We Can't Let Him Succeed

No one listened to Solarian.

Was she joking? How could the pride of the High Elves allow them to abandon their mission and run away?

Solarian said it was a signal to alert others, but the squad members, having already won two battles, weren't afraid. They had seen what the Troll Rogues were capable of, and they were no match for them. So why run?

Besides, according to Prince Kael'thas's estimate, more Trolls should pass through the area. They wouldn't even have to do much to have the service delivered right to their doorstep for free, earning battle merits with ease. Who would turn that down?

Even Audilon disagreed with going back.

Kael'thas had asked Solarian if she had foreseen something, but Solarian had replied that it was only a bad feeling, and she couldn't see any specific events. Though he was somewhat worried, Kael'thas decided to stay.

Just in case, he had the Rangers set plenty of traps around the squad as well, so they wouldn't be surrounded. Having taken such careful precautions, Kael'thas thought there shouldn't be any problems.

Any more worrying would make him look timid...

He couldn't show cowardice in front of his teammates. He had to maintain a confident image at all times.

And so, they stayed at that spot.

Over the next few days, nothing unexpected happened. Kael'thas happily reached level 24 by farming Troll Rogues and doing quests like Hunting, and his swordsmanship was finally starting to look presentable.

"Your Highness, you should get some sleep."

That night, the Ranger teammate whose turn it was to keep watch walked over and spoke.

By then, the bright moon had risen high in the slanted sky. After a busy day, everyone had eaten dinner and chatted, and before long it was late at night, time for bed.

"All right." Kael'thas was a little sleepy himself. He nodded and walked toward his tent.

"Solarian, you should get some sleep too!" The Ranger continued calling to the others, and everyone obediently made their way toward their tents. But one female elf remained standing alone atop a tall rock, her sharp blue eyes open as she watched her surroundings warily, seemingly on guard against something.

"What's wrong, Solarian?"

Something stirred in Kael'thas's heart, and he couldn't help asking.

"Your Highness, there's a very ominous presence, but I can't find its source!"

The young astrologer frowned and explained, looking troubled.

She had been somewhat jumpy these past few days, but tonight seemed especially bad.

"Ding..."

"You have received the quest Escape the Devil's Clutches!"

The system notification sounded in the quiet forest, and alarm bells suddenly rang in Kael'thas's head. Recalling what Solarian had said, he instantly lost all trace of sleepiness.

Damn it, an escape quest!!

This was the first quest since his birth that directly required him to flee!!!

What kind of danger would make a quest like this appear!?

"Don't go to sleep! Come back, everyone, gather up!!"

A powerful sense of unease rapidly gathered in his heart. Kael'thas's thoughts raced as he swiftly shouted an order, and, reflecting his mood, his voice carried a rare note of tension.

"Your Highness!?"

"Huh!?"

His teammates were somewhat startled by Kael'thas's voice, but the rapport and trust they had built up over this time made them obey his command without hesitation, quickly gathering around him.

"What's going on?"

Everyone gathered by the lake, huddling close together, and Liadrin asked uneasily.

"I don't know..."

Kael'thas narrowed his eyes and shook his head. Standing among the group, he looked around at the familiar forest scenery. Countless trees surrounded them, deep and empty of people, dark as a monster.

"But there's definitely danger here."

He continued, then licked his slightly dry lips and suddenly called out, sounding them out:

"Who's there!?"

His voice rang so clearly through the night, echoing throughout the forest and instantly clearing every squad member's head of sleep!

"Tsk, tsk... What a sensitive fellow!!"

Kael'thas hadn't really expected an answer, but to his surprise, a few seconds later, a sinister voice really did answer him from the forest.

"Danger! Protect His Highness!!"

At Audilon's shout, the squad members surrounded Kael'thas in an instant.

"Are you a Troll?"

Kael'thas was secretly touched by his teammates' actions. He recalled the signal flare the Troll had fired a few days ago and began guessing at the other's identity.

In fact, there probably weren't any enemies besides Trolls who would show up here.

"I've watched you for days, but I still have to say, that's truly astonishing talent!"

The sinister voice continued, and then the moonlight on the ground ahead seemed to be blocked by a shadow. Kael'thas looked forward and saw that a black figure had appeared on the trunk of a large tree, slowly revealing himself bit by bit.

Skin and moss that gleamed green in the moonlight, a face concealed by a black cloth hood, with only the eyes and long fangs exposed, the standard, slightly hunched stance of a guard, and two gleaming daggers, one red and one green, in his hands-this was a Troll, another Troll Rogue!

Damn it, why were they all Rogues!!

Kael'thas was secretly angry, but he soon realized that the Rogue before him was different from the low-level Rogues they had killed...

"An advanced-class Rogue!!"

Solarian's eyes widened as she cried out. She recognized the Troll's strength at a glance, and broke out in a cold sweat.

But why would an advanced Rogue appear here!!

Everyone present knew exactly what this meant!

The two strongest members of the squad, Audilon and Solarian, were only intermediate class. Any advanced-class professional could easily wipe out fewer than ten intermediate-class professionals! So, before this Troll Rogue, the squad was like fish on a chopping board, ready to be butchered at will!!

"..."

The squad fell into a deathly silence. Faced with such overwhelming strength, was death their only choice?

"Move aside!"

Only Kael'thas gritted his teeth. He knew that at a time like this, saying something gave them a better chance than staying silent. So, despite everyone's objections, he forced his way out of the group, walked to the very front, and looked straight at the Troll above.

"Before you make your move, I want to ask why you can speak our Thalassian."

"And you watched us? With your strength, you should have been able to kill us with ease. Why watch us instead?"

"How surprisingly interesting... Fine, I'll answer you!"

The Troll Rogue's eyes widened, and he looked at Kael'thas with great interest. He seemed in no hurry and wanted to have a chat with him:

"Heh heh, I'm a Troll who's lived for more than 300 years. Why couldn't I learn the language of my sworn enemies?"

"As for watching you, I was simply bored. I wanted to see for myself just what kind of being this so-called elven prince was, and why he was able to have such a great impact on the war 200 years ago!"

"But unfortunately, I came running here so excited after receiving the notice, only to find that you weren't that prince..."

The Troll shook his head and spoke with some regret. His seasoned experience let him tell from the elf's behavior that his age didn't match that of the prince who, according to rumor, remained unmoved by honor or disgrace. He also looked very young.

"You came looking for my brother?"

Kael'thas felt puzzled. He hadn't expected the Troll's target to be his brother, far away at headquarters.

"At first, yes, but now..."

The Troll's long fangs moved. It was clear that the face beneath his hood had to be smiling:

"You'll do as a little appetizer for my amusement."

"I wonder what kind of expressions your brother and father will have when they see your head hanging from our squad's banner, and your flesh being chewed in great mouthfuls by sworn enemies like us..."

His eyes narrowed and glinted with greed as he sniffed, as if he could already smell Kael'thas's fresh flesh and blood.

"You insolent wretch!!"

"How dare you!!"

Audilon and the others in the squad were furious. The Troll before them had such evil intentions that they secretly resolved that, even if they died, they would never let him succeed!