Accidental Elf: My Passive Allure is Ruining My Plans

The village chief stood up from his desk, planting both palms on the dark wood with obvious concern.

"Wait just a second, elf! I mean... Lord Alaster," Norde corrected himself in a hurry. "There are over three hundred warriors out there fighting hundreds of those things. No offense, but you should rest from your journey. Mages have incredible firepower, sure, but I don't think a single person can do much against a crowd that size."

Cladis opened her mouth to object, but decided against it. She seemed doubtful about the newcomer's actual strength.

From the corner of the room, Berona let out a muffled giggle. «They have no idea,» the thief thought, replaying the events on the road in her head. «Those things are either going to run for their lives or this elf is going to launch them straight to the Pantheon with his explosions.»

She was about to chime in, but a much better idea struck her: let them witness Alaster's Fireballs without warning, just like she had to. A mischievous smile spread across her face.

Alaster, completely oblivious to his companion's dark anticipation, kept his thoughts much more grounded. All he wanted was to secure the promised property. He didn't view the goblins as a terrifying threat; they would likely scatter after a couple of hits and stay away for a long time.

Noticing Berona's grin, Alaster turned to her.

"Berona... what's so funny?"

"Nothing. Let's just go," the thief replied, taking his hand and pulling him along gently. "This is going to be fun."

Cladis and Norde exchanged uneasy looks. Meanwhile, Pernak decided to head for the exit first.

"I'll let everyone at the palisade know we have reinforcements," the old man announced, jogging through the door with a burst of energy that made him forget his fatigue.

"I'll go fetch our carriage," Cladis added.

Norde rounded his desk and walked toward the doorway, pausing right before crossing the threshold.

"I'll ask a few neighbors to help prepare the cottage," the town chief said, turning back for a moment. "By the way, how many are in your party?"

"Six of us in total," Berona answered.

Norde nodded in approval.

"Let your companions know. I doubt they found any open rooms at the local inn."

His voice faded as he walked down the dirt path.

Alaster and Berona stepped outside into the crisp air. A welcoming view greeted the elf: a broad valley of rolling hills dotted with rustic timber houses, tidy gardens, and dirt lanes lined with wooden lamp posts. Far off on the horizon, the silhouette of the palisade rose against the sky. Deeply inhaling the clean breeze, his lungs filled with the fresh scent of the countryside.

Alaster smiled naturally. «This place is beautiful. For real... it's exactly the kind of spot I dreamed about back on Earth while debugging code at the office.»

The creak of wooden wheels interrupted his thoughts. A carriage drawn by two large horses rolled down the side road. The vehicle's heavy build contrasted humorously with the small frame of the young girl driving from the bench. Cladis leaned out the window from inside. The unvarnished pine frame made it clear the locals had built it themselves, but it was far more comfortable than the guild's rough cargo wagon.

"This is my youngest daughter, Irina. Say hello!" Cladis called out from the window.

"Hi!" the girl greeted, offering a slightly strained smile out of shyness.

Alaster raised a hand politely.

"Hello, Irina. I'm Alaster," he introduced himself, opening the carriage door to hold it open for them.

Berona was brief. She dropped a short "hi" and slid into the transport, giving the elf a teasing smirk before settling in.

The ride toward the wall was bumpy but manageable. Cladis didn't wait long to bring up the main topic.

"So, Lord Alaster... what exactly do you plan to do to drive those things off?"

«I guess it doesn't hurt if I tell her I'll attack them from a distance with a fireball,» Alaster analyzed internally. «They probably don't know much about magic anyway, but it's better to give a heads-up in case they're afraid of forest fires. Caution never hurts.»

"Well, I plan to take advantage of the fact that they're cowards," the elf explained plainly. "Today, I'm just going to wipe them out with a few Fireballs. Assuming they're as tightly packed as you say."

Cladis blinked, stunned by how casually he said it.

"Just cast a few spells? You shouldn't get too close. People are saying there are at least a thousand goblins out there."

"How far are those goblins from the palisade?" Berona asked.

Cladis considered her answer for a few seconds.

"About a hundred and fifty meters, maybe a bit more. We've been gaining ground because we're organized. We take turns at the front: some rest in the back, eat, and tend to their wounds while the others fight. We also have archers firing around the clock. We've thinned their ranks, but they never seem to end. Plus, since they attack in hordes, they scatter when they take heavy losses and come right back a short while later. It's left everyone exhausted... We've been dealing with this plague for over eight months, and it's been nearly a month since that golem showed up to threaten our defenses."

