Chapter 481: Recognition!

Under the burning gaze of the female elf standing behind him, Loren stepped onto the carpet made from the pelt of an unknown beast and silently walked to the large solid wood desk in the center of the shop, then sat down on the wooden throne sprouting fresh buds.

Once seated, he couldn’t help but reach up and rub his temples, speaking with a bit of weariness:

“Don’t get me wrong, Madam.”

Loren’s calm voice echoed through the vast shop filled with a forest motif.

“This shop’s decoration style just turned out to be a little... unexpected.”

Hearing Loren’s explanation, the female elf who had been greeting Jasmine displayed a mysterious smile on her face.

“That’s fine, Mr. Destiny.”

“I understand you......”

“......”

Loren chose to fall silent once again.

Although I don’t know what exactly you think you understand, I’m sure it’s a misunderstanding caused by Fortune’s influence......

You’re done for, Madam.

People I fixate on and fool don’t usually end well!!

......

While Loren couldn’t help but grumble silently in his heart, Jasmine—who hadn’t received the “praise from Mr. Destiny” she’d been waiting for—flapped her little wings excitedly and flew over to the female elf, affectionately pressing her face to the elf’s cheek.

“Miss Lucien, we meet again.”

Jasmine said warmly; it was clear the two had a good relationship.

The female elf called “Lucien” smiled and reached out to lightly tap the little sprite’s head with a finger, then softly asked:

“Long time no see, Miss Jasmine, how have you been lately?”

“I’ve been well, I just missed you a bit~”

“Hahahaha... Little Jasmine, you’re still as adorable as ever...”

“So, well-traveled Miss Lucien, did you bring any new stories this time?”

“Of course, I prepared especially for this!”

“Then I miss you even more~ How have you been? Last time you said you’d gather our kin hiding in the Star Realm, how’s that going?”

......

The two figures, one large and one small, began chatting familiarly in the shop as if no one else existed.

The scene looked very harmonious, like two close friends who hadn’t seen each other in a long time.

......

In some ancient Star Realm legends, the Elven Race was born from the Endless Star Realm.

Perhaps because of that, Miss Jasmine always felt an indescribable goodwill toward the elves in the Star Realm.

After all, she and the elves from those legends shared a similar origin.

She, too, was nurtured by this spiritual world......

Because of that, when the female elf entered the shop, the most excited one was the little sprite sitting on the wide solid wood desk.

Wisdom-filled beings are naturally drawn to one another, aren’t they?

Of course, this friendly closeness might have another reason.

Being trapped in this spiritual world for years made her long for everything in the Star Realm.

And as an intelligent existence, after hearing other tavern shareholders describe the Endless Star Realm, she naturally developed certain yearnings.

Unable to leave the spiritual world, she lived inside it like someone inside a huge, free prison.

And the pure-blooded elves, once only heard of in hidden old stories, had now appeared in this spiritual world and stood before her in the flesh.

This gave her a wonderfully novel experience, something like “a dream coming true.”

“The Star Realm is vast, and it’s real.”

Somewhen she had heard this sentence and remembered it for a very long time.

The appearance of this pure-blooded elf called “Lucien” made her feel a step closer to the real Star Realm.

This longing for the Star Realm was a desire that rose from the depths of her heart, impossible to suppress by any means.

......

Sitting upright on the wooden throne still sprouting tender buds, Loren watched the two figures inside the shop chatting like old friends and suddenly felt as if the two were setting him up.

“A male elf spiritual phantom in disguise,” “the shop’s forest-style décor,” “a pure-blooded elf who came to us proactively,” and “the two of them catching up with each other.”

These strange coincidences made the usually composed Loren press a hand to his forehead.

Fortune, you’d better give me a reasonable explanation...... Loren silently lamented.

So, to stop this uncanny impression, Loren, sitting on the leafy throne, took the initiative and interrupted the two’s intimate reunion.

“Madam, we can speak now.”

Loren’s calm words once again reverberated through the shop suffused with forest aromas.

The two, who had been talking animatedly, finally stopped their long catching-up when they heard Loren.

“Sorry, Mr. Destiny. We got carried away~”

“I’ll get back to decorating~”

After stopping her reminiscing, Jasmine gave Loren an embarrassed smile, then fluttered her translucent little wings and flew to a corner of the shop, leaving the conversation space to Loren and Lucien.

She would continue decorating the shop.

Although the main renovation was complete, there were details she still needed to finish.

Because Loren returned to the shop so quickly, she hadn’t yet gotten around to decorating some corners.

As for what Loren and Lucien would discuss, she couldn’t have cared less.

That was her good habit as the actual manager of this spiritual world.

Interactions among tavern shareholders were always complicated.

To keep herself happy, Jasmine never bothered with those complexities; she just stayed cheerful.

......

After Jasmine lazily flew to the corner of the shop, Lucien, who remained standing, withdrew the smile from her face.

It was time to talk business......

After organizing her thoughts, Lucien looked at the golden-haired figure seated on the leafy throne and smiled as she spoke:

“Mr. Destiny.”

“When I walked into this shop and saw Miss Jasmine’s attitude toward you, whether you admit you are a pure-blooded elf or not has become unimportant......”

“I will make my own judgment.”

Having said that, Lucien again displayed that earlier mysterious smile of “I understand you.”

“And then?” Loren asked expressionlessly.

This time, faced with Lucien’s misunderstanding, Loren did not choose to deny it; instead, he responded with a deliberately ambiguous attitude.

You’re the first person I’ve ever bamboozled who’s begging for it, Madam.

Good luck to you......

......

Hearing Loren’s cold retort, the corner of Lucien’s eyes subtly revealed a trace of a smile.

Finally admitting it, huh!

I will make you recognize the elves again!

What a proud one!

No wonder you had a hard time during your years on the run......

It’s okay, all pure-blooded elves are the same, I understand you!

......

Silently outlining this male elf’s past, Lucien carefully considered her choice of words.

Too strong a statement might not work......

Clearly he doesn’t like being identified as an elf.

Hmm... I mustn’t provoke him, but I must reignite hope.

How to put it?

Right!

I can......

Thinking that, Miss Lucien, who cared deeply for her people, brightened. She said slowly:

“Mr. Destiny, I just looked at your shareholder business card at the shop’s entrance.”

“After seeing your card, I decided that regardless of whether you admit your elf identity or not, I will ask you to perform one prophecy.”

“Oh?” Loren grew interested.

“What do you want to prophesy?”

Seeing Loren’s attitude finally loosen from being so distant, Lucien first smiled.

It seems this kin still respects Spirit Stones......

Then the female pure-blooded elf named “Lucien” composed herself and, word by word, said to Loren:

“Can I rebuild the Elf Empire.”