Chapter 139 : Chapter 139

Chapter 139. Has the Magic Tide Receded? A Dragon Egg!

Eli had never imagined that a solemn audience report would ultimately turn into a grilled-fish competition.

What caught him even more off guard was that this seemingly childish contest would actually involve an unexpected reward.

Seated upon the throne, Irene looked at Gulu below, who was eager to try. A faint trace of interest seemed to flash across her cool, beautiful face.

Her slender fingers gently swept through the air before her, and space rippled as if it were water.

A giant egg, more than half a person tall and covered in dim, intricate patterns, abruptly appeared on the open ground between the two of them.

“Since this is to be a contest, there naturally needs to be a prize.”

“Between the two of you, whoever makes the superior grilled fish will obtain... this dragon egg.”

“Dra... dragon egg?!”

Eli’s breath instantly caught, and his eyes locked firmly onto the giant egg.

His mind buzzed, leaving only the two words “dragon egg” echoing madly inside his head.

A dragon egg! This was a legendary dragon egg! An egg that could hatch a dragon!

What did that mean? It meant unparalleled battle power, and it symbolized supreme strength and glory!

No ambitious lord could possibly resist such a temptation!

In sharp contrast to Eli’s excitement, Gulu merely glanced at the dragon egg before curling her lip in disdain.

“Your Highness... the magic tide receded who knows how long ago.

The concentration of mana between heaven and earth is simply not enough to support the hatching of a bloodline like this dragon’s.

Is this not just a broken rock...?”

The magic tide had receded? A dragon could not be hatched?

Though Gulu’s muttering was quiet, it entered Eli’s ears clearly, cooling his feverish mind slightly.

He secretly noted this crucial piece of information, but his gaze still remained burning hot as it rested on the dragon egg.

Even if it was a dragon egg that could not hatch, the egg itself was still absolutely a rare treasure! Its value remained immeasurable!

When Irene heard Gulu’s words, she also seemed to pause for a moment, revealing a thoughtful look.

Her delicate hand moved slightly, as if she truly intended to take the dragon egg back.

“No, no, no! Your Highness! Please wait!”

Seeing this, Eli immediately spoke up in agitation to stop her.

“This reward is extremely suitable! Extremely precious! Let us use it as the prize!”

Irene looked at Eli’s anxious appearance with some surprise. She seemed to remember the strong interest Eli had shown toward Valerian before.

Her lips could not help curving slightly, revealing a trace of understanding and a hint of playfulness.

“Hmph! I do not want it!” Gulu immediately objected. “What is so good about a broken rock?”

“I want it! I want this!” Eli refused to yield even an inch.

“I do not want it!”

“I want it!”

Seeing that the man and the marmot were about to start arguing again, Irene gently raised her hand and interrupted their dispute.

“Enough. The prize will be this object. It will not be changed.”

She looked at Gulu. “Gulu, if you win, you may make an equivalent demand of him in exchange.”

Gulu’s little eyes rolled, and she felt that this proposal seemed rather good.

She tilted her head and thought for a moment, then pointed at Eli and loudly announced,

“Fine, then! If Lord Gulu wins, you have to let Lord Gulu ride on your neck and tour Obsidian Territory once! No! Three times!”

When Irene heard Gulu’s demand, her gaze could not help sweeping over Eli once more.

As if she had thought of something, a hint of amusement flashed through her eyes.

When Eli heard this, the corner of his eye twitched slightly, but for the sake of that overwhelmingly tempting dragon egg, he still gritted his teeth and agreed.

“Hmph! Just wait to admit defeat!” Gulu proudly raised her little head.

Irene said no more. With a light wave of her finger, two simple sets of fish-grilling tools and a fish with shimmering, colorful scales and an exceptionally plump body appeared before Eli and Gulu.

Even after leaving the water, the fish still seemed full of vitality. Clearly, it was no ordinary fish.

Eli held the heavy fish in his hands and could clearly feel the strange energy and vibrant life force contained within its flesh.

He did not dare to be careless and immediately devoted himself fully to the contest.

With practiced skill, he began cleaning the scales and innards. His movements were clean and efficient.

