Disastrous Romance - Chapter 11
Chapter 11
[Hidden Story]
Her vigor was promising. The problem was, it was only vigor. Noami and the capital were about a week apart—in game time, of course. Elijah had never actually spent a week traversing that distance.
But that virtual week was about to become her reality, and that was the problem. A few clicks were vastly different from navigating an actual forest. How many people in modern society had experience bushwhacking and camping? Elijah was one of those ordinary modern people. With no villages, landmarks, and only endless trees, the path was indistinguishable. There wasn’t even anyone to ask for directions. After three days of wandering, a notification popped up.
[Notification: Entering ‘Junabi Fairy Forest’.]
“Damn it.” A wry smile touched her lips as the mystical landscape unfolded before her, a stark contrast to the notification’s cheerful tone. She’d arrived at a completely unplanned destination. Clinging to a last shred of hope, she called out to her sole companion.
“Kai…”
“We seem to be quite lost.” Her hope crumbled. Moments ago, they’d been on a dirt path. Now, turning back, it had vanished without a trace.
Elijah reluctantly surveyed her surroundings. The forest was breathtaking. The Junabi Fairy Forest was filled with trees bearing luminous, lime-green leaves. Delicate plants grew in dense clusters, interspersed with tiny, firefly-like lights, adding to the mystical atmosphere.
“It’s beautiful.”
“Now’s not the time for sightseeing.”
Elijah started to glare at Kai for his reprimand, but then the lights began to grow larger. Suddenly—
“Ow! That stings!” The small orbs of light touched the bare skin of her arms and legs, causing a stinging sensation. It felt like ant bites—a mild but intensely irritating pain.
Elijah swiftly drew her sword, taking a defensive stance. Kai mirrored her action, weapon drawn, back-to-back with her. The glowing insects darted close, stinging them, then retreating briefly before returning to the attack. She swung her sword, trying to fend them off, but their minuscule size made them difficult targets.
“Ugh… mistress, these things…!”
“Ouch!” Elijah’s voice grew increasingly frantic. It was the height of summer, and they were both in short sleeves, leaving plenty of exposed skin.
“Argh, this is no good.” Unable to endure it any longer, Elijah groaned, adjusting her grip on her sword with both hands. Ignoring the stinging on her limbs, she focused all her attention on the weapon. Closing her eyes, she concentrated, feeling a warm energy swirling around her chest. Then, as if a chunk of her vigor had materialized and detached, a faint white light enveloped the blade.
“Ha…” Elijah, originally a mana user, had been practicing during her three-day trek. Her efforts had finally paid off. Eyes open, she swung the glowing sword. Unlike before, the light insects that touched the mana-infused blade disintegrated. She whirled, slashing in every direction, a frenzy of motion.
A soft crackling sound filled the air as countless insects dissolved into yellow sparks. Kai, despite his inability to use mana, was holding his own with brute strength. Elijah, witnessing his fighting prowess for the first time, was inwardly impressed as she scanned their surroundings. With her mana-enhanced attacks, the shimmering lights quickly vanished. Just as she was about to move forward, a notification caught her attention.
Ding!
[Sudden Quest ‘The Fairy King’s Treasure (1)’
You have attacked the Junabi Fairy King’s subjects.
Subdue the enraged Fairy King and find the treasure.
Location: Deep within the Junabi Fairy Forest
Success: Escape]
“What the hell?” They were the ones who attacked first! The injustice was infuriating. And the reward for success was merely escape? Did that mean failure meant being trapped here forever? She sighed, looking around at the endless expanse of trees.
Then, the surroundings darkened, the forest’s atmosphere shifting dramatically. The luminous, lime-green trees turned a deep crimson, and a heavy silence descended. The quiet was broken by a faint buzzing.
Weeing!
The buzzing, like approaching bees, grew louder and closer. Then, from the depths of the forest, emerged reddish insects the size of her forearm. Thick, crimson bodies with four translucent wings each—they were utterly repulsive.
As one approached, as if to investigate, Elijah instinctively struck it with her sword.
“Eek!”
Fortunately, the insect disintegrated upon contact with the mana-infused blade.
