Author: 冬瓜茶仙人 / Winter Melon Tea Immortal

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

---

Chapter 212

Charlie thought he was about to choke on the water—he was extremely reluctant to open his mouth and let the dirty green water enter his body, but the instinctive need for oxygen made it impossible to hold on. Just when he was about to succumb, the water around him suddenly vanished, and he fell face-first onto the ground.

He finally coughed, intending only to relieve the discomfort, but the coughing became uncontrollable and increasingly severe. His throat itched, making it hard to breathe. He barely managed to flip over and kneel on the ground, hoping to expel the non-existent dirty water from his throat.

Apparently, his coughing was loud enough to alert someone, as he heard a shout followed by hurried footsteps.

Great, just what he needed—an audience. Charlie thought as he coughed, hoping that among the onlookers there might be a doctor.

To his surprise, not many people approached him—only one, in fact. The person roughly lifted him, pushing his wet hair aside.

“Cough, cough! You… cough!” Charlie raised his hand to wipe the water from his face, but something cool was shoved into his mouth.

A mint.

Charlie stopped coughing and suspiciously looked at the person, unsure if he was seeing things.

“Dwight?” he asked.

Logically, this question shouldn’t have come from him, but the person before him looked different from the Duke he remembered.

The facial contours were still sharp, and the light golden eyes and hair were the same, but the nose and brows seemed slightly different, and his height had changed.

“It’s me,” Dwight said, looking directly at him. “Is that all you have to say?”

Charlie suddenly tackled him, catching Dwight off guard, causing both of them to fall to the ground.

“I don’t know how long I’ve been gone,” Charlie whispered into Dwight’s neck, “but I knew you were waiting for me.”

Dwight grasped the back of his neck, pulling back a bit to look at him, then gave him a wet kiss.

Both were breathless by the end of the kiss. Dwight shook his fingers to flick off the waterweed from Charlie’s hair.

“Where did you go?” Dwight asked. “You smell awful.”

Charlie laughed heartily, then kissed him again before looking around. “Where are we?”

“Where else? Khalif’s secret chamber,” Dwight said sternly.

“No, the magical aura is different,” Charlie said firmly, wanting to look around, but Dwight didn’t let go.

“You had someone make changes, didn’t you?” Charlie asked.

Dwight finally helped him up from the ground.

“The people from the Empire arrived at White Bridge a few hours later. His Majesty the Emperor highly values the Holy Grail’s existence, and there were two Grand Magus in the delegation,” Dwight said. “At that time, Khalif was dead, and Louis had stabilized the remaining members of the Wolf Family. His assistant was quite capable. Although it cost a lot of money, all unrelated personnel were dismissed.”

The Emperor had been prepared to use force to seal the Holy Grail’s history, but the Wolf and Monkey families had torn each other apart, leaving the lesser powers, the Lion and the Fox, to exit early. Their only role was to assist the Duke of Brandenburg in deconstructing Khalif’s magic to bring back the innocent victims.

“Initially, everyone thought you were dead. No one could survive such chaotic magic,” Dwight said calmly. “But then Elena’s magic was suddenly drained significantly, and I knew you were still alive.”

“Kurt said there would always be a return, but the stars couldn’t pinpoint the exact time, so I had the mages move Khalif’s entire basement here.”

Charlie sensed something was off. “What do you mean by ‘moved it here’?”

“Exactly what it sounds like. I dismantled his house, brought every piece of wood and stone back to Lemena, and reconstructed the basement, including the last door’s magic—right where you are now.” Dwight led him out of the room, and they saw the damp hallway and stone steps. Even the humidity in the air was similar.

It was much brighter outside the room, and Charlie finally realized what was different about Dwight.

“You’ve grown taller!” Charlie said in surprise. “So much taller—” Even his build was different. His facial features were still delicate, but now he looked tall and slender, completely different from the lanky boy Charlie remembered. If Duke Dwight before their parting had a fragile, elf-like grace, the current Duke looked more like a majestic Ice Prince, whose gaze no one dared to meet.

“If you had taken any longer, I’d be old by now,” Dwight said irritably. “I already decided that if you returned when I was thirty, I’d beat you up first, then send Kurt back to Doran.”

Charlie: “…So you think thirty is old? How old are you now?”

Dwight didn’t answer, pulling him up the stone steps. At the end of the passage, there was no reconstruction of Khalif’s house. The mages had built the basement under a recessed, gentle slope, and the distant castle was bathed in the soft golden light of the setting sun.

It was Brandenburg.

Charlie squinted, unaccustomed to the light. Seeing Brandenburg, he couldn’t help but think of Arnie.

Interestingly, from the time he and Dwight met until their unexpected separation, they never had the chance to see the castle. Yet, half of his brief time with Arnie was spent there.

He looked at the much taller Duke, who had been a small, short-limbed boy with chubby cheeks, easy to carry around. Now, realizing he would never experience that again, he felt a sharp pang of loss.

Dwight noticed Charlie’s strange look. “What’s with that expression?”

Charlie said nothing, accepting a towel from a nearby servant to dry off (mostly Charlie). In the basement, it hadn’t felt cold, but once they were outside, the breeze made him want to sneeze.

Charlie took the towel and laughed as soon as he saw it.

“Of course, it’s you, Shivers.” Despite his wet clothes, Charlie hugged him. “I knew you’d be here.”

Shivers hadn’t changed much in appearance and smiled back. “Welcome back, Charlie.”

“Are you planning to hug everyone looking like this?” Dwight draped the towel over Charlie’s head. Although his tone was less than polite, his actions were unexpectedly practiced and natural. Charlie felt that the smell of water on him was too strong, and sitting in Dwight’s spotless, shiny carriage in such a state seemed like a crime, but neither Dwight nor Shivers seemed to think it was a problem.

The journey back was short. Before getting off, Dwight asked, “Where’s Emerald?”

“It just went back to the castle, so I guess everyone knows by now,” Shivers said, in a good mood. “Shiloh happened to be out, but everyone else is here, waiting for you, especially—”

Dwight lifted his eyelids and gave Shivers a glance, making him stop talking.

But Charlie picked up the conversation himself, “Especially Dwight!”

He said cheerfully, “You came within minutes. You must have missed me very, very much, right?”

It had only been about a month for him since he went back in time, but several years had passed here. Even though Dwight wouldn’t admit it, Charlie could feel his longing, whether from the kiss that ignored the waterweed and mud or from the hand that still held onto his tightly.

Dwight initially had no intention of responding to his boasting, but Charlie was never someone who needed an audience’s cooperation. He persisted in asking several times, “Right? Right?”

Annoyed, the Duke reached out, intending to pull the towel down over Charlie’s face to stop his chatter. Instead, his hand changed course, and he flicked Charlie’s forehead lightly.

“Yes,” Dwight said.

Charlie was stunned.

Partly because the Dwight he knew rarely indulged others’ teasing, and partly because the gesture was very familiar.

When little Arnie was being stubborn, a few people who weren’t afraid of his status would flick his forehead like this. Charlie had seen Alfred do it once, and he later used this method to teach Arnie. After he left, Alfred…

Dwight frowned, wondering why such a small gesture suddenly made Charlie sad.

“We’re here,” Shivers said, pretending not to notice their exchange and was the first to jump out of the carriage.

Charlie was pulled along by Dwight, striding into the castle, through the main hall, the drawing room, and the garden, arriving at the large bath on the first floor.

The antechamber to the large bath was semi-open, with warm mist spreading from the bath and soft towels piled on a couch. Dwight deftly threw the towel off Charlie and started to undress him.

Charlie was a bit surprised by his enthusiasm but thought it was fitting for a grown-up Duke to be so straightforward. So he eagerly stripped down and began to touch him in return.

Dwight grabbed Charlie’s wandering hand and sighed, “I meant for you to take a bath.”

“Aren’t we bathing together?” Charlie asked.

“I don’t mind, but now isn’t the right time.” Dwight stared at Charlie openly, thinking the same as Charlie, but—

“What do you mean, ‘not the right time’?” Charlie said, “You’ve already grown up.”

Dwight jerked his chin towards something.

Charlie realized and turned around to see.

A three- or four-year-old boy was clinging to the edge of the bath, his face steamed red, watching them with wide eyes. Except for the eye color, he looked exactly like Louis when he was young.

“Before I went to get you, I was giving him a bath,” Dwight said lazily. “I didn’t have time to explain—George, this is Charlie.”

---

The author has something to say:

Charlie: You’ve grown up.

Dwight: That’s because you immediately started stripping.

Charlie: With a child present, what’s the point of growing up? You should have reminded me sooner.

Dwight: No, I wait until you’re undressed to tell you.

---

<<< || Table of Contents || >>>

Author: 冬瓜茶仙人 / Winter Melon Tea Immortal

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

---

Chapter 211

The elven ruins were deeper in the forest, with paths overgrown by vegetation, making it impossible for even mounts to enter. Only the giant birds trained by the Nawen tribe could reach them.

Arnie had long wanted to ride the giant birds, and his rare eagerness made it hard for the Duke and Duchess to refuse him.

Additionally, with the knights accompanying the Duke into the forest, the situation had completely shifted, and Arnie was no longer a pitiable child restricted in his movements. The Nawen tribe had lowered their stance sufficiently. As long as they remained rational, they wouldn’t harm Arnie under these circumstances—the Duke and the knights were confident of this.

However, the seer had limited the number of people allowed to enter. Besides Arnie, Charlie, and Alfred, only one more person could follow.

Having nearly lost her child, the Duchess was adamant about not compromising this time, and Duke Dwight had no choice but to agree to let his wife go in his stead.

This was actually a good thing for the Nawen tribe, as they were quite resistant to “outsiders” entering elven territory (Arnie and the Duchess didn’t count because of their bloodline advantage). Alfred was already an exception, and as for Charlie, the seer personally agreed to his presence, so it didn’t count either.

After finalizing the personnel, the Nawen tribe summoned two giant eagles large enough to carry people, which landed in the clearing of the settlement.

Duke Dwight frowned at the sharp beaks of the two birds, feeling a bit regretful.

“Arnie, how about I go with you?” he suggested to his son.

The Duchess picked up Arnie and firmly looked at her husband.

