I Became a 10,000-year-old Elf

‘Elves, one of the races that began appearing in this world’s records from the day of the end, like many others. Characterized by their long lifespan and beautiful appearance, with blonde hair and green eyes as their symbol. They have a strong tendency to be nature-friendly and reject human civilization. Without a representative force, they live scattered in tribal units across the continent, and are classified as a rare species due to their small population and reluctance to expose themselves.’

This was the common knowledge about elves living in the current era.

Patrick recalled this information that he had never doubted before. Of course, most of his knowledge was just what he had picked up here and there, so he would need to study separately to learn more about elves in detail, but he hadn’t done so.

“Hmm, blonde hair and green eyes, huh.”

Moreover, he was now confused about whether the common knowledge he had was actually correct. Until now, it seemed mostly right, but it had been shattered just yesterday.

If his eyes weren’t deceiving him, the elf girl he saw clearly had brilliant silver hair and deep red eyes.

‘A mixed-blood?’

Elves could have mixed-blood offspring too. Half-elves were characterized by having pointed ears that weren’t long, but even thinking that way, it was impossible to make everything fit.

‘But, the power that child showed…’

There was an even bigger issue than debating whether she was an elf or not.

He had clearly seen the curse of corruption, which had been considered an absolute and insurmountable thing until now, being purified by her power.

Using all the experience he had, he had never heard of an ordinary elf having such power. If so, it would be correct to interpret that she wasn’t special because she was a rare elf, but that she herself was special.

“Ah, since when did I start making a living by using my brain!”

Soon, Patrick shook his throbbing head and cleanly gave up thinking. Anyway, with his limited knowledge, there were only so many answers he could come up with.

‘I’ll go and ask directly.’

He looked down at the note in his hand. The address written on the note was where Lina and Isilia were staying, given to him by a messenger.

Having inadvertently become the main figure in the werewolf hunt, Patrick had to visit them, if only to clean up the situation.

‘Don’t chicken out. You’re a 13-year veteran adventurer.’

Having prepared himself, he bit his lip while fiddling with the sword at his waist.

In fact, it was rare for him, who had experienced all sorts of things, to be this nervous. He tried to shake it off, but the unfathomable red eyes that kept looking at him kept coming to mind, making it difficult.

In the end, his unsettled feelings didn’t change much even when he arrived at the hotel entrance and was going up to the room, heightening his tension.

“Adventurer, the guest you mentioned has arrived.”

‘Even novices who just started adventuring stay in expensive places, huh.’

High-class hotels have excellent service. Patrick chuckled bitterly as he glanced at the well-dressed staff member kindly guiding him, thinking of his own situation staying in a cheap inn.

“Come in, Patrick.”

Lina’s voice was heard from inside. Patrick cleared his throat unnecessarily and opened the door to enter. The interior of the room, filled with equally luxurious wooden furniture, was elegant and antique as if a part of a grand mansion had been moved there.

“Good morning… both of you.”

There, Patrick awkwardly greeted Lina, who was sitting uncomfortably at the table, and the maid girl who was pouring tea for her.

Just a day ago, he probably wouldn’t have felt much suspicion about this scene, but now it was different. Everything looked awkward and strange.

In reality, Isilia was just learning simple maid duties from Lina at the moment.

For the ‘act’ they would continue to use.

“Well, we all know each other now anyway.”

After confirming that the door was closed, Isilia took off the frilled hairband she was wearing. Removing the maid’s hairband that had been pressing down her ears and hiding them among her hair, her long and pointed ears were revealed again.

Naturally, Lina stood up from her seat as if giving it up, and Isilia just as naturally flopped down in that chair, crossing her legs and swinging them.

“You seem to have a lot of questions?”

“So, in the end, the real boss isn’t Lina, but you, right? Lady Isilia.”

“That’s right.”

“I thought so. It was too respectful for just doting on one’s maid. Like pouring water first or always asking for opinions.”

Patrick, who had been tense, sighed as he resolved his doubts. Thinking about it now, the behavior of the two wasn’t completely natural.

