CHAPTER 617

【 OBSERVATIONS IN FLORENCE 】

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The streets were immaculate and orderly, filled with the gentle bustle of elves moving gracefully to and fro. Elegant buildings stood proudly on either side, their façades adorned with a myriad of ornaments in preparation for the approaching festival.

This was Florence, the holy city of the elves and now the political and cultural center of their people.

After their last transfer, the dwarven delegation finally arrived at this beautiful city.

The arrival of the dwarves quickly drew the attention of the resident elves, who warmly received their new guests. The Saintess of Life, Alice, personally arranged accommodations for the delegation at the Amway Hotel so they could rest.

Once the delegation had settled into their lodgings, however, their leader Tonglu could not resist pulling along his companion, Little Salty Cat, to explore the magnificent elven city while asking about the elven Chosen Ones.

After all, seeing the people he believed to be long gone miraculously appear right before him was quite an overwhelming experience.

Naturally, they were not alone. Each was followed by a small figure: one was the dwarven prince, who observed his surroundings with childlike curiosity, and the other was Meryer, who had taken on the form of a young teenage boy.

“So… you Chosen Ones are actually immortal beings?”

Tonglu asked with a peculiar expression.

“Yes. We’ve been blessed by the Goddess. After dying, we can be revived—or rather, we normally respawn in Chosen City,” Little Salty Cat replied cheerfully with a smile.

“Revived…”

Tonglu paused, then let out a long sigh.

“You should have told me sooner. I was already preparing to create memorial statues for you… I had everything planned.”

“Pfft…” Little Salty Cat covered her mouth with a laugh, her dimples showing sweetly.

She giggled and said, “Well, Mr. Tonglu, if you really want to make a statue of me, I won’t say no. It might even boost my influence in the dwarven kingdom and make future trade a little easier.”

Tonglu shook his head and waved dismissively. “Bah, stop teasing this old man, you cheeky lass. Who in their right mind would build memorials for the living?”

Then, as if remembering something, he gave a wry smile.

“Ah, I suppose I finally understand why His Holiness looked at me so strangely when I mentioned erecting a statue in your honor. He must have known all along that you Chosen Ones could return from death… Honestly, after all these years, he has not changed a bit. He never warns me directly, always letting me stumble onto his so-called surprises.”

“You and His Holiness Greycloth are close friends?” Little Salty Cat asked, tilting her head curiously.

Tonglu nodded. “Yes. We have known each other for a very long time. Back then, he was still just a Priest.”

He paused, his gaze drifting toward a fountain garden nearby. The elegant flow of water and the fragrance of blooming flowers seemed to stir old memories.

“It must have been nearly seventy years ago… At that time, I was still wandering the world as an adventurer. I even visited the Elven Forest more than once, exploring Rivendell, Florence, and many of the other great elven cities.”

At this point, Tonglu suddenly stopped. His expression turned slightly awkward.

“Ahem… you see, the elves were not the same back in those days, so… well…”

“Exploring elven ruins were very popular among adventurers. Moreover, the orcs kept a close watch on the forest, so everyone knew that the ruins here had been left largely untouched. There was bound to be plenty of treasure inside, so…” Tonglu’s expression became somewhat embarrassed.

Hearing this, Little Salty Cat seemed to understand. She smiled and waved her hand.

“I see, I see. Don’t sweat it, we Chosen Ones also love exploring ruins. I can understand.”

Realizing that the girl did not mind that he had once ransacked their ruins, Tonglu secretly felt relieved. He had grown to sincerely admire the elves and truly hoped for friendship between the Dwarven Kingdom and the Elves. Seeing the generosity of the Chosen Ones only deepened his respect for them.

“If there’s a chance, could you introduce me too? I’ve always been curious about His Holiness Greycloth, and I really look up to him. I heard that back when the dwarven church was in serious trouble, he was the one who kept it going.” Little Salty Cat said with her usual bright smile.

Tonglu was momentarily surprised, then burst into hearty laughter. “Why, of course! When you visit the capital of our kingdom, I will personally introduce you to him!”

“That would be wonderful! Thank you so much!” Little Salty Cat replied with delight.

She then sneakily turned her head toward the teenage boy standing behind her, winked, and flashed a playful victory sign with her fingers.

Meryer smirked, curling his lip as he rolled his eyes. “Schemer,” he muttered in a mock-complaining tone, though the hint of a grin betrayed his amusement.

As her friend, he knew all too well what she was thinking. No doubt, she already had her sights set on expanding her business ventures within the Dwarven Kingdom.

Just as Tonglu and Little Salty Cat were deep in conversation, a youthful, excited voice rang out at their side.

“Grandpa Tonglu, Grandpa Tonglu, look! Look! What is that?”

The young dwarven prince tugged at Tonglu’s sleeve, pointing excitedly toward the sky with a look of curiosity.

Following his gaze, Tonglu saw a massive round object floating in the air.

