“Why are you still here? It has been all night.”
“What? You wouldn’t understand.”
Ashriel did not stop her movements, lifting her chin in retort.
“This is called following one’s nature… it is an instinct carved into the bones of us Dark Elves. Someone as stiff and old-fashioned as you, little Celia, is the real outlier in our clan.”
Celia glanced at the woman beneath her, whose face was flushed and eyes were misty.
“Where did this one come from?”
“Her? Just a mercenary who broke in yesterday to cause trouble. I took her down myself, so now she is my trophy.” Ashriel’s tone was full of pride. “Celia, didn’t you go out hunting yesterday? It is a shame you didn’t run into them. Even though we signed non-aggression pacts with the surrounding kingdoms, there are always these fools who don’t know their place.”
“Tch, do what you want. I am going to see the Clan Leader.”
Celia turned and left the wooden hut.
Outside, the first light of dawn was breaking, and the clan grounds were still shrouded in the silence of sleep.
A few Dark Elves lay slumped haphazardly by the extinguished campfires, yet to wake from their hangovers.
It had been dark when she returned last night, so she had not noticed.
Now that the morning light was brightening, the pile of mercenary corpses not far away was clearly visible, stacked on top of one another in a heap.
Judging by the scale, it seemed more than one team had come last night.
Celia still found it difficult to understand why humans were always willing to take on such commissions, crossing the border and stepping into the Elves’ territory for a deal destined to be a one-way trip.
Perhaps they mistook this forest for a gathering place of ordinary Elves.
After all, the number of Dark Elves was pitifully small.
Even counting the minors, the total population was just over 1,000.
Furthermore, no one knew their location except for the Elf Queen.
But for her clansmen, this was undoubtedly something to be happy about.
During the times they did not go out to make purchases, the clan’s desires were suppressed here.
These humans who came to their door just happened to bring long-awaited fun to the already restless Dark Elves.
Especially the female captives.
Celia knew their fate.
As a Dark Elf, she was all too clear about the truth beneath that beautiful skin.
Blue-purple skin, long silver-white hair, nearly perfect facial features, and a curvaceous body—the appearance of a Dark Elf was a natural camouflage.
It made every face fit the most direct imagination of beauty in the outside world.
This was especially true since the Dark Elf race was entirely female.
Reproduction relied on females of other races, and by relying on the strength of their genes, they gave birth to Dark Elf offspring.
This naturally attracted prying eyes from the outside world.
In her childhood memories, people constantly warned her about the malice of the outside world.
In the slave markets, a single Dark Elf could fetch an astronomical price.
After all, Dark Elves had long lifespans; catching one could provide for three generations.
But their formidable strength was enough to shatter any greed.
Adult Dark Elves were all exceptionally gifted spellcasters and possessed an innate battle instinct.
The difficulty of capturing one alive was no less than taming a dragon soaring through the sky.
As for minor Dark Elves?
Do not even dream of it. Dark Elves always lived in groups.
Anyone wanting to target the young would first have to get past the three Great Sages of the clan.
Regardless, in Celia’s 60 years of life, she had neither seen a trace of a slave trader nor heard news of any clansman being kidnapped.
The world said that the only flaw of the Dark Elves was their low fertility.
But in Celia’s view, how was this not a form of luck?
If not for the difficulty of clan reproduction, how could the Dark Elves’ views on love and sex be so open and free?
Perhaps Ashriel was right; she was indeed an outlier among the Dark Elves.
Very few clanspeople, at the age of nearing adulthood, still guarded a pure and flawless body.
But this really could not be blamed on her.
When she reincarnated here, the Goldfinger she awakened happened to have the condition of remaining chaste to activate.
If it were not for this, Celia would have joined their massive parties long ago.
Between her past life and this one, the only thing that had changed was her gender.
‘Becoming a literal joke — was this reincarnation for nothing?’
‘Just one more day… hold on, I’ll be an adult in just one more day.’
Thinking all the way, Celia finally arrived at the Clan Leader’s wooden hut.
She stopped outside the hut.
