Chapter 838

【 EVERYTHING WAS METICULOUSLY ARRANGED 】

A group of several thousand people, traveling with their families and luggage in tow, naturally did not move very quickly. It was worth mentioning that Diana no longer allowed Four Seasons to support her. Instead, she had him focus on leading the way ahead.

According to her, although she could no longer see, she still had other ways of perceiving the world.

However, Four Seasons suspected that after seeing the other elves, the Moonlight Queen simply did not want them to see her in a vulnerable state.

From various clues, he discovered that all the elves here held Diana in extremely high regard. Or rather… Diana seemed to be their spiritual leader.

Four Seasons conveyed his discovery to his friends through the game’s network, and several players who were already extremely familiar with the game’s lore gave him an explanation:

“Well, that’s perfectly normal. The members of the Moonlight Clan have always enjoyed an extremely high reputation among the elven race. Plus, Diana was once the Elven Queen as well, so naturally, she would be respected by all elves.”

“If you observe carefully, you’ll find that throughout the entire Elven Forest, the NPCs most respected by the elves, aside from the Saintess Alice, who serves as the Goddess’s representative, are Big Sister Zero, Aél and Thranduil. All of them belong to the Moonlight Clan.”

“And the reason the Moonlight Clan is so special is supposedly because their appearance resembles the Goddess the most.”

After listening to his friends’ explanations, Four Seasons thought back for a moment and suddenly realized that they were indeed right.

He also suddenly felt that he finally understand why silver hair could not be selected when creating an avatar.

Perhaps… it was related to this.

While communicating remotely with his friends, Four Seasons continued leading the group forward.

Fortunately, the obstruction he had been worried about never appeared and their departure caused no disturbance.

By the time the entire group emerged from the mountains, it was already almost noon.

The carriage he had taken when he arrived was still parked at the entrance to the mountains and the Demi-human girl, Lina, was sitting on it boredly, swinging her legs while waving a long blade of grass around in her hand.

When she saw Four Seasons, her ears immediately perked up, and her eyes lit up.

“Sir Elf! You’re finally out!”

“Eh? You haven’t gone back yet?”

Four Seasons was somewhat surprised.

Before he entered the mountains, he had clearly told the girl that she could return on her own first. Judging by the situation, however, it seemed that she had waited here for him all night.

“Hehe, how could I leave my guest behind and go back by myself?”

The girl stuck out her tongue.

However, she quickly widened her eyes and stared in shock at the elves emerging from the mountains one after another behind Four Seasons.

“E-Elves… so many Elves!”

Seeing the girl’s shocked yet excited expression, Four Seasons burst out laughing.

Before entering the mountains, he had spoken with her and learned that elves also lived on Dream Island. Just like the elves of Utopia, they had lost their former faith, but they had never undergone Utopia’s trials.

As such, it was easy to predict that once they learned that everyone intended to return to the Elven Forest, these elves would also choose to return along with them.

However, their numbers did not seem to be particularly large. According to Lina, they lived in a small village with fewer than two hundred people.

That was why the sight of so many elves left the Demi-human girl so astonished.

“Lina, this is Lady Diana.”

Seeing the Demi-Human girl staring wide-eyed, Four Seasons introduced Diana to her.

Lina was slightly stunned.

She stared blankly at Diana for a while before blurting out almost instinctively:

“She… doesn’t seem as beautiful as the Goddess of Life…”

Four Seasons: “…”

༺⟐༻

After returning to the Demi-Human village with the elves and Lina, Four Seasons no longer knew which direction they should take next.

However, based on his knowledge of the geography of the World of Seigües, they should probably head southwest. But another problem soon arose. Dream Island was an island, and none of them had flying mounts.

So how were they supposed to return?

Or perhaps… should he ask some other players to come and pick them up?

That was certainly an option. However, the World of Seigües was enormous. Moreover, escorting so many elves back would require crossing the entire continent, which would undoubtedly be a massive undertaking.

That is unless… the Goddess personally descended her power to guide everyone back, just as she had once done for the Frost Elves.

Just as Four Seasons was considering whether he could contact his guild and have them dispatch a team to receive them, the Demi-Human girl Lina brought him some new information.

“Sir Elf, the elves from that small village I told you are here too.”

As she spoke, her expression became somewhat strange.

“They said… they all want to return with you.”

Hmm?

They were already here?

Four Seasons was somewhat surprised.

He had not even sent anyone to visit the village Lina had mentioned. So how had those elves learned about this?

His curiosity did not last long as he soon saw those elves from the village.

Just like the elves of Utopia, they carried packs on their backs and brought their families and belongings with them, clearly prepared to leave.

