The sprawling canopy of massive trees blotted out the afternoon sun, casting the surroundings into a gloomy, chilling dusk. The scent of damp moss and decaying leaves assaulted their noses, a testament to the ancient age of a forest where no one dared to tread.
Lloyd Weston stepped onto a gnarled tree root jutting from the earth. His pale, frail body required an extra layer of cloaks to ward off the biting cold. The young baron's heavy pants echoed through the dead silence of the 'Western Elf Forest.'
"My Lord... shouldn't we fall back and regroup?" Frank, who was leading the way and clearing a path with his machete, asked anxiously. His grayish-blue eyes scanned their surroundings with utmost caution.
The giant of a youth tightened his grip on his rusted trident. "It's too quiet here. So quiet I can't even hear the birds... If monsters ambush us in such a narrow space, we'll be at a severe disadvantage."
"We can't retreat, Frank," Lloyd replied evenly, trying to steady his breathing. "If we want to export our herbs and import iron without Baron Reinhard hijacking us on the road, we have to carve out a 'new route' through this forest to connect with the Green Cliff Mountain Range."
The former world champion took a deep breath, raising a hand to his throbbing temples.
"System... open [Mini-Map] ."
Ding!
A semi-transparent blue holographic window flashed into his field of vision. A top-down view of the forest appeared, though the vast majority of the map remained shrouded in pitch-black 'Fog of War.' Only a fifty-meter radius around him was illuminated, matching his line of sight.
[Remaining Mana: 22/100]
Lloyd bit his lip. Using the map to clear the Fog of War in real-time consumed far more mana than usual. He had to toggle it on and off as they moved; he simply couldn't afford to leave it running.
"Feels like walking into a high-level monster zone without saving..." Lloyd muttered to himself in gamer jargon. "But as long as the fog isn't cleared, we can't lay down the road infrastructure."
"What was that, My Lord?" Frank turned around.
"Nothing. Keep moving. Watch out for traps," Lloyd dismissed with a wave of his hand.
The pair carefully navigated deeper into the territory of the Independent Tribal Federation. This area served as a borderland that the Veltine Empire dared not encroach upon—the home of races that harbored a deep-seated hatred for humanity.
Swish!
Suddenly, the sharp sound of something slicing through the air rang out from above!
Honed by his [Holy General SSR] talent, Frank's instincts kicked in within a fraction of a second. The giant lunged in front of Lloyd, violently swinging his trident to deflect the unseen attack.
Thwack!!!
A wooden arrow with green fletching impaled the dirt, landing barely a hand's breadth from the tip of Lloyd's boot! The shaft vibrated violently from the sheer kinetic force, proving the shooter wasn't aiming to kill. It was a terrifyingly precise 'warning shot.'
"Who's there?! Show yourself right now!" Frank roared, exuding a menacing aura as he readied for battle. His muscles bulged, bracing for impact.
A heartbeat of silence blanketed the dense forest, followed by the sound of clear, silvery laughter drifting down from the thick canopy above.
"My, my, not a bad reaction time, big guy."
The voice was cheerful but laced with a teasing sarcasm. "But I missed on purpose, you know. If I were serious, that arrow would've pierced right through your master's worn-out noble hat and planted itself dead center in his skull."
Rustle!
A slender figure leapt from a branch nearly ten meters high, gliding down to the forest floor as lightly as a feather, landing without making a single sound.
Lloyd narrowed his eyes, examining the newcomer through the dappled sunlight streaming through the leaves.
She was a young woman who, at first glance, looked like a human in her early twenties. Her agile, athletic frame was clad in dark green leather armor that blended perfectly with her surroundings. Silvery-green hair cascaded down to her waist, and long, pointed ears peeked through her locks, unmistakably revealing her race.
'An Elf.'
Her emerald-green eyes locked onto Lloyd and Frank with a defiant gleam. Her right hand grasped an ancient wooden bow carved with intricate, exquisite patterns, while her left hand rested on her hip in a thoroughly nonchalant stance.
"Sylvie Evergreen." The name surfaced in Lloyd's mind from the brief population data of the forest he had studied. However, what caught his eye wasn't her striking beauty... but the 'vine tattoo' coiling around her right arm.
