The Fake Saintess and the Elf Warrior

The Fake Saintess and the Elf Warrior

Author: Xmage

Tag list: Pure love, Demon King and Hero, Adventure, Female protagonist

Synopsis: On one side is an evil demon girl, cruel and tyrannical, who plots to rule the world and has committed countless atrocities... On the other side is an elven girl whose country was destroyed by the demon king's army, leaving her and her ailing father to wander the streets... Living a life of constant bullying, she longs to cure her father's illness and to live a good life. However, her true dream is to become a valiant heroine...

Chapter Zero: The Legend of the Demon King and the Hero

The bright red flames dyed the night sky crimson.

On the war-torn grassland, a ragged young girl walks.

"Hahaha..."

Covered in blood and grime, she dragged her heavy steps across the once lush green grass, now scorched and parched. Each step brought excruciating pain to her feet from the sharp pebbles. Yet, she gritted her teeth and pressed on.

"First published on 705u.com - Book Club"

"No, if we don't leave quickly, then..."

Even if the girl didn't want to listen, her long, pointed ears would still pick up the agonizing screams of her compatriots behind her, the lawless laughter of the demons who had invaded her homeland, and the crackling sounds of houses burning down. These tormented the girl constantly, almost driving her to madness.

However, she knew she couldn't turn back. Her parents and clansmen had done everything in their power to help her break through the monsters' encirclement and escape to this place. Of course, the price was extremely high. The girl didn't look back when she ran away, so she didn't see her parents' tragic deaths; perhaps that was a stroke of luck amidst misfortune.

However, the girl was acutely aware that her parents were no longer alive. She clenched her teeth, even until her gums bled, but she refused to loosen her grip. Her hatred for the enemy and her tragic wish to avenge her parents and clan were the only driving forces supporting her at this moment, allowing this girl, whose strength had long since been exhausted, to remain conscious and continue forward.

"I absolutely cannot let them catch up... I must escape..."

On this day, the Elf Kingdom fell.

The powerful Demon King, leading his forces, easily breached the elven defenses and marched all the way to the elven stronghold. Initially, in terms of generals and troop strength, the two sides were evenly matched, but under the Demon King's unparalleled power, the elves were completely unable to retaliate. Soon, the king was captured and executed. The elven defeat thus became a cruel reality, almost like a cruel joke.

Not only that, the ruthless Demon King even ordered a racial cleansing. Whether royalty or commoners, all elves were executed. Thus, the elven race was forever wiped off the stage of history.

However, an exception occurred.

An elven girl, having escaped the sight of all the monsters, successfully fled the battlefield. This remains unknown to the monsters.

However, no matter how strong her willpower was, she was still just a young girl. Soon, exhausted, after walking about thirty kilometers, she finally lost consciousness and collapsed to the ground. Before losing consciousness, she was still murmuring...

"I...I will definitely...avenge...everyone..."

.........

She didn't know how long she had slept, but when the girl opened her eyes again, it was still night. She blinked, confirming that she was still alive. So she decided to set off again. But when she tried to stand up, she collapsed to the ground again due to the unbearable soreness all over her body.

At that moment, a voice suddenly came from the previously deserted surroundings.

"Oh, you're awake? But I advise you not to move around too much. You're very weak right now."

「!?」

Someone had approached her without her noticing, causing the elven girl to immediately look nervously towards the source of the sound. But her body wouldn't obey her; no matter how hard she twisted her neck, she couldn't turn her head properly.

However, the elven girl suddenly realized that the voice didn't seem to belong to a hostile monster. Instead, it was the voice of a woman around her age, somewhat frail, even cute. This made her relax her guard slightly, and she stopped obsessively trying to identify the voice's owner.

The owner of the voice seemed to have noticed her movement and wisely walked up to the girl.

"Oh dear, I told you not to move around!"

At that moment, the elven girl saw that person's face through the moonlight.

A beautiful girl with long, flowing silver-white hair and bright red eyes, who looked just like herself and was only thirteen or fourteen years old, was smiling at the elven girl.

The elven girl drank the hot water the silver-haired girl brought her in one gulp, having regained some of her strength. She sat on a broken log, holding the water cup in her hands, and thanked the silver-haired girl who was cooking over a fire.

"Um, thank you..."

"You're welcome. We're both travelers, and we should help those in need... By the way, what's your name?"

"My name is Tatia..."

The elven girl honestly answered her savior's questions. After a brief moment of thought, the silver-haired girl smiled and introduced herself.

"Well... my name is Naka, nice to meet you."

"Um......."

"Here, eat."

