Otherworld TRPG Game Master

260 – The Dark Sorcerer of the Elf Forest -2

“You look suspicious, but you’re a good guy, stranger! The guest room is this way. Feel free to use it.”

“…Did you just call that a ‘guest room’?”

“It’s the second largest tree in our village. It’s just like a palace!”

“…….”

Bennett and the crow rested in the ‘guest room’ provided by the wild elves.

However, it was too shabby to be called a room.

They had merely separated the space with a thin veil made of broad leaves, so all sounds and sights were fully exposed. The concept of privacy was extremely thin.

In a place like this, one couldn’t relax at ease. If someone had ill intentions and launched an attack, they would be caught almost completely off guard.

Thus, while Bennett’s body rested, he kept his mind sharp and alert.

On the other hand, the crow was thrilled. He darted his red eyes around, observing the habits and appearances of the wild elves without missing a beat. There was an aesthetic to their natural nudity. A clear voice rang out.

“I’ll give you this heart-shaped leaf. I think it would look pretty on your belly.”

“How about using a slightly larger leaf?”

Even the clothes made from woven leaves and stems were considered clothing, as they sought out leaves that were beautifully shaped or colorful to adorn themselves.

Among elves who were close, they would even exchange the leaves of their garments.

The crow clicked his beak.

“This is quite informative. I feel a brilliant inspiration coming on.”

“Isn’t it time to focus on the dark sorcerer rather than useless observations?”

“Oh, of course, I’ve completed all necessary explorations. I even know what the dark sorcerer is aiming for with his little puppet show. Would you like to hear about it?”

“Please keep it concise this time. I don’t want to hear a long-winded explanation.”

At Bennett’s declaration of ‘short words,’ the crow drooped slightly, dragging his talons. The slender branch he sat on swayed gently up and down.

Recalling the trampoline of his past life with that up-and-down motion, the crow soon felt better, moving his neck energetically and opening his beak.

“To put it succinctly… they seem to be targeting the sacred artifact of this elf tribe. Aside from that, the only thing to steal would be the souls of the wild elves.”

“Sacred artifact?”

“Isn’t it strange that mammals communicate with the World Tree, a plant, and through its power, they connect their minds? It’s truly magical. I speculated that there must be something that bridges the gap between animals and plants—”

“Shortly.”

“…….”

The crow pecked at the tree bark for no reason.

“The elves have a device to connect to the World Tree. The red wooden staff you saw when you underwent the mental examination, Bennett, is it. With a white gem attached. I think they are after that.”

“Do you have any idea why?”

“Yes. I do. But there isn’t enough space to explain it briefly.”

He’s sulking.

Bennett closed his eyes for a moment and pondered. If it is a relic that connects the minds of the trees and the elves, then it must possess a powerful force capable of linking one mind to another.

If that’s the case, it’s understandable why the dark sorcerer would covet it. They torment human souls to extract magical power, so if they had a means to interfere with others’ minds, their refinement rate would surely increase.

Now it was time to consider when and how the dark sorcerer would strike.

“If they’re disguising themselves as wild elves… no, if they’re controlling the elves. It seems they’re waiting for an opportunity to steal the relic and escape. It would be difficult to wipe them out and take everything, given the number of elves.”

“Right. That would have been their plan. But… with our unexpected arrival here, one option has increased. Framing someone.”

“Framing?”

“Yes. The outsiders who came to the forest have stolen the relic, so investigate them. By drawing attention this way, they can slip away quietly. Among wild elves, there’s a strong ‘trust’ through mental bonds, so it’s a prank that can work.”

Extending from that trust, it would be nearly impossible to capture an elf whose body is being controlled and reveal her strangeness.

Mima had to resort to dissection to uncover the fable of ‘Body Manipulation.’ If she were to ask, ‘Your family seems suspicious; may I show you what’s odd through surgery?’ she would likely receive an answer in the form of an arrow.

It’s unreasonable to persuade someone with mere words without clear evidence. A suspicious family and suspicious outsiders. It’s obvious which side the elves would trust.

One cannot act first. It would be troublesome to act later as well. Whichever side is chosen, the likelihood of conflict with the elves is high.

While Bennett was lost in thought, the crow flapped its beak, certain there was a good plan.

“Bennett. It’s true that we’re suspicious, and we’re in a dire situation for persuading them, so if there’s a way out… we could precisely wait for the dark figure to move—”

“What if we steal it first?”

“?”

If they act first, they wouldn’t feel wronged, and even if the outcome is the same, they could disrupt the dark sorcerer’s goal. Besides, it’s an elven forest they won’t be returning to anyway.

Then they could steal it, keep it safe, and return it later, right?

Mima, the crow, flapped her wings joyfully at Bennett’s rather rogue idea.

