In a small cell, an Elf was despairing. “I’m telling you, you can’t keep me here! You’ll all regret it later. They’ll come for me!” She kept crying out, but no one cared.
But suddenly she heard the sound of footsteps…
— Clang! Thump! —
”Let me out! Let—” As she tried pleading her case, one of her captors threw a body in, a bloody one that she recognized. “It’s you?!”
Jack slowly opened his eyes, groaning. At this moment, he couldn’t have looked more pitiful. Cuts, bruises, he was just short of maimed.
”Oh, you’re that Elf…I pity you. Who knows what they’ll do to you….” Jack meaningfully sighed.
That’s when her entire face turned pale, and her body trembled. “Y-you can’t scare me! There’s no way they’ll dare to—” Her voice turned into a whimper.
She felt less confident as he saw him vomit blood. What the hell had he been put through, and was this the fate that awaited her?!
”W-what happened?”
”They served me delicacies worthy of a king, drew me a bubble bath, dressed me in fine silk, and even offered me a couple of slaves to warm my bed….” Jack slowly uttered.
”What?! Then how did—”
”You’re not familiar with the concept of sarcasm, eh? What do you think they did?! Torture, torture, and some more torture!” He spat out.
”Gulp! I really need to speak to—”
”Pfft— You still think you can talk your way out of this? How ridiculous. Those people are slave traders. Do you know what slaves are? They’ll utterly break you, crush your spirit until you’re obedient. They’ll….”
Jack began describing various “fun” techniques they’d use one after the other. It went from rat bites to sleep/food deprivation and even forced urine drinking.
The more he spoke, the weaker her legs got. Nooo! There was no way she’d be able to endure even one of these! Even now, Jack was still throwing blood up.
But suddenly something happened…
— Cling! —
He had just spat out…a silver key?!
”There we go.” He grinned as he chuckled. He was already stretching, his intentions obvious. A prison break?! That’s when she saw hope for the first time.
”You, what are you planning?!”
”Obviously going for a walk….I’m escaping, duh!”
”Bring me with you! Please, please, please!” She clung to hope as she clung to his arm.
At this moment, she had wholly forgotten his horrendous state or that she wasn’t supposed to touch a member of the opposite sex.
Nope, the Hobo-looking Jack felt like Prince Charming to her at this moment. He was the only one that stood between her and a life of slavery.
He glanced at her with an eagle gaze, obviously hesitating.
”I swear I won’t slow you down! You have enemies here too, right? Let’s escape back to the Forest. I swear I’ll put in a good word for you and—”
”A good word? There is nothing more worthless than an empty promise. It—”
”I swear on the Elven Forest!” She heatedly screamed.
That’s when he finally agreed. The two left as he led them across the underground complex.
At first, she was utterly scared, every step turning her stomach, but then she saw him. How was he so good at this?! He sneaked toward a sentry and… — Chop!— Took it down!
Even she couldn’t tell what technique this was. He’d chop, and the enemies would fall! His power seemed to ignore 100% of their defenses. How amazing was that!
”Here, wear this.” He gave her a cloak.
It just happened to be her size…but too tight for her to just wear over her current garbs.
He urged her to change her dress. She wanted to tell him to turn away, to give her the considerations a lady should have, but then she saw his stern gaze.
She changed under his watchful gaze as he scouted for enemies. She was feeling such shame, and yet a part of her hoped he’d look at her directly.
Was she that unattractive?! This was the first time anyone ever disregarded her so much!
”Let’s go….”
The path forward was laden with enemies.
Every single second felt like Eternity. Why were there so many enemies patrolling?! Was this place a dungeon, or a freaking palace!
Just as they were about to get out…
”Jer, where are you going! It really is you. I’d recognize you everywhere!” One of the sentries suddenly hollered at her.
She froze. Oh god!
What now?! What should she say?!
The man was already coming her way. At this rate, they’d get caught, and… just as she was freaking out, she felt a comforting touch on her back.
”Demon King related job. You know how it is. Not a moment of rest ever since he returned, am I right!” Jack not only kept his calm but was even joking around?!
”Oh? I see, that makes sense. Good luck to you both. Make sure you stay far away from the farm trees, hahaha!” The sentry waved them away.
They managed to leave the place without arousing suspicion.