There were more than two hundred of them and judging by the look of it, the entire village had come.

After seeing them, Four Seasons finally understood how they had learned the news.

“His Majesty Surtr told us. Your Highness Queen Diana, we have waited for this moment for far, far too long. We want to follow you and return home together.”

The elves spoke with excitement.

“His Majesty Surtr?”

Four Seasons was slightly stunned.

“He’s one of the Ancient Gods who governs Dream Island,” Diana explained.

She sighed softly.

“These mountains are a sacred land on Dream Island. Without the permission of the Ancient Gods, no one could enter or leave this place. Since you were able to enter the mountains and reach Utopia, Four Seasons, you must have already received the tacit approval of the Ancient Gods. Now that I think about it, it should have been His Majesty Surtr who let you inside Utopia.”

After hearing Diana’s explanation, Four Seasons suddenly understood. He finally realized what that inexplicable call he had sensed earlier had been.

It had most likely come from one of those Ancient Gods.

…Wait, if that was the case, then perhaps the Ancient Gods would also provide them with a way to leave Dream Island?

Four Seasons could not help thinking.

As if responding to his speculation, not long after the elves of Dream Island had gathered with the main group, another visitor arrived.

It was a fishman.

The aura he exuded was unfathomable, giving Four Seasons an intense sense of pressure.

Most likely, he was someone at the Legendary-rank.

“Your Highness Diana, His Majesty Guy has learned that you intend to lead your people away. Henceforth, he has specifically ordered us to assist everyone in leaving Dream Island and traveling to the mainland continent.”

The fishman bowed to Diana as he spoke.

“Can the creatures living on Dream Island actually leave this place?”

Four Seasons was somewhat surprised.

If he remembered correctly, Lina had told him that those who came here could never return back. That was why he had assumed that the Ancient Gods governing this place might prevent them from leaving.

Of course, it had now been proven that the Ancient Gods had tacitly approved their departure. Four Seasons simply did not know whether this had anything to do with the Goddess.

“No. Not us. The sea.”

The fishman shook his head.

“The sea?”

Four Seasons was puzzled.

He soon received his answer.

Under the fishman’s guidance, the elves left the Demi-Human village and arrived at the southwestern coast of Dream Island.

Only then did Four Seasons realize that the Demi-Human village was actually not very far from the coast.

Waves crashed against the shore, while the vast ocean stretched endlessly into the distance.

The fishman stood at the shore and pulled a conch horn from his robes.

Seeing the horn, Diana was slightly startled.

“The Sea God’s Horn…”

Four Seasons’ heart stirred.

The Sea God’s Horn?

The fishman raised the horn and blew into it toward the sky.

A deep horn call slowly rang out and spread toward the distant horizon. Gradually, dark shadows began to emerge beneath the distant waters.

Under Four Seasons’ astonished gaze, creatures resembling dolphins appeared in everyone’s field of vision.

“These creatures will lead everyone away from here and take you back to the mainland.”

The fishman put away the horn and spoke to the group.

“Thank you. Please convey my thanks to His Majesty Guy.”

Diana bowed.

The fishman stepped aside to avoid receiving her courtesy and sighed.

“You didn’t need to thank me Your Highness. His Majesty Guy also said that once you leave Dream Island, you will have no further connection with Dream Island or Utopia, including those elves behind you…”

“Dream Island will no longer accept any new elven wanderers, and all of you should forget this place completely.”

Diana sighed softly and nodded.

“I understand. I understand the rules of Dream Island and Utopia.”

With that, she bowed once more in the direction of the mountains.

“Thank you for tacitly allowing my people and me to remain here Your Supreme Majesty. Thank you for providing us with nearly a thousand years of shelter…”

Slowly, Diana straightened and turned toward the sea.

She said to Four Seasons:

“It is time. Let us go.”

Four Seasons nodded.

He glanced at the dolphins gathered along the shore, hesitated for a moment, then boarded one together with the elves.

Thousands of elves each had a dolphins waiting for them.

Once everyone had settled onto their backs, the dolphins let out a series of joyful cries before turning and swimming toward the depths of the ocean.

“Sir Elf! Have a safe journey!”

From the shore, the Demi-Human girl waved at Four Seasons.

Four Seasons waved back and shouted:

“Goodbye Lina, you too! Take care!”

Only after the elves had completely disappeared from sight did Lina finally lower her hand.

Then, as if she had suddenly remembered something, she slapped her forehead.

“…Wait.”

“Sir Elf’s body hasn’t recovered yet… Can he really handle the journey?”

༺⟐༻

After setting out to sea, Four Seasons instantly regretted it.

