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Chapter 50
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The elves were living a slightly different life since their bet with the Dark Elves.
For some reason, they often encountered the Dark Elves in games, and their interactions with humans had also increased compared to before.
They were still called “Kanfra,” but they no longer reacted as sensitively as before.
There was a clear change in the atmosphere.
It was during this time that news of a ‘Maple Leaf Story’ update reached the elves.
“The Queen is coming out?!”
A startled elf shouted in surprise.
All the nearby elves turned their attention to her.
“Did you call me?”
Hearing the commotion, the Elf Queen approached and spoke.
It was rare to see an elf this shocked, so everyone was paying close attention.
“Oh, Your Majesty. Not you… In ‘Maple Leaf Story,’ the Elf Queen is being added as a new job! Her name is Mercedes…”
“Maple Leaf Story?”
‘Maple Leaf Story,’ which had been regularly releasing new jobs, had just announced one of its biggest updates since the Resistance update.
“Yes, I thought I’d better experience it firsthand, so I’ll be off now!”
The elves who played ‘Maple Leaf Story’ quickly dashed back to their homes.
The Queen, who preferred playing COL over ‘Maple Leaf Story,’ was much less enthusiastic than them.
“Hm… I barely have time for solo queue, but if it’s an Elf Queen character, I suppose I’ll give it a try.”
Still, the newly released job ‘Mercedes’ seemed too intriguing to ignore.
After all, it was an elf character.
The Queen was a bit displeased with the Illusion Magic Tower for releasing an elf character without consulting her.
As the representative of the elves, if Mercedes turned out to be a character that tarnished the dignity of the elves, she might have to formally protest to the Illusion Magic Tower.
Using an entire race as subject material was a sensitive matter.
Even before the advent of illusion games, similar issues had arisen in literary works and other forms of art.
Writers and artists might claim their work was merely creative expression, but for the people involved, it was an inherently sensitive topic.
Even if it was the Illusion Magic Tower, they wouldn’t be exempt if the same problem arose.
With a pout, the Queen logged into ‘Maple Leaf Story.’
She created a ‘Mercedes’ character and began the tutorial.
[Now, I must seek long sleep in the King’s Rest… until the curse is lifted… a long, long sleep until this curse is gone…]
The main story of Mercedes began alongside the newly revealed lore of the ‘Maple Leaf Story’ world.
Long ago, a ‘Black Dark Sorcerer’ had attempted to devour the Maple World.
The heroes fought against him and succeeded in sealing him away.
However, the heroes suffered great losses, each bearing their own sacrifices.
Mercedes was one of those heroes.
She was the Elf Queen, and the elves in ‘Maple Leaf Story’ shared their fate with their queen.
In the final battle against the ‘Black Dark Sorcerer,’ Mercedes was cursed.
The curse also affected the elves, and those who weren’t strong enough to withstand it faced death.
In the end, Mercedes and the Elf Elders decided to seal the elves and their city until the curse was lifted.
For an indefinite period, they would sleep until the curse was broken.
Thus, the tutorial concluded with Mercedes entering a long slumber alongside the elves.
[When the time comes and you awaken again, I hope the Black Dark Sorcerer’s curse is gone, and a peaceful world where all elves can be happy awaits us…]
By the end of the tutorial, the Elf Queen was sobbing internally.
Mercedes had ventured beyond the forest to fight the Black Dark Sorcerer for the sake of saving the world.
She had made a decision to protect the elves, who shared her fate.
Her noble and beautiful heart, wishing for a happy world for her people, resonated deeply with the real Elf Queen’s own circumstances.
Her chest swelled with emotion more than ever before.
[What? Level 10?!!!]
Thus, Mercedes awoke after hundreds of years.
Her level, which had been 300, was now reduced to 10, and the other elves remained asleep.
The early storyline seemed to revolve around exploring the state of the world after hundreds of years and awakening the elves once again.
The Elf Queen lost track of time while playing Mercedes.
Although she wasn’t particularly fond of ‘Maple Leaf Story,’
She simply couldn’t resist Mercedes.
“This is truly…! So moving!”
The moment she logged out after playing for hours, the Elf Queen exclaimed.
The displeasure she had felt toward the Illusion Magic Tower at the start had completely disappeared.
“It’s such a touching story, Your Majesty!”
“With such noble intentions… surely humans will admire the elves even more!”
“The elves’ prestige will certainly rise!”
The other elves shared the same sentiment.
Everyone believed that Mercedes’ nobility would elevate the elves’ standing even further.
“I’m curious to see how humans will react.”
“I’m sure the update will spark praises of elves throughout the world. Haha.”
With such thoughts, the elves procured human newspapers a few days later.
Although they normally had no interest in external affairs, they couldn’t resist looking up news about themselves.
However, as they read the newspapers, their expressions gradually darkened.
