Chapter 38: Those Favored by the Holy Light

For the long-lived elves, the one thing they never lacked was time.

They had so much time that they could even sell their own vitality as goods on a shelf.

To humans and other races, a long lifespan was more precious than anything in the world, but to the elves, it was nothing more than an external possession.

Elves did not fear death.

To them, death was simply a process—one that returned them from the mortal realm to nature, back to the World Tree and the ancestral family of the elves.

So, when Green made his request, Linda laughed.

“As expected of a human.”

Linda’s delicate face quickly regained its composure, and even the wariness in her gaze toward Green relaxed a bit.

To pursue longevity, would a human betray their own race and cooperate with the elves?

Oh, wasn’t this the most typical sort of human?

How normal.

Leisurely, Linda drummed her fingers on the table.

“We certainly have plenty of time.”

Miss Elf took a sip of hot tea, pausing unhurriedly to deliberately spark the lord’s curiosity. Only then did she speak slowly: “There are many ways to extend one’s lifespan. For example, the legendary Life Fruit, or perhaps the Elixir that can restore youth…”

She glanced sidelong at Green.

But the lord’s face was utterly calm—there was neither the joy of grasping a life-saving straw nor the restless longing of desire, only a tranquil serenity.

How could this be?

In Linda’s experience with humans, once it was confirmed that elves possessed methods to prolong life, humans and other short-lived races would have leaped up in excitement, begging the noble elves for that sliver of hope.

Why?

Why did his expression remain completely unchanged?

Linda’s curiosity toward this human lord deepened.

“I see.” Green nodded calmly. “Now that I’ve confirmed you possess such techniques, I’ll show some sincerity in return.”

Sincerity?

Green stood up, walked to a shelf in the study, and opened a heavy tome. With a click, a shiny compartment popped out from a hidden layer in the bookshelf.

Click.

Green turned the compartment, and a glimmering potion came into Linda’s view.

That is!

A flash of excitement flickered in Linda’s eyes.

Could it be…

But how could this mortal lord possibly possess such a thing?

“Purification Potion.”

Turning back, Green asked confidently, “Miss Linda, I believe this can cure the pollution on your World Tree, can it not?”

“How did you… how did you come to wield Holy Light?” Linda couldn’t help but walk to Green’s side, picking up the potion, her wide eyes glued to it, unable to look away.

It truly was Holy Light!

A mere human, with a mind full of wicked thoughts—how could he possibly have received the blessing of Holy Light? No, it wasn’t just favor. The concentration in this potion was simply…

Linda was at a loss for words, her emotions so stirred that she forgot all her negotiation skills. In that moment, all that mattered was the radiant potion bottle before her, brimming with nearly boundless, sacred light.

“Huu…”

Linda took several deep breaths, her generous chest and slender waist rising and falling, forming enticing curves like waves.

“With this potion, trading for some of your elves’ Life Fruit is a fair exchange, isn’t it?”

Green sat back into his large chair, a hint of satisfaction in his eyes.

As expected, the elves’ World Tree had been tainted by something from beyond the stars.

The Adventurers’ Guild records were extremely thorough; even the most obscure secrets were detailed within.

Though reality could not be equated entirely with the simulated life, the knowledge and skills gained in the simulation could also be applied in the real world.

And conversely…

Knowledge from reality could be used in the simulation as well.

“Lord Green.” Linda now looked at Green with entirely new eyes—not just out of self-interest, but from something deeper.

Holy Light never deceived.

Unlike humans or even elves, Holy Light was simply Holy Light—it had no thoughts. Like air, it seemed omnipresent, yet followed its own rules.

One such rule had been passed down through generations of elves—

Only the pure of heart could receive the favor of Holy Light.

No matter how she looked at Green, he did not resemble a legendary savior. Yet the Holy Light in his hands, and the Purification Potion he’d condensed, had already proven his morals were unlike most humans.

“Thank you very much, Mr. Green.”

