The Dark Elves' Crisis

So the dark elves were in crisis.

Yujun smiled. If anything, this was an opportunity.

My level's 123 right now...

Kill demons at that level, and a Legendary title was as good as already his. Titles were the very thing that turned into strength the more they stacked, and demons were a rare sight on the Continent — a race that paid out an absurd amount of experience for their level the moment you cut them down. Meeting them here, at this exact point, was an enormous chance.

He caught the corner of his mouth before it could climb.

Things are working out nicely.

Still, he needed to hear the rest. Judging from the situation as it stood would be premature.

Demons.

You could never leave them out of any talk about the Demon God Worshippers. They made up the largest share of the cult, born already armed with overwhelming martial power and an innate gift for magic, formulas, barriers, combat sense — everything.

A straight upgrade over humans, in every respect.

Their one flaw, if they had one, was that their capacity for growth lagged well behind the other races. Even so, their raw might was so great that the influence they held inside War of the Gods was anything but small.

And those demons are mixed up in this?

For an ordinary player, the wise move would have been to walk away. Demons were strong as a rule, and at his present level he could easily be in danger. But he carried martial power that did not match his level at all. The greater the risk, the greater the reward waiting on ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠the other side — that was simply how it worked. He wanted to grow fast, and he had no intention of letting this chance slip.

There was something almost shy in Stelln's manner. The man had thanked him, but Yujun was only moving to take what he himself wanted. He would not be led by anyone. Dark elves were not what mattered. Only his own choice did. That was Shin Yujun.

"You said World Tree Seed, didn't you? The reason we need it... is simply that a World Tree is an extremely precious treasure."

Stelln had come out with something completely out of left field. Yujun caught his intent at once.

He's putting on an act because he thinks the demons are watching.

So he'd remembered what Yujun said earlier.

Yujun put his sword away and turned to look at Mei.

"Will you be all right?"

"Yes... Yes? All right with what?"

"With me not killing the dark elves."

"Oh! I don't mind. Not just me — my friend is safe now too, and that's thanks to you, Yujun. So do whatever you want."

"All right."

He had known she would say that. The corner of his mouth lifted as he looked back at Stelln.

"So you're not going to attack the elves, or me, anymore. Right?"

"Of course not. I may covet the World Tree, but my people's lives matter more."

"Got it. We'll head out first, then?"

"Go."

Yujun took Mei and left the place at a quick pace. He had preparations to make before he faced the demons, and since he already had a way to speak with Stelln, there was no reason to stay beside him now.

Mei first. I should see her back.

He had the whole route memorized, and the mine gave way quickly. When they stepped out of the cave, far more elves were waiting than before. The moment they spotted him, they came running.

"You're out!"

"We heard the dark elves attacked you!"

"Are you all right?"

"Mei!"

Among them was a familiar face — Yodri, elder of the Hwaripul tribe. She came up to Yujun as if she had been waiting for this very moment.

"You're not hurt anywhere, are you?"

"Fortunately, no."

"I don't know how the dark elves got in there. We were guarding the entrance thoroughly... but that's our responsibility too. I'm sorry."

"It's fine. There seemed to be another passage besides that one."

He did not spill everything that had happened inside. Telling the elves the truth as it stood was a bad idea. There might be a spy among them — among the elves themselves.

"Ah. But what on earth happened in there? And why did you come out so late?"

"Finding my master's belongings took a while. In the end, I found one on the way out."

"Ah, I heard one of our children was hurt, and that you even treated them. Thank you so much."

"It was nothing. Everything worked out, so I'm in a good mood too."

"You accomplished what you came for. That's wonderful!"

"Yes."

Yodri's eyes turned expectant. Yujun knew exactly what that look meant, and a wry smile crossed his face. He drew the World Tree Seed from his inventory and held it out to her, keeping the promise he had made at the start. To him it was an item he had in overflowing supply. To the elves, it was something else entirely.

Yodri's face lit up all at once.

"A-at last!"

She made a fuss of it as she took the World Tree Seed into her hands.

"Put it in your inventory. Quickly. Someone might snatch it."

