Hacking the Game Didn't Go as Intended

CHAPTER 218: The Forsaken Elfess

The Valendor Mountains loomed under the glow of the moon, their jagged peaks cloaked in ice and shadow. Snow blanketed the land in a thick sheet, interrupted only by the towering pines that swayed in the breeze.The wind howled, a haunting wail that echoed like a beast prowling in the darkness. A silver Eagleowl perched on a lofty limb, its head tiling 180 degrees, large yellow eyes fixed on a curious object below.

Nestled between the roots of an ancient fir, a single tent lay hidden beneath a veil of white. Camouflaged, it was barely more than a shadow in the night. The fabric trembled against the wind, the faint flicker of firelight barely visible through the seams.

Tiphanna stirred from her slumber with a soft, lazy moan, a rhythmic sound drumming in her ears.

It was oddly soothing.

Her fingertips drifted over the soft yet firm surface upon which her head rested. Her body was warm and comfortable, a stark contrast to the sheer cold she felt earlier. Unconsciously, she snuggled closer to the source of the gentle warmth.

When her eyes finally flickered open and her vision sharpened, she was stunned to find Daisuke—the golden-eyed shadow—sleeping peacefully next to her.

Before her flustered mind could even issue the command, her body—now hyperaware of his dangerous proximity—was already pulling away from him. Her breasts swayed from the sudden motion, small pink cherries almost visible through her still damp brassiere.

Tiphanna’s eyes widened at the sight of that, her face flushing bright pink. Embarrassed, she shuffled farther away, the blanket slipping off and pooling at her toes, revealing long, creamy legs and damp panties.

“—Nh-Ugh...”

The elf muttered something utterly incomprehensible, then her breath caught in her throat, the flush coloring her face now reaching up to the tip of her ears.

Her gaze hesitantly drifted upward, skimming over the hard planes of Daisuke’s bare chest, tracing the hard ridges of his abs—until the rest of him disappeared beneath a pair of boxers.

She swallowed, her eyes quivering with a storm of emotions. Her lips parted slowly, her gaze turning glassy, her chest rising and falling with each unsteady breath as her pulse thundered in her veins.

Suddenly—

Daisuke began to stir.

Alarmed, the anxious elf reached for the blanket and clumsily pulled it up to her nose.

“…You’re awake,” he murmured between his teeth, his handsome face far too composed considering their vulnerable state.

“H-Haxks!” she squeaked. “What’s happening?! What did you do with my clothes?!”

Daisuke gestured with his nose to something behind her. “They were drenched, so I had to remove them.”

Tiphanna glanced around at said garments that were affixed to a line next to the fire.

“You would’ve likely died from hyperthermia if I didn’t,” Daisuke added.

“B-But why are you also…,” her words suddenly trailed off and she averted her gaze shyly.

“Skin-to-skin contact was the best way to transfer heat and regulate your body temperature.”

“…It’s so unfair that you can say that with such a straight face,” Tiphanna murmured beneath her breath.

“Did you say something?”

The elf shook her head, her cheeks flushed. “I-I owe you my life. Thanks for coming to my rescue.”

“Of course, I wasn’t about to leave you behind.”

Tiphanna lowered her head, her eyes a bit glum. “…I didn’t think it was going to be possible for you to defeat that monster.”

“To be honest… me either,” Daisuke admitted with a faint smirk. “It's all thanks to the daggers you made. If I’d been stuck with my old weapons, we’d probably be fish food by now.”

Tiphanna shivered at the thought.

“By the way,” Daisuke began, sitting upright. “Back when we were fighting the Treant and you started falling, why didn’t you use your wind magic?”

The elf paused, her lips pressing to a thin line.

“…It’s okay,” Daisuke said, noting her discomfort. “Forget I asked.”

Tiphanna slowly shook her head. “No… after everything you’ve done for me, you deserve to know the truth.”

Daisuke arched one brow in question. “The truth?”

The girl lowered the blanket to her collarbones, her embarrassment replaced now by sorrow. After a long pause, she spoke.

“…The reason I didn’t use wind magic,” she whispered, recalling the moment her wooden relic got destroyed, “is because I’ve never been able to use wind magic.”

Daisuke’s frown deepened. “Huh? Correct me if I’m wrong, but aren’t elves inherently blessed by the wind spirits?”

Tiphanna’s pear green eyes narrowed, glossy with tears. “They are, but for some reason… I wasn’t.”

There was a moment of silence.

“I was constantly bullied by the children and met with scorn from the adults,” she continued bitterly, recalling the torment she endured at school and the way people openly sneered at her mother in the market.

“Believing I was merely a late bloomer, my mother did everything she could to help me awaken my dormant abilities. Wind magic embodies freedom, joy, and serenity, yet no matter how hard I tried, the element refused to heed my call. But—”

Tiphanna’s expression hardened into lines of grief. “When I got incredibly desperate, frustrated… angry,” something else answered my call.

Follow current ɴᴏᴠᴇʟs on ɴovel(ꜰ)ɪre.nᴇt