Afterward, he used a small knife to score even cuts across the fish’s body, then carefully skewered it with a sharpened wooden stick.

Next, he quickly built a simple but stable grilling rack.

He lit the fire, adjusted the heat, and began roasting it with full concentration.

On the other side, Gulu was actually not slow at all.

No one knew where she had taken out a little apron from, but after tying it on, her little paws waved about, and her movements as she prepared the fish were surprisingly proper.

“Hmph, hmph! Ignorant human, let me show you the result of Lord Gulu’s devoted cultivation!

This is the supreme grilled-fish technique that incorporates the principle of water-element balance!”

Before long, the grilled fish in their hands began to release an enticing fragrance.

Eli could not help secretly frowning. This aroma was far too rich and pure. He had not even begun adding any seasoning yet.

The fragrance released by the fish itself after roasting was already enough to make one’s appetite stir.

This seven-colored fish was extraordinary indeed.

Just then, ripples spread through the space above the sanctuary.

Valerian’s enormous blue dragon head carefully poked in, her nostrils twitching.

“Your Highness... it smells so good! Can I... can I eat with you?”

Irene looked at her greedy appearance and helplessly shook her head before beckoning to her.

“Come here. I will cast a transformation spell on you.”

“Mm-hmm! Thank you, Your Highness!” Valerian nodded repeatedly in delight.

A gentle green light shot from Irene’s fingertip and enveloped Valerian’s dragon head.

After the light faded, a little girl wearing a small blue dress, with two tiny dragon horns on her head, lightly descended from the air like a doll carved from jade and powder, then affectionately hugged Irene’s leg.

Eli looked at this scene in surprise, and his understanding of elven magic deepened.

But he quickly gathered his thoughts and refocused all his attention on the grilled fish in his hands.

For the dragon egg! He absolutely could not lose!

Before long, both of their grilled fish were finished one after another.

Eli’s grilled fish was golden in color, its skin slightly charred, and it released a pure aroma of roasted meat.

Gulu’s grilled fish seemed to have been coated with some sort of secret sauce, making its fragrance even more complex and intense.

The two of them placed their grilled fish onto the exquisite plates Irene had conjured and presented them to her.

“Hmph, hmph! Little silly dragon, hurry and taste the supreme delicacy personally made by Lord Gulu!”

“Your Highness, please have a taste,” Eli said to Irene.

“Wow! It looks so delicious!”

Valerian, in the form of a little girl, was already drooling from greed as she stared eagerly at the grilled fish on the plates.

Irene nodded. First, she reached out and gently tore a small piece of flesh from Eli’s grilled fish.

She gracefully placed it into her mouth and tasted it carefully.

An indescribable texture and fragrance spread through her mouth, and she could not help narrowing her eyes in happiness as a smile appeared on her face.

But she quickly came back to herself and nodded slightly.

“It preserved the fresh sweetness of the fish itself. Mm, not bad.”

Eli’s heart steadied slightly, and he nodded warmly in thanks. “Thank you for your praise, Your Highness.”

Next, Irene turned her gaze toward Gulu’s grilled fish.

Valerian had long since become unable to wait. While Irene was reaching out, she opened her mouth with an “ah-woo” and bit off a large piece of Gulu’s grilled fish, then began blowing on it because it was too hot.

“Hey! One bite is enough! Her Highness has not eaten yet!” Gulu stamped her feet in anger.

Irene smiled helplessly, then tore a small piece of fish from what remained and placed it into her mouth.

Her eyes lit up slightly, revealing a clear trace of surprise.

One had to know that compared to Gulu’s previous “works,” the level of this grilled fish had improved by more than just one grade!

“The use of seasoning is very special, and the layers of flavor are rich... It is delicious,” Irene evaluated.

After receiving Irene’s praise, Gulu immediately began hopping up and down happily.

“Hahaha! I said so! Lord Gulu is the best!”

Meanwhile, Valerian had already devoured Gulu’s portion of grilled fish in a few quick bites, leaving only a bare fishbone behind.

Still unsatisfied, she turned her gaze toward the grilled fish Eli had made.

She reached out with her little hand to grab it, only for Irene to gently press a hand against her forehead. “No. This is mine.”

