Ultimate Spin System: Ero Spin?-Chapter 140: next place

Sylmara turned to Lucas with a cool, expectant expression. "You’ll ride with me," she said simply, already stepping toward the front of the lead carriage.

M’baku’s ears twitched, his tail flicking in irritation. "You’re just ordering him around? At least show some damn respect," he growled, his sharp eyes narrowing at her. "Lucas isn’t one of your subordinates."

Sylmara barely acknowledged him, lifting herself effortlessly onto the front seat of the carriage. "He’s coming, isn’t he?" she said, her voice indifferent. "Why waste time on unnecessary formalities?"

M’baku scoffed, his arms crossing tightly over his chest. "Tch. Typical elves."

Lucas let out a breath and shook his head. "It’s fine, M’baku," he said, keeping his voice calm. "No need to make a big deal out of it." Without further hesitation, he climbed up onto the carriage and took the seat beside Sylmara.

M’baku muttered something under his breath before pulling back and falling into line with the rest of the caravan, clearly displeased.

The carriage jolted forward as the driver urged the horses onward. The elves marching behind them moved in perfect unison, their discipline almost unnatural. Lucas watched them for a moment before shifting his gaze to Sylmara, who remained composed, her piercing emerald eyes fixed on the path ahead.

After a few moments of silence, she spoke. "You handled yourself well back there," she said, her tone neutral. "With the pilot."

Lucas arched a brow. "You were listening?"

"I didn’t need to," she replied smoothly. "I saw the way he looked at you when he left. You made an impression." Her lips curled slightly, almost as if she were amused. "But don’t let it get to your head. Just because he didn’t kill you doesn’t mean he won’t next time."

Lucas exhaled, leaning back slightly. "Yeah, I got that impression too."

Sylmara was silent for a moment before glancing at him. "And? What do you think? About what he said?"

Lucas studied her for a moment before answering. "I think... if what he said is true, then history isn’t what we think it is. And that changes things."

Sylmara’s expression didn’t shift, but there was a flicker of something in her gaze. "It changes nothing," she said. "Whether the gods condemned the Oblivion Empire for defying them or simply because they were a threat, the result is the same. They were erased. And now, after all this time, they choose to reappear?" She scoffed. "That means they want something."

Lucas hummed in thought. "Maybe. But it also means they were never really gone."

Sylmara gave him a sidelong glance before turning back to the road. "Regardless, it’s not your concern."

Lucas smirked faintly. "You sound like him."

She arched a delicate brow. "Like who?"

"Kael. He told me the same thing—don’t get involved."

Sylmara exhaled sharply, almost as if suppressing a laugh. "Then perhaps he’s smarter than I gave him credit for."

Lucas shook his head but didn’t argue. The road stretched long before them, and he had the distinct feeling that this journey was only beginning.

Behind them, M’baku grumbled under his breath, watching the two of them from a distance.

Lucas let the conversation settle into silence for a moment, the steady rhythm of the carriage wheels on the dirt road filling the space between them. The wind carried the faint scent of the forest, a contrast to the tension that lingered in the air.

He turned to Sylmara, his eyes narrowing slightly. "So, where exactly are we going now?"

Sylmara kept her gaze on the path ahead, her expression unreadable. "To a place most humans don’t even know exists. A hidden village, deep within the forest, where certain noble families indulge in their worst desires."

Lucas’s jaw tightened. He had already pieced together the truth. Given that Sylmara and the other elves in their group had been enslaved before he freed them, it wasn’t difficult to guess their next destination. "Let me guess," he said. "This is about rescuing more elves."

Sylmara’s lips curled slightly, not quite a smile but something close. "You catch on quickly."

Before Lucas could respond, a small, gelatinous voice interrupted from his lap. The blue slime nestled against him wobbled slightly, its surface shimmering as it spoke. "New friends?" The slime’s voice was high-pitched and eager. "I like new friends!"

Lucas glanced down at the creature with a smirk. "Yeah, looks like you’ll be meeting more soon."

Sylmara spared a brief glance at the slime before shaking her head slightly. "You’re strangely attached to that thing."

"It’s got personality," Lucas replied, idly patting the slime’s surface, causing it to vibrate happily. "Unlike some people."

Sylmara exhaled through her nose, neither offended nor amused. "If you’re expecting some heartfelt gratitude from me, don’t. I don’t waste time on pleasantries."

Lucas chuckled, turning his gaze back to the road. "Yeah, I got that impression."

The carriage continued its journey through the forest, the path growing narrower and more secluded. The trees thickened, their shadows stretching over the road like reaching fingers. The further they traveled, the more Lucas felt a weight settle over them—an unspoken tension in the air.

Sylmara finally spoke again, her voice quieter this time. "This village we’re going to... it isn’t just a place where nobles keep their slaves. It’s a playground. A hunting ground. They don’t just keep elves there—they break them."