Berona let out a low whistle.

"That's a long time to hold a defensive line in a small town," the thief remarked.

Alaster listened in silence. «That explains why everyone looks so worn out even while trying to go about their daily lives. They've gotten used to constant danger.»

"I think my magic will give them a decent breather," the elf said, leaning back against the wooden seat.

"Don't overthink it, you'll see soon enough," Berona replied, tossing a smirk at the mage.

Alaster raised an eyebrow. «Why does she seem more excited than I am? I really don't get girls. Is she this thrilled about me getting that house?»

The mage had no idea Berona just wanted others to share the shock his magic caused. In her mind, shared trauma was easier to bear, and she couldn't wait to see the expressions on everyone else's faces.

Within minutes, they reached the timber wall. From the outside, you couldn't tell, but once inside, Alaster saw through the window that the palisade had a network of wooden scaffolding built along the inner side. The structure allowed archers to take up positions up high and fire from safety.

«It's perfect,» Alaster evaluated. «The best spot to cast my spells. After this, I'll get my house without spending a single copper coin... I just hope it's not in ruins and requiring a total remodel, like those one-dollar house traps on Earth.»

Alaster climbed down from the carriage, followed by the two women. Stepping onto the trampled gray dirt, a strong scent of stew hit his nose. Near the entrance, several cloth and straw canopies sat over campfires supporting massive iron pots. It was food for the militia.

In the distance, the din of battle echoed: sharp shrieks, clashing metal, and grunts of exertion. Around the pots, a group of women worked at a steady pace peeling potatoes, chopping meat, and preparing supplies.

Alaster glanced away. «I'm hungry too, it's past noon. Better hurry this up.»

He spotted a wooden ladder leading up to the rampart and headed straight for it. Behind him, a few locals approached Cladis in a teasing tone.

"Chief! Who's that?" asked a short girl with brown hair.

"Did you trade old Norde in for a better model?" joked another red-haired woman holding a knife and a potato.

Berona, walking behind the elf, let out a laugh while shaking her head.

"Gossip hits hard in these small towns," she muttered under her breath, adjusting her dark hair.

Alaster ignored the jokes and climbed the ladder. Reaching the top of the rampart, the panorama of the battlefield unfolded before his eyes.

About one hundred and seventy meters out, a broad line of men and women traded strikes with the goblins. Though the creatures fell by the dozen, another always stepped up to take its place. The goblin charge lacked strategy, blindly throwing themselves against wooden shields, unlike the villagers who kept their discipline under the commands shouted from the rear.

Behind the frontline formation, exhausted warriors rested on the ground or on scattered rocks, while several young boys ran back and forth carrying water buckets and rations. Opposite them, the goblin horde hesitated at a distance before launching into disorganized attacks. Most noticeably, about fifty meters behind enemy lines, the treeline kept spewing out more creatures armed with sticks and crude clubs.

«This looks like a medieval war out of a video game,» Alaster thought. «Standing here staring isn't getting me anywhere.»

He scanned the terrain and calculated the trajectory. The edge of the forest was about one hundred and eighty meters away. According to the grimoire's notes, the Fireball could easily reach two hundred and eighty meters in a gentle arc.

His thoughts were cut short when he recognized a familiar figure at the rear of the defense line. It was Elise, arguing heatedly with one of the boys handing out supplies.

"Looks like they're arguing," Alaster muttered softly.

Berona looked in the same direction.

"I think that's her younger brother. She's from this town."

Down below, Elise grabbed her thirteen-year-old brother, Deltros, by the shoulder.

"I told you I'm fine! Tell Mom she doesn't need to worry!" the archer snapped at him.

"Leave me alone, Elise!" the boy yanked himself free, annoyed. "I'm just trying to help!"

"You can't just do whatever you want cause Dad doesn't say anything!" she scolded firmly. "You're thirteen, you're driving Mom crazy!"

"Why'd you even come back? Thought you were a big city girl now," Deltros blurted out bitterly. "We don't need you here!"

Elise blinked in surprise, taking a step back. The accusation stung deeply, and tears threatened to well in her eyes.

"I... I came to kill the golem, not hand out water like you, kid!" she replied, hurt.

