9. First Encounter
[Ogilid saved the Saintess Izalis of Rodland!]
The script indicates that the content within is also my actions! In this urgent situation, where I had no time to deliberate or even consult with Kephiel and Nilu, I could only decide my actions based on the current circumstances!
Keeping a low profile and quickly leaving like the frightened bystanders after the crisis would certainly pose no immediate danger to us. But… this way, not only would we be unable to understand the unexpected outcome, but if the kingdom were to launch a “major search” afterward, I, as a person with no identity, would still face trouble.
On the other hand, if I chose to lend a hand, it would indeed be a risk to stand out, but the outcome would likely be better than passively waiting!
Thus, before everything reached a conclusion and it was too late to inform Kephiel and Nilu of what to do, I chose to let Zelus transform into a shadow and extend outward!
As I surveyed the scene, taking advantage of the moment when everyone was “deep in prayer,” the assailant had already nimbly leaped in front of the Saintess with a short sword in hand! She had clearly avoided the guards protecting the Saintess, choosing to disguise herself among the crowd and suddenly emerge. But this time… she clearly did not expect that someone like me was also present in the crowd!
“Die, witch… wha—!”
The shadow of Zelus transformed into claws, gripping the ankle of the elven assailant. Although I could only manage to “pull” her slightly, what I had done was already enough for a rescue!
“There’s an assassin attacking the Saintess!”
The guards responsible for protecting the Saintess, who had just been bowing their heads in “prayer,” certainly didn’t seem jealous. The moment I tripped the attacker, they surged forward to apprehend the culprit. Meanwhile, a series of explosive sounds suddenly erupted around the crowd! This was likely the attacker’s way of trying to escape amidst the chaos!
Unfortunately, this time, aside from scaring the surrounding elves into screaming and scattering, the attacker was no longer of any use!
【Boom】
The switch from tranquility to chaos happened in an instant! In the next moment, the scene here became a jumble! The sounds of the guards capturing the murderer; the cries of the onlookers who were startled and fled in all directions; the reminders from Kephiel and Nilu amidst the turmoil, all intertwined!
“雷锋” (Lei Feng) may have been done, but right now, I had no courage to step forward and tell the Saintess, “No need to thank me, I’m Red Scarf.” My identity here was still a huge hassle. I had just chosen to rescue her, worried that if this attack succeeded, it might affect the unfolding script, and it was definitely not because I wanted to appear as some wild prince in front of that elven girl.
But sometimes, the outcomes in the script always go against expectations!
【Izalis and Oquilid meet!】
I didn’t have time to ponder why the content of the script had suddenly turned so artsy and fresh, sounding like the beginning of a third-rate soap opera, because… the content within was anything but pleasant!
When I looked up again, was it because I was at the center of the event that I could notice everything happening here!? The Saintess of this kingdom, the elven girl named Izalis in the script, had already noticed me!
“……”
“……”
With our gazes locked, I couldn’t hide even if I wanted to! Moreover, this direct eye contact brought forth a question in my heart—why did I feel that this elven girl seemed so familiar to me!?
Clearly, this was something that couldn’t possibly happen! I and “the previous Nilu” had occasionally found some faint traces in the script that hinted at a connection with this fairy queen, but in this era, I didn’t even exist, so how could I possibly have any connection with this elf!?
Then this so-called “familiarity” couldn’t just be an illusion caused by her exceptional aura, could it? Besides, while it was one thing for me to look at the elven girl, it was entirely another for her to look at me—at least it wouldn’t be for the reason that “I’m handsome”!
“Oquilid! Your appearance!”
Kephiel’s reminder snapped me back to reality! Just now, in my attempt to stop the attacker, I had transformed the fairy Zelus, who was disguising me, into a different form. As a result, my current “appearance” was no longer that of the “white-haired elf” that had made Kephiel stifle her laughter this morning, but rather my original self!
【Izalis discovered Oquilid’s true appearance!】
The script appeared immediately, and it seemed that my earlier thoughts were purely narcissistic! The elf wasn’t looking at me with gratitude for being saved by this nameless hero; she had clearly recognized at the first moment that I was not the white-haired elf!
I was taken aback!
But tense as it was, I couldn’t let the trouble escalate any further!
“Zelus, come back!”
Before more people noticed that I was not in the guise of a white-haired elf, I recalled Zelus and disguised myself once more! The script didn’t present any further dangers at that moment, but unfortunately… there was one thing that could no longer be avoided—amidst the bustling crowd, it felt as if everything around me had quieted down. My gaze fell upon the saintess Izalis, who had likely recognized my ordinary human appearance the moment I saved her. She chose neither to expose my existence nor to act in any way; instead… from beginning to end, her eyes remained fixed on me!
Whether this was good or bad, I couldn’t tell, but one thing was certain: staying here would definitely bring trouble. The best course of action now was to take advantage of the surrounding elves who were frantically shouting to escape, and quietly slip away with the onlookers!
“Mr. O’Keefe, if we don’t leave soon, the three of us will stand out!”
“Exactly, O’Keefe, let’s get out of here first; otherwise, no one will thank you for your heroic rescue later!”
Nilu and Kfir’s reminders finally snapped me back to reality. Indeed, fixating on the saintess in such a noisy environment made it impossible for me to communicate with her! As for the elf seemingly aware of my true identity, we would be well disguised moving forward, and if we managed to escape, it would take quite some time for anyone to trace us!
“Alright, Nilu, let’s disguise ourselves and leave. I’ll explain my reasons for doing this later.”
“Understood! Magnus, stir up some wind, and don’t let outsiders notice us!”
Summoning the fairy, we quickly blended into the scattered crowd, escaping under the cover of the wind spirit’s disguise.
Whether my actions were right or wrong, I couldn’t be sure; I had to take the risk for the sake of the “main plot.” Judging by the outcome, I should feel a bit relieved because… judging by the saintess Izalis’s earlier reaction, it was clear she had noticed me.
But… even after Kfir, Nilu, and I had escaped to a safe place, the contents of the script continued to replay in my mind…
Could it really put me at ease!?
【Izalis noticed O’Keefe!】
【Izalis noticed O’Keefe!】
【Izalis noticed O’Keefe!】
【Izalis noticed O’Keefe!】
……
The same message, like a mantra, kept “reminding” me. Was it really necessary for the script to repeat itself so many times!?