Chapter 53
Chapter 53
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 53
Chapter Title: Twin Sisters (2)
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1.
The elves' domain is called Arke by the world at large.
The reason was simple.
It was said that in the elven land of Arke, there was a path leading to the Twilight Forest, where everything began.
Arke was a word meaning root or essence.
But that was nothing more than baseless rumor.
Of course, there was a place similar to the Twilight Forest where I'd spent the past half year...
But it was just a well-crafted replica.
-Step
"All the humans I see are Turk Merchant Company employees."
I took a step forward, looking around.
The bustling voices of people made it easy to feel just where I was.
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙ ~Neutral Stage~
>Elf's Land Arke Market Street A market street about the same size as Asral City's.
Located near the docks, it had an open space where vendors could freely set up and close shop.
At a glance, it resembled Asral City's shopping district, but one key difference was that unlike Asral, there were no humans among the throng of customers here.
"Turk Merchant Company! They've finally arrived!"
That said, it wasn't just elves; those over there were the ones commonly called dwarves.
The dwarves, having lost their homeland to the Demon King, had wandered the world for years before finally settling in elven lands.
If Novel Online's lore matched this world, the dwarves shared their technological prowess in exchange for the elves providing them places to rest and live.
In other words, mutual aid.
The elves were so nature-attuned and magic-obsessed that they lagged in technology, but the current Elf Queen had wisely allied with the dwarves to shore up that weakness.
'Uncharacteristically wise for an elf. A true ruler.'
And that wasn't all.
Recently, they'd even contracted with the Turk Merchant Company, exchanging human culture and softening their rigid image in the world's eyes.
For example... that over there.
"Cheap! Super cheap! Asral specialties just in—buy now for 10% off!"
"Prepared for elves who don't eat meat! Not meat, but meat-like taste with all the protein and nutrients of real meat!"
Human merchants setting up shop.
Turk Merchant Company employees unloading goods from the airship and opening stalls.
Surprisingly few luxuries; mostly convenience items and food.
As soon as the stalls opened, elves flocked like they'd been waiting.
They showed keen interest in foreign goods, with dwarves mixed in like bonuses.
'...That's meat made from beans? Popular with the elves.'
Among the Turk Company's wares were bean dishes familiar to me.
True to form for meat-avoiding elves, the "meat taste without being meat" pitch drew crowds.
Elves disliked killing any life, even monsters, so they shunned meat and fish, living like vegetarians.
But offering plant-based meat alternatives?
Irresistible to curiosity-driven elves.
'People are the same everywhere.'
Daily necessities and spices were also elf favorites.
Arke was small, mostly forests and mountains, not resource-rich.
Crucially, little farmland, so they imported most non-food goods lately.
Feels familiar somehow.
'And the dwarves...'
I turned to look elsewhere.
There, dwarves clustered around a stall.
Unlike evenly spread elves, dwarves focused here—selling beer.
"Hey! I got here first! Respect the line!"
"The hell you say?"
"Now, now, no fighting—buy in ticket order! We won't sell to rowdy customers!"
Arke's terrain wasn't suited for barley farming, beer's key ingredient.
'Stubborn dwarves just roll over for this.'
For beer-loving dwarves, Turk Company was like rain in drought.
Beer was water to them.
"No fair! We'll behave, so hand over the damn tickets."
"Can't buy beer, no point being here."
See? Shaking hands, laughing it off.
Muscular dwarves who'd seemed ready to brawl moments ago tamed by one threat of no beer.
"One barrel per dwarf! Limited stock, so limited sales—understand!"
Beer sold out in seconds.
'Impressive. That huge stock gone already.'
Mires-class airship warehouse full of it, yet vanished in under 30 minutes.
They're serious about beer.
Now I get why Stran regretted only using one Mires.
[Ah, if I'd known, I wouldn't have canceled the route. Rushed restart, only one Mires running—such a shame.]
With dwarf fervor, a couple more ships would've sold out too.
Twice as many sad beer-less dwarves as happy ones said it all.
"Hoo! Party time today!"
"Blessings from Mother Earth! Thanks to Turk Company for the beer!"
And for some reason, they started singing with fresh barrels.
"Ohoho! We march ever onward!"
"Through mountains, digging earth, smashing rocks~!"
Just a market opening, yet it felt like a festival.
Turk came every fortnight, but weather delayed them often.
No wonder beer was such a hit.
"Thanks earth~ Thanks spirits~!"
Even beer-less dwarves shared sips, bought snacks, turned it into a bash.