Deltros realized he had crossed a line. He looked down at the food basket in his hands, feeling remorseful, though he tried to hold his posture.

"Kill the golem? That giant sand thing?" he said, his voice softening. "Sister, you won't do anything to it with your arrows. That creature is untouchable."

Elise let out a sharp, dismissive smile.

"I didn't come alone. I have adventurer companions—even Al is here..."

"What Al? Who's that?" the boy interrupted.

At that moment, a commotion rippled through the ranks of the defenders. Several messengers came running from the palisade shouting while raising a yellow flag. Every villager recognized that militia signal: regroup and raise shields.

"What now?" Elise whispered, looking around.

She noticed the crowd's attention shifting up to the top of the timber wall. Following their gaze, her blood ran cold. There stood Alaster, and floating before his hands was a vibrant sphere of flames she knew all too well.

Deltros stared at the flash in the distance.

"Is that the mage you were talking about? He's too far to see clearly, but... I don't think he's doing much with that tiny flame."

When Deltros turned back to his sister, he found her pale and staring blankly. Suddenly, Elise grabbed his arm with a grip that left no room for argument.

"We're leaving!" she ordered, dragging him toward the town.

"Hey! What are you doing? You're hurting my arm!" the boy complained, trying in vain to break free from the raw strength of a level 23 archer.

"Everything's going to blow!" Elise squeaked in desperation, accelerating her pace. "I am not losing my hair again!"

Up on the palisade, Alaster extended his hands. The Fireball began drawing energy from the surroundings, expanding and contracting with a roaring crackle. It absorbed glowing filaments until the red mass turned a brilliant orange with a dense blue core.

The elf opened his violet eyes and locked onto the treeline nearly two hundred meters away, where the largest cluster of monsters packed together. Beside him, Berona, Pernak, and Cladis watched the process, fascinated as the sphere reached the size of a basketball.

With a swift motion of his arm, Alaster released the spell.

The projectile cut through the air. To the warriors below, the blazing mass roared over their heads like a dragon, leaving a heavy trail of smoke and sparks. Several men threw themselves to the dirt by instinct as the meteor passed overhead.

A deafening blast shook the ground.

BOOOOOM!

The shockwave launched dozens of charred goblin bodies into the air. The frontline defenders felt a rush of scorching air hit their faces as the earth trembled beneath their boots.

"What in the world was that?!" a militia member yelled, lowering his shield cautiously.

Peering out, he saw the terrain engulfed in flames and littered with smoking corpses. The surviving creatures scattered toward the woods in complete disarray.

"Look! It's a mage!" another man shouted, pointing up at the top of the wall.

Alaster closed his eyes for a second. The high-pitched chime in his ears confirmed the reward notifications from the Pantheon.

«Not all of them are running yet,» the elf thought. He channeled 400 MP into his ring, which still held a remnant from the previous attack, and began shaping a second projectile. «This ought to make them think twice before coming back.»

He focused his attention for twelve seconds while the crowd watched the new sphere form. This time, no one was taken off guard. With a fluid movement of his right hand, the second projectile launched in an arc, slicing through the wind until it struck the forest margin where the creatures were attempting to regroup.

BOOOOOM!

The locals burst into cheers and shouts of joy as the secondary blast set the vegetation ablaze. In under two minutes, the mass of invaders had vanished from the front, leaving behind hundreds of casualties and a terrified horde that wouldn't return anytime soon.

Cladis stood with her mouth half-open, staring at the columns of smoke. Pernak, though prepared by the caravan rumors, couldn't hide his awe at the sheer efficiency of the strike. Beside them, Berona offered a bright smile, noticing the woman's stupor.

"Two spells... and almost a year of fighting is over," Cladis muttered in disbelief.

The militia began falling back toward the wall, exhausted but wearing relieved smiles, waving their hands and shouting thanks up at the elf. Alaster simply responded with polite nods, feeling a bit overwhelmed by the continuous mental pinging of his rewards.

Near the houses, Deltros stared at the scorched woods with eyes wide in admiration.

"Is that the mage you were talking about?" he exclaimed excitedly. "He blew everything up! That was amazing!"

Elise shook her head, twisting a strand of blonde hair around her finger.

"You're only saying that because you weren't near one of those blasts," the archer replied before shoving her brother down the path. "Go home. There are no goblins left, so stop worrying Mom."

