CHAPTER 619

【 TEMPTATION OF ELVEN CUISINE 】

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The performances were truly splendid, bringing immense enjoyment to Tonglu and the dwarven delegations alike.

Yet what delighted Tonglu was not only the novelty and charm of the performances, but also the exquisite food graciously offered by the elves.

On the long table prepared for the guests lay a sumptuous spread of fruits, delicate pastries, and unfamiliar wines and beverages.

The fruits were naturally specialties of the Elven Forest. As the most fertile woodland in all of Seigües, the Elven Forest was blessed with unparalleled abundance, harboring the richest diversity of flora. Records spoke of nearly a thousand distinct fruit species growing within its borders, many of which were unknown beyond elven lands.

These fruits came in strange shapes and colors, their skins glistening with dew, each exuding a fragrance that lingered faintly in the air. No two platters offered the same variety, and every piece carried the unique character of its origin

Beyond fruits, the assortment of pastries was equally dazzling.

Unlike the simple food Tonglu remembered the elves typically ate back in the days, these elegant long-lived beings now seemed to have adopted many human culinary habits, presenting a variety of flour-based foods.

To his surprise, Tonglu could not recognize the names of most of them.

Having lived for over a century, he had witnessed much of the world and had even spent more than ten years in the Kingdom of Aries, a land renowned across the continent for its exquisite pastries and refined culinary traditions.

Thus, his experience in such matters was certainly not lacking.

Even so, before him now lay pastries unlike any he had ever encountered. He could not begin to guess where they originated, nor could he identify the ingredients with certainty. Their fragrance was at once familiar and strange, carrying hints of flavors that seemed to defy his past knowledge.

Upon closer observation, however, he found he could still categorize them to some degree.

One category appeared to be made from flour ground from the wheat of the Maniya Plains. These pastries were pale in color, almost snow-white, and often enclosed delicate fillings. Most seemed vegetarian, infused with herbs, fruits, or nuts. Yet, to his astonishment, a few contained meat.

This truly surprised him, but it also confirmed the rumor he had once heard: after the appearance of the new Goddess of Life, the elves had begun to eat meat.

This type of pastry tended to have simple shapes: round cakes, crescent moons, or pleated mounds. Their preparation was easy to discern—some were steamed until fluffy, some fried to a golden crisp, and some pan-seared until deliciously browned.

The flavors varied, some savory and some sweet, each leaving a lingering aftertaste.

Tonglu especially enjoyed the crescent-shaped pastries pan-seared to a golden crisp. Their filling consisted of wild greens and a certain kind of mushroom, mixed with stir-fried and crumbled monster eggs, and enriched with a savory meat sauce.

“What is this food called?”

He lifted a half-moon pastry with his spoon, chewing as he curiously asked the elven girl beside him.

The crust was crisp, the filling bursting with fragrance. The mushrooms gave off their distinct aroma, the tender egg crumbles teased the tongue, while the fresh wild greens balanced the richness of the meat sauce.

Tonglu closed his eyes in sheer enjoyment.

“Oh, that is called pan-fried dumpling!”

Little Salty Cat introduced enthusiastically.

She then pointed around at the other pastries:

“That one is a bun, this is a stuffed pie, and that… is a steamed cake!”

“What strange names,” Tonglu muttered.

Yet his hands moved ever faster as he reached for more.

These pastries were not only delicious, but most seemed to possess magical properties, providing a noticeable boost of strength and energy after consumption.

Tonglu greatly enjoyed these simple-looking pastries.

By contrast, the dwarf prince traveling with him showed a clear preference for another category. The boy’s eyes lit up at the collection of delicate cakes and carefully cut slices of bread filled with vegetables, fruits, or sweet creams.

These bore a closer resemblance to the cuisines favored by humans, though the elven versions appeared far more refined. The cakes in particular were so intricately decorated that they resembled works of art, each piece carrying the unmistakable elegance and meticulous touch of elven craftsmanship.

The dwarf prince especially favored one dessert that Little Salty Cat called “mousse cake.” It melted instantly on the tongue, releasing a rich aroma of milk.

Paired with crisp and refreshing fruits that balanced sweetness and acidity, as well as soft honey that was both sweet and subtly tart, the taste was unforgettable. The young prince’s eyes sparkled with delight as he savored every bite.