The suppressed gasps and the rustle of silk rubbing together coming from inside were clearly audible.
The situation inside was obvious.
She knocked three times on the wooden pillar next to the door.
The sounds inside paused for a moment, followed by a languid and low response: “…Who is it?”
“It is me, Celia.”
A burst of low laughter and the rustling of clothes sounded inside.
After a long while, the voice spoke again, carrying the laziness and satisfaction of the aftermath: “Come in, child.”
Celia pushed open the heavy door and walked in.
The light inside was dim.
Silvia, the Clan Leader, reclined on a large couch covered with soft animal skins and silk.
Her long silver-white hair was scattered like flowing water, and she was loosely wrapped in a velvet robe.
The collar was slack, revealing a large area of purple skin and delicate collarbones.
A faint flush still remained on her cheeks, and her eyes held a captivating, languid charm.
Two graceful figures were still snuggled up beside her.
On the left was the Cat Beastman, Lila. Her wheat-colored skin was smooth and tight, and fluffy triangular ears poked out from her soft, silver-gray short hair.
She was currently playing with Silvia’s long hair.
On the right was the Wood Elf, Maya.
Her long green hair was spread out, and her posture was more serene.
She just lay quietly on her side, her fair arm resting lightly on Silvia’s leg.
“It seems I have disturbed you.”
“It is not really a disturbance, just a slight shortening of the tail end of the fun. Coming to see me so early, my little Celia, is there something special, or…”
The corner of her mouth curled into a playful smile.
“Have you finally figured it out and plan to experience our clan’s nature before you become an adult? I can guide you personally.”
“That is not necessary. I just came to ask if my pass has been issued.”
“So impatient? It arrived a long time ago. Here, take it. Does little Celia want to leave that much? The outside world might not be as interesting as you imagine.”
“I just want to go to the Ashen Plains to take a look. My mother is buried there.”
Silvia’s gaze softened, carrying a hint of reminiscence.
“Little Celia has grown up… if your mothers knew, they would be very happy. By the way, the Beastman Clan is coming next week. This is an annual event for our clan. Aren’t you going to wait until next week to leave? Besides, you become an adult tomorrow. Isn’t that worth celebrating?”
“That’s right!”
Lila, leaning next to Silvia, added, “Little Celia, I heard there are several particularly beautiful girls in the team coming this time! Do you want Aunt Lila to help set you up?”
A thin layer of faint red suddenly rose on Celia’s cheeks.
She subconsciously took a half-step back, her gaze quickly moving away from Lila’s enthusiastic face.
Her fingers unconsciously twirled a corner of her robe.
Despite being here for 60 years, she was still so easily embarrassed when faced with her elders’ teasing regarding this subject.
Curiosity that had been suppressed for a long time and a faint sense of anticipation were like tiny vines, quietly poking their heads out from a corner of her heart.
A certain instinct in her body seemed to wake up slightly under the gaze of Silvia and the other two, making her ears turn even hotter.
“I—I mean…”
She lowered her head, occasionally peeking at the three elders on the couch who were of different styles but all looking at her with smiles, then she looked down at the tips of her boots again as if burned.
“…If, if there is enough time…”
This was so embarrassing.
She clearly wanted to just say “sure,” but saying it out loud felt like all the blood in her body was rushing to her face.
It was all the fault of that damn Goldfinger.
If it weren’t for it, she wouldn’t be in this situation at all.
Just one more day!
Only one day!
After tomorrow, she would…
“I… I will go prepare for the trip first! Goodbye!”
She threw out these words at high speed, bowed again almost in a panic, then turned and walked out of the Clan Leader’s hut with quick, awkward steps, nearly tripping over the slightly high threshold.
The wooden door closed gently behind her.
“…Little Celia is still so fun.”
Watching the slightly swaying wooden door, Silvia chuckled and shook her head, her fingertips lazily curling a strand of silver hair.
“She clearly agreed, but she ran faster than a startled Moonlight Deer. It seems she really is counting the days.”
“Exactly! She has finally come to her senses! Silvia, do you think we should detain her in advance this year? Lest this little thing hide again when the time comes.”