"Come on, I wanna meet your friend!" the boy insisted as she dragged him along. "I wanna learn magic!"

Passing neighbors couldn't help but chuckle at the scene.

Alaster climbed down from the wall and spotted Tagard returning with his greatsword resting over his shoulder. «That guy can't see a fight without showing up immediately,» he thought dryly.

At the base of the structure, Remis was chatting with the kitchen women while Syrus spoke with Norde. A large crowd was starting to gather in the inner square.

«Good time to leave,» the elf decided.

When he rejoined the group, Elise and Deltros approached at the same time as Tagard.

"You really don't do subtlety, Alaster," Remis teased with a smirk.

"We heard the explosions all the way from the inn," Syrus added.

"So you came running because you were worried about me?" the elf joked.

The group exchanged glances and broke into laughter. Alaster feigned annoyance.

"So you didn't care? How rude."

"I was worried," Elise's soft voice chimed in.

Alaster grinned victoriously at the rest.

"See? Someone here actually appreciates me!" He turned to the archer. "Tell me, were you really worried?"

"Yes," the girl nodded innocently.

"And why were you so worried?" Remis asked, holding back a laugh.

"Because I was close to the goblins when everything blew up. I thought I'd end up like one of those burnt steaks Tagard cooks."

The group burst out laughing again until Norde stepped forward to cut through the noise.

"Alright," the chief said. "The cottage is ready. It has clean beds and everything set up for you."

Remis let out a sigh of relief.

"Finally! I was worried when they told us the inn was full."

Cladis walked up to her husband and took his hand.

"We wouldn't let you sleep in a tent in the cold night air. Besides, we owe Lord Alaster a property now."

The elf smiled to himself. «Looks like they actually intend to keep their word.»

"I'm tired," Alaster admitted. "I want to rest up from the trip." He looked around for the archer. "Hey, Elise, are you coming with us or staying with your family?"

"I'll stay with you guys tonight, but I'm going to visit my parents now," she answered.

Alaster noticed her younger brother still glued to her side, giving her little nudges to get attention.

"This is my brother, Deltros," the blonde introduced him with a resigned sigh. "He's annoying, but he's a good kid."

"Hi," the boy said, quickly extending his hand. "Are you a real elf?"

"Nah," Alaster joked, taking his hand. "I'm a goblin with a lot of makeup."

Elise let out a giggle while Deltros blinked in fascination.

"That magic was awesome!" the boy started saying as his sister grabbed his arm to pull him away. "You have to teach me!"

"See you tonight!" Elise called out, dragging the boy who kept shouting from a distance:

"Master! Hey, let go of me, you pain! Master...!"

Alaster turned back to Norde and Cladis, stepping into the carriage that would take them to the assigned house. After a short ride down the village paths, the vehicle stopped in front of a two-story house with red roof tiles in top shape. A stone path wound up a small slope to a wooden porch with a few steps.

The party began heading inside. As Alaster was about to cross the threshold, Cladis's voice stopped him from the entrance. The woman stepped up the porch and handed him a rolled-up document.

"These are the deeds to the house and the surrounding land. As promised, it's yours now."

Alaster took the parchment with a genuine smile.

"Thank you very much."

He was about to invite them inside, but Norde waved off the offer.

"You should get some rest. Over the next few days, you'll have to deal with the sandstone golem," the man said, and Cladis added warmly:

"After seeing today, I don't think it'll be much of a challenge for you. We consider the crisis practically solved."

Norde let out a deep sigh.

"I think I'll sleep like a rock tonight for the first time in months."

Cladis glanced at him sideways, lacing her fingers through his.

"You think so, love? There are plenty of things we haven't been able to do in months..." she whispered softly into her husband's ear.

Despite the low whisper, the elf's sharp hearing caught the entire comment. The mage took a step back with a knowing smirk.

"Have a good night," Alaster wished them, even though the midday sun was still glowing in full force.

Cladis flushed red instantly, and Norde offered an awkward grin.

"Get some rest," the chief said before leaving with his wife.

Alaster settled into one of the wooden chairs on the porch. Unrolling the parchment, he skimmed the deed before looking out over the green expanse surrounding his new property.

«Jinneth would love this place...» he thought wistfully, leaning his back against the chair. «I wonder what those two are up to right now?»