Accidental Elf: My Passive Allure is Ruining My Plans

"Mr. Alaster, what... what did you need to talk to me about?" asked Pernak, looking thoroughly confused.

Then, an idea struck the old man like a bolt of lightning. «A reward,» he thought. As far as Pernak was concerned, there was only one thing of real value the elf could possibly want from him.

"I can't thank you enough for saving my daughter—your help was priceless," said the old man from atop the driver's seat. "To be honest, though, I don't have anything valuable to offer as a reward... and my daughter is far too young."

Pernak glanced back toward the bed of the wagon. Alaster followed his gaze to the blushing face of a young girl peeking out from beneath the canvas cover. The girl’s eyes widened, and she ducked back inside instantly, pulling the flap tight. She was undoubtedly pretty, likely around sixteen or seventeen.

Alaster’s mind was still operating on half-capacity, dulled by the long trip. «I'm not asking for a reward... What is this old man implying? People are so complicated sometimes...» he thought.

A sudden jab in his ribs snapped him out of it. It was Berona. The hooded thief was glaring at him; even with her face hidden under her hood, her irritation was obvious.

"Say something..." she hissed under her breath.

«Oh, come on, what now? Okay, let me get this straight: he thinks we want a reward... says he has nothing valuable... then brings up his daughter... Oh, man.» The realization finally hit him. It had been way too long since he had dealt with girls or anything remotely romantic.

"Don't... don't worry, Mr. Pernak, we aren't asking for a reward," clarified the mage quickly. "We just want to ask about Norde. We need to speak with him."

The old man let out a long breath. Alaster watched the visible relief wash over him and felt a sudden sting of annoyance. «Hey, it's not like I'm a terrible option, is it?» Standing in the dirt road looking up at the driver's seat, Alaster shook his head. «Forget it. Focus on the mission, man.»

"What do you want with my younger brother?" asked Pernak.

«His younger brother?» Alaster blinked.

"We just need the details on the sandstone golem we were sent to eliminate," intervened Berona.

Pernak frowned for a moment before his face lit up.

"Ohhh! So you really are the team sent by the guild to deal with that pest!"

He studied Alaster more closely, as if trying to gauge the mage's actual strength just by looking at him. Alaster offered an innocent smile in return. Before the conversation could go any further, a village guard shouted from down the trail:

"What's the hold-up? Keep it moving, Pernak! You're blocking the main gate!"

"Right, right," said the old man. "I thought you were just escorting us to make sure we made it back safely. Why don't you hop up? I need to meet with my brother immediately anyway."

Berona moved without hesitation, circling the wagon and climbing into the back. But as Alaster stepped up, Pernak gestured to him:

"Mr. Al, why don't you ride up here beside me?"

He signaled for the man sitting next to him to move to the back. Alaster pulled off his heavy coat and settled onto the high seat next to Pernak.

"So... are you truly the mage sent to dispatch that monster?" asked Pernak, snapping the reins gently.

"Hyah!" The old man whipped the reins softly.

Alaster felt the wagon clatter down the dirt road.

"Yes, the guild commissioned me to eliminate the golem."

"The guild certainly acted fast this time. Usually, deploying a mage takes weeks until someone capable is free and willing—especially for a modest reward."

Alaster didn't think a five-gold-piece bounty was small, but considering the monster supposedly couldn't be killed by ordinary swordsmen, he reasoned: «I guess the pay is decent enough for someone at my level.»

"According to my daughter," continued Pernak, "you blew up those goblins at the camp right alongside their chieftain with a single devastating strike. She said the ground shook."

A slight, wry smile touched the elf's lips.

"Yeah... I might have gone a bit overboard," he said.

Internally, however, his thoughts drifted back to the encounter: «Those Fireballs are way more intense than expected. The spell description lists a ten-meter radius, but the shockwave and heat spread much further. Plus... that second Fireball I threw at the chieftain was overkill. The thing had no weapon, was missing an arm, and was completely dazed; I think a couple of well-placed Ice Lances would have finished the job fine.»

