Chapter 614 Stepping Out
"Fine. I will come out."
Rey could see the pleased look on Gratiana's face as he announced his compliance with her words. He couldn't particularly read her mind, but judging from her expressions, he could pretty much guess what was going on in it.
The Elder Elf most likely intended to incapacitate both him and Kara, while they executed Esme. He couldn't sense any particular hostility directed at him or Kara—just disgust.
Lots of disgust.
However, Esme bore the brunt of Gratiana's killing intent, and even Rey could feel it, almost as if it was physical.
'She doesn't even bother to hide her intentions. Are all Elves like this?' He wondered to himself as he slightly glanced at Esme.
The neutral look on her face told him she was fine. Still, he wasn't so sure about that.
"You good?" As his voice softly echoed out, he saw her nod and look at him with glistening blue eyes. They looked full and wet, and he instantly knew why.
'She's holding back her tears. I knew it was a bad idea to bring her here!'
Still, he had to temporarily suspend how he felt about Esme and the current situation at hand. The Elves were beginning to piss him off, but since he already knew this much was going to happen, he didn't overreact.
Besides, with the knowing stare that Kara kept directing at him—one that basically told him to mind his tone and words towards their prospective business partners—Rey decided to remain calm about everything.
'I'll take all necessary defensive requirements to protect myself from harm, and I'll leave Kara and Esme within the barrier until it's confirmed safe for them to come out.'
Despite seeing everyone's Status Windows and already knowing they were much weaker than him, he still didn't want to take any chances.
'Emil, be on full alert.'
~Yes, Master!~
He took a few steps forward until he got to the barrier's boundary. One more step and his first foot—along with a portion of his body—would be out of the barrier.
One more and he would be completely outside.
"What are you waiting for?" Gratiana's voice sounded imposing as she continued folding her arms and looking at him.
They stood about ten meters from each other, but Rey knew that distance meant nothing to both parties. Gratiana seemed like the gap to close the gap within a moment, but Rey could do so even faster.
"...." He took in a deep breath, and then raised his leg.
Then, he took a step forward.
~FSHUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUU~
The moment he did so, already prepared to be assaulted by a swarm of dozens of Elves, what he experienced was something completely different.
"Aaaang! W-what is… what is happening t-to me…?"
"P-please stop…"
"S-so good… g-good…"
What Rey witnessed at that very moment was something he had never seen in his entire life.
The Elves were shivering, and they began dropping to their knees in submission. Their eyes were rolled up, and their tongues were outside, with drool dripping out of them. Red hues filled their cheeks as they tightly embraced their own chests or stomachs, still shaking uncontrollably.
"Hey, are you people o—?"
Before he could even complete his statement, the Elves began to lower their heads to Rey, almost as if they were in worship. Their bodies kept spasming as sweat dripped from their skin. More drool escaped their lips, and tears even flowed from their eyes.
The dignified faces of these women were now sullied by mucus and expressions of twisted pleasure. All of them, except Gratiana, who remained standing, reacted this way.
"U-uuu…"
"A-ahhhh… ahh…."
"O-ohhh… uohhhh…"
Strange noises filled the air, until Rey took one more step forward, his full body finally leaving the barrier.
He did this partially out of concern, but also curiosity. Once he did this, however, every single Elf surrounding him—with the exception of the Elder—fainted. Their expressions told him it was from pleasure, but Rey couldn't help but feel oddly conflicted by what he was seeing. Their tongues literally licked the sands, and each Elf seemed to be drowned in a puddle of their own sweat… and something else.
Rey didn't even want to use his Appraisal to find out what that was.
"Y-you…" As he was still in thought, trying to fully grasp the situation and understand why pretty much all the Elves collapsed due to his mere presence, he heard Gratiana's voice call out to him.
He instantly looked at her, still having a calm and neutral expression on his face despite being just as freaked out as anyone would be, given the circumstances.
'I didn't even use any Buffs or offensive Skills. I also suppressed my abilities and told Emil to do the same, so they won't be able to read my exact strength.' He thought in concern.
The only thing he really focused on was defense, and that mostly by spreading out his senses to increase reaction time, while keeping some of his abilities on standby.
He was confident in beating the Elves in a fight—not that he wanted to—but precautions still had to be taken.
"... W-who… w-what are you…?"
Gratiana was still standing, thankfully, and while she didn't lose it like the rest of her comrades, she seemed to be on edge.
Her body was shaking slightly and her lips constantly quivered, causing her to stutter anytime she spoke.
"I have no idea what's going on." Rey said, taking a few more steps forward.
The same Elder Elf who depicted such pride and bravado, standing firm in place while folding her hands, now seemed to be retreating—step by step—as he approached.
He was much faster than her, though, and he got closer to her than she could escape from him.
The result was obvious—
"Guhh…"
—Gratiana fell to her knees and trembled even more violently before Rey.
Her eyes began to leak out tears as mucus slowly dripped from her nostrils, ruining her pure face.
"U-uuuuu… ahhh… o-ohhhh… aaah…"
Funny noises complimented her weird-looking face, with her skin glistening with perspiration. At this point, she couldn't even form a coherent word any more.
It was a wonder if she could even perceive anything beyond the sensations within her body.
Rey squatted a little as he saw her in such a state, maintaining just the right distance from her to not get too close. Perhaps he was worried about what would happen to her then.
Still… he was curious.
"Hey…" Stretching out his hand, he reached out for Gratiana's shoulder. "Are you oka—?"
The moment physical contact was made, something similar to a fountain squirted up, with a loud scream rushing from her lips.
"A-aaaaah!"
Rey shrank back instantly, but it was too late.
The deed had already been done, and just like the rest of her sisters, Gratiana fell and passed out in a puddle of fluids. Her tongue was out, and her eyes were partially open as she did so.
The disturbing sight caused Rey to rise from his position and take subconscious steps back.
He looked all around him, seeing the bodies of all the Elves flat on the ground.
Then, he turned to the two who were behind him.
Esme and Kara both used their hands to cover their mouths, while pink hues glowed on their cheeks. Perhaps they knew something he didn't.