Lucas felt his grip tighten slightly. "And you were there before?"

Sylmara’s emerald eyes flicked toward him, sharp and unreadable. "No. But I’ve known those who were." Her gaze turned forward again. "And I remember those who never came back."

Lucas exhaled, letting the information settle. He wasn’t sure what kind of hell they were about to walk into, but one thing was certain—whoever was responsible for this place wouldn’t walk away unscathed.

Behind them, M’baku let out a low growl, clearly overhearing their conversation. "Good," he muttered. "I was getting bored."

The slime in Lucas’s lap jiggled again. "More friends soon," it repeated cheerfully.

Lucas smirked. "Yeah... and I don’t think they’ll be friendly."

Lucas drummed his fingers against the wooden seat, his gaze shifting between the dense trees that lined the road. After a few moments of silence, he spoke. "So, elves don’t interact with humans at all anymore?"

Sylmara’s jaw tensed slightly, and when she answered, her voice carried an edge of bitterness. "Not by choice. There was a time when we believed coexistence was possible."

Lucas arched a brow. "You mean the peace treaty?"

Sylmara’s fingers clenched at her lap. "Yes. Hundreds of years ago, the human kingdoms extended an offer of peace. They spoke of unity, trade, and shared prosperity. Our people, despite our doubts, agreed. For fifty years, we upheld our end of the treaty. We trusted them." She exhaled sharply, her emerald eyes flashing with barely restrained fury. "Then they betrayed us."

Lucas frowned. "What happened?"

Sylmara’s voice dropped, colder now. "They came with gifts one day, with smiles and honeyed words, just as they always had. And that very night, when our guards were at their weakest, they attacked. Cities burned. Families were slaughtered. Thousands of elves, young and old, were taken in chains." Her grip on her cloak tightened. "We had opened our gates to them, and they repaid us with steel and fire."

Lucas remained silent for a moment, digesting the weight of her words. "And that was the start of it all?"

Sylmara gave a sharp nod. "That was when we learned the true nature of humans. Ever since, the remaining elf kingdoms have isolated themselves. Those who tried to rekindle relations were either enslaved or killed. The ones you see with me now? They are the remnants of those taken."

Lucas exhaled, his gaze shifting toward the marching elves behind them. He could see it now—the hardened expressions, the quiet anger in their eyes. This wasn’t just about saving a few captives. This was centuries of vengeance waiting to be repaid.

"So," Lucas said after a moment, "this mission of yours... it’s not just about freeing the elves in that village, is it?"

Sylmara’s lips pressed into a thin line. "No. It’s about sending a message."

Lucas smirked slightly. "And that message is?"

Sylmara’s eyes met his, her gaze burning with unshaken resolve. "That elves are done being prey."

Lucas tilted his head, considering her words. "Alright, I get why elves hate humans," he said. "But then why do they seem to dislike monsters too? I’ve noticed the way your people react around them."

Sylmara’s expression darkened. "Because the monsters helped them."

Lucas blinked. "Helped the humans?"

"Yes." Sylmara’s voice was thick with disdain. "When the war began, many monsters sided with the humans. Some out of fear, some for power, and others simply for the chaos. The humans used them as weapons, sending them into our forests, into our homes, to hunt us down. They were unleashed like attack dogs, slaughtering our warriors, destroying our sacred lands, and dragging our people into slavery."

Lucas frowned. "Not all monsters, though, right? There had to be some that didn’t get involved."

Sylmara scoffed. "Of course. There were always exceptions. Some stayed neutral. A rare few even fought alongside us. But the majority? They took the humans’ gold and feasted on our suffering. They saw us as nothing more than another prey species to hunt."

Lucas exhaled slowly. He had known about human-elf conflicts before, but this—this was different. It wasn’t just about betrayal. This was deep-seated hatred, centuries of pain passed down through generations.

"And now?" he asked. "Do the monsters still work with humans?"

Sylmara’s expression was unreadable for a moment. "Some do. Some don’t. But it doesn’t matter. Trust is not something we give so easily anymore."

Lucas leaned back slightly, letting her words settle. He understood now why the elves were so wary—not just of humans, but of everything outside their own kind. They had been burned too many times before.

The slime in his lap wobbled slightly, as if sensing the tension. "Monsters bad?" it asked curiously.

Lucas smirked slightly and patted its surface. "Some are," he admitted. "Some aren’t."

Sylmara glanced at the slime before shaking her head. "And what about you, Lucas? What do you think?" Her gaze sharpened. "Are you with the monsters, or with us?"

Lucas met her stare evenly. "I think I’m with whoever makes the right choice."

Sylmara studied him for a moment before turning her gaze back to the road. "We’ll see, then," she murmured. "Soon enough, you’ll have to decide."