Episode 41. The Legend of 0 Confessions and 10 Rejections
On screen, a woman with long, wavy hair shouted cheerfully in front of a quaint village.
“This is the Green Forest Village! I finally made it to the elf village~!”
Her name was Han Yu-rim, a popular streamer in Illusion, known for her pretty looks and lively personality.
The live chat flooded with comments.
Finally going there, LOL
She actually made it this far… unbelievable.
Yu-rim , are you confessing today?
“No~ not yet! I have to go in first. Aren’t you guys excited? They say all the elves are gorgeous. Their faces are the very definition of logic!”
That’s because your type is too specific, lol
She’s nervous, you can hear her heartbeat from here!
Yu-rim laughed, then pulled up her quest window to show the viewers.
[Elf’s Lost Item]
Grade: C
Description: You’ve found an item that belongs to an elf named Rebe in Green Forest Village. If you return it, you might form a good relationship.
Success condition: Give the item to Rebe.
Reward: Experience, Title, Rebe’s affection increases.
Failure penalty: Rebe’s affection decreases.
“See? Rebe! Isn’t that such a cute name? Ah, this is fate, I just know it.”
She’s fantasizing again, lol
If you confess to an NPC and get rejected, you can’t even report it, you know that, right?
Why would you even confess to an NPC?
“Why not? He’s handsome! That’s enough reason.”
Facts!!
A good face is a plot!
Charge in! Just go for it!
“Alright then…”
Just as she stepped toward the village gate—
Whizz!
An arrow struck the ground near her foot.
“Kyaaa! What was that!?”
An elf jumped down from the palisade.
Thud!
That elf… is seriously handsome.
Whoa, hero landing. Nice. Clap clap.
He’s crushing people with his face right now.
The elf narrowed his eyes and said,
“An outsider.”
“…Excuse me?”
He looked her up and down, frowning deeply—especially at her hair.
Ding!
[Affection with Green Forest Elf, Banrim, has decreased.]
“Huh? What? What did I even do?”
Flustered, Yu-rim tucked her hair behind her ear—
[Banrim’s affection has decreased.]
“Oh, come on!!”
0 confessions, 2 rejections, LOL
She flipped her hair and immediately lost points?!
Her hair volume was the provocation XD
Yu-rim… in that place, hair is a weapon…
“Um, excuse me! I’m just here to return Lady Rebe’s item! It’s for a quest!”
Banrim glanced at the item and nodded.
“Indeed, this belongs to an elf. You may enter. But if you cause trouble…”
“Yes! Got it! I’ll behave!!”
She passed, lol
Her reputation’s already half gone tho XD
“It’s fine. I still have Rebe.”
Never give up!!
Right! What matters is an unbreakable affection bar!
The Green Forest Village had already been revealed before, so Yu-rim wasn’t that impressed.
She knew elves disliked outsiders, so she was mentally prepared.
Still—
[Brea’s affection has decreased.]
[Levika’s affection has decreased.]
[Reinhar’s affection has decreased…]
She had only walked, yet elf affections were dropping non-stop.
“Why!?”
Seriously, why? LOL
Yu-rim’s coin is crashing live XD
The affection drop was so fast she couldn’t think straight.
When she tried talking—
“Do not speak, outsider. You are filthy.”
[Leta’s affection has decreased.]
“Approach, and you die.”
[Affection decreased.]
She couldn’t even talk to them—just making eye contact made it worse.
“…Let’s just finish the quest. Rebe’s waiting for me…”
Wow, she still hasn’t given up?
At this point, I’m questioning her preferences.
While Yu-rim desperately tried to find Rebe, she suddenly noticed something.
“Huh? Isn’t that another player?”
She saw another user walking leisurely through the village. But the shocking part—
“Wait… is that elf smiling?”
No way… elves can smile like that!? He’s even giving gifts!!
What!? How is that even possible!?
Our Yu-rim’s at 0 confessions and 10 rejections, and that guy’s getting presents!?
“Don’t you dare say it!!”
Han Yu-rim’s eyes sparkled.
“Wait… maybe that elf has a higher affection rate toward outsiders!?”
If that were true—
“There’s a chance!!”
Brimming with hope, Yu-rim walked up to the elf and greeted him brightly.
But then—
“Do not speak to me, outsider.”
[Rev’s affection has decreased.]
Nope, not even close, LOL
Nothing… absolutely nothing happened… T_T
Why the mood swing? Is that even the same elf who smiled earlier? Those eyes of contempt tho… kinda hot…
…Manager, we’ve got a pervert here. Please ban them…
“No way…”
Yu-rim couldn’t understand it. The same elf who had been all smiles with that other player was now glaring at her with pure disgust.
“Why… why does everyone hate only me? Don’t elves care about looks?”
She stared blankly at the retreating figure of the other player.
“Who in the world is that player…?”
“You’ve come.”
“I heard you wanted to see me… is this about the villa?”
Aren asked nervously. He couldn’t help but think—
Surely they’re not going to take it back after giving it to me, right?“No, nothing of the sort. I would never take back something I gave to my benefactor. You needn’t worry.”
“That’s a relief. Then what is this about?”
