Episode 96. 6th floor, forest of elves
[You have entered the 6th floor.] As
your vision, which had been darkened, brightened, a dense forest spread out in front of you.
‘As expected, it’s one of the best resorts in the Tower of Trials.’
Cool air and warm sunshine.
Above all, the scenery created by the beautiful natural scenery made me exclaim.
“Come down here under the tree! okay. Barbecue, beer, and settings are all set.”
“I heard that ‘Cloud Cotton Candy’ on the 6th floor is so delicious. Shall we try it sometime?”
“Big. The village shop sells a lot of pretty interesting artifacts. When do you use coins and when do you use them again?”
First of all, the players who came to the 6th floor were talking in groups of twos and threes.
What can I say?
Does it feel like taking a small comma in the daily life of fighting and climbing the tower?
To some extent, I understood the saying that players become lazy when they come to the 6th floor.
but.
‘I can play and have fun later.’
The forest of the elves is not a place to get drunk on nature and play fresh.
It is a place of opportunity to learn skills that can only be obtained here.
‘Those who noticed that would be very few.’
In the first place, if you are a deceased person who sincerely wants to be strong, you won’t even be here.
He must be wandering in the woods to find the elves.
‘Then I’ll go soon too.’
Jinhyeok passed the players and started going deep into the forest.
＊＊＊
About 3 hours into the starting point, the forest became complicated in earnest.
This is a kind of warning.
It’s okay to come here freely, but from then on, the territory of the elves will begin, so don’t approach it any more.
However, no matter how complicatedly the trees are arranged, it is useless. Even if those trees move periodically and form a new topography, it is of no use.
Jinhyeok had already learned how the elves found their way.
“Sup.”
As I took a deep breath, all the scents stimulated my sense of smell.
The fresh scent of grass and the sweet scent of fruit were conveyed as they were.
Of course, the important thing here is the smell of soil.
Jinhyeok distinguished the faintly permeated, bitter earthy smell.
‘You must be on the left.’
A subtly different scent permeates the left side.
Jinhyeok immediately changed his direction.
The location of mushrooms, the shape of grass, and even the growth rings of trees.
Even after that, there was a fork in the road, but Jinhyeok went deeper into the forest, recognizing the signs of the elves without hesitation.
and.
On top of a tree a little far away, there was a being watching over everything.
A species with short bobbed hair and pointed ears.
It was the elf, the owner of the forest.
‘How do humans know that way?’
Sylvia, the ranger of the elven village, couldn’t understand the current situation at all.
Various defenses made with great care to prevent humans.
Aren’t all of these things too futile?
‘Distinguishing the smell of soil is impossible unless you have lived in the forest for a long time.’
The location of the mushrooms and the shape of the grass were also of a kind that was never known to non-insiders.
Ordinary people wouldn’t even pay attention to such trivial things.
‘A half-elf was also born without my knowledge, right?’
If it wasn’t for his appearance, he wouldn’t have felt uncomfortable even if he was an elf instead of a human.
As much as that, the way the opponent found the way was surprisingly similar to that of the elves.
Right then.
A human man has reached the barrier.
‘it’s okay! No matter how great a human being is, it ends here.’
Spreading out in front of me was a barrier exclusively for the elves.
It was impossible to escape if you entered the ‘Illusion Barrier’ written in High Elvish.
If you hang around in one place for a week or so in the myriad of illusions, you will eventually burn out.
If you take such an unconscious human out of the barrier, Sylvia’s mission will be completed.
however.
“Ugh. High Elvish isn’t written like this here. ‘Ete Tamaros’ is a passive voice, but I wrote it down in an active voice. Tsk tsk. I don’t know which elf it is, but it looks like it fell asleep quite a bit during grammar class. Only like this can you only use about 50% of your original barrier ability.”
The human man who was looking at the high elven language carved into the wood clicked his tongue.
At the same time, he even fixed the wrong part with a stone on the floor.
Hot.
Sylvia’s face turned red.
As an apprentice ranger, she had no choice but to learn the high elf language.
‘What… what the hell is that human!’
＊＊＊
‘Thankfully, a fledgling elf joined me.’
Jinhyeok smiled.
From the time they reached the border of the forest, they naturally noticed the existence of the elves who had been following them on branches.
Still, being a tribe of the forest, the stealth itself was quite good.
Thanks to that clumsy confidence and skill, it was rather easy to figure out the opponent’s position.
‘I’ve sprinkled enough bait…’
This would have given the opponent a clear first impression.
Then it’s time to call out the opponent who is hiding.
Jinhyeok opened the subspace inventory.
And he took out the prepared ingredients and cooking utensils step by step.
[Lv1 ‘Different World Restaurant’ is activated.]
A skill acquired while wandering around Michelin. And the higher version of the skill that came out of the fusion of those skills was activated.
Then, Jinhyeok’s clumsy hand movements changed completely.
His knife skills in cutting vegetables and fruits were almost art.
‘beautiful.’
Sylvia, who was on top of the tree, watched it blankly.
But it was only for a moment.
“no way…?”
I forgot to look around, but this smell. And the unique shape of that dish.
Undoubtedly.
That’s ‘meat’.
Sylvia jumped down the tree at once.
