Otherworld TRPG Game Master-Chapter 262: Tail Catcher -2

"Hand over the relic! If you return it quietly, I'll forgive you with just one eye!"

The leader of the Elven Rangers issued a stern warning. The tension in the drawn bowstring and her strikingly red lingerie were both quite memorable.

Setting aside the visual distraction, it was indeed a threatening situation. We were surrounded by elves with their bows drawn, and their arrows were imbued with tightly compressed magic.

Above all, there was the matter of their mental bond.

This bond was akin to a constant telepathic link among them. This meant that their arrows would rain down in a tight, nearly unavoidable barrage, with no risk of their trajectories overlapping.

However, the fact that they warned us before shooting was a good sign. It suggested that there might be a chance to resolve things through dialogue. This was the result of the wise crow's clever trap.

I pushed Bennett forward.

"Now, Bennett, it’s time."

"What do you mean, 'it’s time'?"

"It’s time to charm the elves into letting us go. Our lives depend on it, after all. I'm confident you’ll step up for the greater good, for all of us."

"......"

With a reluctant expression, Bennett stepped forward. He had no choice but to agree if he wanted to avoid an unnecessary battle while pursuing the dark sorceress.

However, as Bennett took a step forward, his expression grew uneasy. Something was bothering him.

"What’s wrong, Bennett? Do you need a little touch-up with your hairstyle?"

"No... Crazy Mage, look at where the elves' eyes are focused."

"Of course, they’re looking at you..."

Wait a minute.

I rubbed my eyes, thinking I might have seen wrong. But the reality didn’t change. Most of the elves... were looking at me, not Bennett.

"Just seeing that black hair makes my heart race..."

"I was worried about the gray hair, but that person feels different somehow."

"I’m so embarrassed. I wish I had worn a prettier outfit..."

Their gazes were like those of schoolgirls admiring a handsome upperclassman. When I shifted my gaze to a shy elf sitting at the edge, she let out a small "Hee-yat" and twisted her body in embarrassment.

The elf next to her straightened her back and puffed out her chest as if to show off her figure, which was slightly larger than Selvia's. As far as I knew, this kind of reaction indicated romantic interest.

Wondering if I was misjudging the situation, I looked over at Selvia.

"Kyaaah!"

Selvia was glaring at the elves as if they were stray cats encroaching on her territory. Given that her jealousy sensor had been triggered, it wasn’t just my imagination.

What’s going on? Why are the elves looking at me instead of Bennett?

I distinctly remember the wise crow saying he had edited Tara's memories carefully...

......

Let’s think about this from the opposite perspective. What would I have done if I were the crow?

A harem of elves following Bennett around is an effective and amusing idea, so I'd push for that. Adding elements of Bennett into a memory trap would be a definite move.

But that alone wouldn't be 100% safe. Considering the importance of the relic to the elves, there was a possibility they might chase him to the ends of the continent.

In such a scenario, the crow would have judged it necessary to ensure Bennett eventually reunited with his main self, the Crazy Mage.

Thus, to prepare for the moment when the Crazy Mage takes control, the crow would have planted feelings of affection not only for Bennett but also for the main self, turning it into a double-edged trap, ensuring that even in a heated situation, the problem could still be resolved through dialogue.

If chaos ensued because of this, it wouldn’t be his concern. After all, the Crazy Mage would be the one dealing with it...

Everything became clear. I trembled as if struck by lightning.

"That damned crow...!"

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I could almost see the crow winking at me from beyond the sky.

Bennett, having roughly guessed what was happening, chuckled and pushed me forward, saying,

"Now, Crazy Mage, it’s your time."

"What do you mean, 'it’s my time'...?"

"Charm the elves into backing off. Our lives are on the line. I trust you won't back out now, for the greater good."

"......"

I didn’t expect my karma to catch up with me in less than three minutes.

With a reluctant face, I stepped forward. I used 'Pseudo-Illusion Magic: Mirage' to clean up my appearance, added a bit of charm, and cleared my throat.

