After a night that could best be described as "a tragic comedy of fate," Hyunwoo finally emerged from the cave, blinking into the muted light of the cursed forest. The scent of damp moss and earthy decay filled his nostrils. His muscles were sore, his clothes still partially soaked, and the memory of the celestial sword's sarcasm lingered in his brain like a stubborn pop-up ad.
He stretched, groaned, and sighed. "Okay, new day, new trauma. Let's go."
That's when he saw it. A lone goblin, wandering too far from its tribe, picking its nose with unsettling commitment. Hyunwoo instinctively froze, unsure of what to do. The goblin turned. Their eyes locked. A moment of pure, dumb silence passed.
Then—whoosh.
Before Hyunwoo could even react, the goblin was cleaved clean in half. From head to groin. Like a watermelon in a fruit ninja .
He stood still, the celestial sword humming faintly in his grip, even though he had no recollection of grabbing it. "Wha... did I just...?"
He looked down at the sword.
"Okay, you're... definitely awake now," he mumbled. "And also very murdery. Good to know."
But there was no time for introspection. The sound of angry goblin squeals filled the air—the slain goblin's brothers had heard the commotion.
Dozens of tiny, green, angry faces appeared through the trees. Spears raised. Eyes full of vengeance.
"Oh great. Of course they have backup."
As if summoned by fate—or maybe sheer bad luck—Hyunwoo's instinct kicked in again. He raised his arm reflexively... and buffed the goblins.
A golden glow pulsed from his palm.
"NO NO NO NO! NOT THE BUFF AGAIN ! WHY WOULD YOU BUFF THEM?!"
Suddenly the goblins looked faster, stronger, shinier. Like someone had just installed an upgrades in their tiny gremlin bodies. Their eyes glowed with magical steroids.
"I just made them faster goblins. I upgraded my own doom."
With a heroic yelp that sounded suspiciously like a toddler being denied candy, Hyunwoo turned and ran. Hard. Fast. Panicked.
The goblins followed. Screaming. Chittering. Buffed beyond reason.
He didn't know how long he ran. Through thick roots, low branches, mud, fallen logs—he even jumped over a startled fox. But eventually, somehow, he lost them. Maybe their stamina buff wore off. Or maybe, just maybe, his own dumb luck gave him a break.
Panting and staggering, he leaned against a moss-covered tree. "I... hate... cardio."
As he pushed on, still dazed by everything—the sword, the goblins, the curse—his thoughts spun in endless loops.
"Why can I even use this sword? Am I not supposed to be a support class? And what was that… that thing inside me? That demonic surge. What the hell is happening?"
Questions, questions, and no answers. But the forest changed. Slowly. The air became warmer, lighter. The dense, cursed trees gave way to brighter canopies. Birds chirped. Rabbits scattered playfully.
The cursed forest had bled into another—one that pulsed with gentle magic and vibrant life.
The Elven Forest.
He noticed a large, ancient tree, its bark twisted into something almost alive. Its branches whispered with wind-chimes that weren't there. He had made it.
But he was still a mess.
"My clothes are half-mud, half-shame. My sword talks back. And my luck is allergic to me. Fantastic."
He trudged onward, deeper into the sacred woods. Then, he spotted them—fire camps. Still smoking, but clearly abandoned. Whoever had been here left in a hurry.
"Humans," he muttered. "I can tell from the garbage. Nothing says civilization like snack wrappers."
Exhausted, he slumped beside a stump, his back aching.
"I just need five minutes to not exist."
Fate: No.
"BOOOOOOM!"
Hyunwoo's rest shattered like a cheap vase. Five figures exploded from the foliage, surrounding him in a blur of muscle, leather armor, and pointed ears. Bows were drawn. Spears pointed.
Elves.
Big ones. Ripped like fantasy gym bros. Each one looked like they bench-pressed unicorns for fun.
The lead elf barked in a sharp, musical language. "Krifrota rtipona skoulame!"
Hyunwoo blinked. "...Okay, what kind of IKEA spellbook is that?"
DING.
A status window popped up.
[AUTO TRANSLATE LANGUAGE: ACTIVATED]
The leader stepped forward. "We've finally found the kidnapper."
"Kidnapper?! WHO?! Me?! I literally sat down three seconds ago!"
But reasoning with five armed elves was like arguing with a brick wall trained in martial arts. Before he could clarify, they rushed him, wrestled him up, and restrained him.
"Wait wait wait! I didn't kidnap anyone! I don't even have a place to put a kidnapped person!"
Then, from behind the muscle-wall, a smaller figure stepped forward.
An elf.
The elf.
The one he had accidentally saved back in the cursed forest.
Her elegant white hair flowed like moonlight, her green eyes wide with recognition. She wore a regal cloak now, marked with embroidered gold and sapphire patterns.
"Oh no," Hyunwoo whispered. "Please don't tell me you're important."
She smiled.
The elves around him bowed instantly.
"She's the daughter of the king," one of them said.
Hyunwoo's face dropped. "Of course she is. My luck is a sitcom writer on crack."
And so, with the weight of accidental heroism pressing down on his muddy shoulders, Hyunwoo was dragged—gently but firmly—toward the Elven capital. Possibly to be knighted. Or beheaded. Possibly both.
Only time would tell.
"Note to self," he mumbled. "Never sit near magical firepits again."