The Elf Queen's Grudge
“Over there, my liege.”
Tina, leading the way, drew her sword and pointed to one side.
She was currently mounted on Mukhyang, who was the size of a small dog, striking a dignified pose. Like a general at the vanguard.
“Escorting my liege is the duty of a knight. I shall ensure your safe passage in the name of the Light.”
“Kyuu!”
“Hyang says she'll ride into battle too.”
“Alright, take good care of me, both of you.”
In truth, given the size, it was far more cute than dignified... but who cared. Eye candy was eye candy.
Carpe had successfully crafted the Spell Breaker at the workshop (after one failure) and was now heading straight to the Forgotten Forest.
Their current location was deep in the forest, far east from the entrance to the Sea Forest.
Users were rare here, which made him wonder, Are elves really hiding in a place like this? But vanguard captain Tina pressed on without hesitation.
How long had they traveled like that?
At some point, monsters stopped appearing. No monsters meant no users either, naturally.
“This is the place.”
“Huh? Here?”
He looked around at Tina's words, but aside from an ancient massive tree, the scenery was identical to before.
Sure enough, some kind of perception-blocking barrier...
“My liege. It's below.”
What Tina pointed to was the massive tree right in front of them—specifically, its roots protruding from the ground, forming a small space underneath.
“We must enter through here.”
“...That narrow gap?”
“Hmm. Indeed. The previous Magic King entered easily with a miniaturization spell, but you haven't learned it, have you? My oversight.”
“No, it's not that big a deal...”
Still, it wasn't impossibly narrow. If he crawled and squeezed, he might just fit...
“Please endure the discomfort for a moment. I'll scout ahead with Hyang to check for dangers.”
With that, Tina dashed into the root gap with Mukhyang.
...Being small had its perks.
“Sigh. No choice.”
Quickly resigning himself, Carpe got into a crawling position and shoved his head into the hole.
“Ugh, tight. *Cough*.”
The sudden rush of earthy smell triggered a reflexive cough.
“Even if they're going for realism, do they really need to simulate this?”
-Plenty of people love those fine details. Anyway, let's go in.
“Oh yeah, you're a ghost, so you can just phase through. Damn, rolling in the dirt.”
-Jealous? Die in-game and become a ghost yourself.
“...I'll behave.”
Once his shoulders were in, the rest slid through easily.
Surprisingly, the inside of the tree formed a long tunnel—impossible given the tree's actual size. Some magic was definitely at play.
“Phew. Feels like a real adventure. Kinda thrilling.”
-Who knew the Sea Forest hid something like this. No wonder other users miss it.
Carpe half-stood and brushed off the dirt.
It was much wider than the entrance but still cramped, forcing him to hunch over as he walked.
“My liege! This way.”
Tina's voice echoed from ahead in the tunnel, so he headed that direction, taking slow steps.
“Thought it'd be pitch black, but I can kinda see.”
Tiny fireflies flitting through the wooden tunnel provided faint light, enough to navigate.
About three minutes later.
A light signaling the tunnel's end appeared in the distance.
The moment he fully emerged from the short-yet-long tunnel.
“Whoa!”
A new world unfolded before him.
A forest bathed in warm sunlight, like his Room.
Trees blatantly different from the Sea Forest's formed a dense canopy.
“This is the Forgotten Forest?”
A quick glance at the minimap showed nothing. As if he'd gone off the map entirely.
“My liege. It's right here.”
Tina and Mukhyang weren't far from the tunnel exit.
“There's a barrier right beside me.”
“Yeah? Can't see it with the naked eye.”
Carpe moved next to Tina and reached into empty air.
Thud.
His hand hit something, ripples spreading through the seemingly empty space.
“Yup, no entry from here on out.”
From that hard-to-find entrance to a barrier enveloping the entire forest.
It screamed how much they hated outsiders.
“But we've got our reasons too.”
Carpe placed his hand on the barrier.
And started to say “Unlo...” before pausing.
“Wait a sec.”
From experience, Unlock was a total wildcard that ignored boundaries.
It only triggered when it felt like it, and its range was unpredictable.
What if he used Unlock on the barrier and shattered the massive one covering the whole forest?
...Elf affinity would plummet. They'd be blood enemies at best.
-Yeah, sounds like a disaster waiting to happen. Let's go straight-laced here.
“Agreed.”
Carpe shelved Unlock and pulled the Spell Breaker from his inventory.
Grade: Unique
Equip Restriction: Must possess the skill Magic Engineering
Physical Attack Power: 1
A dagger that dispels all magical effects on a struck target. Cannot dispel 9-star skills. Destroys after 3 uses.
Shhk.
The Spell Breaker's blade sliced smoothly into the barrier.
Carpe cut just enough for himself to pass through.
“Done!”
He'd finally entered the barrier. The air inside felt inexplicably fresher—probably just his imagination.
