Chapter 56: Laila’s Great Adventure part 2

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Translator: Soafp

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Laila embarked on a journey that spanned two years.

During this time, she scoured various ancient ruins in search of the rejuvenating elixir.

Just recently, she finally acquired one vial of the elixir she had longed for.

Though hesitant to use it while camping due to potential side effects or immobilization, she planned to use it immediately upon reaching a town.

She quickly returned to town and safely arrived at an inn without any issues.

(Now that I’ve reached the inn, I’m tempted to use it right away.)

As a precaution, she prepared water, simple food, a change of clothes, and more by her bedside.

She gazed at the elixir for a while. Concerned about potential aging side effects, she steeled herself and consumed it.

After a brief moment, her entire body started to warm up.

(Is it better to lay down on the bed just in case…)

The warmth wasn’t discomforting; rather, it felt soothing. She laid down on the bed and eventually drifted off to sleep.

She woke up to the sunlight streaming through an open window.

Glancing at her hands while on the bed, she sensed a difference.

It might have been her imagination. To confirm, she got up and retrieved a handheld mirror.

Youthful. Although still older by regular standards, it was noticeably different from before consuming the elixir.

Reflected in the mirror was a beautiful woman in her early thirties.

Laila felt like rejoicing. Worried about potential side effects causing her to age, she found it reassuring that it didn’t happen.

Now she needed two more vials. Well, three, including one for the young girl. If she secured those, everything would work out. She felt jubilant inside.

Given this turn of events, the location where she acquired the elixir itself should serve as a clue.

This elixir was obtained from a ruin associated with the Elves.

Specifically, it was a burial ground.

Elves typically bury their dead in the earth. Even the sophisticated Laila refrained from disturbing graves or disrespecting the deceased.

However, higher-ranking Elves are interred in stone coffins, buried in cemetery ruins.

It’s akin to ancient burial mounds in Japan.

Within these sites, stone coffins are placed, accompanied by clothing, various elixirs, precious metals, and more, all in case the deceased were to return.

Among those items was the rejuvenating elixir.

How did she recognize it as a rejuvenating elixir? Because it was written in ancient Elven language.

Laila wasn’t well-versed in ancient Elven, but she had memorized the term “rejuvenating elixir.”

As a result, she somehow managed to find the elixir.

Having tried it herself, she confirmed that this elixir was genuine.

From here on, prioritizing the search for Elf burial grounds would be efficient.

However, desecrating a burial ground is unacceptable to descendants or gravekeepers.

She had no choice but to either earn immense gratitude or sneak in unnoticed.

“In that case, determining the location of Elf burial grounds…”

Even after examining the map, there was no mention of Elf burial grounds.

However, if Elves didn’t reside there, then there wouldn’t be Elf burial grounds.

She marked places where Elves were believed to live.

“Visiting them one by one is the only option… forcefully obtaining it might alert them next time… Forceful means will be the last resort. At least, I must obtain one more dose amicably…”

Muttering to herself, she set her sights on the nearest settlement.

After drinking the rejuvenating elixir for three days, Laila found herself approached by men everywhere she went.

Initially, her striking appearance often attracted attention, but it had been relatively quiet lately. However, having regained a youthful appearance, appearing around 30 years old, she became the focus of attention for men once more.

“It’s annoying! Leave me alone!”

Laila’s voice echoed.

Currently, she was on a escort mission towards a town near an Elven settlement.

Why an escort? Well, she had actually left the mage association and became an adventurer. Over the past two years, she had climbed up to rank C. With a bit more effort, she could likely reach rank B.

Solo escort missions weren’t accepted. To minimize travel losses, she temporarily formed a party. Two male warriors, a female healing mage, and the magic-using Laila made up a well-balanced team of four.

Initially, accepting the escort mission seemed fine, but one of the warriors took a liking to Laila. He kept checking on her, concerned about “something.” Laila, a formidable mage who had even been a squad leader in the mage association, initially tolerated it. However, she was getting tired of it and reverted to her earlier loud voice.

“I have someone in mind already! Do you understand? Stop hovering around me!”