From a distance, he could not quite tell what it was made of, though its surface looked as if it had been coated with a dull gray paint. On one side, the emblem of the Church of Life was painted in bold strokes, while the lower right corner bore the image of a majestic black dragon, beneath which a line of elegant elvish script shimmered faintly in the light.

Suspended beneath the floating sphere was a large woven basket. Several elves stood within it, their figures shifting busily as they adjusted ropes and called out to one another.

Having lived for more than a century, Tonglu had acquired some familiarity with basic elvish writing. Squinting his eyes, he carefully deciphered the inscription and read aloud:

“‘Moe Moe… Committee… One?’”

Casting a questioning glance at the elven maiden beside him, Tonglu asked, “Is this the work of your organization?”

He knew that this seemingly innocent lass was actually the leader of an elven group called “Moe Moe Committee.” From what he had gathered, it was no ordinary association but a surprisingly influential organization with its roots spread throughout the Elven Forest. In fact, since his arrival, he could hardly walk a few steps without stumbling across one of their enterprises. Their presence seemed to reach into nearly every aspect of elven daily life, from commerce to entertainment, making him wonder just how much sway this playful petite girl actually held.

“Ah, that is a hot air balloon,” Little Salty Cat explained. “It was built by members of our guild, and they are preparing it for tomorrow’s festival.”

Tonglu nodded.

“I see.”

After observing it closely for a few moments, Tonglu could not help but remark with genuine admiration, “You elves really are remarkable, to be able to create such a flying magical tool.”

“No, no, it’s not a magical tool,” Little Salty Cat quickly corrected him, wagging her raised index finger.

“It is not a magical tool?” Tonglu blinked, momentarily taken aback.

“Of course not. The hot air balloon doesn’t rely on magic at all. It works purely with heated air,” she explained matter-of-factly.

“Heated… air?” Tonglu repeated, his expression growing puzzled.

“Yes,” she said, pushing up a pair of spectacles that she had seemingly produced out of nowhere. She adjusted them with practiced ease before continuing in a slightly scholarly tone.

“More precisely, it works on the principle of thermal expansion and contraction. A heating apparatus is placed beneath the balloon. When the air inside is heated, it expands, which decreases its density. Because hot air is lighter than cold air, it rises, creating a buoyant force. That’s what allows the balloon to lift its basket and passengers into the sky.”

Tonglu scratched his beard as he mulled this over.

“Of course,” she added with a mischievous smile, “we also have a magical version. That one replaces the heating device with an array powered by magic stones. The effect is stronger, but it’s far more expensive. The ordinary version is much cheaper, though the principle of flight stays exactly the same.”

She leaned toward him slightly, eyes sparkling with anticipation.

“Well then, Sir Tonglu, do you understand now?”

Tonglu: “…”

Seeing his blank expression, the elven girl sighed and gave up on further explanation.

“Just think of it as one of our elven secrets in advanced technology.”

Tonglu: “…”

After staring curiously at the hot air balloon for a while, Tonglu finally shifted his gaze back to the bustling streets around him.

Every house had adorned its entrance with bright lanterns and delicate ornaments, giving the streets a refined yet festive charm. Laughter echoed in the vicinity as adorable young elves dashed about, carrying banners and pinwheels as they ran freely through the streets.

All across the city, nearly every elf he saw was busy putting up decorations in preparation. Though the festival had not yet begun, Florence was already brimming with excitement, its streets alive with anticipation.

“How lively it is,” Tonglu said with a touch of amazement.

“Just wait, It will be even livelier tomorrow,” Little Salty Cat replied with a smile.

Tonglu nodded quietly and cast his gaze toward the distance.

Therein lay a broad plaza.

At its center stood a tall platform adorned with bright decorations, a grand banner fluttering above it with the words ‘Harvest Festival’ written in graceful elvish script. Around the platform, layer upon layer of seats had been arranged in neat orderly rows, so numerous and tightly packed that it was hard to see where they ended.

To his surprise, additional seating and shaded awnings had even been erected on the rooftops of the surrounding buildings, ensuring that no vantage point went unused. The sheer scale of preparation astonished him, making it clear that this was no ordinary celebration.

“You’ve prepared so many seats? Just how many people are expected to attend tomorrow’s celebration?”

“Ah, do not even mention it,” Little Salty Cat said with a pout.

“This time, our guild, Moe Moe Committee is cooperating with the guild, Heart of Nature to assist the city officials in hosting the festival. Even with all these seats, it still won’t be nearly enough. Once the elves from the outlying villages and nearby towns arrive, there will be more people than we can possibly accommodate.”

She gave a small shake of her head, her long ears twitching in mild exasperation.

“Impossible!” Tonglu exclaimed in disbelief. By his estimate, the seats already numbered in the tens of thousands, far beyond what he thought the plaza could hold.

