Chapter 22: Chatting

Toruviel was currently wearing a black cotton-padded jacket, and inside the fur coat was a brown linen shirt.

The neckline of the shirt was loose, and the scenery revealed when the female elf bent down instantly attracted Wayne's attention.

However, Wayne only admired it for a second or two before withdrawing his gaze. He met Toruviel's eyes and revealed a cheerful smile that only a teenager would have, saying:

"Of course, Toruviel. Thank you for your invitation. My stomach is also a bit hungry."

The female elf didn't notice Wayne's small movements. She nodded, moved aside from the tent's exit, and waited until Wayne crawled out of the tent before walking side by side with him, leading him toward the camp.

Perhaps because it was dinner time, the camp was exceptionally lively at this time. Elves, dwarves, and halflings, men and women, old and young, were lining up in an orderly manner to get food around three steaming large pots.

Wayne counted roughly, and the residents in the camp added up to about a hundred people. Looking at their attire and equipment, about thirty people could participate in combat as warriors.

Noticing Wayne's gaze, Toruviel pursed her lips and said in a tone that revealed sadness amidst calmness:

"We started with over three hundred people. On the way from the capital of Kaedwen, Ard Carraigh, to here, half of the people fell on the road and were cruelly killed by Kaedwen soldiers."

"The two villagers we let go yesterday discovered our whereabouts."

"I'm not sure if they will go to report us, so I could only treat them as captives and lock them up."

Wayne nodded in understanding. In order to protect the safety of his own people and prevent being tracked by Kaedwen soldiers, let alone capturing witnesses, even killing them was something that had to be done.

Following Toruviel to a relatively clean campfire, more than a dozen elves and dwarves dressed as warriors were dining there. Seeing the female elf leader, they all showed respectful expressions and stood up to salute her.

Clearly, Toruviel enjoyed a very high status among this group of non-humans.

Just as the two found a blanket to sit on, a female elf immediately brought over two bowls of steaming hot food and handed them respectfully to their hands.

Wayne stirred the bowl casually—potatoes, meat chunks, beets, and dough lumps. The food looked quite good. Regardless of the taste, at least the ingredients were quite rich.

He took a sip of the soup. It was sweet and salty, barely drinkable. Of course, it couldn't be compared to his cooking at all; it couldn't be called delicious.

Wayne used a spoon to pick out a spoonful of meat chunks, stuffed them into his mouth, and said casually:

"This is still within the territory of Kaedwen, and there are human villages and towns everywhere around you."

"Toruviel, perhaps you should escape further away, such as the primeval forest of the Blue Mountains. It is sparsely populated, the roads are rugged, and monsters roam there all year round, making it hard to be discovered by humans."

The female elf leader also took a sip of the soup and then placed the wooden bowl aside.

She stared at the burning campfire, snorted, and said with a firm tone: "I will not escape from Kaedwen. There are countless kin here facing life-threatening danger, waiting for our rescue."

"Humans treat us as fat sheep, slaughtering us at will."

"However, I will tell them that elves are not cowards. When facing swords, we will also pick up swords; when facing death, we will also return death. No one can deprive us of the right to survive."

Seeing that the topic was a bit heavy, Wayne sighed, but still said bluntly:

"The number of humans is too large. Their soldiers are well-equipped and have received professional military training."

"Your warriors are few and far between. You cannot defeat them in a frontal battle, and when facing their encirclement, you can't even protect yourselves." "What you need to do now is to preserve your strength, keep a low profile, and find more non-human races willing to resist."

"Only when you unite enough strength and possess the ability to protect yourselves will humans truly hear your voice, rather than treating you as thieves and bandits and slaughtering you at will."

Seeing Toruviel looking at him, Wayne thought for a while and couldn't help but say a few more words: "The strength of elves is actually not weak. You have long lifespans, are neither lazy nor stupid, and can become master-level craftsmen by relying on experience and technology in any industry. If there are conditions, you can rely on these technologies to accumulate wealth and strength rapidly."

"It's just because the number of elves is too scattered. In any city or village, you will always be a minority and will never have the power to resist."

"But all the elves in the Northern Kingdoms combined are a force that no country dares to underestimate."

"Therefore, what you lack is a banner, an excellent leader who can unite you."

"Perhaps, when one day, when the elves gather together again, possess thousands of soldiers, occupy a certain territory, and under the leadership of a wise leader, you can rebuild the elven kingdom and be reborn through blood."

Listening to Wayne's words, Toruviel was silent for a long time before asking in a slightly expectant voice: "You are an elf with ideas, Wayne."

"You know how to resist, how to protect yourself, and how to fight."

"Perhaps, you should join our cause and help our kin stay away from human persecution."

"Fight for the liberation of non-human races."

Looking at the female elf's expectant eyes, Wayne couldn't help but reveal an awkward smile. As a young man with a modern soul, he could talk big, but to let him really engage in the cause of liberating a race—to be honest, he had absolutely no psychological preparation for this.

Wayne coughed lightly, trying to keep his voice as calm as possible, and refused:

"Sorry, Toruviel. I am a Witcher and must maintain a neutral attitude."

"I know my abilities very well. I cannot sacrifice my life for others."

Toruviel was a bit disappointed upon hearing this. The Witcher's neutral code of conduct had been widely circulated in the North for hundreds of years, so it was not surprising.

She took a wine flask from her waist, tilted her head, and took a big gulp, exhaled a turbid breath, and then handed it to Wayne, saying:

"Taste it, Wayne. This is the apple wine I brewed myself. It is a unique recipe taught to me by my mother. This is probably the only thing she left for me."

"Your opinion is very fair, Wayne. I will consider it seriously."

Looking at Toruviel's beautiful face, which was starting to flush due to the alcohol, Wayne took the wine flask hesitantly and took a sip.

It had to be said, the taste was really good. It was sweet and had a wine flavor, and there was a faint floral fragrance. Even if it were placed in modern society, it would be a good drink.

He squinted his eyes and took another gulp, tilted his head, exhaled a turbid breath, considered for a few seconds, and then said to the female elf: "Toruviel, although we Witchers cannot join your cause and be enemies with all human society."

"But we can become friends. Helping friends solve contracts without violating the principle of neutrality is not an unacceptable thing."

(End of Chapter) ===== CHAPTER 23 =====