Hoping We'll Get Closer! – Guard Ambush
Hoping we'll get closer! Clop clop. Clop clop. Inside the leisurely rolling carriage sat none other than the hero's party. Wow. But then, a massive crisis struck this hero's party.
"Um... so we've only got three silver coins left?"
"What's that? Snacks?"
"Does that look like snacks to you?"
The crisis? They were flat broke! Even their new companion Liela was penniless. Hell, she didn't even seem to grasp the concept of money.
So the hero's party ended up on the cheapest carriage around—slow as molasses with a ride from hell.
Bump!! Thud! Thud! A magnificent beast of burden that jolted every vibration straight to the ass. Carriages weren't kind to broke passengers.
'Get off me, you filthy beggars!'
Anyway, in this teeth-gritting hell, one person finally snapped.
Naturally, it was Yubel.
"No way!! Is this a carriage or a damn cart? My ass hurts so bad I can't even sleep!"
"Liela's right—the village and Edelia aren't far, so just bear with it a little longer."
"Munch munch. This one's the closest! Nom nom."
Liela, quietly gnawing on jerky, piped up. That's our lunch for today!
"Hey! That's today's lunch—why the hell are you scarfing it already?!"
"It's yummy! Want some, Yubel? Ah!!"
Yubel snatched the jerky from Liela's hand and popped it straight into her mouth.
"Blech, zero seasoning?"
Chew chew. To a modern palate that knew flavor, this world's grub was straight-up torture. Why's the jerky so freaking bland? Ah, jerky's got me craving booze. I wanna drink... Chicken, I want chicken too...
"Waaah, Yubel's a total pig...."
This bitch? Even after I clean up her food trash.
"I'm just clearing out the nasty stuff. Least you could do is say thanks. C'mon, repeat after me: Thank. You. Very. Much."
"Thank you...."
Yubel nodded in satisfaction. See? She listens so well—how cute is that? Keep it up, and I'll look after her proper. Shame she already got plowed, though.
"Yubel... don't tease her too much."
"Tch. Fine."
Shielding the girl he already banged just 'cause she's a girl now? How do I give this golden retriever a proper ass-kicking?
Still, with her glued to Liela, the hero had zero shot at jacking up her lewdness meter. Good, if we keep this up—
Bump! Thud! Rattle rattle!
"......"
After that, the hero's party fell dead silent for a good long while. One wrong word, and they'd bite their own tongues off.
"Hmm.... Ah!"
Unable to stomach the quiet, Liela came up with a brilliant idea.
"Seon! Yubel! Wanna play that game? 'Hoping we'll get closer!' Daddy said it's for asking each other questions to bond!"
"Hmm, not a bad idea."
"Ooh, let's! But how's it work?"
Solid plan. Get chummy with the hero, snag official party spot—then blocking his schemes gets way easier.
"Just take turns asking stuff! Okay, First Round: Hoping We'll Get Closer—starting now!! I'll go first!"
Bump, thud.
Liela squeezed her eyes shut, mulling her question. An elf... thinking?
"Yubel!"
"Yeah?"
"You're beastkin, right?"
"Yup."
"What kind? Cow? Or... sheep?"
Ugh. Never even crossed her mind. Damn airhead Liela hit a blind spot. Lie? Nah, straight truth.
"Dunno. Next."
"Huh? You can't just—!"
"I answered. Dunno."
"For real?"
The hero jumped in outta nowhere. Why's he so hooked? Shoulda said goat.
"Whatever. My turn. Hero—exactly how many skills you got unlocked in that skill window?"
Checking if Liela got railed last night. If yes, skill points = new unlock. Please no.
"Two right now. Snagged a fresh one this time."
Two? 'This time' means she got fucked. Took her down with just one skill? Shit.
"Why's everyone talking over me! What's that supposed to be?!"
The now-non-virgin big-tits ditz elf couldn't contain her nosiness.
"None of your business. Hero—your turn, quick."
"Hmm...."
Bump, bump.Why the stall? Hesitant types always drop the dumbest questions in these games.
"Yubel. Got a lover? Or a fiance or something?"
What kinda bullshit?
"Nope. And don't pull that crap on me. Love's all illusion and lies anyway."