“Caw caw! Excellent, Bennett! I think we can become a bit closer!”

“I was just considering efficiency.”

Thus, the ‘Just Thief’ operation was established. When all the elves were asleep, they planned to strike and steal the relic.

And that night.

“……..”

“……..”

Faceless and Bennett faced each other directly. It was not an encounter they had intended. They had simply resolved to act at a similar time by coincidence.

Bennett, Faceless, and the Crow were all taken aback.

“Good evening! It seems we’ve timed this just right. With the clouds thick and the moonlight scarce, isn’t it a perfect night for thieves to meet?”

The crow, Mima, instinctively opened her beak to take a look.

—-

The crow spoke nonchalantly.

“Quack, quack, quack, Miss… Were you hoping to pay your respects to the World Tree at this late hour? Or are you finally ready to reveal your twisted intentions? Either way works for me.”

“……..”

“Don’t touch the sacred relics. Move, and I’ll cut you down.”

Faceless bit her lip. Had she been seen through?

Given the crow’s demeanor, this was likely a planned ambush. The moment she had intended to seize the wild elf’s sacred relics, they had appeared right on cue.

But to what extent had they figured her out?

When that gray-haired man had fixed his raptor-like gaze on the ‘doll,’ she had felt a chilling sensation, but she hadn’t worried too much.

Because the idea of a dark sorcerer hiding by taking over an elf’s body was too far-fetched, even as a delusion. Her abilities were that unique and special. So she had thought she wouldn’t be caught.

How had they done it? Was it simple deduction? Or perhaps a carefully laid trap by the elf tribe? Had she employed some trick to avoid detection by the World Tree, only for it to fail?

“……What are you talking about? I just came out for a night stroll. If anyone should be questioned, it should be you outsiders.”

How much did they really know? To test that, Faceless decided to make a move.

“This is your second warning.”

“……..!”

“I know things you don’t, and I can do what you can’t. Withdraw and step back, Redburn. Or else… the same ending as before will repeat.”

“You, mad sorceress…?!”

From noble mtl dot com

The words that flowed from the red-eyed crow revealed that it was indeed a mad sorceress. A monster that had instantly seen through Faceless’s fable.

This would be their second confrontation. In their first clash, Sissel Yurenshto had caused a fable mutation, failing to achieve her goal. She had been defeated.

But this time would be different.

She knew about that man, Bennett, who had the crow perched on his shoulder. She had seen him in the tournament. He was a swordsman who had reached the fable, but he wasn’t as strong as Sissel.

She would strike him down in an instant and snap the crow’s neck as well. Then she would gracefully slip away from the elf’s great forest.

Crack. Crack.

Faceless compressed her muscles, preparing to attack. Crimson magic swirled like a mirage, and her hands turned pitch black.

Even from a distance, Bennett could feel the concentrated power, and he tensed every muscle in his body, readying himself for battle. He sensed a gap in the intensity of their magic. Perhaps he would have to resort to dark magic.

At that moment, the crow spoke.

“Bennett. Use ‘Hohwan’ on her. On the elf’s body.”

“I’m not saying that I’ll cut her down with a sword, nor am I saying that I’ll write ‘Hohwan’.” The meaning of ‘Hohwan’ is to bestow upon her the “unbreakable nature” that was displayed in the Holy City.

The order was incomprehensible, but Venet believed in the mad mage.

“No one can break my heart.”

She whispered softly.

Whoa!

The elf’s body began to take shape in Venet’s hand, resembling a sword. The blade emitted a faint glow, and its unyielding nature was bestowed upon it.

The effect was immediate.

Creak…

The elf’s body, trapped by Venet, began to creak and groan, and her magic and twisted muscles started to recover.

“What…what kind of trick is this…?”

“Yes, I was half-expecting it…but I knew it would work. We’re defending the pitiful elf, and you’re trying to destroy her body. Won’t that cause a collision?”

…

The collision state caused by the conflict. No, if I examine it calmly, Venet’s superiority was clear. The light of ‘Hohwan’ was gradually fading away.

If we continued to fight, I was confident I could win.

But…my nerves are on edge. Is this the end?

I’ve been able to read her intentions and prepare countermeasures, including the backup of ‘Yejiedonglong’. But I’m still anxious, feeling like I’m walking on thin ice. There’s no spare.

Initially, Venet mainly used remote control.

She left her body in a safe place and processed enemies through countless puppets, allowing her to unleash her full power.

If she hadn’t been sent flying by a goddess, she wouldn’t have had to use such a dangerous method, hiding within the body of a living elf.

This is not my battlefield──.

Venet decided to retreat and, at the same time, stopped the operation of the puppetry.

Hoo!

