Elf Kingdom: Game of the World Tree

Chapter 134: Chapter 133: The Strange Elf NPC

“`html

Takeout sat quietly in the cargo box.

He kept his eyes closed and rested, like a statue, but his back was straight.

If you observed closely, you’d notice his pair of pointed ears shifting slightly with the noise outside.

*This was his instinctive vigilance in an unfamiliar environment.*

As time passed, the shaking of the cargo box became more intense.

...

Even with his eyes closed and his strength bound by strange ropes, Takeout could still imagine the situation outside from the vehicle’s jolts…

*It had become much quieter, yet much rougher.*

*They must have hit a mountain road…*

*The sky had grown darker, almost nightfall, but instead of slowing down, the vehicle was speeding up.*

*This indicated that the surroundings weren’t safe, especially at night.*

*Of course, there was another possibility—they were nearing their destination, so they accelerated.*

Source: , updated on Ɲονǥ0.сօ

Furthermore, the humans outside hadn’t been talking much from the beginning.

*He even heard the sounds of weapons being drawn and the faint sound of rhythmic breathing.*

*They were very alert.*

*This meant… they were wary of possible enemies.*

*His judgment about the potential danger nearby was correct.*

*They might be on guard against bandits, but it could also be a Demon Beast.*

*No… a Demon Beast seemed more likely; they couldn’t have left the Elf Forest too far in such a short time.*

*Except for the Half-Beasts, there weren’t any other intelligent beings in this direction.*

The Half-Beasts were impoverished but strong, so they probably wouldn’t have bandits or such around nearby.

The surroundings gradually grew cooler… not just due to the sky, but likely aided by the terrain.

Bird calls echoed, resembling a canyon…

This suggested they might have entered the Grand Canyon within the Dark Mountain Range…

Takeout speculated in his mind.

As a long-time wilderness gamer, he had gathered comprehensive data on the areas around the Elf Forest.

From the Flame Tribe, he specifically learned about the Dark Mountain Range, knowing it was teeming with Demon Beast activity at night.

Just as Takeout continued listening, suddenly, his ears twitched slightly.

He heard a rustling sound coming from somewhere inside the carriage.

The direction was towards where a female elf NPC, like him, was captured.

Takeout didn’t make any rash movements.

Instinct told him, that an NPC able to sleep soundly after being captured by humans, even if an elf, was probably not ordinary.

*Either they were a fool with more courage than sense.*

*Or… something interesting was bound to happen.*

Soon, Takeout heard a yawn, accompanied by a lazy groan, as if someone was stretching luxuriously.

Takeout: …

He instantly became alert.

Because if he remembered correctly, the other captured elf girl should have been tied up and gagged like him.

Takeout instinctively opened his eyes, looking warily in the direction of the sound, only to lock eyes with a pair of twinkling eyes.

It was an elf girl who appeared to be sixteen or seventeen years old.

Of course… if translated into elf years, it would probably be ten times that.

She had gray-black hair similar to Takeout’s, and her eyes were dark gray yet strikingly bright.

Like many elves, she also had remarkable features; even her shabby clothing couldn’t hide her youth and beauty. But unlike the elves Takeout had seen in the Elf Forest, this elf girl’s eyes held a glimmer of cunning, making her appear a bit more sly.

*Takeout wasn’t entirely unfamiliar with such an expression; similar-looking individuals were detained every day at the police stations on Blue Star.*

This was precisely the other elf he saw when he woke up.

But at the moment, the girl showed no signs of being trapped; the ropes around her and the cloth on her mouth were gone.

*Was she really an elf?*

Looking at those swirling big eyes, Takeout instinctively frowned.

He hesitated for a moment, carefully examining her appearance.

Remarkable features, a tall figure.

Ears were pointy, long…

*If there weren’t any other creatures or life forms disguising themselves, then she was undoubtedly an elf.*

Then he witnessed the peculiar elf girl giving him a cheeky smile:

“Hey! You’re awake! It’s been a while since I’ve seen someone from the Shadow Tribe, hello there!”