“I will not be separated from Arnie again,” she said. The Duke knew that Arnie’s experiences over the past few days had shattered her heart, so he had to give in.

Charlie initially thought that after passing through the spatial magic barrier, the elven ruins would be a combination of buildings and trees covered in vines.

But when the giant birds circled down and finally set them down, everyone was stunned.

It was a city.

Unlike the envisioned elven huts and seas of flowers, this was a pristine, exquisite marble city hidden within the vast sea of trees.

Although vines had integrated with the intricate carvings and the once smooth floor was covered with fallen leaves and branches, the precisely cut stones were combined in an unimaginably aesthetic manner, beautiful and majestic. Despite being abandoned for centuries, it still amazed and shocked the viewers.

“The elves took all the books and stationery,” the seer said as he led them across the square, with the massive, long-silent clock tower watching silently as they walked towards the palace.

“But they left the murals and sculptures on the walls.” The seer’s withered fingers lightly touched the cold, hard wall. “We can only glimpse a bit of their former glory from these.”

There was no need for him to say more. Everyone was already mesmerized.

The high dome had large crystal windows that let light through, with sunlight falling on the two thrones in the main hall. Stone-carved swords stood beside the chairs, and the curved walls were filled with historical scenes depicting the elves migrating from the cold north to be accepted by the southern forest and building this city with the help of the treants.

The Duchess and Arnie were almost entranced by the details in the murals, while Alfred’s attention was more on the mother and son.

The seer crossed the main hall, with Charlie quietly following.

In the center of the palace was an open-air garden with beautiful trees and a jade fountain. Grass grew in the cracks of the floor, and while the fountain no longer flowed, it was still full of water.

“This is the place,” the seer said calmly.

Charlie glanced inside and frowned. “Where does this water come from? Rainwater?”

After so many years, the fountain should have dried up. Yet now, the fountain was still more than half full of greenish, murky water, with small twigs and leaves floating on the surface, looking dirty.

“The large fish at the foot of the gryphon statue is the water outlet,” the seer said calmly, seemingly not hearing Charlie’s disdain. “Please place the gem in the fish’s mouth, and I will activate the magic for you.”

Charlie looked back. The other three were still in the main hall. Except for Alfred, who might have sensed something, the Duchess and Arnie were unaware that the seer and Charlie had already left the hall.

“I have a question.” Charlie hesitated, which was rare for him. “Arnie…”

“His memory?” The sharp-minded seer nodded. “Besides me, everyone else will not remember the specific details about the elven ruins—they will retain impressions but won’t remember the way, as if they had a very vivid dream.”

This was to protect the secrets of the elven ruins, which Charlie understood. But he wanted to ask something else. “I wasn’t supposed to be here. When I leave, will Arnie and the others’ memories of me also fade?”

The seer asked him in return, “Do you want everyone to remember you?”

Charlie shook his head. “No.”

This answer seemed to please the seer. For once, his usually calm face showed a hint of approval towards Charlie. He slowly stepped forward and stood beside Charlie.

“I can correct everyone’s memory, erasing the impressions of all who remember you—this is one of the powers granted to me: maintaining the law,” the seer said. “The moment you leave, everything will be corrected.”

Although knowing it was supposed to be this way, hearing himself being treated as an error to be corrected still felt strange.

“If your power can do that, I have a request,” Charlie said. “Consider it… as payment for helping you place the gem in the fountain’s center.”

“That depends on what the request is.”

“When erasing Arnie’s memory, leave a little bit.” Charlie saw the seer’s expression and added, “Just a little bit.”

The seer disapprovingly looked at him. “You and he will meet again.”

Charlie said, “I don’t want to emphasize my existence. I just want to leave the story I told Arnie. Only that… it doesn’t matter if he thinks someone else told him.”

Although five-year-old Arnie had a unique personality, he was generally a happy child, loved and cherished by countless people. Charlie’s presence at this time was just another source of joy for him. Occasionally, Charlie would think about how, if he could return to Dwight’s side when he was a teenager, during his loneliest moments when he had lost so many important people, he could have held his cold hand.

He couldn’t make any warnings or change the past, and he couldn’t leave any mementos. He could only hope that the happy memories he gave Arnie would leave a small mark, becoming an insignificant but essential foundation to support him through the dark years.

The seer looked at him, neither agreeing nor refusing.

Charlie took it as a yes, turned, and stepped onto the fountain’s stone steps. He estimated the distance from the edge to the central sculpture, deciding he could make it with a big leap.

“The one under the gryphon’s foot, right?” Charlie confirmed without turning around. As he bent his knees, he was suddenly shoved hard in the lower back. The narrow edge of the fountain was difficult to balance on. His center of gravity shifted, and in a moment of shock, he helplessly fell into the pool of murky water, only managing to hold his breath and tightly close his eyes.

Splash.

Arnie, held in the Duchess’s arms and looking at the angel image on the mural, turned back in confusion.

“What was that sound?” he asked.

Alfred looked around. “I didn’t hear anything.”

The Duchess didn’t hear it either. She hugged Arnie a bit tighter. “My Arnie is as adorable as a little angel.”

Arnie had been secretly homesick these past few days. Hearing his mother say this, he wrapped his arms tightly around her neck.

……

Charlie didn’t consider himself a clean freak, but—the water in this centuries-old fountain was just too dirty! After falling in, he didn’t dare open his eyes because the thick green water might cause an eye infection.

He tried to find his balance in the water. The fountain wasn’t very big, so he should be able to touch the bottom, but the dead water was inexplicably thick and seemed to offer no buoyancy, making movement extremely difficult. Charlie reached out to touch the fountain’s edge, realizing that he still had the elven gem in his hand.

Why did the seer push him into the water? As he started feeling the need for air, a thought struck him.

Whether it sensed Charlie’s thoughts or not, the elven gem began to heat up, especially noticeable in the cold pool water. Charlie stopped struggling and let himself sink until his back touched the bottom of the pool, where something poked his lower back.

Charlie used his right hand, which was holding the gem, to feel around and found it was shaped like a doorknob. Without hesitation, he grasped it, and the gem slipped from his hand.

The doorknob seemed to be attached to a heavy, rusty iron door. No matter how hard he tried, Charlie couldn’t open it underwater. His lungs were running out of oxygen, but he was determined not to surface for air.

The seer stood by the fountain, watching Charlie struggle in the green water, saying nothing. After a while, as Charlie’s movements slowed, the seer lowered his head.

Suddenly, a whirlpool formed in the once-stagnant pool, and the water began to drain rapidly. Within minutes, the pool was dry.

The person in the water was gone. Sunlight fell on the thick green algae, reflecting off something.

The seer tilted his head, recognizing it as the elf gem.

---

The author has something to say:

Elf Gem: What’s going on? Doesn’t anyone want me?!

---

<<< || Table of Contents || >>>

Author: 冬瓜茶仙人 / Winter Melon Tea Immortal

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

---

Chapter 210

The people sent from the Imperial Capital arrived a day later than Duke Dwight. When Sher appeared at the camp with the Nawen envoy, they could see the newly raised Imperial flag.

The Nawen envoy felt a bit conflicted. To his knowledge, the capital hadn’t dispatched any troops due to the Nawen tribe’s honesty. Only the enraged Duke personally went to the south with the famed Brandenburg Knights by his side. However, he didn’t expect Lemena’s military force to be so vast. As soon as they stepped out of the forest’s edge, they saw a dense array of tents and a sprawling temporary camp on the hillside.

This was a scale for a siege battle. Even though he understood the Duke’s concern for his son, this sight exceeded expectations, making his expression somewhat unnatural.

Duke Dwight waited for them in the main tent. Although they were about to enter the forest, the envoy brought out the jug containing the waterfall scene again. It showed Arnie sitting in a chair, eating, looking rosy, and in good spirits.

This made the Duchess relax a little.

For the first time, she used her status to severely punish Alger and his family, reclaiming some businesses that had developed thanks to her influence. Although this weakened her family’s power locally, no one dared to plead with her at this time. Emma, gentle by nature since childhood, made her fury even more terrifying. Even her two biological sisters dared not speak a word about it.

She insisted on personally entering the forest to retrieve Arnie.

Duke Dwight knew she was under great stress lately and didn’t put much effort into persuading her otherwise. After roughly confirming Arnie’s safety, the envoy from the capital reassured the Nawen tribe. The capital had returned Alger’s opportunistic tribute and candidly informed them that His Majesty the Emperor knew the true origin of the Nawen tribe’s treasure. This put the Nawen tribe, who had feared losing their heritage to greed, at ease.

“This is the gem of the elf elder, right? Even though the seal isolates its aura, the Grand Magus can still sense the power within it,” the Imperial envoy said.

The Nawen envoy remained silent.

The Imperial envoy, with a hint of undisguised sarcasm, said, “There’s no need to be so cautious. Despite knowing the potential power it holds, His Majesty the Emperor returned it, proving that the Empire does not covet such things—at least, His Majesty the Emperor does not.”

Only then did Duke Dwight focus on the matter. “What is the power of the elf gem?”

“An existence often mentioned in legends—the Fountain of Youth.” The Imperial envoy showed much more respect towards the Duke. “Elves believe that water is the source of life. All the water sources in their territory are optimized by them, and this gem is likely one of their means.”

“It doesn’t have the power of immortality.” The Nawen envoy finally spoke.

The Fountain of Youth, the Fountain of Immortality, or other names, is the most common description in forest tales. But in reality, such a thing didn’t exist. Not even the long-lived elves could create it.

This elf gem was a gift the Nawen tribe received years ago. When placed in water, it gave the water magical properties. Plants watered with it grew quickly and well. People who drank it daily would see small ailments heal. The various magical plants the Nawen tribe used daily could only be cultivated with this water. If replaced with ordinary spring water, their inherent power would quickly fade.

To the Empire, possessing this gem would merely enhance physical strength and beauty, but to the Nawen tribe, who have lived in the deep forest for generations, it is the foundation of their existence.

Duke Dwight glanced at the Nawen envoy.

“Alger’s wrongdoing should be accounted for, not by thoughtlessly harming Lemena,” he said coldly.

People often said that, compared to the proud and dignified old Duke, the current Duke Dwight was too gentle and unassuming. But when he was truly angered, the authoritative aura of a long-standing ruler was no longer concealed, and the Nawen envoy dared not meet his gaze.

