episode_0041

The Great Forest.

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It was another world.

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A forest filled with mysterious green. Sunlight streaming through the leaves. Moss laid out like a carpet, like walking on fluffy clouds.

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The large trees stretched out to block out the sky, and their branches had bent down over time. They were huge and the slope was gentle, so it was possible to walk up normally.

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A sacred land where the breath of life breathes. A space where everything is calm and peaceful, as if time flows slowly. It was truly a paradise on earth for fairies.

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“Why did you come here? I don’t really like it here.”

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Arphia didn’t like that kind of paradise very much.

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The still forest makes it difficult to perceive the passage of time. If you spend time here, you will find that decades have passed by the time you come to your senses.

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For Arphia, it was a prison where she felt eternal pain. Nothing more, nothing less.

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“I have something to do.”

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“Well, I don’t know what you’re doing, but I don’t recommend going this way. If a non-elf race goes deep into the Great Forest… .”

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“Stop.”

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Immature.

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However, a faint voice that did not match the calm forest intruded.

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The grass sways.

What appeared was a group of elves with neutral appearances.

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He was aiming his bow while surrounding Karami’s group.

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“The forest guards are coming out… .”

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Arphia sighed.

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The guardian of the forest.

A group of the strongest and best warriors among the elves who protect the Great Forest. They are like the elite knights of a kingdom.

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“What’s going on?”

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An elf approached.

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Just as all Asians look the same to Westerners and all blacks look the same to Asians, elves also look pretty much the same.

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He wears a laurel wreath on his head, but that’s it. His androgynous appearance made it difficult to tell his gender or age.

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‘You’re a man.’

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But Karami could tell the difference. He glanced at Arphia. He glanced at the elf in front of him. He was flat, and he was a man.

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“Captain, there is an intruder.”

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“Then why don’t you just dispose of it on the spot? ”

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The elf male who was called the captain by the watchmen’s speech became blurred. His eyes narrowed as he met Arphia’s eyes.

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“Arphia?”

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“Yeah, Leon. Long time no see.”

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The two elves, who seemed to know each other, exchanged awkward greetings. Arphia, in particular, showed that she was uncomfortable with Leon.

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Arphia and Leon have been at opposite ends of the spectrum since they were young. Arphia, a low-level elf. Leon, an elite elf who is good at everything.

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‘If only I were half as similar to Leon…’ Arphia listened to the sighs of adults until her eardrums were worn out.

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There is no one in the world who likes a source of self-esteem being destroyed.

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“Weren’t you kicked out of town? Why did you come here? No, that’s not important right now.”

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Leon’s wary gaze was fixed on Karami.

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“You’re human. What were you thinking when you brought him here, Arphia?”

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“That’s… .”

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Karami stepped forward. The guards tried to stop him, but stopped when Leon raised his hand.

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“Hello, Leon. My name is Karami. I am the owner of Arphia.”

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“Owner… ?”

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Leon didn’t understand and had to chew on the meaning of the words.

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When he finally figured out the meaning, Leon’s pupils dilated greatly, and he immediately raised his bow with his eyes sharply raised.

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From stringing an arrow to pulling the bowstring and releasing it.

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A series of actions are linked together as one.

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An elven arrow pierced the air. Arphia reached out to her back to slash it with her bow, but realized that it had been broken in the previous battle. She pressed down on Karami’s head in a hurry.

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“Ugh.”

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An arrow passed by with a narrow margin. Arphia sighed in relief for a moment, but her worry was replaced by anger and poured out on Leon.

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“What the hell are you doing! I almost died!”

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“That’s what I’m saying. What are you doing? You’re bringing a human into the Great Forest as a slave, and you’re protecting him? Are you taking revenge for being kicked out?”

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“Isn’t it natural for a slave to protect his master?”

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“That’s right. I guess you don’t know the ways of the world because you’re a frog in a well.”

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The well is a bit wide though.

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Leon’s composure, which was like a tin knight without emotions, cracked. Having only taken the elite course, Leon’s immunity to being manipulated was noticeably low. His bow trembled slightly.

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“Don’t play with your tongue and leave Arpia alone. Otherwise, I’ll burn you and use your remains as fertilizer.”

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“My remains are growing a tree for the elves to walk on. That is an honor.”

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Leon clenched his teeth. His patience was reaching its limit. As if to express his feelings, a flame spirit appeared behind him.