There were no articles praising the elves.
There were only a few research articles about Mercedes, and that was it.
“What… what is this…? Evan?”
Instead, the newspapers were filled with stories about another job released alongside Mercedes.
That character’s name was ‘Evan,’ the Dragon Master.
The world was far more enthusiastic about Evan than Mercedes.
“W-what does this mean?! Are we being considered weaker than the dragon race?!”
The elves screamed in disbelief at the unexpected reality.
But of course, elves being weaker than the dragon race was only natural.
In truth, there were very few beings in the world that could claim to be stronger than the dragon race.
And so, the elves’ high expectations were overshadowed by Evan.
***
“Have you seen the latest update? A new job is being added to ‘Maple Leaf Story!’”
“Really? I’ve been so immersed in COL that I didn’t notice.”
“It’s something you can’t help but look forward to. One is an archer character who’s an Elf Queen, and the other is…”
“The other is?”
“A Dragon Master!”
“A Dragon Master?!!”
The news of ‘Evan’s release in ‘Maple Leaf Story’ caused a massive sensation.
Dragons, the apex beings among all races,
Are arrogant creatures possessing transcendental magic and immense wisdom.
To an average human, they are practically divine beings who can’t even be approached, let alone revered.
A job that tames such dragons was something no one in this world could resist anticipating.
“I even heard the job has up to ten advancement stages!”
“Ten, ten advancements?”
Even more surprising was the advancement system.
As the dragon grows stronger, the job could advance up to the tenth stage.
With the update, the previously quiet excitement around ‘Maple Leaf Story’ reignited in an instant.
Everyone was rushing to raise their own ‘Evan.’
At the same time, the story revealed about the ‘Black Dark Sorcerer’ also garnered immense reactions.
“To think there was such a backstory in the ‘Maple Leaf World’…”
“What was the Illusion Magic Tower thinking when they created this game? It’s far more thrilling than most plays.”
“Forget about playing Kanfra characters. I have to raise Evan instead. Mercedes isn’t even that…”
The storytelling of ‘Maple Leaf Story’ was even being adapted into stage plays.
However, the biggest reactions came from some of the adventurers.
“A dragon… it reminds me of when I entered the Gold Dragon’s lair 30 years ago…”
Dragons, by default, are an arrogant race that stands at the pinnacle.
They rarely show interest in other races without a specific reason.
That’s how far above other beings dragons were.
But things change if someone provokes a dragon.
For example, trespassing into a dragon’s nest—its lair—without permission.
It has long been known that dragon lairs contain various rare treasures.
Throughout history, people have always attempted to infiltrate these lairs for treasures. Even in recent times.
“I almost died back then…”
Of course, most don’t make it back alive.
Occasionally, someone does return, but only if they were either incredibly lucky or extraordinarily skilled.
In Hetz’s case, it was both.
Although many events unfolded back then, he managed to successfully rob the Gold Dragon’s lair and return.
He sold the treasures and became wealthy.
Now enjoying a life of luxury,
Playing ‘Evan’ in ‘Maple Leaf Story’ brought back memories of those days.
Selling dragon treasures had brought him joy.
But the more accustomed he became to his luxurious life, the more rebellion stirred within his heart.
Having lived as an adventurer his entire life, he longed once more for a heart-pounding adventure.
“But raiding a dragon’s nest again… that’s madness.”
As he briefly envisioned it, Hetz shook his head.
Having experienced it once, he knew how perilous infiltrating a dragon’s lair was.
Thinking back, it had been nothing short of insanity.
However,
[Once again, a ‘Maple Leaf Story’ frenzy. The new job ‘Dragon Master Evan.’ Adventurers set out for lairs.]
[A veteran adventurer’s warning: ‘Reality and games are different. Lairs are dangerous.’ Yet young adventurers continue. Who will become the first Dragon Master?]
Countless others were engaging in such madness.
Inspired by ‘Evan,’ people began venturing to dragon lairs for adventures.
Not just to steal treasures like before but to steal dragon eggs.
Hetz, too, had briefly considered it, but knowing the dangers of dragons, he couldn’t bring himself to act on it.
“These youngsters today have no fear. They’re crazy. Absolutely crazy…”
Yet strangely, hearing about it made Hetz’s heart race once more.
Despite knowing it was far more dangerous than stealing treasures,
His heart was drawn once again to the distant dragon lairs.
Children don’t keep playing dangerous games for no reason.
They can’t stop because they know the thrill and pleasure of overcoming that danger.
Even knowing the risks, the exhilaration compels them.
Hetz stood up from his comfortable chair and opened a drawer.
Inside were his neatly organized, dust-covered gear.
“…I must be insane.”
Having already crossed that perilous line and claimed treasures once before,
Knowing the pleasure, his heart couldn’t help but race again.
Thus, a new trend of adventures to become Dragon Masters began.
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