My name is Clarish.
I am a member of the Elf Great Forest who has moved to the world called Earth.
I thought I lived a pretty ordinary life.
My role in the elf society was to cultivate beans on the southern hills, bring in sea water to make tofu, and manage the fermentation storage. Twice a week, I would go to the Zelkova House to cook for my brethren.
My basic physical abilities were decent, and I even had a chance to join the Lotus Lake Knight Order. However, unfortunately, due to my lesser affinity for spirits compared to my kind, I ultimately did not join the order. Nevertheless, I am content with my role.
Elf society is fundamentally based on community and group living, where every task assigned to an elf is equally important.
Cultivating beans ultimately contributes to our elf society. While many elves possess the skill to make tofu, there are few like me who can craft it deliciously and skillfully. I am the only elf who knows what is stored in our fermentation storage and its contents.
Even if it seems trivial, I find satisfaction in my life.
But one day, a foreigner named Isia came to visit.
Naturally, my kind and I did not have a favorable view of her.
The scene of our mother World Tree burning by humans was vividly etched in my mind, as if it happened yesterday. It replayed in my head constantly, fueling my sorrow and anger, making me acutely aware of my identity as a member of the elf society. Like my brethren, my hostility toward outsiders grew stronger.
No matter how much she is a guest of the last child of the World Tree, Lady Olgania, the basic hostility could not be helped.
“Speaking of which, when is that outsider leaving?”
“I don’t know. A few days ago, she came out of the council meeting with Elder Elanarr, and nothing seemed to be happening…”
“Are the elders planning to keep accepting outsiders?”
“Forget it. If we ignore her, she’ll leave on her own eventually.”
Yet, we couldn’t harm the guest of Lady Olgania, so my kind and I chose to simply ignore her.
There was no need to be friendly. Out of respect for Lady Olgania, we could just accommodate Isia’s enormous appetite with food.
‘She really eats a lot…’
Isia’s eating habits seemed to possess at least ten… no, perhaps more, when compared to us elves.
While my brethren and I would be satisfied after half a plate, the outsider would finish ten plates and ask for more as if it wasn’t enough.
At first, I thought of it as a form of torture: “Let’s see how much she can eat,” and kept providing her food, but that crazy lady gobbled everything down, leaving my compatriots feeling uneasy.
I even feared that this outsider might consume our Great Forest before the Chaos Ants could do so.
It was true that Isia captivated my attention.
She is human, an outsider, and a Seongnyeo.
No, to be precise, she is more like something resembling a human. According to my comrades, they even said she looked like a terrifying monstrosity.
However, I didn’t dislike Isia because she was a foreigner; rather, I felt there was something fundamentally different about her from us.
Though I couldn’t explain it with words, it was unsettling yet, conversely, gave a warm feeling, reminiscent of our mother World Tree.
‘Feeling warmth from a filthy and malicious outsider…’
It must just be my unfamiliarity with outsiders leading me to feel distorted emotions.
“Let’s not worry about it.”
I prepared a report to submit to the elders, estimating the bean harvest for tomorrow.
I covered myself with massive leaves from the Ditendas tree instead of blankets, not feeling shy, and opened all the windows to enjoy the refreshing breeze of nature as I peacefully drifted off to sleep.
Like humans, I had no worries about tomorrow.
I firmly believed that if the Chaos Ants invaded, the members of the Lotus Lake Knight Order, alongside their commander Elanarr, would fend them off, and I trust this life will continue without a doubt.
Knock, knock, knock
Just as I was about to fall asleep, a sudden knock at the door startled me awake.
‘Who could it be at this hour?’
Elves do not refuse visitors and guests.
Even if it’s to reject a human or an outsider, that’s only a problem after opening the door.
I picked up a herb hair tie I had placed on the bed, tied back my hair, and got up to greet the visitor.
Creeeak…
“Who is it?”
“I~lo~ve~you~”
“…….?”
Bang!
What is this?
What did I just see…?
No, what did I just hear?
White, silver hair, a tremendously large chest, quite a tall height, and tentacles writhing around from her waist.
Could it be that outsider?
The situation was confusing.
Even when I tried to close the door and think for a moment, honestly, my mind felt frozen, leaving me unable to contemplate or speak.
“Um….”
Knock, knock, knock
“Um… can you say something…?”
