Classic Otherworld Elf

Silver Wolf successfully joined their party.

Of course, it was only temporary.

Vernacular Poet said it naturally, Chasing Wind accepted it quickly, and although Sunken Crow did not say much, he did not object either.

Silver Wolf followed in the middle of the group, her gaze passing over the backs of the three ahead of her.

They accepted that so quickly?

Her appearance had been anything but normal.

Her clothes were unusual, her abilities were unusual, and she had barely explained herself.

Logically, this party should have observed her for at least a little longer.

Yet they had only set two simple rules.

Do not make the first move. They would kill any monsters, then continue on their way.

Were they that confident?

Vernacular Poet briefly explained the purpose of their journey.

They were heading to the Elf Tribe to trade with the Elves for a material called Moonshade Vine Heart. It was something Sunken Crow needed for his next breakthrough.

"Do we have to go to the Elf Tribe?" Silver Wolf asked.

"Not necessarily." Vernacular Poet smiled. "But the Elves have a stable source, so it saves us some detours."

Chasing Wind immediately added, "And the scenery around here is beautiful."

"That isn't the main reason," Sunken Crow said flatly.

"It's an important reason," Chasing Wind said with perfect justification.

Silver Wolf nodded.

Got it.

A mission plus sightseeing.

She had no objections to the arrangement.

She did not know where to go now anyway. Following these people would at least let her see how this world worked.

Still, ever since Silver Wolf joined, the party's conversations had inexplicably become much less frequent.

Their previous state of bickering all the way had vanished.

Most of the time, Vernacular Poet did the talking, briefly explaining the route, dangerous areas, and the Elf Tribe's rules. Sunken Crow walked slightly ahead to confirm the road conditions. Chasing Wind still stopped to look at whatever caught her eye.

When she saw a patch of glowing flowers, she would pause.

When she saw sunlight falling at an angle across tree roots, she would pause as well.

She would even walk over to a nicely shaped piece of deadwood and strike some strange pose beside it.

Sunken Crow skillfully stepped to the side, raised both hands, and formed a frame.

Silver Wolf watched it twice.

The third time, she finally spoke. "Are you taking pictures?"

Vernacular Poet stopped walking.

He turned around and looked at Silver Wolf, silent for a moment.

Chasing Wind was still holding her pose. At that, she immediately turned her head. "You know about taking pictures too?"

Silver Wolf spread her hands. "Is that hard to understand?" She looked at Chasing Wind again. "Do I look like her?"

"That's a personal attack!" Chasing Wind immediately rushed in front of Silver Wolf, trying to reclaim her dignity, only to be blocked behind Vernacular Poet.

Silver Wolf looked at her.

Chasing Wind looked back at Silver Wolf.

After a few seconds, Chasing Wind added quietly, "I just have a stronger spirit of exploration."

Vernacular Poet quickly regained his smile. "Wolf Venerable, it's like this—we're mainly traveling for leisure, so it's normal to preserve images."

Silver Wolf glanced at him. "Preserve images?"

"Saving the scenery," Vernacular Poet explained quickly. "That's what we usually call it here."

"Send me a copy of the photos." Silver Wolf threw out a probe. Their astonishment was considerable, confirming a great success and landing a silence.

Hey, what do you mean, great success? This is called attention to detail.

The air fell quiet.

Wind passed through the forest, and the leaves rustled softly.

Chasing Wind blinked.

The smile on Vernacular Poet's face paused as well.

Sunken Crow glanced at Silver Wolf but said nothing.

Silver Wolf took in all three of their reactions.

There it is again.

Their reactions to certain words were strange.

They clearly knew that action was meant to preserve images.

But when she said "take pictures" and "photos," all three of them seemed to get caught on something for an instant.

Why does this smiling guy care so much about the term "taking pictures," even correcting my wording? Something's off.

Silver Wolf did not press further.

Just as she was about to lower her head and look at the path beneath her feet, she suddenly stopped. The insect chirping missed a beat.

High in the canopy, something lightly bent a leaf.

Silver Wolf stepped back.

At the same instant, an arrow slammed into the ground three steps in front of Vernacular Poet's feet.

The arrow was silver-green all over, with dense runes floating over its fletching.

Vernacular Poet looked down at it, bent over to pick it up, and, as if Silver Wolf's words had never happened, skipped right over them. "The Elves are here."

His tone noticeably softened. "Let's see if we can trade."

Chasing Wind immediately shouted toward where the arrow had come from:

"We're travelers—Chasing Wind! The one from that time at the border—"

"Stop shouting."

A voice sounded at her side.

Chasing Wind went completely stiff.

A green-haired Elf had appeared beside her at some unknown point.

She was slender, with a greatbow on her back and a short blade at her waist. Her long boots stood on damp tree roots without making the slightest sound.

"Eek!"

Chasing Wind covered her mouth and stumbled back two steps.

The Elf looked at her coldly. "Your vigilance is still this weak."

Vernacular Poet sighed. "Elena, stop scaring Chasing Wind. You know what she's like."

Elena clicked her tongue. "No matter how special she is, she still needs to take care of herself."

Chasing Wind froze for half a second, then pounced on her and hugged her. "Why act so cold? If you're worried about me, just say so!"

Elena raised a hand and unceremoniously smacked her on the head. "I. Am. Not."

"Mhm, mhm."

Chasing Wind hugged her even tighter.

Sunken Crow sighed to himself nearby and silently pulled his mask a little higher.

Silver Wolf stood several steps away, chewing bubble gum as she observed the situation.

They know each other. Their relationship isn't bad.

And Elena's attitude toward Chasing Wind did not resemble that of an ordinary forest ranger toward an outside traveler.

Silver Wolf did not hurry to speak.

As Elena peeled Chasing Wind off herself, she looked toward Vernacular Poet.

"Chatterbox, who's that?"

Vernacular Poet did not answer immediately.

He looked at Silver Wolf first.

Silver Wolf looked back at him.

That flicker of shock had not fully faded yet, but when Vernacular Poet turned to face Elena, he had already put that smile back on.

"Silver Wolf. We met her in the forest."

"Just traveling together for now." Silver Wolf slowly walked over and raised a hand in greeting. "Hello, miss."

Elena looked at her directly, as if judging her.

Vernacular Poet continued explaining. "She helped us out just now. Don't worry, I'll vouch for her."

Silver Wolf's gaze shifted slightly.

Why?

Just moments ago, he had seemed so surprised by only a few words from her.

Yet now he was directly vouching for her.

Were these people overly cautious, or not cautious enough?

Elena looked at Vernacular Poet for several seconds, then turned to Sunken Crow.

Sunken Crow said nothing, only nodded once.

Only then did Elena withdraw the gaze she had been using to scrutinize Silver Wolf's clothing. "Fine."

Chasing Wind immediately breathed a sigh of relief. "Then can we go in?"

Elena said coldly, "You can. But don't touch things at random."

"When have I ever touched things at random?"

Vernacular Poet, Sunken Crow, and Elena all looked at her at once.

Chasing Wind fell silent for a moment. "Fine, fine."