill their assignments.
Runa let out a heavy sigh as she leaned back in her chair. The office, silent and deserted, offered a brief moment of respite. She looked through the papers on her desk and noticed that the volume seemed thinner than the last time she saw it. She didn't pay it much attention; after all, everything she had written there was probably useless now, It likely was just Elendor trying to decipher the language.
A firm knock on the door pulled her out of her thoughts.
Runa: Come in.
The door opened slowly, revealing Lynell, who entered accompanied by Reinell. The latter kept his head slightly lowered and avoided looking her directly in the eye, as if her mere presence caused him a mixture of respect and fear.
Lynell: Runa-sama, I brought Reinell as you requested. If you don't need anything else, I'll take my leave.
Runa: Very well, Lynell. You can go.
Lynell gave a slight nod before leaving, leaving Reinell alone with Runa. She observed him closely, noticing how his shoulders tensed.
Runa: (crossing her arms) Relax, Reinell. I'm not going to rip your head off.
Reinell: (with a tense voice) Yes... of course, Runa-sama.
Runa rolled her eyes but didn't insist.
Runa: Alright, let's make this quick. Give me your report.
Reinell: As ordered, I've been keeping watch over the village's entrances and exits. I haven't seen anyone approaching your cabin. There's also been no unusual movement near the village boundaries, but...
Reinell hesitated for a moment, somewhat uncomfortable under Runa's intense gaze.
Runa: But what? Speak.
Reinell: The only irregularity I noticed is that Clara has been missing from the village for two days. From what I've been told, Celine was the last to see her. Her absence coincides with the time you've been away, Runa-sama.
Runa frowned, processing the information.
Runa: Two days? Is anyone else missing?
Reinell: It doesn't seem to be the case, only Clara.
Runa rested her elbows on the desk, intertwining her fingers in front of her face as she thought. Who the hell was Clara? Her name sounded familiar, but she couldn't quite place her. If she disappeared just when I was investigating the human city, then... could this Clara be Zhyrithia's spy?
Runa: Didn't you see when she left the village? Where was she headed?
Reinell: I'm really sorry, Runa-sama. I didn't see the exact moment she left the village. She probably left during the night, when everything was calm.
Runa clicked her tongue, annoyed by the situation.
Runa: I see... Stay alert, Reinell. It's possible that Clara was the traitor, but I won't rule out that there may be more than one. I want you to keep an eye on any suspicious movement in and out of the village.
Reinell: Understood, Runa-sama.
Runa: One last thing, Reinell.
Reinell: Of course, what is it?
Runa: Take off your shirt.
Reinell: Excuse me?
Runa: Just take it off, I need to check something.
Helpless before Runa's demands, Reinell began to take off his shirt.
After going to the human city, Runa noticed how some men stared at her figure with lustful gazes, reminding her once again that she was in a female body. The elves did it too, but she didn't feel the same kind of lust coming from them. It was as if they were staring at her for a long time, trying to imprint her beauty into their retinas. She could understand this reaction to some extent, as she had been a man for 27 years in her previous life. However, seeing how the elven slaves were treated in the Duke's mansion, a fear arose in her mind. She was terrified that her mind might start to shift as a woman's at some point; that's why she needed to make sure she didn't have such feelings.
When she set her gaze on Reinell's bare torso, she felt no reaction. To be honest, Reinell had a good physique: tall, with a slightly toned abdomen, probably around 13% body fat. His back muscles stood out, likely from constant use of the bow, and he had a handsome face.
But it didn't seem like seeing him caused any female reaction. It wasn't that she disliked looking at him, but she simply couldn't find him attractive. It felt as if she was looking at herself in the mirror from her previous life. Thinking about it, how did women fall in love with men? At least when she was a man, she felt something when looking at a beautiful woman's figure. Or maybe, for a man to seem attractive, some kind of specific event had to be unlocked? Still, in this moment, she didn't feel anything special about either gender. Maybe it was because she was an elf now, not a human.
She decided to accept that she was still a man in her mind, which brought her some relief.
Runa (whispering to herself): I see... I'm not like that, I'm not like that.
Runa: You can put your shirt back on, Reinell.
Reinell: Runa-sama...
Runa: What is it, Reinell?
Reinell: I've been thinking... what is your relationship with my sister, Lynell?
Runa: My relationship with Lynell? She was the first person I met in the village. Since then, she's been helping me with many things, and I trust her completely. So... I'd say she's a friend. Why do you ask?
Reinell: It's just that... I've seen you being quite close to her, and I worry. Sometimes I can't help but think that maybe you have plans for her to do something dangerous.
Runa: (Runa's gaze becomes serious for a moment.) Lynell has the potential to be very valuable, but I won't push her to do anything she doesn't want to. If I ever put her in danger, it will be because it's necessary for the village, but the last thing I want is to put someone I trust at risk.
Reinell: I appreciate that, Runa-sama. I just wanted to make sure it wasn't something... risky.
Runa: Don't worry, Reinell. I won't do anything unnecessary. Now, go rest, you've got a lot of work tomorrow.
Reinell: Yes, Runa-sama. Thank you.
The conversation ended with a slight sense of relief in Reinell, who left, leaving Runa to reflect on her next decisions.
END OF PART 6