“I always thought elven cuisine was plain and simple. But today, it seems entirely different. They say every resident of Aries Kingdom is a gourmet, but compared to you elves, they still fall far short.”

Tonglu sighed contentedly as he ate, completely enthralled by the dazzling array of food.

Of course, eating was only one part of the enjoyment. No feast could be complete without its accompanying beverages.

Not to mention the colorful juices pressed from different fruits, nor the fragrant elven flower tea which was famous for thousands of years across the world and adored by every sentient race.

Yet, among all these beverages, Tonglu’s eyes were immediately drawn to a crystal glass filled with a transparent liquid placed discreetly on the table.

It had to be an alcoholic beverage, for the distinctive aroma of fine wine reached him the moment he leaned closer.

Among all races, the dwarves were perhaps the most enamored of alcohol, cherishing it as both daily comfort and cultural pride. Their favorite by far was the refreshing barley beer, but this…

This was unlike anything Tonglu had ever known.

The liquid had no color at all.

It was perfectly clear, gleaming like polished crystal as it caught the light, so deceptively plain that one might mistake it for water at first glance.

Yet its very simplicity only heightened his curiosity.

In Seigües, alcoholic drinks were few in kind, essentially limited to barley beers and fruit wines, both of which bore distinct colors. Barley beer, the oldest and widespread of them, ranged from orange to golden hues, frothy and robust. Fruit wines varied greatly depending on their ingredients, from pale amber apple wines to the ruby-red vintages of southern Aries, prized across the continent.

But this beverage stood apart.

It was colorless, transparent, and impossibly pure, yet from it wafted an extraordinary fragrance that seemed to envelop the senses.

Tonglu swore that in all of his hundred years of life, he had never smelled such rich, mellow, and lingering wine.

He sniffed the aroma, swallowed unconsciously, and felt his craving for alcohol begin to stir.

The legendary dwarven warrior licked his lips, then at last could no longer restrain himself.

He seized the crystal glass with eager hands and boldly raised it to his mouth.

The transparent liquid slipped past his lips, and the moment it touched his tongue, a sharp spiciness burst forth, spreading like fire through his mouth and throat.

Tonglu shivered involuntarily, his eyes flickering with surprise.

Smooth, yet piercing. Sharp, yet refreshing…

The liquor carried a fragrance that clung stubbornly to his palate, unfolding layer by layer with every breath. Its fiery bite and piquant flavor teased and stung his taste buds until he could no longer hold back a low groan.

“Hiss… ah…”

Almost at once, warmth surged through his chest and spread to every corner of his body. His skin tingled, and faint beads of sweat formed on his forehead.

Exhilarating. Potent.

Beyond anything he had tasted before.

“What kind of wine is this?!”

Tonglu’s eyes widened with curiosity and anticipation.

This drink suited him perfectly. No, more than perfectly—it was as if it had been crafted with dwarves in mind, a brew designed to awaken their very cravings.

“This is baijiu. But, Mr. Tonglu, you may also call it Erguotou. It is our new specialty, brewed by us elves as one of our secret signature beverages!”

Little Salty Cat answered with a mischievous smile.

“Erguotou? Another strange name…” Tonglu muttered, rolling the unfamiliar word on his tongue. Yet there was something about the sound of it that tugged faintly at his memory, as though he had heard it spoken somewhere before.

“Wait—Erguotou?!” the dwarven prince beside him suddenly exclaimed, his voice breaking with surprise. His eyes lit up, and he leaned forward eagerly. “Is that not the name of the rare and precious wine my father, the king, recently acquired from the Kingdom of Aries? The one he locked away in the royal cellars?”

His Majesty’s precious wine?!

Tonglu froze, the glass still in his hand, before the realization struck him. At last he remembered where he had heard the name before.

More than half a year ago, their king had indeed acquired a rare and mysterious bottle of wine from a human merchant in the black market. The merchant had whispered that it was called Erguotou, a drink so scarce that not even the nobility of Aries could secure it easily.

