Chapter 19: Lola’s Three Days of Misfortune

For Theresia, the next three days were nothing more than a tedious wait at the appraisal office.

Yet, for Lola, these three days marked the greatest Waterloo of her elven life, feeling utterly like a nightmare.

****

On the first day.

The black dragon’s breath from her dream dragon was truly formidable. Although she herself remained completely unharmed, protected by the magical barrier of her enchanted items, the sheer force of the impact propelled her tens of thousands of meters away.

Her heart was ablaze with anxiety; she understood that a dream dragon was a rare and precious encounter.

Unfortunately, she hadn’t anticipated the current predicament. Having gone to the appraisal office with no intention of leaving the Elf Capital, she hadn’t brought any scrolls for direct teleportation back.

Theoretically, however, simply relying on the dozen or so mana potions she carried would be more than enough to get her back.

Never before had she wielded teleportation magic with such familiarity. The entire elf seemed to enter a state of selflessness, the once complex incantations now flowing effortlessly from her. She had never even suspected such talent lay within herself.

However, after casting her seventh teleportation spell, the Elf Capital finally appeared within her sight.

Lola’s confidence surged. Just as she prepared to consume a mana potion, an unforeseen incident occurred.

Whether it was due to a magical misoperation, or simply an inauspicious location, the teleportation deviation was significant.

Her actual landing spot was far removed from her intended destination.

To make matters worse, the place where she appeared was utterly illogical.

Lola would later declare it the most preposterous thing she had ever witnessed in her elven life.

Hundreds of different types of magical beasts, for some unknown reason, had gathered in one spot. Predators and prey alike sat together on the same patch of ground.

It was as if they were holding a grand forest party.

And Lola, precisely, had been teleported right into their midst, instantly becoming the star attraction—a feast for all eyes.

Good heavens, in that very instant, the gazes of jackals, wolves, tigers, and leopards all converged on her.

It was as if a conspiracy to overthrow the elven world had been discovered, and a surging wave of malice crashed over her, like a mountain collapsing.

“I…”

Before Lola could even utter an explanation, they overwhelmed her with a human wave tactic.

That day, Lola fought until the sky darkened and the sun lost its light.

Finally, she collapsed from exhaustion atop a mountain of corpses and a sea of blood.

Had the types of magical beasts been more uniform, Lola, with her divine gear and inherent strength, would not have been reduced to a state worse than a dead dog.

Those magical beasts were definitely problematic; they even knew how to coordinate their attacks!

It was as if they had been specially trained.

Lola suffered a triple drain on her stamina, mana, and mental energy. Coupled with her limited practical combat experience, she could only hastily erect a barrier around herself before collapsing into sleep.

****

On the second day.

Lola walked along the main road, leaning on her magic staff. While mana potions could replenish her magical energy, the toll on her mind and body was not so easily mended.

Despite a day passing, Lola had not given up. The dream of becoming an Elf Dragon Knight continued to whip her forward, urging her to return swiftly.

Lola intended to resume using teleportation magic, but even for that, she first needed to ascertain her location.

Thus, she hoped to find some passersby to inquire about the area.

And indeed, she saw people.

However…

“This mountain is mine, this road I paved. If you wish to pass, leave your toll!”

That’s right, she had encountered bandits.

Lola gazed at the human robbers before her with a blank expression, utterly disdainful. None of them possessed any magic; how could they be a match for her, a future Elf Dragon Knight?

Then, Lola felt the malice of humanity.

The bandits seemed to know precisely how to deal with elves. Before Lola could even raise her staff, they scattered in all directions, immediately unleashing a barrage of sneak attacks from hidden positions.

She wouldn’t even mention the childish tricks like pit traps, poisoned arrows, and rolling logs.

But then came the unexpected ambushes: chili powder, stink bombs, and glutinous rice slimes—a weak, viscous liquid magical beast whose corpse transformed into a uniquely sticky liquid with a physiologically unsettling odor.

The damage inflicted was minimal, but the humiliation was immense.

As a furious Lola prepared to unleash a wide-area spell to capture all the bandits in one fell swoop, several human adventurers suddenly appeared.

They cut down the ‘troublesome’ bandits as easily as slicing vegetables, then enthusiastically approached Lola, offering warm greetings and expressing concern.

Her pent-up rage had nowhere to go, yet she couldn’t unleash it on these seemingly benevolent people. Lola’s already muddled mind grew even more confused.

She cautiously sampled some of the food and water they offered. Soon after, her consciousness began to bid her farewell.

In the second before she fainted, she heard the female adventurer, who had just been so pleasant, call out to the bandits, “We’ve got this foolish elf!”

‘Despicable humans! If you’re so brave, clash with me using magic!’

The impotently enraged Lola ultimately succumbed.

****

Night fell.

