Shio knows the elf in front of him was shady.

He exudes an aura that is just like Shio's master and that is saying something. The fact of the matter is that a lot of things revolve around Andarel. However, when he voices his thought, the elf answers dismissively as if he knows better.

"Oh, you think this world revolves around me? You may think so, but it is wrong. The world revolves around someone else and we are just the nameless support character in their game."

The fact that he is dismissive is worse than if he would just insult Shio. He knows how to strike his ego just right. He talks down to him in a stealthy way. However, the worst thing is that Shio is starting to believe him. The way he is so sure of himself makes Shio believes in his lie, or truth. It was as if the elf knows many things that Shio doesn't and he sees something that no one else does.

The way he compares the world to a game strike Shio as weird. What game is he talking about, chess?

Well yes, Shio knows that the elf in front of him is a prodigy of chess. He caused master Te Celsa to lose his temper and almost exposed himself for a moment after all. However, he was not as good at chess as master Te Celsa. And that is saying something.

And yet, even that elf says that both Shio and him are just supporting character in the game, is he comparing them to a chess piece then. If this a game of chess, then who is the chessmaster? Shio serves master Te Celsa, but who does the elf serves, the elven king?

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'This human is just absurd. Clearly the game's main protagonist is Aradon and we are just living in his world.

... well yes, the first, second and FOURTH game are human's game. But let me have this okay?'

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One day, when Shio was investigating the master craftman Violet de Verre, who has permanently moved to the kingdom of Hafthor due to 'personal' reason, he was suddenly challenged by the wood elf to a game of chess.

"Ah, Violet is my girlfriend, that is why. You must be thinking why Violet moved to the capital city right? Violet is my side chick you see, and sometime the main wife."

Shio drops the piece he was holding. He didn't say that. He didn't say anything about Violet de Verre. In fact he didn't say anything at all since they started. Master Te Celsa used to say chess is a game of patience and contemplation. And diplomacy is like a game of chess, if you have nothing to say, don't say it. Don't let them gain anything from you.

"The old man has a better poker face. There is only one thing you would be annoyed about seeing my face. It is that Violet is my girlfriend. And you were just annoyed. I know the last few days you have been making a move on my girlfriend hah big guy?"

Shio wants to flip the table in rage.

Currently, they are being surrounded by a lot of witnesses. It was an impulse of the moment thing, however, Shio realizes it was the battlefield that the elf sets for him.

It was only an impulse, they were in the market, nearing miss Violet's store, and the elf calls him out.

However, currently, the elf is dragging his reputation through the mud accusing him of approaching on another man's girl.

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Worse of all, the elf was right. Shio is angry about a filthy knife ear stealing a renowned human artisan.

The fact that Violet de Verre moved to the capital city of Hafthor for 'personal' reason too may be related to this guy. The fact that he guessed it right as if he can read through Shio bruises his ego even more.

Shio was very annoyed. Violet de Verre, that woman was a good woman. That reputation was a good thing. And yet all she turns out to be another fucking knife-ear chaser. What does elf have that human don't?

And that elf, he is the worst of all.

He can't accept that that elf is the one dating a human woman. It is a disgraced. If he could slit the throat of both Violet de Verre and that damned elf, he would.

"Are you getting mad? You shouldn't, you should remember what master Te Celsa told you."

Shio slams his hand on the table.

He was getting a reaction out of him, and Shio was completely baited.

The moment he accepted that challenge because he hates that damn elf, not only was he signing up to get his reputation dragged through the mud, he was getting his master's reputation dragged through the mud too.

Just now, the elf was subtly establishing to the crowd that Shio was master Te Celsa's apprentice. The loss in Shio's reputation is a loss in master Te Celsa's reputation too.

In fact, it was a set up. All of it was a set up, Shio wanted to scream.

How did it come to this?

Shio was investigating the various glasses craftsman in town to find the one who has the ability to make such a perfect replica of the Idol of Solarii. Right now, the organization has no information or any idea about what is happening. It is complete chaos. Are they being attacked? Have the filthy elves discovered them? Was it an honest mistake? What happened?

The unknown is the scariest thing.

As if reading his mind, the elf chose that moment to speak up.

"Do you know about the story of the dark forest?" Andarel asks. "It is not a story many knows but once upon a time there was an army.

The army is the best army in the world, well trained, well fed, well equipped. They are considered the greatest empire in the world.

Then, one day, that army marches into a dark forest. And after that, there was no after that. The best army in the world perishes because of an enemy they didn't know about before hand. They didn't know that they would be attacked in the dark forest. Their best discipline break under the chaos while their enemies thrive in the chaos. After that, all of them die and the only one who marches out are the unknown force.

The best army in the world loses to a force their lesser, a force that they outnumbered. A force they won't even consider if they were in an open field. And yet in the end, they still lost. And the reason for it is very simple-"

Before Andarel can finish his word and then dick down Shio's entire chess position, an explosion causes both of them to look up.

A woman is holding a man angrily by the scuff of his clothes while dangerous energy particles are emiting from behind her.

"You bastard. I can't believe you dare do this to me after how much I have done for you."

Both Andarel and Shio stare at it, not knowing what the situation is.

Now this is truly a dark forest scenario.