Chapter 12
Chapter 12
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 12
Chapter Title: Party Met in the Forest (6)
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1.
The caravan seemed to have stopped by the roadside for a brief rest.
Indeed, judging by the sun, it was already lunchtime.
Even after a day of rest in the village, the caravan felt like an endless, grueling marathon spanning days.
If they didn't take intermittent breaks, everyone would collapse from exhaustion.
It reminds me of a deep-sea trawler.
Moreover, horses were living creatures, so it was essential to let them rest now and then and give them water.
Unlike in the game, the horses needed constant care.
"Th-this carriage is where the caravan leader is waiting."
If a horse collapsed in the middle of this forest, the carriage might as well be abandoned.
'So this is the caravan leader's carriage.'
After walking for about three minutes, the mercenary stopped around the middle of the long line of carriages.
There sat a carriage that exuded a far more luxurious air than the other wooden ones.
It screamed that a VIP was riding inside.
'They've at least prepared some defenses.'
But it wasn't just begging to be looted. Dozens of layers of reinforcement and barrier magic enveloped the carriage protectively.
The mana emanating from it was proof enough.
Probably on par with a mobile fortress.
An African elephant could trample it, and not a single scratch would appear. Its durability might even outclass a modern tank.
-Creak.
I opened the carriage door and stepped inside.
'?'
Yet the interior held neither the caravan leader nor even a single ant.
Strange.
They'd suddenly summoned me, I'd come all this way, and now the one who'd called was nowhere to be seen. It was starting to irritate me.
The carriage contained only opulent furnishings. No sign of the summoner. Just as I turned to peer outside, wondering what this farce was.
But it wasn't the only thing missing.
"......What? Forest interior?"
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙ 《 ~??? Stage~ Mysterious Forest Interior 》 The outside scenery had changed too.
The mercenary who'd escorted me here moments ago, and all the carriages lined up before and behind, were gone.
Was there teleportation magic tied to this carriage? I'd assumed only protective spells, but something else must have been woven in.
The door probably served as the trigger.
But this sudden event wasn't part of the original quest...
Why was the story veering this way?
-Rustle!
Something stirred in the bushes.
'......Someone's there.'
Dozens of presences began registering.
They'd likely used a thief skill like Presence Blockade, but their positions were pinpointed without special detection magic. Not high-level.
At best, under 100.
In the human realms, the only real threats were the so-called "Continental Guardians," ancient dragons. No need to fret over ambushes.
The worry was derailing the hidden quest.
Beyond the gold, it offered rare items hugely beneficial for travel. A must-clear if possible.
Missing it meant trudging across the continent on foot like some endless grindfest.
......I wasn't doing that twice.
And this wasn't a game—I'd be walking on my own legs.
-Step. Step.
Anyway, someone was approaching.
"Greetings, High Elf."
A man emerged from the bushes.
The Turk caravan leader.
In a sense, he had summoned me himself.
But the black-hooded figures trailing him suggested more than talk.
What scheme was this?
"......Ah! These are nothing. Just my escorts. Insurance, given the opponent."
⚔ STATUS ⚔ Name: Employed Advanced Assassin Level: 60 A fellow with assassins for guards. How sturdy.
His intent was obvious.
The Turk Merchant Group didn't just peddle wares via caravans. They specialized in snatching beastkin or elves to sell as slaves on the black market.
Players inevitably turned hostile with the leader during that quest.
Humans learned the group's "dark side" and clashed naturally. Non-demon heteroraces got targeted first by the Turks—that was the standard flow.
But that kicked off near the destination, Asral City.
Not midway. Events weren't supposed to trigger this soon.
Something diverged from the story I knew...
"Spit it out. Time's too precious for vermin like you."
To assess, I'd hear him out.
-Shunk!
A glint sliced the air, embedding in the carriage behind me.
A sharp dagger quivering.
The sudden blade had grazed past my face by a hair's breadth.
Likely auto-dodged from the level gap with the thrower—or intentionally wide. Probably the former.
⚔ ITEM ⚔ ▶Item – Equipment
[Throwing Poison Dagger]
※Attack Power: 60 + a
Something dark coated the blade.
'......Black liquid. Poison.'
Hydra blood, rare drop from Lv.80 monster "Hydra."
In Novel Online, a potion ingredient.
Description: potent paralytic—even a graze immobilizes until antidote. Game effect: halves speed, debuffs stats temporarily.
Whatever. Hurling it at me meant one thing.
......They all craved death by my hand.
"What treachery is this?"
But first, why the story shift? If the hidden quest was compromised, no need lingering—I could slaughter them and teleport out.
"Haha, our error. No, perfect actually. Can't blemish VIP 'merchandise.'"
This bastard declared war outright.
Thieves advantageous vs. mages, sure—but he knew High Elf meant archmage.
No frontal assault.
Ambush optimal; best, neutralize pre-cast.
'Normally, strike while sleeping.'
Yet they attacked openly? Trump card.
Whatever, stay wary.
"Then, surrender nicely. Slave life might surprise a High Elf with pleasure."
"Lunatic."