To an ordinary person, it might look like a mere decorative tattoo, but the young lord's memories told him otherwise. Among elves... a black vine tattoo was a 'mark of punishment,' branded onto those who were exiled.
"Lost your way, little noble?" Sylvie tilted her head, a provocative smirk playing on her lips. "This isn't some backyard where you Veltine humans can stroll around hunting. If you don't want to become fertilizer for these trees, turn back now."
"Insolent! You dare speak so brazenly to the Lord of Verdant?!" Frank bellowed, taking a step forward, ready to teach the mouthy elf a lesson.
"Hold on, Frank," Lloyd raised a hand to stop his subordinate.
He stepped out from behind Frank, facing Sylvie with absolute calm. He showed no sign of fear regarding the arrow that had just grazed his foot moments ago.
"I am Lloyd Weston," he introduced himself smoothly. "And I am not lost. I came here intentionally to survey this route, to find a way to connect my territory's trade to the outside world."
Sylvie raised an eyebrow high before bursting into roaring laughter.
"Hahaha! Survey a route? Build a road through the Elf Forest?!" She laughed so hard she had to clutch her stomach. "Oh man... human nobles really are empty-headed. Do you honestly think the elders in the Sacred Forest would let your filthy wagons roll through their domain? Take just ten more steps, and a hundred poisoned arrows will turn you both into pincushions!"
"You speak as if... you yourself aren't a part of this 'Sacred Forest'," Lloyd retorted in a monotone voice, though the words struck a raw nerve.
Sylvie froze. The jovial smile on her face vanished in an instant. Her emerald eyes narrowed into slits.
"What do you mean by that?" Her tone turned ice-cold.
Lloyd's gaze shifted to the vine tattoo on her right arm. "That exile mark... It tells me you were cast out by the elf elders. You're a half-elf despised by their 'pure' society, forced to wander the forest's edge all alone. Am I right?"
"Shut up!" Sylvie snapped. With lightning-fast hands, she nocked a fresh arrow and drew her bow, aiming the tip directly between Lloyd's eyebrows in the blink of an eye!
"My Lord!" Frank shouted in panic, preparing to lunge in front of him.
"Don't move, Frank!" Lloyd commanded sharply. He stood perfectly still, calmly staring down the razor-sharp arrowhead less than five meters away.
The atmosphere grew so tense it was palpable. Frank's heavy, ragged breaths hitched with rage, while Sylvie stared at the young noble before her in utter confusion.
She had encountered many humans. Nobles were typically cowards who begged for their lives the moment a bow was drawn on them. Yet the young man before her stood resolute. His eyes didn't look at her with pity or fear; rather, he was looking at her to 'assess' something.
"You've got a big mouth for a spoiled brat..." Sylvie gritted her teeth. "Do you think I won't shoot? For an outcast elf like me, killing a human noble isn't something anyone here would lose sleep over!"
"I know you're capable of pulling the string, Sylvie," Lloyd replied calmly. "But the reason I'm not dodging is because I know your 'objective' isn't to kill me... You're just angry because I hit a sore spot."
The former tactician's brain worked at breakneck speed. In RPGs or RTS games, outcast or exiled characters usually carried immense guilt and loneliness beneath an aggressive exterior. If he wanted to recruit her, he had to trade sincerity, not brute force.
'System... let's check this ranged unit's status,' Lloyd whispered in his mind.
'Activate [Inspect] .'
Ding!
A golden interface window flashed, overlapping the image of the elf girl holding her bow taut. A sharp, piercing headache instantly shot through Lloyd's temples. His mana plummeted once more!
[Remaining Mana: 17/100]
Lloyd rapidly scanned the data.
[Target Unit Information]
Name: Sylvie Evergreen
Race: Half-Elf / Human
Age: 87 years (Equivalent to 22 human years)
Current Class: Wandering Hunter (Level 25)
[Hidden Talent]
Rank: SR
Talent Name: Forest Spirit Archer
Status: [Partially Activated]
[Base Parameters]
Strength: 55
Accuracy: 98 (Surpasses visual limits)
Mana: 75
Agility: 88
[SR Talent Details]
Can infuse mana into arrows to increase firing range and power by 200%. Fired arrows can bypass obstacles according to the shooter's will.
