Episode 120: Uninvited Guest (Part 1)

“Damn it. Tell me. What do I have to do?”

“Well, nothing special. Just wear this until I leave the village.”

Jinhyuk pulled out an embarrassingly ostentatious costume from his spatial inventory.

It was the kind of costume that could cause a stir even in Hongdae, shocking enough to be reported to the nearest police station or military base.

Naturally, for a refined and dignified elf, it was astonishing enough to make their eyes pop.

“What, what on earth is that hideous attire?”

“Oh, come now. Hideous, you say.”

How dare they speak so rudely of the holy veteran look?

A golden wig with exaggerated waves, a red mustache that reeked of testosterone, and a pink miniskirt with a floral wand to complete the ensemble?

This was a look that veterans everywhere would nod their heads in recognition.

Looking at it again, it really is a masterpiece. Indeed, a masterpiece.

“Don’t joke with me! Do you think I would wear such a thing?”

“Hm? You said it yourself. If you lost, you’d obey me without a peep.”

“Yes, but… “

“Well then, just put it on quietly. It’s disgraceful to lose one’s grace on top of being outmatched in strength.”

“……”

Teslon’s face heated up with shame.

However, already having lost everything, he couldn’t afford the dishonor of breaking a promise as well.

Eventually…

“Please, I beg you. Leave the village as soon as you can.”

Teslon pleaded with Jinhyuk with eyes full of resignation.

“I was planning to relax, but seeing you like this, I can maybe move the schedule up a day or two.”

His humiliation would surely be talked about among elves for a long time.

If he obediently followed orders, the duration of his embarrassment could be lessened.

Of course, all of this depended on Teslon’s behavior.

Jinhyuk shrugged his shoulders.

With that, the education of the haughty elf was perfectly complete.

Soon after, Teslon, dressed ridiculously, led the elves.

“……Transport the figs neatly to the village. Start with the central plaza and use the warehouse if there’s not enough space.”

He tried to maintain his composure, but his face still looked as if he had lost a nation.

Giggling sounds echoed continuously among the elves.

Who would have imagined the always stoic Ranger Captain in such a state?

“Who is laughing so inappropriately? If you dare mock Lord Teslon then… Pfft!”

Even the first-class Rangers, considered Teslon’s personal guards, couldn’t suppress their laughter.

‘Very good.’

Jinhyuk nodded in satisfaction, content with his handling methods.

Later, he might find it efficient to use such methods to train Alise and Cheon Yuseong?

After a moment’s thought, Jinhyuk shook his head.

Probably impossible.

Those two would die before ever dressing up in such a way.

“Ha.. it seems you have a rather mischievous hobby. I did not expect Teslon to become so tame.”

Penheim, standing next to Jinhyuk, made a comment.

“Was that prank a bit too harsh?”

From an elder’s standpoint, it was a pitiful sight.

After all, the top Ranger of the village was humiliated.

However, the response from Penheim was surprisingly the opposite.

“No, not at all. He needed to face a wall higher than himself at some point. I am actually relieved that he met you, Jinhyuk.”

Hmm.

So they think this way?

It’s fortunate the elf with such mature thoughts is the elder.

The sixth floor isn’t completely lost after all.

“Then, I suppose it’s okay to be even harsher.”

“Ha… Ha… Ha. While you’re at it, please teach him proper manners.”

Penheim burst into laughter.

As the two conversed, it happened.

“El… Elder! It’s… it’s a disaster.”

An elf calling out in panic ran towards them from the swamp.

Covered in wounds.

Droplets of blood fell from his sodden hair.

One arm was missing; the severity of the injury was evident at a glance.

“What has happened!?”

Penheim shouted.

Several elves rushed to support the wounded one.

“It’s Lucion!”

“Oh, what to do! His arm, it’s completely…”

“Who on earth committed such an atrocious act!?”

“Gehack! Ha… Hack… “

Lucion, the elf called out, was gasping for breath.

Despite having little time left, he tried to complete his final mission.

“The humans… are coming. Cough! They are… too many to… “

And with that, he was gone.

Lucion died without finishing his last message.

The surrounding air turned heavy, whether from sorrow over a comrade’s death or the anticipated tragedy of many more to come.

One thing was for certain: someone with hostile intentions had come, and they would not stop until everything was swept away.

＊＊＊

With a thud!

“Aaaagh!”

A flash of light streaked by, and a stream of blood erupted from an elf’s back.

It was clear without looking.

A fatal strike at a glance.

“Tsk. They’re annoyingly quick considering their lack of strength. They’re more troublesome than I thought.”

A man towering at two meters clicked his tongue, a ranker of the Zhonghua Guild and one of the three S-rank players assigned to this mission, ‘Tenchao.’