The girl who called herself Naka picked up a spoon and served Tatya a bowl of steaming rice. She then picked up the same bowl for herself. The two of them, shoulder to shoulder, began their small, rather meager dinner in the forest.

..........

Through their conversation over the meal, Tatya realized that the woman named Naka, though appearing to be about her age, was actually over twenty. She was a wandering adventurer with no fixed abode, who had found Tatya on the verge of death while passing through this place and had thus helped her. Upon hearing this, Tatya immediately nodded repeatedly to Naka, expressing her boundless gratitude. Naka, however, simply smiled and politely declined her advances.

"You...you're an elf, aren't you? I heard the Demon King conquered the Elf Kingdom, and all the elves should have been killed...Why are you here?"

But after the polite greetings, Naka bluntly expressed her doubts. Even if Tatia hadn't said anything, her pointed ears had already given away her identity and race. News of the elven kingdom's fall quickly spread throughout the land, and even travelers on their journeys knew of it.

Tatya's expression turned dejected once again. If she could, she truly didn't want to relive that nightmarish reality. But it was a reality she had to face. The internal struggle lasted only a few seconds. Afterward, she honestly recounted to Naka how she had escaped under the protection of her parents and tribe, explaining everything in detail.

Logically, these words should have been kept forever in her heart, and certainly not revealed to complete strangers. However, Naka's gentle aura and the fact that she had helped her made Tatsia completely open up and confess her feelings to her.

Anyway, she's so beautiful, she definitely can't be one of those monsters' accomplices. That's what Tatia thought.

After hearing Tatsia's story, Naka remained silent, lost in thought. Tatsia couldn't understand what she was thinking. She frowned, nodding occasionally, then immediately shaking her head. Her reactions were extremely strange. But after a short while, she seemed to have figured something out. She turned and smiled at Tatsia.

"So, what do you plan to do next? Will you hide your identity and live in seclusion, or...?"

"No! I would never do that..."

Although her parents did indeed give Tatsia these instructions before they died, Tatsia herself had different thoughts.

"I will become a hero... to kill the demon who destroyed my homeland, killed my family, friends, and fellow countrymen... I will kill the Demon King!"

This is Tatsia's only purpose for survival at this moment.

The Demon King's power is practically unmatched. Currently, no one can contend with him. Tatya's ambitions are far too unrealistic and overly ambitious. Anyone else hearing this would likely find it hard to hide their amusement and ruthlessly point out this, advising her to obediently live a quiet, ordinary life.

However, Naka is different.

"Really... This is the first time I've heard someone say that since I became an adventurer. My other companions are so afraid of the Demon King that they don't even want to mention his name, or even the word 'Demon King'."

"I'm not afraid of him! I'll make him pay for what he's done!"

Tatsia shouted her long-cherished wish towards the boundless sky. Naka, standing beside her, simply patted her shoulder gently after hearing it.

"That's a wonderful ambition... I'll cheer you on!"

"Thank you, Naka!"

"Sister Naka...?"

"Ah... I'm sorry!"

Tatya inadvertently uttered the name she used to refer to Naka. Even though they appeared to be about the same age, Naka's mature aura, elegant demeanor, and thoughtfulness made Tatya unconsciously regard her as an older sister. And this name, which had only crossed her mind, was now clearly heard by Naka herself.

It was incredibly rude and embarrassing for him to call her by such an intimate name so soon after they had only met. Taqia quickly apologized repeatedly. But Naka chuckled again in a very pleasant voice.

"It's okay, Naka-nee is fine. I don't dislike being called Naka-nee.

"Really...really? Thank you!"

"But how are you going to defeat the Demon King? Do you have any ideas?"

"this...."

Tatsia had lofty ambitions, but how to take the first step in defeating the Demon King was a complete mystery. She only knew that in the human kingdom not far from the elven kingdom, there was a legend of a hero. Many heroes had defeated previous Demon Kings in the past. The hero was an aspiration for every human, and also for some elves, especially after the current Demon King declared war on both elves and humans, launching massive attacks on other territories. But how could she become that hero? Tatsia was utterly bewildered.

At this moment, Naka once again extended a helping hand.

"How about this... I'll take charge of training you and making you a hero. What do you think?"

"Wha...what? Sister Naka, you're here?"

"Of course, don't let my appearance fool you, I'm actually a very skilled adventurer. I've witnessed countless life-or-death battles. I know exactly how to teach others to become stronger."

"Is that so?"

Naka only said it verbally, without providing any supporting evidence. But for some reason, Tatsia was willing to believe her. Without any doubt, she happily said...

"Then, I'll go with you..."

"Oh, that's a bit inconvenient."

"what?"

