Alone Against the Tower - Chapter 48

WeTried Translations

Translator/Editor: Irevi

Chapter 48: Dark Elf

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Five Dark Elves rose from the shadows.

As expected of elves, some carried bows while others were armed with swords. Other than being Dark Elves, they didn't seem to have much in common.

The Dark Elf woman who appeared first and spoke to me had something like a pitch-black aura wrapped around her right hand.

That black ribbon-like thing that blocked the High Elf knight's sword must've come from there.

It was probably also what she used to summon the other Dark Elves through the shadows. I already had a rough idea what it was.

It had to be Shadow Magic, one of the Dark Elves' racial traits.

I'd heard it specialized in stealth and illusion magic, hiding the body in darkness. Could it summon other Dark Elves too?

Considering it blocked that High Elf knight's attack, it seemed to have incredible defensive power as well.

I didn't know whether that was because Shadow Magic itself was so powerful or because the Mage was strong.

"Don't be so wary. We're on your side."

One of the Dark Elf Non-Player Characters who emerged from the shadows patted my shoulder as they spoke.

They were a warrior-type Non-Player Character carrying a sword. When I glanced over, the Console floating above their head was green.

That was the color shown by friendly or neutral Non-Player Characters, regardless of level.

I didn't know if they were really on my side, but at least they weren't enemies.

Also, this bastard patted my shoulder pretty hard. It didn't seem intentional, but their Strength stat had to be high.

I couldn't tell because all their Consoles were green, but like that High Elf, they were probably elite Non-Player Characters.

At this point, it was safe to say that the strongest individuals from both opposing factions had gathered here.

"Well, I suppose you'd be suspicious. Let me put it more simply. We're enemies of those forest-dwellers."

The Dark Elf swordsman gave a faint smile as they talked about how the enemy of an enemy was an ally.

"Eleanor, are you taking the humans' side?"

The High Elf knight shook off the shadows binding her sword as she spoke.

"That's right. I like this human. Didn't he smash that obnoxious face to pieces?"

The Dark Elf woman called Eleanor moved the hand that had been pointing at the fallen knight toward the High Elf prince.

"And that bastard was the one who started it. You keep wiping his ass just because he's a prince, so he goes around causing trouble without knowing a thing about the world."

"His Highness is a wise man."

"See? You're taking his side without even knowing what happened. What wisdom could he possibly have after spending his whole life holed up in the Great Forest?"

The glow of Mana Enhancement around the High Elf knight gradually faded. Her expression, on the other hand, only worsened.

"That idiot prince attacked the human here first. That obnoxious one didn't even know what happened and rushed in, only to get their ass kicked."

The Dark Elves who had emerged from the shadows each added a comment to Eleanor's words.

"It was pathetic."

"They couldn't even put up a fight."

"And they act so noble."

"That's supposed to be an escort?"

They covered their mouths as if trying to hide it, but their snickering was clearly meant to get under the other side's skin.

I didn't know how to describe it. It was incredibly confusing.

I knew there were occasionally Non-Player Characters who acted unusually human, like the shepherd girl I met on Floor 2.

I'd also heard that elite Non-Player Characters on the upper floors of other Towers behaved quite human.

Still, watching Non-Player Characters engage in a real battle of wills like actual people made me wonder.

Were they really nothing more than disposable Non-Player Characters?

* * *

The standoff between the High Elf knight and Eleanor continued for a while.

Their cold yet strangely childish verbal sparring went on for quite some time too. The pattern never changed.

The Dark Elves deliberately tossed out mocking remarks to provoke the High Elves, while the High Elves replied in stiff voices as if they didn't care.

Of course, as time passed, the High Elves' faces cycled through shades of red and blue as their anger built.

They looked pissed off enough to throw caution to the wind and start fighting, but they didn't.

"Enough. We will withdraw now."

I could practically hear her grinding her teeth, yet she sheathed her sword and even said she would retreat first.

Was the gap in strength so large that they didn't dare fight?

Every Dark Elf here was an elite Non-Player Character too, but I didn't think any of them were stronger than that knight.

