Chapter 57

Crack!

[Level Up! Bonus points have been granted.]

[You have reached Level 30. As a reward, a Beginner Skill Pack x1 has been added to your inventory.]

"Huh. Already level 30?"

-This level-up speed is unbelievable. This isn't supposed to be a phase where you level up so quickly!

"Hehe. As they say, good deeds bring good rewards."

If he had refused the quest given by the Elf Queen, he wouldn't have been able to enjoy such sweet honey.

"Indeed, one must live in accordance with the natural order. If you follow the righteous path, your life will never go astray."

-...I have a lot to say, but I'll hold back for now. By the way, how many bugs are left?

"Let me check. Just a moment."

Carpe opened the quest window to check the status.

[Sap Bug Elimination (361/800)]

"Wow, I've only caught this many?"

It seemed like he had been hunting for hours in a trance, but he hadn't even reached half.

-What are you talking about? That's incredibly fast. If you caught one per minute, that would be 60 per hour.

Of course, he had been catching three to four per minute, so he must have caught around 100 per hour.

But that pace was only possible in the early stages when the monsters were everywhere. Now, after catching so many, he couldn't even see any bugs nearby.

The required experience points had also increased significantly, and now he needed to hunt for two hours straight just to level up once.

The explosive pace at the beginning was also starting to slow down.

"Have I been hunting for about four hours? I thought I could finish today."

-It's impossible to finish 800 in one day. If it were another player, it would take at least ten days.

"That's true."

-Anyway, it's a crazy idea to try to unlock that. It's not like you can just do it.

"That's right."

-It's insane to even think about unlocking it.

"It would be amazing if I could, but it's a shame. Anyway, I should wrap up for today."

As Carpe stopped hunting, Syaerus, who had been watching from a distance, approached.

His face was full of surprise.

"You've caught a lot. Are you taking a break now?"

"Ah, yes. I guess you could call it a break."

Actually, it wasn't a break but a logout. How should I explain this?

Most NPCs recognized that players were 'outsiders' from a world outside the continent of Lase, but it was uncertain how the elves, who had been isolated for centuries, would react.

However, Syaerus nodded with a smile, as if he understood Carpe's hesitation.

"Haha. You don't need to be so troubled. Although we are in seclusion, we are not ignorant of information."

"Is that so?"

"Occasionally, we disguise ourselves with magic and gather information or obtain necessary items from human villages. It's an effort to avoid being left behind by isolation."

Because of this, the elves seemed to know that the outsiders were 'immortals' and beings chosen by the Backlands.

'Well, that's a convenient setting.'

-It can't be helped. It would be funny if NPCs freaked out seeing players come back to life.

'That's true, too.'

Anyway, it was good that he could avoid logging out in front of the NPCs and worrying about their reactions.

'I should open the skill packs when I log in tomorrow. The 25-level pack and the 30-level pack. I already have two of them.'

-So you leveled up 7 levels today. Considering you forgot about the skill packs and just kept hunting...

Carpe greeted Syaerus and then tried to log out.

"Then I'll be going now. See you tomorrow."

"Yes. You've done well, young master.

'I'll see you tomorrow, brother. And say hello to Hyeong and Tina.'

-Okay. You too, get some rest and see you tomorrow. Don't forget to exercise.

* * *

Just before Carpe logged out.

In a room filled with the rich aroma of tea, two people and an animal were having a peaceful conversation.

"Here, I've brewed the tea leaves I dried with care. Enjoy it."

"Thank you, Altear."

As a homunculus, she didn't really need to consume food.

However, drinking tea together was not about nutrition but about sharing the atmosphere.

Tina lifted her teacup with gratitude.

Sip.

As Tina sipped the tea, Altear smiled warmly and asked.

"How is it? Is it good to drink?"

"Yes. Although I don't know much about tea, the aroma and taste are soothing."

"That's good to hear. I'll pass your compliments to the elf who harvested the tea. They will surely be pleased."

After saying that, Altear sipped the tea.

But unlike Tina, she frowned, as if it didn't quite suit her.

"To be honest, I still don't understand the taste of tea. I've been drinking it for hundreds of years, but it only tastes bitter to me. I prefer something sweet."

"I'm surprised. The Altear I remember was known for liking tea."

"Time brings change. Even I can't always stay the same."

"You look the same as you did before."

"So do you."

"Well, I'm a homunculus. It's different for me."

Elves were a race that aged very slowly, but she seemed to age even more slowly.

Other elves had shown signs of aging over time, but she looked exactly the same as she did 800 years ago.

"Hmph. It's natural for someone with the blood of the High Elves. But that's not the important thing right now."

She put her teacup back on the table. The tea was barely touched.

"Are you here to find the relics of Dretsch, which means you intend to fight the Deities again?"

