New Encounter #2

 

fault-

The elf jumped onto the table.

The movements are as light and nimble as a feather.

“What are you doing? You’re not coming.”

The men hesitated and couldn’t rush in without a cold stare.

Obviously, looking at the situation alone, the gang of six had the advantage, but what was actually seen with the naked eye was completely different.

A showdown between a noble female leopard and the neighborhood dogs.

The elves were already overwhelming in terms of momentum.

‘This would be a different story. It would be worth watching.’

I crossed my arms and leaned against the wall, watching the fight with excitement.

When the men hesitated and looked at each other as if they were about to rush in or not…

The elf was the first to move.

Sasak—

‘What, where did you go?’

The elf who had been on the table disappeared in an instant.

I’m sure I’m not the only one who feels that way.

Flora’s eyes widened as the men looked around.

Only Wagner was looking up.

Let’s follow that gaze,

“Whoa!”

An elf appeared, his right foot raised into the sky like an axe.

The appearance is truly terrifying yet elegant.

Then the elf, with his long hair fluttering, fell to the ground like a streak of red lightning.

Kwakwang—

Wow, shit.

I thought a bomb had dropped.

A crater about a meter in diameter was created in the middle of the bar.

I know that technique.

The power of the fighter’s powerful technique, “Raijingak.”

I never thought there would be adventurers like this in the pioneering area.

‘It’s pretty good.’

At the center of the crater, one of the gang was brutally beaten.

The other guy who barely escaped also had his arm bent at a strange angle.

At this moment, the outcome was already decided.

“What is that? Crazy….”

The men’s voices trembled uncontrollably.

Everyone lost their fighting spirit after seeing that ridiculous aerial kick just now.

“Come on, kids.”

Hook, hook.

The elf stepped in place, alternating positions.

The glaring eyes are truly that of a predator.

As they met his gaze, the man dropped the dagger to the floor.

“Ugh, uh⋯.”

slap.

I looked at the other guy again, and he too put down his weapon and backed away.

Is this the spirit of the overlord or something like that?

Once fear becomes contagious, it becomes uncontrollable.

The men ran away without saying a word.

“You idiots.”

The elf snorted and scoffed as if he was being sarcastic.

Then he picks up the bottle of alcohol that was rolling on the floor and quenches his thirst, and begins to carefully pick up the gold coins that have fallen everywhere.

‘There’s no doubt about it. It’s definitely him⋯.’

As far as I know, elves are not common in the Garden colony.

It is even rarer for an elf to become a fighter.

Yeah, that guy is definitely Mitchell.

I approached the elf.

“Are you Mitchell?”

Jjerit.

The elf who was picking up gold coins glared at me as if to say, “What are you doing?”

For a moment, my heart sank.

Because one kick like the one we saw earlier could easily split my body in two.

The elf narrowed his eyes, then reached out and took off my hood without permission.

“What’s wrong, kid? Do you know me?”

If her gaze was filled with hostility when she was dealing with men earlier, it feels different now.

A look that is almost mocking, like treating someone like a child.

“I see. You were supposed to join the adventurer’s party, right?”

“however.”

“I am Estelle, the party host.”

Mitchell pursed his lips as if surprised.

Then, right after that, he started stroking my head without any reason.

“What are you joking about? Kid, why did you come to a bar when you don’t belong? Go get your sister. Estelle.”

“Because that’s the country.”

I raised my voice, my hair a mess.

Mitchell giggled and pulled my cheek, stretching it out.

“Oh my- really? Is our baby going on an adventure too? Oh my, that’s amazing- let’s talk again when the baby fat disappears from her face, okay? She’s so soft and cute, sis.”

Oh, let’s see.

widely-

The smile on Mitchell’s face vanished as he slapped away the hand that had been caressing him like a toy.

Looking closely, you can see that this elf’s facial expressions are quite colorful.

It’s pretty, then scary, then pretty again… but most of it is scary.

It’s a face I never get tired of looking at.

The next moment a shadow fell over Mitchell and I.

“What is this teddy bear?”

As Wagner stood by, Mitchell became overtly wary.

“I am the adventurer Estelle.”

“⋯What?”

“She’s not a baby. This girl is Estelle. She’s a proper adventurer.”

Wagner said, putting his hand on my shoulder.