The nightmare still burned fresh. That first blind date she psyched up for—total crash. What'd the girl call her? Loser virgin? Makes me rage just thinking.
"Yeah... sorry."
"Ahaha.... Okay! My turn next? Hmm...."
Loser Yubel's freakout tanked the vibe, so Round 1 wrapped fast.
Baek Seon had been bugged by Yubel eyeing him like a hawk since morning. Because of last night's spar with Liela? She'd intro'd herself as an archer, so to prep against ranged threats, he'd suggested a friendly duel. Ended in a draw. Light stuff—no full commitment, just a good sweat.
But maybe the noise pissed her off. Her glare sharpened after.
Left him uneasy.
Then Liela's question game kicked off—from her turn.
"What kind of beastkin? Cow? Sheep?"
"Dunno. Next."
"Huh! You can't—!"
"Answered already. Dunno."
Doesn't know her own beastkin type? Since arriving, Seon had picked up all sorts of common knowledge—including beastkin lore. Sometimes mutants popped out different from kin, got ditched without even knowing what they were.
So he blurted: "For real?"
If so, that devil-tail made sense—freak mutation. How'd she even survive this long?
"Whatever. My turn. Hero—how many skills exactly?"
Dodged smooth—hates spilling?
"Two now. New one today."
Chatting with oddly off Yubel this morning, heading out—points hit 3, unlocked fresh skill. What triggers points? Rose after Yubel talk... connected to her?
"Why's it a secret from me! What's it mean?!"
"None of your biz. Hero—ask away."
Pondering points, felt their stares. Ah—my question!
"Hmm... Yubel. Got a lover? Fiance maybe?"
Why'd I even ask that? Brain locked on her past and points—blurted nonsense.
Her face soured instantly.
"Nope. And cut the crap. Love's illusion, all lies."
"Yeah... sorry."
Screwed up. Pissed her off. But those words... heavy. Like someone who'd never been loved.
"......"
Just two days in, but her hidden past nagged him. Hates dredging it up, though. Chance comes, dig later.
Bump!
"Oi, milords! Elf turf from here—gotta hoof it!"
"Right. Thanks much. Payment here."
"One, two, three... three silvers, got 'em! Safe travels!"
Three silvers—the party's entire fortune. Good we scraped by.
"I'll guide from here! Follow me!"
"Appreciate it. Let's roll."
"Yeah. My back was killing me—perfect timing."
Yubel looked less steamed. Here's to smooth sailing to the elf kingdom.
Screwed up. Snapping at the hero like that just bites me in the ass. Gotta play clueless-but-useful mage for a bit. Let him relax, slot me official—then sabotage city.
"Keeping up okay?"
"Y-yeah. Move it."
Trailed Liela.
"Hmm...."
Truth? Liela sucked at directions. No biggie—ask the plants.
"Hey! Tree uncle! Edelia that way? Ah, thanks! This way!"
Weird as hell to watch. Real? Or just nuts?
Not a lore deep-dive gamer, Yubel shrugged it off. Whatever.
Ten hours later, the elf kingdom's gate loomed. Actually a five-hour trek—no one clocked it.
Approached the guards. Liela'd smooth it, right? Glanced her way—hiding behind the hero, face covered.
What the—?
"Halt! State your names, affiliations, and purpose."
"Baek Seon. Hero of the hero party—here on invite from an elf acquaintance."
"Hero? You? Hmph, matches the legends. And the woman?"
"Yubel. Party mage."
"Right. Mind waiting? Recent orders—no humans. Hero's special; gotta clear with the elder."
Aish, just wave us through already.
"Sure. But... why the human ban?"
"Eh, cleared for hero I guess."
This event ring a bell? Early game—elf kingdom's midgame, fuzzy recall.
"Some psycho elf torched the World Tree, got exiled. Cracked the barrier—human mercs poured in. Shipping all humans packing now."
!! Felt Liela flinch behind the hero.
No friggin' way... right?
"And who's skulking back there? Party member too?"
"Ah."
"Wait—it's Liela!!!! The crazy elf's back!!! Seize 'em all!!"
Guards swarmed, encircled in seconds.
Fuck.