"Yes. I was created for that purpose."

"To be honest, from the elves' perspective, we don't really want to get involved with the Deities or Arkham. We are content with our current lives."

"Yes, I understand the elves' position. I just want to retrieve what the Sorcerer King left behind."

"Don't worry. I will return it to you soon. However..."

Altear paused for a moment.

"Altear?"

"No, it's nothing. I was just thinking to myself."

After saying that, she changed the subject.

"Anyway, it's fortunate that you've found a good master. Both you and the child."

Altear smiled and pointed to Tina's lap.

There, Mokhyang, who had received an acorn the size of a walnut, was just falling asleep, holding it tightly in both hands.

"Kuu... nya."

Was she having a good dream?

Tina also smiled faintly as she gently stroked Mokhyang.

"Yes. Both Lord and Sir are kind, and so is Hyeong. Every day is enjoyable."

"To hear you say that you're happy... it's a long time coming."

The Tina she remembered was a girl who showed almost no emotional changes.

She only frowned when the Sorcerer King did something strange, otherwise, she was always expressionless, like a doll.

Altear smiled again at this positive change.

"It's good to see. I will support your second life."

"Thank you... Ah."

"Hmm? What's wrong?"

"My Lord seems to have returned to his original place. I will also be sent back to the room soon..."

Whoosh.

With that, Tina and Mokhyang disappeared from the spot.

Altear was a bit surprised but soon nodded. She could easily infer the situation from Tina's last words.

"Hmm. These outsiders have some amazing skills. But it's a bit much. Not even giving proper farewells."

Altear muttered to herself and took another sip of the now cold tea.

She still didn't understand the taste of tea. It felt as stifling as wearing clothes that didn't fit.

"Hmm. The second relic..."

She would have to hand it over eventually, but it was too early.

Altear looked out the window, where a massive tree was clearly visible even from a distance.

The Sacred Tree Ludram.

A benevolent mother tree that nurtures all elves and a symbol of abundance, the World Tree.

The term 'King of Elves' referred to the clan that had been protecting this Sacred Tree for generations. The name 'Woodgard' carried this meaning.

"Not yet..."

And at the base of this Sacred Tree, the second relic of the Sorcerer King, 'Mirage of Illusion,' lay dormant.

Knock knock.

"Excuse me, Your Majesty. It's Syaerus."

"Hmm? Come in."

With the queen's permission, Syaerus entered the room.

"So, the descendant of the Sorcerer King has left?"

"Yes. He was just hunting sap bugs and left a moment ago. He will probably return tomorrow."

"I see. What do you think of him?"

"He is kind and strong. I don't think he will harm our clan."

Altear had assigned Syaerus to Carpe not only to guide him but also to assess whether he was worthy of receiving the relic.

"I think the same."

At first, she had been a bit skeptical, but after talking with Tina, all her doubts were cleared.

"He didn't react to the Ludram tea, so he must be acting on his own will."

If the leaves of the Sacred Tree Ludram were dried in sunlight and brewed into tea, it would completely remove any mind control or confusion spells.

Altear had even considered the remote possibility that 'an evil person chosen by the Sorcerer King' might have brainwashed Tina.

"Fortunately, the descendant of the Sorcerer King seems to be a good person."

The Radiant Knight she knew would never serve an evil person, even if he was the only descendant of the Sorcerer King.

"It's fine to hand over the relic. Let's see. 800 bugs, so at least a week from now..."

"A week? I think he will catch all the bugs by tomorrow."

"...What? Tomorrow?"

Altear asked in disbelief, but Syaerus only nodded.

"Yes. The descendant of the Sorcerer King has already caught over 300 bugs. Although the pace slowed down a bit at the end, if he dedicates a full day tomorrow, he should be able to finish, right?"

"No, that's not possible!"

Altear exclaimed in panic. This unprecedented speed was not part of her plan!

"We need to buy at least another week!"

"Is there a reason to do that? What's the difference between two days and a week... Ah, could it be?"

"Could it be?"

"Did you propose to the Sorcerer King 800 years ago and got rejected, so now you're tormenting the descendant? Sigh, Your Majesty, grow up. You're 1,700 years old."

"What, what are you saying! Who proposed to that guy!"

"It's already a well-known fact... Oh."

Whoosh!

Syaerus gently caught the flying teacup and placed it back on the table.

"Anyway, don't torment him too much."

"Out! Just get out without saying anything!"

"As you wish, Guardian of the Sacred Tree."

Thud.

Syaerus bowed respectfully to the queen and quietly left the room.

"You don't know what's in my heart... Sigh."

Altear sighed deeply and looked at the Sacred Tree outside the window.

At the tip of the largest branch of the Sacred Tree, a bright red fruit was freshly ripening.

"Not yet..."

The 10-star player who became stronger through luck.