Chapter 4

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Chapter 4: "Why Are You Rewarding Me?"

Lin Lin walked side by side with the Dark Elf. It had just rained, and the sky was gray. Lin Lin stepped into the muddy ground, one foot deep and the other shallow.

The human settlement was not very close to the demon realm, but the Dark Elf had his own methods.

Just after leaving the castle, when Felix reached out his hand to Lin Lin, she thought to herself that this guy was truly considerate and not as cold as he seemed. But the next moment, she found herself hoisted onto his shoulder like a sack of sand.

The Dark Elf was thin, with hardly any meat on his shoulders. Lin Lin barely had time to grab his cloak like a squirrel before being shot forward like a cannonball.

With her abdomen against his bony, hard shoulder, Lin Lin was thankful she hadn’t eaten too much the night before; otherwise, she would have thrown up everything.

Lin Lin didn’t even have time to see the forests and caves they passed by. She could only feel the changing light around her. It wasn’t until the elf finally slowed down that she couldn’t help but pound on his back, signaling him to put her down.

Felix stood calmly by, watching Lin Lin as she leaned against a tree and gagged.

She didn’t throw up anything, and Lin Lin quietly wiped her mouth, looking towards their destination.

In the distance, she could see the human village, resembling the small towns from detective shows Lin Lin watched in college that were often full of hidden dangers. It had typical American-style loose buildings, with white walls and red roofs, surrounded by fences.

Lin Lin regretted wearing a thin dress; the wind was still a bit cold. She tentatively tugged at the Dark Elf’s cloak, but he did not react.

Lin Lin lifted one corner of the cloak and draped it over her arm.

Until they got closer to the village.

Lin Lin let go of Felix’s cloak and naturally stepped forward to take the lead in the talks as a human.

The Dark Elf under the cloak glanced at her but did not speak.

Lin Lin walked towards a little boy crouching at the village entrance, watching ants carry things. He had dark red curly hair, clearly visible freckles on his nose, and wasn’t very tall. He looked like the kind of NPC who appears in the first episode of a hero comic to guide the main character.

It’s you! The guide who will start my new adventure in the world!

"Hello, may I ask…"

Just as Lin Lin started to speak, the boy looked up and screamed, "Don’t eat me!"

The adventure in the new world has come to an end!

Lin Lin covered her ears, turned to look at the Dark Elf, but found that the other’s face was completely hidden under the hood.

Oh, are you talking to me?

Lin Lin touched her face, making sure she hadn’t touched any scales or fluffy fur in Demon King Castle, and seriously explained to the boy, "Is there a misunderstanding between us? I don’t eat children."

Maybe this closed town has never seen an Asian face? Lin Lin comforted herself.

When she got closer, the boy kept backing away, looking completely scared and trembling, "Witch! A black-haired witch has come to eat people!"

The boy jumped up faster than a rabbit and quickly disappeared into the village.

Lin Lin turned to the Dark Elf, "Do you know that black hair is seen as a sign of a witch?"

"Yes." The Dark Elf did not hide it, "Especially in these remote villages, they are more convinced that black-haired witches will bring disaster."

Lin Lin looked closely at the quietly dressed Dark Elf and finally understood what felt wrong.

This guy probably doesn’t like her very much.

Even though he followed the Demon King’s orders, he didn’t mind causing her a bit of trouble over small things.

Lin Lin sighed; for some reason, several faces of former coworkers flashed in her mind at that moment.

One benefit of being a workaholic is knowing your place and not expecting too much from others. So, this little trouble didn’t bother Lin Lin.

"So how do we get food?" Lin Lin asked, "You’re so capable; you must have a way."

Another benefit of being a workaholic is knowing how to talk to anyone; Lin Lin could easily flatter any passerby.

The Dark Elf paused at Lin Lin’s straightforward compliment; there was no tradition among Dark Elves to praise others, and other beings rarely showed kindness to Dark Elves.