“It’s our fault,” he said carefully. “The Nawen tribe is willing to compensate. The chieftain is ready to meet at any time.”

……

“What do you think Father and the Imperial Capital will demand from the Nawen tribe?” Arnie asked Alfred.

He was overjoyed. As soon as he opened his eyes, he saw his father’s knight commander sitting by his bed, telling him that his parents had come to get him! This made Arnie, who was not yet adept at maintaining his demeanor, quite lively, talking to Alfred non-stop.

Alfred was also very happy to see Arnie safe and sound. The knight, now greatly relieved, finally washed his face, shaved his beard, and looked cheerful and handsome again.

“They don’t have much value,” Alfred said indifferently. “Even if they took everyone to the capital as servants, it wouldn’t amount to much.”

Seeing Arnie’s expression, he added, “But His Majesty the Emperor and the Duke wouldn’t do that—they do have some interesting things. Even if the elven plants can’t leave the forest, the prepared rare herbs are still valuable.”

“They have more than just herbs,” Arnie said. “They have elven ruins, and the seer said I could go.”

“When I fought in Arkan City, I also saw giant ruins. There’s nothing fun about them. All the valuable things were taken, leaving behind immovable houses and statues—nothing interesting.” Alfred frowned, trying to dissuade Arnie.

“Elves are different,” Charlie said. “Their magic is powerful, and they are the favored of the gods. Even after leaving, the plants they left behind have protected the Nawen tribe for hundreds of years. There might still be things in the ruins. Even if not, seeing the famous elven craftsmanship and architecture is worthwhile.”

“Very worthwhile,” Arnie echoed.

Alfred flicked his forehead. “Stop thinking about playing. Your parents are very worried about you and are already selecting knights for you.”

Arnie blinked. “But I’m only five.” According to tradition, the heir to Brandenburg starts formally training their knight regiment at nine.

“They’re too worried about you,” Alfred said softly. “Do you understand what I mean? Start by selecting a few early to observe…”

He lifted his eyelids and saw Charlie winking at him.

“You met their seer. Tell him to bring back the boy named Night who got lost last night,” Alfred instructed. “He has good potential.”

He didn’t elaborate, but Arnie understood that Alfred’s words meant he believed that boy had the potential to become the next Brandenburg Knight.

“Oh,” Arnie drawled. “Is he really that good?”

Alfred hugged him tightly. “Don’t be jealous. Arnie is still my favorite.”

Charlie smiled, watching Arnie struggle in Alfred’s embrace, but his mind was on something else.

Regarding his conversation with the seer, he hadn’t fully explained to Arnie and felt Arnie didn’t need to know all the details.

“Do you remember the magic formula?” the seer had asked him.

Charlie had indeed paid attention. During the confrontation in the basement, he had been silently observing all the doors, whether they were successfully used or bizarre failures.

His intuition had always been sharp. Though he didn’t know he would later become the “user” of that door, he instinctively felt it was necessary to understand this evil magic.

Even if he could replicate the magic formula, Charlie couldn’t bring himself to sacrifice an innocent life to activate it. This was why he had stayed passively for so long. Without an alternative solution, he preferred to do nothing.

He left the magic principle copied for the seer, whose magical talent might surpass his own. A few hours later, while Arnie was asleep last night, Charlie received a response.

The elven ruins weren’t all dilapidated as people imagined. In fact, the wealthy elves hadn’t taken everything with them. They had left behind considerable wealth—both gold and silver treasures and magical structures.

This was why they had closed off the elven territory and entrusted the reliable Nawen tribe to guard the entrance.

Each generation’s Nawen seer was the only one able to open the ruins. The current seer was very old. He had taken all the newborns under his wing, hoping to find the next child who would awaken the seer’s powers, but he had never found one.

“So this might be the last time,” the seer said. “The secret treasure returned by the capital can only sustain the plants and trees in the settlement because it’s not in its original place.”

It was a silver gem, initially placed in the elven king’s garden—a garden with a magnificent fountain, its base, and railings made of glittering jade, with the gem embedded in the statue at the water outlet.

“I plan to return it to its original place and then permanently seal the ruins, unless the elves return,” the seer said. “The mission of the Nawen tribe is complete. The next generation need not be confined to the forest, and the chieftain understands his duty.”

“Before that, the gem’s power can be lent to you once—to help you return to where you came from. This is not for you but for Dwight’s son.”

The seer hadn’t been very explicit but being able to open the time rift without a sacrifice made Charlie think that perhaps, the elven king who lived in this forest centuries ago truly possessed the legendary Fountain of Youth.

But the elves had left it behind.

Centuries later, the Emperor of the Empire also refused it.

---

<<< || Table of Contents || >>>

Author: 冬瓜茶仙人 / Winter Melon Tea Immortal

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

---

Chapter 209

Wind was the first to find Alfred and his group.

The Nawen warriors split into several small teams to search for the missing children overnight. Having lived in the forest for generations, and with their own children missing, they naturally had effective methods.

Their speed was faster than Alfred had anticipated. The magical devices had failed, but their mechanical watches were still ticking. It was just past midnight when they encountered each other.

Alfred, already brimming with anger, drew his sword without a word. Wind knew that the people of Brandenburg harbored significant hostility towards them and didn’t speak. He scanned the firelight for the two children.

The red-haired one was naughty Bee, who was curled up and seemingly asleep. The black-haired one was Night, who had quickly sat up when the Brandenburg Knights stirred, apparently uninjured.

Wind felt a sense of relief, but before he could exhale, a cold blade was at his face.

“Wind!” His companion warned, and Wind stepped back hastily. A lock of his hair, lifted by his retreat, was sliced off. He watched the knight charge forward, his heart tightening.

Such speed!

Even the child who had sat up was startled by Alfred’s ferocity. He nudged his companion, Bee, who was still dreaming and groggy as he woke.

“Night?”

The clash of metal rang out, and Bee looked towards the sound. In the limited firelight, he squinted for a while before his eyes widened.

“Ah!”

He looked excited. “The tribe has come to save us!”

Night, with a stern face, knocked him on the head. Bee saw the two adult men by the fire and realized their “hostage” status.

Spin and Shel were sitting by them. In the flickering firelight, their expressions were somewhat strange—half-smiling, half-expressionless.

Bee, a child who couldn’t hide his thoughts, held back for a while before blurting out, “Aren’t you going to help him?”

Their companion was fighting two on one, yet these two acted indifferent?

“Alfred is very strong,” Shel said kindly, tossing a branch into the fire, which crackled loudly.

Though his tone was kind, his words weren’t.

Bee was provoked. “Our warriors are stronger!”

Spin drawled, “Oh—”

Bee clenched his fists, but Night poked him in the side.

He turned back. The black-haired boy seemed oblivious to the conversation by the fire, staring intently at the fight.

“He’s really strong,” Night said.

Bee: What’s wrong with you?!

He angrily turned to watch. The Nawen warriors, stronger and more enduring than average people, were indeed fierce. But he soon understood why Night said what he did—because that knight… was truly formidable.

Wind and Willow, the warriors searching with him, were both exceptionally strong, especially Wind. Yet, despite their strength, they seemed unable to handle this knight.

As time passed, the knight gradually gained the upper hand. His long sword, like a fierce silver dragon, was unstoppable. Bee saw Willow’s sword knocked from his hand in one move.

“Willow…!” He gripped Night’s clothes, sweat beading on his forehead, then watched in shock as the fierce man threw away his own sword and charged at Willow barehanded.

Spin clicked his tongue.

Unarmed combat usually wasn’t as brutal, but Bee was still terrified. The fight ended as abruptly as it had started—at least, that’s how it seemed to him.

All three were injured, but Wind and Willow more so. Willow remained silent with a cold expression, while Wind tied up his scattered hair as he approached the fire.

Spin retrieved Alfred’s sword, crossing his arms without speaking.

“Your master is unharmed,” Wind said. “We treated him as a guest.”

Shel replied, “What else? Did you plan to throw a five-year-old into a dungeon?”

Willow: “You—”

Wind shook his head at Willow, who then glared at them but didn’t approach further, standing some distance away.

“He didn’t use lethal force,” Wind told Willow.

Spin said, “And you didn’t call for reinforcements.” Otherwise, he and Shel would have had to intervene.

“Taking Dwight’s son was our fault. The chieftain has punished the reckless tribe members. We would have returned him to make amends even if you hadn’t come.”

That sounded reasonable.

Alfred, who had remained silent until now, finally spoke. “Where is Young Master Arnie?”

Wind glanced at the children, watching the adults anxiously. “We’ll take you to him.”

The situation had taken a strange turn. Bee didn’t understand, trying to move inconspicuously closer to Wind and Willow. Seeing no objection from the strangers, he quickly ran behind Willow.

Alfred and his men didn’t fully trust the Nawen tribe just because they had taken a beating. But since they had lost their way, Wind and Willow were the quickest route to finding Arnie, so they cautiously gambled.

Willow, bruised and battered, wasn’t pleased with Bee, questioning the boys about what had happened. The more he asked, the darker his expression grew.

Bee, distracted by a squirrel, had accidentally strayed from the group—normally not a problem, as adults would always come back for them if they stayed put.

But after getting separated, Bee saw Spin and the others. The Nawen tribe were the only ones active in the forest after the elves left, and the knights’ appearance was unlike the southern people. Even children had heard about recent troubles caused by bad people infringing on the Nawen tribe. Bee, in a fit of heroism, decided to follow these suspicious men.

Night had been in the same group as Bee and was the first to notice his absence, following and getting caught up in the situation.

Luckily, both children were unharmed. Wind truly led Alfred and his men back to the settlement. After correspondence with the Imperial Capital, the informed tribesmen weren’t overly hostile to the knights. After consulting the chieftain, they led Alfred to see Arnie.

It was already the latter half of the night, and Arnie had long fallen asleep, as had Charlie, though he remained alert. Hearing some noise, he immediately opened his eyes. Since coming here, the Nawen tribe hadn’t disturbed them at night, so he was cautious as he got out of bed. He heard faint conversation outside. Though the voices were hushed, they didn’t sound furtive.

A glowing fruit always hung by the door of the wooden house. Charlie, barefoot, crossed the living room and opened the door, surprised to see a weary Alfred.