Hearing her sobbing voice from outside filled me with an unidentifiable fear, forcing me to pull the leaf blanket up to the top of my head.
No matter how I thought about it, I didn’t understand.
What on earth is going on?
○○○○
After a long time, I turned on the broadcast.
[Broadcasting from the Elf Great Forest]
And it was of all places, the Elf Great Forest!
By the way, I had already received permission from Lady Olgania and Elder Antamia.
While the Elf Great Forest rejects outsiders, it’s not a place that seeks to exterminate everything that enters.
Being an intelligent race that migrated from another world, we maintained some relations with the Hunter Association and the governments of various countries.
The high-quality grains harvested by elves are recognized as luxury items and valuable exports, and in return, elves receive developed earthly civilization and technology.
I’ve also heard that some elves leave the Great Forest to work as hunters on Earth.
Surprisingly, I didn’t even know this, but wireless internet and Wi-Fi were available in this Great Forest, and elves could even watch holographic TVs made of intertwined vines in the village square on computers made of wood.
I wondered how such technology could work in a forest without a relay tower, but it turned out to be thanks to a tree called Politaire, made of an unidentified metal that intercepts all signals and satellites, providing wireless internet and various transmissions throughout the Great Forest.
Although the location of the dungeon where the elves’ Great Forest resides is treated as a state secret, using the internet carelessly could risk leaking its location to unknown outsiders.
Nonetheless, the Politaire tree intercepts all signals and satellites and provides wireless internet throughout the Great Forest, making it impossible for outsiders to trace the location.
Even though relations with humans are not very smooth, the elves are actively adapting to Earth.
In any case, what is the conclusion?
Surprisingly, it was permissible to broadcast here.
If you ask why I’m broadcasting in this period…
There’s no particular reason. I’m simply incredibly lonely.
As you know, I dislike being alone.
However, the process of visiting each elf in the Great Forest to search for potential impostors is surely exhausting, lonely, and quite boring.
But if I were to drag Olga around everywhere, other elves would grow hostile towards me, and since I’ve received authority similar to that of the elders, I have no qualms on that front.
Furthermore, even if I broadcast, the location of the Elf Great Forest won’t leak to the outside, and I had received permission from Olga and Antamia, so it was fine.
In fact, upon hearing my reasons and intentions for the broadcast, Olga jumped around excitedly, saying how exciting it would be, asking me to please turn it on.
And above all, I decided to broadcast without even properly announcing anything, showing up in the Elf Great Forest.
It had been three days since I arrived, and I could already envision the malicious net runners shouting ‘hell’ at me as soon as I turned on the broadcast.
Before things got any worse, it was necessary to at least turn on the broadcast to placate those scoundrels.
“Hello!”
– Gallery Master, Quitting
– Explain, Explain, Explain, Explain
– The Streamer went under first!
– If you’re going to vanish, at least write a notice!
– Vanishing without a word? To hell with that, haha!
– Explain, Explain, Explain!
“Of course, even if you’re such a scoundrel, I really like you!”
– Huh, I don’t like you.
“Hey, come on—”
– Hahahahahaha
– Hahahahahaha
– I was trying to set up an emotional moment, but suddenly got hit with a betrayal, haha!
– Hahaha
[‘Bald Head Manager’ donated 100,000 won!]
I was absolutely p*ssed off by you vanishing without a word, so where the hell are you off to?
“To hell with it, do you think I always just talk about nonsense?”
– Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah,
– Uh-huh, uh-huh, uh-huh, uh-huh.
– Uh-huh, uh-huh, uh-huh
– Uh-huh, uh-huh, uh-huh.
Although it hadn’t been long, I found myself smiling at these familiar scoundrels without even realizing it.
– But seriously, where is the Streamer?
– Is that shining thing next to you a firefly?
– A spirit?
– This isn’t an elf forest, what do you think, spirits are everywhere? Haha.
“Yes, I’m a spirit.”
– Huh…?
– Hahahaha
– Hahaha
– Haha
“Actually, it’s the Great Forest. Have you heard of it? The Elf Great Forest that migrated to Earth.”
– ?
– How did the Streamer get there?
– Isn’t the location of the Great Forest something general civilians don’t know?
– Hey, can’t we track the Streamer with drones or cameras?
– Are you serious? How can we do what even hunters can’t?