“Well Sir,” Little Salty Cat said with a knowing smile, “you’ll see it for yourself tomorrow. This Harvest Festival is by far the biggest event we’ve had in a long time, after all.”

Watching the smiling elven girl, Tonglu scratched his head in mild confusion, still not entirely sure what to expect.

His gaze drifted across the vast plaza, taking in the countless seats, the towering platform, and the busy elves making final adjustments. Eventually, his eyes came to rest on a massive screen standing tall at one end of the square.

It appeared to be a crystalline display, several dozen meters wide, its surface faintly shimmering as though it held light within. The frame was etched with elaborate magical arrays and runic symbols that gave it both an air of sophistication and an aesthetic beauty.

“What is that? Some sort of magical device?” Tonglu asked, his curiosity piqued.

“Oh, that?” Little Salty Cat replied casually, puffing out her chest with a hint of pride. “That’s also one of our guild’s creations. We call it a Magical Projection Screen.”

“A Magical Projection Screen?” Tonglu repeated, his expression caught somewhere between wonder and puzzlement.

“Yes! It shows live performances on that big screen so everyone can watch in real time. As for how it actually works… well, it’s even more complicated than the hot air balloon, so I’m not going to bore you with the details,” she said with a bright grin.

She then added with clear pride, “Oh, and we’ve even set up smaller versions in some of the taverns around the city. That way, people who don’t want to squeeze into the plaza can just sit back with a drink and still catch everything happening here.”

“That sounds really convenient,” Tonglu said in astonishment.

“Of course it is.” Little Salty Cat puffed out her chest with playful confidence.

Tonglu could not help but marvel as his eyes lingered once more on the distant crystal screen, and he released a low sigh of admiration.

“As expected of the most inventive among the magical races, you elves never cease to amaze me with your ingenious creations.”

For a brief moment, he lapsed into thought before speaking again, his curiosity piqued. “Lady Little Salty Cat, tell me, could such devices also be made available to us dwarves? That other invention of yours as well… what was it called again? Ah yes, the hot air balloon!”

At his words, her lips curved into a sly smile, her eyes gleaming with playful mischief. Tilting her head slightly, Little Salty Cat answered with a fox-like expression, “Naturally! If the dwarves wish to make use of them, my guild can certainly provide you some.”

She leaned closer, lowering her voice as if sharing a secret.

“The projection screens are a bit tricky, though. They need mages to run properly, and from what I’ve heard, you dwarves don’t exactly have a lot of those around. So yeah, widespread adoption might be tough.”

Then, brightening again, she added with a little wink, “But don’t worry! We’re already working on a new version that runs completely on magic stones. Once that’s ready, it’ll be way easier for other races to use—no mages required.”

“As for the hot air balloons,” she said, waving her hand dismissively, “no problem at all. With just a bit of training, anyone could handle one. Super simple.”

Hearing this, Tonglu’s face brightened with joy.

“That is excellent! I believe such devices could have countless applications. Once our visit concludes, I will consult our king about this matter. I am certain His Majesty will also take great interest in them. Lady Little Salty Cat, you must set some aside for us! We will not ask for them freely—we will purchase them!”

Then, as if realizing he might be overstepping, he hesitated.

“Hmm… would that even be acceptable?”

Elven craftsmanship was renowned across the world of Seigües.

This is a truth acknowledged by all races.

Even though the elves had been in decline for more than a thousand years, their artisanal works and magical devices were still prized treasures. Yet, the elves were rarely eager to engage in trade with outsiders, particularly when it involved their more valuable magical artifacts.

This long-standing reluctance made Tonglu wonder if his request had been too bold.

“No worries! There’s no problem at all. Leave it to me! Since it’s you, Sir Tonglu, my guild can even give you a discount if you buy in bulk,” Little Salty Cat promised, patting her chest with confidence.

Her smile blossomed, clearly delighted.

With her reassurance, Tonglu’s spirits lifted as well.

He was beginning to find these elven Chosen Ones surprisingly endearing—graceful in appearance, warm in temperament, pleasant in conversation, and openhearted at their core. Sure, they had their flaws, as all people did, but taken as a whole, they suited him far better than he had imagined.

Turning his gaze from the plaza, Tonglu let his eyes wander once more across the city.

The setting sun washed Florence in a golden light, its glow softening rooftops and streets alike, giving the elven city a dreamlike beauty.

From the distance drifted a melody he did not recognize, carried on the breeze along with children’s laughter and the faint sound of whistling.

He soon spotted the source—an elf seated in a small garden, surrounded by curious youths, playing an unfamiliar instrument with graceful ease.

As the music rose and mingled with the bustle of the streets and the savory aromas drifting from food stalls, Tonglu felt a small smile tug at his lips.

This elven city seemed to radiate a special charm. Even as an outsider, he could feel a sense of serenity in his heart and the genuine happiness of its inhabitants.

“The Harvest Festival… I find myself looking forward to it more and more,” he said with a quiet smile.

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