'That's not jerky—bean "meat" jerky.'
Bright for exiles.
Elves didn't mind, joined in laughing and chatting.
"Sun sets? Press on! Moon our guide by night~"
Maybe drowning lost-home grief in shared joy.
Elves knew that pain too.
Usually cat-dog rivals, now singing together from shared scars...
Anyway, all laughing and singing.
Turk staff watched fondly; not bad to me either.
But not everyone smiled.
One person turned away bitterly.
"Silion? What's wrong? Feeling ill?"
"Nothing... just a bit. I'll head to the inn early! Enjoy yourself, Siwoo!"
The cause of it all.
'Tch.'
Could she be the one who united dwarf-elf foes into laughter?
Seeing her now, a bit pitiable.
Didn't mean to, but no other choice led here.
Not my business anyway.
Unintended or not, millions of dwarves massacred doesn't vanish.
Intent irrelevant; to dwarves, demonkin are kill-on-sight enemies.
Arke's elves much the same.
Past, present, future—unwelcome...
"Hey, you there. Turk Company employee?"
"Yes. What can I do, High Elf ma'am?"
"Get me a map of Arke. Mark the route to Krasion Kingdom too."
Time to handle my business.
Don't want to get lost this time...
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ 2.
"Turk Company's position?"
-Step step
Under moonlight, the demon revealed himself.
"Who—oh, you."
In his usual shady garb, he appeared before the hairy man and asked.
Richard, mid-revelry, paused and turned.
Now used to the demon popping up.
Still disliked him though.
Cooperative or not, his vibe grated.
⚔ STATUS ⚔ Plunder Boss Richard (★) – Lv.155 "Heard they entered Arke yesterday. Exactly as you predicted, no mistakes."
⚔ STATUS ⚔ Demonkin ??? – Lv.??? "Not my words—fate decreed. Future flows accordingly."
The demon visited Richard daily for the 'target's' whereabouts.
Every night, same time.
Asking Turk position, tomorrow's weather, monster locations.
When asked why, he called it a milestone for glimpsing the future.
Still gibberish.
"...More cryptic talk."
Cautious and thorough, or annoyingly persistent.
Any time, any place, states business, vanishes.
Today too.
"Ah, aaah..."
A faint moan from beside Richard.
The woman trembling on the bed, voice weak—it was the noble lady who'd defied him recently.
Captured by bandits yet endured with iron will...
Now, no warmth in her face, sickly pale, eyes vacant, staring into nothing...
Drool trickled from her mouth.
Broken in days.
Why? Defied boss Richard—harshly punished.
He handled toys carefully, but disobedient ones? Use till broken.
"Hoo, so fragile—no fun! Just bitchy looks and shine."
-Thud!
Richard shoved her angrily.
She hit the floor, head bleeding, still staring blankly.
Corpse already.
Body alive, soul dead.
The demon thought so, spoke softly.
"...Need a new toy."
Glanced at her, then back to Richard.
"Yeah, sturdy one that won't break no matter what! Not like that bitch!"
"The bitch you mean... High Elf?"
"Right! You know her. That High Elf's tits—killer. Can't wait to snag her, shatter that haughty face. Body itching like mad!"
Richard smacked his lips, eyes lewd.
-Rustle
Demon closed eyes briefly, pulled out worn paper, handed it over.
"This the High Elf?"
"Yeah!"
The paper showed a High Elf—hypnotic beauty, curvaceous figure.
Cyan.
Somehow, he had dozens of passenger portraits, including hers.
His ability, probably.
One of countless magics.
"...You're lucky."
"How?"
"Your prey unrelated to my goal."
"Oh yeah, you're after some summoner mage woman on board too..."
"Correct. But purpose aside, you're truly fortunate."
"Why?"
Demon chuckled softly.
Richard asked again; demon replied.
"Saw the future. Your desires on that High Elf... fulfilled."
-Flash!
Demon vanished.
"Hey, for real?!"
Richard jumped up thrilled, but demon gone.
"...Gone."
Good mood this time.
Demon said his lusts fulfilled.
Never wrong before.
-Creak
Grinning, Richard opened the window.
"Heh heh, High Elf."
His view: dozens of airships led by his men.
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙ ~Danger Stage~
>Plunder Fleet's Airships This many could smash Turk's escorts easily.
Plus, his demon ally—one of seven high demons of the demon realm.
"Can't wait to throw her down..."
Even top High Elf powerless against future-sight demon.
Richard imagined Cyan panting on his bed.