[Hidden Background]
Falsely accused of causing her mother's death during a mission. Carries immense guilt and yearns for a 'place' where she can be accepted.
Lloyd's eyes widened slightly. '98 Accuracy... This is practically a top-tier sniper in the game!'
He closed the system window to ease the burden on his brain before flashing a faint smile—a smile radiating the same unwavering confidence he used when turning the tide in esports tournaments.
"Sylvie Evergreen," Lloyd called out her full name, his tone softening. "You were accused of causing your own mother's death... even though, in truth, you tried your absolute best to protect her. Yet no one in the Sacred Forest would believe you, would they?"
The bow in Sylvie's hand trembled! Her emerald eyes bulged in shock. The agonizing pain she had buried in the deepest depths of her heart had been effortlessly unearthed by a complete stranger.
"H... how... how do you know that?!" Sylvie's voice quivered. Her previously arrogant confidence evaporated entirely. "Who are you?!"
Lloyd took slow, deliberate steps toward the arrowhead until less than two meters separated them. Frank's eyes widened, but he didn't dare disobey the order to stay put.
"I am someone who sees the truth... in a world full of the blind." Lloyd stopped, meeting the girl's gaze directly. "The elves in the Sacred Forest cast you out because of their prejudice against your bloodline. They blamed you simply because you are a half-elf... They failed to see the incredible loyalty and unparalleled accuracy hidden within you."
Lloyd extended his right hand forward, pointing toward the lands behind him.
"But in my territory of Verdant... I do not care if you are human, elf, or orc," Lloyd declared in a resonant voice. "As long as you possess the skill and the resolve to stand and protect your comrades... there will always be a 'place' for you."
The hand pulling the bowstring began to slacken. The word 'place' struck a resounding chord in her heart. Throughout decades of wandering, no one had ever offered her a home. No one had ever looked past this mark of disgrace.
"You're... you're asking me to be your subordinate?" Sylvie tried to force a scoffing smile to mask the tremor in her heart. "A human noble like you would trust an outcast elf considered to be a walking jinx? You must be insane."
"The ones who are insane are those who refuse to utilize an SR-tier 'sniper'," Lloyd slipped into his strange lexicon again before beaming. "So, what do you say, Sylvie? Will you continue wandering aimlessly, or will you use that bow of yours... to help me build a kingdom that those arrogant elves will envy?"
Sylvie Evergreen stood frozen for a long moment. The ancient wooden bow, previously drawn to its limit, began to tremble slightly with the storm of emotions erupting inside her.
The words 'build a kingdom' and 'a place' echoed in the elf's mind. It was the most reckless, delusional invitation she had ever heard from a human noble—the sort who typically saw other races only as slaves or tools.
Yet, the deep blue eyes of the young man before her... held no arrogance, no trace of deceit. There was only a resolute determination that strangely warmed a heart that had been numb for so long.
Sylvie took a deep breath. She slowly lowered her bow, easing the tension on the string before returning the green-fletched arrow to the leather quiver on her back. The hostile demeanor from moments ago vanished, replaced once more by her trademark cheerful grin and teasing attitude.
"Sniper? I have no idea what that weird word means, little noble," Sylvie shrugged, stepping a pace closer to Lloyd. "But it sounds like a compliment, so I'll take it."
"My Lord! You can't trust her!" Frank instantly interjected. The giant youth still gripped his trident tightly, never taking his eyes off the elf. "She just shot an arrow at you! Besides, outcast elves are notorious for betrayal and treachery!"
Sylvie snapped her head toward Frank, her emerald eyes narrowing slightly with a mocking smirk.
"My, my, muscle boy," she said airily. "I didn't miss. I fired a warning shot on purpose. If I wanted your master dead, that skinny frame of his would be chatting with the tree roots by now... Oh, and by the way, I have a name. It's Sylvie, not 'outcast elf.' Make sure to engrave that into your thick skull."
"What did you just say?!" Frank's face hardened, his broad chest heaving in indignation.
