SEVERAL hours later…
Takuto’s Scout seemed to be doing a good job exploring the area as the layout of their surroundings gradually dispersed the fog of war. To a strategy game player, information is an indispensable resource. Coupled with their current situation, intel was worth more than gold.
Relieved of the uneasiness and sense of impending crisis he didn’t even know he was feeling, Takuto took a breath and decided to share what he’d learned with Atou.
“How is it going?”
“Not bad. I’ve got a general grasp of the nearby terrain, but it’s just trees, trees, and more trees. Maybe we’re in the middle of a huge forest. Oh, and our bug friend hasn’t encountered any wild animals or monsters.”
Aside from ensuring their immediate safety, Long-legged Bug wasn’t sending back very interesting information. The forest just continued on endlessly without offering anything of value.
Perhaps there were still things they hadn’t discovered yet, but it was hard to tell with their current Surveying skill. It didn’t help that Long-legged Bug liked to explore in random circles, causing the map to take on a warped shape in Takuto’s mind.
“So the whole area is forest? Forest Terrains are ideal for hiding with their Concealment effect that works on normal units, but…it’s odd for there not only to be a lack of monsters, but no wildlife either.”
“There also aren’t any Food Icons. Looks like we’ll have to continue scouting for a while.”
“I’m sorry I can’t be of more help…”
Atou bowed deeply with a sad frown creasing her brow. She seemed seriously bothered by the fact she couldn’t do anything for Takuto. Obviously, her looking more depressed than a puppy who just got scolded didn’t slip his notice.
“Don’t be sorry. Just you being here with me is a huge help, Atou.”
The words he selected to cheer her up seemed to hit the spot. Takuto didn’t mean anything profound by his casual remark. But as soon as she heard it, Atou looked back at him with shimmering eyes and flushed cheeks.
Takuto finally understood the extent to which she respected, admired, and adored him as her king. Atou was the type of person who took everything he said more seriously than he intended.
“M-My king… I am moved beyond words!”
“R-Really? I’m glad you’re happy.”
Takuto came face to face with how much she respected him when she leaned forward to express her joy. As someone who’d never experienced unbridled affection from a girl before, he felt flustered by it but also happy to have someone he could interact with like this. Even if that someone was a video game’s hero of destruction who commanded the forces of ruin…
Atou’s supposed to be the Hero unit of an evil civilization, but she has a surprisingly cute and playful side…
Aside from her pointy ears and blood-red eyes, Atou seemed like any other sweet and innocent girl her age as she gazed with starry-eyed fondness at Takuto. He was more than a little surprised to learn the hero of an evil civilization had such an adorable personality.
Now that I think about it, what was Atou’s personality supposed to be in the flavor text?
Takuto pondered that question for a long moment. Oddly enough, he couldn’t remember a single detail that would’ve been written about her character to add depth to the game world.
“King…! King Takuto! Are you listening to me?”
“Whoa! Wh-What was that? Sorry, I zoned out for a second.”
His doubts instantly vanished when Atou leaned in extra close to get his attention. She was too content with his attention returning to her to notice he was feigning calm to prevent her from catching on to his racing heart.
“Are you all right? Do you feel sick somewhere?”
“I’m fine. Just got lost in thought, is all. Don’t worr—Hm? Our bug scout is contacting me.”
“I’m glad you aren’t ill. Did the Scout find something?”
Takuto nodded and concentrated on the image in his head.
He had practiced sharing Long-legged Bug’s vision plenty of times before this, so he accessed it with ease now. The image of stealthily looking down from up so high in the trees that the fall would kill a weaker unit flowed into his mind. Takuto couldn’t clearly distinguish the details because the Scout’s eyes constantly darted around, but he saw what looked like a settlement and people.
Pale skin, silver hair, long, pointed ears—if memory served him well, those traits belonged to the race called Dark Elves.
“Is that a Dark Elf settlement? They seem to be grouped together in a location not far from here.”
Takuto explained exactly what he saw to Atou with his eyes closed and his attention concentrated on the images that continued to flow into his mind.
Atou didn’t bother her master with redundant questions. She drew her conclusions based solely on the information he provided her.
“I suppose we can safely assume we’re in a fantasy world now. Dark Elves are neutral but swing closer to neutral evil, so that’s a bit of a relief.”
Once he finished confirming the map marker, Takuto stopped sharing the Scout’s vision and rubbed the corners of his eyes. While they didn’t gain much insight beyond the fact there was a Dark Elf settlement nearby, that was exactly the kind of information they were after. This discovery drastically limited their options in this new world and did nothing to reduce the mountain of problems they had to tackle.
“Does this mean we really are in the world of Eternal Nations? Either way, I want to tread carefully in case of the unexpected. They could be neutral good Dark Elves, too—and they’re hecka close. We’re screwed if that’s another empire’s starter base.”
“Bordering another empire this early in the game is the worst thing possible…”
“It’s a shitty starter location, that’s for sure…”
“If it comes down to it, let’s run far away, my king.”
“I’m with you there. To run is to win. Mynoghra loves peace and quiet after all.”
“Right? War is such a barbaric thing!”
They shared a laugh and began formulating their plan.
Worst-case scenario, our lives are in danger. But what will be will be.
Takuto thought it a little strange how calm and optimistic he was in such a dangerous situation, but all his doubts were washed away by the aura of respect coming from Atou. Ultimately, he was okay with whatever happened, as long as he had her by his side.
“Okay, I’ve got a plan! Why don’t we observe those Dark Elves and get more info on them first? If they look like they’re too much to handle, we can just run for it.”
“We can just flee into the night together! I’m all for that plan, my king!”
They raised their fists into the air and enthusiastically settled on that plan. They were acting a bit like children playing House, but there was no one around to put a stop to their antics—
—until there was.
Just as Atou finished layering Takuto with praise, they heard the trees rustle, and a couple of twigs snap underfoot. Atou immediately switched gears from playing along with their lighthearted banter, sharply turning toward the source like a poisonous viper ready to attack. Takuto looked in the same direction a few seconds after she did.
“Crap…”
A group of several people stepped out of the trees. Their race looked familiar, despite Takuto seeing them in-person for the first time.
They were the Dark Elves he and Atou had just been discussing.