Chapter 260
Chapter 260
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 260
Chapter Title: Black Magician of the Elf Forest -2
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"You look suspicious, but you're a good fellow, outsider! The guest room is this way. Make yourself at home."
"...Are you seriously calling that a guest room?"
"It's the second-largest tree in our village. Like a palace!"
"........."
Bennett and the crow took a rest in the 'guest room' provided by the wild elf.
However, it was too crude to call a room.
They had merely partitioned off a space with a thin membrane made of broad leaves, so sounds and sights were fully exposed. The concept of privacy was exceedingly thin.
It was impossible to rest easy in a place like this. If someone with ill intent attacked, they'd be virtually defenseless.
Thus, Bennett kept his body resting while sharpening his mind to a razor's edge.
In contrast, the crow was thrilled. He rolled his red eyes this way and that, meticulously observing the wild elves' habits and appearances. There was an aesthetic to their natural state of undress. A clear voice rang out.
"Here, a heart-shaped leaf for you. It'd look pretty if you stuck it on your belly."
"Wouldn't a slightly larger leaf be better?"
They adorned themselves with beautifully shaped or colorful leaves as if weaving clothes from leaves and stems.
Friendly elves even exchanged leaves from their outfits with each other.
The crow clacked his beak.
"This is worth noting. Some brilliant inspiration is coming to mind."
"Shouldn't you focus on the black magician instead of pointless observations?"
"Ah, of course. I've completed all necessary scouting. Even what the black magician is scheming with that little puppet show. Want to hear?"
"Keep it concise this time. I don't want a long-winded explanation."
At Bennett's declaration of 'keep it short,' the crow wilted a bit and dragged his talons. The thin branch he perched on swayed up and down slightly.
Reminded of a trampoline from his past life by the bobbing motion, the crow quickly cheered up. He bobbed his head lively and opened his beak.
"To get straight to the point... they seem to be after this elf tribe's sacred relic. Otherwise, the only thing worth stealing would be the wild elves' souls."
"Sacred relic?"
"Isn't it odd that mammals communicate with a plant called the World Tree and link their minds through its power? It's pure magic. I hypothesized something bridges the gap between animals and plants—"
"Short."
"........."
The crow pecked idly at the bark.
"The elves have a terminal to access the World Tree. It's that red wooden staff you saw during your mental exam, with the white gem. I think that's their target."
"Any guesses why?"
"Yes. But it's too nuanced to explain briefly."
He's sulking.
Bennett closed his eyes briefly in thought. If it was a sacred relic linking the tree and elves' minds, it must hold powerful mind-connecting forces.
That would explain the black magicians' interest. They wring mana from tormented human souls, so more means to interfere with minds would boost their refinement efficiency.
Now, it was time to consider when and how the fiends would strike.
"Disguised as a wild elf... no, controlling one. Probably waiting for a chance to steal the relic and bolt. Too many elves to wipe out and take it."
"Exactly. That was likely the plan. But... our sudden arrival added an option: frame us."
"Frame us?"
"Yes. 'The outsiders who came to the forest stole the relic—investigate them.' Draw attention, then slip away clean. It works because wild elves have strong 'trust' through mental bonds."
On that note, capturing and showing the oddity of a possessed elf was nearly impossible.
Mima had to dissect to expose the 'Body Manipulation' fable. 'Your family seems suspicious—mind if I operate to show what's off?' Yeah, arrows for an answer.
Pure words without evidence were futile. Suspicious family vs. suspicious outsiders. Obvious who elves would trust.
Couldn't strike first. Striking later was trouble too. Either way, clash with elves loomed.
As Bennett pondered, the crow twitched his beak, confident in a clever solution.
"Bennett. We're suspicious too, and short on convincing them. If there's an opening, we precisely time it for when the true culprit moves—"
"How about we steal it first?"
"?"
Better to thwart them cleanly, same result but foils their goal. No reason to return to this elf great forest anyway.
Steal it, store safely, return later?
The crow Mima flapped joyfully at Bennett's thuggish idea.
"Caw! Brilliant, Bennett! We're getting closer now!"
"Just efficiency."
Thus, the 'righteous thief' operation was set. When elves slept, they'd preemptively snag the relic.
And that night.
"........."
"........."
Faceless and Bennett faced off directly. Neither intended it. Just coincidence—they'd both resolved to act around the same time.
Bennett, Faceless, and the crow were all startled, but...
"Good evening! Perfect timing, it seems. Clouds obscure, moonlight dim—ideal for thieves to meet, wouldn't you say?"
The crow Mima reflexively opened his beak.
The crow spoke brazenly.
"Caw caw, miss... Out late to pay respects to the World Tree? Or finally revealing your twisted heart? Either works for me."
"........."
"Don't touch the relic. Move, and I'll cut you."
Faceless bit her lip. Made?
Judging by the crow's attitude, this was a planned ambush. They'd read her scheme, timed perfectly for her relic grab.
But how much did they know?
When the gray-haired man eyed the 'puppet' like a raptor, she'd felt a chill but dismissed it.
Hard to imagine even in delusion that a black magician hid by hijacking an elf body. Her ability was that unique. She thought she'd be safe.
How? Simple deduction? Elf tribe trap? She'd tricked the World Tree's detection...
"...What are you talking about? I was just out for a night stroll. You're the ones who should be questioned, outsiders."
She probed to test their knowledge, but...
"This is your second warning."
"...!"
"I know what you don't, and do what you can't. Back off here, Redburn. Or... the same end repeats."
"You mad wizard...?!"
The words from the red-eyed crow revealed him as the mad wizard—the monster who'd pierced her fable instantly.