So, was she mocking him? Dark Elves often suspect others of having bad intentions.

But Felix did not care about these things.

"We can go to the warehouse… to get some food." Felix looked at Lin Lin, he knew that some humans were too proud and foolish and considered stealing shameful.

Then he heard a woman’s voice that sounded very relaxed, "Sure."

No wonder she was chosen by the Demon King, accepting this method without hesitation.

–

Lin Lin had to admit that Dark Elves were indeed a special kind of elf.

Although they had the traditional tall bodies and nimble hands of elves, they did not have the same high-minded character; instead, they were better at doing sneaky things.

However, Lin Lin was not sure if this five-star assassin had ever stolen sweet potatoes from someone else’s home before; it would be quite embarrassing to say it out loud.

Felix quickly stuffed sweet potatoes and cabbages from the warehouse into bags, and the two of them successfully stole a lot of food during the chaos when that little brat was shouting, "The witch is here!" throughout the village.

Lin Lin grabbed a handful of dried noodles and stuffed them into her bag to improve her meals.

The Dark Elf glanced up but didn’t say much.

Lin Lin spoke first, "You can’t have stew without noodles."

The Dark Elf calmly lowered his gaze.

How frustrating! No one in this world understands the fun of a northeastern accent!

Lin Lin didn’t know the prices in this world, but she thought the Demon King’s salary was pretty good. She estimated and took out two gold coins from her pocket, placing them on the wooden box that was meant for sweet potatoes.

"What are you doing?" the Dark Elf asked softly.

He wasn’t really asking Lin Lin what she was doing; the Dark Elf had good eyesight, he just didn’t understand her actions.

Lin Lin thought for a moment, "A trade?"

After all, the people in this village would not sell things to a "black-haired witch" like her. To get food, she could only use somewhat shady methods.

The Dark Elf frowned, "One gold coin is enough for you to pack these things."

"Oh, thank you," Lin Lin took back one of the two gold coins she had placed there and changed the price.

Felix was not correcting her on the price of sweet potatoes; from the Dark Elf’s point of view, Lin Lin was acting like a fool.

What was she doing, wasting gold coins?

Felix did not speak again; he reached out and took the gold coins that Lin Lin had placed on the box.

Lin Lin’s eyes widened; she vaguely guessed that the Dark Elf belonged to the underground creatures and had no morals. She did not want to argue with Felix here and placed another coin on the wooden box.

The quick-handed Dark Elf took another one.

Goodness, are you stocking up with me?

Lin Lin got fired up; she placed a coin on the wooden box and glared at the Dark Elf.

Instead, Felix spoke first. His tone was not good, his voice still low and quiet, like he was questioning someone who wasn’t thinking clearly, "What are you doing!"

Lin Lin lowered her voice, "We took his things; I should give him some compensation."

The Dark Elf had a completely opposite thought, "If the master doesn’t see it, our actions aren’t stealing. A nine-year-old child knows what to do."

If the master finds out, shouldn’t it be called robbery?

Lin Lin grabbed the Dark Elf’s arm to stop this stubborn Dark Elf from taking the gold coins again. She lifted her head and leaned closer to the elf’s face under the cloak, "A nine-year-old human child wouldn’t act like this."

Lin Lin saw Felix’s cold and mocking expression clearly. Because the Dark Elf’s face was always hidden under the hood and he didn’t speak up, she had thought he was a quiet, expressionless person, but now it seemed that wasn’t entirely true.

The two of them stood frozen in the dark warehouse for two seconds.

Felix was the first to look away.

Lin Lin noticed that whenever she looked directly into the Dark Elf’s eyes, Felix would quickly look away.

The elf’s long eyelashes hid the feelings in his eyes, seeming to instinctively avoid eye contact.

It is the same in the animal world; the weaker party will look away first to show submission and avoid further conflict. This is a quiet form of compromise.

Felix softened his stance, "You lead the way."