Without hesitation, Linda bowed. Though this lord seemed to lack even the power of a Second Circle Mage, with the protection of Holy Light, he deserved her admiration.

“No need for thanks, Miss Linda.” Green waved his hand slightly. “After all, I simply want to make friends with your elven race.”

Friends?

With a human?

No.

Linda shook her head. Anyone so favored by the Holy Light couldn’t be viewed as an ordinary human.

Besides, that potion he’d given… it truly was hope for the elves.

The World Tree was the root of the elves.

Unlike humans lost in superstitions such as the so-called God of Light, the elves’ faith in the World Tree was real—a great existence that deeply affected every aspect of their daily lives.

Without the World Tree, the elves would no longer be elves.

Just by this fact alone, the value of the Purification Potion in Green’s hand was beyond measure for the elves.

Life Fruit?

No, such a thing that merely delayed aging was not worthy of the price Green proposed.

“Mr. Green.” Linda pondered for a moment, then solemnly said, “In truth, within our elven race, there is a secret art known as the Blessing of Life…”

“Oh, you mean that magic?”

Green raised his arm. “I know about it, but the caster can only use it once in their lifetime, and after casting it, they can no longer be blessed by anyone else, right?”

Seeing the faint mark on Green’s arm, Linda was utterly stunned.

“You… you’ve already used it?!”

Linda murmured in disbelief, “No wonder—no wonder your vitality is so weak. Wait, then, Mr. Green, the one you blessed—who was it?”

Just how important must that person be, for this lord to sacrifice his own vitality for their sake?

Wait.

A possibility suddenly occurred to Linda.

“Mr. Green, I’ve heard there’s a Miss Witch in your domain. She’s invented many things, but by all rights, witches who unrestrainedly delve into the Arcane are inevitably struck by backlash…”

Linda didn’t finish her sentence, but the answer was clear.

“That’s why I need time,” Green said frankly. “Miss Elf, would you lend me your aid? To help me realize my dream.”

“Dream?”

Linda blinked.

In her eyes, humans had always been a race who cared only for profit and nothing else. Yet here was someone before her, earnestly speaking of dreams?

But he was also one favored by Holy Light.

“What dream?”

Linda asked instinctively.

“A brand new world.” Green gazed intently at Linda, and for a moment, she was almost lost, moved by the words of this human lord.

“A world where all races can live together in peace. A world where the weak no longer need to fight and devour one another for scarce resources. A world without the threat of the Long Winter.”

Green spoke of his dream.

Faced with Green’s nearly mad vision, Linda was silent for a long time.

“Huu.” She looked out the window. At that moment, Miss Elf suddenly realized this small town was not as poor and backward as she’d thought.

Yes, perhaps they didn’t have the lush scenery of the elves, the grand and splendid palaces, or the bountiful fruits of a towering tree, but this place truly was unlike any human realm she’d seen.

It was beautiful.

A strange emotion welled up in Linda’s heart.

“Mr. Green, as a gift for our cooperation, I’ll give you a piece of information.”

Linda made up her mind. “The other lords at your side have already made their move.”

Originally, Miss Elf hadn’t planned to warn Green.

Aren’t all humans like that?

Killing each other, never trusting, betraying for even the smallest profit.

But now Linda felt differently.

She wanted to stand on Green’s side—not for that absurd, laughable dream, but simply… to see what answer this dream-filled, Holy Light-favored youth would give when faced with difficult choices.

Bang! Bang!

A rush of hurried footsteps approached.

“Lord! Lord, something’s wrong!” Knight Brown burst breathlessly through the door. “Those despicable scoundrels have incited some townsfolk to take the refugees hostage—and… and Mary has gone missing as well.”

Mary?

The image of that noisy, ever-clinging girl who was always hanging around him and Sophie flashed through Green’s mind.

“Mr. Green.” Miss Elf’s eyes held a complex meaning. “Their base of operations is in the abandoned mine to the west of town.”

When faced with a powerful enemy, it’s easy for an idealist to make a choice.

But what if the enemy is a group of unarmed… commoners?