His Majesty had treasured that bottle dearly, locking it away as if it were a priceless artifact. Tonglu himself, despite his standing as a legendary warrior, had never been permitted even a single sip. The most he had done was catch its faint aroma when the seal had been briefly broken, and even that memory had lingered with him for months.

“Erguotou? This… this is Erguotou?!” Tonglu exclaimed, his voice rumbling with disbelief. “So it was you elves who brewed it all along?!”

His expression shifted rapidly, first to shock, then to something approaching awe.

“It truly is magnificent wine!”

Little Salty Cat’s smile grew even brighter.

“If you enjoy it, Mr. Tonglu, then perhaps we could establish a trade caravan to the dwarven kingdom to supply you with more. That would certainly be better than allowing those human merchants in the black market to profit from the price difference. In fact, we could even offer discounts if you purchase it in bulk!”

“Trade caravans!”

Tonglu’s eyes lit up as his imagination soared.

“Excellent. I will propose this to His Majesty the King as soon as I return!” he declared with a nod.

After a moment of thought, he asked expectantly,

“Tell me, Lady Salty Cat… would the elves be willing to sell the method of brewing this Erguotou?”

Little Salty Cat spread her hands.

“Sorry, I am afraid that is impossible. You see, this is a special product of our guild. In fact, there are many varieties of Erguotou, each crafted differently by different guilds. But the one from our Moe Moe Committee is the finest of them all!”

Of course it was the finest.

To brew the most authentic baijiu within the world of Elven Kingdom, she had spent heavily to hire professionals from the real world to teach her the brewing process.

Even the brewing equipment of her guild had been enhanced with magic. Not only that, but in order to surpass Demacia and Heart of Nature’s distillery, she had poured a staggering number of contribution points into research, developing liquors imbued with subtle magical properties.

Therefore, the bottle before Tonglu was no ordinary baijiu—it carried special effects that strengthened the body.

Tonglu adored this unique liquor. After just one sip, he could not stop himself from drinking more.

He drank until the entire large glass was emptied, stopping only with visible reluctance, his fingers still brushing the rim as though unwilling to let it go.

But he had not paced himself against the wine’s potency, and its strength exceeded even his expectations. Even as a legendary warrior, he felt a faint but undeniable tipsiness blooming pleasantly in his head. Normally, it would take at least an entire barrel of barley beer to bring him to such a state.

“Splendid wine!” Tonglu praised once again, his voice booming with genuine admiration.

By instinct, his hand raised the glass to his mouth once more, only for him to discover with a pang of regret that it was already empty.

“Ah… empty already?” he murmured wistfully, peering into the glass as if hoping a last drop might yet be coaxed out.

Just then, a melodious voice chimed before him, gentle and playful.

“Would you like a refill, sir?”

“A refill? Yes, yes!”

Tonglu blinked, his tipsy delight showing plainly in his expression. He nodded eagerly, setting the empty glass down with a hopeful thud before turning toward the source of the voice.

The moment his eyes fell upon it, however, his expression froze, surprise flashing across his rugged face.

On the long table before him, a tiny figure about thirty centimeters tall was fluttering in the air. She looked no different from an elf, except that she bore a pair of splendid wings, shimmering like a dancing butterfly.

In her hands, she carried with effort a ceramic wine jar, from which wafted a rich and enticing aroma.

She gave Tonglu a sweet smile, then cheerfully poured his glass to the brim.

Very soon, his cup was once again filled with clear and glistening drink.

“Please enjoy at your leisure~”

The little one laughed softly, showing charming dimples. Then, with a beat of her beautiful wings, she then flew off toward another part of the banquet table.

It was only after she had gone that Tonglu finally snapped out of his daze.

Rubbing his temples, he muttered to himself, “Am I drunk already? Why would I be seeing such a tiny elf… with butterfly wings no less?”

“No, Grandpa Tonglu, that is not an illusion. They really are miniature elves!”

The dwarven prince beside him spoke in astonishment and curiosity.

“They looked so cute and pretty,” he added in admiration.

Hearing the prince’s words, Tonglu rubbed his eyes and looked back toward the banquet.

To his surprise, more of the tiny figures had appeared all across the table. There were both males and females, the former dressed in neat little steward uniforms, while the latter in charming dresses. Their features were delicate, even surpassing ordinary elves in beauty.