“Alfred?” Charlie tilted his head, then smiled.

The tall knight stepped into the house. Perhaps because he had just fought, his presence clashed with the fairy-tale-like cabin. “Where’s Arnie?”

Charlie led him into the bedroom, where the small boy lay peacefully asleep.

Alfred’s violent demeanor vanished. He gently lifted the blanket, carefully examining Arnie. Satisfied that the child was unharmed, he nodded, his tension easing.

They quietly exited the bedroom and talked in the small living room.

Charlie knew Brandenburg must have been frantic, so he detailed their journey and the fact that the “kidnappers” were actually just children themselves.

“Wind was right. Aside from restricting our freedom, the Nawen tribe treated us quite well,” Charlie said softly. “And I never left Young Master Arnie’s side.”

Alfred nodded. He knew Arnie liked Oscar’s stories, and with Oscar around, Arnie wouldn’t be too scared or lonely. From a quick glance, the boy hadn’t lost weight and was still clean and adorable, clearly well cared for.

“You’ve had a hard time,” Alfred said, considering Oscar a fellow victim. He scratched his head. “I don’t know what punishment awaits me, but the Duke will surely reward you when we return.”

Charlie didn’t respond to this and instead asked about the situation outside the forest.

“The Duke and Duchess should be here,” Alfred said after some thought. “We wasted a few days because of this settlement’s tricks. The magic here is blocked. Otherwise, we’d have found you sooner.”

“Magic blocked?” Charlie blinked.

Alfred was about to nod when he saw a small ball of light coming out of Charlie’s fingertips. Although it was harmless, it was definitely magic.

“I haven’t felt any restriction on magic here.” He extinguished the light. “But that doesn’t matter.”

With the Duke and Duchess here, the emissaries from the capital should soon arrive with the Nawen tribe’s treasure among the tributes.

“I’ll meet with their chieftain later,” Alfred said. “They plan to send an emissary to meet the Duke tomorrow. But we should take Arnie out first.”

“But if Arnie sees you, he might not want to leave immediately.” Charlie smiled. “He wants to go somewhere, but only if Alfred is there to protect him.”

Charlie explained the elven bloodline to Alfred.

Alfred was literate enough to understand the significance of elven relics. After some consideration, he said, “No.”

Charlie raised an eyebrow.

“We can’t let him have his way. No one knows if the hidden realm really exists. If he insists, we must ask the Duke’s permission. And the Duchess—doesn’t she also have elven blood?” Alfred said firmly. “Since you’re safe, waiting a couple more days doesn’t matter. With this news, the Duchess will surely want to come. We can discuss it then.”

Alfred’s caution was understandable. Having finally found the abducted young master, no one wanted complications. Charlie didn’t pursue the topic further and asked about the details of the magic failures.

Alfred took out the magical box meant to sync with Arnie’s earrings. “Look. It suddenly…”

He stopped because the device suddenly worked again, clearly pointing towards the bedroom.

Charlie looked thoughtfully at the device, sensing the deep magic within it. This wasn’t something an ordinary mage could make.

For such an item to lose its way…

“Alfred, did it stop working as soon as you entered the forest, or did it suddenly stop?”

“It malfunctioned midway. Otherwise, we wouldn’t have stumbled here.”

“Was there anything unusual when it failed?” Charlie pressed.

“No, it was still the three of us with the same items. It worked fine in the morning and failed in the afternoon. But now it’s fine again?” Alfred was puzzled.

Charlie thought for a long time, repeatedly asking about their day, then confirmed, “Did it fail around the time you encountered those two Nawen kids?”

“Maybe?” Alfred didn’t quite understand his point.

Charlie asked about the kids’ appearance and behavior, then smiled.

“You might end up confirming the Nawen tribe’s theft accusation,” he said.

Alfred: “?”

“There’s another treasure here besides the one the emissaries have,” Charlie said. “Be ready to negotiate with the Nawen tribe—that treasure is very important to Arnie.”

---

The author has something to say:

Readers have already guessed: the skilled archer Hasting came from the forest.

---

<<< || Table of Contents || >>>

Author: 冬瓜茶仙人 / Winter Melon Tea Immortal

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

---

Chapter 208

“The sun is setting,” Shel said as he crushed a large, poisonous beetle underfoot. He raised an eyebrow and asked, “Are you sure you don’t want to go home?”

The two boys, about six or seven years old, looked at him warily without speaking.

“If you don’t want to talk, that’s fine. It’s not bad to have someone keep watch for us,” Alfred said deliberately. His sharp features and strong presence, coupled with his role as a commander in the knight order, made him look very intimidating—especially to children.

Spin felt a bit uncomfortable watching Alfred scare the kids, who looked only a bit older than Young Master Arnie. Although they were almost certain these children were from the Nawen tribe, Spin found it hard to be stern with children of such an age.

But he knew Alfred was doing it on purpose. These two kids had been trailing them since the afternoon, thinking they were being stealthy. However, even in unfamiliar territory, well-trained knights wouldn’t be easily followed by children. They had initially planned to lose the kids and then follow them back to the Nawen tribe’s settlement, but it seemed the kids had wandered too far and lost their way. After some chaotic wandering and almost falling into a bear’s den, they had been “captured” by the knights.

Now that it was getting dark, it was impossible to let them wander off in the forest, so they kept them.

The two kids were quite brave, surrounded by three strangers. They didn’t cry or speak, but their expressions of heroic martyrdom were exaggerated, as if they were about to be cooked in a witch’s cauldron.

Shel, unfazed by the lack of response, helped Alfred set up a tent suspended between several trees to avoid the dampness and bugs of the night forest, while Spin tended the fire to keep wild animals at bay.

The magical device they used to find Young Master Arnie had been malfunctioning since they entered a certain distance into the forest. It was easy to guess that the magic was being interfered with. If it wasn’t a large-scale magical barrier, then the Nawen tribe must have a mage more powerful than the creator of their magical device to block its sensing capabilities.

However, this also indicated that they were likely heading in the right direction and that Young Master Arnie wasn’t far away. It just required more patience and time to find him.

But…

“Do you think they’ll come looking for them?” Shel asked Alfred in the local Lemena dialect.

Whether it was a reclusive tribe like the Nawen or the citizens of the Empire, the next generation, who represented the future, was highly valued. In this era, population was almost synonymous with wealth and power. Losing two children would surely alarm the Nawen tribe.

“Most likely.” Alfred grinned.

Their magical indicator had failed, but with these two kids, the Nawen tribe would come to them. In the dark forest, their fire would be a beacon, easy to find even in the pitch black.

“Should we give them some bread? Their stomachs have been growling.”

“We can try, but they probably won’t eat it. They might think we’ve poisoned it.”

Spin, closest to the kids by the fire, felt like laughing at his companions’ blatant conversation. The boy sitting cross-legged by the fire looked expressionless, but his stomach was rumbling loudly, sounding like a boiling kettle. Yet, he remained unfazed, which Spin found amusing.

“When you’re done, check if ‘that’ has recovered,” Spin called out. “We can’t keep wandering around here forever.”

The two boys couldn’t understand their conversation but exchanged a glance and curled up to lie down—they were actually very tired.

While keeping an eye out for snakes and other bugs, Spin rummaged through his pockets. Lemena was wealthy, and few Brandenburg Knights were poor. Even on this rushed trip, they had brought many things. Spin remembered having an auto-igniting magical pipe in his pocket. It was a trivial item, but Spin liked it because it didn’t require a flame to light up.

However, this time, the pipe didn’t work. No matter how much Spin shook it, the tobacco wouldn’t light. He pondered for a moment and called Shel over.

“Shel, don’t you have a small multi-tool that turns into a knife and fork?”

Shel was puzzled. “That’s my utility cutlery. Why?”

“Take it out and try it.”

“Are you interested in buying one? It’s from the old man with the beard.”

“Just try it.”

Shel shrugged and took out the tool. “You’ve never been this interested before… Huh?”

He found that no matter how he manipulated it, the cutlery wouldn’t transform.

Alfred noticed and walked over, making the two pretending-to-sleep boys tense up. “What’s going on?”

“We didn’t notice earlier,” Shel whispered. “It seems all our magical items have stopped working.”

Alfred raised an eyebrow. “What?”

He looked up at the now fully darkened forest. One magical item failing was understandable, but nearly all of them? He doubted any mage could achieve that, not even the grand magus in the palace.

And since they had worked fine the previous day but failed today, this change likely wasn’t due to the forest. Besides, who had ever heard of an elf-chosen forest that naturally blocked magic? Not even a fool would believe that joke!

The three men fell silent, with only the crackling of the firewood breaking the silence.

“These little gadgets are trivial,” Alfred finally said. “Stay alert—if we’re lucky, we might catch a big one tonight.”

……

Charlie sat by the window, teaching Arnie some basic elvish. He knew Arnie had a natural talent for languages. While he wasn’t certain how many languages the grown-up Dwight knew, he had seen books written in elvish among the Duke’s unnecessary luggage at the beginning of their journey.

But the first elvish word young Arnie learned was from him, and this thought made Charlie a little proud.

“Weird pronunciation,” Arnie commented.

“It’s related to their magic system. Elvish language and spell words are the same, so it feels a bit odd for ordinary humans to use,” Charlie explained. “If you study magic, it will feel more natural.”

“The Dwight family isn’t particularly talented in magic.” Arnie shook his head. “I prefer swordsmanship—but Priscilla likes magic. Mother said she was sad for a while because she had no magical talent. The steward knows magic but didn’t join the Mages Association. He said it wasn’t necessary, as Brandenburg also employs long-term mages.”

Charlie smiled and flicked his fingers, making a small light float out, fluttering like a little butterfly in front of Arnie.

“Only girls like this,” Arnie said stubbornly, though his eyes were wide with interest.

“You’re right.” Charlie was about to teach him the elvish word for “butterfly” when there was a knock on the door.

A young Nawen tribe member had brought up a late-night snack.

“Where’s Wind?” Charlie asked.

The boy looked into the room but couldn’t see Arnie clearly since his chair was far from the door. He could only see a small pair of legs swinging rhythmically, suggesting a good mood.

“He has other matters,” the boy replied, neither warm nor cold, handing over the snack before jumping down the steps. The night was so dark that it was unclear how he navigated the small landing spots.

