Somewhere deep within the vast Elven Forest.
A young man walked along a narrow forest path, accompanied by a crow.
The Elven Forest was far from hospitable to humans. The forest was so dense that it was difficult to even walk, and all kinds of venomous creatures lurked in every shadow.
It was a merciless realm of nature—where every few steps, a viper might strike, cunning predators prowled unseen, and you’d notice disease-ridden leeches clinging stubbornly to your exposed skin.
No adventurer could hope to last even a single day upon entering this wilderness.
“Tsk, so annoying.”
The fact that they were moving through such a treacherous place without any concern at all proved how unusual they were.
The red-eyed crow, exuding an eerie presence, opened its beak and spoke.
“Bennett, I smell water in the eleven o’clock direction. I also detect the distinct scent of mammalian milk. If intelligent beings inhabit this forest⋯⋯ we may soon make contact with their civilization.”
“⋯⋯Why don’t you just say that plainly?”“Would language have any beauty without a touch of rhetoric? You should cultivate an appreciation for aesthetics, Bennett. It is the most precious legacy of intelligence.”
“I’m losing my mind.”
The young man, Bennett, sighed at the crow’s elaborate way of speaking.
This talking crow had originally been a human called the ‘Crazy Wizard’, but he now claimed to have transformed into this winged form for ‘reasons he could not disclose.’
Bennett suspected he had been cursed—likely for blaspheming against the Goddess.
It was a reasonable assumption since the last thing he did as a human was trying to to deceive the Goddess in order to stop the 『Divine Punishment』. In that sense⋯⋯ it was rather a relief that it had ended at a curse that turned him into a crow.
Despite his current state, Mima still seemed to have retained his intelligence, and he could still cast simple Illusion Magic even though he was much weaker than before. He wasn’t much different except for how he talked very suspiciously.
“I’m craving seeds for lunch today. Sunflower seeds would be ideal. If we find any, you’ll peel them for me, won’t you?”
“⋯⋯⋯⋯.”
Although there were moments where Bennett was worried if Mima had started identifying as an actual crow⋯⋯.
But since the wizard claimed he had a way to return to normal, Bennett decided not to care about it for now. Because escaping the Forest was their priority right now.
They needed to find an exit from this freaking huge forest, and return to the Holy City.
However, it wasn’t easy. Three days had already passed, and they were still wandering aimlessly. Even Mima’s attempts to scout from above had failed to locate any signs of human territory.
It seemed they had been teleported into a very deep part of the Forest.
How much longer would it take to find their way back?
Bennett wiped the sweat from his cheek with the back of his hand when—
“Wait, Bennett.”
The crow abruptly closed his beak and let out a cautious sound.
“⋯⋯did you find something?”
“Yes. A hair caught on a branch. Judging by its thickness, texture, and blond color, it’s likely human. It also appears well-nourished.”
“You can tell all that from a single strand of hair??”
“Of course. This is basic knowledge for a wizard. You may skip the compliments, Bennett. We deduced two days ago that this is the Elven Forest. In other words, the person who left this trace is highly likely to be—
Swaeeeek── thud!
An arrow embedded itself in a tree trunk.
Bennett wasn’t surprised and calmly looked toward the source. He immediately recognized that it was a warning shot.
Perched on a high branch, a shadowed figure held a bow aimed directly at them.
An Elf.
She wore a ghillie suit woven from leaves and branches, a camouflage that made you nearly invisible unless you looked closely.
Only when Bennett focused did he notice glimpses of her pointed ears and pale skin peeking through the camouflage.
The Elf Archer narrowed her eyes, bowstring drawn tight, and spoke in a threatening tone.
“⋯⋯human. How did you trespass into this sacred forest?”
“Oh, graceful lady who mirrors the beauty of nature, a being who sings the whispers of the forest. We bear no ill will nor ulterior motives. Our presence here is purely⋯⋯an accident.”
“A crows⋯⋯that talks?”