Lin Lin narrowed her eyes; although Felix had his own plans, if she showed a bit of firmness, he would quickly yield. This feeling of submission clearly went beyond the task given by the Demon King and felt more instinctual.

This was really strange because he was much stronger than her, yet when she grabbed his arm, he acted like a cat whose neck was pinched.

Lin Lin felt an awkwardness, as if a great battle was approaching and the opponent suddenly surrendered. She quieted down and pulled her hand back.

In the silence, the Dark Elf raised his head first, his eyes becoming sharp and alert.

Before Lin Lin could ask anything, the Dark Elf reached out and pulled her into his embrace, quickly kneeling down behind an old bookshelf in the warehouse to hide.

Lin Lin’s face bumped into the young man’s chest. Luckily, the elf liked to wear soft and friendly woven clothes, so Lin Lin only hit the soft fabric and the warm, strong body; her nose didn’t hurt much.

Unlike Lin Lin’s confused slowness, Felix was on guard for the person opening the warehouse door.

He worried that the red-haired monkey might have shouted "black-haired witch," attracting nearby warriors or rangers. Those poor folks would take any job if there was money involved.

Although Felix could handle them, it would make things very complicated. No Dark Elf wanted to invite trouble; they preferred to deal with their targets when they were alone or to use poison and arrows in quick and simple ways, then leave swiftly.

As the key turned, the door made squeaking sounds.

Felix noticed that, after the door made noise, the human woman in his arms visibly tensed up. She grabbed tightly onto his shirt at his chest, and her breathing became quick and shallow.

She was not afraid of Dark Elves but feared humans.

Felix almost felt like laughing; if he were the one to enter, the Dark Elf would immediately notice her sharp and quick breaths, soon realizing there was an inexperienced little thief trying to steal.

Fortunately, the visitor was not a warrior or a ranger, but just an ordinary farmer. The man cursed as he brushed off the dirt from his pants, seemingly losing an argument with his wife, and was scolded to come and work.

The box was tightly closed, so the farmer did not notice the warehouse had been stolen from. He stood on his toes to reach the thick rope tangled around a nail in the wall.

Then, the farmer hesitated a bit and slowly turned around.

This was truly just a simple ant to deal with. Felix quietly pressed the woman, who was trying to peek at the situation, back against his chest. A long, dark hand, belonging to an underground creature, rested on Lin Lin’s neck and gently stroked her for comfort.

Like the Forest Elves cherished by nature, Dark Elves also have a natural talent for taming animals. Their light touch does not cause any dislike.

Felix adjusted his wrist gently with one hand, focusing intently on the farmer, while the hidden crossbow in his sleeve made a quiet sound, ready for the target to come closer.

Although Lin Lin did not know the exact situation, she caught a glimpse of the crossbow hidden in Felix’s wrist.

She also heard the farmer talking to himself and guessed that the owner of the warehouse had returned.

Felix was preparing to attack this human. Realizing this, Lin Lin became alert.

The Dark Elf had calmly told her before that he had killed humans.

If the Dark Elf attacks, the farmer might lose his life.

Lin Lin tried to pull Felix’s wrist with the hidden dart, but this time it was not as easy to grab as the coin. Felix quickly dodged her and aimed the hidden dart at the farmer, who was unaware of everything.

Just like before, if Lin Lin didn’t show a strong attitude, the Dark Elf would do whatever he wanted.

Lin Lin watched as his dark-like arm paused at the right angle, and there were no emotions in the Dark Elf’s silver eyes; he was an empty killing machine.

How can I interrupt him?

Should I be tough? How tough should I be?

Countless old, dramatic scenes flashed through Lin Lin’s mind.

Lin Lin grabbed Felix’s arm that was aimed, and with her other hand, she punched the Dark Elf in the side of the face.

The movement was small but the force was strong, and the sound was covered by the farmer’s footsteps.

Lin Lin’s eyes widened, she held her breath, her heart was racing, and more than fear, she felt embarrassment.

