195.Chapter 195 Unexpected Visitors
Chapter 195: Unexpected Visitor
The night they arrived at Mourning Wood City, Ashitsuki was taken directly to an inn located in the center of Mourning Wood City.
The old her couldn’t come to a place like this.
She had heard it mentioned that Mourning Wood City was originally built on a giant tree called Irukus.
The area above the tree was called the Borough, and her inn was on this tree.
The famous Oak Plaza lay beneath the tree, its exposed roots rising up like a bridge, and beneath it was a flat ground paved with white stone tiles.
Beyond it were other areas, and under the shade of the tree’s canopy was the city of Mourning Wood.
An hour ago, she had been told to stay put and wait for someone big to come to her door.
And this set of procedures was exactly as that “senior” had guessed.
Gray Moon couldn’t help but speculate about Mr. Sa’s past.
Just what kind of character is ……
Not long after, there was a knock on the door.
The person who came was a Tree Herder Elder with a furrowed face and a dark green beard that hung almost to his waist.
He walked like a rustling tree.
But since he walked into the house, it was as if Ashitsuki could hear the pleasant chirping of birds and the rustling of the wind against the treetops.
Ryan Antler.
The oldest Level 7 Tree Herder in the Council of Elders.
She had already been introduced before and told of all the etiquette when she had an audience with this great man.
Gray Moon bowed in a regular manner:
“Greetings, Elder Ryan.”
“Oh, don’t be nervous.”
Ryan’s withered body squeezed into a chair.
He sat quietly for a few seconds, and a thin layer of sod had grown on the wooden floor around his feet.
“I’ve read the report you turned in and the samples of the suspected Underworld creatures, amazing findings.
“We plan to hold a recognition ceremony for you in the near future, your bravery and perseverance are fully deserving of a Flourishing Medal.”
“Huh?”
Ashitsuki’s heart shook.
Although she guessed that the reward would be generous, she didn’t guess that it would be so amazing.
New buds, green leaves, flourishing flowers.
This was already the highest level of honor.
The next step up is to be bestowed with the “Ancestral Wood” and become a member of the Council of Twelve.
However, the Zuki no Sato only appears after the death of one of the members.
Moreover, this was actually guessed by that senior again ……
“This is just too …… too valuable, I am ashamed of this honor.”
Gray Moon hastily refused.
Ryan, however, gently waved his hand.
“Child, you don’t understand the impact of this matter …… This is the first time ever that we have ‘defeated’ the Blight.”
His gaze made Ashitsuki’s “but” completely speechless.
Defeating the Blight?
But there was no victory at all. ……
“Whether now, or in the future, this victory of yours will be our banner against the Blight, inspiring every elf.
“But before that, there are some details I’d like to ask you again.”
Ryan’s originally gentle gaze became sharp.
“Are you sure that Quirkus’s essence was taken away by someone from the Underworld?”
Gray Moon’s heart fluttered.
This was guessed by Heine, and they would more than likely check this.
She shook her head quite honestly.
“I didn’t see it with my own eyes, there is still a huge ancient tree of the undead there. But the will of Quirkus before he disappeared told me so, and it said something else I didn’t quite understand.”
“Oh?” Ryan’s eyes seemed to widen, “What else did it say?”
“It said that it had done something wrong and deserved to be punished, just like everyone else would be punished, and it also said …… beware of the magic web.”
“Beware of the magic web?” Ryan stirred slightly, “Is there more?”
“No more, it was weak, and after all that it was completely quiet, but I felt ……”
“You feel what?”
“That it wasn’t killed by someone from the underworld, but that it died willingly, as if the past was a torment, that it was a relief.”
A thoughtful look surfaced on Gray Moon’s face, carefully recalling the details that Heine had explained.
“It had completely turned into an undead creature by then, but tried its best to control the death aura, not letting them spread out to harm the surrounding forest.
“I know it sounds puzzling, but it did happen …… But, but how could an undead creature do such a thing ……”
Ryan listened quietly, but didn’t answer.
After a long time, he slowly got up.
“You’re a good boy, you were right not to put them in your report, and don’t mention them again.”
Ashitsuki nodded blankly.
She didn’t understand why that was until she sent the other woman away. An exquisite dinner was soon brought in.
Ashitsuki couldn’t help but wonder:
“Didn’t we eat just now?”
“Now it’s a bedtime meal.”
