The Dilu ran at incredible speed.
Since the Human Kingdom’s carriages weren’t specially adapted, once the convoy left the Royal Capital and entered the wilds, the Dilu leapt like untamed horses, soaring high and running fast.
The effect was obvious.
Before afternoon even faded, the convoy reached the edge of the Forest and stopped to rest.
The front carriage opened first.
Celes got out, holding the wheel beneath the carriage as she inspected it.
“If we’re going to introduce Dilu in the future, we can’t connect them directly to these kinds of carriages,” she said.
“The axles need to be modified, and the wheels upgraded.”
Increase the outer ring’s thickness for better cushioning.
Vina came over and circled the carriage, clicking her tongue in amazement.
“There are cracks in the wheels already. They might not survive the return trip. Little Ai was thoughtful, asking for a Dragon Hawk in advance, so we could fly back after our business was done.”
Celes nodded in agreement, but there was a small problem.
Where was Ella?
The rear carriage took quite a while to open.
A busty blonde and a pink-haired girl stumbled out together, supporting each other, their eyes vacant and expressions complicated.
Only Zero, following behind, looked calm.
“What happened to you?”
“It’s nothing. Once we entered the wilds, the carriage became unbearably bumpy,” the Assassin Girl explained.
“Their bodies just aren’t used to it.”
If the carriage jolted once, the Great White Rabbit would bounce three times.
No wonder they couldn’t handle it.
The sound of Dilu hooves echoed again.
Tereka had returned from ahead, not even bothering to dismount.
She sat atop her deer, looking down at the girls from above.
“Why did you stop?”
“It’s our first time here,” Celes replied.
“We wanted to take in the scenery.”
“Yeah, yeah,” Vina chimed in, “the scenery’s so beautiful, we had to look a bit longer.”
In truth, they were letting Ella rest, so they were all grasping for excuses.
No one punches someone complimenting their homeland’s view.
With everyone praising the scenery, what more could be said?
Tereka could only let them rest.
Ella looked around.
The Middle Great Forest was a place of excellent geography—sunlight year-round, lush vegetation, vibrant with life.
Towering trees stood like pillars supporting houses, together forming this paradise.
By comparison, the Forest around the Demon King’s Castle was much gloomier, with ghostly faces etched into the trunks.
Same world, different circumstances.
After resting a bit, the convoy set off again.
Fortunately, the Forest floor was softer than outside, making for a less bumpy ride.
Sun-blocking.
Ella pulled open the window and looked up.
The sky was invisible, lost beneath the canopies of ancient trees.
“Is it still not dark?”
She wondered, since it had been dusk at the forest’s edge.
The front carriage’s window also slid open.
Celes poked her head out.
“I read in the records that the Elves’ core territory is called Firefly Forest—the place we’re in now. Most plants and insects here glow, providing light even at night. That’s why it’s named so.”
“I see. Thanks for opening the window just to tell me.”
To open a window just to share that—it was true sincerity.
Since they were now in the core zone, the destination must be close.
Sure enough, about ten minutes later, the convoy stopped entirely.
Those leading ahead—Tereka and the others—had already picked up the pace, arriving a few minutes before the girls.
When Ella disembarked, she saw them gathered around an older female elf coming toward them.
This elf was quite aged; though her face was unlined, her hair was already white.
She was clearly a beauty in her youth.
A millennium of wisdom rested on her face, the years sculpting kindness and steadiness into her features.
“Greetings, young people of the Human Race.”
Her gaze was calm as she looked at the girls.
“I am Isadora, an Elder of the Elves.”
“Hello.”
Celes stepped forward politely, introducing the five key members on their side.
She herself was the Kingdom’s Swordswoman.
The red-haired loli was the Kingdom’s Magician.
The blonde girl was the Kingdom’s Saintess.
The black-haired ponytail was the Kingdom Scout.
The pink-haired busty one was… hmm, an important role in the Kingdom.
Introducing five people took time, but Isadora listened patiently, without interrupting.
Tereka at the side couldn’t hold back.
“No need to introduce—I already told the Elder everything…”
“To understand someone, the more perspectives, the truer the understanding.”
Isadora cut her off.
The aura of age is undeniable—a single sentence made the proud Tereka bow her head.
Then Celes stepped forward.
“Elder Isadora, we understand that this invitation isn’t just for friendly exchange. The Elves face a serious matter. Please explain in detail.”
She was worried.
The Elves’ way of doing things matched their leisurely pace of life.
If the seal broke and a hundred-twenty-year-old girl jumped out before they even understood the situation, it would be troublesome.
Hearing this, Isadora’s expression grew more solemn.
“So you’ve already heard some things. I’d like to know—how much do you understand?”
Celes looked at the Kingdom’s important figure—the pink-haired busty one.
“Hard to say. Our overall understanding can’t compare to yours,” Ella replied lightly.
“But there are things I know that you don’t.”
As soon as she spoke, Tereka shot a look at Celytia, whose face was full of grievance.
“Impossible,” the loli of the Elf Delegation whispered.
“I only said four words, and only that once. I definitely didn’t leak anything else… There’s nothing else I could have slipped anyway.”
She herself didn’t know any more details.
Tereka thought about it.
“Elder, she must be bluffing. In the Royal Capital of Humanity, everyone says the pink-haired busty woman is the most dangerous to the heart.”
That part wasn’t wrong—the intelligence from the Royal Capital was pretty accurate.
Ella pondered and asked a light question.
“She was a hundred and twenty before the seal. If the seal broke, how old would she be upon release?”
Isadora understood instantly.
The Human girl in front of her truly knew.
So that previous statement likely wasn’t a bluff.
“Inside the seal, age doesn’t count. If you must calculate it, perhaps around twelve hundred years.”
The Elven Elder slowly turned.
“It’s late now. Let’s rest first. Tomorrow, I’ll take you to see.”
“What about the Dragon Hawk?”
“You may choose for yourselves then.”
“Great.”
Ella looked proudly at Tereka, shrugging her delicate shoulders under the other’s furious glare.
“I want the biggest one!”
A Demon King entices hearts.
Whatever she wants, she takes.
Isn’t it maddening?
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