Faced with Yi Laisi’s sudden hug, the female elf named Cuisi also looked helpless.
During this interval, Mann took a general look at her.
Unlike Dark Elves, the Elf Race’s clothing was rather conservative. A short light green cloak covered her back, and a somewhat yellowed linen armor was worn on her body, which instead accentuated her excellent figure.
She was tall, with pointed ears protruding from her thick golden hair, and her face was gentle.
If not for the short crossbow equipped on her right hand, it would be hard to imagine that such a person was the leader commanding her subordinates in battle.
Cuisi noticed Mann’s gaze. She gently pushed Yi Laisi away and smiled friendly at Mann.
“You must be the Lord Mann that my younger sister mentioned? Right?”
Her speech gave one a feeling like a spring breeze, and there seemed to be a faint floral scent.
She proactively extended her hand. “I didn’t expect the Armor of Time to be sent back by someone from the Empire. That’s quite surprising.”
Mann nodded slightly and shook hands politely.
“Pleasure to meet you. Please take care of me.”
Cuisi sized him up too. She turned to look at Yi Laisi, her eyes turning somewhat teasing.
“Not bad, Yi Laisi. You picked a good man.”
“Good man? What’s good about him… No, what do you mean by that?”
This left Mann, who was standing by, a bit stunned.
‘Are the Elf Race this open-minded? I originally thought that as Demihumans, they would have issues with Empire people. Looks like I was overthinking?’
“Just kidding.”
Cuisi smiled gently, making it hard to see what she was thinking.
“Is that so? Hey, Mann, don’t be fooled by her kind appearance. You’d better be careful, okay?”
“Uh… huh?”
Mann didn’t know what to say, so he just brushed it off.
“Come on, Yi Laisi. Speaking of which, your magic training should be intensified.”
Upon hearing this, Yi Laisi’s face immediately turned terrified. She let go of Cuisi and instead ran behind Mann.
“I was just saying it casually.”
Yi Laisi let out a long sigh of relief.
“After all, the Elder has already decided on this matter. You’ll be punished for sneaking out, Yi Laisi.”
“Guuh…”
Behind Mann, a mournful sound came out.
“Um, I suddenly remembered I have something to do. The Armor of Time is with him, so I’ll take my leave first.”
Yi Laisi hastily left these words and tried to run away, but Mann was quick and immediately grabbed her collar, lifting her up.
‘Leaving me behind to slip away? That’s wishful thinking.’
“Want to leave? Where do you think you’re going?”
“You said you’d be my guide, right?”
“Mann, you bastard…”
Cuisi watched this scene and covered her face with a light laugh.
She walked over and handed Mann a strip of silk cloth.
“Alright, Lord Mann. Let’s stop the fooling around. Next, we’ll take you into the Holy Land.”
“Please blindfold yourself with this cloth.”
Mann did as told and handed Yi Laisi to Cuisi.
He even didn’t forget to taunt her.
“Don’t think you can run away, okay?”
“None of your business!”
Mann ignored her. After he blindfolded himself, a faint trace of Mana appeared guiding him.
“Lord Mann, you should feel a Mana now, right?”
“Please follow it. Don’t fall behind.”
Cuisi reminded gently.
“And Yi Laisi, you have to put one on too.”
Hearing this, Mann couldn’t help but wonder to himself.
‘I’m an outsider, fine. But why does Yi Laisi, who is of the Elf Race, have to do this as well?’
‘If it’s just to dispel my concerns, there’s no need.’
Although he said nothing, after all, he wasn’t in his own territory. Silence is golden.
Following the Mana’s guidance, everyone walked forward for a while. Then, a sound like gears meshing came out, and the guiding Mana suddenly became much stronger.
Ahead, Cuisi’s Mana permeated into some device. Accompanied by ancient and eerie incantations, the gears spun faster.
“Elf Village, open the gate!”
In a daze, Mann felt as if he were weightless. He subconsciously opened his eyes, but only saw a desolate scene.
“Is it an illusion?”
‘I should be wearing a blindfold, right?’
He reached out to confirm—the blindfold was indeed still tied on his head.
When he looked at Cuisi, her body seemed to be composed of some bizarre script. The aura was very familiar to Mann.
“There’s no mistake. It’s Rune Script…”
He then looked at the others, but this glance was no small matter—the reality made Mann break out in a cold sweat.
Except for himself and Yi Laisi, the others seemed to be composed of Rune Script. Even stranger, if judged only by aura, they were no different from ordinary people.
“What is this?”
“Calling it an illusion seems too real…”
“You can take off the blindfold now, Lord Mann.”
Cuisi turned around and said.
“Apologies. We live in seclusion from the world and don’t want many things known to outsiders. That’s why we had to resort to this. Please forgive us.”
“…It’s fine. No need to apologize.”
Mann removed the blindfold, and the scene before him was completely opposite to before.
Looking out, it was a vast forest with giant trees standing tall.
In the upper parts of the trees, houses were built. Elves were singing and dancing under the trees, their faces brimming with happiness.
It was peaceful and comfortable here, with a faint floral scent now and then, making one feel relaxed and happy.
But even in this paradise-like place, Mann felt something was off.
He blindfolded himself again, but he couldn’t see anything. Even the Magic Fluctuation showed no anomaly—completely flawless.
“Lord Mann, what are you doing?”
Cuisi saw his strange behavior and gave him a concerned look.
“Don’t mind him. Empire people are a bit abnormal anyway.”
Yi Laisi didn’t spare his face, directly retorting.
“If you’re interested in this Holy Cloth, you may take it as a souvenir.”
Yi Laisi saw the atmosphere was off and quickly smoothed things over.
“Mm… thanks.”
“Oh, by the way, you look a bit pale. Are you not used to the atmosphere of the Elf Village?”
“Nothing, just a bit shocked.”
Upon hearing this, Cuisi visibly became a little dejected.
“Oh, I see…”
She murmured, but soon returned to her previous cheerful demeanor.
“No time to waste. Let’s go. The Elder is still waiting for us.”
Mann decided to keep his mouth shut.
After all, his goal was to find a way to rescue Helgort and then return the Armor of Time. There was no need to cause trouble, nor did he want to break the peace here.
Just finish his business and leave as soon as possible as a passerby.
That was his plan.
Soon, under Cuisi’s guidance, Mann arrived at a very special palace.
The entire palace was formed from dozens of trees growing together. More amazingly, these trees were still alive and slowly growing according to a predetermined shape.
On the main door was a clock-shaped pattern identical to the mark on Mann’s hand.
“This pattern is indeed closely related to that guy Helgort…”
In front of the door, two female guards in armor nodded at Cuisi. The latter understood and immediately took Yi Laisi away.
“The next part, Lord Mann, you’ll have to face alone. Take care.”
“Mm.”
After parting with Yi Laisi and Cuisi, when Mann turned around, he found the wooden door already open.
“Please come in, guest from afar.”
“The King has decided to meet you in person.”