As the Elf reeled from the talking crow’s sharp remark, Bennett folded his arms and calmly clarified his stance.
“We⋯⋯ were caught up in a magic experiment and teleported here against our will. All I want is to leave this place and return to the human world. Just point me in the right direction, and I’ll find my own way out.”
“I don’t believe you. Humans must have sent you here to trespass and scout for an invasion! You’re a spy, aren’t you!”
“There’s no way to prove my innocence if you insist on misunderstanding me. But I’m telling the truth.”
“⋯⋯no, you two are too suspicious! If you’re really innocent, then come with me to the guard post. I’ll let you go after a mind inspection—if you have nothing to hide.”
The Elf’s gaze remained filled with wariness.
Bennett had heard that wild Elves weren’t particularly welcoming to outsiders, but he hadn’t expected them to be this fussy. He exchanged a glance with Mima the crow, silently weighing their options before deciding to accept the Elf’s suggestion.
Wandering the forest aimlessly seemed far riskier than being investigated in an Elven village.
“Okay.”
“⋯⋯I’ll shoot you the moment you do anything remotely suspicious!”
“Oh, come on, lady. Why are you so on edge? First of all, Bennett is unarmed, and secondly, I’m just a talking crow.”
“You don’t think that sounds suspicious even when you say it out loud?”
Was that so?
Bennett turned his head and looked at his reflection in a nearby puddle.
black-haired young man stared back at him, his bangs swept to one side to conceal a scar on his face. He was wearing an empty sheath without a sword, and had a crow perched on his right shoulder.
⋯⋯To be fair, he did look suspicious.
The crow chuckled.
“Aha! We look like Dark Wizards, Bennett. Squint a little, and it’ll be perfect.”
“This is your fault.”
“No, Bennett. I may add to the effect, but even on your own, you look quite suspicious. If you don’t believe me, let’s just ask her. Elf lady!”
“⋯⋯Enough talking! Just follow me quietly!”
Bennett sighed and trailed after the wild Elf.
===============================================================
After walking for nearly three hours, Bennett finally arrived at the wild Elf habitat, concealed deep within the dense forest.
Hammocks stretched between trees, roofs woven from leaves—this place was more an extension of nature than civilization. There were hardly any artificial structures in sight; at first glance, it didn’t even seem like an Elven settlement at all.
“⋯⋯it’s than I expected. And more well-hidden than I thought.”
“This way, nothing is visible from the sky.”
No wonder Mima couldn’t locate the village, even with an aerial reconnaissance.
He could see the Elves moving effortlessly along tree branches and between the trunks, dressed in clothes made of leaves—basically almost naked.
“⋯⋯⋯⋯.”
Yet none of them seemed self-conscious. Instead, all he felt was their wariness of unfamiliar visitors.
Mima spoke.
“Bennett, do you know the difference between wild Elves and civilized Elves?”
“I don’t. And I don’t really care.”
“Well, according to what I heard from a Defense Corps personnel, wild Elves are mentally linked through the World Tree. They can read each other’s thoughts as if their minds are transparent. That’s why they are living as one collective—like an ant colony.”
“⋯⋯Are you saying their minds are connected?”
The crow clacked his beak, as if asking him whether it wasn’t interesting. This mental bond was what distinguished wild Elves from their more civilized kin.
Humans had labeled them “Wild Elves” as a derogatory term, viewing their way of life as primitive.
Because they could perceive each other’s thoughts, wild Elves were extremely close with one another—but conversely, they were extremely distrustful of outsiders, especially those whose minds they couldn’t ‘read.’ Like untamed beasts, they were fierce and avoided contact with other species.
“They’re probably trying to peer into your mind using the power of the World Tree. To make sure we don’t have any bad intentions.”
“Then that’s actually a relief. If they can see the truth, we should be able to leave without any misunderstanding.”
“Well?”
“⋯⋯⋯⋯?”
Uung.
Mana flowed deftly through Mima’s body. The movement was so delicate that even Bennett, who was in direct contact, could barely perceive it.