Unlike traveling on land, riding on the back of a dolphin meant his body constantly rose and fell with the waves. He felt as though the food he had eaten yesterday was about to be shaken right out of him.

Under normal circumstances, it would have been fine.

But his body was still extremely weak. He had been relying entirely on potions to keep himself going, and after such a long time, their effects had almost completely worn off.

He was beginning to struggle.

“Your condition doesn’t seem very good.”

Diana’s voice came from beside him.

Four Seasons smiled bitterly.

“To be honest, I was poisoned before and haven’t fully recovered yet. That’s also why Lord Imheter found me and brought me back… Of course, it turned out to be a blessing in disguise, since I got to meet you Lady Diana.”

“I see…”

Diana slowly nodded.

She suddenly extended a hand and gently pointed at Four Seasons. The next moment, a gentle force flowed into his body.

To his surprise, the discomfort he had been experiencing gradually disappeared.

“Oh…! I’m feeling better?”

He looked at his hands in astonishment.

“Although my power has weakened, I still control a portion of the Laws of Life, so I can at least help you.”

Diana smiled.

“Thank you.”

Four Seasons was pleasantly surprised.

“However, your body is still somewhat weak. I’ll give you another spell to calm your mind. Your spirit seems far too tense, as though you’re worried about something…”

Diana continued.

“To be honest, we still have a long journey ahead of us. Also, the Goddess still has many enemies, so… I believe this journey is unlikely to be peaceful. So I have to remain vigilant.”

“But don’t worry! I’ve already called my friends and everyone is already heading toward the eastern part of the continent, but we may not be able to meet up with them until we reach the mainland.”

Four Seasons spoke solemnly.

This quest definitely could not be that simple. Its rewards were comparable to those of major storyline quests, so there had to be unknown dangers waiting for them.

However, after hearing Four Seasons’ words, the Moonlight Queen Diana simply shook her head with a smile.

“No, Four Seasons.”

As she spoke, she “looked” toward the distant horizon.

“The ones coming to receive us have already arrived.”

Four Seasons was slightly stunned.

The next second, a resounding dragon’s roar echoed from afar, immediately drawing his attention.

Following Diana’s gaze, he saw two imposing silver dragons appear in the sky. They were none other than the ancient silver dragons Mercury and Venus, who served the Goddess.

Standing before them was an elf completely enveloped in brilliant silver light. He was tall and imposing, clad in silver armor, with divine power surging around him. His gaze was calm yet filled with excitement.

It was none other than Kelez, who had recently advanced to the Demigod rank.

Now that she knew Diana would soon be returning back, Evé naturally could not have made no preparations.

Although she did not personally descend to receive them, she had sent no fewer than three Demigods.

With three Demigods present, no one would be able to harm Diana’s group at all.

Once bitten, twice shy.

Evé would never allow what had happened to the Rageflame Clan several years ago to happen again.

In other words, from the moment she noticed Four Seasons’ actions, everything had already been arranged perfectly.

Three Mythical beings descended and arrived before the group.

Kelez hovered in midair and respectfully bowed to Diana.

“Your Highness Queen Diana, the Goddess already knows of your return with our people and has sent me to receive everyone here…”

As soon as he finished speaking, golden particles of light blossomed across the sky.

Brilliant radiance drifted downward like a gentle snowfall, transforming the entire sea into an ocean of light.

Amid a series of crackling sounds, it seemed as though something inside the elves’ bodies had shattered as their strength began to soar.

One level, two levels, three levels…

In a short time, the elves’ strength had risen from Iron-rank to the Silver-rank.

In the blink of an eye, the vast majority of the several thousand elves in the group, who had originally been weaker than Four Seasons, now possessed auras no weaker than his. In fact, some were even stronger than him.

“T-This… what happened?”

Four Seasons’ eyes widened.

“The shackles. The shackles binding our bloodline have been broken.”

Diana’s voice trembled.

The bloodline curse on the elves had prevented them from advancing further. Aside from the Azurefrost Clan, the Rocksand Clan, and the Clans that had traveled to Mindel Realm and escaped before the curse took effect, every remaining elf below the Legendary-rank had been weakened by the curse.

And aside from the one who had imposed the curse, there was only one being in the entire world who could break these shackles…

Diana suddenly raised her head and looked toward some distant place beyond their perception. She clasped her hands before her chest, her voice choked with emotion.

“It is the Matriarch… This is definitely the power of the Divine Matriarch!”

“I… I can sense the power of Her Majesty!”

As soon as she finished speaking, golden light blossomed around her body.

It was the radiance of faith.

After a thousand years of being cut off, she had finally established contact with the Goddess’s faith network once more.

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