Author: 冬瓜茶仙人 / Winter Melon Tea Immortal

Translator: Kinky || https://kinkytranslations.com/

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Chapter 204

“Please forgive me, but no matter how much money you give me, I can’t go any further, sir.” A rough-skinned man stopped in front of a large moss-covered stone, turning around with some fear, worried that his disobedience might invite a whipping.

Alfred, riding high on his horse, looked down at him. “Why?”

“It’s the territory of the Nawen tribe inside. They’re skilled in hunting and traps, and they’re formidable warriors. Without permission, entering their land would result in injury.”

Alfred was silent for two seconds before his companion behind him stepped forward. “How much do you know about the Nawen tribe?”

Hunters in this area all knew about the Nawen tribe, but very few had actual contact with them.

Some members of their tribe had distinct features, such as green eyes and fair skin, while others looked no different from ordinary people. The ones who came out of the forest to trade salt and other goods were usually the latter and rarely revealed their identity.

This tribe, which once had close ties with the elves, had always been more aligned with the elves rather than their own kind—humans. The locals didn’t mind the elves but found the Nawen tribe’s apparent rejection of their own race in favor of the elves distasteful. The Nawen tribe never explained their motives, so over generations, the locals no longer considered them human like themselves, even though they knew they weren’t elves.

Especially after the elves left the continent, there were mocking claims that the tribe was abandoned by the elves in the forest, symbolizing misfortune and to be avoided.

Even though he was anxious, Alfred didn’t force the guide, who was just doing his job for money. He let the man go and discussed with the two knights how to enter the forest.

“We have an unfailing compass, so we won’t get lost in the forest,” White Knight Spin said. “And we have horses and swords. Even if there are dragons in the forest, these three things are enough.”

“Should we seek help from the local families?” Another knight, Shel, suggested. “Although Alger did such a thing, the Lady’s maternal family should be concerned about the Young Master. If we had their manpower, our actions might be easier.”

There were only three of them now. No matter how brave they were, they knew it was foolish to think they could take on an entire tribe alone. Shel knew Alfred was still furious over Alger’s framing of the Young Master, but objectively speaking, Alger was just a cousin of the Lady and didn’t represent the attitude of her entire family.

“The Duke will come personally with reinforcements,” Alfred said, staring into the forest. “We can’t afford any more betrayal.”

Spin thought of another aspect. “I think the Lady might come too. Before that, we’d better not make any moves that could affect their later discussions.”

Whatever the reason, this time Brandenburg wouldn’t spare Alger. The Duchess didn’t like to travel far, but given the matter of her youngest son, no one would think she would stay in the castle waiting for news.

“If we can rescue Young Master Arnie before the lady arrives, that would be ideal,” Alfred said, stroking his stubbly face. “Even elves bleed and die, let alone a bunch that has stayed in the forest for years—”

He used a somewhat crude term, making Spin cough. The three of them finally reached an agreement, bypassed the mossy boulder, and drove their horses into the forest.

……

Charlie carried Arnie over a fallen log, with Wind leading the way. In a small depression grew plants with unusually thick and straight stems, looking like a bed of tulips without buds.

“The Flame Butterflies will return before dusk. We just need to wait a while,” Wind said, handing Charlie a water bottle from the deer’s back to give Arnie a drink. Arnie twisted in Charlie’s arms, wanting to get down, but Charlie held him tightly.

The ground here was full of stones and moss, and Charlie felt the atmosphere was too serene to let the child run around.

“I want to get down,” Arnie demanded.

Charlie didn’t respond to him but instead asked Wind, “What are Flame Butterflies? Are they dangerous?”

Wind smiled. “They are completely harmless magical butterflies, but very beautiful. Unfortunately, they are becoming increasingly rare. We don’t know if there are any Flame Butterflies left elsewhere on the continent.”

The term “magical butterflies” caught Arnie’s attention, and he stopped squirming. “What kind of magic do they have?”

Wind made a “shh” gesture. With his motion, the already shaded area seemed to grow darker, and the sound of fluttering wings began to fill the air, growing louder.

Charlie stepped back slightly, and he and Arnie looked up to see a bright, flaming mass rising from the small waterfall not far away.

It was a large group of red and blue butterflies. They flew over the waterfall, landing on the grass stems, their wings slowly flapping. As more butterflies descended, the once green depression turned into a shimmering, colorful flower bed. A gentle breeze made the butterfly wings quiver like countless petals, creating a breathtaking sight.

Arnie’s eyes widened, and Charlie, also captivated by the floral sea, whispered, “Elven celebration.”

Wind’s smile froze on his lips. He looked at Charlie in shock, as if he had just said something absurd.

“You…” Wind studied Charlie, as if trying to see if he had pointed ears. “Do you recognize them?”