As they left, she finally saw the place for what it was, a fine silk shop. Talk about sneaky and shady! Slave traders under a legit-looking business?! The human world sure was scary!
Yet, she didn’t feel scared but glad. She was so lucky to have found him! At first, she thought him to be a bad guy, but he was actually great.
”Take care, have a good life.” Jack left.
WHAT?!? Was he leaving her behind just like that?! He had agreed to get her out of the cell, but he was just letting her be now?! Wasn’t this a little too heartless!
”Hey, wait up! I said wait up!” For the first time in her life, the proud princess found herself chasing after someone.
She ran after him in a hurry. “Please, let me tag along. We can go back to the Elven Forest and flee from those…right, Bloody Chains!”
”Greenwood Forest.”
”What? Oh, the name, I see! Please, let’s go there, and I’ll make sure you’re rewarded.” She begged, appealing to his greed. Humans were greedy, right?
But the more she begged and the less it seemed to work. She was getting the feeling that she was talking with a monk! At this moment, she kept cursing her destitute appearance.
”Tch— I’ll let you tag along for now.” He spat out.
”YAY!!!” She cheered so loudly that the passerby all turned her way.
But soon, her happiness turned to bashfulness as he booked them a room at the local inn, a single room.
D-did he have designs on her?! Would he try h-holding hands or kissing her?! How should she react then? Her entire being was flushed red.
Soon…
”Here, there’s water in the bath.”
”Gulp. Y-you want me to undress?!” She had trouble breathing.
”….”
”…A-alright!”
He didn’t particularly stay to watch, but this didn’t stop her imagination. She quickly cleaned herself, readying her heart for what was coming.
He came back, glancing at her.
”Are you done?” He asked in a deep voice.
”Y-yes….” She rose, standing before him shyly.
That’s when he grabbed her by the shoulders and…pushed her aside. He entered the bath, seemingly utterly immune to her charm.
The water turned blood red instantly. How much had he suffered?! Stealing and swallowing the prison key while being tortured shouldn’t have been easy, right?
She found herself invaded by a strange feeling, something called empathy. She even found her hands moving by themselves, gently washing his bloodied back.
The bath couldn’t have been more peaceful. As he finally came out, she found herself staring. Was now the time for….
”Let’s go.”
”T-to the bed?”
”To your Forest, I’ll drop you off. Why aren’t you dressed yet? Hurry up.”
How was she supposed to reply to this?! She followed him, her head a confused mess. He had no interest in her body at all. Why did this sadden her?!
They left Town wearing traveler clothes.
As they traveled, she finally realized the extent of how terrifying the world could be. It was one danger after the other.
- Wandering monsters
- Human-sacrificing cultists
- The self-righteous I.R.L guild
- A bunch of cannibals shouting meat is meat
- Forest bandits, their leader calling himself Rob Hoody
- …
There were enemies at every corner!
He’d bravely protect her during every encounter. The more he fought and the more injuries he suffered, but he kept going for her sake.
The more he got hurt and the guiltier she felt. This was all her fault, all because she had wanted to leave home.
The poor Elf was having a breakdown as she remembered how naive she had been. She had even been singing back then: how lucky was she to even be alive?!
No, it wasn’t luck. It was all thanks to him…
After countless tribulations, they finally reached their destination. She had led him toward a small clearing with large archaic trees forming a natural arch.
”Your princess is back. Open the way.” She powerfully declared in elvish.
The Forest instantly turned quiet…before a gale rose! WHOOSH! An incredible quantity of mana was drawn into the arch, and a glowing golden portal appeared.
”There we are. Let’s go!” She happily declared.
”I doubt a human would be welcomed there.” Jack sighed, already turning back to leave.
”W-wait, WAIT! What about your reward for saving me? You should definitely claim it!”
”Sigh, it’s fine. As long as you’re safe, later.”
He still wanted to leave?! She had to do something! She didn’t think about where they were, her status, or how humans were banned from this place.
”Please, just rest for tonight!” She grabbed his hand, showing puppy eyes.
”Fine…”
Yes! She happily dragged him inside the portal, not noticing the scheming grin he was now showing.
[The Portal is Rejecting You!]
[Error! Error! Guest of the Elves!]
[Welcome to the Elven Settlement!]