In the morning, a group of returnees, whose destinations weren’t too far away, set off after accumulating the necessary travel funds earlier than expected. While measures to prevent information leaks were in place, they had also been sworn to secrecy. Their future safety depended on their own sincerity.
After seeing them off, I selected thirty-six noblemen from among the human male slaves and sent them back to their respective homes. This wasn’t out of goodwill; they had been brainwashed using my doppelgangers and Dhami’s Enthralling Evil Eye. They would serve as “plants,” or spies, to gather information from within the Empire and the Kingdom.
The human army had retreated to the plains and was preparing for a full withdrawal, which presented an opportunity. Though I had no desire to antagonize either nation, my knowledge of this world was limited, and my connections were sparse. To safeguard against the failure of my primary plan, it would be prudent to take as many precautions as possible.
After completing our early-morning tasks, we proceeded with the usual training. By noon, the human army had fully withdrawn, and I confirmed that our spies had successfully merged with them. Then, I contacted the elven chieftain via communicator.
We exchanged the final details regarding the conclusion of our contract and the rewards. After some casual conversation, it was decided that I would participate in tonight’s Rutolf, a Banquet of Souls held in the elven village. This ritual is a ceremony conducted by the elves to mourn the dead and ensure their spirits don’t linger in this world as undead entities, such as ghosts.
In the evening, I entrusted the newcomers and my self-replicas with the defense of our base and headed to the elven village with some gifts. This time, I brought along the former elite elves with me… I didn’t want to be so cruel as to prevent them from attending the memorial for their acquaintances. Besides, with the Concealment ability altering their appearances, the risk of their identities being discovered was minimal.
When our group arrived at the village, the ritual had already begun. Ignoring the mixed emotions evident in the stares directed at us since our entry, I handed over several pieces of Bicorn Bull meat I had hunted to the elven chieftain, who greeted us at the venue.
It was also important to ensure the safety of Redhead Shorty and the others, who were curiously looking around. I’d had some reservations about bringing humans along, but I accepted their strong desire to join me. Of course, I left behind the Dull Iron Knight and the Lady Knight out of respect, given that they had previously clashed with the fallen elves.
After quickly exchanging greetings, I told everyone to mingle and dispersed our group, though only a few actually attempted to converse with the elves. Most of them gathered in one spot instead, enjoying the food among themselves.
Meanwhile, I felt quite pleased as the elf girl I knew from before poured me some elven wine. Toward the end of the banquet, the girl took the stage in front of the large bonfire in the center of the venue and danced to the band's music. Her wild yet delicate movements naturally drew the attention of the whole crowd, and soon, all other sounds faded, leaving only the melody of elven music.
Midway through the performance, numerous white orbs began to float around the dancing elf girl. As they touched the elves, some stifled sobs or even shed tears. Eventually, the orbs ascended into the night sky and vanished.
According to the elven chieftain, this signified that the souls of the departed, which had been lingering in this world, had returned to the heavens. Our hobgoblin shaman confirmed that the spirits of the elves had indeed departed, so it was likely true. I continued to offer silent prayers for the departed souls for a while.