– For real, lol.
– But seriously, isn’t the Great Forest a place that you can’t enter unless you’re invited?
“Yes, I was invited.”
– How the hell did that happen?
“I’m pretty, right?”
– Well, you are pretty, but that doesn’t seem like it would work.
– Hahaha
These guys can’t even take a joke.
Well, anyway, I planned to gloss over the reasons for coming to the Great Forest.
The broadcast being permitted only means I can keep quiet about elven details.
So, I intentionally applied filters to all characters except myself.
From the viewers’ perspective, spirits or nature would appear normal, but if another elf or someone were to appear, they’d be depicted as cute SD characters.
“Anyway, there will be no eating broadcast today. If nothing happens, there won’t even be monster hunting.”
– Then why are you broadcasting?
– The Streamer used to do that often even when nothing was going on.
– If there’s no eating or hunting today… does that mean there’s a lot of nonsense going on?
– No nonsense?
– Nonsense warning issued.
“Wait, how do you view me as someone who only talks nonsense when there’s no work to do?”
[‘KawaiiHorned’ donated 33,000 won!]
But the Streamer… the nonsense saint, right?
– For real, lol.
– For real, lol.
– For real, for real, lol.
“Anyways, what I’m supposed to do today is… I can’t say exactly, but I need to visit the elves.”
– ?
– What do you mean?
– Are you going to see the real elves?
– They say elves are incredibly beautiful.
– Did you get permission to broadcast?
– The Streamer is pretty, but the elves are way more model-like, so when you’re together, will the Streamer look like a total pig?
“What, pig?!”
– Hahahahahahahaha
– Hahaha
– Is the Streamer mad?
– Hahaha
“Hey, it’s true that the elves are beautiful, but honestly, if you’re human, too skinny and tall isn’t as beautiful as having some softer curves… I mean, pretty features.”
No way am I a pig.
…Right?
“The visit has no particular agenda. The important part is that I need to directly meet the elf and at least have a conversation for about 30 seconds to a minute. The topic of conversation will be completely random. So today, this will be more of a mundane V-log without any specific themes.”
– You’re just putting on airs knowing you got popular now, aren’t you?! Hahaha!
– Don’t be rude, haha.
– But why do you do that?
– I’m kinda tempted to see the elves, but what are you going to do if there’s no theme?
“So that’s why I’m streaming.”
To be honest, I’ve never really been good at socializing.
If I had to categorize myself into ‘outsider’ versus ‘insider,’ I would definitely fall into the outsider category.
I’ve been fortunate to have many good people around me, but ultimately, they approached me first, not me going to them.
Thus, I think approaching others myself will be somewhat… difficult.
The reason I turned on the broadcast was also because I wondered if those scoundrels could help me.
Meeting elves directly means I’m trying to better identify any malice or evil, and conversing with them will allow me to partly discern truth from lies.
If I detect even a hint of a small lie, I’ll have ample room to exploit the gaps.
So, while I might call it a simple interview, it’s essentially a disguised inquisition.
“So I hope you’ll help me out a bit.”
– ?
– What can we help with?
– Nah, I don’t want to, lol.
– What help can some couch potato on the internet give? Haha!
“Do you see the roulette that’s currently displayed on your screen?”
– Yeah, yeah.
– Isn’t that the roulette used for penalties in other virtual streamers?
“This roulette is reportedly for points that accumulated from regular viewers of my broadcasts?”
– True.
– What will you do with the Streamer points?
“I’m going to let viewers who spent points put topics on the roulette for me to mention to the elves when I visit them.”
– ?
– ??
I believed in it.
The power of collective intelligence.
I believed in the goodwill of those willing to help someone in trouble.
Later, I would realize that these scoundrels exceeded my imagination, and that trusting them would only leave me with wounds… but I didn’t know that just yet.
“So just like that, if you write ‘say 000 to the next elf you meet’ with your points on the roulette, that’s how it goes.”
For a moment, there was silence in the chat.
– GOGOGOGOGOGOGO!
– Let’s goooooo!
– I’m heading out now!
– You better do this right now!
– I’ve waited for just today!
What? Their response was surprisingly good?
It surely seems that broadcasting with the viewers also provides immense fun for the other side.
