I Became a 10,000-year-old Elf

“Partially transmitted stories, legends, historical evidence. Judging from these, the mythical era was clearly a brilliant and glorious age when our ancestors ruled this world flawlessly. Although everything collapsed due to a massive calamity.”

Evans evaluated that era with wistful eyes. He seemed to have a rough idea of what that era was like, even if he didn’t know the details.

“Ah, should I not say such things in front of a beastkin? Since the mythical era was an era of humans alone, for other races, it was an era of oppression where even their history was eradicated.”

“???”

But after going well, he suddenly swerved. He politely apologized to Lina, and Lina waved her hands in confusion, but I was the only one left speechless, not understanding.

‘Don’t tell me these people…’

From what I’ve gathered, non-human races like beastkin and elves are all descendants of climbers who changed their race after entering the tower and became the progenitors.

Of course, before the tower, they only appeared in fantasy works. But these people seemed to be under the illusion that these non-human races had existed from the beginning.

From my perspective, I couldn’t understand why humans who even knew some things about delivery knights didn’t know such an absurd fact.

“There seems to be some misunderstanding…”

“Of course, there are people who don’t believe this hypothesis, but this is currently the established theory. That’s why there are quite a few who don’t like that era. Some think they perished due to arrogance and pride. Anyway, only those who existed at the point when the Great Apocalypse began would know the true truth.”

Before I could say anything in bewilderment, Evans shook his head.

Seeing that, I gave up on explaining. I didn’t think they would believe me anyway.

“If you’re interested in the mythical era, I recommend visiting the theater.”

Then he promoted his theater to me and quickly walked away. He’s a dedicated owner who does direct marketing for future customers.

“Lina, would you believe me if I told you the truth about the origins of elves and beastkin?”

“O-Of course!”

“Forget it. Let’s go home today.”

As I watched Evans’ retreating back, I turned to Lina and asked, and she replied with a forced smile.

I chuckled and decided to give up on speaking and return to the mansion. While Ethan, who knows about my identity, might understand, I didn’t think Lina would believe me.

Moreover, Ethan didn’t seem particularly interested in academic matters either.

* * *

“Boss, is this really okay? Embezzling tribute money to buy artifacts!?”

“Stop talking nonsense and look at this.”

At that time, while Isilia was sightseeing the city with Lina, Ethan was naturally doing his own work.

One of those tasks was making money. Ethan’s right-hand man, who received the lighter Ethan handed over, widened his eyes in surprise.

“Is, is this possibly a restored artifact? The one we got from the black market last time…?!”

“That’s right. You should get the idea when you see it.”

Artifacts from the mythical era are severely deteriorated and destroyed. Therefore, restoring them costs an enormous amount of money and effort, and even if the restored item is a useless trinket, it can fetch a considerable sum.

“From now on, use all available funds to buy artifacts. Don’t think about restoration issues and don’t try to find out. The same goes for you.”

The right-hand man swallowed dryly as he heard Ethan’s warning. If it’s a matter that must be kept secret even from himself, the right-hand man, it means it’s that significant.

‘Could it possibly be related to the little elf in the mansion?’

Of course, the right-hand man knew that there was a guest in his mansion. That was the only reasonable guess, but the speculation stopped there.

In this line of work, unnecessary knowledge is knowledge that kills you.

“Nar, you take your guys and gather money. If it’s not enough, even borrow! And Gail, secure all artifacts from the mythical era, whether from the black market or items held as collateral.”

The right-hand man soon mobilized all the organization members to carry out Ethan’s orders.

As the organization occupying most of the city’s back alleys moved in unison, it wasn’t strange that their movements caught the eyes of others, no matter how secretly they tried to move.

“Those guys suddenly want artifacts?”

“Not even restored ones, but ones that cost a fortune to restore? Why? They can’t even use them for money laundering.”

However, they too didn’t know why Ethan’s organization was collecting contaminated artifacts.

