Chapter 60
Chapter 60
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 60
Chapter Title: The Fractured Summit
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While Jeongwoo was crafting gear, I prepared for the main event.
I'd already memorized the terrain here, so heading to the Orc Fortress wasn't too tough.
The Orc Fortress I knew from the game was about the size of an army company.
But this place was different.
It was division-scale.
You could think of it as an entire mountain turned into a fortress.
The troops numbered at least ten thousand—too many to count, with orcs packing the place.
“……How the hell are we supposed to beat this.”
A sigh escaped me.
Even combining the dwarves and elves, we'd barely scrape together three thousand.
The enemy had more than three times that.
After scouting the fortress, I returned near the World Tree to rest.
“……Come out.”
Silvia emerged from behind a tree.
“How did you know?”
“Your scent. You smell like flowers, so impossible to miss.”
Most elves gave off a floral fragrance.
The intensity varied, but Silvia's was like standing right next to an acacia tree.
She beamed and trotted over.
“Here.”
Silvia handed me a basket of fruit.
“……Thanks.”
I took the basket from her with a slight smile.
“All we have today is fruit. The orcs have held the valley for four days straight, so fish is off the menu for a bit.”
It had been a full week since arriving at Starfall Hill.
She visited me every day, bringing food.
Whenever I asked why, she just laughed, which was frustrating.
But thanks to her, I wasn't starving.
“This is plenty.”
“Really? Hehehe.”
She grinned ear to ear like a kid.
A bit undignified for an elven princess, but her friendliness was nice.
“If your mother knew you were here, she'd blow a fuse.”
“It's fine. I'll just say I went for a walk.”
“Still, be careful. The forest is dangerous.”
“Yes, sir!”
I chuckled and bit into one of the fruits she'd given me.
It looked like an apple but was sweet as honey with thick juice.
“Silvia.”
“Yeah?”
“I don't get why you keep coming to see me.”
“……Just 'cause. I just wanna hang out with you.”
“There’s no such thing as 'just.' Everything has a reason.”
Silvia poked her head forward.
“Why not? Do you always have a reason for everything you do, mister?”
“……Yeah. Eat when hungry, piss when you gotta go, sleep when tired.”
“Ooh—sounds legit.”
“No, it's not 'legit,' it's obvious.”
“Sigh…. You live such a complicated life. I just came 'cause I wanted to hang with you, mister. Being cooped up in Elven Helm is suffocating.”
I tilted my head.
“Elven Helm is suffocating?”
“Of course! 'Princess, do this,' 'Princess, do that,' 'Princess, mind your dignity,' 'Princess, blah blah blah.'”
“They're all saying it for your own good.”
“Yeah, yeah, sure. You sound just like my mom.”
Mom, huh….
“Does anyone else know you're meeting me?”
“Nope. I sneak out of Elven Helm, so no one knows.”
“Hmm….”
Good.
If someone saw us and told the queen, I could get booted from the forest too.
“Mister.”
“Yeah?”
“What's the outside world like?”
“Outside world?”
“How do people live beyond the World Tree.”
Oh, that.
From their perspective, where I came from was the outside.
I rubbed my chin and answered.
“Pretty much the same as here.”
“Huh?”
“What's with the 'huh.'”
“I mean…. Is the outside boring too?”
“Yep. Only difference is my world's always in wartime.”
Silvia pouted and grumbled.
“What kinda answer is that….”
I finished the fruit and stood up.
“Anyway, humans.”
“Do humans like war?”
“No clue.”
“Do you like war, mister?”
Her question about liking war made me snort.
“……No. If I did, would I be here?”
“True…. Should I talk to my mom? Tell her you're a good necro—”
I cut Silvia off.
“No, it's fine. Take care of yourself.”
“……Mister.”
“What now?”
“You know there's a summit here today?”
“Summit?”
Silvia pointed to a spot about five hundred meters from the World Tree.
Log benches surrounded a long stone table.
‘No way?’
“Today, the dwarf king of the gorge and my mom are holding talks for peace on Monoark Continent.”
“……Do you know when?”
“When the sun rises level with the World Tree's crown.”
I glanced at the sky.
The sun would hit that spot within an hour.
“So it's starting soon?”
“Yeah.”
Hey, come on!
Why tell me now?
[System Message]
[In 60 minutes, the Elf/Dwarf summit will begin at the top of Starfall Hill.]
[All new players in the fifth round will be summoned. Please prepare.]
“Silvia.”
“Yeah? I mean, yes.”
“Go back to Elven Helm. Now.”
“Why?”
“It's dangerous. I'll escort you to the watchtower—go back with the knights.”
I grabbed her hand and pulled.
“H-Hey, mister. What's going on? The summit?”
“Yeah.”
“Why the summit?”
“If anyone sees you with me, we're both in trouble.”
“Why?”
I stopped and looked at her.