"That's enough, both of you." Lloyd raised a hand to placate them before turning back to meet Sylvie's gaze. "So, do you accept my offer, Sylvie?"
The elf crossed her arms, dramatically tilting her head in feigned contemplation. "Hmm... alright. Since I have nowhere else to go anyway, taking a stroll through the territory of a crazy human who dares to challenge the Sacred Forest sounds like a bit of fun... But, I have conditions."
"Name them."
"First, I am not a slave. I will only follow orders that I actually agree with." Sylvie raised a finger for each point. "Second, I need good meals every day. If you make me gnaw on hardtack like some peasant, I'll burn down your granary. And third..."
Sylvie pointed right at Lloyd with a mischievous grin. "No one in your territory is ever allowed to call me a jinx or an outcast elf again... Can you manage that, country lord?"
Lloyd let out a soft chuckle. They were demanding conditions, perfectly fitting for a wandering-type unit.
"I accept," Lloyd replied firmly. "In Verdant, no one cares about your past. We only care about tomorrow."
Ding!
The [RTS Master System] window automatically flared to life in Lloyd's mind.
[System Update: Unit 'Sylvie Evergreen' has agreed to join your forces.]
[Class: Ranged DPS / Scout]
[Loyalty Status: 30/100 (Still Harbors Suspicion) ]
[Overall Troop Morale: Slightly Increased]
'Only thirty loyalty, huh...' Lloyd mused as he eyed the status bar floating above the elf's head. 'Unlike Frank and Notch, who basically maxed out their bars from the get-go. I guess it'll take some time and a few friendship quests... Still, acquiring an SR-tier ranged unit in the early game is an absolute steal.'
The tactician's mind immediately began arranging his unit formation. He had Frank as his vanguard (Tank) absorbing damage, Notch providing structural support (Builder) , and now Sylvie acting as his ranged damage dealer (Ranged DPS) . All he was missing was a support class like a mage or a Healer, and his party would be perfect!
"Alright, since we've reached an agreement, we should get back on the move," Lloyd announced, pulling his cloak tighter. "Our objective for today is mapping this route through the forest to reach the Green Cliff Mountain Range."
"If you need pathfinding through a forest, leave it to me." Sylvie grinned broadly, nimbly hopping atop a fallen log blocking the path. "Try to keep up, muscle boy. Make sure you don't trip over a root and crack your head open."
"I can take care of myself! You worry about your own neck, you long-eared elf!" Frank grumbled, though he reluctantly stepped forward to follow her lead.
Lloyd couldn't help but smile as he watched the two interact. The oppressive atmosphere of the dense forest seemed to lighten with Sylvie's addition to the group. Having someone to trade sarcastic barbs and rile Frank up made the giant youth seem much more lively than when he was just quietly obeying orders.
The trio wove their way deeper into the Western Elf Forest. Sylvie proved to be an exceptional guide. She could read the tracks on the ground, smell the shifting winds, and flawlessly navigate around dangerous monster lairs. This saved Lloyd from having to keep his [Mini-Map] active, preserving his meager mana reserves.
Over two hours passed. The sunlight filtering through the canopy began to shift into a golden-orange hue, signaling the approach of dusk.
"Not even a mile left, and we'll be out of this dense stretch," Sylvie reported, hopping down from a boulder. "Past here is a plateau that connects to the Green Cliff Range. Human wagons should be able to traverse that path just fine... I had no idea Verdant was looking to trade with the mountain dwarves."
"It's our new Silk Road," Lloyd answered as he paused to catch his breath. His fragile body was nearing its absolute limit. "If we can secure this route, Baron Reinhard will no longer be able to ambush us or extort taxes on the road."
"Baron Reinhard?" Sylvie repeated, her shapely brows furrowing. "I've heard that name. The forest hunters are always complaining about his soldiers extorting their forage near the borders... Did you really pick a fight with a bigshot like him?"
"Just a slight misunderstanding," Lloyd deflected with a smile.
However, just as the three were conversing and preparing to exit the dense woods...
Twitch!
Sylvie's long, pointed ears twitched violently!