Shadow Tribe?

Takeout felt a jolt in his heart.

After she finished speaking, the elf girl expertly pulled out two decently appearing fruits from the human’s cargo box, took a bite of one herself, and casually handed the other to Takeout:

“Here, want some? These are rare fruits from the south of the humans, super sweet!”

Takeout: …

Seeing Takeout’s peculiar expression, the elf girl suddenly realized:

“Oh right, you’re still tied up.”

She nimbly slipped over to Takeout’s side, bringing a refreshing scent, and her delicate hands quickly untied Takeout.

Takeout hadn’t even had time to register it when the ropes on him were unraveled.

*So fast!*

His expression was a bit surprised.

*However… not very powerful.*

Takeout could sense that her aura was even a bit weaker than his own.

*Stronger beings could typically sense the approximate power of those weaker than themselves, although not accurately.*

Moreover, Takeout couldn’t rule out that this might be her disguise.

Then, he watched as the girl uncovered the cloth tied around his mouth and shoved the fruit into it:

“What are you staring so wide-eyed for? Eat the fruit. And keep your voice down, don’t let those humans outside hear you.”

Takeout: …

He instinctively took a bite.

*It was indeed sweet.*

Then he heard the elf girl’s disdainful voice:

“You’re so poor, don’t you have anything on you? Did the humans search you? Though… you’ve got quite a sturdy build.”

Takeout: …

His gaze towards the girl grew even more peculiar.

The following actions of the girl completely opened Takeout’s eyes, turning his understanding of native elves in the Segis World upside down…

He watched the elf girl quickly finish the fruit and then rummage through the cargo box, pilfering the human goods.

Takeout noticed the girl picked mainly valuable-looking magic items and some gold and silver treasures.

Every time she found something, a faint glow emitted from her hand, and then the items suddenly vanished.

Takeout raised an eyebrow, quite curious.

Soon, the elf girl had gone through the entire cargo box.

She exhaled deeply, munching on the fruit while sitting down, appearing quite satisfied.

“Are you… a thief?”

After watching the entire process, Takeout couldn’t help but speak up.

Upon hearing his words, the elf girl’s shoulders shook slightly, seemingly sensitive to that word.

She remained silent for a few seconds, then looked at Takeout, puffing her cheeks in annoyance:

“So what if I am? Is that a problem?”

Takeout: …

Noticing Takeout’s strange gaze, the elf girl sighed:

“Stop looking at me like that, or do you want to lecture me like those stubborn old folks?”

She then laughed mockingly:

“Foolish kindness, stubborn inflexibility, that’s the fundamental reason for the elves’ decline! If they can’t even protect themselves, why bother adhering to so many rules?”

“Hmph! Rules are meant to be broken! So what if I’m a thief? These humans are our enemies; they’re the real bandits! It’s only right for me to take their stuff! Besides, I’m not taking these things for myself…”

The girl spoke angrily.

Takeout didn’t respond, just quietly listened to her chatter.

As the girl spoke, her expression turned a bit somber.

She mumbled for a while, eventually seeming tired and fell silent.

After a moment, she sighed and pried at the ground.

With Takeout’s surprised gaze, she skillfully opened a large hole in the bottom of the cargo box.

Then, the girl handed Takeout some more fruit, pointing to the hole in the truck’s floor:

“Ah… you look so rule-abiding, like someone who hasn’t experienced combat—a hapless newbie… Here, take these rations and escape through this hole.”

“This is the last truck, and the sky is dark. I’ll cast a small camouflaging spell on you, so the humans won’t notice you.”

Takeout: …

“What about you?”

He asked her back.

“Me?”

The girl was stunned.

She remained silent for a while before resolutely saying:

“I’m not leaving, I have to go to their base in the Underworld! I need to rescue my younger siblings!”

“`