What was more, Tonglu could sense extraordinary power emanating from them. Though not strong, each little ones at least carried the strength of silver rank.

“What kind of beings are they?” Tonglu asked in bewilderment.

Although many races inhabits the world of Seigües, he was certain that such beings had never existed before. Judging by their behavior and bearing, they were clearly a highly intelligent race. Moreover, every one of them were at least at the silver rank as well.

“Oh, the little ones? They are elemental fairies,” Little Salty Cat explained. “They are a new lifeform created by Her Grace, the Goddess of Life, modeled after the elves. They specialize in elemental magic and also serve as divine messengers of Her Majesty, the Goddess.”

Elemental fairies?

A race of intelligent beings created by the Goddess of Life herself?

Tonglu froze in disbelief.

Once he noticed them, he quickly realized that the plaza was filled with these tiny fairies. Some mingled with the elves, laughing and chatting as though they were long-time companions, while others fluttered gracefully through the air, serving as attendants at the banquet.

Each one possessed the strength of silver rank. There was no doubt about it, this was an entire race standing on equal footing with the elves.

Realizing this, Tonglu’s disbelief turned to shock.

Had the Goddess of Life already become so powerful?

She had created an entirely new race, one highly attuned to mana and born with silver lineage.

Though she presided over the divinity of life, there was a vast difference between simply holding that authority and directly creating new life—especially a wholly new sentient race.

This was a feat no ordinary god could accomplish. It proved that the Goddess of Life’s mastery over the divine laws of life had reached extraordinary heights.

Even considering the fact that she possessed the Scepter of Life, which could aid in manipulating the laws of life, the divine power she had displayed was still nothing short of astounding.

As a legendary warrior who had long studied the secrets of the divine and the chronicles of divine history in preparation for his eventual confrontation with the fallen evil god Barolte, Tonglu understood this truth more clearly than most.

Since the dawn of recorded civilization, only three True Gods had ever succeeded in creating highly intelligent, sentient races.

The first was Neo, King of the Gods, ruler of the Genesis Era, whose authority shaped the very foundation of the universe.

The second was Loùbodá, the Primordial God of Death and the one who pioneered the Netherworld.

The third was Yggdrasill, Mother of All Gods and ruler of the Silver Era, whose wisdom and life-giving power nurtured countless beings.

The first was recognized as the only deity of great divine power by all mythical beings. The latter two, while not of great divine power, were both firmly among the ranks of the higher gods.

Now, the Goddess of Life, Evé, had become the fourth.

By all accounts, she should have been only a lesser divine power.

Even if rumors that she had risen to the level of an intermediate divine power were true, there was still remained an immense gulf between her and the lofty realm of a Greater Divine Power.

And yet, she had created an entirely new race.

This alone revealed the astonishing potential and rapid growth of the new Goddess of Life and Nature.

“To create a race in the likeness of the elves… it would seem that Her Grace Evé is no longer merely the Goddess of Life and Nature. She now bears the racial divinity of the elves themselves, and has become their new Matriarch.”

On the far side of the guest seats, the dark dwarf Firebeard tugged thoughtfully at his beard, a sigh escaping his lips.

The newDivine Divine Matriarch of the elves…

Tonglu silently repeated the words, rolling them across his mind as he gazed toward the distant World Tree, his heart stirring with profound emotion.

“The elves… have at last endured their trials and risen once more.”

“Yes indeed…”

Several other guests nearby nodded in solemn agreement.

For the existence of a racial god always marked a turning point.

A race blessed with a Sovereign Deity of their own, no matter how much they’ve declined, could never be underestimated.

And in this case, that god was none other than Her Grace Eve, a newly risen deity whose talent and potential were clearly extraordinary.

“By the way, Mr. Tonglu, the elemental fairies will also perform later on,” Little Salty Cat added with a smile. “Their act will be the grand finale of the entire performance.”

“The elemental fairies’ performance…”

Tonglu’s eyes shifted to the stage.

“They are so small. Will the audience be able to see them clearly?” the dwarven warrior asked with some doubt.

“You will see for yourself,” Little Salty Cat replied with a grin. “I’m sure it will certainly surpass even the fireworks display.”

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