The feral instincts of an SR-tier archer flared. She stopped dead in her tracks. The cheerful smile wiped from her face instantly, replaced by a fierce, icy glare. Sylvie raised a fist—a military signal for everyone to halt.
"What is it, Sylvie?" Lloyd whispered, immediately noticing the shift in atmosphere.
"Shh..." Sylvie brought a finger to her lips. Her emerald eyes scanned through the deepening shadows behind them—the direction leading back toward the borders of the Veltine Empire.
"Someone's tailing us..." the elf girl whispered faintly. An aura of mana silently surged into the bow in her hands. "It's not a wild animal, and it's not a monster... Footsteps like that belong to a highly trained human."
Hearing this, Frank immediately stepped in front of Lloyd, gripping his trident tight, ready for combat.
Lloyd knitted his brows, his tactician's mind racing. He focused his concentration into the void, willing to sacrifice his remaining mana to verify the situation.
"Open [Mini-Map] ... fifty-meter radius."
Ding!
[Remaining Mana: 12/100]
On the glowing holographic display, Lloyd saw three green dots representing their cluster. But to his alarm... just forty meters behind them, a single 'red dot' was moving, hiding behind a massive tree!
It wasn't the solid red circle that the system usually used for monsters. Instead, it was a red dot overlaid with a 'cross'—the exact RTS symbol for an 'Enemy Scout Unit'!
Wasting no time, Sylvie nocked an arrow and slowly drew the string, aiming through the dark forest shadows straight at the dense bushes forty meters away.
"Want me to put an arrow through his skull?" Sylvie whispered, her eyes devoid of any hesitation.
"Not yet," Lloyd ordered in a low voice. "We don't know who it is. Shooting blindly might alert a larger force... Frank, brace for engagement. Sylvie, fire a warning shot at the base of that tree. Force them out of hiding!"
"Understood!"
Sylvie let the bowstring fly in a split second!
Thwip!!!... Thwack!
The mana-infused arrow tore through the air faster than the eye could track. It pierced through the foliage and buried itself into the roots of a giant oak tree forty meters away—a shot so precise it was as if she had placed it there by hand!
Rustle! Snap!
A loud crack of breaking twigs echoed. The figure hiding behind the tree jolted in shock, losing their footing and tumbling out of cover into the dirt!
The man hurriedly scrambled to his feet in a panic. He wore a pitch-black cloak to blend into the darkness, but as he abruptly stood up, the edge of his cloak flared open...
...clearly revealing a 'Hawk with a Gold Coin' emblem embroidered on the leather armor underneath!
The crest of House Reinhard!
"Baron Reinhard's man!" Frank exclaimed fiercely. "They sneaked after us all the way into the deep forest?!"
Realizing he had been caught, the Baron's spy didn't draw a sword to fight. Instead, he spun around and sprinted back the way he came at top speed, bolting toward the borders of the Veltine Empire.
"Where do you think you're going?!" Sylvie instantly nocked a second arrow, this time aiming dead center for the man's back.
"Sylvie, stop!" Lloyd barked the command with absolute authority.
The elf froze, turning to glare at the young baron in irritation. "Why?! If we let him go, he's definitely going to report to his master that you're charting a smuggling route!"
Lloyd watched the spy's retreating back until he disappeared from sight. His headache intensified, yet the former world champion merely smirked—an icy, unpredictable smile.
"Let him report it. That's exactly what I want," Lloyd replied evenly. "If Baron Reinhard knows we're pioneering a route through the Western Forest, he'll shift his attention from our village to this border instead... That will buy 'Notch' the time he needs to finish constructing the fortress."
Deep down, however, Lloyd knew the situation was escalating to a breaking point.
Baron Reinhard wasn't stupid. Sending a professional spy to tail him outside their territory was clear confirmation that the ruthless nobleman had begun to take Lloyd as a serious, legitimate threat.
"The economic war is coming to an end..." Lloyd looked up at the sky, which was rapidly fading to pitch black. A chilling wind swept through the thick forest, rustling the leaves. "And the real war... will begin soon."
The chessboard of Verdant was set. And with the next move... blood was undoubtedly going to spill!
(End of Chapter 10)