“Wind isn’t here,” Charlie said to Arnie. “Maybe many people are looking for the missing children.”

“Will Alfred fight them?” Arnie stood on the chair, waving his fists. He would never do this in Brandenburg because nobles had to “maintain their dignity at all times”. But without the steward and Elaby around, and since Oscar never imposed such rules, Arnie had gradually become more carefree, refusing to sit properly.

“They have many people,” Charlie said objectively. “And the Nawen warriors are strong. It’s better not to fight.”

“Alfred is also very strong!” Arnie retorted. “Did I ever tell you the story of how he killed a lion alone?”

“But the Nawen are people—do you really want to see Alfred fighting and bleeding against Wind or Green?” Charlie asked patiently.

Bleeding… That wouldn’t be necessary.

Arnie calmed down, climbed off the chair, and looked a bit deflated. “When will he come to rescue me? Is Father already here? I want to go home.”

“Not interested in seeing the elven relics anymore?”

“I want to go home,” Arnie said, lowering his head. Charlie felt that if he weren’t there, the little guy might have started to cry. He sighed and hugged Arnie.

“You’ll be able to go home soon,” Charlie said.

Arnie pouted, saying nothing. He felt Oscar was just trying to comfort him and didn’t notice that Charlie said “you” instead of “we”.

“Really,” Charlie assured him. “Don’t you want to know what the seer told me privately? It was this. He promised on behalf of the Nawen tribe that they wouldn’t harm you and would safely return you to your family.”

“But they said my father is a thief.” Arnie still couldn’t let it go.

“They’ve been communicating with the Imperial Capital. The treasure isn’t in Brandenburg. Alger lied. He deceived the Nawen tribe into thinking the Duke had it to mislead them. In reality, he planned to present it alone to earn a title.”

Since the unification of Pennigra, there hadn’t been much change in the ranks of the Empire’s nobility. A branch member like Alger had no hope of inheriting a title, and his wealth would only decrease over time. But his vanity wouldn’t let him settle for being an ordinary person, especially with more successful examples in the family—the Duchess, his sister Emma, was his primary object of envy and jealousy.

“The Emperor is both just and generous. He agreed to return the treasure on the condition of your safety. There were probably other terms as well, which the seer didn’t detail, but it seems the Nawen tribe accepted them.” Charlie patted his cheek. “So don’t be sad. Cheer up a bit.”

Arnie looked up from his embrace. “What about the hidden realm?”

Recovered quickly, didn’t you? Charlie teased him with a smile. “Didn’t you say you didn’t want to go?”

“I can’t go alone,” Arnie said seriously. “But if Father or the knights go with me, it’s fine.”

Then, looking a bit smug, he added, “If you want to go too—then I’ll consider it.”

Charlie pinched his cheek. “Consider! After everything we’ve been through together, you need to consider? Am I good to you or not? Am I?”

Arnie’s cheeks were pulled into a funny shape, and he laughed. “Then you can come too.”

Charlie hugged him tightly, ruffling his soft, light blond hair.

Arnie couldn’t see his expression but could still hear the smile in his voice.

“That’s better,” Oscar said.

---

<<< || Table of Contents || >>>

Author: 冬瓜茶仙人 / Winter Melon Tea Immortal

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

---

Chapter 207

Arnie knew what this meant. It was something that many scholars would give anything just to catch a glimpse of—an actual elven relic. Though he had inherited his mother’s elven bloodline, such an intangible thing couldn’t compare to real relics.

But…

He took two steps back and grabbed the hem of Charlie’s coat.

“I didn’t come here by choice,” Arnie said seriously. “I’m not an elf. I’d rather know when I can go home than see the ruins.”

Charlie’s hand, which had been resting on Arnie’s shoulder, remained there, but his gaze never left Spring.

Spring’s expression showed no emotion. Despite Arnie’s blunt reply, he wasn’t angered but looked at them thoughtfully.

“Do you trust him?” he asked Arnie, though the person he was referring to was clear.

This time, Arnie didn’t respond, moving halfway behind Charlie.

Charlie understood the deeper meaning behind Spring’s question.

Spring might have sensed that his existence was “unnatural”. If Arnie placed his trust and affection in someone like him, it could be seen as futile.

So Charlie crouched down and asked Arnie, “Can I talk to him alone for a moment?”

Arnie asked cautiously, “About what?”

He was sure that Oscar and Spring were meeting for the first time today, and their conversation had been minimal, but he still felt uneasy about their interaction.

“Is that okay?” Charlie asked again.

After spending time with Arnie, he had figured out how to deal with the young Dwight. Arnie could be stubborn and headstrong but was also very understanding and didn’t like forcing others to do things against their will.

As long as he expressed his wishes sincerely, Arnie usually didn’t have the heart to refuse.

“Does it have to be this way?” Arnie grumbled but didn’t outright refuse, showing reluctance.

Charlie patted his head. “Ten minutes.”

He promised Arnie that he would only be alone in the living room for ten minutes and handed him his pocket watch to play with its little mechanisms.

That pocket watch was one of the few items not washed away by the river, and although it had been soaked, it still kept accurate time.

Spring didn’t interfere in Charlie and Arnie’s exchange. He quietly watched Charlie coax Arnie out of the room and shut the door to the partition.

“This isn’t your true form,” Spring said, his tone less gentle without Arnie present. “Why are you hiding?”

Charlie sat on the floor but kept a slight distance from Spring.

“It’s unavoidable,” Charlie said honestly.

“Approaching the Dwight boy was also unavoidable?” Spring retorted softly. “He sees us as kidnappers but doesn’t know that the person beside him is the truly suspicious one.”

Charlie understood where Spring’s subtle hostility came from.

As someone who had close ties with the elves and guarded their home, Spring’s power also came from perception. His ability to sense things far surpassed Arnie’s and had revealed to him that Charlie didn’t belong to this world.

“I would never harm Arnie,” Charlie said. “In this regard, we stand together. You should sense that.”

“But you’re not honest,” Spring said. “He doesn’t know your true identity or where you come from.”

“He will know one day,” Charlie said.

Spring pressed, “When is ‘one day’?”

Charlie thought for a moment. “In twelve years… His birthday is in May, so in twelve years, five months, and eight days.”

Spring’s expression finally changed. He scrutinized Charlie’s face for a while before saying, “Is that where you come from?”

“No, it’s a bit further than that.” Charlie briefly summarized Khalif’s ambitions and magic. Even without mentioning the Holy Grail, what he described was enough to unsettle Spring. He leaned forward slightly, his brows furrowed.

“Foolish,” he muttered. “Utterly foolish.”

“Khalif should be dead by now, but affected by the magic, I am still searching for the right path back,” Charlie said.

“Your magic waves are strong. I knew as soon as you entered the forest,” Spring said. “Time magic is dangerous. Since you aren’t malevolent, you can stay here.”

Charlie suspected Spring said this for Arnie’s sake—the Nawen tribe seemed to extend their goodwill towards the elves to Arnie.

“I have reasons I must return,” Charlie said.

Spring looked up at him.

Charlie glanced at the partition door. On the other side, Arnie was sitting in the living room.

“He’s waiting for me,” Charlie said.

Spring also looked at the partition door, then back at Charlie, seeming to understand something from Charlie’s precise talk about the timing of their meeting. His gaze turned scrutinizing.

“What about the boy’s future?” Spring asked. Though a seer, his inspirations only came during key events. He didn’t know everything, especially about the unknown future.

Spring loved all children. Even though he had only known of Arnie’s existence for a few days, it didn’t stop him from caring for him as an elder.

Though Arnie might never know this.

“He… does not have a smooth path, but he becomes an outstanding person. I miss him dearly.”

As Charlie said this, he remembered the grown-up Dwight. Despite spending all this time with young Arnie, he hadn’t forgotten his memories of adult Dwight. His longing only grew stronger.

Spring was silent for a while, then suddenly asked an unrelated question, “Do you know what the treasure that was taken from the Nawen tribe is?”

Charlie truly didn’t know. Such tribal secrets wouldn’t be revealed to an outsider, and although he had speculated, he had no leads about this secluded tribe.

But Spring brought it up now, causing Charlie’s heart to skip a beat.

……

Arnie absentmindedly played with the pocket watch for a while, then got distracted by the sounds outside. He pushed a chair over, stood on it, and looked out the window.

Outside, there was a group of children around his age, each carrying a small bag, talking loudly and excitedly as they walked. At the front, a person who looked like their leader was talking to Wind and Green. Halfway through their conversation, they seemed to glance towards the seer’s house, and Arnie quickly ducked back inside.

There were many children in Lemena too, but Arnie didn’t like playing with his peers. He found them illogical and emotionally erratic, which he thought was troublesome.

He knelt on the chair and looked at the partition—Oscar hadn’t come out yet, so Arnie checked the time on the pocket watch again.

Three minutes left.

Arnie peeked out the window again. The group was getting closer, and he could see that none of them looked particularly happy or relaxed, especially the adults, who seemed both serious and anxious.

The one who knocked on the door was Green.

Arnie didn’t go to open the door but dragged the chair back to its original place—it was especially difficult on the carpeted floor. Just as he finished, the partition door opened.

Charlie peeked out, saw someone was knocking, and came out.

“Time’s up,” Arnie said, standing by the chair.

Charlie took his hand, and they went to open the door. Green stood very close to the door and entered as soon as it opened.

“Where’s the seer?” she asked, though it seemed she was familiar with the house as she walked straight to the partition without pausing.

Wind followed her in, his face full of worry.

“What’s wrong?” Charlie stepped aside to let them in.

“Are you finished talking?” Wind asked.

Charlie nodded, then asked again, “What’s happened?”

Wind glanced outside, where several children were peeking in curiously, apparently very interested in Arnie.

“A child is missing,” Wind said. “Today was their outing day… but this is very unusual. We always strictly teach the children not to leave the group. They wouldn’t act on their own. The seer can communicate with the forest. We must report to him immediately.”

Charlie could sense a change in Wind’s attitude towards them, perhaps due to learning about Arnie’s lineage, but more likely because of the seer’s attitude. Wind had clearly let down his guard significantly. Two days ago, he would have avoided such questions.

Whatever the seer had told Green, she came out of the partition looking somewhat strange.