At his words, Yodri hurriedly stored the seed away.

"Thank you. Truly, thank you."

"The master's belongings matter more to me than the seed."

"Then I'm glad."

A moment later, her expression darkened.

"The dark elves crossed a line. We've bickered before, but they've never tried to kill us until now..."

"Well, they must have their reasons. Unless it was someone acting alone."

"What? Do you know something?"

"No. It just feels like there might be a story behind it. I don't think they'd make enemies of every elf over a single World Tree Seed."

"Hmm..."

He shielded the dark elves while pretending, more or less, that he knew nothing. If the elves turned their spears and bows on the dark elves instead of the demons, the situation would turn into a nuisance. Yodri looked as ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠though she were taking his words to heart.

After a stretch of idle talk with her, Yujun moved off toward a tree where no elves were gathered.

Something effective against demons.

He might be fighting them soon. He had run into them sooner than expected, but that would only work in his favor. Yujun opened his inventory and ran his eyes down the items.

Yeah. When you're hunting demons, it's this.

He found the one he wanted, and smiled.

It was an exceedingly rare cloak, one that could not be obtained in the Tower of Infinity as things stood. The level requirement sat far above his own, but affix a Rainbow Sticker from a Legendary Item Selection Box and he could wear it on the spot. One look at the option was enough. Calling the item essential for facing demons would hardly be an exaggeration — not a single demon failed to use the dark attribute.

Yujun stuck a Rainbow Sticker to the cloak and immediately draped the Cloak Infused with Sacred Energy over his shoulders, then turned back toward the elves.

There's probably a spy among them, too.

Whatever the case, the conversation held where the barrier had been spread reached the dark elves' ears in an instant. Either there was a spy, or the demons had pierced the barrier and were spying on the elves. One of the two.

Just then Mei spotted him and came over at a trot.

"Yujun!"

"Yes?"

"Come to the village with us! I want to treat you to a good meal."

"Hmm."

Right now he had to go fight the demons holding the dark elf queen hostage. There was no time to laugh and chat at his leisure, so he declined with careful courtesy.

"I don't think I can right now. I still have something I need to do. I'll come find you once it's finished."

"Ah, if you have business, it can't be helped. But you'll definitely come later, won't you?"

"Of course."

Mei went back to the elves with a bright, excited face. Yujun sought out Yodri and stated his business.

"Please hold off on fighting the dark elves."

Her eyes went wide.

"What do you mean? Hold off on the fight?"

"I'll settle things with them myself."

"That's far too dangerous. I know you're strong — the children told me — but going that way alone..."

"It's fine. I don't want to die either. I'm going alone because I have a way."

"A way? What is it?"

"That's a secret."

"..."

Unease showed on Yodri's face.

"Are you really sure you'll be all right?"

"The risk is mine to bear anyway. I'm not saying I'll throw my life away fighting the dark elves, so don't worry too much."

"...All right."

They had barely known each other. He couldn't fathom why she was worrying over him like this.

The World Tree Seed, I suppose.

After a brief farewell to the elves, Yujun found a suitable spot and opened his messenger. Then he sent a message to ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠Stelln, who would be waiting on him anxiously.

The reply came quickly.

Yujun sketched the lay of the nearby land for him and waited. Before long, a male dark elf with a gentle-looking face approached.

"Stelln sent you?"

"Yes. That's right."

"Lead the way."

"Yes."

Surprisingly polite. From the look in his eyes, this was one of the dark elves who had been there when Yujun showed his martial skill.

The dark elf village lay not far from the mine. Countless dark elves moved about in a bustle, and not one of them had any ease left on their face. Everyone knew the queen had been taken hostage. Of course they did.

It would be stranger if they didn't.

Stelln was near the entrance. He saw Yujun, but he did not call out. He was minding the demons around them. Yujun began searching for traces of the demons himself.

They knew about the World Tree Seed. They'll know about me, too.

Even with the Equanimity trait, a faint tension crept in. The demons stood higher than any race he had faced so far. He closed his eyes and spread his senses wide.