Because they couldn’t even imagine that Ethan had the ability to restore artifacts as easily as flipping his palm.

‘Hmm, looking at it like this, it seems impossible to tell what this object is used for.’

Thanks to his subordinates who worked hard, Ethan could receive the results while sitting.

The first artifact that came into his hands was something about the size of a palm. Covered with something black like rusted metal, it was thin in the middle and thick at both ends, making it impossible to identify what it was.

“You have a job to do.”

Ethan took it and headed to the backyard with a ‘No Entry’ sign. At an outdoor table in the bright sunlight and cool breeze, a silver-haired elf girl was drinking tea with Lina, the maid he had assigned to her, by her side.

“What on earth is this?”

But the chair she was sitting on was very peculiar. A chair made of rough earth and stone… she was leaning on it comfortably, as if it fit her body perfectly.

“My own training method. Well, shall we start earning our keep?”

As Isilia snapped her fingers, the chair crumbled instantly and returned to the ground. Before Ethan could be surprised by this feat, she picked up the object Ethan handed over.

‘It’s amazing no matter how many times I see it.’

Ethan watched the subsequent scene while breaking out in a cold sweat.

The object held in her slender white hands meets pure mana and is cleanly purified. The object, which had avoided the ravages of time thanks to intentional deterioration and contamination, revealed its form as if it had been used just yesterday.

“What kind of trash did you bring?”

“Do you know what this is?”

“A crumpled cola can. Made of aluminum, 250ml.”

She snorted and flicked the blue can in her hand, tossing it to Ethan. While it’s quite an interesting-looking metal, Ethan clicked his tongue upon learning its identity.

Even they know that such trinkets are insignificant objects. Aluminum is a metal symbolic of the mythical era that they can’t artificially produce, but that’s all.

“This kind of thing should be sold to dwarves. Actually, the really valuable artifacts are different.”

“What are they?”

“Various weapons from the mythical era called mythical weapons. And things like artifacts imbued with the god of knowledge.”

Ethan told her about valuable items that would be difficult to obtain even for billions. Whether they were truly precious or not, even this 10,000-year-old elf’s expression gradually changed as she heard the explanation.

“I see what they are. I’d like to see them.”

“If you go and reveal all the truth, they would probably be amazed and impressed.”

Ethan thought that if the being in front of him testified to everything he knew, history and the world would change.

However, Ethan himself wasn’t particularly interested in such things, and judging by her reaction, she didn’t seem very keen either.

“These light objects don’t take much energy, so you can bring more. Surely this isn’t all after making such a fuss?”

“Ugh, we’re already doing our best to acquire more, so don’t worry.”

She urged him to bring more work, saying she was bored.

Ethan couldn’t go against her words. Because no matter how much Isilia, who was starting to get a taste for spending money, splurged and played around, the money she would fill in was much more.

‘But I need something bigger.’

“Boss, it seems the guys downstairs have found something quite good.”

It was that evening when good news reached Ethan, who was pondering like this.

“An item that the second son of the Seiran family put up as collateral due to gambling debts? It shouldn’t be difficult to obtain.”

“Shall we bring it right away? It is Lord Leon’s item, who’s in charge of the Seiran territory.”

“Give Leon something appropriate and bring it.”

Ethan casually instructed to bring it. Anyway, they wouldn’t know how valuable it was before restoration.

“Then I’ll go right away.”

The right-hand man grinned and mounted his horse to carry out Ethan’s order. Riding the horse, the right-hand man was able to obtain the artifact without much difficulty, just as Ethan had said.

“Has Ethan gone mad? Why is he buying that for this much money?”

“I’m not sure either. I’m just doing as I’m told.”

The right-hand man carefully held the object received from another boss in his hand. Although contaminated, its general shape could be discerned. A rectangular plate that fits perfectly in the hand, with a grip that feels like it wraps around snugly.

‘What on earth is this.’

Of course, he had no idea, but he carefully put the object in a bag.