"So, is there no gender seperation in this place?" Ark's face was red, and not just because of the water.

"No. We usually bath here with family and friends to promote bonding."

The two ended up entering the hot spring together. Although Liliana submerged in water and covered herself with her hands, she wore nothing. Nothing, just like Ark. It was a situation several steps beyond the flirting he was fine with.

He was freaked out.

(Pure thoughts, pure thoughts, pure... who am I kidding with? I'm no monk nor saint, I'm a teenager dammit!)

Turmoil far worse than he ever experienced. It was a remarkable achievement, in a sense.

"Is it helping?"

"What...?" Ark's indecent mind jumped ahead, only barely contained. He asked to confirm.

"T-the water?"

"Ah, yes. I can feel the flow of magic power stablizing a little."

The spring was certainly as miraculous as the rumors made of it. Healing powers detached of dark and light, a natural medicine that rejavunated the life force of any being.

"I'm glad the conversation went so smoothly."

"Too smoothly, if you ask me. Why didn't you tell me about saving the elves before?"

It was a reasonable question, especially considering Ark's attempts to befriend (flirt with) Liliana.

"Unless it's relevant, I don't see any reason to talk about the past. Honestly, that time is something I want to forget."

An image, a sea of blood, came to mind with every word. Strong scent of iron and ash drifted in the crater created by the spells. The counterattack, the death and horror. It was the first time he ever felt so much fear.

There were dozens reminders like that. Instances where strength was needed, strength he didn't have. It's the luck that forces Ark to go against impossibly strong adversaries.

These terrible experiences made Ark's blood to boil in furor.

"I'm sorry. I didn't mean to pry."

"It's fine to pry. It means you are interested in those you care about, and that I mean something to you." Ark smiled. It was a relaxed smile that rarely came from the bottom of his heart, gently blowing the negative feelings from a moment ago away.

His mother had said that to him once. Ark asked an uncomfortable question, but apologized once he realized it. Rather than being angry, she told him that with her normal beaming smile.

She had the ability to make any awkward situation into a beautiful moment.

"A..rk...."

"Which is why....is it fine if I also pry a little?"

"Ah........ehh......"

Ark patiently waited for Liliana's next words. He did not rush her.

Bubble noises were made as she pondered his words... until it stopped, and Ark noticed the elf is knocked cold.

(Did that idiot seriously get overheated before me? How dumb do you need to be to do that! Guess I'll farm affection later.)

So it's all some game to Ark, huh? He shook her awake, trying not to mind her naked body, and exited the spring as soon as Liliana got to her sense to a satisfying degree.

Liliana left shortly after, her earlobes red. He was sure it wasn't just because of the heat.

"How is it that every time you say something, you leave me utterly speechless?" Kenrik's face wrinkled more than usual.

"I believe my request is quite reasonable." The culprit is, of course, Ark. "One that holds mutual benefits, if you think of it."

After he finished rinsing himself with the spring, Ark properly greeted the elves with apologies for his rudeness earlier. Using his superlative acting skills and knack for lying, he posed himself in a favorite light and won the heart of many elves.

For his second day, it started by Kenrik suggesting that Ark trained with the elves in archery as he saw his guest views it intently.

"Why, just why would you want to be shot countless arrows?!"

"I don't want to get shot. I want them to shoot me." Then he said with a haughty tone: "what makes you think they can hit me?"

"But your injuries...."

"My body is in perfect condition, and I have an insurance."

Kenrik was about to insist, but one look at Ark showed it would be a waste of breath. It was then that a young elf vigorously approached.

"Oh, let me! Please, gramps. I always wanted to shoot a living being (moving target)."

(Saying morbid stuff cutely only makes it worst!)

It was a retort he wanted to say out loud, but stopped himself. Every elf address Kenrik properly with respect, but this one called him 'gramps'. The obvious conclusion is...

"Anna, control yourself. Ark, allow me to introduce my granddaughter to you. She is a bit crude so please forgive her."

Yep, she is Kenrik's kin.

"Nice meeting you. Don't feel any need to hold back, I will be fine."

(Let's avoid talking to this girl.)

Pushing through his idea while avoiding the odd elf's gaze, he stood a little farther from where she stood aiming her bow.

"You sure about that? I'm a good archer."

"Hmph, I can dodge with my eyes close. Just hurry up, will you."

Precisely because he was the one to suggest it, Ark was confident in dealing with a flying arrow even by just relying on his reflexes. He was ready to have a few test shots before she went at him seriously.

He never imagined the very first shot would be at his heart.

