The Elf Journey In The Western Fantasy World-Chapter 56: The Damsel and the Doomed Hero

"Look behind you," Darius said, pointing behind them.

The group turned to look and instantly felt like fools for having worried just minutes ago.

Eoryun couldn’t understand how things had escalated so quickly.

One moment he was just buying food nearby, and the next, a complete stranger—a woman—suddenly darted behind him like she had radar or something.

The result was clear: he stared silently at the group of towering, muscle-bound men blocking his path.

Lady, seriously? Look at these guys—each of them nearly two meters tall and built like mountains.

Now look at me. I’m practically a baby chick in comparison. Did you really come to me for help?

Still, Eoryun tried to resist his fate: "This is just a misunderstanding..."

But before he could finish, the woman hiding behind him cut him off.

"They’re bad people! Help me!"

With that, the big men’s expressions turned even more menacing.

Stared down by their murderous glares, Eoryun could only think: "...Let’s make a deal—how about you stop talking."

For some reason, Illiya’s words suddenly popped into Eoryun’s mind.

"Crying for being poor too often would bring divine retribution."

"For example, you might run into a ’selling-themselves-to-bury-their-father’ scenario or a ’damsel-in-distress’ situation..."

Damsel in distress.

Damn it, wasn’t this exactly the "damsel in distress" storyline?!

Eoryun was filled with bitter regret.

He wanted nothing more than a spell that could rewind time—just enough to take him back to when they first entered the city.

He swore he would never "crying for being poor" again.

This retribution had come too fast; he hadn’t even had time to react.

Who the hell wants to go through a "damsel in distress" scenario?! Why was this an optional plotline for other people, but for him, it was a mandatory, unavoidable event?

This was not fair!

No matter how sorrowful he felt, Eoryun realized grimly that he still had to face the harsh reality in front of him—namely, dealing with these bulky men if he wanted to escape.

He tightened his grip on the food he was carrying, his throat bobbing nervously.

Staring at the men seriously, he spoke with utmost sincerity: "Um... I have something to say. You might not believe me, but I still want to try."

"I really don’t know the woman hiding behind me! I’m just an innocent passerby! I have no idea why she ran behind me either!"

After finishing his speech in one breath, Eoryun took a deep inhale and opened his eyes to face them. Under their death stares, he hesitated and added, "...So, do you believe me?"

The leader of the group chuckled coldly, a mocking smile spreading across his face.

Eoryun didn’t need him to answer out loud to know—no, they didn’t believe him at all.

The man snorted, "Little brother, I’m not trying to be difficult. But as a man, you should show some responsibility. If you don’t know her, why would she run to you? Do strangers do that? Since the two of you are clearly together, and your partner caused trouble, it’s up to you to give us an explanation."

Eoryun: "..."

Now he really was suffering in silence.

How did he even know this person would hide behind him in a crisis? No matter what Illiya said now to explain, no one would believe him.

It was really too hard.

Sob sob sob sob sob, he swore that he would never run around out of curiosity again.

Illiya, Seoryun, Darius, please come and save me!

Eoryun prayed devoutly in his heart.

...

After Illiya and the others found Eoryun, they walked over to spectate like they were watching a good show.

After all, this was Eoryun’s romantic entanglement; it wouldn’t be polite for them to interrupt so abruptly.

Illiya and his little companions wore mysterious, knowing smiles.

Illiya stared at the scene before him thoughtfully.

The unexpected trouble Eoryun found himself in felt oddly familiar—didn’t it resemble the kind of plotlines described in those hot blooded youth novels the teacher once mentioned?

He still remembered that time when they entered Haneulseong City, and Eoryun was publicly rejected at the gate.

Everything that happened back then closely mirrored events straight out of a hot blooded novel.

And that Eoryun’s personal traits also matched the typical traits of a novel protagonist.

So now, thinking of him as a protagonist in such a novel, it suddenly made perfect sense that he would run into a "damsel in distress" type of situation.

Illiya pondered with a touch of seriousness and began to idly guess what might happen next.

Following the logic of those novels, after the protagonist "rescues" the girl in distress, he receives her gratitude.

However, he also ends up facing some kind of revenge.

During an ambush, the protagonist is beaten badly, but also gains new opportunities and power.

So would Eoryun go through the same thing?

"Illiya? Illiya?"

Darius’s puzzled voice suddenly sounded by his ear, startling the absent-minded Illiya.

"Hmm?" Illiya responded with uncertainty. When he saw who was speaking, he suddenly let out a sigh of relief. "Oh, it’s you, Darius."

Darius didn’t say anything at first, simply staring at Illiya for a moment.

Just as Illiya was starting to feel uncomfortable under the gaze, Darius suddenly chuckled. "Were you zoning out just now, Illiya? I called your name so many times and you didn’t respond."

Caught red-handed, the tips of Illiya’s ears turned pink. His gaze wavered, not daring to meet Darius’s eyes.

He looked around quickly and changed the subject.

"Hahahahahahaha, what are you talking about? Darius, did something happen?"

Darius kindly played along and said, "What I was going to say is, if we keep watching any longer, we’re about to witness Eoryun getting beaten up."

Illiya: "Huh... huh?!"

Damn, this isn’t how it goes in those novels!

Illiya quickly turned to look.

Whatever had happened in the meantime, the faces of the burly men had darkened, and their hands at their sides were clenched into fists.

Just the tiniest spark would set them off.