Chapter 112
"How dare humans set foot in this sacred place!"
"And how did they even break through all the way to the World Tree?!"
The Dark Elves quickly boarded the ship.
Bowstrings were drawn taut as they surrounded the four from every direction, ready to fire at a moment's notice.
Lee Yumi and Kim Hyuna waited for Suhyeok's order, unsure whether they should fight.
Bong Taesu, on the other hand, looked completely flustered by the sudden situation.
"Hyungnim...! What are we supposed to do?!"
"They look ready to attack at any second!"
"If we just stand here, they're going to capture us-"
An arrow shot past Bong Taesu's face and embedded itself in the wall behind him.
"Shut up!"
"You think whispering among yourselves will get you out of here?!"
Just as Shaka had explained, Dark Elves deeply hated both humans and Merfolk.
And among the two...
They hated humans the most.
The reason was simple.
Humans had repeatedly invaded their territory, kidnapped Dark Elves, and sold them.
Those captured were turned into slaves.
Brands infused with binding magic were carved into their bodies, preventing them from escaping.
The Merfolk suffered similar treatment.
Captured Merfolk were either kept as pets...
Or slaughtered once they were no longer considered useful.
Honestly, their hostility makes sense. If it were me, I'd shoot first and ask questions never;;
fr
But it's hard to say humans are the only bad ones. Those guys have been doing the same thing for ages too lol
Yeah, at this point it's hard to say which side is worse.
Humans still started it though. Weakest race around, yet somehow the boldest assholes.
Dark Elves and Merfolk were powerful races, but their populations were significantly smaller than humanity's.
That was why they remained hidden despite controlling such enormous stretches of sea.
"Hey."
The Dark Elf who appeared to be their leader stepped forward.
"You, the human in the middle."
"You're clearly their leader."
He pressed a blade against Suhyeok's throat.
"Answer me."
"How did you get here?"
The weapon itself revealed his status.
A kukri.
This was Arknel.
The heart of Dark Elf territory, where the World Tree they worshiped stood.
The island itself was so large that it even contained an enormous lake.
That's why they haven't killed us immediately.
On the 60th floor, nothing matters more than land.
Shing.
"Answer me now."
"Otherwise, not only you, but all three of your companions will die."
The blade pressed more firmly against Suhyeok's neck.
The expressions of Bong Taesu and the others immediately changed.
All three shifted into combat stances, ready to subdue everyone around them.
But Suhyeok had chosen this place for a reason.
He silently raised one hand and sent a telepathic message to the other three.
I have a plan.
For now, let them capture us.
You'll understand the rest afterward.
Reluctantly, all three raised their hands in surrender.
Suhyeok lifted his chin.
"Take us to your chief."
"Then I'll tell you how we came here."
"...How do you know our language?"
"I have no obligation to tell you."
"So take us to your chief."
"Then I'll explain everything."
"Nonsense!"
The Dark Elf's eyes remained cold and calculating despite the hatred in them.
"You answered in our tongue even though I deliberately spoke the human language."
"That means you're plotting something."
"You think I'll simply grant your request?"
Even while saying that, he was clearly thinking.
If the very heart of Arknel had been breached and they killed Suhyeok without learning how...
That would be a disaster in itself.
"If you want to kill me that badly, do it."
Suhyeok stared at him calmly.
"But if you get no answers from me, you're the ones who lose."
"...You don't think torture might loosen your tongue?"
"Try it if you can."
Suhyeok smiled faintly.
"I doubt the ‘Bellator’ would allow it."
The Dark Elf froze.
For just a moment, his previously steady eyes trembled.
To the Dark Elves, Bellator was the title of their chief.
There was a simple reason he'd reacted.
That word was known only among the Dark Elves.
He had never imagined a human would casually use it.
A cold silence followed.
Then he lowered the kukri from Suhyeok's neck.
"...Fine."
"I'll take all four of you to the Bellator."
"But you'll be blindfolded and restrained for the entire journey."
"Trukal!"
One of the other Dark Elves objected immediately.
"Bringing mere humans before the Bellator is-"
"Be quiet, Lus."
"Right now, learning how they infiltrated Arknel is more important."
"We can just torture the humans and make them talk!"
"I'm sure the Bellator would allow it this once...!"
From the Dark Elves' perspective, escorting humans directly to their leader made no sense.
Even so, Trukal answered firmly.
"They aren't the kind of people who will talk under torture."
"You felt it too."
"If these four had truly wanted to break out of our encirclement..."
"They could have done so easily."
"Keugh...."
"So stop questioning my decision and bind all four of them."
"Understood?"
"...Yes."
And so they were blindfolded and led through the forest.
The path twisted repeatedly, probably to make it impossible for them to memorize the route.
Then one Dark Elf glanced at Bong Taesu.
"...Humans really are strange."
"How can one of them be this ugly?"
"For a second, I almost mistook him for one of those Merfolk bastards."
"Seriously."
"And he's huge for a human."
"Is this one a warrior too?"
"But the human who spoke to Trukal was handsome."
"Can there really be that much difference between members of the same race?"
The three Players couldn't understand the Dark Elf language.
But the familiar tone of the conversation made it easy enough to guess the topic.
Lee Yumi glanced toward Bong Taesu.
"Feels like all their attention is focused on ahjussi...."
"Tell me about it."
Kim Hyuna nodded.
"He's really popular."
"Though they're probably talking about his face again."
Hearing repeated snickering directed his way, Bong Taesu clenched his fists as though making a solemn resolution.
"...Hyungnim."
"Those pointy-eared bastards are insulting me, aren't they?"
"I'm pretty sure they are."
"Just say the word."
"I'll beat the hell out of every last one of them...."
He wiped away a tear.
Suhyeok ignored him.
They kept walking.
After a long journey, the four finally arrived somewhere.
Their blindfolds were removed.