“Now to find the elf village. Tina, know the way?”
“My apologies, my liege. Inside the Forgotten Forest, it's hard to get my bearings...”
According to Tina, the forest disrupted mana, dulling a mana-based homunculus's senses.
“Hmm. Sense of direction lost. Combat'll be tough too?”
“Not that bad. Movements might be a bit unnatural, but I can handle foes right in front of me.”
Though ambushes from behind or needing to lead would be problematic.
“Sorry I can't be more help, my liege.”
“Nah, you've done plenty. Thanks.”
“You honor me.”
So now they were like wanderers seeking an oasis in a desert... but Carpe wasn't worried at all.
“No need for us to hunt them down.”
-What're you on about? Suddenly?
“You'll see. This direction should do.”
Carpe headed into a densely wooded area at random.
“Cliché. Total cliché.”
An elf enclave cut off from human society.
Extremely wary of humans, their reaction to a trespasser was predictable.
Five minutes into the forest.
The response came swiftly.
Papapak!
Three arrows thudded into the ground right in front of Carpe.
Exactly what he'd hoped for.
The voice boomed in his head.
Carpe let out an admiring whistle.
“Now that's classic elf. Perfect.”
“Ah, my bad. But I mean no hostility toward the elves.”
“Hmm...”
He'd expected as much—they were stubborn.
But I can't just leave.
-Yeah. You wouldn't have come otherwise.
Need to persuade them more...
As Carpe pondered how to win them over, Tina reverted to her full size and stepped forward.
“Long time no see, Croje.”
The elf's shocked voice echoed briefly through the forest.
Rustling from nearby trees, and three elves leaped down.
Two female elves and one male.
True to their fantasy reputation as the beautiful race, all were stunning.
The lead female stepped forward.
“Could it be... Lady Tistania?”
“Indeed. It's been 800 years. You've grown much.”
“Even elves age in 800 years. But... what is this?”
The elf called Croje stared at Tina in disbelief, then turned to Carpe.
“Then this human is...?”
“Yes. My liege. The heir to the previous Magic King's will.”
“My apologies!”
Croje bowed deeply to Carpe, face full of regret.
“I failed to recognize the village's benefactor. Forgive me.”
“N-no, it's fine. Benefactor?”
“Ah, Lady Tina didn't mention it? 800 years ago, the Magic King resolved our tribe's great trouble. Many still remember him.”
“I see.”
“I'd forgotten until I heard Croje's voice, my liege.”
So that's how it was.
This might let him snag the relic without much hassle.
“Then you two... ”
“Kyuu! Kyuukyuu!”
“...three have come for the relic left by the Magic King?”
“Yes. Croje, could you guide us?”
“Of course! The queen will be thrilled!”
Thus, the elf patrol escorted Carpe's group to the village.
-No way it went this smooth?
Right? I braced for a long siege since they hate humans.
Cold elves to outsiders. But the protagonist persists despite their iciness.
Through sacrifice and effort, their hearts thaw. He earns the title 'Elf Friend' and an elf token from the World Tree...
-...You writing a novel?
Urgh. Fantasy romance down the drain... Elves falling this easily...
-Easy come, easy go.
Can't say no to a freebie.
But Carpe and Cheonma's optimism proved premature—very shortly after.
“No thanks?”
The elf queen, introducing herself as Alteer Woodgard, was truly beautiful.
...If she weren't pouting and picking her ear.
“Yeah, the Magic King left a relic around 780 years ago. But why should I hand it over just 'cause you ask?”
Her response to Carpe's relic request.
Was she hoarding it?
Carpe suspected as much and countered reasonably.
“But if he entrusted it to you, shouldn't you return it now that we're here?”
“'Entrusted,' huh...”
Grind.
Alteer gnashed her teeth so fiercely Carpe flinched.
“Do humans use 'dumped' and 'entrusted' interchangeably?”
Her eyes blazed with fury at the memory.
“Guy vanishes for 20 years, smashes the barrier, and goes, 'Hey! Hold this!' Tosses it and bolts—is that 'entrusting'? Oh sure, gotta hold it for some heir I never met, 800 years later! Right!”
“...”
“Plus, that mana bomb he made draws endless monsters. Know how much our village guard budget exploded these past 800 years?”
“...”
-...Savage. Trashed the place and bounced.
Carpe eyed Tina, questioning if it was true.
Swish.
Tina averted her gaze. Cold sweat glistened on her pale neck.
“...It's true, huh.”
Magic King's Second Relic (2)
📍 Classification: Class Scenario Quest
🎁 Description: Elf Queen Alteer Woodgard is extremely peeved at you—or rather, the previous Magic King. As his heir, soothe her righteous rage.
📍 Clear: Links to next quest
📍 Fail: Affinity with Alteer hits rock bottom. Second relic acquisition fails.
The 10-Star Player's Lucky Draw