“And I’m not a bear.”

“No, what, then really this kid-”

Mitchell looked at me carefully, his face twisted into a deep, emotion-filled grimace.

At that moment.

“Mitchell, come out now!”

The door to the bar opened violently, and armed soldiers rushed in.

The men who had just escaped from the commotion are clinging to her butt.

“under.”

Mitchell laughed as if he was in awe.

However, unlike the previous fight, his expression is not completely relaxed.

The soldiers who have just entered are the infamous “Garden Vigilantes.”

It has nothing to do with the Imperial Guard, and is merely a private organization formed by powerful adventurers of Garden on their own accord.

They are professional fighters.

They can’t be compared to those neighborhood gambling thugs. Even the color of their gear is different.

Even Mitchell, no matter how nimble he is, will have a hard time taking on the vigilantes.

“I knew it would be you, four years old. I’ve always been annoyed by your arrogant behavior… You ended up causing trouble.”

The vigilante leader, Dawson, furrowed his brow and growled.

You look familiar.

This guy is pretty strong.

Because it’s a name in the pioneering area.

I don’t want to accept him as my party mate because of his bad personality, but his skills are hard to ignore.

‘And that mace.’

I immediately recognized the mace hanging behind Dawson’s back.

“Garden’s Meteor”.

A unique artifact based on the Imperial Steel Mace.

‘That’s really useful.’

It looks so delicious.

I wiped the drool flowing from the corner of my mouth without realizing it.

You absolutely must take that with you before leaving Garden.

“If you’re going to sit down at the gambling table, you should just gamble quietly and leave. Where are you getting into trouble, you rascal?”

“⋯!”

Mitchell’s eyes widened at Dawson’s insult.

It feels like lasers are shooting out of my eyes.

This is what they mean when they say that you can kill someone with just a look.

“⋯They’re blatantly committing fraud, so are we just going to sit back and watch, huh?”

Mitchell barely suppressed his anger and spat it out.

“Fraud? Any evidence? From what I’ve heard, it’s just your one-sided assertion.”

“Of course. Damn it, everyone else is in the same gang except me.”

“Aha, so you judged them yourself? That’s amazing, Your Majesty, the Guardian of Justice. Making money is so easy. After all, just call them fraud and beat them all up, and that’s it. I should learn from that.”

Dawson grumbled.

The situation was becoming increasingly unfavorable for Mitchell.

It’s true that Mitchell doesn’t have any evidence, but Dawson was supporting the con men from the beginning.

This is usually what self-proclaimed vigilantes do.

“Mitchell, don’t argue, just follow me. There are no exceptions just because you’re a noble. In Garden, everyone must follow Garden’s rules.”

“If you’re confident, you can drag me along, you idiot. I won’t move an inch on my own, so just know that.”

“Are you going to come out like that?”

Dawson smiled leisurely, as if he had already expected this.

As Dawson nodded, vigilantes armed with swords and shields surrounded Mitchell.

“Oh, you little humans don’t know how to fight one-on-one? You rotten bastards-“

Mitchell gritted his teeth.

at that time.

Wagner blocked Dawson’s path.

This intervention changed the situation.

Mitchell looks confused, thinking, “What is this guy?”

Dawson felt pressured and took a step back.

“Are you taking the side of the nobles now? What are you?”

“⋯Party mate.”

“what?”

“Right, Estelle?”

Wagner turned to me and asked.

“Well, for now.”

“That’s what I think.”

thud-

Wagner slammed his shield heavily on the floor and placed his clasped hands on it.

“It’s my duty to protect my comrades. So I can’t turn a blind eye.”

nice.

Wagner, this guy is a nice guy.

I didn’t think much of it because it wasn’t named, but it’s quite loyal.

‘But the current situation is difficult to resolve with loyalty alone.’

The tense, almost threatening situation continued.

Even with Wagner’s addition, Dawson’s vigilantes still have the advantage.

“Gombatang, don’t hit me. Who asked you to help me? And why am I your partner?”

“Keep quiet and focus on the person in front of you.”

“Miss, are you ignoring what I say now?”

Mitchell continued to grumble at Wagner, glaring at Dawson.

At this point, I guess I have to intervene.

It’s too early to fight the vigilantes.

⋯Not yet, that is.

