The Supreme elf [ 2 ]

After exchanging glances for a few seconds, the two began preparing. Joshua opened the large bag while Fabian carefully lifted the elf. With slow precision, they gently lowered his body into the bag, then closed it, leaving a small opening to allow air inside.

The problem was, although the ring could store living beings, it didn't provide oxygen or proper ventilation. That meant they would need to take him out every thirty seconds to let him breathe.

To solve this, Joshua decided to buy a scuba oxygen tank. But the bigger issue was the journey—they still had a long way to go, and one tank wouldn't be enough. Joshua would have to spend a fortune to buy more, but he didn't have the money.

This was a gamble—one that could either launch them to the skies or drag them to the deepest layers of the abyss.

If anyone found out they had a Supreme Elf, they would no doubt covet the same rewards. But Joshua was the one who rescued him. In his eyes, this was his reward. This was his destiny. He had to take the risk, even if it didn't work out...at least he wouldn't regret not trying.

After the two of them quietly secured the bag, Fabian strapped it tightly to his back. However, the body inside was in an awkward position...constantly sliding and unstable...which could potentially cause harm or raise suspicion.

Their plan was crystal clear. They would return with the bag after lining it internally with a type of foam padding, making the body less noticeable. Then, they'd advise everyone not to touch or go near the bag under any circumstance.

The dimensional ring was their emergency fallback, a desperate option for when no other path remained. If things got too risky, they'd hide the body inside and rely purely on luck, hoping the oxygen tank would be enough to keep him alive until they found a safe solution.

Joshua added a handful of rare herbs....plants that grew only in that particular forest....into the bag, scattering them in a way that, should someone open it, they'd only see a collection of uncommon flora. He carefully chose types that would be considered mildly valuable, just enough to seem like a decent find, but not so rare as to tempt theft.

Then Fabian proposed an alternative plan. He mentioned earlier, during a casual chat in his cabin, that he knew a few NPCs in nearby villages along the trade route. If needed, they could disguise the elf as one of those friendly NPCs....just another face in the crowd.

But realistically, that plan was far from reliable. It simply wasn't practical for several reasons.

First, they had no idea when the elf would regain consciousness.

Second, would he even be willing to trust them....or believe they truly meant to help him?

Third, this elf was an NPC, not a player.

Considering the known traits of the supreme Elves....pride, arrogance, and aloofness...there was no telling how he might react.

They knew nothing about who he was, what had led him to such a state, or how powerful he truly was.

Still, despite all of that…

This was better than doing nothing.

Better than despair.

What gave them a bit of reassurance—just barely—was the fact that, technically, they had saved him. If they hadn't stepped in, the beasts of the forest would have discovered the unconscious elf sooner or later, drawn by the scent of his blood. Whether their intentions were to sell him as a slave, hand him over to the Sorcerer's Guild, or trade him to the Arcane Union, none of that mattered right now—not even to them.

So they returned after a while, nerves frayed, hearts pounding. The problem was, the game's realism was insane. Even the smallest facial expression could betray their anxiety if they weren't careful. But with forced poker faces and steady steps, they made their way back toward the convoy, walking as if nothing had happened.

As soon as they came within sight—

"Joshua! Fabian! Where the hell were you? We need to move—now!"

The shout came from one of the players riding in the second cart—the very direction they'd looped around from.

They'd planned this. Fabian had intentionally led them in from that exact angle, making it look as though they'd just returned from a casual walk in the woods. That cart, according to his earlier observation, was the one with the fewest people and the most space to maneuver.

Fabian had already made up his mind—he wouldn't take the bag off his back under any circumstances. If things went south, they'd hide the body inside the dimensional ring immediately without hesitation.

With a completely casual expression, Joshua spoke as if nothing had happened at all.

"Oh, right… yeah, looks like we're running late. Sorry about that."

The two of them quickened their pace and climbed into the cart ahead. But the moment they looked around, their expressions stiffened.

"…What the hell is this crowd?"

Almost all the mercenaries and players had been crammed into this single cart. One of their acquaintances—well, someone they at least had a decent relationship with—waved at them with a grin from the middle of the packed group sitting on the cart floor.

"Don't look so shocked, guys," he said with a shrug. "One of the president's relatives decided to take over an entire cart for themselves. So we all got shoved in here like this, as you can see."

Suddenly, without warning, someone at the far end of the cart drew his sword and slammed it against the wooden wall with a loud crack. His face twisted in rage as he sat fuming in the corner. Joshua and Fabian instinctively turned to look.

"That damned pig…!" the man growled, grinding his teeth in pure frustration, his voice seething with anger as he muttered curses under his breath.

After a moment of silence, Joshua turned back toward their friend, his voice cautious.

"Wait… If they only took one cart, why the hell is everyone here? Isn't there at least one other cart left?"