A passing villager called out a greeting to Pernak, pulling Alaster back to reality. He took in his surroundings: near the entrance, houses were clustered tightly together, but further down the path, the homesteads opened up with generous plots of land, many featuring lush, green gardens. Carrots, lettuce, and various crops showed behind rustic timber fences. The dirt paths wound peacefully between the red-tiled wooden houses, which were undeniably charming. A few residents walked down the lane carrying baskets, and off to the side, children chased a puppy through the grass; despite the somewhat weary, anxious looks on the locals' faces, the settlement felt undeniably welcoming.

«This feels like something off a postcard from Earth, one of those cozy, green countryside villages. How much would a house cost around here? It might actually be a great way to slip away from noble influence, I doubt they pay attention to an outpost this far out...» Alaster's thoughts were already calculating how hard it would be to operate from a place like this, though he ultimately decided he lacked enough information to make a final call. Still, the idea of securing a place here and getting away from the crowded streets of Sibar was definitely appealing.

"It's a nice place to live," remarked Alaster quietly, looking at the lanterns lining the road.

Pernak turned his head slowly, his mouth slightly agape. «A mage—and an elf at that—is actually thinking about living in Toel? Having a resident mage in town would be incredible! Everyone would feel so much safer with him around!»

"Ahem," Pernak cleared his throat before testing the waters. He was an older man who knew how to navigate people, even if he could barely read. "Yes, it's a very peaceful town. I've lived here my whole life, and almost nothing ever happens. Sibar is only a day and a half away, so trade is easy; we always sell whatever surplus crops we have at the market, they love our cabbages."

Pernak intentionally avoided bringing up the goblin threat that kept everyone on edge, or the golem threatening to cut off the road to Sibar. He had no idea that the prospect of grinding levels on those monsters was half the appeal for the elf. But Alaster would have to travel to Sibar to buy grimoires... And thinking of grimoires naturally made him think of Feralt: he had promised to set the guy up on a date, but he still hadn't figured out who. He'd probably have to ask Jinneth or Mila for help with that.

"We also have plenty of wells with fresh water, and we're less than five hours from the coast," added Pernak enthusiastically. "Ah, look—here's where my brother lives."

The wagon ground to a halt as the horses whinnied softly.

"I'll let him know you've arrived so you can meet right away and arrange lodging," said Pernak, stepping down. "We only have one inn and it's full at the moment, but we wouldn't let you stay in a cramped place anyway. I'll speak with Norde, I'm sure he has a proper house available for your team."

The old man talked as he walked toward the structure. It was a sturdy three-story building topped with red tiles, clearly one of the finest houses in town, and Alaster didn't miss the detail: Norde was the town chief, after all.

Alaster slid across the bench to the edge of the driver's seat and hopped down, landing lightly on his feet. «I've been sitting all morning; I can barely feel my legs,» he thought. The air smelled faintly of wild herbs, and unlike the stale, heavy stench of Sibar that constantly bothered his senses, the breeze here was refreshingly crisp.

Pernak had stopped the wagon on a gentle rise where Norde's house stood. Looking down the hill from the front yard, Alaster could see the road framed by wooden fences separating the neighboring properties. «This place is huge for a village,» he thought. The area enclosed by the palisade was vast—easily a square kilometer or more. Toward the center, the layout became more urbanized; it gave the impression that the center was much more active than this quiet residential edge.

Berona walked up beside him.

"Nothing but grass, dirt, and backwardness out here," said the thief with a furrowed brow.

Alaster shot her a side-glance; he didn't need to see her face to know she wasn't impressed.

"There's plenty of work to do," continued the thief dryly, "but the pay probably isn't worth much."

Alaster knew that if she weren't wearing her hood pulled forward, she'd be pouting just like Jinneth.

"So you heard Pernak?" asked Alaster.

Berona turned to him and pulled her hood back. «Yep, total pout,» thought the elf.