I walked over to Wagner.

The height difference is so great that they look like father and daughter, which is a bit awkward, but…

“Everyone in Garden has to follow Garden’s rules, right? Dawson, then you should start by following those rules.”

“⋯Are you in league with these guys too?”

“Think as you wish. But let me ask you something. Since when has it been the vigilantes, not the police, who are in charge of extraditing criminals?”

Dawson’s mouth twitched in displeasure at my comment.

But I guess there’s nothing to say.

No matter how powerful the vigilante group may be, it is still a private organization that has not been entrusted with any proper authority.

From the guard’s point of view, it is nothing more than a thorn in their side, being installed and walked around as they please.

In fact, there were frequent, knowingly or unknowing, clashes between the security forces and the vigilantes over this issue.

“It’s a little bit of informality….”

“That’s a good thing. I know the captain of the guard a little. Should we go and ask him together, Dawson?”

“⋯.”

Dawson didn’t respond, but just glared at me.

A tense silence continued for a moment.

Then Dawson looked at me, Mitchell, and Wagner with a cold gaze.

“Remember, you guys. It would be a grave mistake to think the Coast Guard will protect you anytime, anywhere.”

Dawson left the bar with heavy, emotional footsteps, and the vigilantes followed him.

***

After the commotion was over.

“Ugh- ugh.”

Mitchell emptied a glass the size of my face in one go, complete with a loud burp.

The shell is elven, but I have a suspicion that there is a dwarf inside.

“Well, I never asked for help, but-”

His face was already flushed from drinking six glasses of alcohol in a row.

However, her unique wild beauty remains unchanged even when she is drunk.

“Thank you. Anyway.”

“It’s okay. I didn’t help you get a greeting.”

“Ah, you cheeky little brat.”

Mitchell pouts, then holds out his hand with a look of approval.

I quickly pulled my face back.

Again, fuck, you’re trying to pull my ball.

This time I avoided it.

“So, you’re Estelle. This girl is Flora. And-“

Mitchell looked back.

Behind the table, Wagner is helping the bar owner clean up the messy shop.

“That bear is Wagner. Right?”

“uh.”

“Yeah… I don’t trust you all that much… but that’s because you’re the new party members. Okay, I get it.”

“Please take good care of me, Mr. Mitchell-”

The friendly Flora took Mitchell’s hand.

Mitchell nodded with a sheepish expression.

“So, how is the distribution done?”

Mitchell asked point-blank.

It seems like he wants to first check how much his share is.

It may be vulgar, but this is actually the normal way for adventurers to be.

Flora and Wagner are peculiar beggars who have no interest in counting money.

When I mentioned distribution, Mitchell raised his eyebrows in displeasure.

“So you’re saying we’re all going to share it equally? Is that right?”

“Any other opinions?”

“That teddy bear is kind of like that. But I honestly don’t understand how a brat like you and this young lady get the same share.”

“Are you saying you don’t want to come to the party?”

“No, that’s not it. Listen.”

Mitchell said, tilting his glass nonchalantly.

“Why don’t you just give me the party spot?”

“Huh-?”

For some reason, Flora was surprised instead of me.

“But Estelle gathered our party and-”

“Oh, I know. I know, but I’m stronger. The strongest person should be the party leader. Am I wrong?”

“Uh, that’s-”

“You get paid more, but you also get to do more work. That’s not a bad thing for you, is it?”

I quietly tilted my glass and listened to Mitchell’s words.

The aftertaste of orange juice on the tongue is somewhat bitter.

“He’s an honest guy. It’s nice how easy it is to understand.”

It’s not a very pleasant story for me, but it’s better to touch on this now.

If you muddle through it ambiguously and it bursts like a festering boil later, then there’s no turning back.

I’d like to have Mitchell in our party if possible.

It’s hard to find someone this talented in a pioneering area, and I like his honest personality, which is the same on the outside as on the inside.

Of course, we need to make sure the order is organized before that.

“So, what do we do?”

“You’re right. The strongest person should be the party leader.”

“Oh, but I can communicate with the kid a bit. Does that mean I’m the party leader?”

“⋯I have to listen to the story until the end.”

I put down my glass and smiled leisurely.

“Mitchell, I’m the strongest person in our party. So I’ll be the party host.”