It was just that he had overlooked it because he couldn’t have imagined something like this happening.

“Patrick says your acting is lacking?”

“Ugh…”

When Isilia turned to Lina with a smirk, Lina groaned and hung her head low.

“You didn’t silence me after I accidentally found out your identity, and called me here again like this. Does this mean I can believe what you said yesterday was true?”

“About my identity? Your guess isn’t wrong. Since things have already happened, I’m trying to use it in a way that benefits both of us.”

Patrick was still wary of Isilia. Isilia, who didn’t find his reaction particularly awkward, smiled faintly at his mention of silencing.

She could have actually tried if she wanted to. She wouldn’t even need to do it herself; if she asked Ethan, he would have taken care of it, whether by poisoning or whatever.

The only reason she didn’t was, as she just said, for other methods.

“I plan to continue the adventurer work as I’ve been doing, and I need your power, which knows pretty much everything about it. Well, as you’ve probably noticed, neither I nor Lina know much about that side.”

“That’s not difficult, but… is that really all?”

“That was all, but the plan might change a bit because of yesterday’s incident.”

Isilia shrugged. The fact that there was still a connection remaining between the Tower that collapsed 10,000 years ago and herself was a variable even for her.

She hadn’t decided yet how to act immediately.

“What exactly is your true identity? Are you really an elf?”

At this point, Patrick couldn’t help but muster up the courage to ask. She was definitely not an ordinary elf. No, regardless of race, she was a mystery in herself.

Her appearance was that of a delicate and beautiful girl, but the atmosphere she gave off was completely different.

“How much do you know about the elven race?”

In response, Isilia asked him a question in return. Slightly taken aback, Patrick told her everything he knew about elves.

And after hearing that, Isilia smiled enigmatically.

“Is the origin myth of elves like the High Elves not well known? I’m a High Elf. I’m probably a bit different from the elves you know.”

“High Elf, the origin of elves.”

Patrick’s eyes widened. The emergence of a new type of elf beyond the elven race he had known about.

It was clearly a fact that made all the extraordinary stories that had unfolded so far possible, and that alone was already a big shock.

Moreover, the fact that this new elf was a race akin to the ancestors of the current era’s elves was a fact too hard to believe easily.

‘If I tell him this much, he’ll probably go along with being used.’

Isilia’s eyes curved as she saw Patrick’s face, dazed from hearing such shocking news.

She deliberately didn’t mention anything about 10,000 years ago or the mythical era. Just hinting at this much was enough to ensure Patrick couldn’t escape anyway.

“T-then why don’t you go to other elves and act separately like this?”

“They’re living well enough on their own, so there’s no need for me to interfere.”

‘Honestly, they’re complete strangers.’

Patrick found it surprising that she, a High Elf, didn’t go to other elves who had a strong sense of kinship.

However, that was his misunderstanding, as the current Isilia had little sense of kinship. It hadn’t been long since she started considering her own identity as an elf.

It was too much to feel attachment to descendants from 10,000 years later when she had her own immediate concerns.

“Let’s stop with the boring talk and start on today’s work. The werewolf attacking us was unexpected, but thanks to that, we can receive a reward.”

Smirking at the briefly awkward atmosphere, Isilia got down from the chair, put on the hairband again to hide her ears, and then put on her cape, pulling the hood down.

Realizing the meaning of her actions, Lina also prepared to go out, and Patrick, who had the slowest reaction, came out of the room with a dazed expression.

“Let’s go to the city hall. They’ll probably give us the posted reward directly.”

Still, Patrick was a seasoned adventurer. Changing his attitude as soon as he left the room, he guided them as usual, becoming the party’s pathfinder.

‘This feels like I’ve stepped into somewhere I shouldn’t have.’

Of course, his sharp intuition was warning him that this very moment was dangerous, but there was no way out anymore.

The fact that Isilia, who was quietly following behind and watching him, had even revealed her identity was a kind of declaration that she wouldn’t let him go.