Valerian pouted in grievance, but she still obediently drew back her hand.

Irene unhurriedly finished the grilled fish Eli had made.

Then her gaze swept between the expectant Eli and Gulu, and she delivered her judgment.

“Both of your grilled fish had their own characteristics, and both were very well made.

However...” She looked at Gulu.

“Gulu, the flavor of the seasoning in your grilled fish was somewhat too prominent.

Instead, it covered up the most precious natural essence of this Seven-Colored Moonlight Fish.

As for Eli’s grilled fish, although it seemed simple, it preserved the freshness and flavor of the fish itself to the greatest extent.”

“Therefore, the winner of this contest... is Eli.”

“Thank you, Your Highness.” Eli was overjoyed, and his gaze immediately turned fervently toward the dragon egg.

“Aaah! I do not believe it! How is that possible?!”

Gulu cried out in frustration like someone whose tail had been stepped on.

She rushed to Eli’s plate, grabbed the small bit of fish left over, and stuffed it into her mouth.

After chewing a few times, however, her voice gradually grew quieter, and her head drooped.

“It seems... it really does taste a tiny, tiny, tiny bit better than mine...”

Irene looked at Gulu’s unconvinced appearance, and a hint of amusement flashed through her eyes.

With his wish fulfilled, Eli saw that Princess Irene seemed to be in a good mood after enjoying the grilled fish.

He stood in place, waiting for the next instruction or the handover of the dragon egg.

However, Irene merely sat quietly upon the throne.

She gently teased Valerian, who had turned into a little girl, as if she had forgotten his existence.

Time passed bit by bit. Eli stood there rather awkwardly, unsure whether he should take the initiative to excuse himself or continue waiting.

He secretly glanced at Irene several times, but she had no intention of paying him any attention.

Eli complained inwardly, Your Highness Irene, are you not being far too irresponsible?

He hesitated for a moment, but in the end, he decided to take the initiative.

He walked toward the dragon egg he had long dreamed of, preparing to pick it up and then take his leave.

Just then, Valerian, who was hugging the fishbone and gnawing on it with great relish, lifted her head and blinked her large eyes.

“Human Eli, it is raining really hard outside. Rumble, rumble.

It is very dangerous for you to go out while holding such a big egg!”

Eli froze. He turned his ear to listen, and only then did he faintly notice the muffled thunder and the sound of rain striking the lake surface.

Gulu contentedly rubbed her round belly and gave a satisfied burp.

“Ah, it is raining? Then there is nothing to be done.

Your Highness, look. It is already late, and it is raining heavily. Why not...

Let him stay here for the night? There are plenty of empty rooms in the sanctuary anyway.”

Irene’s gaze fell upon Eli again, and a clear trace of hesitation appeared on her peerlessly beautiful face.

She closed her eyes, seemingly sensing the heavy rain outside, and pondered for a moment. “Very... well.”

...

That night, inside a simple yet clean stone chamber designated by Irene, Eli lay on a cold stone bed, tossing and turning.

For some reason, the memories of his entanglement with Irene inexplicably surfaced once more, making it difficult for him to fall asleep.

Meanwhile, near the sanctuary’s main hall, inside an exceptionally exquisite room, Irene likewise lay upon a white-jade bed, gazing at the glowstone on the dome that emitted a soft light. She was also utterly sleepless.

Her expression was complicated, and she only felt restless and distracted.

By chance, Eli, who had gotten up to drink some water, and Irene, who had likewise left her room for some air because of her tangled thoughts, unexpectedly met in the empty corridor.

Their gazes met instantly beneath the dim light.

Eli: “...”

Irene: “...”

The air seemed to freeze for several seconds.

Both of them saw a trace of awkwardness and helplessness in each other’s eyes.

Afterward, with extraordinary tacit understanding, they looked away at the same time and said nothing.

Each of them swiftly turned around, returned to their own room, and tightly shut the door, as though the encounter just now had only been an illusion.

Irene lay back down on the bed and covered half her face with the soft feather quilt, leaving only a pair of eyes that shimmered faintly in the darkness.

For certain people in the sanctuary, this night was destined to be long.