Being 30 years old, reverting to 20… maybe she should stop drinking the elixir until she could collect two more vials.

Laila was seriously considering that.

Two days later, as planned, she arrived at the town near the Elven settlement.

“Alright then, goodbye. If we meet again somewhere, take care.”

Despite the party’s invitation for dinner, she had no interest.

She stayed at an inn that day and, the next day, set off alone into the forest to search for the settlement. Exploring forests solo required extreme caution.

Movement wasn’t the issue.

The problem was how to take breaks. Being human, bodily functions like menstruation, sleep, and meals were unavoidable.

Laila solved these issues by climbing trees.

How did she climb trees? It was through “Space Kicks.” After observing Aldo’s combat and seeking guidance from Rafina and Ashera, she spent two years perfecting it.

Of course, she was far inferior to Aldo, Elphus, or Ashera, but she managed to move effortlessly between high places.

Other than insects or snakes, there was hardly any sign of someone climbing up a tree.

Thus, Laila climbed the tree, tethering herself to it and resting.

Once she got used to it, it was more comfortable than expected. She even brought something like a cushion.

She woke up to the sound of birds.

“It’s about time I find the Elven settlement.”

Was this a flag…? Underneath the tree, she spotted an Elven boy being chased by a group of goblins.

She checked the number of goblins and other pursuing enemies. Then, without hesitation, she leaped down from the tree.

It wouldn’t be like Aldo’s battles, but she could make an attack with the momentum of her descent… or so she thought.

She crushed one goblin with mana charged feet and then used a Space Kick to slow her descent.

Certainly, she defeated the goblin. However, she got splattered with its blood. There stood a half-crying Laila.

Aldo would naturally wraps himself in magic to ensure blood splatters don’t directly hit him.

Laila wasn’t familiar with such techniques. Even if she knew, she wasn’t proficient in manipulating magic to that extent. In a way, getting dirty from the splatter was inevitable.

Switching her thoughts from feeling like crying, she surveyed her surroundings. There were four goblins left. No higher-ranked creatures were among them.

“Just small fry.”

Instantly enhancing her body, she created distance between them.

Laila followed the same non-verbal casting style as Raffna.

The differences became clear in actual combat.

She fired successive Wind Cutters from her staff.

The goblins were no match and were being sliced up.

Within less than a minute, she successfully defeated all four goblins.

Laila addressed the Elven boy.

“It’s alright now.”

In response, the boy spoke in Elvish.

Laila couldn’t speak Elvish…

The boy took her hand and pulled her.

It seemed he wanted to take her somewhere. Surely, it was the Elven settlement.

She decided to follow silently, assuming there would be people in the settlement who could speak the common human language.

The boy indeed brought her to the settlement.

At the entrance, a guard stared at Laila with suspicion. When the boy said something to the guard, the tension eased slightly.

She was led through the gate, following the boy.

The settlement was seamlessly integrated with the forest. It was much larger than it appeared, taking some time to grasp the scale.

“This isn’t just a settlement; it’s an Elven hidden village. Here, maybe…”

Even as she was being led, Laila meticulously observed the village.

In the end, she was taken to a house at the farthest end.

There sat what appeared to be the village chief—an Elf exuding an aura of authority.

Laila felt somewhat overwhelmed by the atmosphere in this place.

Taking a gulp, she began to speak.

“I am Laila. I am traveling for personal reasons. I have no intention of quarreling with the Elves.”

She finished speaking in one breath. Silence filled the room.

(…)

(Did I mess up something? I’m not sure.)

After about a minute, the village chief spoke up.

“jfskdj”msl”

It was in Elvish.

For a moment, her thoughts raced, but she quickly realized.

(It seems there’s no one here who can speak the human language. If I want the rejuvenation elixir, the Elven secret medicine, Elvish is essential. Learning the language here might not be a bad idea…)

From there, they communicated their intentions through gestures and movements, resembling play to an onlooker.

The serious air from earlier had vanished.

And so, Laila decided to stay in the Elven hidden village to learn the language.