A faint whisper reached only his ears.
-Observe discreetly. The Elf sitting on the second tree from the front, to the left. Can you see her?
He could see her.
Golden hair cascaded down her back, and her body was more petite compared to the other Elves around her. She barely covered her lower body with leaves. But her eyes looked somewhat hazy.
She didn’t appear dangerous. So what was the crow getting at?
-Look closer. Focus on the movements of her muscles. And her breathing. Notice anything strange?
Breathing?
Bennett observed the rhythm of her breath, gauging it by the rise and fall of her chest. That’s when he realized—her breathing was unnaturally slow, like someone in a very deep sleep.
Her muscles, too, moved in an odd way. Each time the branch beneath her swayed, her body adjusted to maintain balance, yet the way her muscles swelled and contracted seemed unnatural.
Now that he noticed it, the abnormality was glaring. Even someone without his Metamorphosis-enhanced senses would find it⋯⋯ unsettling as they observed her.
Was it an illness? Or some kind of curse?
-No, neither. That wild Elf is being controlled—kept in a sleep-like state. And I know about the Dark Wizard who has a skill like this⋯⋯.
Faceless.
The Redburn Family’s assassin who could manipulate someone else’s body.
Mima had detected traces of her handiwork.
Had she also been caught up in the Goddess’『Forced Exile』and ended up among the wild Elves coincidentally? What was she scheming by taking control of one of them? He didn’t know.
But one thing was certain—both her methods and her intentions were evil.
-What do you think, Bennett.
What?
-Will you turn a blind eye to this injustice and focus on returning to the Holy City? Or will you put a stop to it? The choice is yours.
“⋯⋯⋯⋯.”
It wasn’t that Bennett was indifferent to injustice. He had always fought to protect what mattered to him. But right now, his priority was getting back—he had no reason to create a commotion.
Besides, accusing a Dark Wizard in front of these Elves would likely backfire. They wouldn’t believe him. They’d probably scoff and just tell him it wasn’t even funny. There was a good chance that an arrow would fly at him after that.
However…
Would the Dark Wizard just sit still while external factors—him and Mima—wandered around unchecked?
This was⋯⋯ a preemptive attack for self-defence.
His silence was enough for the crow to understand. Mima was ecstatic as he cawed.
And then—
“…You, human outsider! You filthy lecher, where exactly are you staring?!”
“What?”
“You keep gawking at Rira! You pervert!”
The wild Elf’s face twisted in disgust as she snapped at him.
Of course, while they were shamelessly confident in their revealing outfits, they still felt the Five Desires and Seven Emotions. He could guess how it must’ve looked to her. desires. From her perspective, Bennett had just been staring at a half-dressed girl for too long.
“⋯⋯it’s a misunderstanding.”
“I’ll see for myself! If your mind is filled with impure thoughts, I’ll cut off your private parts and use it as fertilizer! Stand in front of the tree!”
-Didn’t I tell you to be discreet? You’re clumsy.
“⋯⋯⋯⋯.”
And just like that, Bennett’s mind was subjected to an inspection.
The wild Elves used the seedlings of the World Tree to peer into his consciousness. Upon confirming that he really didn’t have any bad intentions, they welcomed him as a guest.
“Welcome! It’s been ages since we’ve had a human visitor. You may stay the night!”
“⋯⋯Weren’t you pointing a bow at me a moment ago?”
“You were a stranger then. Now you’re a guest.”
Their attitude toward him underwent a complete 180. The moment the inspection revealed his mind was filled only with thoughts of Tara, Niolle, and his little sister, their wariness melted away.
Even when faced with the wild Elves’ outfit, his thoughts hadn’t wavered. Naturally, they saw him in a favorable light.
===============================================================
“By the way, how did this situation turn into you being chased by the Elf Ranger?”
“ Because I stole half of the Elves’ Holy Artifact.”
“⋯⋯Even if you were going to steal it, half?”
***
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