“How dare you cook meat in the sacred elven forest. What are you doing!”
A scene of shouting while pulling a bowstring.
The anger on his face showed a will to never forgive.
hmm.
“Isn’t this meat?”
Jinhyuk shrugged.
“yes?”
“This is not meat.”
“I’ve seen it with my own eyes, so you’re saying I should believe it?”
“If you don’t believe me, come closer and check it out.”
“It can’t be….”
Sylvia approached Jinhyeok cautiously, while dubious about it.
But,
“What?”
An earthquake occurred in Sylvia’s pupils.
It smelled and looked very much like meat.
Upon closer inspection, it was not meat.
Food made only from white beans, nuts and fresh vegetables.
“It’s soybean meat. It’s getting a lot of attention as a next-generation alternative food on our side as well.”
substitute food.
It is a field that has recently been rapidly growing for reasons such as well-being, global environmental pollution, animal rights, and individual beliefs.
In fact, a company called ‘Beyond Meat’, which is listed on Nasdaq, was marching high through the sky.
‘Of course, it will make elves who don’t like meat feel a different charm.’
So I prepared.
Using the best cooking skills, a special meal that will satisfy even the pickiest elves.
“Try it. I hate to say this with my own mouth, but I’m pretty confident.”
“Isn’t it really… not meat?”
“I don’t play around with my food. It’s not like I’m enemies with the elves. Why are you forcing me to eat meat you don’t like?”
Sylvia slowly lowered her bow at Jinhyeok’s words.
Then, with eyes full of curiosity, he put a piece of soybean meat into his mouth.
mess.
The small mouth moved continuously.
right at that moment.
“Oh my God, this taste…”
An exclamation flowed from Sylvia’s mouth.
It had to be.
Because it was the first time I had eaten this kind of food.
‘It’s so delicious.’
The combination of soft beans and various vegetables created a deep flavor.
The olive oil goes in moderately and it has a soft and umami taste.
They even finished it off with a specially made sauce, so no matter how frugal an elf lives, his appetite is bound to sway.
[Third-class ranger ‘Sylvia”s favorability rises.]
[You feel sorry for ‘Sylvia’ aiming a bow at you.]
On the contrary to the increase in favorability, you felt sorry for judging others recklessly.
Everything was as Jinhyeok had planned.
Because the elf is sure about the Eun-Won relationship.
and as expected.
“sorry. I didn’t even know that…”
Sylvia lowered her head.
It was because he regretted what he had done so much that he couldn’t bear it.
If you accept an apology here, that’s sewage.
rather.
“I’m glad the misunderstanding has been resolved. It’s also my fault for entering the elves’ territory in the first place.”
Jinhyeok deliberately put weight on Sylvia’s guilt. okay. This should be high enough.
“no. This is my fault.”
Sylvia stubbornly shook her head.
“As an apology, I will do anything I can.”
Of course I should say so.
For that reason, I have been acting while wearing such an innocent mask.
“Then… can I see the elves’ village?”
“yes? Our village?”
“Actually, I am a sociology student. I’m writing a thesis on understanding the lives of other races. It will be a very precious memory for me if you give me a chance to enter a forbidden area that humans cannot easily access.”
It’s called participatory observation.
It is one of the main methods used by sociologists to understand where cultures and customs differ.
[Lv4 ‘Communicate’ is activated.]
Jinhyeok subtly used the ability to communicate.
His growth-type skills, which he has leveled up after using several times, are now so powerful that he regards others as close friends.
The effect appeared immediately.
Sylvia, who was slightly embarrassed by the word “visiting the village,” suddenly nodded.
“ah! Finish. There is a festival in our village in a week. The elders and village elves will be very happy if they can serve such delicious bean meat.”
A week later….
It’s just the right timing.
“okay. Then I’ll come back here in a week.”
“yes. all right.”
Sylvia, who was about to send Jinhyeok away, urgently shouted as if she had remembered something.
“right. By any chance… what’s your name?”
“You can call me Kang Jin-hyeok.”
Don’t get confused and remember.
It’s not Colonel Teemo, it’s Kang Jin-hyeok.
“I am Sylvia. I am in charge of the rangers of the 3rd class of elves.”
Sylvia also formally introduced herself.
If you’re a 3rd class, you’ll belong to the lower elves.
“Sylvia. I remembered. Next time I come, I will bring more delicious things.”
“yes! I’ll be looking forward to it!”
After a light farewell, Jinhyeok started going back the way he came.
But just then
Whoa!
A status window appeared in front of me.
[Video call from player Kim Ki-tae.]
It was Kim Ki-tae.
‘Looks like they’re ready.’
It wouldn’t have been easy to gather the materials to reopen the labyrinth, but it seemed like it was done quickly with significance.
It must also mean that it is so urgent.
As soon as I accepted, Kim Ki-tae’s face appeared.
“Hello, player Kang Jin-hyuk. I have something to tell you. Is it okay for a moment?”
“There is no need to elaborate. Just tell me the time and place.”
“All right. An hour later, we are on the 3rd floor, ‘Melta Hill’. If you tell us the coordinates of where you are, we will send a magic player who can move in space.”
A chance to get the 1st job advancement and hidden rewards at the same time.
The time has finally come to go to the Gray Temple.
