Chapter 58
Chapter 58
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 58
Chapter Title: Arrival at Elf Helm
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[Language Synchronization Rate 99%]
[The player stay period in 'Starfall Hill' is allowed up to 100 days.]
[Please finish all matters within that time.]
I advanced along the dazzling path.
Thud. Thud. Thud. Thud.
When I reached the end of the path, unlike the fourth round at midday, it was a dark night.
Why did this game always start new rounds under a dark sky?
Even though its background wasn't heavy enough to call it half-apocalypse.
[System Message]
[The fifth round begins.]
Under the dark sky, stars poured down.
I arrived first and watched the large and small meteor showers raining from the sky as I made a wish.
'Please let me survive and escape this game.'
Chakan i, who arrived second, sidled up beside me.
"Is this Elf Helm?"
"......No. Aren't you a ranker? Look."
I pointed with my index finger at the massive tree.
[World Tree]
The enormous tree between Dwarf Canyon and Elf Helm.
The source of life in this world, so tall that even craning my neck, I couldn't see the top.
We stared blankly at the World Tree.
"It's the same."
"What?"
"It's just like the game. The wind blowing from the canyon toward Elf Helm."
That was right.
The wind here always blew only from Dwarf Canyon toward Elf Helm.
From east to west.
Like pollen scattering from the crown of the World Tree, glowing particles billowed out.
Pollen of life.
One of the miraculous medicines said to cure all diseases.
"Kim Cheonjae. Is the pollen of life your goal?"
"No. I told you, the purpose of this round is rest."
Of course, the purpose was rest.
The goal was different.
Then the other players arrived.
[Kim Cheonjae's Group]
[Please select the story flow for the upcoming fifth round of 'Land of Ruin: Last Game'.]
[Since individual actions are possible this round, choose your desired flow.
A. Form a bond with the dwarves, who possess strong power and crafting skills.
B. Form a bond with the elves, who command nature and excel in magic.
Unlike previous rounds, this one allowed individual actions.
A place designed for growth tailored to player traits.
Of course, it was an exception for the necromancer called the boss of the underworld.
I chose story flow B.
While everyone else strove to grow stronger, my goal this round was to rest.
With auto-hunt already set up, rest was just another form of growth for me.
[System Message]
[All players have finished selecting their story flow.]
[Choice A]
-Ma Jeongwoo
-Michael Beach
-Yoo Sora
[Choice B]
-Kim Cheonjae
I was heading to Elf Helm alone.
"Ma Jeongwoo, not short on gold?"
"Yeah. After the fourth round, the Korean alliance paid up. Saved their asses, so they owed me."
"That's you. See you at the main event."
"Yeah, don't get cocky. Stay low."
"You too."
I smirked and patted Jeongwoo's back.
Ma Jeongwoo, Michael, and Yoo Sora headed off to the left side of the hill where the World Tree grew, toward the dwarves' watchtower.
After confirming they reached it, I headed for Elf Helm.
Continuing along the path to the right of the World Tree, an elf watchtower came into view.
Pointy-eared fairy folk atop the towering stone spire aimed their bows at me and shouted.
"Halt!"
"I've halted."
"Human?"
"Yes."
"Where from?"
"From the Conqueror's Tomb."
One of the elves descended from the watchtower.
A high elf?
He was an extremely tall male. Dressed in leather armor with a cloak draped over, he extended his hand toward me.
"From the Conqueror's Tomb?"
"Yes."
[Knight Commander of Elf Helm, 'Blant', senses the dark aura emanating from you and grows wary.]
Was it because of the Death Knight's power?
The 'dark aura' he was wary of.
It seemed to refer to the black aura flowing from my body.
"......Very well. What is your purpose here?"
"......Rest."
"Rest?"
"The outside world's too chaotic. Just here to take a break."
Blant continued the conversation in a sharp tone.
"......I've heard about the Conqueror's Tomb. Some unknown disease spreading, causing suffering?"
"Yes."
"Have you encountered any infected?"
"Yes."
"Then there's a chance you're infected too?"
I shook my head.
"No. The virus spreading in the 'Conqueror's Tomb' reacts immediately upon infection. You couldn't wander around like this."
"Is that so?"
"Yes."
"No falsehoods, I presume?"
"Of course not."
When speaking with this one, I had to avoid mixing lies or unnecessary chatter.
Because elves possessed the trait 'Mind's Eye'.
['Blant' activates the Mind's Eye skill.]
[Peering through Kim Cheonjae's words with the eye of the heart.]
[Confirmed: no falsehoods in your statements.]
"......It's true."
Suspicious and dismissive of humans—an NPC trait.
I didn't like it.
I knew dialogue formats changed based on the player. But I hadn't expected him to be this unyielding.
"You are human, right?"
"Can't you tell?"
"I'm asking if you're human."
"......Yes."
Blant rested his chin on his hand and stared at me.
He seemed to hesitate about escorting me to Elf Helm.
According to the story flow, he should just guide me. Why the hesitation?
After a long deliberation, he replied.