“This is my first time seeing them in person,” Charlie said, slowly crouching down, one arm around Arnie, and using the other to gently shake a grass stem. “But I’ve read about these butterflies in texts. They are called magical butterflies, but they don’t have any special abilities other than glowing. They are a mutated form of ordinary butterflies, tamed by elves, occasionally used to enhance the atmosphere at feasts and celebrations.”

A butterfly was drawn to the grass stem in Charlie’s hand, fluttering over and landing on it. Charlie handed the stem to Arnie, letting him hold it himself.

“Well said,” Wind said a bit sadly. “But their numbers dwindle every year. We’ve tried to breed them, but without success. In ten years, this scene might disappear forever.”

“They have no magic themselves, but to maintain this brilliance requires elven magic,” Charlie said, touching the butterfly’s wings with his fingertips, noticing only a faint trace of magic still lingering at the wing base.

“But they won’t truly disappear—only revert back to being ordinary butterflies,” Charlie said, flicking his fingers nonchalantly.

Wind glanced at him. “Are you a mage?”

Charlie stood up again, holding Arnie, and smiled. “No. If you must say something, I’m just a magician who has read a lot of books.”

He felt that Wind’s tribe was somewhat similar to these butterflies. Once, they had gained extraordinary abilities due to the elves’ protection, but as the elves vanished, these extraordinary parts were gradually fading.

Charlie didn’t know what the butterflies thought, but he guessed that Wind’s tribe didn’t want to lose their “magic” again.

“Wind!” someone called from a distance, probably afraid of startling the butterflies, so their voice was low.

Wind turned to Arnie. “It’s getting dark. Let’s go back?”

Arnie looked around for a while, trying to catch the butterfly, but Charlie, holding him, shook him a bit, causing the butterfly to fly away.

Arnie turned angrily to Charlie, who ignored him, and started walking towards the caller, following Wind.

“I want one,” Arnie said, unwilling to give up. He knew Charlie wouldn’t get him a butterfly, so he turned to Wind for help.

Arnie was good at understanding the situation. Although Atta and the others had been a bit rough in capturing him, Wind represented the tribe’s attitude towards him—more friendly than intimidating.

So, he judged that he could make some harmless requests.

A butterfly wasn’t much, but Charlie still patted his head and coaxed, “If you put a butterfly in a jar, its wings will get damaged, and it won’t be able to fly anymore. Do you think a butterfly on a grass stem, or a dead butterfly is prettier?”

Arnie stubbornly said, “I’ll take care of it.”

You can’t even tie your shoelaces properly. Charlie, with his expression unchanged, quickened his pace while holding Arnie, continuing to deceive the child. “Then let’s catch one on the way back. That way it will be fresh (?).”

That sounded reasonable, and Arnie hesitated for a moment, missing the best opportunity to throw a tantrum. Wind approached the person who had come to meet them. “Green, why are you here?”

Green was a beautiful young woman, standing in front of a large stag with long antlers, waiting for them.

“The seer wants to see him,” she said straightforwardly.

Wind was taken aback and looked back at Arnie and Charlie, who were still negotiating and hadn’t noticed what they were saying.

“Why does the seer…”

“He felt his presence,” Green said calmly. “Let’s go before it gets too dark. The chieftain just agreed.”

Charlie, holding Arnie, frowned at the two who were speaking without consulting them. “Where to?”

“Only him,” Green emphasized. “The son of Dwight.”

Charlie looked down at the child in his arms. Arnie sensed something and clung to him again.

“I don’t want to go,” Arnie said.

Green was a bit surprised. “Why?”

“I can’t let the Young Master out of my sight.” Charlie tightened his grip on Arnie. “He’s already very tired today. If there are important arrangements, it would be better to notify us an hour in advance.”

Green couldn’t detect Charlie’s subtle criticism of their presumptuousness, but Wind realized it. He stepped between them and looked at Green. “Is the seer in a hurry?”

Green was confused. “No.”

“Then why don’t I go with you to explain? It’s getting dark. It’s not safe for the child,” Wind suggested.

Green wanted to ask, “What could be unsafe with us around?” but she rarely saw Wind with such a strange expression, so she kept silent.

Charlie ignored their low conversation and mounted his horse, with Arnie clinging tightly to him like a small bundle.

On the way back, neither he nor Arnie spoke. Wind seemed eager to see the “seer” and left hastily after sending them to the treehouse. While taking off Arnie’s coat, Charlie praised him. “Very smart.”

Arnie looked up. “You mean that seer? I don’t want to go.”

He kicked off his little boots and stood on the chair.

Charlie teased him. “Maybe he’s an important figure.”

Arnie said, “He just wants to know if I have any connection to the elves.”

Charlie raised an eyebrow.

Even standing on the chair, Arnie couldn’t reach Charlie’s height, but he still tilted his chin high. “They value the elves a lot. Maybe they sensed I have elven blood.”

“Although it’s just a tiny bit—” He gestured with his finger, showing a small amount. “Because it was a long, long time ago.”

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