A white girl, from head to toe, burst out of the elf’s back. It was Venet’s true body, hidden inside.

“What…!”

Pop!

When Venet dodged the elf’s punch and struck her with the hilt of ‘Hohwan’, the elf’s body was rendered powerless. Venet’s true body had escaped, holding the elf’s treasure.

Her specs are quite impressive.

“I’ll chase you!”

“No, Venet. You can move a bit slower. When we’re both shouting and arguing, I’m not going to sit still either.”

Hoo-wook. The illusion of the crow perched on Bennett’s shoulder flickered like a candle flame and vanished.

From the thicket about three meters away, a real crow, Mima, hopped out, clutching a white jewel in its beak. It was a trick prepared since the moment it first encountered Faceless.

The crow puffed up, tilting its head proudly.

“This is the elven relic, the jewel that is the core of the staff. If you only take the body part, its effectiveness will be reduced to a fraction, and you might even be able to track the staff’s body!”

“Just like you. Well done. When we return, I’ll buy you a handful of sunflower seeds.”

“At last, you’ve learned how to repay, Bennett! But there’s bad news as well. The elves will be chasing us fiercely.”

“Why is that?”

The minds of the elves were interconnected, allowing for complex uses such as sharing memories. And the elf they had just fought would surely have the scene of Bennett tussling in their mind.

To summarize simply:

“We were the only ones caught on the black box.”

“…I don’t quite understand that metaphor, but I get that it’s become a hassle.”

“But who am I? I have a way, Bennett. As always, I always have a way. Just one thing, if you allow me to access and process your memories…”

—-

The elven forest was thrown into chaos.

When an elven ranger on night patrol checked the suspicious noise, they found an elf fainted with a bruise on their neck and confirmed the theft of the relic.

Fortunately, the victim elf was not in life-threatening danger. Aside from the ruptured muscles in both arms and a weight loss of about half.

Through psychometry granted by the World Tree’s grace, the fainted elf’s memories were read, and it was presumed to be the work of a suspicious outsider.

Thus, they hurriedly dispatched trackers to ensure the culprit could not escape. Their role was to identify the culprit’s route and leave traces for the main elven ranger team to follow.

And then.

“I trusted you, I trusted you!!”

One of them was captured by Bennett, tied up with a vine, and sprawled on the ground.

The elven tracker gritted their teeth and shouted. This was why they never trusted outsiders. To turn goodwill into malice!

“My family will read my memories and chase you! Even if I die here, for a moment, the memories will remain. You cannot escape!”

“Well…? Do you really think so?”

Chong-chong. The crow hopped and stood in front of the elven tracker’s face. Its red eyes glinted ominously.

“If you elves resemble the diligence of ants, then you must also share their foolishness. They sometimes draw spirals of death. All because of the pheromones left purely out of goodwill!”

“Wha…?”

“That is what will soon happen to you. The follow-up team will read your memories, right? I will implant malicious information into your memories. Then… it will spread like a toxic disease!”

Are they saying they will set a trap using the elves’ nature, their complete trust in family through mental bonds? By implanting horrific memories!

The ominous crow looked down. The reflection of itself in its glistening eyes seemed to foreshadow future ruin, sending chills down its spine. The crow spoke darkly.

—

“Haha, what do you think? If I were the main body, I would have shown you everything—the horrific end of the universe, the blazing sea, all the things I want to show you. But alas, I am just a small, pitiful crow… I have no data! Caw caw caw!”

“………!!”

“Instead, yes… I will offer you a shame you have never experienced, along with the purity of a woman. This is my gift, so please do not refuse it; savor it thoroughly with your family, chewing it over and enjoying it.”

“No, no! No…!”

Family, please. You must not read my memories. I have been infected. Strange memories are flooding in. This, this memory is──

…the memory of a naked woman?

– Be, Bennett. So, there’s a story in the Bible about the Cat Saint. It’s a very touching tale. So today, I tried dressing like a cat. Yes, this hole part looks like a cat, doesn’t it?

…?

– Of course, it’s embarrassing! Naturally… don’t tease me like that, Bennett!

…???

—-

“Caw caw caw! Yes, my main body. I was confident in data editing since I’m a production module. So I edited Tara’s memories well and instilled shame in the elf. It was a mistake that a little affection slipped in there, though…”

“?”

“I should have seen the way they realized their leaf costumes were lewd and twisted their bodies in embarrassment, and how they blushed at Bennett without even aiming properly because of Tara’s affection!”

So…

You’re saying that by unleashing poison into the connected minds, you created a group of elf rangers who feel shame in their leaf costumes yet somehow have their hearts racing at the sight of Bennett.

“Are you out of your mind?”

I had no choice but to ask the crazy crow that.