Done with drivel. Quest be damned—end them.
No resistance to magic; one Graviton vaporized any numbers.
"Enough prattle. Kneel!"
I moved to cast as before.
'......?'
Oddly, the leader's face unchanged.
'What? Untouched?'
Should be forehead-to-ground by now. Not just him.
Guards stood firm too.
Meant magic countermeasures. No defensive casts visible.
As if no magic fired...
This forest?
"Trouble? Can't a proud High Elf use her famed magic?"
He grinned vilely.
This guy's sharper than expected.
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙ 《 ~Story Stage~ Spirit Forest 》 If right, "Spirit Forest"—magic-null map.
Novel Online featured debuff zones: Spirit Forest, Dragon Grave common.
Spirits devour ambient mana to sustain ethereal forms.
Mages, spiritists countered—spirits absorb emitted mana, blocking casts.
Scrolls exempt: item-embedded mana, no emission needed.
Mandatory here, but no pricey scrolls on hand.
Early Twilight Forest similar—why no teleport.
"......Spirit Forest. Clever."
"Spot on. High Elf knows disadvantage here?"
True: mage sans magic? Damp match. Staff-whack best.
Mages skimp physical for int/mana—jack-of-all-master-of-none.
Sealed mage: trash.
Physical build? Can't max both.
Viable vs. weaklings; peers crush.
Leader knew.
"Surrender advised. Hate damaging goods."
"Refuse?"
"Refuse? Hmm......"
Utterly relaxed.
High Elves all mages—weaker sans magic.
"No good end awaits."
-Rustle! Rustle!
More black-clad thugs emerged.
All Lv.60+.
Now ten.
"Overwhelm with numbers, eh?"
"Yes. Cautious by nature."
I'm Demon, not Elf—but Cyan mage-built; no magic weakens severely.
'Trouble......'
Better than Elf, still rough.
Past mage ranker vs. Lv.100 warrior, skills sealed.
Mage lost. Pros struggle auto-attack vs. skilled players.
Low base stats inevitable.
'Agile thieves all. Hydra poison daggers.'
Glanced around.
Fully encircled. No exit.
"One last chance. Surrender."
"No. Obey scum?"
-Step.
Thieves closed in.
"......No choice. Seize that arrogant High Elf wench! Magicless, she's zilch!"
Signal dropped.
-Snap!
"Grab the High Elf!"
Thieves swarmed.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ -Boom!
Sudden roar echoed mid-forest.
Hired thieves' assault on trapped High Elf triggered explosion.
"Wait—no excessive damage to merchandise!"
Man panicked.
Foe: dragon-strong High Elf. Magic sealed, but unknowns abound—no "unharmed" order.
Still, overkill?
Nobles nitpicked moles even.
Irremovable scar? Value plummets.
Lip-biting anxiety.
"Hey! Response?!"
No reply from blast smoke.
20m max—voice should've reached.
Elite guild famed.
Magicless Elf shouldn't drag.
"......What happened?"
As suspicion peaked, he neared.
-Thud!
"Guh?!"
Black shape hurtled from dust.
Ducked barely.
Late? Face pulped, neck snapped likely.
"......This."
One of his thieves.
'My hire.'
Head tilt.
Foaming unconscious.
Abdomen bludgeon-bruised.
'Why here?'
In-fighting? Ominous—glanced to Elf spot.
-Thump! Smack!
'What noise?'
Sinister sounds followed.
Bone-cracks with "Gurk!" "Keuk!"—thieves' agony, not Elf's.
'......Silence now.'
How long? Eerie quiet held.
-Whoosh!
Gale swept forest.
Dust cleared from vision.
High Elf captured soon, he thought.
Elves no physical prowess.
Forest-reclusive mages—inferior to humans bodily.
Knight-slayers lose to one Elf? Nah.
"......Impossible."
Yet it was.
Eyes betrayed: dust-held figure.
Possible?
"Preconceptions terrify."
-Step. Step.
Incredibly, sole unscathed in dust: the High Elf.
Thieves downed.
"Magic-sealed Elf: nothing?"
Her: tousled hair, dust-specked only...
"Irrelevant."
Skin snow-pure, unmarred.
"Damn......!"
Trump time.
Golden restraint from bosom.
For Elf, but thousands gold—too costly, other plans.
'Magicless how...!'
No choice.
Disposable waste, but must.
"Damn! Golden chains, bind that wretched High Elf!"
"Foolish posturing."
-Crackle! Zap!
Chains lunged.
Artifact: chant-tracks, binds, necklace-seals mana/strength. Dragon-catcher.
'......Over.'
Unerring once locked—certainty's grace.
Even mighty Elf obeys collared.
-Clink!
"Eh?"
......If collared.
"What now? Wagered life on trinket?"
Eyes doubted anew.
Arrow-swift chain.
Yet Elf snatched bug-like.
"......Pitiful."
-Crunch!
"Uh."
Hand-crushed restraint.
Mithril dragon-proof.
"You ruined my hair. Know the styling ordeal?"
Elf neared slowly.
Man quit thinking.