“Your mom hates me. Or rather, hates necromancers. No harm in being careful.”
Our conversation felt like….
Some cheap romance sneaking around a lovers' hideout.
Even though I felt nothing for her.
The only feeling I had for Silvia was gratitude for the meals.
Probably the same for her.
Just curiosity about humans.
“……Got it.”
“If I get chased out of the forest, I'm screwed. Understand?”
“You'll be here tomorrow too?”
“Probably. Wait…. Don't come here starting tomorrow.”
“Why not!”
I patted her shoulder.
“Too dangerous. I'll head to Elven Helm soon—wait there for me.”
“But you can't enter Elven Helm?”
“I figured out a way. If you help.”
“……How?”
['Silvia' wants to help you.]
Perfect.
She won't refuse my request now.
I whispered in her ear.
“It's like this….”
* * * * *
The sun rose above the World Tree.
All players were forcibly summoned near it.
Rough count: about thirty.
No sign of Goti, who bailed first in the fourth round.
Ma Jeongwoo gave me a nod.
I nodded back and hid atop the World Tree.
As time passed, players moved to the summit site.
I kept my distance and watched from afar.
-Thud! Thud! Thud! Thud!
The first to arrive: short but burly folk.
[Dwarves]
Clanking in armor, dwarf troops filled half the hill.
Their king, crowned in gold, sat on a log and stroked his chin.
“Duval, Duval!”
A dwarf clutching a thick tome like a bible came running.
“You called?”
“Once today's summit ends, prepare everyone here to move out to the front lines immediately.”
Duval glanced around uncomfortably.
“……Will the elves just sit by?”
“What if they don't? We've endured enough. Can't take any more orc raids.”
“But we promised peace at the watchtowers—we should honor our agreements….”
“Promises are made to be broken. We've kept it for five years already. I've done my part.”
The dwarf king, Dnirro.
Matched the game description perfectly.
Once he decided something was right, he'd bulldoze through even if wrong.
No sooner had their talk ended than the elf knights arrived.
In leather armor, cloaks billowing, they lined up.
The elf queen sat opposite the dwarf king.
“Dnirro, it's been a while.”
“You too, Charlotte. Sorry for calling this summit so suddenly.”
They shared awkward smiles.
“How've you been?”
“Well? With orcs running wild like this?”
“……”
“You know why I called this summit, right?”
Charlotte gestured, and leaves gathered on the stone table.
“Probably the orcs.”
The leaves shifted into a map of Monoark Continent.
“Exactly! Good, we can cut to the chase.”
“……”
“I've heard about Elven Helm. Orcs attacking once a week?”
Charlotte nodded.
“Yes.”
“How long you gonna let it slide?”
“……What do you mean?”
Dnirro crooked a finger, and a soldier plunked a severed orc head on the table.
“The orcs. Their numbers are growing.”
“So?”
“Time to hunt them.”
“……That again.”
Dnirro clicked his tongue.
“Again? Look, Charlotte! They're monsters. Threats to our peace.”
“Might doesn't bring peace.”
“No might, no peace.”
“Dnirro—try talking it out with the orcs. We're working on it.”
“How long you gonna talk? Till they rule the continent?”
Charlotte frowned.
“It'll end before then.”
“War's coming first. I can't watch my kin die anymore.”
“Just hold on a bit longer.”
“No! My cousin was torn apart by orcs the other day—how much longer?!”
“……Calm down.”
“Calm? Think you'd say that if you lost family?”
Blant interjected.
“King Dnirro, that's too far.”
“Too far? I'm not lying! You want peace—what's too far?”
Charlotte gently pushed Blant's stomach, signaling him to stay out.
“Blant, this isn't your place.”
“……My apologies, Your Majesty.”
“Dnirro. Your son wanted peace. Not war.”
“The only path to peace now is war. Orcs are getting stronger—we can't wait.”
“……War breeds more war.”
“Frustrating! Gotta kill 'em all to wise up? What if it was your daughter? You know why my son died!”
The dwarf king and elf queen stared silently.
Silence fell.
Dnirro sighed in frustration and stood abruptly.
“Charlotte, we'll prepare for war.”
“No!”
“Whether you like it or not. We're moving.”
“War means heavy casualties.”
“If your peace matches mine, sacrifices are needed to protect it.”
“Th-That….”
Dnirro nodded toward the gorge.
Duval ordered the dwarf warriors to return.
Dwarves began departing the World Tree one by one.
Charlotte stared blankly after them.
As Dnirro walked away, back turned, he bellowed.
“From today, our watchtowers go dark. Spread the word.”
“Dnirro!”
“Charlotte, thanks for everything.”
And with that, the dwarves were gone.
The elves lingered at the site, watching them leave.
[System Message]
[The assault on 'Orc Fortress' is now active.]
[All players in the fifth round, beware orc raids.]