"Wow! Did you see that, gramps? He caught the arrow with one hand!" Anna enthusiastically called out and fired more arrows at Ark.

This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.

(That bitch is crazy! Why is there such killing intent?!)

Although he wasn't planning to use it, he instinctively activated Phantom. The arrows darted with extreme accuracy at his heart, head and other vitals. It rode the wind and barely made a faint whistling sound. This was no doubt, master class archery.

Ark ended up devoting his mind completely to react to the arrows. He relaxed his muscles, taking only the minimum amount of steps.

Seconds turned into minutes as he entered a state of deep concentraition. It was the gray world he often saw while activating Mind Acceleration. Time paced slowly as every speeding dart appeared as slow as a child's attack.

When the final arrow missed, Ark returned to the colored world where time flows normally. In the end, it was better training for focus than physical ability.

"Marvelous," Kenrik breathed in awe. "I have never seen such movement before. It's so refined."

With just a few steps and casual movements, Ark had evaded all the darts while making it look like a walk in the park. There is no doubt it was a high level maneuver.

Anna also shared her grandfather's sentiment. "You caught an arrow with your bare hand!"

Ark himself, however, thought differently.

"Normal arrows aren't impressive to stop or dodge. Putting a spell or coating with some spirit would make it lethally faster."

(Are you treating me like a child? Don't mess with me!)

His inner voice was as stupid and resentful as ever.

"I guess this is nothing in your book, Ark..."

"What sort of enchantment do you use, Ark? I am a spirit user so I can use three elements aside fire. What's your element?" Anna forcefully pushed with countless questions.

Liliana was cut off without care. Moreover, rather than getting angry at this blatant disregard, she meekly backs off. This timid attitude didn't fit her.

Ignoring the troublemaker was impossible. She did too much noise and touched him like they were friends for years.

Looking closely, Anna was very pretty. Her light green hair was a stark contrast to Liliana's and her clear blue eyes would be considered very attractive. She might be too vigorous but that is another part of her charm.

(Annoying clingy woman.)

Nope. Ark couldn't bring himself to like her in the least. He hated clingy people like that, making his bias dispell any attraction he could've felt.

There were countless petty reasons not to like someone, and Ark was a world champion in this sport.

"Stop bothering him so much, Anna. It's impolite." Fortunately for him, Kenrik came to his saving.

"But if Ark himself—!"

"Oh, is this the time for today's rinse already? Gotta go!" Ark escaped with the first excuse that came to his mind.

It wasn't time for today's rinse, so he just tried to find a place to hide.

When bath time came, Ark sneaked into the spring, only to find Kenrik already inside.

"Oh please, just ignore me and focus on healing yourself. I simply feel too old these days and want to refresh myself."

"Okay, then I'm going in..."

(Leave! I kinda want Liliana to enter again but you're a total party killer!)

You are the guest, jackass.

Hiding his disappointment, Ark attempted to focus on healing his wounds using meditation.

(...Fuck this.)

Naturally, he failed.

It was fundamentally different than the normal meditation he used to gather ambient magic power, and with far higher difficulty.

His expression cramped as he gave up. An illusory itch festered his skin.

"Did you want to talk to me?"

"Ah, yes." Kenrik coughed. "I wanted to ask about your injuries. To be honest, it intrigues me as there aren't many ways to injure the soul."

"Some demon's ultimate attack or something. I should have been reduced to ashes so this is a small price to pay."

"I see. The return of the demons is an ominous thing. It's too soon. The Demon King has yet to be chosen."

"So what? I alone killed a dozen demons already. The only one to be weary of is their ringleader, and we have the Sage with us."

Ark was the one planning to kill the demon, but wouldn't refuse help if given.

"There's also you. The spirits didn't dare approach the necromancer, but not one saw the storm of earth you created six years ago. And you have also grown to be a fine warrior. I am assured."

"Thanks." Ark smiled.

(Really, thank you for being assured. It's not like you could raise you old butt and fight the demons yourself, or even send some capable fight. Sure, we humans would love do all the work.)

Inside, he was cynical and unbecoming of a protagonist as usual.

The elves serves as the last line of defense for the divine tree. Had it come to that, they would lay their lives and battle the necromancer until death. It was a sacred duty for the sake of the world unlike Ark's pursuit of his selfish desires.

"Protecting the world from demons is why I need to heal and become stronger. Why I came here instead of just waiting."

Kenrik pondered over the words for a while

"Meditating is the right answer. Absorp your mana type in moderate quantity and discharge if you find it too much."

He left Ark on his own, smiling at the advice given to him. Then, his smile suddenly cramped again.