What if the Dark Elf called her crazy! She really did feel a little crazy right now!

She must not let the embarrassment continue! Lin Lin was the type who reviewed her life’s embarrassing moments before going to sleep each night.

Time seemed to press the pause button as Lin Lin watched the Dark Elf slowly turn around.

Felix lowered his head slightly, looking a bit surprised.

Lin Lin’s eyes were still wide open. Without giving him a chance to react, she firmly covered the Dark Elf’s mouth with her hand to stop him from saying anything frightening.

The farmer picked up a piece of leather that he had carelessly thrown on the ground and then walked out of the warehouse.

Lin Lin’s tense feelings relaxed; she withdrew her hand from covering his mouth, her hand shaking a little.

Lin Lin felt the Dark Elf still staring at her, as if waiting for her to speak first.

"You can’t kill him, he is innocent," Lin Lin explained. "We can’t steal his things and then kill him."

The Dark Elf lifted his thin eyelids and replied, "You have already left coins."

Lin Lin stopped arguing with him and changed her tone, tilting her head and kindly apologizing, "I didn’t mean to. Does your face hurt?"

The Dark Elf’s reaction was calmer than she had expected.

"Hmm? You didn’t mean to?" The Dark Elf stretched out his words, seeming a bit confused. "Weren’t you trying to reward me?"

Lin Lin’s face, which had shown regret, went blank for two seconds. "What reward?"

She was more confused than the Dark Elf.

"Oh." Felix lowered his head, recalling that in human culture, it was also a blessing if women didn’t use violence, "It’s nothing."

He wouldn’t be angry about being punched because Lin Lin couldn’t cause him any serious harm. Only real harm was a punishment. According to the Dark Elf, whatever this weak woman did to him was a reward.

Then Felix felt Lin Lin’s breath pause for a moment again.

The Dark Elf’s senses were truly sharp; even without using his eyes, he could read complex feelings like hesitation, testing, and apology from her slightly paused breath.

Well, the young Dark Elf thought with some disdain, maybe in human culture, Lin Lin really did something very offensive, which is why she was so nervous.

It’s really ridiculous; Felix felt the lingering pain on his face. If she was truly sorry for that, she wouldn’t have hit him. Her apology was just a cheap candy given out of fear of Dark Elf retaliation.

Felix wanted to leave this place quickly and finish the task.

However, the woman in front of him reached out her hand.

Then, the face that had just been punched and was slightly hot was gently touched by the human woman’s hand.

Humans have a higher body temperature than Dark Elves, so even the skin that wasn’t hit was getting warm.

Felix looked up at the human in front of him. Her skin was softer and moister, unlike the dry and tight skin of Dark Elves; the places touched by her fingers seemed to leave a damp mark.

Felix rarely interacted with women, let alone in this gentle state, gazed at by soft, warm eyes.

She shouldn’t look at him like that; Felix averted his gaze. She should feel disgusted, afraid, and disdainful—those were the feelings he was more used to.

It was a strange feeling; Felix couldn’t help tilting his head, feeling a slight tingle where he was touched.

Then, he heard the woman’s gentle voice, "Now, this is a reward."

Lin Lin petted the Dark Elf’s face as if she were touching the black cat downstairs, discovering that treating non-humans the same way as animals was more effective.

Just as she guessed, the Dark Elf’s silver eyes flickered; he became a bit gentler, seemingly pleased with the closeness shown by her actions.

The Dark Elf’s ebony hand slowly covered Lin Lin’s left hand, the one she used to touch his face, its colder temperature and dark color overshadowing her pale skin, like darkness clinging to purity.

Lin Lin felt the young man gently grasp her hand, as if testing how fragile her soft, untrained hands were; upon noticing her frown, he immediately let go.

Lin Lin also felt this was a playful touch, like being scratched by a cat.

But if there was a kind old hunter who had dealt with the Dark Elf here, he would tell Lin Lin.

The Dark Elf likes to test everything that interests him.