Elves

When I found myself alone at the entrance, I slowly pushed the large wooden door open with both hands. A grating creak echoed as the door moved. I fixed my eyes ahead. I saw the goblin king sitting on his throne—about five meters tall, with an enormous club strapped to his back and massive teeth.

"Welcome, human."

"Thank you for having me."

"I've heard who you are. I'm also aware of the respect you've shown us. I am grateful for that."

"You're welcome."

I could feel a sense of satisfaction on his face when I spoke in the goblin king's language. But I could also sense that he wasn't as surprised as the others.

"Since you are a supporter, you blessed us with luck and gave my goblins a good time. I suppose I owe you. Is there anything I can do for you?"

"Actually, there is."

"What is it? Speak, human!"

I told him about the game I was in.

"I understand. I would like to help you personally with this matter, but human weapons are far too powerful compared to ours. I cannot send them into a battle for that reason."

"You don't actually need to fight alongside me. You just need to stand there until the battle begins. That would be enough."

"What do you mean?"

"When they see you standing there, they'll think I've been deliberately hiding my numbers and that I haven't added anyone to my team until the very last moment. They'll assume I'm going to add you to my team at the end. That will make them believe I have a large army. At the same time, their attention will be drawn in this direction. If you're not on the team, you can't fight anyway. And even if you were on a team, there's no rule that forces you to fight."

"So you want to stand there and make yourself look bigger than you are?"

"Yes."

"When we leave, you'll end up in the same situation again. What will you do then?"

"I have a plan that fits that. All you need to do is draw their attention to the front. As I said, the only thing I'm asking of you is to arrive at the area I've specified on time, position yourselves as if you're about to fight during the preparation phase, and then leave the battlefield as if nothing happened. Can you do this?"

The goblin king placed a hand on his chin and thought for a moment.

"Alright. We can do that. But we'll only appear and then leave. Understood?"

"Yes, that will be enough, my lord. Thank you. I offer you my luck."

"It's nothing. It's the least I can do in return for your help."

"Now that we've agreed, I need to move forward with my plans. I'll visit here again. Farewell, my lord. It was a pleasure meeting you."

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"Farewell, human."

I turned around and slowly exited the vast, cold chamber. I gently closed the door behind me. I returned to the entertainment area. Everyone was passed out, drunk. I made my way toward the cell corridor. I saw her again—the girl with blue hair, white eyes, and pure white skin who was being held in the iron cage I had noticed earlier. Her ears were long. She was probably an elf. She almost seemed to glow with her beauty. She looked like she had been captured by the goblins.

When the woman saw me, she tried to stay calm. She reached her hands through the iron bars and shook the cage. It was clear she was trying to get my attention. She couldn't speak because of the cloth over her mouth. The moment I saw her, I went straight to the cage and pulled the keychain from my pocket.

"Don't worry. I'll help you. But after you get out, hide near the entrance stairs and wait for me. There are goblins guarding the door at the entrance. You won't be able to leave otherwise."

The elf woman nodded rapidly up and down, confirming she understood. I used the key to unlock the cage. She tried to rush upward.

"Leave quietly. Be careful."

She listened to me, slowed her steps, and tried to sneak toward the stairs. The goblins were all asleep, so they had no idea what was happening. I turned back to the cage, closed the door, and locked it again. After putting the keychain back in my pocket, I grabbed the iron bars of the cage with both hands and tried to bend the iron with all my strength. The metal bent slightly. This created an image as if someone had escaped by bending the bars and slipping through the gap. This way, they would think the elf had bent the bars and escaped. Even if it was illogical, they would want to believe it.

I quietly returned to the entertainment area. The goblin I had taken the keychain from was passed out from the alcohol. They had all drunk heavily. I had orchestrated their drinking by creating the entertainment. I silently placed the key back into the pocket I had taken it from.

Then I walked quietly and steadily toward the entrance stairs. The elf saw me and revealed herself. I signaled with my hand for her to wait again. She nodded in response. I exited the entrance and came face to face with the two goblins.

"I didn't bless you two, did I? Come over to the right side."

"Yes, master!"

I had pulled the two goblins slightly to the right, creating an opening on the left for the elf to escape through. While I pretended to bless the goblins with luck, the elf understood the situation and seized the opportunity. She silently moved from the left side toward the upper part of the nest. After blessing the goblins, I told them I would visit again. I walked back toward the direction the elf had gone. I was out of the goblins' line of sight now. The elf had waited for me instead of fleeing. I approached her.

"What's your name, then?"

"My name is Celebria, sir."

Celebria spoke with a shy or timid demeanor, along with matching body language. She had trouble maintaining eye contact with me.

"I see. My name is Rei. Nice to meet you. Where do you live? You're an elf, aren't you?"

"Yes, I'm an elf. The place I live is... a little further from here. I can go on my own. Thank you."

Celebria tried to walk, but she stumbled due to her injuries.

"Is your ankle sprained?"

"I'm fine. It's nothing..."

"You can't go like this. I'll take you. Come, get on my back."

I positioned myself beside her so she could climb onto my back. Celebria wanted the help, but she still seemed hesitant.

"Are you sure?"

"Yes. I said it's fine. Come on, get on."

"Okay..."

Celebria slowly climbed onto my back. I held onto her and told her to give me directions. Following her directions, I carried her to the elf village where she lived. It took me about an hour. I had been walking at a fast pace.

When we reached the elf village, they were initially surprised. Then they were overjoyed that I had rescued their elf. They showered me with thanks and gratitude. Hearing the loud voices and joy, the elf king came out to the square. The girl I had rescued saw the king, shouted "Father," and ran to him. She hugged him tightly. Celebria looked about sixteen or seventeen. I was just turning eighteen.

Seeing his daughter, the elf king was filled with immense joy. He hugged her tightly in return. His face was buried in relief.

"My daughter..."

"Father, if it weren't for that man, I would have been trapped there forever. It's all thanks to him. He rescued me and brought me all the way here."

Celebria gently pointed her finger at me. When they heard her words, the elf king and all the elf villagers looked at me with curious eyes.

It was clearly my lucky day.