ยฉNovel Buddy
Game of the World Tree-Chapter 146
Visit ๐ป๐ณโฏโฏ๐คโฏ๐ฃ๐๐ฐ๐โฏ๐ญ.๐๐ฐ๐ for the best novel reading experience
??WELL, LETโS JUST GO HOME
Nightingale was taken aback as she looked at those bizarre elves as they rushed towards her while making a ruckus along the way.
What are these guys up to now?
She instinctively hugged her younger siblings close to her chest and looked at the approaching players with vigilance akin to a mother hen protecting her chicks.
However, their next behavior had completely caught her off guard. What she saw instead upon them arriving were their faces beaming with smiles as they looked upon her with sparkling eyes.
โHello, Miss! How are you doing?โ
โMilady, you must have suffered at the hands of those humans but fret not, for we are here to save you!โ
โTskโฆreally now, those evil humans even scared off these little children!โ
โOhโฆhow miserableโฆโ
โSurely you guys must be hungry after being locked up for so long, right?โ
โCome, come! This uncle has some fresh fruits here, all produced in the Elven Forest and they taste great!โ
โWant some candies? This big brother has some delicious honey candy for everyone!โ
After saying all that, the players licked their faces and took out some berries they carried with them along with the sugar cubes they also made using honey.
They showed a smile that they thought looked kind and stuffed these sweet treats into the arms of each young elves.
Nightingale: โโฆโฆโ
Young elves: โโฆโฆโ
Although these guys had some good intentions and wanted to appear benevolent to these newcomers, alas their outer appearanceโespecially the blood stains from their earlier battle with the mercenaries, was still visible upon their clothes and faces, thus making them look more frightening despite their friendly behavior.
Additionally, some were also sporting a somewhat obscene smiles, which was both equally scary and nauseating, making anyone rather hesitant to get close to any of them.
Most of the young elves were quickly frightened by this, and the youngest girl even inadvertently cried out loud. They all then retreated in fear and quickly hid behind their big sister Nightingale.
Players: โโฆโฆโ
โO-Oi, Oi! Look at you guys, you just scared them!โ
โIs it you? Geez, what kind of idiot would give someone a fruit at their first meeting? Heck, did you even wash your hands? Look, you still have bloodstains on them!โ
โHahaha! This dude just called himself โuncleโ Hahaha! Itโs so funny man!โ
โOh god, you have so much blood on your face, stop laughing! Itโs scary! No wonder you scared off those kids!โ
โPffftโฆhahaha! Youโre laughing too! Hahaโฆhahaha!โ
โYouโre still laughing? Just hurry up and wipe your face already idiot, otherwise the NPCs favorability rating will further drop.โ
โOh shietโฆnoโฆhahahaโฆeven though I know I shouldnโt laugh like this butโฆhahahaโฆwhat should I do? Hahahaโฆโ
Despite the newcomers reluctance to approach them, the players were still taking it in stride and were even joking amongst themselves.
Boxlunch: โโฆ..โ
Nightingale: โโฆโฆโ
Boxlunchโs eyes flickered slightly upon this sight. He remained silent for a moment, then swiftly moved before kicking each of his team member in the butt and said in a low vocal tone,
โGet up and clean your faces!โ
Seeing their captain speak, his teammates shrunk their necks and awkwardly laughed before taking a few steps back to wipe their faces.
Meanwhile, Boxlunch also wiped the dried blood off his face and then returned to Nightingaleโs side.
Those young elves further shrank back yet again subconsciously upon his approach.
Boxlunch: โโฆ..โ
He fell silent for a moment before saying, โWe mean no harm.โ
Nightingale looked at him in the eye for a second before shifting her gaze towards the rambunctious elves at the distance. novelbuddy.c(o)m
She then nodded reluctantly and finally smiled a little bit.
โMaybeโฆโ
โWell, you can probably tell.โ
โYeah, itโs just that the brains of those fellow clansmen of yours seemed a bit abnormal...โ She added within her mind.
After speaking, she couldnโt help but asking once more, โAre you really not bandits?โ
Boxlunch: โโฆ..โ
He sighed and replied, โWe are the chosen ones summoned by the goddess.โ
โGoddess?โ
Nightingale blinked as a stunned look etched upon her face.
What goddess?