"If you thought I would be provoked by such vulgar taunts and swing my sword, you were mistaken, Eleanor."

The High Elf knight slapped her scabbard as she spoke. Judging by her words, she wasn't backing down simply because of the difference in strength.

"But do not mistake this for us tolerating such behavior forever. Especially you, human..."

The knight's sharp gaze turned toward me.

"You invaded our forest and harmed His Highness. Know that being allowed to leave unharmed is a blessing granted by heaven."

A blessing granted by heaven, my ass. Did she know how much bullshit I'd been through already?

"Fuck off. If I see you again, I'm tearing off your ears, you pointy-eared bastard."

I raised my middle finger at the knight. I knew I was making things worse, but I couldn't hold back this time.

The knight ground her teeth and left just like that. Eleanor laughed and patted my back.

"Hahaha! I knew I liked you!"

It looked like I'd naturally ended up on the Dark Elf route.

* * *

This was probably the situation a Challenger setting foot on Floor 7 for the first time would face.

They met the High Elf prince while he chased a Rune Bear, and after nearly getting hit by an arrow, they formed a connection with him.

Since the person they got acquainted with was a prince, they could probably reach the center of the High Elf faction pretty quickly.

Then they would receive some large-scale quest and naturally join the High Elf faction.

Otherwise, it would begin like it had for me, with the prince attacking them because their weapon looked ominous or something.

The prince was a little stronger than you'd expect from someone on Floor 7, but he wasn't insanely powerful.

Even an ordinary Floor 7 Challenger wouldn't be defeated in an instant. They might even win.

Then an elite Non-Player Character that no Floor 7 Challenger could possibly defeat, the escort knight, would appear.

The knight's attitude would probably depend on how the Challenger treated the prince.

If they handled things cleanly by defeating him or avoiding a fight, the knight would likely be friendly too.

But if they treated the prince roughly like I did, or killed him, the knight would attack them and put them in danger.

Then a Dark Elf would arrive at just the right moment, save them, and naturally bring them into the Dark Elf faction.

"Tearing off her ears? I've never heard an insult like that in my life. You're quite the talker, aren't you?"

"Not really."

"You gave each of the three bastards I hate most a proper hit. I think I'm falling for you. I really like you!"

And after winning the forced defeat event against the High Elf knight, I had built up massive favorability with the Dark Elf faction.

Apparently, Eleanor had always hated the prince, his escort knight, and the female knight who showed up last.

She said she couldn't stand how they looked down on other races while acting all noble. According to her, all High Elves were like that.

Didn't that just mean she hated High Elves as a race? Either way, I didn't care.

Considering she blocked the female knight's attack, Eleanor had to be one of the Dark Elf faction's most important Non-Player Characters.

"This must be fate. If you don't mind, would you visit our village? I'd like to have a leisurely talk with you."

[Quest Occurred: Dark Elf's Letter - Invitation]

I hesitated before answering. To be honest, I had no intention of joining the Dark Elf faction at first.

The Dark Elf faction had the highest selection rate among the three factions, but that had nothing to do with the quality of its quest rewards.

Even the High Elf faction had a low selection rate despite offering the best rewards, all because the Non-Player Characters had terrible personalities.

There was only one reason the Dark Elf faction was so popular.

[Night Elves <<< If you agree they're the greatest race in the universe, hit like lol]

[Dark Elf big sis's boobs lol.jpg]

[(NSFW) Fuck, those Dark Elf bitches' shadow pouches are driving me crazy]

[Hottest Non-Player Character in the Tower of Trials. Real fact]

[Dicks x4 VS Dark Elf comparative analysis]

[You fuckers, why didn't you tell me to pick Dark Elves?]

[Best Dark Elf collection (lots of pictures)]

It was purely the primal appeal of the Dark Elf Non-Player Characters' unmatched looks.

High Elves weren't lacking in the face department either, but Dark Elves had an especially strong presence in certain areas.

Of course, I wasn't stupid enough to choose a faction just because the Non-Player Characters had good bodies.

"Sure."