(Damn it, Liliana. You seriously had my second rinsing spent with an old man.)

For this nitwit, it's the little things that matter. If you ate the last cookie or left an empty bag of snacks, it amounts to a deadly sin. In this case, even though Liliana didn't do anything, especially anything wrong, yet the affection points were lowered further.

By the time Ark left the spring, his condition improved by leaps and bounds. At least compared to the normal healing rate, this rate was far faster. Also, with Kenrik's advice, Ark might accelerate the rate even more.

"Liliana, is there any big water source close by?"

The red-haird elf was sitting while leaning at the divine tree next to the hot spring's entrance. She wanted to enter with Ark a second time, but Kenrik's gaze as he left made her overly conscious and unable to muster the courage.

"There is a river passing through at the other side of the village. It's used mostly in laundry day but otherwise empty. Why?"

"I need water elements. Let's go." Ark dragged Liliana in the general direction.

As the two walked side by side, an eerie silence took place. It was weird for Ark, as really didn't care for Liliana and just used her as his guide. The uncomfortable silence forced by her only made him annoyed.

"Do you like the elves? The village and everything?" She asks eventually, clearing distressed.

"It could have been worse, I guess."

"Some humans only view elves as nothing but beast, but I guess you are far from being like this. With how you accept even demon blood and all."

"Yeah, I don't care much for race or anything."

One of Ark's best qualities, as few as they are, is his lack of prejudice and intolerance. He doesn't differentiate whether he deals with demons, elves, humans or anything else.

It was due to his interaction with various races that he can see past prejudice at the common ground any civilized species shared.

They all equally suck!

Every race thought itself superior and regarded others as beneath them. Even within themselves, they have social barriers and power struggles. Ark felt disgusted at people holding themselves high and mighty only because society lets them. They all just want an excuse to look down on someone, and a different race is just a good opportunity. They were foolish.

Besides,

(Everyone is equally inferior to me anyways.)

Ark himself was no better! He simply only saw others using his own values, which led the egotisfical idiot to think himself the best.

Anyways, Ark realized, not to his surprise, that the elves were no different.

While some easily accepted him due to Kenrik's words, some looked at his presence in annoyance as if looking at a mosquito. It was enough to make Ark want to go back as soon as possible.

"By the way, are you going to stay quiet the entire time we're with others? We are alone now so don't reserve yourself like that."

Liliana looked at Ark apologetically. Even though they were away from the other elves, her spirits were visibly downcast.

"Sorry, I just... was surprised to see how well you get along with everyone, especially Anna."

"Okay?"

Even though Ark escaped quite forcibly from Anna, they seemed to get along? Since he didn't bother to make it appear like that, Liliana's assumption couldn't be justified. It was just... stupid.

"She is a nice girl," Liliana complimented Anna with a dry voice. Her heart started to freeze as she spoke.

Her mental state is clearly rattled. She emitted such heat, Ark could feel it on his skin. It was the result of her magic power rampaging.

Will Ark save Liliana's heart with a considerate reply? It's up to him to save the girl from her pain, so he better be considerate.

"Bullshit."

Well, it was a fat chance anyways.

"You don't think she is nice. You don't even like her. I don't give a damn about these guys and you shouldn't either."

"I'm not—!"

"What you are, Liliana, is a demon blood. A direct descendent of a demon, a being that is the enemy of the world. It's also a fire demon, hated by the elves the most."

Ark hit the nail with godly accuracy. Memories flashed in Liliana's eyes as she probably remembered years of being given a cold shoulder, ignored, and viewed like a monster.

"But I... I..."

"Let me guess. You're hated because not only you are child of a demon, but also the fire element. Having being strong with magic didn't help, and flames bursted from time to time." Ark's every word struck true, penetrating Liliana's essence. "Other elves didn't let you play with their kids, and even wanted to banish you. Kenrik didn't let them just do that, but he also didn't help. You escaped on your own or was found by the commander, or both, and never came back to the village again."

There was nothing Liliana needed to say. Ark had seen through the entire story without being told almost anything. He also knew the wounds have yet to heal.

And despite that, she came back with Ark for his sake. She brought up the idea even though she was in pain the entire time. It was for her friend.

"You can't understand." Liliana finally spoke, her tone dyed dark with pain. "The pain of being a demon blood, and the hatred it brings. So just stay out of it. I'll deal with this myself."

She didn't want to burden him with her pain, but Ark only looked at her sadly.

"I know."

His words echoed with a pain of their own.

"Because I was also called a demon blood."