Boxlunch didnโt elaborated but instead asked, โWhat are your plans for the future?โ
โโฆPlans?โ
Nightingale was slightly taken aback, then understood that he was asking about their plans for the futureโฆ
After a moment of silence, she tentatively spoke with a hint of uncertainty within her tone, โPerhapsโฆ we might seek out a new hiding place.โ
Her expression then turned somewhat gloomy as she continued,
โThe place we hid before had been already been discovered by humans. Iโm afraid we canโt go back there anymore. Butโฆas long as weโre alive, Iโm sure thereโs still some hope for us.โ
Boxlunch nodded thoughtfully after hearing this. He then pondered for a moment before asking,
โThenโฆ why donโt you go home with us.โ
โโฆHome?โ
Nightingale was taken aback, as she gave him a wholly confused look.
โWhereโs your home anyways?โ
โThe Elven Forest.โ Boxlunch replied in a sure and concise manner.
โT-The Forest of the Elves!?โ
Nightingaleโs expression instantly froze. She then looked at Boxlunch as if he were a compete fool.
A brief tense moment had passed by and after confirming that he was really serious, the ashen-haired maiden then sneered before asking in return, โWhy the hell would we even go there? Are we simply asking to be caught once again?โ
She then added, โWho doesnโt know that the orcs are constantly watching the elven forest, waiting for an inexperienced lone elf to be caught by themโฆโ
Her expression then became was somewhat despondent as she whispered,
โThat place is no longer the home of the elves.โ
No matter how powerful the world tree was in the past, in the end, it cannot protect them anymore with its current dying stateโฆ
Moreover, didnโt he already know what was happening within the elven forest? It was evident since he himself was caught by the smugglers near the vicinity of the elven forest mere days ago.
Nightingale let out a bitter sigh, feeling a surge of complex emotions deep within her.
Homeโฆ
How long has it been since she heard that word?
Her family had always been wandering around since as far as she could ever remember.
If the Elven Forest was their homeโฆ
Then this home had already perished along with the fall of their patron god who once protected the elvenkind.
It is often said that home is where the family isโฆ
Alas, this wouldnโt apply to her as her home had long vanished into thin air due to the constant attacks of humans.
Literally and figuratively speaking, she had already lost her home a long time ago.
Just as Nightingale was about to succumb into deeper melancholia, a crisp feminine voice suddenly interrupted her thoughts.
โNo, the Elven Forest is the home of the elves.โ
She looked up and saw a familiar figure. It was a short elven girl thatโs sporting a rare pink colored hair while also wearing magnificent mage equipment.
If she remembered it right, this girlโs name was, Little Salty Cat.
Nightingale easily recognized her at a glance.
She was the elven mage who rode upon the back of a black dragon and possessed quite a strong magical power, but couldnโt hit any of her target at all.
โHello! My name is Little Salty Cat.โ
Looking at Nightingale, Little Salty Cat slightly smiled.
โWhat a strange nameโฆโ Nightingale murmured softly before nodding and introducing herself as well.
โI am Nightingale.โ
โSo itโs sister Nightingale!โ Little Salty Cat smiled sweetly before continuing her explanation.
โSister Nightingale, the situation is entirely different nowโฆ all the orc forces within the Elven Forest had already been eradicated by us.โ
She then placed both her hands at her waist and proudly stated, โThe forest is completely safe now.โ
Nightingale blinked as she stood completely silent for a couple of seconds.
โฆThe Elven Forest is safe?
Comprehension finally dawned on her and Nightingaleโs first instinctual reaction was to latched out in utter disbelief.
โI-Impossible! There is still a large orc tribe nearby just a couple of days ago, h-how could they be eliminated!?โ Nightingale retorted as a sliver of hope began to sprout from within her subconscious mind.
โOh you mean the caverock tribe? Wellโฆthey are part of the history now.โ
Little Salty Cat replied as she continued on with her confident manner of speaking.
P-Part of history?
Nightingale was shocked.
โImpossible! They just captured me the day before yesterday! I know some of their secretsโฆ t-they have the backing of a true god. Without the intervention of another true god, then they could not have been easily eliminated!โ
Little Salty Cat simply smiled assuredly and stated,
โNothing is impossible.โ
After speaking, her expression then became extremely reverent.
โBecauseโฆโ The pink haired mage then paused deliberately while gesturing a tree-shaped symbol upon her chest before stating in a sincere and solemn manner,
โOur true godโฆ has also returned.โ
Seeing that somewhat familiar tree-shaped gesture the pink haired girl just did, Nightingaleโs pupils shrank completely in utter disbelief.
T-True God!?