That voice was crisp and pleasant, making Ashitsuki lament that Mourning Wood Castle had such high standards even for its waiters.
“Wouldn’t that be four meals a day?” She asked.
“No oh, five meals. Breakfast, lunch, afternoon tea, main meal and bedtime meal.”
Ashitsuki was dumbfounded for a moment, not knowing what to make of it.
The waiter suddenly said, “Are you trying to ask ‘isn’t there a food crisis here’?”
Ashitsuki was suddenly alert.
“What are you?”
Only the other man took off his waiter’s hat and shook off his silver-white hair.
Her skin was as white as milk, and she had eyes that seemed to speak.
The wood elves called these eyes “fox eyes”, describing cunning and fickleness.
This was clearly a standard Silver Elf.
“Hello, I’m Renee, the Third Queen.”
Renee acknowledged graciously.
Ashitsuki was shocked in her heart and subconsciously wanted to curtsy, but was stopped by the other party.
“None of that effort, I snuck in, I heard that you’re a survivor of the Blight Trail, are you interested in accepting the invitation of the Mercury Royal Family?”
Renee asked as she blinked those eyes that seemed to speak.
“An …… invitation from the royal family?”
“Yes. You have made an outstanding contribution on behalf of the Cuirass Court in the matter of removing the Blight Trail, and we will give you a grand honoring ceremony to bestow that land left behind by Quilcus.”
Gray Moon frowned, “So this ceremony and the Council of Elders’ ……”
“Yes, they conflict, you can only choose one.”
“I’m sorry, Your Highness, this joke isn’t funny. And this way of your entrance is really puzzling to me ……”
“If not for this manner, how could I possibly meet you?”
Renee said seriously, “This is not a joke, I’m here to save you.”
“Save me?”
“Yes, to save you. Why did the council give you such an honor? Because they want to keep you chained here, in the Valley of the Mourning Wood, forever.
“I’ve been to the Blight, and it’s clear to all of us that the Blight still exists, but the people here don’t know it, and they won’t.
“Once you accept the Order of the Flourishing Flower, you are the one who has defeated the Blight in their minds, and you will be a hero and bring faith and strength to the people.
“But what if things fall apart later? Don’t forget you’re only a level four hunter.
“At that time they’ll think they’ve been fooled, and they’ll be angry, cursing, and resenting you for it, and how will you explain it then?
“As for the council, just pushing you out and claiming you’re a victim too solves most of the problems.”
Ashitsuki’s heart sank.
She finally sensed what was wrong.
This generous reward really wasn’t for nothing.
“Why are you telling me this?” She looked to Renee, “Don’t tell me it’s because of conscience, because it wasn’t you who did this?”
“You’re only half right, the other half is because I hate those old things.”
Renee’s eyes flashed with undisguised disgust.
“Pedantry won’t save us, the blight was the elf’s own doing from the start, and Quirkus died because of it – it fled to the Whispering Woods, you see?
“The Winds of Sighs took it away from the Ancestral Wood in the first place, and brought it back later, but the next thing you know, the Winds of Sighs are traitors, and Quilcus has gone into hiding in the Swamp of the Corrupted Heart.
“And now, you’re involved in the secret.”
Ashitsuki snapped to remember Heine mentioning ……
He said that “the Wind of Sighs family neatly turned into equipment” and that it was an ancient ritual for elves to make magical equipment ……
Cold sweat penetrated her back, and she suddenly felt that she had made a mistake in returning here.
She’d rather stay in the Blight for another three months than get involved in all this.
“But if I go with you, how will it end any differently?”
“Why would it be the same?” Renee laughed, “We’d commend you and then use your rallying cry to tackle the Blight again. Don’t forget it’s the Whispering Woods, and we built the Court of Emerald Leaves.
“The biggest difference between the Royal Family and the Council is that they only think about maintaining the surface calm, while we face the problem itself head on.”
Looking at the struggle in Ashitsuki’s eyes, Renee had a feeling she was going to succeed.
She multiplied her words:
“I’ve looked into your information, you’ve been a freak since you were a child, and so have I. We’re the same kind of people, we only believe in ourselves.
“You would never let yourself become a puppet, a flower arrangement in a vase, would you?”
But she never expected that Ashitsuki shook her head.
More than that, she suddenly raised her hand and threw a short arrow, activating the alarm.
(End of chapter)