When Lola awoke, she discovered that her exquisite magical gown, a special royal provision from the Elf Capital, her magic staff, and the spatial ring containing all her possessions had vanished.

In their place was a thin, grey burlap tunic, shackles on her limbs, and a black collar around her neck.

Looking around, she realized this appeared to be a dungeon.

Outside her cage, a lavishly dressed man weighed her up. Seeing her awaken, he spoke to himself, “Mm-hmm, they didn’t lie to me. She’s indeed very healthy, though her expression seems a bit silly.”

Lola was seething. Her future self, the Elf Dragon Knight, was renowned for her intelligence and quick wit in the Elf Capital!

These mere humans were utterly ignorant. Thus, she unceremoniously demanded to know what had happened and why she was there.

“‘Why are you here?’ What kind of intelligence is that? Of course, it’s because someone sold you to me. Tsk, this elf’s intelligence isn’t great, the price will have to drop a bit. But that doesn’t stop you from being my most valuable commodity right now. Don’t worry, I’ll find a client willing to pay a high price for you as soon as possible. Get some good rest.”

“‘Hmm?! Hey! I am a noble Elf Princess! Release me at once, or else, with a single rallying cry, thousands upon thousands of elves will blast you into nothingness with their magic, nothingness!'”

Lola’s roar echoed through the empty dungeon. Aside from her, there were no other living beings in the otherwise clean room.

The mental oppression, fatigue, and a strange aroma emanating from somewhere in the room quickly quelled Lola’s excitement. Having only just woken up, she soon fell back asleep.

****

On the third day.

She awoke, her consciousness still hazy, only to be led into an elegant reception room. There, she stood bewildered before a purple-haired woman, like an item of merchandise.

No, not ‘like’ an item. She *was* an item of merchandise now.

Robbed in the morning, sold in the afternoon, bought the next day.

This series of blows had turned the brain of the Elf Princess, who had seen little of the ‘outside world,’ into a muddled mess.

The beautiful woman’s eyebrows furrowed slightly as she complained to the s*ave merchant, “She looks like she’s not very bright.”

The s*ave merchant, highly experienced, pitched his product, “She’s still young, hasn’t seen much of the world. She’s simply unprepared for suddenly being sold. But a clean mind is a major selling point, madam. This way, you can imbue her with your own colors. Wouldn’t you agree?”

The woman nodded with satisfaction, “That does make some sense.”

By then, Lola’s anger was burning fiercely. However, she was a noble elf royal: intelligent, gentle, reasonable, and well-mannered.

After taking a few deep breaths, Lola spoke with a touch of pride, “My mother is the Lady of Avasilon, the noble Elf Queen. Give me a few hundred gold coins, or simply send me back, and I will repay you a hundredfold. I can even make you honored guests of the elven race.”

At these words, silence descended upon the scene.

‘Are they awestruck by my identity?’ Lola thought, taking it for granted. Then, the entire room erupted in laughter.

“Ah ha ha ha! An elf royal, and a queen? And give you a few hundred gold coins!”

The s*ave merchant mimicked Lola’s serious demeanor, saying, “I am the Elf King. I’ll take you as my goddaughter now. Just let me sell you, and I guarantee you’ll live a life of luxury with your master.”

The woman also laughed, blossoming like a flower, “My esteemed Princess, perhaps you should give me a few hundred gold coins first, so I can buy some medicine? Lest I die of laughter here, what do you say?”

Lola gritted her teeth in anger. She struggled to maintain her composure, saying, “If you think I’m lying, just take me to Avasilon, and you’ll know!”

The s*ave merchant looked at Lola with the gaze one would give an idiot. He pointed to himself and asked, “What is my profession?”

Lola frowned. “A s*ave merchant.”

The s*ave merchant continued, “What is your race?”

Lola replied casually, “Elf.”

Seeing that she still hadn’t grasped it, he took a deep breath and asked again, “What am I doing right now?”

“You are selling me to…” Lola finally understood.

“Understood now?” The s*ave merchant sighed, tapping Lola’s head with a small wooden stick. He spoke to himself, “What kind of intelligence is this? Trying to trick me into walking into a trap? Just obediently follow this elder sister from now on, and I guarantee you’ll live a life of luxury!”

The woman nodded repeatedly, gently stroking Lola’s cheek. “You’re exactly the kind of adorable child I like most.”

Lola slapped the woman’s hand away, declaring with immense presence, “There’s no need to try and get close to me. As a noble elf, do you think I would yield? Even if my body is bound by a s*ave contract, my spirit will forever remain pure. I will resist…

“Ah, madam. My apologies, this elf hasn’t been in my possession for very long; she hasn’t been properly trained,” the s*ave merchant sighed. He clapped his hands, and a rumbling sound emanated from the side wall of the room.

“But it’s alright. It’s not too late to start now.”