The Allied Forces Summit
The day of the allied forces meeting had arrived.
Suits in perfect condition, shoes gleaming, ID badges around necks, briefcases in hand.
Mouthing words about world peace while their eyes darted elsewhere.
Just like their passport photos stamped on the documents.
U.S. congressmen, Chinese officials, European diplomats. Every last one had calculators for faces.
The moment I arrived, all eyes snapped to me.
"Hunter Kang Tae-ho, it's an honor to meet you in person today."
"While we escort you to the conference hall, perhaps we can discuss some collaboration options..."
"As Earth's representatives, shouldn't we forge a close relationship going forward?"
One would start talking, another would butt in, and yet another would smile while shoving a business card my way.
I flicked the corner of the card with my fingertip, then glanced back at their faces.
Parasites, every one of 'em.
Instead of replying, I cut diagonally through the suit herd. No need to barrel straight through—just set the mood, and the path clears.
Thud.
A shoe heel retreated a step.
The mouths that had been itching to say more clamped shut on their own.
Smiles plastered on, but their eyes weren't smiling.
The guys who'd been ready to link arms with me moments ago measured their distance the second I glanced their way. That's more like it. Know your place.
Behind me, Association staff and foreign security hustled about, while the delegations grudgingly dispersed to their spots.
I stood before the Gate and shook out my wrist. The blue membrane rippled faintly.
"Everyone here? Let's go in."
Someone shouted it loud, and only then did the human mob surge forward.
The instant my foot crossed the Gate's threshold, the air shifted.
Earth's dry dust scent faded, replaced by damp grass and wet bark assaulting my nose.
A massive forest unfurled at the edge of my vision. Branches intertwined overhead, sunlight shredded into fragments filtering through the leaves.
The Elf Captain waited there ahead.
He spotted me and half-lowered his eyelids.
"You always come swarming in like this."
I glanced back.
The suits were fussing with their collars at the forest entrance.
"Comes with the baggage."
"Humans are always like that."
"Which is why I wanna wrap this up quick."
The Elf Captain let out a small chuckle.
"Let's move first."
The suits fell silent after overhearing that brief exchange.
The loudmouths from before shut their traps.
They realized my words flowed casually to him, and his pierced straight to my ear. That's when their expressions shifted.
Confused faces, shocked faces, frantic glances between each other.
No way they'd know.
About the mark that had briefly etched my hand's back before vanishing—and how it handled translation too.
I didn't bother explaining. They'd just scribble it down and turn it into conference materials anyway.
We started down the forest path.
Elf soldiers flowed alongside front and back, the human delegation sandwiched in the middle, matching pace.
Guys who'd freak at a single leaf on their suits were now quietly trudging the dirt trail.
That's when it happened.
An emerald streak of wind whooshed past my face.
"Ah."
Familiar presence.
Palm-sized spirit spun in midair before diving straight at my face. It plastered itself to my cheek without hesitation.
"Come play more often! Don't just show up when there's trouble!"
"Get off. Tickles."
"You're no fun! But fine, since you came, I'll let it slide!"
The little guy grumbled but plopped down on my shoulder anyway.
"There were sooo many things while you were gone! Like, tons and tons!"
"Talk too much, and you're outta here."
"Not long! I'll keep it short!"
Face said otherwise.
The rascal circled my ear nonstop, chattering away.
"Those meds the humans brought? Sprinkling 'em on the ground cleared the pollution super fast!"
"Not the best for the earth itself, but the elves loved it 'cause less work! Elders frowned, soldiers cheered, young ones sneaked requests for more!"
"Oh, and songs! Movies! Elves obsessed with that stuff now! Gather every night with human tablets and beam projectors, crying and laughing up a storm!"
"Kids begging to visit Earth now! Especially markets and late-night snacks—those are the biggest hits!"
Listening to the chirping on my shoulder, the forest deepened around us. At some point, the suits' footsteps quieted too. Jaws dropped, eyes glued to the surroundings.
Before long, the elven capital came into view.
Buildings woven from trees and vines rose in layers, elves gliding silently along paths bridging branches.
Less a man-made city, more the forest growing itself into shape.
The Elf Captain led us to a wide clearing at the capital's heart.
Open space ringed by massive ancient trees, floor packed smooth earth interlaced with roots.
He turned.
"Wait here."
Then vanished without further word.