Tatya originally planned to travel with Naka, honing her skills along the way. However, Naka waved her hand, indicating her refusal.

I can't take you on a trip.

"Why?"

"Well... it's a long story."

Naka's eyes darted around, as if she had some unspeakable secret. After all, Naka had saved her life, and Tatsia knew she had neither the right nor the standing to press her further. She simply said with a touch of melancholy...

"Yes, I see..."

"But don't be discouraged... I'll give you this."

As she spoke, Naka took out something that looked like a conch shell from her bosom and handed it to Tatsia.

"When you want to see me, just blow this conch shell. I'll come right away as soon as I hear it."

"Huh? Just blow on this conch shell, is that enough?"

"yes"

"Can...."

"It's alright. This conch shell is the same as something I have. As long as you blow it, no matter how far apart we are, I will receive your message. At that time, I will rush to where you are, no matter where I am in the world."

"Hmm...okay!"

Tatya accepted Naka's explanation without hesitation, clutching the conch shell tightly as if it were a priceless treasure.

"Alright, we shouldn't linger here. Although this is human territory, and the Demon King's army can't invade for the time being, we can't guarantee our safety. So let's part ways for now."

"I...I understand..."

"Also, when you seek refuge in a human kingdom, remember to cover your ears and don't let others know you're an elf. Otherwise, your identity will attract many people with ulterior motives, which could put you in a lot of danger."

"good..."

Naka's words of advice warmed and reassured Tatsia. However, the thought of their impending separation, of starting an unknown life alone and facing countless troubles and enemies, filled Tatsia with loneliness and unease. Naka noticed all of this. She gently stroked Tatsia's head and spoke in the most tender and beautiful voice Tatsia had heard all day.

"It's okay. Don't be afraid. I'll protect you."

".....Um!"

The conversation that ended when they first met was Tatia's firm, confident, and hopeful voice.

How much time had passed since then? Tatia herself couldn't remember.

She only knew that whenever she felt uneasy, encountered difficulties, or was in pain and sorrow, she would blow the conch shell in her hand, and Naka would quickly appear nearby to relieve her worries and soothe her pain. Naka wasn't lying. Everything she said was true. Knowing this, no matter what difficulties or challenges she faced, Tatsia never gave up or despaired.

Just as Naka said, she was a very good teacher. Tatya, who had never fought before and had never even touched a weapon, quickly learned to perform simple tasks and defeat weaker monsters under Naka's guidance. Tatya still remembered Naka smiling and waiting for her at the city gate when she returned to town excitedly after her first successful mission. The dinner Naka prepared for her that night was the most delicious meal Tatya had ever tasted in her life.

No matter how arduous the training, Tatya never complained of being tired or suffering. After training, Naka would go out with her to relax. She would treat Tatya to meals and give her things she wanted but couldn't afford. She would also listen to Tatya's innermost thoughts, offering advice and guidance when Tatya felt confused or lost. Although Naka was always mysterious, appearing and then suddenly disappearing, helping her only to leave without a word, Tatya's feelings for her gradually deepened over time, evolving from trust and admiration into something more profound.

Several years have passed, and Tatia has grown into a beautiful young woman. Whether due to innate talent or Naka's excellent guidance, she is now a renowned and powerful female warrior. She and her companions have completed numerous difficult missions, defeated many powerful monsters, and repelled wave after wave of attacks from the Demon King's army. They have even helped the human kingdom reclaim some cities that had been captured by the Demon King's army. Their achievements are countless and their victories numerous.

Many men and young women admire and adore her. The once frail girl who loved others has now become a towering figure, a role model in their eyes.

But in Tatsia's heart, there was only room for one person. That person wasn't a teammate in her adventure party, but was more important than any of them. A true person who had silently accompanied her for so many years, unknown to anyone else, and who had helped Tatsia get to where she was today.

On that day, after rejecting many people's declarations of love, Tatiana returned to her residence and blew the conch shell that she had carefully preserved to this day.

.......

"What's wrong, Tatia?"

Soon, the elusive Naka reappeared before Tatia.

It's strange, really. Tatya has grown up, tall and slender, no longer the girl she once was. But Naka remains exactly the same as when she first met Tatya years ago. She hasn't changed at all. It's as if her time has stopped.

However, this unusual phenomenon was no longer noticed by Tatia. Suppressing her excitement, she finally spoke the words she had kept hidden in her heart for many years, words she had never revealed to anyone.

"Um, Naka... I probably shouldn't have asked this question, but I've never asked you this before. I've always been concerned about it, but I feel like I shouldn't have pried into this kind of thing without permission..."

"It's okay, go ahead and ask."