“Then when one house visit wraps up, that roulette will also get completed. But if it gets too extreme, I’ll cut it. Adult filtering, no cursing filtering will also apply… Ah, violence, sensuality, or anything that looks like personal attacks or insults won’t do, okay? Now, let’s begin!”
– Hahaha
– Are you underestimating us?
– That’s entirely possible.
– Hahaha!
“Why would I rush? I’m putting a stop to this!”
– Why, don’t give us 10 seconds to write?
– Hey, you jerk!
– Oh no!
– Ugh, no, no, no!
– Chat’s too slow, haha!
“Huh, success!”
– Hahaha!
– Relieved!
– For real, this is so fun!
“Now, let’s spin?”
The holographic roulette, visible only to the viewers, started to spin.
For reference, I had no idea what was written on the roulette or how many viewers had participated with points.
I figured at the result, only I would get to see it….
– Hahahahahahaha
– Ah, this is comedy broadcast, right?
– This is skit broadcasting!
– For real, haha!
– This is something, haha!
I raised an eyebrow at the sudden burst of laughter from the chat.
What is this? All the extreme filters are applied, and normally anything outrageous wouldn’t pass.
But what popped up on the roulette sounded shocking, leading to such reactions…
“Uh…”
And then I felt dazed as I saw what the roulette revealed.
○○○○
A short while later, Shia floated a drone camera and headed toward the first elf’s house.
Of course, worries already hung over her.
Actually, it wasn’t just worry; Shia clearly wanted to turn off the drone camera and run away immediately.
But as the streamer, how could she revoke what she had said?
More importantly, she is a Seongnyeo.
Though called a Mangja Seongnyeo, at the core, she couldn’t utter lies unless she neglects her humanity, and loathes the lies of others while engaging in her own deceit was impossible. So, Shia would likely strive to keep her word.
“Haah…”
– Hey, hurry up, lol!
– Scared?
– Are you scared, Streamer?
– You could still leave now…
– If you defect, it’s hell for you, haha!
– Eek
– Hell!
– Ah!
‘I was wrong to trust them…’
Shia took a deep breath and gently knocked on the door.
Knock, knock, knock
“Who is… Ah, you are….!”
Not long after, the door opened, revealing a very kind-looking married elf.
– Wow
– Wow, wow
– So beautiful!
– Are her motherly qualities real?
Of course, with elves, basic appearances were outstanding.
Though she looked like she was in her early 30s by human standards, her looks were strikingly youthful and serene, with narrow eyes seemingly as though they were closed.
She flinched slightly at the unexpected visitor and stepped back a little from Shia.
“Hello, ma’am.”
“…..You are the outsider. What business do you have at my home?”
“If it’s not too much trouble, may I come inside to talk?”
“……”
Shia tried to show a friendly smile while slightly bowing her head, but the married elf still seemed tense.
“What’s that next to you? Is it holographic? What is it…?”
“Don’t worry. The filter is properly applied, so your identity won’t be revealed. Just think of it as a camera to record the situation.”
But maybe her body wouldn’t be so hidden.
Of course, the filter would thoroughly apply, so it wouldn’t infringe on any ethical standards.
“These days, the Great Forest has been quite lively with impostors, hasn’t it? So, I’ve been going from house to house to check for any potential impostors.”
“Ha, you speak as if there’s something wrong with me? I have nothing to say to you.”
“Ma’am, please don’t shut me down…”
“I have nothing to say to an outsider, and my husband isn’t home either. And as for recording? Do you think I’m foolish enough to ramble into that strange machine? Please, leave.”
The married elf said sharply, and with a friendly smile, Shia stepped closer to the door.
“Hohoho, ma’am.”
“W-What? Don’t come any closer…”
Thud!
“Ah!”
Shia lightly tapped the wall with a serene expression.
With her basic strength being quite powerful, even a soft tap caused a strong vibration in the wall.
“What kind of… what are you doing…?!”
The married elf appeared frightened by the sudden wall crash.
Given Shia stood a head taller than the married elf, she had to look up to see the shadowy face of Shia.
“Ma’am, you shouldn’t underestimate me just because I’m an outsider…”
“W-What do you mean?”
“Sure, I am an outsider, but I have received authority from Lady Olgania and Elder Antamia for home investigations, and I’m currently acting as the temporary vice commander of the Lotus Lake Knight Order.”
“………!”
