"Not talking, huh?" Kenley frowned.

  "Take off her hood," he ordered Tia.

  Tia nodded, stepped forward, and slowly pulled back the ranger's hood.

  The moment it was removed, a cascade of golden hair spilled down like a waterfall, stunning Kenley for a brief second.

  Judging by her appearance, if she were an elf, she wouldn't be more than two hundred years old—which, in human terms, was about the same as reaching adulthood.

  So young… and already a ranger?

  Kenley was momentarily surprised.

  In his experience, most NPC rangers he had encountered were at least four or five hundred years old, some even older.

  (Of course, players didn't count. Players were a different breed altogether—the younger they were, the more reckless they tended to be.)

  "Talk. Why were you following us?"

  Kenley had no intention of going easy on her.

  She might be young and beautiful, but an enemy was an enemy.

  From the very start, she had been tracking him in secret—there was little chance she had good intentions.

  People often romanticized elves, but Kenley had dealt with plenty of them before.

  And he knew not all elves were kind-hearted.

  In a vast forest, there were bound to be some vicious birds.

  "Still not talking?"

  Kenley tilted her chin up slightly with the tip of his sword.

  "Then I'll just end it quickly for you."

  "Master! Please, show mercy!"

  Tia suddenly spoke up.

  Kenley hadn't expected this—

  Tia was pleading for the elf's life?

  "Hm?"

  Kenley was puzzled.

  Why was Tia speaking up for this stranger?

  His eyes flicked to the mini-map—

  No life signals within fifty meters.

  No reinforcements.

  "What's going on?"

  Kenley decided to wait for Tia's explanation.

  If she could get useful intel from this elf, all the better.

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  Tia's gaze locked onto the elf's face.

  And the elf stared back.

  It was as if Tia was trying to remember something—

  Like this elf was familiar.

  Too familiar.

  As if she had seen her somewhere before.

  "...Sylph?"

  Tia hesitantly called out.

  The elf shuddered.

  Her eyes glistened with unshed tears.

  "...Tia?"

  System Notification:[The Fallen Princess] Hidden Quest Triggered.

  Current Progress: 1%.

  A hidden quest?

  What are the odds…?

  Kenley let out a silent, helpless chuckle.

  Just moments ago, he had been this close to killing this ranger.

  [Appraise.]

  Kenley checked Sylph's information—

  And his eyes flashed with shock.

  Not only that—he also spotted something even more interesting.

  With only 1% progress, and after today's run-in with the bishop, it was clear—

  That encounter had simply opened the quest.

  But meeting this elf ranger?

  That was when the story actually began.

  Which meant that if he followed this"Fallen Princess," he might soon meet even more people.

  Fine.

  For now, he'd let Tia talk.

  "Are you really Sylph?"

  Tia asked, disbelief in her voice.

  It was as if her memories were stirring.

  ".Yes, it's me, Tia."

  Sylph's eyes still shimmered with tears.

  "You... remember me now?"

  "Mhm, yes, Sylph, I... I remember now..." Tia's eyes shimmered with emotion.

  "When we were little, in the forests of the kingdom..."

  Kenley, seeing the scene unfold, sheathed his sword. He then turned around, picked up the elf's bow and arrows, and quietly stood aside, allowing them to reunite.

  "Yes! You still remember, don't you? We made flower crowns together… and even named a little finch! Its name was Yuxi..."

  As Sylph spoke, she threw her arms around Tia, embracing her without the slightest hint of disgust, despite Tia being undead.

  "Of course, I remember! Yuxi was so mischievous—it knocked over its own nest! I nearly fell from the tree while trying to fix it, but you saved me, Sylph!"

  Tia hugged her tightly, the warmth of their reunion defying both time and death.

  Kenley let out a small breath of relief. At least she wasn't an enemy.

  Still, he cautiously checked the mini-map again—no approaching hostiles.

  And judging by their conversation, along with Tia's expression, it didn't seem like a lie.

  Besides, with an elf's pride and nature, lying wasn't something they did easily.

  Kenley turned his gaze back to the two.

  Watching this heartfelt reunion, he couldn't help but feel something stir within him.

  For the first time, he found himself envying Tia.

  Even though her kingdom had fallen, and her family was gone without a trace, she still had the chance to meet a childhood friend again.

  He couldn't say the same for himself.

  Did he know anyone in this world?

  Friends? Fellow players?

  Or... family?

  No.

  He had nothing.

  Nothing but his experience and skills.

  Was he happy?

  Maybe.

  But from another perspective, wasn't it also tragic?

  As Kenley stood there in silence, an indescribable loneliness settled over him.

  Yet, Tia was perceptive.

  Her position allowed her to see Kenley's expression clearly.

  She noticed something in his gaze.

  A thought flickered through her mind.

  Slowly, she released Sylph from her embrace and smiled.

  "Sylph, I'd like to introduce you to my master—"

  Before she could finish, Sylph exploded like a firecracker.

  "He's not your master!"

  "Tia, you don't need a master! You are free! You are a princess of Gaifei! You carry the bloodline of heroes! Even if you have become an undead, the merciful Mother Goddess has not forsaken you!

  "Tia, wake up!"

  Kenley immediately understood.

  So this was why Sylph had been following them.

  Tia, however, looked troubled.

  She glanced at Sylph, then at Kenley.

  Then, with furrowed brows, she said,"Sylph, it's not what you think."

  "Tia, listen to me!"

  "I'm not saying there aren't righteous humans—there are heroes among them. But there are also monsters, parasites, and snakes.

  "They capture our people—enslave them.

  "They turn them into mindless puppets, forced to obey.

  "But don't worry.

  "I'll save you from this human."

  Fearless.

  Sylph stood her ground, boldly declaring her intentions in front of Kenley himself.

  Anyone else in Kenley's position would have run her through on the spot.

  Kenley's brow twitched.

  Annoyed, he finally spoke.

  "Oi, oi, kind-hearted elf lady, I'm standing right here, you know?"

  "Ah—!"

  Sylph let out a shriek, completely losing her elven grace and composure.

  "You—you—you—don't come any closer!

  "My uncle is the legendary ranger, Brook!

  "If you dare to harm me, you'll regret it!

  "The Elven Ranger Corps will hunt you down!"

  Brook the Ranger?

  Kenley's eyelid twitched.

  ...Well, shit.