{Chapter 34} Simulation is annoying
Initially, Anna thought that elves wouldn't become mercenaries because they looked down on such an inelegant profession.
But now, looking back at the reasons why elves don't become mercenaries, it seems more like they harbor a deep aversion to mercenaries... or rather, to the entire underground black market.
After understanding all this, Anna genuinely wanted to help Atala.
In the simulation, after advising Anna not to go to the forest that night, Atala completely disappeared.
Thinking pessimistically, could it be that Atala failed to complete the contract and ended up being sold to pay off her debt?
...When Anna met Atala the next day, she didn't immediately suggest that Atala find a job:
"If you don't have money for a hotel, Atala, would you like to stay at my place?"
"Huh?" Atala didn't expect Anna to make such an offer and was stunned for a moment before shaking her head, "No, I can't disturb you."
"Aren't we friends?" Anna smiled. "How is this a disturbance? It's just a friend helping out."
"Friends..."
Atala was silent for a while before slowly shaking her head again.
"No, on second thought, since we're friends, I shouldn't trouble you."
"If you say so... then how about finding a job?"
"A job?" However, Atala seemed not to fully understand the concept of working.
"A job... it's helping others with work and then getting paid... something like that." Anna's understanding of jobs was roughly this. "Although you won't earn much, it should cover food and travel expenses."
"I see..." Atala pondered for a moment, "Then I'll try finding a job!"
"Follow me, I'll help you ask around."
What followed was similar to the simulation. The royal-style restaurant was willing to let Atala work as a maid server... By the way, Anna only now realized that the maid server who had greeted her and Louise was actually the female boss.
"If the elf lady has any concerns about the Empire," the boss lady was very accommodating, "I can also help you find work elsewhere..."
"No, here is fine, I don't mind." Atala gave a slight bow and then looked at Anna.
"So, I've found... a place to work?"
"Pretty much." Anna smiled wryly. "Sorry, Atala, I'm really curious. Do elves not have the concept of work?"
The outside world knows very little about the political and social structure of the Elf Forest, so it's no surprise that Anna would ask such a question.
"It's not that we don't have work... but we don't work to earn money, we work to make everyone's lives better..." Atala was now willing to explain some things about elves to Anna, though she answered with an uncertain tone. "Sorry, Anna, I'm not old enough to work within the forest yet, so I don't know much more."
"Not old enough to work... By the way, how old are you? If it's not convenient to say..."
"20 years old, don't overthink it."
"That's not much older than me..." Anna blinked a few times. "Wait, an elf's 20 years old..."
Being a long-lived species, Anna thought that even the physical growth of elves would be slower than humans. So, an elf's 20 years old can already make them so graceful, and their bodies can mature as much as hers?
Anna was quite confident in her figure, and although Atala was a bit shorter, her figure was no less impressive than Anna's...
"I feel like you're thinking something very rude, Anna." Atala stared straight at Anna, who only then noticed that Atala's pupils were an emerald green, as if actual round emeralds were serving as her pupils.
With that, Atala's job was settled.
After watching Atala change into a more traditional maid outfit and start working as a server, Anna stood at the door, deep in thought for a long time, but ultimately decided not to bring up what she and Louise had discussed the day before.
The contract to assassinate her... could lead to many unnecessary misunderstandings.
Even if Anna didn't mind, who knows if Atala would care so much.
However, as a knight, saving a friend is also a duty.
Anna wanted to find the optimal solution where she, Louise, Helga, and Atala could all live normally.
Even though Atala was a friend she had known for less than three days, seeing her potentially stepping into an abyss made Anna want to pull her out.
"...Should I run another simulation?"
In fact, Anna had already run a simulation this morning, but in it, she had told Atala about the dirty tricks of the black market too early, which made Atala wary.
Although she later died in the forest, it was due to being overwhelmed by frenzied beasts, and Atala never appeared again.
This also fits Anna's speculation that perhaps after that, Atala was indeed caught in the black market's schemes and sold off...
Initially, wanting Atala to stay at her house was also about keeping an eye on her, not wanting her to suddenly and mysteriously disappear.
Even if it meant greatly reducing her own safety.
But since they weren't very familiar yet, bringing up these things would make Atala suspicious and cause her to disappear again, so Anna only briefly mentioned it and didn't push the idea of staying at her house.
Attempting to assassinate her, trying to trap Atala... just these two points were enough to make Anna take this seriously.
This hidden serpent in the dark had truly angered Anna.
"...There's still an hour of cooldown, I'll check the simulation again while on patrol."
Anna made this decision and then started walking towards her patrol area.
An hour later...
[Simulation ended, calculating results...]
[No achievements unlocked as conditions were not met.]
Anna felt her blood pressure rising again!
Why did this simulation have her revealing everything to Atala so early again?
Isn't the simulated me supposed to be smarter? Why not wait until the night of the confession to explain? Do I have to teach you how to do it?
There wasn't even any suggestive content, not even close to a third-rate adult novel, can't even let people enjoy it a bit, go away!
...
Ahhh! What am I even thinking about!
Anna felt like this simulator was leading her thoughts astray, making them stranger and stranger.