It was time to role-play. I am the host. I am the host...

"My lovely ladies, if you’d give me a moment to prove my innocence and purity──"

Selvia glared at me as if she could eat me alive for flirting with other women, but I somehow managed to get the elves to the negotiation table.

"The dark sorceress stole the relic, and you were just trying to stop her... isn’t that a bit too convenient?"

The Elven Ranger leader crossed her arms, crossed her legs, and tapped her foot. She was trying hard to maintain a strict and stern expression, but a blush still lingered on her face.

In retrospect, it was quite remarkable that all she had was a blush, considering the shameful curse of the wicked crow she was under. It was akin to trying to maintain dignity while standing in one's underwear in a crowded marketplace.

And considering that her heart was also fluttering towards me, it spoke to her strong will as a leader.

With a smile that could melt the coldest hearts, I continued,

"Yes, even if we speak openly and honestly, it’s hard to expect you to believe us 100%. Unlike the ladies of the forest, humans don’t have that ability. However... that’s why we have prepared various means."

"Do you really think you can earn the trust of the elves? Go ahead and try. But if you fail, you’ll face the consequences. Not too bitter... but still."

"What I’m proposing is a deal."

"A... deal?"

If they're uncertain about believing, then make them want to believe. You tip the scales by placing a hefty bag of benefits on the other side, turning the gamble of trusting humans into an attractive offer.

"I am a mage of the Violet Tower and the master of the crow. I can lift the 'Curse of Knowledge' placed upon you, and at the same time, I can help you strengthen the security vulnerabilities in your mental bond that have been exposed through this incident. Additionally."

"Hmm."

"I have close ties with the Empire’s First Princess, Second Prince, and Third Prince. As far as I know... the Second Prince lost his eye and arm in the Great Forest. I can arrange a reconciliation meeting to settle that grudge."

"......"

The elf leader's expression hardened as she appeared deep in thought.

"I’ve heard stories about an imperial prince visiting the sacred land of the elves where the World Tree resides. He claimed it was by the emperor's command and demanded a sapling of the World Tree, which the elves refused."

"Oh?"

"The prince then attempted to steal the sapling, leading to a fight, and he was driven out without achieving his goal. It was the Empire that acted rudely first, so why would we want to reconcile?"

Did that really happen?

The response to this was simple.

"Because we’re stronger."

"......"

"There are more than three skilled individuals in this very group. Even if we were to fight for our lives against you right now, we possess enough strength to win without incurring any losses. The relationship between the Empire and the entire elf race is similar."

"Are you... threatening us?"

"I meant that despite having such power, we refrain from using it, and we hope you can understand our sincerity from that fact. Once we capture the dark sorceress, we will return the relic and compensate you appropriately for the offense. Please consider this."

The elf leader bit her lip slightly, then stood up and said,

"You said you’re chasing the dark sorceress. I’ll be watching. Don’t forget that we’ll be watching you through the leaves. We’ll keep watching."

That almost sounded like a stalking declaration.

"Yes. I will keep that in mind."

At her signal, the elves swiftly disappeared into the underbrush, blending so well with nature that it was hard to notice them unless you focused.

Indeed, their leaf-clad attire was highly effective.

It seemed they planned to follow us from a distance while remaining hidden.

I sighed in relief as the negotiations concluded. It was fortunate we didn’t have to harm any innocent elves.

And it seemed I had inadvertently stumbled upon a hint.

The story about Irid seeking the sapling of the World Tree under the emperor’s orders. If they wanted to harness the power of the World Tree’s mental bond, and if they were desperate enough to steal it when they couldn’t obtain it, then perhaps the purpose was...

It might have been to root out and deal with "that" which had once infiltrated the royal family.

The emperor might know more about "that" than I had thought. I hadn’t paid much attention to the emperor of the Empire before, but perhaps I should consider meeting him at least once.

While I was lost in thought,

Rustle. A bush stirred, and an elf cautiously emerged. She then...

"Uh, um... Here. Please take this."

