The Elf Journey In The Western Fantasy World
Chapter 169: Words Left Unspoken

Chapter 169: Words Left Unspoken

Drow had even been the one to call his name.

So how could he now stand there silently, unwilling to say a word? What kind of logic was that?

In all his decades as a mediator in the Elven Forest, Illiya had never encountered a more difficult elf than this one.

He genuinely didn’t know how to communicate with him. And for some inexplicable reason, he had the feeling that if he pushed a little harder with questions, this dark elf would actually start crying.

That idea startled Illiya. At the same time, he found it kind of funny.

Drow? Crying?

No way he’d actually cry, right?

But just as the thought crossed his mind, Illiya happened to catch a glimpse of Drow’s reddening eyes—like a wronged little wife on the verge of tears.

Silently, Illiya took two steps back, widening the distance between them.

One second he’d been sure there’d be no tears, and the next second—smack—reality had slapped him in the face.

Unbearable.

Illiya didn’t dare say anything, afraid that any words might provoke the other elf further.

Drow also remained silent, unwilling to initiate any topic of conversation.

He was terrified that if he opened his mouth, he’d show weakness in front of the person tied to him by bonds spanning two lifetimes.

The air between them grew thick with tension.

Illiya found it suffocating.

He realized things couldn’t go on like this. So he decided to make a move.

"Ahem... Drow, how did you find me? I thought this spot I picked to admire the view was pretty well hidden."

Illiya who had never in his life been the one to start a conversation—was incredibly nervous.

In his desperate attempt to break the awkward silence, he didn’t even realize just how dumb the words he’d just spoken were.

Drow who is slowly pulling himself out of his emotional slump, was greeted with that exact sentence.

He casually glanced around at the desolate surroundings, the corner of his lips twitching slightly upward.

His mood lightened considerably.

"Mm." Drow replied softly.

Illiya: "..."

Could he say something other than "mm"?

After yet another failed attempt at conversation, Illiya decided he would stop making trouble for himself.

It was better to go back to being a quiet background wall.

Just as Illiya resolved not to speak further, Drow opened his mouth again.

Drow asked, "Illiya, you should already know how the Demon Realm is treating the war this time, right?"

Illiya’s gaze sharpened. He began to scrutinize the dark elf standing before him.

Asking such a loaded question during this sensitive time—was Drow scheming something shady, or was it just a casual inquiry?

"You—"

Illiya hadn’t even finished his sentence before Drow cut him off.

"Illiya, you don’t need to answer me. I’ve already made my decision."

Drow didn’t want to hear Illiya’s reply.

He was afraid his own assumptions would be proven wrong, so he hurriedly interrupted.

It was only after cutting Illiya off that Drow realized—his tightly clenched palms had become damp at some point, soaked with sweat.

After getting the first sentence out, the following words came a bit more smoothly.

"I don’t mean any harm. I’m not asking you this to do anything bad to you. No—I would never, absolutely never, do anything inappropriate to you. And I would never, absolutely never hurt you." Drow’s voice lifted, and his tone grew louder.

Maybe because of his nerves, some of what he said sounded a bit incoherent, oddly phrased, even bewildering.

"The people from the Yaguk Theocracy are scum. There isn’t a single good person among them. They’re all just a bunch of self-serving hypocrites."

Drow ground his teeth, and a flash of murderous intent flickered in his eyes—so brief that Illiya thought he might have imagined it.

"Illiya, you didn’t do anything wrong. Back when I saw the Yaguk Theocracy Royal Knights near the borders of Nubilian Union, I already knew those people had bigger ambitions. It’s only right to alert the demons. That so-called ’war’ was just a formality—who would really take it seriously? I mean, after decades of taking free resources, maybe their greed just grew too big."

Drow’s voice gradually lowered as he spoke, until his final words were barely audible.

Illiya was left with a giant question mark over his head.

Wait a minute. Suddenly, he couldn’t quite follow where this was going. Why had they started condemning Yaguk Theocracy out of nowhere?

Did Drow come all this way just to vent about how dishonorable Yaguk Theocracy was?

Surely not...?

Illiya was suspicious.

He carefully examined the dark elf and, from the fierce look in his eyes, came to a conclusion.

It wasn’t he who had a grudge against Yaguk Theocracy—it was the dark elf.

And judging from Drow’s voice, which was practically dripping with venom, this grudge wasn’t small.

Illiya began to feel a twinge of sympathy for the people from Yaguk Theocracy.

Of all the people they could’ve crossed, why did they have to make enemies with a dark elf—the pettiest, most grudge-holding race of all?

Was this just them digging their own grave? He didn’t get it.

But now that he had a "reasonable" explanation, Illiya instantly forgave Drow for his earlier rudeness.

He even started making excuses for Drow’s strange behavior.

It was all because he was desperate for revenge!

Illiya understood now.

"It’s alright—go ahead and do what you must!"

Although Drow was confused why Illiya would say such a thing, and even more puzzled by the tender look in Illiya’s eyes, he didn’t reject the goodwill extended toward him.

"I know what I’m saying might sound abrupt, but I still ask that you protect yourself, Illiya," Drow pleaded earnestly. "I understand my words may sound strange to you, but you must be careful—very, very careful. Even though the Demon Realm has already rooted out the spies and saboteurs planted here by the people from the main continent, that doesn’t mean the Demon Realm is now completely safe."