The previous warm and gentle atmosphere evaporated, leaving Shia with an eerie, intimidating demeanor.
Despite having the same beautiful smile, the married elf couldn’t comprehend how such a different feeling emerged from it.
Moreover, the large, grotesque tentacle extending from Shia’s waist appeared poised to wrap around the married elf’s entire body, making her shiver with fear, as she was naturally timid.
“You may disregard me as an outsider, but is that how you disregard Lady Olgania, the last child of the World Tree, and Elder Antamia?”
“Th-That wasn’t…!”
Regardless of everything, disregarding the child of the World Tree could lead to ostracism within elf society.
Even if it would later be revealed as false, just the mere doubt of it sparking could complicate and burden her life significantly.
“Don’t give me the excuse of not knowing. Look, my insignia is right here! Do you think the matter would resolve just by saying you didn’t know?”
The married elf’s face hardened at the mention of disregarding the World Tree’s child.
No, she never intended to.
‘What if I bring trouble to my husband and daughter because of this…?’
Wracked by her own fears, she began to tremble.
“I-I’m sorry! It’s my fault! Just punish me!”
“Calm down and have a seat.”
“Ugh, yes…”
With a gentle yet chilling smile, Shia guided the married elf inside and had her sit on a plush wooden sofa.
By now, the drone camera was capturing the scene with the wife in focus.
“So, if I want to settle this matter, you’ll need to listen to me closely.”
“Yes…”
“Then first, what’s your name?”
“Ugh, um…”
Thud!
“Ma’am.”
Shia gently lifted the married elf’s chin, and the squirming tentacles began to creep closer around her.
“Yeeek…!”
“Ma’am, remain calm. It’s just a simple question, right?”
Under Shia’s entrancing gaze, a strange mix of dread and allure danced across the married elf’s expression.
“…I’m Jernoaplanusrenkoria.”
“You’re Lady Jernoaplanusrenkoria, aren’t you? And your age?”
“I’m 323 years old…”
323 years. By appearance, she might look like she was in her early 30s human-wise.
“Ah, that’s great. We’ll finish up soon. You mentioned you have a husband, do you have any children?”
“…I have a daughter in the Surveillance Corps.”
“I see. You must be proud of her, huh?”
“Please don’t touch my daughter!”
“What strange misunderstanding do you have, madam? I’m just trying to hold a simple conversation.”
However, Lady Jernoaplanus was already imagining being ambushed by this ruffian in her mind, thoroughly intimidated.
“Well then, is this your first experience like this?”
“Y-Yes…”
A mixture of fear and slight excitement crossed Lady Jernoaplanus’s face as she gazed up at Shia with a longing expression.
“This experience…” the thought crossed her mind, ‘What could she mean?’
Swallowing deeply, Lady Jernoaplanus felt emotions of excitement, fear, and obscure anticipation welling within her as she looked toward Shia.
Her stature was challenging, and her chest was both beautiful and generous…
She seemed frightening yet manly…
An outsider, a filthy outsider— the coercive aspect was scary but also compelling…
Lady Jernoaplanus’s gaze turned dreamy as she regarded Shia’s bright smile.
“Thank you for your cooperation, ma’am! Then have a great night!”
“Huh…?”
Thud!
Without warning, Shia dashed out of Lady Jernoaplanus’s house.
Filled with unexplainable anticipation, Lady Jernoaplanus could only stare blankly at the closed door, stunned.
○○○○
“Ahhhhhhhh!!!”
– Hahahahahaha
– Hahahaha
– Hahahahaha
– Hahahahahahaha
– This is legendary, haha!
– You’ve got to save this, haha!
– Haha!
– Watching this, I was laughing all the way through!
– Still, I admit you are scary yet cool, haha!
– So fine!
“Ah! Stop it, AGH!!”
Shia clutched her head, banging it against the tree while glancing at what had come up on the roulette.
And that was [Talk like an intimidating AV director from the Yakuza].
“AAAAAAAAAAAAAH!”
Thud! Thud! Thud!
“AHHHHHHHHHH!”
– Hahahahahaha
– Ah, this is comedy broadcasting, haha!
– Skit broadcasting, haha!
– For real, haha!
– Wow, you really nailed it, Streamer.
That day, Shia realized one thing.
These damned scoundrels could manage to do all sorts of wickedness, even with all filters applied.