"......Fine. I'll guide you to Elf Helm. Are those who look like your companions behind you coming too?"
Companions?
Looking back, Chakan i and Kim Yeonhee stood there blankly.
Kim Yeonhee grinned at me, stretching her mouth wide.
"......Yes."
* * * * *
[Welcome to Elf Helm.]
We arrived in a forest where trees rooted as tall as skyscrapers.
Watermelon-sized fireflies flitted about, illuminating every corner.
The branches were as thick as the trunks of century-old pines.
Elven women with beauty impossible to find in the real world and elven men pretty enough to call flower boys bustled about actively.
Jo Youngki gaped at them.
"Uwo...."
Kim Yeonhee clapped her hands.
"As expected of elves!"
Superior.
In terms of looks, at least.
Following Knight Commander Blant's guidance deeper into the forest, we saw a massive ancient tree with a large opening.
A refreshingly pleasant breeze flowed out from the entrance, lifting my spirits.
Blant halted his steps.
"The Queen is inside. Refrain from anything that might offend her."
"I'll do my best."
"If even the slightest disturbance arises, you'll be expelled from Elf Helm."
I shrugged.
"Suit yourself."
Following behind him into the tree, I saw the elven queen seated on her throne.
A tall elf with silver hair and a white dress.
She smiled as she regarded us.
"Blant. Welcome."
Blant knelt on one knee.
"Your Majesty."
"And those beside you?"
"Humans who have come to Elf Helm."
"......"
"They say it's for rest."
"How many humans are currently in Elf Helm?"
"Fifteen."
"Fifteen...."
She rose from her seat and approached us.
Her movements were light, as if walking on air.
Not a sound escaped as she descended the stairs made of interwoven branches.
Drawing near, she scanned each of our faces before stopping in front of me.
"I am Charlotte, Queen of Elf Helm. Pleased to meet you."
The queen lifted the corner of her mouth as she looked at me. Her cheeks flushed pink—a face that suited the word 'ethereal'.
Over a hundred years old by lore, yet elves aged so gracefully.
"......Pleased. I'm Kim Cheonjae. The kid next to me is Kim Yeonhee. The bald guy beside her is Jo Youngki."
Charlotte glanced at Jo Youngki's gleaming scalp and smirked.
Jo Youngki pulled a sour face. I jabbed his side with my elbow by way of warning.
"I see.... But are you truly human, Cheonjae-ssi?"
An out-of-left-field question.
Did I look like a monster?
I tilted my head.
"Yes."
"I sense a demonic aura from you that isn't human."
Earlier Blant had called it a dark aura, and now Charlotte pinpointed it as demonic.
Their reactions were getting to me.
Well, with the dark energy leaking out visibly even to my eyes, an elf of her caliber wouldn't miss it.
I patted my armor with my palm.
"This dark aura isn't from my body—it's coming from the armor."
"From the armor?"
"Yes. It contains the power of the dead."
"......"
"My class is necromancer, so I wield the power of the dead. I use dark power, but I don't do evil. No need to worry."
The moment 'necromancer' left my lips, Blant drew his sword.
Shing.
"To think a necromancer dares enter sacred Elf Helm!"
Was there a line like that?
More importantly, this was the guy who'd warned against causing a scene before the queen—now drawing his blade.
"What's this about?"
"What's this? A necromancer entering this forest is taboo. I've let the source of evil inside by mistake."
First I'd heard that necromancers couldn't enter Elf Helm.
Had this become a new rule in the twisted story flow?
Keeping my composure, I told him.
"Calm down."
"Calm? How can I stay calm with a necromancer right in front of—"
The elven queen extended her hand.
Tree roots burst from the ground and coiled around his blade. Blant looked at the queen in shock.
The queen slowly nodded as she met his gaze.
"Blant, wait."
"Your Majesty...."
I removed my skull helmet.
The black aura flowing from my body due to the item's effect dissipated.
"Kim Cheonjae-nim."
"Speak."
"You came for rest?"
"Yes. I absolutely have no intention of attacking this place or causing harm."
"......I'm sorry, but necromancers cannot enter Elf Helm."
Why was everyone acting like this?
"Your Majesty, may I ask the reason I can't stay here?"
"......You wish to know?"
"Yes."
Charlotte slowly closed her eyes, then opened them and continued.
"War—the necromancer brings war to this place."
"......Pardon?"
"I'm not sure if you know, but we're currently in a truce with the dwarven race. You saw the Peace Watchtower on your way here, yes?"
[Peace Watchtower]
Stone towers positioned one each on the paths from the central World Tree to Dwarf Canyon and to Elf Helm.
Where I'd first met Blant.
"I did."
"Do you know what those watchtowers signify?"
"......Peace. A boundary line drawn so dwarves and elves won't fight each other."
"You know well. Then this explanation should suffice."
Charlotte fetched a large orb from beside the throne and addressed me.
"This orb is a mystic stone that reveals the future of Elf Helm."
"......And?"
"I'll show you directly. Why we're treating you this way."