50. True Happiness
Just one day after starting work at the salt fields, the laborers found themselves on the brink of dismissal and began prostrating themselves before Yeomje, begging for mercy.
"Aigoo!!! Lord Yeomje, please forgive me! I swear, never again!!! I'll never steal salt again!!! If I miss this chance, I won't be able to pay my next taxes!"
"I was a fool! Just one more chance!!! If we go back like this, we'll all starve to death!!"
"I have an elderly mother and children I love more than my own eyes... or maybe I do...!! Anyway, I won't steal again, so please let me stay!!!"
They each rattled off reasons why they needed to stay at the salt fields, but...
"Enough! You've already squandered your chance! I have no intention of forgiving those who damage the Dungeon Master's property...!!"
Yeomje was resolute.
"Please!! I'll work like a slave for life, just give me one more chance!!!"
"Kwaaa!! I'll bury my bones in these salt fields for life, Lord Yeomje!!! Allow this lowly one to become part of the fields!!"
They had no more time.
As the ticket time limits expired, beams of light began enveloping their bodies.
"Aaaah!!! I don't wanna go baaack!!!"
"Please let me stay in the salt fields waaah-!!!!!!!!!"
With their death throes echoing, the new laborers were transported back to the salt field management office.
"Hoo... Foolish fools... Even without you, the shelter is full of people eager to work."
The senior workers who witnessed it all felt it deep in their bones once more: never steal salt, and never get on Yeomje's bad side.
"Keruk...".
After wolfing down a rough breakfast and heading home, I logged into the gallery to get info on the 'old maid elf' Dennis had told me about.
Isekai Survival Gallery
"Hmm... Gotta announce the strategy contest results too, but no word yet..."
I skimmed the real-time posts and searched for 'old maid elf'.
[Search restricted.]
"What? The search term's blocked?"
Weird... Never happened before.
Old maid and elf are words I've seen a ton in the gallery?
Hmm... Kinda awkward asking Joodak bro about this...
...One of the Padaks?
Eh, not that weird.
Sticky's a Padak too...
Some weirdo Padak filtering just old maid elf, probably.
Dunno if that Padak's the old maid elf...
Fair... Hundreds of entries, reviewing them all is huge labor.
Not cool exploiting volunteers for free.
"Alright..."
Filter lifted, so I finally searched old maid elf.
"Hmm, what the hell is this..."
Dennis wasn't exaggerating—tons of posts about old maid elves.
All with ominous titles...
And the sheer volume means it's not just one or two cases.
I skimmed and clicked one that caught my eye.
Posted about 30 years ago...
From a peaceful era before monsters or wars.
Hey all... Glad to see ya.
As title says, dumbass Earthling meets old maid elf, life ruined tale.
Fresh into my 20s, left hometown for big city with dreams.
Back then, dumb kid stuff like 'Become famous artist!'
But even best drawer back home was nothing in capital...
Gallery art gave hints, but meeting real talent broke me.
After years struggling, heart snapped, got job at local bakery...
But shouldn't have!!!!!!!!!!! Shoulda gone home!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Yeah fuck, starts here... My life truly fucked from here!!!
Now obvious, but keep reading...
One day at work, super hot girl comes to bakery!!
Country bumpkin me sees elf first time, mutters 'Whoa... fuckin gorgeous'
She hears, smiles at me?
That smile, I stupidly named grandkids.
Yeah, to you it'd look natural causes lol T_T
After, elf becomes regular, always asks how she looks lately...
Dumb me piles on compliments...
Thought she was into me...?
Asked her out, as expected, suddenly cold...
Not ice cold, but awkward vibe?
But I was obsessed, asked weekly...
One day, feels bad rejecting, accepts, we eat out.
PS: 1 year since met lol
Anyway, occasional meals...
Bakery boss warned never date old maid elf...
Shoulda listened...
But horny young, boss nags daily, big fight one day...
After, boss stops warning...
Boss if reading, sorry for real... I was idiot.
2 years dating...
Still no hand hold lol
Bitch dodges like ghost.
One day ask why, can't we hold hands? Weird look;;
After 2 years, says we're not that kind lololol
Was braindead
But loved her face, dated years more?
Lucky? Persistent, finally hand-holding.
But years more, no progress.
Year 5: 'Can't take it! Toying with me?' Decide to break.
Not really dating, I distanced.
Mid-20s, work only, treat her as customer even visits.
She nags why so cold... Maddening...
Then first 'real' GF, bakery regular, got close, dated.
First kiss, dreamlike... Didn't last.
Fuckin elf finds out, throws tantrum.
Crashes date, arms linked first time, pretends GF ;;;
GF sees, thinks cheater.
Convince otherwise, barely... But crazy bitch tantrums constantly, too many to list.
Then learned old maid elf horror stories late...
Too late anyway.
GF breaks up.
Beg believe me it's old maid elf... Gone.
After? Every GF dumps in month.
Can't live like this, challenge elf to duel.
Won't talk? Gotta way.
Forgot: she's centuries-old spirit mage, I'm bakery boy.
Got wrecked.
Years more schemes, shoulda quit gone home lol
Base in capital, couldn't abandon.
If can't push away, get closer crazy idea...
Worked somewhat.
Events n ass-kissing, finally cheek kiss.
But I was 30s then.
Peak there.
Hoo... Long-lived vs short-lived diff...
Elves need eons to build love apparently.
Older elf, stronger tendency...
Yeah, centuries virgin, tiny time together won't conquer lol
Line for marriage-eligible elf pre-300? Younger better odds?
Mine over 400 lol
Old maid elves real evil: Know ending, use us as consumables lol
Sigh... End: I 40s, she loses interest, natural breakup.
No urge to cling.
Not rich, not hot, old now, no women, just lament fate...
No family, age alone, hits hard...
Anyway beware old maid elves kids...
300-400 no mate = no marriage intent.
And countless self-esteem pumps before.
Long-lived low sex drive, no lay...
They never give heart. 1-2yr toy to them, don't be dumb like me.
Unless okay no marriage, hand-holds forever...
...Epic tale of one man's life.
Checked others just in case.
Recent one.
Read dozens more...
Unless special case, all same end.
Escape success... or freed by age...
"Am I fucked...?"
[GraniteFist]: Hey Dungeon Master. Park's done, come check.