I Became My Elf King Character In A Game-Like World
Chapter 33: Sonething’s Wrong

Chapter 33: Sonething’s Wrong

Lyra looked worried. "But stories say unicorns are friends with the Elves. Won’t catching them make the elves mad?"

She tilted her head, her gold hair falling over her shoulder. She felt uneasy thinking about upsetting the kind elves.

"Don’t worry about it, Miss Lyra," Theron said with a small grin. "The Elves aren’t strong like they used to be. They’ve lost their old power. Even their Elf King and most of their leaders disappeared a year ago. Without them, the elves can’t protect themselves. They might not last much longer."

He waved his hand like it didn’t matter, his metal glove shining in the sun. To him, the elves were weak and fading away.

Lyra looked sad. "The elves are so pretty and nice. It’d be awful if they were gone."

She chewed her lip, her eyes getting watery. She loved the elf stories, their beauty and love for nature. Losing them felt like losing something magical.

Theron’s mouth moved into a little frown. "Pretty or not, they’re nothing next to a good sword."

He touched his sword’s handle, feeling the worn grip. He didn’t care about beauty, just things that were strong and useful. To him, the Elves were just old news waiting to disappear.

He kept talking, sounding practical. "Miss Lyra, have fun in their land these next few days. This might be our last trade with them."

He moved in his saddle, and his horse made a quiet sound. His words felt heavy, like he knew something was ending.

Lyra looked puzzled. "Knight Theron, why do you say that?"

She leaned out more, sounding worried. She didn’t get why this trip might be the last.

Theron’s eyes got serious. "I heard a strong group of hired fighters in a City is planning to go after the Elves. And some rich people from that city are helping them."

He stopped for a second, letting her think about it. His jaw got tight as he thought about those greedy folks.

Then he smiled, but it wasn’t a happy smile. "Miss Lyra, you know how rich people love nice things. If they can buy an elf girl as a slave, they’ll pay tons of gold without thinking twice."

He laughed a little, but it wasn’t funny. He shook his head like it was normal.

Lyra’s face turned red with anger. "They won’t win!"

She bawled her fists, her voice loud and strong. The idea of the sweet elves being taken made her feel sick.

Theron let out a breath. "When the Elf King was here, those rich folks stayed away. But now, without their king, the Elves can’t fight back against greedy fighters and lords."

He lifted his shoulders again, his armor making a soft noise. He didn’t think it was his job to care, the elves should’ve been stronger.

Lyra’s eyes got big and quick. " Theron, you’re a ninth-circle knight! You’re super strong—my father trusts you a lot. You can save the elves!"

Theron shook his head, his expression firm. "Lady Lyra, I am a Templar Knight. Protecting the Elves is a duty best left to Guardian Knights. Though not all of them remain true to their vows, it is still better than letting the elves fall into the hands of those nobles."

Lyra fell silent. As much as she wished otherwise, she had no authority over Theron. He was a Ninth-circle Knight, the leader of the Knights, and sworn to serve her father.

His presence in the caravan was not because of her request but because of the unicorns rumored to have entered the Forest where monsters and Elves resides. If not for that, he would never have joined this journey.

...

..

.

Time passed quickly, and under the escort of knights and mages, the merchant caravan reached the outskirts of the Elves’ Territory without trouble.

A knight rode up beside Theron, his tone uncertain. "Sir, something strange is going on."

Theron frowned. "What is it?"

"On our way here, the closer we got to the elves land, the fewer magical beasts we encountered. Now, there are almost none in sight. Not just that, even those cowardly goblins and Kobolds, who scurry at the first sign of danger, have vanished completely."

Theron’s frown deepened. "That is strange." He turned his gaze toward the distant forest.

For the past few miles, he had felt an eerie sensation, as if unseen eyes were watching his every move. The mages in the carriages had likely sensed the same, but despite their best efforts, no detection spell revealed the source of this unseen presence.

"Could it be the work of the Elves?" he muttered under his breath. "But they’re supposed to be weak now. How could they—"

Before he could finish his thought, the forest ahead trembled, the trees shaking violently. The sound of countless footsteps echoed through the air.

Theron’s instincts flared, and he roared, "Prepare for battle! Defend the caravan!"

The knights reacted instantly, drawing their gleaming swords and forming tight defensive formations.

Their armor clanked as they raised their shields, bracing for the oncoming horde. The mages emerged from their carriages, their elegant robes fluttering as they gripped their magic-infused staffs.

Among them stood an elderly man whose very presence radiated powerful arcane energy.

The old mage, his face marked with years of wisdom, frowned. "Theron, what is happening?"

Theron guided his horse closer, speaking with urgency. "Archmage Gorren , there’s movement in the trees ahead—something big. Judging by the sound, we could be looking at hundreds of magical beasts, but their exact rank is unknown."

Gorren ’s brow furrowed. "Strange... We are less than five hundred meters from the Elves’ land. Why would so many beasts be gathering here? Unless..." His expression darkened. "Unless their Territory has already fallen to them."

Lyra, who had been anxiously watching from her carriage, leaned out the window. "Whaatt! If the elves are under attack, we must hurry to help them!"

The archmage shook his head. "Not yet."

Lifting his staff, he summoned a surge of fire magic, heat rippling in waves around him. "First, we deal with whatever is coming."