Ch.25That’s right

# 25. That’s Right

“I’ve sent you the requested information. Any additional information will be sent on a daily basis.”

“Good work. Ah, and don’t worry about reporting upward—just handle things as you see fit.”

– …Understood, miss.

“Enough of that. What’s with the ‘miss’?”

I hung up the phone and opened the file they had sent.

“1. JoanOfArcIsASaint – Ban Sunghyun. Male. 27 years old. Office worker. Absent from work without notice for 5 days. No indications of suicide or criminal involvement. Last known location presumed to be his residence. Home address attached.”

“2. KillThem – Sun Seyeon. Female. 21 years old. Yeonsin University sophomore. Absent from all classes without notice for 4 days. No indications of suicide or criminal involvement. Last known location presumed to be her residence. Home address attached.”

“3. Saex – Ayuri. Female. 20 years old. Goguryeo University freshman. Absent from all classes without notice for 2 days. Also missed 2 consecutive days at the gym she normally attended daily except Sundays. No indications of suicide or criminal involvement. Last known location presumed to be her residence. Home address attached.”

The file’s contents were concise and to the point, just as she wanted.

“This goes beyond simply going AFK from a game.”

At first, I felt guilty about digging up personal information so carelessly, but now I was just relieved to have discovered that all three had disappeared one after another, as if they had suddenly “evaporated.”

‘Should I at least inform the raid members about this?’

While I was somewhat shocked to discover that even Saex was female, not just KillThem, that surprise was buried beneath the greater shock of all three having vanished.

‘This will only increase everyone’s worry without offering solutions.’

We have the result but not the cause.

To solve the result, we need to know the cause, but we’re completely in the dark.

“Haah.”

Ye Beopnojeong, deputy raid leader of the Veritas raid team, sighed while looking at her character on the monitor.

“Where on earth did everyone go?”

Huh?

Did they somehow get trapped in the game?

**

Alfland.

“Alb” is the word those detestable elves use to refer to themselves, and “land” means land. Directly translated, it means “land of the elves.”

Personally, I think it’s an incredibly uncreative name, and many others agree, but the elves take great pride in it.

They probably think, “It’s the land where the greatest ‘Albs’ in the world live, isn’t that sufficient? Why would it need any other descriptors?”

Why am I talking about this?

Because we were about to arrive at Alfland.

[Current location: 2nd Floor Neutral Zone]

Fortunately, just as our food supplies were running low, we discovered a portal we had seen before. Passing through it brought us to the 2nd floor neutral zone, which was good.

Lush forests, clean air, beautiful vibrant flowers, chirping birds, and grazing animals.

Reaching our destination, Alfland, was also good.

But.

“You inferior humans—and particularly inferior ones at that—wish to enter our glorious land?”

I’ve never been to a club before, but here I am getting rejected at the entrance.

I miss you, Edengard gatekeeper. Thanks to these guys, humans seem to get less crap elsewhere.

“You don’t need to know our level, but shouldn’t Alfland’s gates be open to all races as long as they aren’t tainted by evil forces?”

“Ha. What nonsense you spout, bringing up such meaningless principles. You cannot pass.”

What the hell.

A strict rule-follower, a gatekeeper no less, is blatantly ignoring the rules?

“But that’s real!”

“Yuri!”

“Unni!”

“No.”

“Argh!!!”

The detestable nature and stubbornness of these elves has reached a level of reliability in its own way. If an elf ever deviates from a principle in word or deed?

There’s a 99% chance they’re bound by an even more important principle.

In other words, this gatekeeper isn’t denying us entry simply because he looks down on us (though he certainly does), but because there must be some other reason why he must refuse our entry.

‘Though they’re always this stubborn.’

We absolutely had to get in. After walking for nearly a week and finally reaching the city, having to rest in the forest instead of entering would be physically and mentally exhausting.

Though they appeared calm on the outside, my two raid members were desperately and intensely telling me with their eyes that they wanted to wash up and rest!

What’s the big deal about opening my mouth to this detestable elf?

“I see… can’t be helped then.”

“Good. Know your place and get lost.”

“Heh… what a shame. I know of a high-class liquor that would be perfect for ‘Albs’…”

“Stop talking nonsense… Wait, what? Human, what did you just say?”

Elf specialty.

Albs. High-class. Love of alcohol.

“A supreme liquor among supreme liquors that no one in Alfland has ever tasted. The subtle yet deep aroma that makes you feel as if you’ve become one with nature, the rich taste that traverses between sweetness and bitterness, the pleasant tipsiness like freely wandering through a dream, and a clean finish that allows you to drink one glass or ten without getting tired of it. Mmm…”

With things already going off track, when else would I use game knowledge if not now?