He glanced nervously around the overcrowded space, eyes darting to the curious stares slowly beginning to fixate on the large pack strapped to his back.

"Well… how should I put this…" their friend hesitated. "One of the president's mistresses decided she didn't want to stay with the others and moved into the second cart on her own. And, well… since she's 'his woman,' no men are allowed to even step near it."

Fabian's expression tightened. He shot their friend a look full of disbelief.

"What the hell are you talking about? This part of the convoy was supposed to be for players. We can't even marry NPCs because of the restrictions. And where are the workers? I don't see anyone but mercenaries in here."

"They all slept in the cargo wagons… and we got dumped here like trash. Isn't that just hilarious?"

Fabian quickly understood what he meant.

With the laborers being weak, it would be easier for them to die in a monster attack or ambush by bandits. Plus, since they were directly affiliated NPCs hired by the caravan owner, they were far more trusted not to steal compared to mercenaries of unknown origin.

Also, they weren't expected to sit at the front lines like fighters or players, so it made perfect sense.

But Joshua was puzzled by something. He raised his voice slightly.

"But hold on… isn't it also dangerous for that concubine and this relative of his or whatever to be so exposed? If something attacks, they'll be right in the front—we might not even be able to protect them in the chaos."

The man in front of them smiled faintly, locking eyes with Joshua.

"You still don't get it, do you? There are no monsters here. The Magic Union already swept the area clean for research purposes. This entire road is safe. We haven't faced a single threat so far."

Joshua spoke again, frowning.

"That still doesn't make sense. If there's no real danger… why hire so many players, fighters, and guards? Why is he hiding in some unknown wagon, surrounded by high-level NPC bodyguards over level 20? That just doesn't add up."

In that moment, Fabian immediately understood. He turned to Joshua and spoke quickly.

"I get it now. Let me explain."

"Go ahead."

"It all comes down to three words: presence, presence, and presence."

"Are you spouting nonsense again? Just expla—wait a second..."

Joshua got it too.

It was actually quite simple. They were part of a merchant caravan whose primary goal was profit—selling goods across villages and eventually in the capital.

When such a caravan passed through a village, the sight of a large group of armed fighters gave the impression that the goods must be extremely valuable—even if they were completely ordinary.

On top of that, having so many warriors around greatly reduced the chances of theft. With so many eyes watching, sneaking off with anything unnoticed was nearly impossible.

And lastly, it helped prevent betrayal. If any of the hired mercenaries harbored ill intentions, the sheer number of strangers, most of whom didn't know each other, made it easier to plant spies among them. That alone deterred any plotting before it could even begin.

And above all, it gave off a strong sense of security. When you're surrounded by that many people, you feel safe from every direction.

After their friend looked at their faces, still smiling...

"Looks like you two figured out what I meant, didn't you?"

Both of them nodded at the same time and let out a sigh. As their eyes wandered around, searching for somewhere to sit, the man spoke again:

"By the way, where have you two been all this time... and what's with that bag?"

"Oh, right..." Joshua replied casually.

"Joshua found some rare herbs in the forest—Sbian type. They're a bit uncommon, but not really worth more than a few gold coins..."

Their friend gave them a suspicious glance, thinking for a moment, then Fabian opened the bag and let him peek inside. All he saw were herbs, nothing else seemed out of place.

"Lucky you..."

"Yes, we're quite lucky. I stumbled upon them while taking a leak… Didn't expect it, but fate works in strange ways, my friend,"

Joshua said, forcing a smile.

"Alright, alright… don't get cocky. By the way, why don't you just store them in a dimensional ring instead of carrying them around? That could put a strain on your character."

Fabian smiled, as if expecting the question.

"No problem. It's not like I get tired for real — it's just a game, after all. Besides, I'm using a tank-class character, so I don't really need to waste gold on a ring."

"Don't worry, I can lend you one of my unused rings. You don't even have to pay for it. See how generous I am? Hahaha."

Both of them stiffened instantly. This was the worst-case scenario they hadn't planned for — and for a moment, they both considered punching the guy right there.

"Really, thank you for your generosity, but we don't need it. Like I said, it's no trouble," Joshua replied, forcing a strained smile.

"Hahahaha, what are you saying? We're friends — no problem at all, no problem!"

Fabian's face tensed as he looked at their overly cheerful companion. This guy's skin is thick as armor...

"I told you, really, it's fine. We don't need it," Fabian said again, trying to stay composed.

"Don't say that, man… just take it, take it — no need to argue. We're buddies, hahahaha!"

He was smiling and laughing as if everything was completely normal. Fabian was too awkward to push back any further.

"...Alright then… thank you," he finally muttered.

"Anytime!" the man beamed.

Damn it... this is a real problem.