Magic Farm 146

Chapter 146: Who Could Say You’re Not an Elf?

With the butler’s reminder, the Duke and Duchess really did recall something.

The Duchess hesitated, “Because Clarissa loves them, I’ve made a point of collecting many storybooks over the years. Golden Sand Desert, Golden Sand Desert…”

The name sounded so familiar, as if she’d heard it somewhere before.

But it was the Duke who remembered first. “Last month, I heard Count Rainer mention something—a minor merchant guild held an auction related to elves in the capital of the Aura Empire.”

The Aura Empire and the Kyra Empire were the two largest human empires on the continent, separated by a great distance.

The auction had been held on short notice, and the news had taken time to reach the Kyra Empire. So even though many nobles here were interested, they could only regretfully watch from afar, unable to attend.

Normally, the Duke would have been interested in such things, but with his daughter’s illness, he’d lost interest in everything.

Still, the event had been discussed so widely that he remembered it.

He said with certainty, “If I’m not mistaken, the items related to elves at that auction came from the Forest of Stars!”

He asked the butler, “Are you sure those two claimed to be from the Forest of Stars?”

Butler: “Yes, sir.”

Just then, the Duchess also recalled something. “Golden Forest—wasn’t that a place in a children’s adventure book?”

The Adventures of Andrew was a children’s fantasy novel that had been popular on the continent for over a hundred years.

It told the story of ten-year-old Andrew, who, after receiving a strange letter, accidentally fell into a magical world. There, he saw talking trees, mountains that could breathe fire and then douse themselves, a bird with a human face…

The Golden Sand Desert was one of the places he passed through.

The book described the Golden Sand Desert as a mysterious place, found only by a lucky few at sunset.

Legend had it the sand glittered like gold, and beneath it lay countless treasures, for ten thousand years ago, it had been a city on the sea.

The Duchess was astonished. “I always thought that was just the author’s imagination. Is there really a place called the Golden Sand Desert?”

The couple exchanged glances.

This was all too strange.

They’d just been thinking of ways for Clarissa to “see” an elf, and suddenly two strangers claiming to be from the Forest of Stars appeared.

Too much of a coincidence—it made them suspicious.

At last, the Duke said, “Where are they?”

Shen Xingyu and Qi Yu were enjoying the Duke’s estate’s tea and pastries.

Shen Xingyu noticed that Qi Yu truly loved to eat. When they first arrived, he’d been most struck by the estate’s elegant décor, but as soon as the maid brought out refreshments, nothing else seemed to matter.

He watched with amusement, thinking, He’s older than me but acts just like a kid.

Footsteps approached.

Qi Yu put down his teacup and sat up straight.

A well-dressed man and woman entered, followed by the butler they’d seen earlier.

The Duke was a pale-faced middle-aged man. In Qi Yu’s eyes, he was of average height and build—a perfectly standard person.

But it was the Duchess who drew a second glance—not because she looked unusual, but because Qi Yu could sense a familiar, surging magical power from her.

The Duchess was a mage, and from what he sensed, her level was not low.

“I hear from the butler that you two asked for me by name.” Since he didn’t know their background, and Qi Yu wore a mage’s robe, the Duke was polite.

Qi Yu had never been one for beating around the bush; he stated his purpose directly: “I received a commission. Your daughter wishes to see me.”

Duke/Duchess: ???

The Duchess reflexively denied it. “Impossible. Clarissa has been unwell for some time and hasn’t left the house, much less met any strangers.”

Qi Yu: “Yes. The commission I received is that the Duke’s youngest daughter is nearing the end of her life, and wishes to see an elf.”

He asked, “Is that not the case?”

The room fell silent.

Shen Xingyu, sitting beside him, was amazed.

The local boy really was as direct as ever.

Normally, in such a situation, the first thing to do would be to prove their identity.

But Qi Yu spoke so naturally, so plainly, so honestly: I received a commission, you want to see an elf, so I came.

No unnecessary explanations.

The Duke was skeptical. “You mean, you are… an elf?”

Qi Yu wasn’t sure how convincing his disguise was.

He mentally recalled the bearing and expression of Teacher Egnoel when they’d first met.

Sorry, Teacher Egnoel, I’ll borrow your image for a bit.

He raised his hand and lowered his hood.

A cascade of silver hair spilled out.

The silver-haired, silver-eyed elf sat there, cool and aloof, like a beam of moonlight.

Shen Xingyu, as soon as his friend lowered the hood, immediately watched the expressions of the three across from them.

He saw, without a doubt, that they were stunned, and was satisfied.