Charlie and Arnie soon understood her expression.

“Your people have kidnapped a child,” she said sternly. “They have infiltrated the forest.”

Alfred?

Both Charlie and Arnie thought of the name simultaneously.

But Alfred would never harm a child. Charlie knew, and so did Arnie.

“Do you have any evidence?” Arnie asked angrily.

“You—”

“Green,” Wind interrupted her, then turned to Charlie. “It seems the Duke isn’t far from the forest… Let’s go back for now.”

Charlie picked up Arnie and nodded.

Arnie felt a bit relieved. He didn’t believe Alfred would harm the Nawen tribe’s children—Brandenburg Knights were nothing like the green-eyed man who had kidnapped him!

But since Green said so, it meant his knights had indeed entered the forest, with the only goal being to find him.

Wind’s guess was also correct. Alfred wouldn’t act alone. One Brandenburg Knight appearing here meant the entire knight order was approaching, and Duke Dwight would certainly come personally for his child.

Unless the Nawen tribe wanted to risk their entire tribe and forest, they would choose to return him. Arnie understood the logic, but he wouldn’t feel truly at ease until he saw his father. Now, he felt a bit relieved.

This happiness even made him temporarily forget the unpleasantness of the seer talking to Oscar alone.

“Alfred wouldn’t kidnap a child,” Arnie reiterated seriously to Charlie.

“I know,” Charlie said equally seriously. “‘Kidnap’ is just Green’s interpretation. I believe the seer’s original words weren’t like that.”

Otherwise, the Nawen warriors wouldn’t have remained so calm. When Wind brought them back to the treehouse, the Nawen people they saw were either unaware and relaxed or serious but not extremely angry. This made Charlie think the seer’s message was more like, “The missing child is currently with the visitors from Lemena.”

Green, however, interpreted it as the Brandenburg Knights taking the child out of revenge or to leverage against the Nawen tribe—after all, the “outsiders” had stolen the tribe’s treasure first. This girl, having spent a long time with the seer, likely took care of the children regularly, so her excessive worry and misinterpretation were understandable.

“They don’t understand. If the missing child is with Alfred, that’s a good thing,” Arnie said angrily. “It’s almost dark.”

---

<<< || Table of Contents || >>>

Author: 冬瓜茶仙人 / Winter Melon Tea Immortal

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

---

Chapter 206

Arnie suddenly felt his ears getting a little warm.

He straightened up in Oscar’s arms, gripping his shoulder to look outside, but saw nothing except trees and forest paths.

Charlie turned to look as well. “What’s wrong?”

“Nothing,” Arnie said, shrinking back into his arms a little sulkily.

Wind and Green led them, this time without mounts. Arnie, being small and slow, was carried by Charlie all the way—ever since being taken by Atta, Arnie had been clinging to Charlie, so he was quite used to it.

The seer’s residence was a bit of a distance from the Nawen tribe’s settlement. Before setting off, Charlie thought they might be blindfolded to keep the location secret, but Wind and Green seemed completely unfazed, apparently unafraid that they might remember the route to the seer.

Maybe because the forest itself was a giant maze, the Nawen tribe was confident about this? Charlie thought. If so, the terrain might neutralize the advantage of Lemena’s knights once they enter the forest. If these people were stubborn and unwilling to let Arnie return home safely, he might need to find a way to guide Alfred and the others…

Arnie, looking up and seeing Charlie’s expression, patted his arm seriously. “It’s okay.”

Charlie pinched his cheek but said nothing.

Green glanced back at the two of them, her eyes curious—she had never left the forest, and it was her first time seeing outsiders.

The seer seemed very interested in these two outsiders but hadn’t revealed much information. After meeting them yesterday, Green, like the other tribesmen, had taken a liking to the big-eyed, fair-skinned Arnie.

However, this delicate child wasn’t very willing to talk to people. Aside from his servant, only Wind could exchange a few words with him. He ignored everyone else. But his pride didn’t make him unlikeable because he was so young.

The seer’s residence wasn’t in the trees. They walked around the roots of several massive ancient trees and found a recessed tunnel in the center, guarded by two armed men. Seeing Wind and Green approach, they silently stepped aside.

Charlie felt like he was entering the base of a tree. The tunnel occasionally had thick tree roots exposed to the air. It was dimly lit but not damp, with glowing moss on the ground providing enough light to see the way. Arnie, seeing various colored mushrooms in the tunnel, was curious and wanted to touch them but was stopped by Charlie.

This time, Arnie didn’t insist because he could sense that Oscar was slightly tense.

Logically, a seer, akin to a mage or astrologer, wouldn’t give off a violent impression. But for some reason, Oscar was very cautious, more so than when facing the hostile Atta and his group.

Emotions were contagious. Arnie, sensing this, warily glanced at Green, who was watching him, then turned his head and remained still.

Green looked a little disappointed, but they soon followed the light out of the tunnel. The exit opened into a small valley. Most of the sky was covered by large tree branches, but gaps allowed sunlight to filter through, making the flowers, fruit trees, and grass in the valley look bright and lively. The scattered dome-shaped wooden houses looked like giant mushrooms sprouting from the ground, giving a somewhat cute appearance.

The atmosphere here was very different from the settlement—outside, the treehouses, the connecting bridges in the air, and the armed Nawen tribesmen exuded a sense of constant readiness for battle. Although they lived in the forest, they weren’t its masters. Large predators posed a threat to their survival, and the warnings about Arnie’s safety in the forest weren’t mere politeness.

But here, the atmosphere was much more relaxed. Though they couldn’t move freely, Charlie guessed there were no large beasts in this small valley, as it seemed to be a haven for all the Nawen tribe’s children.

They wore light, simple clothes, laughing and playing. A few young people dressed like Green watched over them but didn’t join in their games or restrain them.

Wind and Green’s expressions softened as they entered the valley. Green led them to the largest two-story house, walking up to the porch and speaking softly through the door.

The door opened, and someone carrying a baby a few months old came out, looking at them curiously.

“Wind.” The person greeted him.

Wind smiled at him.

“This is Grass.” He lifted the baby a little higher. “He just got his name.”

Green signaled Charlie and Arnie to follow her inside, leaving Wind to converse outside.

“He’s waiting for you,” Green said, puzzled why the seer had specifically requested to see the servant as well. She scrutinized him, trying to see what was so special about him.

The house had no foyer. The entrance led straight into a circular living room. Green stayed outside, closing the door behind them.

Charlie put Arnie down, and they both looked around the room.

For someone of high status, this house was surprisingly simple. Though it was fully furnished, even the cushions on the birchwood ladder were ordinary handmade blankets, with no gold or silver ornaments in sight.

Even Kurt’s residence in the Green Forest was more elaborate than this.

The living room was empty, but there was a partitioned area with a smooth, arched wooden door that had a wooden handle on it.

Charlie held Arnie’s hand and walked to the partition, knocking lightly on the door.

“Come in,” someone said from inside.

Charlie pressed the handle, opening the door to a small sunroom. A very thin man sat cross-legged on the floor, surrounded by a mess of books.

“Welcome,” he said. “I am Spring, the seer of the Nawen tribe.”

Spring didn’t look very healthy—he was extremely thin. His long, white, dull hair made him look elderly, but his demeanor was youthful, and his eyes hinted at the handsomeness of his younger days.

Charlie sighed inwardly and, instead of stepping forward, bowed to him from where he stood.

“Hello,” he said. “Please forgive me for not being able to introduce myself.”

He could feel the powerful magic beneath Spring’s calm exterior. Regardless of his status, this strength alone deserved respect. He didn’t want to use a pseudonym to deceive the other party, yet he had reasons to hide his identity, so he could only apologize.

“No problem,” Spring said, looking at him. “I can sense your conflict… Was your appearance here a mistake or a choice?”

Charlie once again felt that rare sensation of being seen through. This man, sitting deep in the forest, seemed to know everything about him with just one glance.

“Both a mistake and a choice,” Charlie said softly.

Spring nodded and turned to Arnie.

“Arnie, come closer,” he said kindly.

Arnie looked at Charlie, and seeing him nod, took a few steps forward.

“Are you a seer?” Arnie asked. “Like an astrologer?”

“Astrologers and seers aren’t the same,” Spring replied gently. “But when it comes to prophecy, astrologers, diviners, and seers all touch upon the future, each in their own way.”

Charlie felt that Spring’s tone was strange when he mentioned the “future”, but he wondered if he was being paranoid.

Arnie stared at Spring, finding him odd—like a very old plant, he seemed to have no scent or breath, yet had slight emotional reactions. One could tell he was alive, knew he was breathing, but couldn’t clearly sense it.

“Are you human?” Arnie asked bluntly.

Charlie: “……”

He almost forgot that this kid, despite his cute appearance, had a knack for saying unpleasant things.

“I am human.” Spring wasn’t angry, seeming to understand Arnie perfectly. “A bit different from ordinary people, but still human.”

He continued, “You are also a bit different from ordinary people, aren’t you?”

Arnie remained silent.

Spring reached out and placed his hand above Arnie’s head without touching his hair, as if stroking him from a distance.

“Your hair and eyes are beautiful. Thirteen hundred years ago, there was a branch of elves with this hair color. They migrated from the north, delicate and sensitive, skilled in calculation and craftsmanship.”

“You have their blood,” Spring said. “So the Nawen tribe will never harm you. They acted recklessly, and I apologize to you.”

Arnie didn’t expect an apology here. He didn’t respond but instead asked, “How do you know I have elven blood? It’s been many, many years.”

“Bloodlines thin out but never truly disappear,” Spring said softly. “Most people…like your ancestors, live and die without showing any traces. You are a fortunate accident. This blessing may be difficult for even your descendants to inherit.”

“Since you’re here, would you like to see something left by another ancestor? Deep in the forest,” Spring said. “Though most of it was taken away, some remnants remain. If anyone is worthy of seeing those remnants now, it is you.”

Charlie finally interjected, “Didn’t the hidden realms of the elves begin to disappear after they left? The beauty of their domains was largely due to elven magic. Without that magic, even the most wondrous places would eventually return to their natural state.”

He knew Arnie was a very curious child and was worried that Spring might easily lure him into the forest depths. This seer was very powerful, and Charlie didn’t want to follow his lead, fearing he might not be able to protect Arnie if something went wrong.