"You shouldn't settle in a place like this, Al... It's a waste of your spatial magic—" She cut herself off abruptly, clapping a hand over her mouth.

Alaster’s eyes widened. «She figured it out... Of course she knows more about magic than she lets on,» thought the mage, but he was interrupted by Pernak’s voice from afar.

"Hey, elf! Come on in, my brother will see you now!"

As Pernak flagged them down, Berona kept her hand over her mouth while Alaster smiled. He nudged her elbow playfully with his own—a gesture similar to the many he had received from these girls. Berona seemed to catch his meaning immediately, nodding with a serious expression as she pulled her hood back up.

Inside, the house was much as expected: a spacious living room furnished with solid wooden pieces, padded armchairs, a brick fireplace, and a few tasteful paintings. Nothing extravagant, but it had a cozy, welcoming feel. They followed Pernak down a short hallway to a door at the back.

"This is Norde's study. Come on in."

Pernak pushed the heavy wooden door open. Inside sat a large desk surrounded by several comfortable chairs. Sitting behind the desk was a strongly built man in his early forties, sporting a short beard with hints of gray at his temples, a sign of age.

"You must be Lord Alaster," said Norde, standing up from behind the desk. "And Miss Berona, of course. Welcome to Toel. My brother filled me in on the basics. The guild certainly moved fast this time."

Alaster paused for a second and glanced at Berona beside him. Both thought the same thing: «He talks a lot.»

"The pleasure is ours," said Berona.

The elf offered a polite, practiced bow that was met with instant approval.

«It's my first time speaking with an elf, he's remarkably elegant, nothing like dealing with my folks in town,» thought Norde for a brief second before returning the gesture with his own somewhat awkward, though well-rehearsed, bow. He smiled warmly.

"Please, sit down. I'll keep this brief, as I'm sure you're exhausted from the journey. That goes for you too, brother," said Norde casually. "Let me sit down. Cladis! Bring some tea!" he shouted suddenly, breaking the formal atmosphere for a split second before continuing.

Alaster suppressed a laugh at the abrupt shift, a subtle reminder that he wasn't dealing with nobility or high-society protocol.

"So, how was the trip? I heard a few people were killed during the attack, a tragedy, truly. But you're all alright, yes? What are you waiting for? Sit, sit!" Norde settled back into his seat, making himself comfortable.

"Brother, they're tired, get to the point," interrupted Pernak.

"I said I'd be brief," replied Norde. He sighed and began to speak.

Berona cut straight through the small talk:

"Tell us about the golem. What's the problem, and where is it?" asked the thief, taking one of the three chairs set before the desk.

Alaster opted to remain standing alongside Pernak.

"The problem," explained Norde, "is that the creature has been disrupting merchant traffic for a while now. Traveling outside the settlement has been dangerous ever since the goblin influx, obviously, but we've managed to hold them off for nearly a year. However, a golem isn't something a timber palisade can easily stop; it approached the outer wall with its spawn recently and damaged a section by throwing boulders. To make matters worse, the goblins trail behind it to exploit any openings it creates. It's effectively acting as a siege weapon for those pests. Goblins aren't geniuses, but they've been gathering near the outpost, waiting for the golem to breach the wall. If that happens again, I fear we won't be able to hold back the horde."

"So I take it you engaged the golem directly?" asked Alaster. "Is it really that tough that a group of men couldn't put it down?"

Internally, he wondered if the creature would turn out to be significantly more dangerous than the goblin chieftain and difficult to deal with.

The chief shook his head.

"It's not that it strikes exceptionally hard, it's slow and in theory easy to handle. The issue is its massive health pool—around 6,000 health points. Worse yet, after taking a beating from arrows and blades, it uses a regeneration ability: it absorbs earth and sand from the surrounding ground, restoring almost all its health. We fought it for nearly two days, and just as we managed to whittle its health down, it healed right back up. It only stopped attacking because it seemingly ran out of stamina for its ability. Now, with so many goblins roaming nearby, I worry another assault could break us... At least, that was my fear until you arrived; now I believe we have the upper hand."

