I Inherited a Beautiful Wife and a Territory - Chapter 52

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Inheriting a Beautiful Wife and Estate Episode 052

52. Natural Enemy of the Dark Elves

Lin’s body trembled violently.

Dark Elf.

An assassin who could hide in shadows and create weapons using shadows.

This was possible because they possessed shadow magic.

Growl.

And the Shadow Wolf’s shadow binding.

This restraint that covered the opponent’s shadow with one’s own shadow only worked on those who manipulated shadows.

In other words, as long as one dealt with shadows, they would be bound by the Shadow Wolf’s restraint and unable to escape.

She trembled all over.

Her entire body wouldn’t move.

The shadow binding she experienced for the first time was a greater pressure than she had imagined.

The words she had heard from the village elders came to mind.

The sound of them saying that the Shadow Wolf’s High Leader was the village’s natural enemy.

And if a Lord were to be born, then the entire Dark Elf tribe could be driven to disaster.

‘Now I think I understand… why they said that.’

Lin realized the reason the moment her shadow was bound to her opponent.

At the point when her shadow was conquered, she felt deep helplessness toward her opponent.

Resistance was impossible.

The Dark Elf’s shadow could not resist the Shadow Wolf’s shadow. She felt such deep fear that she even developed respect for her opponent.

This was also the way Shadow Wolf Leaders subdued other leaders or wolves in the pack.

“Grrr…”

Hades looked at Lin indifferently, then turned his head.

Where his gaze reached, Cliff and Leticia were standing. Cliff shrugged his shoulders.

“Release her.”

“Grung.”

The moment Cliff’s words were heard, Hades’s shadow that had been covering her withdrew.

“Haa. Haa. Haa.”

Thud.

Lin collapsed on the spot.

Cliff spoke to her as her whole body trembled.

“How about it? Would this be enough to qualify as the Lord you mentioned?”

A Lord?

Honestly, Lin wasn’t an elder and had only recently become an adult, so she couldn’t tell the difference.

But she nodded her head vigorously.

Rather than truly believing so, she wanted to believe it was true.

‘If this is just the shadow binding of a High Leader and not even a Lord… just how terrifying would a Lord be! This must be a Lord. A Lord has finally been born.’

Then what about Cliff, who claimed to have made a contract with that Lord?

Her body trembled.

“I know there’s a Dark Elf territory somewhere around here.”

At Cliff’s words, her trembling became more severe.

Could it be that this man called Cliff was planning to capture their entire tribe using the wolves?

‘Humans… I heard they carve mystical brands on our tribe to use them as slaves. Could this person also be trying to…?’

Lin’s mind became complicated.

Cliff opened his mouth.

“Asking you to guide us to your village would be unreasonable. I’m curious, but that would only be possible after mutual trust has been built.”

Cliff’s eyes were gleaming as he spoke.

“What… are you trying to say?”

She asked, trying to act strong.

Cliff opened his mouth.

“I want to trade with the Dark Elves.”

At Cliff’s words, Lin’s expression wavered.

Trade?

Suddenly she couldn’t understand what he wanted.

For Cliff, it was actually simple content.

‘These are at least a tribe that can communicate… If I get somewhat friendly with them, there should be something to gain, right?’

Such a simple thought. In that state, Cliff opened his mouth.

“I’m a human noble who rules the estate beyond these mountains. If you’re willing to talk with me, I’d appreciate it if your side would come find me. However, if you secretly hide and threaten my people like this time, I’ll understand that the Dark Elves want to fight with our estate.”

Cliff added.

“I prefer peace, if possible.”

He was sincere.

Even though they had the advantage in compatibility against the Dark Elves.

‘That’s the wolves, not me.’

Because he could be put in danger.

Unless he was really going to capture them all and make them slaves, he had to endure.

The highest adults among the Dark Elves were nine elders.

Naturally, the symbol and honor of the nine elders in the tribe was tremendous. For Lin, it was originally difficult to even meet the elders of her own village.

That’s why Lin was extremely tense.

Right now, she was walking with five of the nine elders.

‘So then I went there and…’

It was when she was leading the way in front.

Suddenly the elders stopped walking.

“Hmm.”

“Who on earth is this being? Has a Lord truly appeared?”

“No. It’s strange to call this a Lord’s aura.”

“That’s right. It’s not shadow. Even though the aura it carries is as vast as a Lord’s…”

The elders whispered to each other.

“It’s too cold… and vast an aura.”

“Like ice.”

It’s not a Shadow Wolf Lord.

The elders judged so. And they were shocked. The more so, the more complicated Lin’s mind became.

“And… there really are an absurd number of shadow wolves everywhere, just as this child said.”

“Hehehe. There are even quite strong ones among them. How did such a thing happen, really.”

The elders’ expressions were complicated.

“Let’s go again. There’s no point in us chattering here among ourselves, is there? Child, would you guide us again?”

“Ah, yes! Elder!”

Lin soon led their steps.

The place they arrived at was the mountain lodge where Teobaldt used to live.

The mountain lodge where Bellman’s hidden assets were kept.

In front of it, the group’s steps stopped.

Grung.

Kyuung?

As expected, there were Shadow Wolves.

Eight Shadow Wolf Leaders alone. Among them, the elders’ gazes went to Hades, who had the largest build.

‘He’s beginning to awaken as a High Leader. As expected… a Lord hasn’t emerged yet. That’s at least fortunate.’

‘Hmm. Shadow wolves with this many leaders… Above all, what on earth is that white bear?’

Kyuung?

Kyuung, who made ridiculously cute sounds despite his size.

Kyuung, sitting like a teddy bear, tilted his head. Today Kyuung had come here because of Cliff.

Though cute in appearance and sound, the elders couldn’t just view Kyuung as adorable.