Sure enough, the local boy had no sense of restraint when it came to cosplay.

If they were awed by such an unearthly presence, it was hardly his fault!

Of the five present, only the moonlit one was still working hard to imitate his teacher’s posture, asking calmly, “When shall we meet her?”

After a moment’s silence, the Duchess spoke decisively. “Thank you for coming to fulfill Clarissa’s wish. What reward do you require?”

The Duke was startled. “My dear…”

One look from her, and he dared not say more.

She was always gentle, rarely angry, but once she made a decision, the Duke knew he could not change it.

Qi Yu’s expression did not change—in fact, he was good at not showing any extra emotion.

“No reward is necessary,” Qi Yu said. “I accepted the commission and came here; I have already received my reward.”

Exploring this city called Aufeli, unlocking this region so he could return again, was already the greatest reward.

Suddenly, the wide sleeve resting on his knee stirred, and a tiny figure struggled to push aside the heavy fabric, flapped her wings, and took to the air.

“Lord.” The bluebell flower sprite looked curiously at the three silent humans, asking in a tiny voice, “Is this the human world?”

Shen Xingyu was also stunned at the sight of the sparkling, winged little figure.

His first thought: Damn! What’s this—a flower fairy?

Second thought: The local boy’s elf identity is now rock solid. Even if he stood up and said he was just pretending, these two would never believe it.

Sure enough, after their initial shock, the Duke and Duchess’s faces lit up, and their attitude toward Qi Yu instantly warmed.

“This… Mr. Elf,” the Duke said, looking at the bluebell sprite, “and this is?”

The bluebell sprite, bravest of her kind, was full of curiosity at her first sight of outsiders, and answered herself: “I am a bluebell flower sprite. Hello, human.”

“H-hello.” The Duke looked at the tiny creature, full of wonder, and thought, Clarissa will be so happy.

When she wakes, she’ll not only see the elf she’s longed for, but also a beautiful little flower sprite!

Forest of Stars, Forest of Stars.

Now, whether it was the Duke and Duchess or the butler behind them, all were thinking: when this is over, we must look up everything we can about that place.

There really are elves!

The Duchess explained that Clarissa had just received healing magic and was now asleep.

No one had the heart to wake a sick child who’d finally fallen asleep.

She asked if they’d like to tour the estate, mentioning her famous garden.

Qi Yu shook his head. “We’ll wait here for Miss Clarissa to wake.”

The Duke and Duchess’s emotions had swung from despair to joy—their greatest worry had been solved so easily.

Whether or not Qi Yu was a real elf, his appearance, his bearing, and the presence of a plant sprite made him perfect.

Even if she’d offered a huge reward to hire someone to play the part, no one could have done better.

They would rather believe this was a gift from above, a sign of compassion for Clarissa.

Such important guests, here for Clarissa’s sake, deserved the best hospitality.

But the elf gentleman looked so cold and aloof, untouched by the mundane world, that they didn’t know how to start a conversation.

So they turned to his companion.

“If I may ask, you said you come from the Golden Sand Desert.” The Duchess looked at the handsome young man. “I once read about the Golden Sand Desert in a book. Is your desert the same as the one in the story?”

Background story! Both Shen Xingyu and Qi Yu pricked up their ears.

Shen Xingyu knew nothing!

But he could find out.

He gave a bright smile. “I’ve always lived in the Golden Sand Desert and never been outside. Why don’t you tell me what you know, and I’ll see if it matches?”

The Duchess immediately recounted what she’d read, and had the butler fetch The Adventures of Andrew for them to see.

Qi Yu and Shen Xingyu exchanged glances—neither had expected such a pleasant surprise.

The Duke was clearly more interested in Qi Yu.

He asked curiously, “You say you received a commission to fulfill my daughter’s wish. But we never issued any commission.”

Could it really be divine mercy?

Qi Yu replied coolly, “I don’t know either. Perhaps it was the guidance of (the drifting) fate (bottle).”

With that, the Duke could not press further.

“In any case, thank you for coming.” The Duke thought, even if there had been a commission, the other party was not obliged to accept.

That he was willing to come for a human girl he’d never met showed he was a kind and gentle elf indeed.

He couldn’t help but ask, “I know very little about the Forest of Stars. Could you tell me a bit about it?”

Qi Yu’s knowledge of the Forest of Stars was no greater than Shen Xingyu’s of the Golden Sand Desert.

He couldn’t very well say, I’ve only been there a month, the spring is mysterious, last month it rained nonstop, and this month it’s all snow and ice.

Hesitating, he suddenly remembered the scenes he’d seen in the adventure fragments.