Fortunately, it seems I didn’t miss the mark this time.

The gatekeeper who just told us to get lost was now swallowing his saliva and looking around.

‘Look at him falling for it as soon as I mention fine liquor while acting all serious. Tsk tsk, some gatekeeper.’

Edengard gatekeeper: 2 wins.

Anyway, the gatekeeper, who seemed to have already fallen for it, suddenly realized his own shameful behavior and flushed with anger.

“Anyone can claim to have such high-quality liquor! Such a cunning tongue! Show me proof. Otherwise, I’ll charge you with the crime of mocking the Albs before the land of glory.”

“I only know the recipe, so I can’t prove it right away even if I wanted to. Many of the ingredients can only be obtained in Alfland, but if I can’t enter, well… nothing I can do about that.”

That’s the truth.

I won’t mention that despite my grand claims about this amazing liquor, it can actually be made with very basic ingredients.

“This is troublesome. I’m confident this liquor would be loved by everyone regardless of age or gender, but especially by men. Ah, this is awkward to say openly before an Alb.”

“Ahem. AHEM!”

Elf specialty #2.

Elves don’t actually have less sexual desire. They just have difficulty getting pregnant. Their lives are long and pregnancy is rare, so they’ve actually developed more promiscuous and secretive sexual practices. In private.

“Ahem, normally no one is allowed to enter, but assuming you can prove what you say, I’ll make a special exception.”

“How can I prove it?”

“Three days. I’ll issue a temporary pass valid for three days, and you must prove it within that time.”

[Quest ‘Proof’ has been updated.]

[Quest details – Provide fine liquor to ‘Al-Labre’, the South Gate keeper of Alfland]

[Time limit – 3 days]

[Success reward – Unlimited access to Alfland]

[Failure – Hostility: Alfland]

I opened my mouth and an entry quest I’d never seen before appeared.

I was just trying to talk my way in somehow. There was no way I would refuse.

“Alright. I promise I’ll prove it.”

“Remember. Three days.”

[You have passed the identity check.]

[Current location: 2nd Floor Neutral Zone ‘Alfland’]

[You are the first to reach the 2nd Floor.]

[Achievement ‘First Climber (2)’ acquired.]

[Title ‘A Journey of a Thousand Miles Begins with a Single Step (2)’ acquired.]

The gatekeeper waved his hand in the air, and a side door large enough for three or four people to pass through opened. We proudly entered Alfland.

Even after completely passing through the gate, we continued walking quietly for a while. Once we realized no one was around, we all exhaled at the same time.

“What the heck! How are you so good at talking? That smug expression too. Pfft!”

“I never imagined we’d enter Alfland like this.”

“Heheh. Me neither.”

Now that we were in the neutral zone, our safety was guaranteed as long as we didn’t suddenly turn around and harm the elf residents.

“But Captain, your quick thinking to get us through was amazing, but what exactly is this ‘fine liquor’?”

“Yeah, that’s right. That was just a bluff, right? Should we rest, buy what we need, and bolt within three days?”

“It’s not a bluff.”

“What? So we really have to make alcohol? Within three days?”

“Calm down.”

I told them about “Alven Dew,” the favor item most loved by elf NPCs in the game.

The two listened with admiration at first, but by the end, they were wearing somewhat ambiguous smiles.

‘How do you even know something like this, going so far as to max out favor with elf NPCs? Are you some kind of pervert? That’s what they seem to be saying.’

As long as they’re reassured, what’s wrong with being a bit of a pervert? I was actually proud that my knowledge allowed us to pass through without friction.

“Captain, don’t we need to make this Alven Dew first?”

“No. Once we have the ingredients, making it is quick. Let’s rest today. I’m too tired.”

“Yay!”

After walking for quite a while past the gate, we finally saw the true panorama of ‘Alfland.’

“Wow…”

“It’s really beautiful…”

Despite being the city of those detestable elves, Alfland was simply “beautiful,” befitting a race whose “visuals” couldn’t be denied.

Tradition. Grandeur. Naturalness. Curves. Harmony. It looked like a work of art encompassing all these keywords.

Don’t I have a smartphone? Is there no screenshot function?

I was internally lamenting the inability to save what I was seeing directly with my eyes rather than through a monitor, when:

“Hmph, even inferior races have an eye for beauty, it seems.”

“Tsk, I don’t know how you got through, but my eyes are ruined now.”

Are these guys for real?

**

[Gold owned: 780]

“I’ve been running around for over half a day, is this right?”