I watched his back retreat, muttering inwardly.
How long does "wait" even mean for an elf?
Subjectively around thirty minutes later.
"How much longer do we have to wait?"
"We don't know either."
"This scheduling is..."
I just turned my head at that.
Scheduling.
Expecting that from elves. Might as well ask a fish to plan a mountain hike.
Sylph giggled on my shoulder.
"They look so frustrated! lol"
"You guys never sync to this stuff anyway."
"Yup! They come when they come, wait when they wait!"
"Livin' the dream."
"That's why we live forever!"
As the nonsense droned on, the elf soldiers parted to the sides.
Through the gap strode the Queen and elders.
Slow. But no one would call it sluggish—that gait owned the forest's rhythm, like the whole woods held its breath to match.
The trailing elders all bore faces weathered by centuries. Eyes like tempered steel.
The suits straightened, then bowed awkwardly.
Some started greetings, others reached out hands, then froze sensing the vibe.
The Elf Queen halted before me.
"We'll move at once."
Done.
I shut my mouth briefly, grumbling inside.
Yeah. Stupid me for expecting an apology for being late. Prissy bastards.
A murmur rippled from the delegation behind.
"Move where...?"
"Shouldn't there be an explanation first?"
"Without prep?"
The Elf Queen let it slide. Not pretending not to hear—genuinely deeming it unworthy of notice.
She lightly tapped the ground with her staff-like branch.
No thud.
The earth stirred first.
Thick roots writhed beneath the soil, surging up to coil in the clearing's center.
Like living serpents, twisting, looping into a circle.
Blue light traced the bark surfaces.
Mana paths glowed clear as day.
Air in the root circle's heart dipped like a sinkhole.
Then tore open.
A round rift.
Passage swirling deep green and blue.
I twitched an eyebrow.
What the hell?
For real, what?
The suits were more blatant.
"Portal...?"
"No magic circle?"
"This method wasn't in the briefing..."
The Elf Queen stepped through without a word, elders following.
I paused at the portal, fingertips brushing the flow. Stable. Too smooth, even.
Elf tech: sometimes so primitive it's hilarious, others weirdly perfected.
Fantasy worlds—god-tier tech or trash? Pick one.
"Hunter Kang Tae-ho, is that safe?"
The U.S. rep blurted it, so I answered without looking away.
"Queen went first."
"True, but..."
"If they wanted us dead, they'd have sniped us in the forest."
I left it at that and stepped in.
No drowning sensation. More like passing through a single layer of thin cloth.
One step later, view flipped.
Forest scent cleared; stone aroma rose.
Before us: the Human Empire's allied forces conference hall.
Textbook fantasy. Straight out of the illustrations.
Spires stabbing the sky, walls of pristine white stone, stained glass in lieu of plain panes, tiered colonnades.
Courtyard absurdly vast, flagstones flawless and unworn.
A colossal building loomed over the front steps.
Palace-fortress hybrid—fortress with needless flair. Looks epic in pictures; in person, pity the janitors.
Soldiers lined both flanks.
Sunlight glinted off armor.
Spear tips aligned perfectly, helmeted gazes locked our way in unison.
Tense, but disciplined.
From the center strode a middle-aged knight.
Tall. Shoulders broad even under plate, steps heavy.
Beard trimmed short, crow's feet etched from decades dodging blades.
Calluses on his sword hand outshone any ornament. Smiling welcome one second, throat-slitting the next.
He stopped before the Elf Queen.
"We've been expecting you."
She nodded faintly.
"Not late."
"This way."
The knight pivoted and led on.
The delegation snapped to and followed.
The schmoozers from the Gate were mute now.
After watching a forest fold into an empire palace courtyard? Even loose lips zip for a bit.
Sylph still perched on my shoulder.
"Saw those human faces? Hilarious!"
"Shut it or it's the jar for you."
"Won't go!"
We passed the ranks, ascended the stairs.
Boot spurs clinking, cloaks whispering, armor faintly clashing—sounds layering slow and steady.
At the long corridor's end loomed massive golden doors.
Each leaf big enough to lay three men end-to-end.
Surfaces etched intricate patterns, edging metal polished to a shine—no patina, just gleam.
Over-the-top ornate.
The knight halted before them.
Flanking guards reached out in sync.
Creeeak.
Heavy, low friction scraped the hall long.
The golden doors began to swing open, slow and deliberate.