Knock, knock. Norde's explanation was cut short by a light rap on the door.

"Yes?!" called out Norde loudly.

"The tea, dear..." a woman's voice answered from behind the door.

"Ah, Cladis with the tea. Come in!"

"My hands are full with the tray, darling..."

Pernak quickly opened the door, letting in a slender woman with wavy, light brown hair who entered like a brisk breeze carrying a wooden tray that she set down on the desk. She placed the cups and saucers in a flash, clearing the tray in no time.

"Hello! I hope you had a safe journey despite everything..." said the woman with an apologetic smile. She finished arranging the cups on the desk, tucked the empty tray under her arm, and stood politely to the side. The chief's wife appeared to be around his age, perhaps slightly younger, with lively eyes, slender, and bursting with energy.

"Thank you, dear," said Norde, shooting her a fond glance before taking a sip of his tea and gesturing to the remaining cups. "Please, help yourselves. It's the finest mint tea in Toel, originating right here, so I don't think you've tried it anywhere else."

Alaster picked up a cup and took a small sip. «Mint tea? It's actually really good. I'm not big on honey, but this is nice.»

"Delicious," said Alaster.

Berona offered an apologetic smile:

"I'm still a bit motion-sick from the wagon ride, thank you."

"A pity," replied Norde. "Between the goblins and the golem, things have been messy, and the aid Lord Di'maglio promised us never materialized, so we stopped relying on the nobility and put up a request at the guild instead. It's far more reliable."

"I see," said Alaster, setting his cup down. "So the creature is slow, but regenerates if it isn't killed quickly, and it's surrounded by smaller constructs and goblins."

Norde nodded.

"Precisely. The smaller ones aren't an issue—the palisade keeps them out. But the main golem is a threat to our defenses."

Suddenly, his wife spoke up:

"Darling... don't lay all our troubles on our guests like that." The woman shot her husband a pointed look.

He raised an eyebrow, but Cladis turned her attention between Berona and Alaster.

"Forgive him. My husband is too stubborn to admit he can't handle the goblin threat alone. But if things go wrong, the townspeople suffer most," said Cladis. "Goblins might be weak individually, yes, but there are far too many of them."

Norde offered a half-smile.

"You're exaggerating, dear. Those things won't break through the wall."

His wife let out a soft laugh.

"You call that timber fence a wall? Forgive me, love, but if those creatures break through, the men might die in combat—but for the women, it would be far worse."

Alaster felt Berona shift uncomfortably in her chair beside him before speaking up:

"Mr. Norde, if those things actually manage to breach the palisade—"

"Without the golem, that's impossible. They haven't breached it in eighty years, and they won't start now," said the chief.

"Stubborn as always," said his wife. She looked at Alaster, then at her husband; both smiled at each other. "Listen, Mr. Alaster: I own a property here in town—a lovely house with its own private well and stable. I'm willing to offer it to you as an additional reward if you clear out those creatures for us. As we speak, a cluster of them is gathering northwest of the palisade; our men are holding them off with spears and bows, but they're outnumbered. Clear out those monsters and any others that show up while you're here, and the deed to the house is yours."

Standing near Cladis, Pernak thought to himself: «When I mentioned the mage seemed interested in the town, I thought they'd offer him a place to stay... but offering to deed him a house? My sister-in-law is a genius!»

Meanwhile, Berona shook her head slightly: «Unbelievable... offering him a house on a silver platter just to keep him here.»

For Alaster, however, it was a golden opportunity. Even though he was a practical person who naturally mistrusted anything offered for "free," owning property here had real value—even if it was just a country house. Having an asset was always better than not having one; in the worst-case scenario, he could simply abandon it if it couldn't be sold.

"We have a deal," agreed Alaster. "In addition to the guild request, of course."

Cladis beamed.

"Yes—this is strictly between us."

"Let me at them," said Alaster, turning toward the door.

In truth, his mind was already focused on one thing: blowing up a few more goblins.