“They sealed off a small part of their territory, and the Nawen tribe promised to guard the entrance for a thousand years,” Spring said calmly.

Charlie’s expression remained unchanged, but inside he was shocked because of the immense implications of that statement.

The elves had left the continent decisively, reportedly leaving none behind. And indeed, no records of elves had surfaced since then. But Spring said the elves had entrusted them to guard a door for a thousand years. If they intended to leave forever, why leave a door? Did they plan to return one day, or were there elves who had never left the continent?

But he couldn’t ask further. As the seer of the Nawen tribe, Spring was undoubtedly aligned with the elves. Charlie believed that if he showed any intention of probing into the elves’ existence, Spring would likely ensure he never left the forest alive.

Arnie hesitated, then looked back at Charlie.

Both Charlie and Spring were watching him.

The small child stood on the floor, his face showing a rare expression of indecision.

---

<<< || Table of Contents || >>>

Author: 冬瓜茶仙人 / Winter Melon Tea Immortal

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

---

Chapter 205

The Duchess of Dwight, Emma, came from a very old noble family in the south—one that had existed even longer than the Empire’s history.

Indeed, these old nobles were continually weakened by new families with each shift in power. The radical members who resisted often met their end violently, while others chose to keep a low profile.

The Empire’s center had always been in the north, and Emma’s family, adept at avoiding crises, managed to survive.

But survival was all it was. Old noble families found it difficult to hold any sway in the Empire’s political circles, and decline was inevitable. During Emma’s girlhood before her marriage, for several years, she and her sisters had to stay up late sewing their own dresses and hats so they wouldn’t have to wear old clothes to social events. Despite being noble ladies, they skillfully dismantled old garments and remade them into new ones to maintain their dignity. This hardship became history once Emma got married, but she never felt ashamed of her past. Especially in front of her children, she focused on honestly teaching them the family history and where their mother came from.

“Elven bloodline” was also part of this history education. Though it sounded grand, tracing it seriously would reveal that Emma’s ancestor was a half-elf born from a love affair between an elf and a human.

This identity alone indicated it happened a long time ago, as intermarriages between elves and other races were very rare in the continent’s history, and elves had left the continent centuries ago. Over such a long time, any bloodline would be diluted to almost nothing.

Indeed, the elven bloodline left little trace in Emma’s family history. Only the original half-elf had distinct elven features, and his direct descendants inherited extraordinary beauty. Beyond that, the bloodline legend remained just a legend.

Arnie’s obviously superior appearance compared to his parents and sister reminded Emma of this matter, but good looks alone didn’t mean much—Arnie was very smart, but the adults didn’t find any magical talents or special abilities in him. Emma believed if that extremely diluted bloodline miraculously manifested in Arnie after so many generations, it was likely only in his appearance.

And good looks seemed to have no other use except aiding in romantic success later in life, so Emma never emphasized this point. Arnie merely recorded it as ordinary knowledge. If not for being kidnapped into the forest this time, he might not have remembered it at all.

“That makes sense,” Charlie said, not looking particularly surprised.

Arnie wasn’t just outstanding in appearance; his sharp insight was truly extraordinary. But now, his lack of expression could be dismissed with phrases like “he’s just a different child”. When he grew up, this ability to understand people would be skillfully utilized—by then, he would be “Dwight”, mature enough to hide his true self behind a rigid mask.

Only after many confrontations where Charlie was nearly cornered by Dwight did he realize the young Duke was anything but ordinary. Prepared with this mindset, he felt a “so that’s how it is” sensation when Arnie casually mentioned it.

Arnie watched him for a while, finding that Oscar wasn’t startled by this matter, feeling both relieved and indignant.

“What makes sense?” he asked.

It explains your abnormal behaviors as you grew up. Charlie wouldn’t say that. Instead, he said, “You’re so smart. That’s what makes sense. Elves are knowledgeable and eager to learn, and you must have inherited that trait.”

Arnie believed it and became happy again.

“The seer might still look for you tomorrow,” Charlie said as he lifted Arnie from the chair to the bed.

Arnie was somewhat interested in the forest’s seer. He refused tonight because he felt Oscar seemed disapproving—but now it seemed he wasn’t opposed.

“Father will come to save me,” Arnie said. “And Alfred will surely come after… I want to wait for them.”

Who knew if the seer here would use some strange magic? What if they cursed him to threaten Lemena? In the face of life and death, curiosity was insignificant. Arnie understood the priority.

“It won’t be long,” Charlie comforted him. “Their big birds are fast, but the knights’ horses aren’t slow either.”

……

“Chieftain.” Shan walked briskly across the high, suspended wooden corridor, entering the brightly lit conference room. Everyone at the long table turned to look at him.

Shan brought a reply from the Imperial Capital.

The Nawen chieftain read it quickly in the light and sighed.

“What is it?” someone asked urgently.

“The Emperor denies that Duke Dwight has taken the secret treasure, and because of the Duke’s son being taken…” He paused. “His wording is severe.”

Several people passed around the letter, looking as grim as the chieftain.

They were originally victims, but due to the rash actions of a few young people, they were now at fault. Regardless, attacking such a young child was hard to forgive. Atta and the others hadn’t realized their impulsiveness could bring disaster to the tribe.

“Was the second letter sent out?” the Nawen chieftain asked wearily.

“It was sent out at dusk,” Wind replied. He placed a jar on the table, and someone brought a shallow basin.

Wind poured the jar’s water into the basin. The clear water spread across the bottom, slowly rotating, as if an invisible finger was stirring the surface.

“I obtained a bit more…” Wind said softly. As the water moved slower, an image appeared on the surface.

A fair, handsome boy was being held in someone’s arms, holding a fresh green grass stem with a beautiful butterfly perched on its tip. He was gazing curiously at the butterfly, looking like he wanted to reach out and touch it.

The man holding him didn’t have his whole face visible due to the height difference, but he was wearing a Brandenburg uniform, and like the child, his exposed skin was clean, with no signs of injury.

Most importantly, the expression of the child in his arms was relaxed and even joyful.

The image lasted for about fifteen seconds before disappearing.

“The image waterfall can only be maintained for this long,” Wind said, touching the now calm water surface where nothing remained.

“That’s enough,” the Nawen chieftain said.

They sent this image to both the Imperial Capital and Duke Dwight, along with the second letter. The Nawen chieftain knew that it was extremely unwise for a single tribe to provoke a Duke or even the Emperor of the Empire, but at this point, all he could do was try his best to make amends. Treating the Duke’s son well was the first step.

They even shamelessly denied the kidnapping, presenting the Duke’s son as a guest of the forest—after all, the forest also belonged to the Empire, so strictly speaking, they didn’t have much leverage.

“It takes a few days to get from Lemena to here,” the Nawen chieftain sighed. “The Brandenburg Knights will certainly come to rescue their master. Before that, we must keep a low profile and try to meet the demands of the Duke’s son as much as possible.”

“The seer wants to see him,” Wind reported today’s events to the chieftain. “The seer hasn’t gone out for years. Did he sense something?”

The forest’s preferential treatment of the Duke’s son was no secret among the Nawen tribe. Even if it wasn’t out of guilt, the other tribespeople were also kind to the little boy. Wind had the most contact with him and could feel that the child had a natural affinity with nature.

Very much like an elf.

“Green told me about it,” the chieftain, a calm middle-aged man with little trace of age on his face, said. He looked at Wind levelly and asked, “The servant of the Duke’s son, what do you think of him?”

Wind was momentarily taken aback. “That ‘Oscar’? He is…”

He recalled that he didn’t have much of an impression of the man. His main focus was on Dwight’s son, but the servant had never shown anything special since arriving. His expression and tone were always neutral, and everything he did was centered around his master, the Duke’s son.

The only time he showed personal emotion was when he directly refused to let the Duke’s son be taken to see the seer.

Other than that, he was like an omnipresent breeze, leaving no trace of himself.

The chieftain watched Wind’s expression. “The seer also wants to see him—the seer sensed the arrival of Dwight’s son but also believes the man beside him is worth attention.”

This was what Green had conveyed to the chieftain. According to the chieftain’s understanding, it meant there was something off about Dwight’s son’s servant. Although no one could see anything special about the unremarkable man, the seer held a high status and great power within their tribe and wouldn’t make such statements without reason.

Someone hesitated. “Perhaps the imperial cavalry is approaching the forest. Should we try to please the Duke’s son and send him back, showing that this was a misunderstanding?”

“What about our treasure?” someone angrily retorted. “It’s still missing. If this continues, our heritage will be lost. Is that what you want?”

“That’s not what I mean. But if everyone dies, who will protect our heritage?!”

“Perhaps this incident is a revelation, making us reconsider the meaning of staying in the forest.”

“Enough.” The Nawen chieftain interrupted the increasingly divergent discussion. “I will meet with the seer tomorrow and take… them along. It’s best if the seer can perform a divination.”

His brows furrowed deeply. “If things are heading in the worst direction, we need to prepare quickly before the Brandenburg Knights arrive.”

No one in the conference room knew that the Brandenburg Knights had already entered the forest.

Nightfall didn’t greatly hinder Alfred and his companions. The real challenge was finding traces of the Nawen tribe in the vast forest—an endeavor akin to finding a needle in a haystack.

The local guide had given them a general direction. The three of them couldn’t comb through the entire forest, but Brandenburg had its own methods.

“Southeast,” Shel whispered. “The signal is getting stronger. We’re getting closer.”

He held a palm-sized metal box, its needle resembling that of a nautical compass, with a similar function but more precise. The needle tip was made of a rare mineral that reacted to magic and pointed toward objects made of the same material—Arnie’s earring was made of this mineral. Once within range, the needle would guide them to their target.

Each member of the Dwight family had such a personalized magical item. The Duke and Duchess wore rings, while Priscilla and Arnie each had earrings that never left their bodies, even when bathing or sleeping.

Alfred also watched the box in Shel’s hand, his eyes gleaming like a wolf ready to strike.

Spin said, “Control all your crazy thoughts. We’re not here to kill and burn. You should see your face right now.”

“I understand,” Alfred said in a deep voice. “I’ll save my anger for Alger. That guy must be crazy to think he could steal someone else’s treasure and present it to His Majesty the Emperor in exchange for a title and wealth.”