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Hururuk.

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It looked like it was going to burst into flames at any moment. Karami took a step back. It seemed like if he kept arguing, he would really get burned.

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“You don’t have to be so angry. I’ll just take care of business and go.”

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“What business do humans have in the Great Forest?”

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“To be exact, it’s not my business, it’s Arphia-yang’s business.”

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Karami put Arphia forward. He didn’t put her up as a shield to prevent her from being blown up.

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“I plan to send Miss Arphia to the Fairy Dance Festival.”

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The Fairy Dance Festival.

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The greatest elven festival and competition that takes place once every half century. They compete to see who has the best martial arts skills and who can communicate more closely with the spirits.

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A battlefield of proof where you can monopolize honor and be recognized as the best warrior of the elves.

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‘It is also the final gateway to liberation.’

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“Phew.”

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Then someone burst into laughter. It took the form of laughter and spread like wildfire. The guards began to burst into laughter.

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Even Leon, whose expression barely changed, tried desperately to hold back his laughter. He spoke, barely holding back the laughter that threatened to burst out at any moment.

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“Fairy Dancer? This guy who spends every day drunk?”

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“That’s none of your concern. The Fairy Dance Festival is a place to prove your qualifications. Any elf can participate.”

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“How did you do that… .”

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Leon glared at Arphia. He seemed to wonder how far he had gone with his mouth.

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Arphia shrugged her shoulders, saying, “I don’t know.” To Leon, it seemed like she was complaining, but it was the truth.

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Arphia really had no idea how Karami knew. She only vaguely assumed that he had found out from the elven slaves who had passed through his hands.

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“You don’t have to worry so much. I know what I remember, and I don’t know what I don’t remember. Just open the way. If you can’t participate, it’ll be quite difficult.”

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“Even so, only Arphia can enter, not you.”

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“She’s my slave. She needs to stay by your side in case you guys do something weird.”

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“It’s you who’s doing weird things, not us!”

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My ears feel polluted. If I keep listening to it, they will rot and I will have to cut them out.

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Just as Leon was about to signal the guards with his eyes.

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Arphia blocked the way. A red haze swelled over her body.

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A clear and intense spirit energy.

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Her will leaked out from Arphia’s sunlight-like pupils.

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A sight I’ve never seen before.

Leon opened his eyes wide.

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“You… .”

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“Move over, Leon. We’re going in.”

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***

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A new party has been added.

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Elf in front, elf on the left, elf on the right, and elf behind. At first glance, it looks like they’re being escorted. If only the plant stems weren’t wrapped tightly around Karami’s wrist.

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Even this ended in capture because Alphia, an elf, was in the group. If it weren’t for that, I would have been destined to become a hedgehog long ago.

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But Karami didn’t care. That wasn’t important right now.

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‘Crazy, I want to be a tycoon.’

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In his head, a picture of cute SD elves working was unfolding.

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There are a lot of elves!

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Send them out hunting to gather cooking ingredients. Send them out gathering to gather herbs. Make potions to sell. There’s an all-purpose race right before your eyes, but all you can do is watch.

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It’s regrettable.

Only someone who has eaten rice cake soup can understand this feeling.

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The procession that had been advancing through the maze-like forest came to a halt. The path was blocked by trees and vines. The elf at the front uttered a magical spell, causing the space to ripple.

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It was an elven illusion magic to block intruders.

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A new hidden path opens up and the procession moves again. How many times does this process repeat? It is a labyrinth that only elves can know.

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‘Isn’t this a total fucking joke?’

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Karamida can’t help but curse at the sight. With such a defense in place, they managed to kick Arphia out of the barrier?

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That guy could put a hole in his butt, and the spirits could run wild and burn down the house. He’s like a grumpy elf.

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If you were my slave, I would have captured you and given you some mental training.

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“Teeing,” Karami clicked his tongue.

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Traces of civilization began to appear little by little in the untouched forest. Clear paths and young elves running around.

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‘Even if he looks like that, he’s probably older than me.’

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Young elf… .

Legal loli… .

Normalization of Taosul… .

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“Ugh.”

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Karami grabbed her chest.

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Arphia looks around with surprise.

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“Why all of a sudden? What’s wrong with you?”

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“Bad memories… .”

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The coin-loving demons are flocking in.

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Is this what it feels like to have a nightmare while still conscious? Karami couldn’t come to her senses for a while.

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