Second clash with him. First, Siselle Yurensuto's fable mutation foiled her. Defeat.
But this time differed.
She knew Bennett with the crow on his shoulder—from the tournament. Fable swordsman, but not Siselle-strong.
Kill him quick, snap the crow's neck, slip out of the forest.
Crunch. Grind.
Faceless compressed her muscles, prepping attack. Dark red mana steamed like haze; hands blackened.
Bennett, feeling the condensed power even at distance, tensed fully into combat stance. Mana intensity gap. Might need black magic.
To this, the crow said,
"Bennett. Use Call on her. On the elf's body."
Not the obvious 'draw sword and slash.' Call meant the 'unbreakable' property from the holy city demo.
Absurd order to buff the enemy, but Bennett trusted the mad wizard.
"No one can break my will."
He murmured softly.
Shwaaak—!
Starlight gathered in his grip, forming a sword. The blade glowed softly, imbuing its invariance into Faceless.
Effect immediate.
Screech.
The possessed elf body creaked; her mana and twisted muscles began reverting partially.
"...Wh-what trickery...!"
"Yes, I half-doubted it'd work... but knew it would. We're guarding the poor captive elf; you're wrecking her body. Bound to clash, right?"
"........."
Fable clash stalemate. No—cold analysis: Faceless held edge. Call's light pushed back slowly.
She was confident of victory this way.
But... nagging doubt. Was this all?
The crow who'd pierced her goal, prepped a counter-fable... what if more tricks? Multi-layered traps?
Dangerous. Everything suspicious, like dancing in a giant palm. No Foreseeing Lantern backup heightened anxiety. No spare.
Originally, Faceless favored remote control.
Safe main body, infinite puppets to crush foes—that maximized her power.
If not blasted solo into the forest by the goddess, she wouldn't risk hiding in a live elf body.
This isn't my battlefield—
Faceless decided retreat. Ordered the elf body to attack Bennett, then shut down her fable.
Whoosh—!
From the elf's back, a pure white girl burst head to toe. Faceless's true body, overlapped inside.
"...Hup!"
Thwack—!
As Bennett parried the elf's fist and smashed her nape with Call's hilt to neutralize, Faceless's body fled with the relic.
Impressive main body specs.
"...I'll pursue!"
"No, Bennett. We can take it slow. While you two tussled, I wasn't idle."
Fwoosh. The crow illusion on Bennett's shoulder flickered like a candle and vanished.
From bushes 3 meters away, real crow Mima hopped out, white gem in beak. Trick prepped since first clash.
The crow held his head high smugly.
"Behold, the elf sacred relic—the staff's core gem. Body alone yields half efficacy at best; even traceable!"
"Like you. Well done. Sunflower seeds galore when we return."
"Finally learning rewards, Bennett! But bad news: elves will hunt us fiercely."
"Why?"
Elves' minds linked, sharing memories complexly. The fought elf's head held scenes of tussling with Bennett.
In summary...
"We're the only ones in the black box."
"...Don't get the metaphor, but troublesome—got it."
"But who am I? I've a way, Bennett. Always do. Just one thing: permit reading and editing your memories..."
The elf forest erupted in chaos.
An elf ranger on night patrol heard suspicious noise, checked, found the bruised-necked unconscious elf and relic theft.
Fortunately, victim elf's life wasn't threatened. Aside from ruptured arm muscles and half body weight loss.
World Tree grace psychometry read the fainted elf's memories: outsider culprits suspected.
Thus, trackers dispatched urgently to block escape. They traced paths, left markers for main ranger force.
And one...
"I trusted you, trusted you!!"
Was captured by Bennett, bound vine-wrapped on ground.
The elf tracker gnashed teeth, yelling. This why not trust outsiders. Repay kindness with malice!
"My family will read my memories, hunt you! Even if I die here, memories linger briefly. You can't escape!"
"Really...? Think so?"
Hop hop hop. Crow hopped to elf tracker's face. Red eyes gleamed ominously.
"If elves mimic ants' diligence, they share ants' stupidity too. Ants spiral to death on pure goodwill pheromones!"
"Wh...?"
"Exactly what's coming for you. Rearguard reads your memories? I'll implant malicious info. Spread like toxic plague!"
Using elves' habits, unbreakable family mental bonds, to dig traps. Implant horrific memories!
Ominous crow loomed. His glossy eyes reflected her future ruin—chills.
The crow intoned grimly.
"Ha ha, pity. As main body, I'd show cosmic apocalypse, burning seas—all delights. But alas, tiny wretched crow... no data! Caw caw caw!"
"...!!"
"Instead... an unprecedented shame, with one woman's pure affection. My gift—don't refuse. Savor with family, chew thoroughly."
"N-no, don't...!"
Family, please. Don't read my memories. Infected. Weird memory incoming. This, this memory—
...Nude woman's memory?
-B-Bennett. Y'know, scripture has that cat saint tale. Touching fable. So today, cat outfit. See? Hole here cat-like.
...?
-O-of course embarrassing! Duh... don't tease knowingly, Bennett!
"...??"
"Caw caw caw! Yes, main body. Staging module excels at data edits. Edited Tara's memory, implanted shame in elf. The budding affection was a miscalculation, though..."
"?"
"Their leaf outfits lewd? Twisting in shame, influenced by Tara's crush—blushing at Bennett, arrows off-target. You should've seen, main body!"
So...
Poisoned linked minds: leaf outfits shameful, yet heart races at Bennett—creating flustered elf ranger horde.
"You mad bastard?"
I could only ask the mad crow that.