“Isn’t it more likely he did it out of jealousy towards Brandenburg? Trying to both bypass the Duke and frame him is even more despicable.” Shel snapped the lid shut with a pop. “When His Majesty the Emperor finds the Nawen tribe’s items in the tribute pile, I don’t think they’ll be unreasonable.”

Alfred snorted through his nose.

---

The author has something to say:

This storyline was initially intended to be darker but writing it that way tends to drag it out, and in the end, I wanted a bit of lightness. Life doesn’t need so many conspiracies.

The Duchess thought her son’s good looks would make him a playboy, but alas, things didn’t go as planned.

---

<<< || Table of Contents || >>>

Author: 冬瓜茶仙人 / Winter Melon Tea Immortal

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

---

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.”

---

<<< || Table of Contents || >>>

Author: 冬瓜茶仙人 / Winter Melon Tea Immortal

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

---

Chapter 203

“I came to ask if you’d like to see the butterflies,” Wind asked Arnie with a smile. “The butterflies here are different from those elsewhere.”

Arnie looked at him skeptically. They had just recently been denied permission to go for a walk, so why had the decision changed so quickly?

Wind seemed to understand Arnie’s thoughts just by looking at his expression and explained, “We didn’t restrict your movement on purpose. The forest’s climate is complex, and it was very humid recently. Unfamiliar people walking on the ground might easily fall into sinkholes. These past few days have been sunny, making the ground much safer. With someone accompanying you, nothing will happen.”

“Besides, staying in the house for too long is very boring, isn’t it?” he asked.

Of course, it was very boring. Oscar could tell fascinating stories, but he couldn’t talk all day long. Arnie, who had gotten so bored he started giving nicknames to the hawks frequently passing by the treehouse, thought for a moment and then stretched out his hand toward Charlie.

“I want to go,” he said confidently.

Wind rarely left the forest, but he had heard about some nobles’ behaviors and didn’t pay much attention to Arnie’s gesture.

Charlie knew that Arnie was actually worried he wouldn’t be included in the “butterfly-watching” plan and deliberately acted like a spoiled child who didn’t want to walk. So, he bent down and picked him up.

He had expected Wind to use his strange strength to put them back into a box again, but this time, there was a wicker basket hanging outside the threshold, tied with thick vines, one end looped over a higher branch—where another unfamiliar green-eyed person was sitting.

“Ya will hold the basket and slowly lower it,” Wind reassured Arnie. “He’s very strong. You won’t fall.”

Arnie wasn’t scared at all. If Charlie hadn’t been holding him, he probably would have hung himself on the edge of the basket.

The giant tree was so large that they felt like a few ants slowly crawling on the trunk. The trunk itself was full of strange and wonderful things: hidden bird nests (with glimpses of white objects inside, which Arnie guessed were young birds still without feathers), busy squirrels darting between branches, and various colorful epiphytic vines and thick moss hiding bright-colored beetles.

Charlie noticed different things. The trees here were unlike those in ordinary forests. The atmosphere was ancient and solemn. The rustling leaves in the breeze gave way to a sensation of standing on some enormous being’s chest, waiting for its slow breaths to manifest.

Arnie’s eyes were wide open, trying to take in all the scenery. There weren’t many chances to be this high in Lemena, and his mother and Priscilla were afraid of heights, never allowing him to climb the watchtower in Brandenburg.

Wind pointed out a direction to Arnie. “There’s a small waterfall over there, and the butterflies…” He stopped mid-sentence because Arnie wasn’t looking where he pointed but in the opposite direction.

“What’s over there?” Arnie asked, eyes fixed on that spot.

Charlie shifted him slightly upward. From their high vantage point, the area Arnie was looking at seemed like any other part of the dense tree canopy, but Charlie also felt it had a particularly refreshing appearance.

And he had always trusted his intuition. Though he had no evidence, he would bet a bottle of aged Vapolina wine that this was the only place in the settlement that contained magical elements.

And Wind’s expression confirmed this suspicion.

Wind didn’t immediately answer Arnie’s question because he suddenly remembered some of his tribe’s secret discussions.

Duke Dwight’s child looked more like an “elf” than they did.

This statement wasn’t because the child was beautiful—elves were indeed beautiful—but the fundamental trait of this race was their innate affinity with nature. Therefore, elves had always been associated with terms like “forest”, “healing”, and “planting” throughout history.

The forest favored this child. The fruit he picked would always be the sweetest one in the bowl. When he slept in the treehouse at night, the bothersome night wind would be blocked by the branches, leaving only a pleasant breeze gently flowing through the doors and windows. The wind couldn’t tell if he had a talent for planting, but it immediately noticed the most hidden place among their tribe…

“That is our forbidden area,” Wind said. “Sorry, not even our tribesmen can enter casually.”

Arnie responded with an “oh” and looked away.

Charlie, with his back to Wind, mouthed a few words to Arnie. “I know.”

Arnie blinked and then became happy again. When no one was around, Oscar would definitely tell him the secret of that place—Oscar knew everything!

Once Alfred rescued them, he would ask his father to let Oscar take care of him. Although Elaby was hardworking and just as gentle as Oscar, he was completely different from Oscar.

He felt that Oscar genuinely liked him—even when he was throwing a tantrum. This kind of unconditional acceptance, without any other emotions mixed in, he had only ever seen from his parents and sister.

Wind didn’t know what Charlie did, but Arnie’s non-persistent attitude surprised and relieved him.

The layer of fallen leaves under the trees didn’t seem as thick as those on the forest’s edge. Scattered treehouses hung between the trees, connected by delicate bridges. Even looking up from below made one feel uneasy, but those walking on them were accustomed to it.

Charlie noticed that not all the people here had green eyes, but most were well-proportioned and had beautiful features.

On the way, everyone seemed to know who they were. At most, a few people curiously glanced at Arnie, but no one approached them.

Arnie walked while looking up at the houses built in the trees. At his age, his head-to-body ratio was still not quite balanced, so when he looked up, his center of gravity shifted, making his walk precarious, prompting Wind to want to reach out and support him several times.

So, Spokesman Charlie softly asked why they built their houses in the trees.

Wind suddenly realized and explained, “The ground is too damp. It’s hard to guard against insects, snakes, and wild animals, and it easily floods when it rains. We have some ground houses, but they are usually used as warehouses, not for living.”

Arnie stopped looking up, and Charlie rubbed the back of his neck.

Someone was waiting for them under a tree. When the three approached, this person led out a few impressively large creatures: two horses and a beautiful deer.

Even the deer was as tall as Wind, with a small saddle on its back. Wind wanted Arnie to ride it, but Charlie immediately refused.

“The Young Master cannot ride any…” He chose his words carefully, “animals alone.”

Wind knew he was just a subordinate of the Dwight family and didn’t take his words seriously, so he asked Arnie, “Furnaya has a great temperament. Do you want to give it a try?”

Arnie shook off Charlie’s hand and let Wind lift him up—he had several ponies but wasn’t allowed to ride them until he turned seven, which had frustrated him for a long time.

Charlie crossed his arms, watching their movements. Wind gently lifted Arnie onto the deer’s back, but when Arnie stretched out his leg…

He couldn’t reach the stirrup.

He shifted and stretched his leg again.

His toes were still far from the stirrup, whether it was his left foot or right foot.

Wind: “…” He hadn’t anticipated this.

Furnaya was the gentlest deer and not particularly large. They thought they had arranged everything well, but for the size of Dwight’s son, it seemed a bit challenging.

Arnie stubbornly sat on the deer’s back, refusing to move. Seeing his expression, Wind couldn’t help but regret this hasty arrangement.

Would the child cry if he asked him to get down now? Ride with him? But the deer in the forest didn’t carry adults.

Charlie looked at them with a faint smile, saying nothing, even wanting to light a cigarette on the spot.

Arnie’s face turned redder, and Wind was at a loss, so he looked at Charlie.

Charlie regretted not having his pipe.

He stepped forward, flipped up Arnie’s cloak hood, which was made extra large, covering half of Arnie’s face.

Arnie, suddenly plunged into darkness, was startled. Before he could react, his body was lifted into the air, drawing an arc—then he sat down again.

He lifted his hood and found himself on a horse, at a height even more impressive than the deer.

“The higher you sit, the farther you can see,” Charlie said as he mounted the horse. Then he asked, “Isn’t that right?”

Arnie tugged at his hood without speaking, seeing Wind also mounted on a horse, leading the way ahead.

Though the deer lost its rider, it still carried water and provisions, so it followed behind them.

Strong deer occasionally ran through the forest, unafraid of people, sometimes stopping to curiously observe the visitors.

“We don’t hunt deer,” Wind said loudly. “Never—”

“Is the roast meat from wild boar?” Charlie asked back.

“Yes, wild boar needs to be controlled.” Wind’s posture on horseback was elegant, his long ponytail swinging behind him.

Arnie noticed some deer carrying people, mostly children, regardless of gender, all sporting the same hairstyle as Wind.

“I thought your eyes were all the same color.” Charlie also noticed the children.

Wind didn’t turn his head. “Green eyes are naturally faster, stronger, and more enduring than average tribesmen, but there are also warriors with brown eyes who are stronger than those with green eyes, so it’s just a symbol.”

He didn’t mention that the elders said green eyes were proof of a connection with the elves, but as the elves had been gone for longer, the number of green-eyed children had decreased with each generation.

Adding to that the lost treasure and the impending threat of Lemena’s relentless pursuit… Wind sighed silently.

All he could do was ensure the Young Master had a pleasant time here, so they could at least honestly say he was well-treated when facing the Duke’s wrath. Hopefully, this could save something. That’s all.

However, some tribesmen even fancied the idea that the Duke’s son was more suited to the forest—this child’s identity still had something to be explored.

Wind thought they were daydreaming. Regardless of the relationship between the Duke’s son and the forest, Duke Dwight would never allow his only son to live in the forest.

With the treasure still missing, they even dared to covet the child. Wind decided not to tell anyone about the Duke’s son identifying the forbidden area at a glance.

But he had a strange feeling that even if he didn’t mention it, Arnie might still have the chance to enter.

As he hung in the air staring at the forbidden area, who could know if “there” was also watching him?

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