‘That enormous magical power….’

‘Why is there another Lord-class existence here? If a creature of this caliber is mixed in… it becomes difficult to eliminate the one becoming a High Leader right here and now.’

‘I’m not sure we could win even if all five of us attacked together.’

The five Dark Elves looking at Kyuwong exchanged glances with each other.

Several of them shook their heads.

Meaning there was no chance of victory.

Naturally, they had no intention of just leaving the Shadow Wolf Leaders, who were potentially great threats, alone. The same went for Cliff, who claimed to be their contractor.

Rather, it was more dangerous because of Cliff.

Shadow Wolves originally had few desires, but there was no telling how far human desires might extend.

‘But if the enemy’s forces are at this level, it’s impossible.’

‘Haha. In the end, we have no choice but to choose submission.’

While they were having those thoughts, Cliff finally appeared.

Hades, the largest among the Shadow Wolves.

The expressions of the five Dark Elves hardened at the sight of him appearing with Hades by his side.

To them, Cliff’s appearance alongside Hades felt like some kind of threat.

‘We should eliminate him before he fully awakens as a High Leader.’

‘Here, even if we all died, there’s no certainty we could kill that man and the High Leader.’

‘Hah.’

How lamentable this was.

Unaware of their thoughts, Cliff smiled.

‘Real Dark Elves!’

Dark Elves, like Elves, were a long-lived species that lived for hundreds of years.

They didn’t age easily. However, the five Dark Elves who appeared gave off a strong feeling of being elderly.

Even so, it wasn’t that wrinkles or age spots were visible.

It was just a feeling.

The moment you saw them, you just thought these were old men.

‘That elderly ones came, five of them no less, means they definitely have the intention to talk with me, right?’

For both Elves and Dark Elves, the highest decision-making body was the council of elders.

And these elders were usually old men.

If Cliff’s guess was correct, at least one or more elders were among the five who came.

‘What should I try to get from the Dark Elves? First, I must definitely establish a mutual non-aggression treaty, and if possible, it would be good to obtain information and knowledge about Hades and others, as well as magic….’

Besides that, special items that only Dark Elves could make, or herbs and fruits that grew wild only in their forest.

And it would be good if he could also obtain leather from their hunts.

Then what should he give them in return?

‘Considering Lin’s reaction, the cards I hold do seem to be threatening… They would probably be happy with just a promise that I won’t attack them.’

He wasn’t sure.

For now, this meeting with the Dark Elf elders was top secret for the estate.

So only Leticia, who had been with him at the time, came along.

First, greetings.

“Nice to meet you. I am Cliff, the owner of this Elimis Estate, who sent Lin to invite you all.”

The elders flinched at his greeting and looked at each other.

One of them stepped forward.

“May peaceful rest be with the lord of Elimis. I am Anark, who holds the position of Third Elder of the Shadows, and here the fourth, fifth, seventh, and ninth elders have accompanied me.”

Cliff’s eyes gleamed with interest.

‘Five elders!’

3rd Elder, 4th Elder, 5th Elder, 7th Elder, 9th Elder.

He had heard that the numbers here didn’t signify mutual hierarchy.

The ranks of elders were all equal.

“Lord of Elimis. We heard from our child that you desire peace.”

“Of course. Elder Anark.”

“Then as proof of that, promise us. That you will no longer increase the population of that wolf pack.”

Elder Anark brought up the main point from the start.

Don’t increase the wolf population.

Hearing those words, Cliff realized that Hades wasn’t a Lord yet.

‘Lin must not have had enough experience to know what level a Lord was….’

It seemed that those at the elder level could distinguish this.

In other words, Hades could become several times stronger than he was now.

Cliff opened his mouth.

“Hades is my friend. And he’s valuable military strength for our estate.”

While speaking, Cliff stroked around Hades’ neck.

Even at this action, Hades just growled contentedly.

Seeing this, the elders were horrified.

‘A Shadow Wolf awakening as a High Leader….’

‘Haha. How did such a thing happen?’

Of course, among the five elders here, none were weaker than Hades.

The problem was compatibility.

Even if their magical power was much stronger, if their shadows were bound by Hades’ shadow, or by any Leader-class individual nearby.

The game would be over.

‘Phew.’

So eight Shadow Wolf Leaders.

And Kyuung, who had magical power comparable to a Lord, was quite burdensome.

Cliff spoke firmly to them.

“Hades is military strength for my estate and my friend. If there’s a way for him to become stronger, why should I deliberately prevent it?”

Of course, Cliff was actually willing to accept the elders’ opinion.

If a real war broke out with the Dark Elves, even with Kyuung, there was no guarantee he would be the final victor.

‘Who knows? I might wake up to find my body sliced apart….’

He had no intention of living in such fear.

Then the elders exchanged glances with resolute faces. Because of those expressions, Cliff tensed up for a moment.

Thud.

“…Huh?”

However, the Dark Elf elders’ attitude was beyond his expectations.

All five elders knelt down on the spot.

“The birth of a Shadow Wolf Lord is itself a great disaster for our race. Please stop here.”

Were they just trying to appeal to his emotions?

Of course, that wasn’t it.

“If the lord stops the work of raising the wolf pack here for the sake of our Shadow Clan, we elders will gladly become the lord’s vassals, the forest will become the lord’s territory, the warriors of our clan will cut down the lord’s enemies, and any maiden of our clan that the lord desires will gladly bear the lord’s children.”

The Dark Elves offered conditional surrender.

‘But why are they this scared? And….’

If they’re this afraid, why do they live near the Shadow Wolves’ habitat?

And even if compatibility was bad, was it worth going this far?

Of course, questions were for later, and Cliff had no intention of refusing this condition.

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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