"......?"

"I-I don’t know what I’m doing. Oh no!"

She quickly handed me a beautiful bracelet made of leaves and disappeared back into the bushes. What was this made of?

I gazed at the leaf, still warm from her touch.

Though it was just a simple leaf, it felt somehow touching. This is what healthy cultural exchange between species looks like, isn’t it? Shouldn’t I cast a preservation spell on this and pass it down through generations?

At that moment, Selvia coldly commanded,

"Throw it away."

"But Selvia, this has academic value..."

"Academics be damned, throw it away, brother. Before I burn it to ashes!"

"Hing..."

Reluctantly, I let go of the leaf, filled with regret.

We resumed our pursuit of the dark sorceress, now with the neutralized elves in tow.

As they left, a squirrel perched on a tree watched them intently.

There was an unsettling atmosphere in a peaceful forest. It was quiet, unnaturally so. The usual sounds of birds chirping, snakes slithering, or even insects buzzing were all absent. Everything that moved had been erased. Or rather, devoured.

In this forest, a lone deer wandered, its herd having vanished overnight.

Though it once had companions it survived with, those who grazed and drank beside it were nowhere to be found. Had a terrifying predator appeared in this forest?

The deer searched for signs of the predator, moving its head this way and that, but found no trace.

As a fleeting question passed through the clear eyes of the four-legged creature,

"『Flesh Manipulation』."

Something pale dropped from the tree above. A white-haired girl descended, her hair fluttering as she fell, and at the same time, the predator's fangs sank into the deer’s neck.

As the grotesque dagger touched the creature’s flesh,

The deer was instantly restructured and absorbed into the small body of the white-haired girl. All its blood, flesh, and brief life became fuel for a propulsion mechanism designed for speed.

Crack. The newly formed muscles ruptured, propelling her forward.

Not even a drop of blood was left at the scene of the feast.

"......Hmph."

Faceless raced down the forest path, deep in thought.

She had created a simple surveillance network using her ability to morph into a small squirrel. Thus, she was aware that the number of pursuers had increased and that the Crazy Mage was among them.

The Crazy Mage.

A monster who manipulated an entire tournament with illusion magic, deceived and disrupted the representative knight of the Eastern Front, and saw through illusions in an instant.

And he was hostile to the Redflame family. Her foolish brother, Roderus, should have succeeded in assassinating him. That defective failure couldn’t do anything right.

He was a significant threat to the family and needed to be killed.

The situation wasn’t perfect.

She lacked spare flesh puppets, couldn’t rely on her father’s 'Lantern of Foresight,' and her true form had already been exposed, leaving her in an unstable position.

Should she flee and prepare for a proper fight later?

No.

The reason she was willing to risk fighting a powerful opponent now was that the Crazy Mage was in an equally unstable situation.

He was fractured.

Not long ago, there had been a widespread telepathic message from the "Lamb That Swallows Pain," directed at four dark sorcerers and their close associates.

It stated that the Crazy Mage's soul had been split into multiple pieces, with some of these fragments functioning as artifacts. It advised collecting them and sending them to the sender if possible.

The reason the dark sorcerers had converged where the MiMa fragments were present was because they had received this message and started moving together.

Caught in the Goddess's 'Forced Exile,' experiencing a significant decline in abilities, this might be the only chance to kill him.

His abilities were extremely troublesome.

Once he began his rampage under the protection of the Violet Tower’s master, illusions with physical force would be unleashed, and the culprit would destroy all the dark sorcerers' plans with unimaginable cunning.

So he must be killed now.

The elves' relic. Initially, she had intended to offer it to her father, but using it to kill the Crazy Mage might make him even happier.

As Faceless passed through the forest, she crushed the souls of the animals she had gathered, using them to draw the image of an evil god on the ground, which served as a medium to send a message.

"'The Corpse Flower That Eats Fear'... I have obtained the item you were interested in. The elves' relic. Come here. The mage who ruined all your plans is here too."

She prepared for a counterattack.