13. The History of the White-Haired Elf
Unlike the tense atmosphere when Lin stepped into the Pig family estate to settle accounts, she emerged in high spirits, swaggering as she led us out, even treating us to lunch along the way. To me, it felt like just another meal, but for someone like Lin, who was meticulous about finances, it likely reflected her unusually good mood.
After all, amidst her surprise, Lin must have realized that our sudden “show of force” had, much like the troubles she had faced earlier, caused the head of the Pig family to lose nearly all of his “immediate combat power.” Lin wasted no time seizing the opportunity; as her backup from various federations arrived one after another, her first action was to reclaim the location of the ruins.
As for how she did it… I politely refrained from asking. From the smell of gunpowder that lingered when Lin returned one night, I could guess the method.
With the ruins issue resolved, Lin didn’t delay and promptly took us to the site for an “inspection.”
At this moment.
In the outskirts of the capital of the Merli United Kingdom, the place Lin referred to as “excavated treasures.” After Lin sent people to reclaim it, the site was now secured by more “men in black.” Was it because the gunfight had just ended? I even spotted blood on the ground, along with some discarded hats and leather shoes.
“To think they would engage in a gunfight on land that might harbor fairies and magical power… these people really have no fear of death.”
“Shh.”
Well, well, Sister Ni, this must be the atmosphere of the Merli United Kingdom; as long as the main structure of the ruins remains intact—no, it should be said, as long as my “main storyline” is still in play.
As we arrived at what appeared to be the central area of the ruins, I could indeed see some ancient buildings and artifacts that had been unearthed. Lin, who was leading the way, stopped and turned around.
“Here it is, the genuine article—excavated pots and pans… uh, the ruins. Due to the several skirmishes that occurred, some items may be damaged. I won’t hold you responsible for that; I’ll deduct the losses from the price I sell to you.”
“Just let me know what you’re interested in taking, and I’ll note it down. I’ll ask the third-party elven appraisal expert from the Prussia Kingdom to evaluate it, and then you can pay and take it away. Of course, my shipping is always free~”
“Now, take your time looking around. I’m off to get those slackers some hamburgers~”
Knowing we likely didn’t want her involved in our next actions, Lin cleverly found an excuse to leave. With everything ready, I glanced at Kephiel and Nilu beside me and nodded.
“All fairies, check different sections. If you find anything suspicious, come back immediately.”
“Alsace, go check further out.”
Various lights blinked and flew out in an instant. I took a deep breath and focused on the script.
To put it plainly, coming to purchase the unearthed items was merely a facade; even if we bought them, they would only serve as decorations for Nilu’s palace. What truly mattered to me was the “main storyline” that had been hinted at throughout the excavation of the ruins in the Merli United Kingdom.
The previous robbery incident, along with the recent appearance of the minor villain Pig family, has already made it clear how significant this place is within the script. So, what could the so-called “main storyline” be? A new fairy hidden here? Or perhaps some clue to deal with the dangerous realm of the two white-haired elves? The only things I can think of that would be relevant to Kephiel and Nilu are these.
However, the content that follows in the script leaves me somewhat disappointed.
【This is the ruins after the fall of an ancient kingdom.】
The script contains only such words. While I didn’t expect to complete the “main storyline” in one fell swoop, this content… feels a bit too bland, doesn’t it? Could it be that we came at the wrong time, and the main storyline is no longer here, having gone elsewhere?
I was about to tell the two women, but Kephiel and Nilu, who usually seize every opportunity to exchange barbs, unexpectedly stepped forward together, pausing to bow their heads and gaze at a stone pillar that had already been excavated and cleaned, left standing there.
“What’s wrong, Miss? Trying to show off when you clearly lack the ability will only backfire in front of the ‘King’~”
“Do you think I have any need for that? I’ve just seen similar records in the grand library of the Great Ying Empire, and I have some impressions. By the way… Nilu, do you really want to argue at a time like this?”
“I’m clearly just concerned for you! Sigh~ Kindness is mistaken for malice~”
My arrival finally quieted these two prominent figures a bit; Nilu no longer clung to Kephiel but turned to me instead.
“Mr. O’Keefe, the fairies didn’t tell me if there are any unfamiliar fairies or strange things here. However, compared to those, the place we are standing on might have even more ‘content.’ Please look here; let me explain.”
Nilu bent down and pointed out some patterns carved into the stone.
These were like floral designs, each not large and appearing in pairs. Some resembled lightning, while others looked like… stars? Yet, I couldn’t shake the feeling that my memory of them went beyond mere common knowledge, as if I had seen them at another time.
“Do you recognize them? These… are the marks of our fairies.”
“!”
Nilu’s words made me suddenly realize—right! That lightning symbol, isn’t it the mark of Letty, no, the lightning fairy Zousi? The stars and crescent moon, do they represent the Queen and Iris?
There are many I recognize, but… more that I don’t.
“You may not know, but the power granted by the fairies to me comes from the methods recorded in some ‘ancient texts.’ So, the appearance of such marks in a place like this allows me to confirm: here, perhaps on this land, fairies once existed.”
Fairies? For a moment, I doubted my ears!
“But aren’t fairies supposed to be over in Plouce…”
“That’s just one branch,” Kephiel answered this time. “Just as ordinary people have different nationalities, at least in the books I’ve read, there are indeed records of another lineage of fairies.”
“‘King,’ the spirit that wishes it could burrow into your bed can be considered a branch of the golden-haired lineage, while the other branch dates back a long time, perhaps… even longer than the existence of my former empire. And you must be quite familiar with their characteristics…”
White-haired spirits…
In my silence, I didn’t even have the time to correct Nilu’s misunderstanding about “burrowing into bed.”
If I remember correctly, the elven swordmaster Ludwig we encountered earlier, and the pure white nun Urasilu, both shared the common mark of being “white-haired spirits.” So, this time’s “main storyline” leading us here isn’t to tell us about some “new fairies waiting for us to collect,” but rather to discuss the content of the white-haired spirits?
To be honest, it doesn’t feel good at all; there’s a tense sensation of falling into a trap.
Just as I was lost in thought, the two women waiting for me to speak, Lin Ke’s sudden appearance disrupted my train of thought.
“What? Spirits!? You just mentioned long-eared spirits, right?”
I saw Lin Ke approaching from not far away, still holding a half-eaten hamburger in her hand, and in her surprise, she tossed away the coffee cup in her other hand.
So what if it is? My Lady Lin Ke, you shouldn’t casually listen to such topics! It’s not that I don’t want to tell you, but if I really say it, I fear you might get entangled in some unwarranted danger.
I shot Nilu a glance, intending for her to call Ji Yasi back, using “orders” to cover up what Lin Ke just overheard. However, the next moment, Lin Ke’s response made me stop in my tracks.
“Wow! I didn’t pay much attention because I was so angry! Now I suddenly remember!”
After all, the script changed the moment Lin Ke spoke!
“Speaking of which, that son of a b*tch bounty hunter from that night was also a white-haired spirit!”
【The white-haired spirit that killed Oujili De exists in the United Kingdom of Meri.】
——
It’s the end of the month, everyone remember to cast your monthly votes, or they’ll expire.
Heh heh heh, I’m digging another pit again.