“The human you travel with… Alfredo, was it? I heard he’s an archer.”
“You heard about that too?”
“He gathered a crowd at the plaza and spent an hour telling stories of your feats. Quite fascinating, I must say.”
“…”Aren rubbed his temple.
He told Alfredo to “keep it light”, but apparently it turned into a one-hour epic saga.He could already picture Alfredo waving his arms around dramatically in the middle of the plaza.
“…Next time, I’ll gag him first.”
“You don’t look well. Are you unwell?”
Kiera, the elder of the Green Forest, had become rather fond of Aren ever since he repaired the altar.
“No, I’m fine. Just… thinking a lot.”
“In any case, I have a proposal for you. How about it? Will you become my disciple?”[Quest: Kiera’s Disciple]
Grade: S
Description: Kiera is known as the best archer among the Green Forest elves.
Becoming her disciple will allow you to learn the secret techniques passed down only among elves.
However, you must remain in the Green Forest for 60 days to receive her full tutelage.
Success condition: Accept Kiera’s offer.
Reward: Experience, Title, Secret Skill.
Penalty for failure: None.[Do you accept?]
Kiera smiled confidently.
She was certain Aren would accept.
After all, who could refuse a chance to learn elven secrets?“He’ll say yes for sure.”
But at that moment—
“I’m sorry. I’ll have to decline.”
“Excellent! Then we’ll begin the training at once… wait, what?”
“I said, I’ll decline.”
“…Decline…?”Kiera blinked twice.
She had never imagined he’d refuse.
“Why!?”
“Archery is just a hobby for me. My main work is something else.”Indeed, the quest was tempting, but being confined to the forest for 60 days wasn’t an option.
Aren was the village chief—
his people were waiting for him back home.“I have responsibilities as a village chief… I can’t just vanish for two months.”
“Hmm… then how about this? I’ve got a secret stash of fine tobacco hidden from Lena. I’ll give you some—”
“I don’t smoke.”
“You’re rejecting my tobacco!? You truly are steadfast… Fine, I understand.”[You have declined the offer.]
Kiera’s pointed ears drooped sadly.
Then suddenly—
Flash!
“What are you doing!?”
“By the World Tree!!”
“Didn’t I tell you!? Keep up a good relationship with Aren!”The will of the World Tree appeared and smacked Kiera on the back.
“Ouch! Great World Tree! I’m old enough not to be treated like a child!”
“I changed your diapers! You’re all babies to me! Now, hand it over! Oh, this one looks nice!!”The will of the World Tree raised a hand, and a nearby chest in Kiera’s house burst open—
[Spirit’s Work Clothes]
Grade: A
Description: A work outfit woven from the threads of spirits.
Comfortable and enhances efficiency in all kinds of labor.
Defense: 420
Requirements: Level 100+, HP 30+, Agility 100+.
Durability: 5,000,000 / 5,000,000
Options:
Work Speed +15%
Work Efficiency +15%
Structure Stability +20%
Building Durability +10%
[Spirit’s Pulse Reader]: Reduces crafting failure, +10% production speed
[Wood Communion]: +20% lumber yield from logging camps
It was a work outfit—perfect timing, since Aren’s current clothes were worn out.
The only problem—
“The requirements are too high for me.”
“Hmm? You’re right. Hold on…”Zap! Crackle!
[The Will of the World Tree modifies the Spirit’s Work Clothes.]
[Usage requirements have been changed.]“There! Now you can wear it!”
Aren checked the item again.
[Requirement: Loved by the World Tree.]
“Wait… that means…”
“Of course! You helped my children, and repaired the altar! You’re worthy of my love!”The will of the World Tree declared proudly—
“By the way, do you need a companion sapling? I can give you one…”
“…”
“Too much? How about a special ability then? I could grant you that too—”
“World Tree!!”Kiera rushed to stop her.
At this rate, the World Tree would start handing out entire forests.“I must stop her! Or our clan will go extinct!”
“Please, Great World Tree! If you keep giving everything away, what will we have left!?”
“What do you mean what? You’ll still have Aren! And your hair!”
“…”
“Admit it—just for a second, you almost agreed when I mentioned the hair, didn’t you?”Kiera couldn’t quite deny that.
Still—this was going too far.“Please, Great World Tree, let’s at least find a compromise… The Tree Council will convene if this continues…”
“Compromise? Aren’s our benefactor! We should give him more! And if the Tree Council meets, I’ll just uproot it! Don’t worry about it!”
“We still have to make a living, you know…”
“That’s…”Their argument drifted off into the distance like a noisy background hum.
Aren sat quietly, sipping his tea.
“I want to go home.”
In that peaceful silence, that was the only clear thought in his mind.
“Phew…”
“You’ve returned?”
“Yeah.”Aren looked completely exhausted as he stepped back into the villa.
He had spent the entire afternoon trying to calm down the will of the World Tree.
At first it was amusing—but by the end, even cheerful chaos was too much.
“You look very tired… Perhaps you should rest…”
“No. There’s still work to do.”
“Then…”
“Yes.”Aren nodded slowly.
“Let’s go back. To our village.”
It was time to go home.