“Can’t be helped. The goal is to capture them alive rather than killing. It’s alright to kill the combat-capable Rangers but the others should be taken as prisoners if possible.”

Another ranker, Liker Zhang, added.

They’d set a wide net of poison around the forest, ensuring not even an ant could escape. “Hunting’s best savored slowly. Let’s take our time and enjoy.”

The woman with long black hair that fell to her waist approached the two.

Xie Hua.

A master of poison, renowned within the Zhonghua Guild.

Each one of them was a formidable player in their own right.

And with them were over 500 players from the Zhonghua Guild.

Overkill for just taking down an elf village.

Despite that…

All present had no intention of showing the slightest mercy.

-If we fail, we’ll be killed.

-We must follow the command.

-I’d rather die than suffer a dog’s death, especially out of sympathy for mere elves.

Namgung Cheon’s patience had already reached its limit, and failure was directly linked to death.

To die or to survive.

With only these options, the choice was clear.

“We advance to the village of the elves before nightfall.”

Liker Zhang gave the command.

“As you command.”

“Understood.”

The players drew their weapons in unison.

And slowly began tightening the encirclement around the forest where the elves resided.

＊＊＊

“This… this can’t be…”

When Penheim and the other elves arrived at the outskirts of the village, everything had already ended.

Smoke rose, mingled with the stench of burning buildings.

If hell existed… would it look like this?

The bodies of Rangers who fought to the last and those executed as examples, including weaponless young elves and women, were scattered.

“How could they commit such atrocities…”

“Gods and spirits won’t forgive this. Never. Never!”

“Kugh!”

The elves ground their teeth in rage.

For some, the horrific sight was simply too much to bear.

“Gather the bodies of our brothers and sisters quickly. We can’t leave them on the cold ground forever, can we? Teslon, lead the Rangers straight to the center of the village. Thanks to the barrier, it shouldn’t be easily breached, but we can’t be too sure.”

Penheim’s voice was choked as he commanded the elves.

“…Yes. We will leave immediately.”

Teslon nodded and disappeared into the forest with the Rangers.

Indeed, mourning could come later.

For now, there were more immediate concerns.

As time passed, while they were collecting the bodies…

Rustle.

Suddenly, a rustling came from the underbrush.

About thirty humans emerged.

“Hmm. What’s this? Are there more survivors?”

They were players from the Zhonghua Guild.

“Look at this. I wondered where they hid all this time. Seems they’ve all gathered here?”

“No need to search anymore, this saves trouble.”

“Hey. Let the squad leaders hear about us later. This is the achievement of our platoon. Remember that.”

The players burst into laughter.

Surely they were excited.

After all, they’d been oppressed and wary for so long, now they could openly relish the bloodshed.

They had collected decent loot and captured a fair number of prisoners after a frenzy of hunting.

“……”

“……”

The eyes of the elven prisoners, in chains, were empty.

Traumatized by the ordeal, none had the wits about them to respond.

“Hey, you long-eared folks. I’d rather you gamble your lives in resistance. The pursuit isn’t bad, but it’s tiring.”

“Haha! True, the elves are disappointing. They fell too easily.”

“Still, they seemed to have a sense of responsibility. They begged us not to touch their families. Remember that big elf guy?”

“Of course. He was begging for his wife and children’s lives even in face of his own death. Naturally, we executed them all as an example.”

“Since there are more than we need, thinning them out is fine. It’s completely our world now. No one will say a thing.”

“It’s been quite amusing, thanks to that.”

As they boasted, the players’ voices grew louder.

And…

Sylvia, forced to listen to their gloating, swallowed her tears of blood internally.

‘I… want to take revenge.’

Right at this very moment.

She wanted to shoot an arrow and pierce the hateful human’s heart.

She wanted to draw her sword and seek justice.

But…

‘…It’s impossible.’

She could do nothing.

The high-ranking combat-focused Rangers had already died or were taken prisoner.

Any struggle would be in vain, only leading to the same fate as their captors.

She knew this bleak reality better than anyone…

The helplessness of being unable to act,

The shame of not being able to stand up in this situation…

It was unspeakably humiliating.

Therefore…

Because she could do nothing…

“Help… please. …please.”

Sylvia had no choice but to rely on the only one she knew could make a difference.

As Sylvia lifted her trembling eyes upward,

Not even Teslon could approach the man with such powers…

Surely…

He would change this situation.

Unbeknownst to her, Jinhyuk was already standing by her side.

“I have been waiting for that request.”

Jinhyuk spoke in an even tone, responding to her plea.

And then…

[Unique Ability…]

Above the bloodstained dagger…

[…’Grave of Swords’ has been activated.]

A surge of black energy erupted forth.