"Master John, how long will you and Elaria stay this time?"
"Not too long, at most three days. After that, we need to continue our journey. Why do you ask?"
"Nothing, I was just a bit curious. The outside world... it must be full of dangers, right?"
"Of course, it's very dangerous."
Elaria nodded, as if recalling something, and said in a solemn tone, "Sandstorms that cover the sky, monsters that can control those sandstorms, and monsters as big as mountains. Every day brings new challenges and dangers."
"In that case, why do Master John and Elaria still want to go back to adventuring? If you stayed in the habitat, you wouldn't have to live on edge all the time. Wouldn't that be better?"
Elowen couldn't understand John's reasoning. To him, nothing was more important than stability. The daily routine was something every member of the tribe experienced. What was wrong with that?
"Elowen, someday in the future, when you find someone worthy of entrusting the throne to, I hope you will also venture out into the world.
Certainly, staying here allows you to enjoy a stable life, the respect of the tribe, and admiration.
But there are always things that transcend life itself, and only those who have truly seen those things are really living.
I didn't quite understand this either until I left home and ventured into the outside world. It was then that I realized Deep Forest, our home, is just a very small, insignificant place.
You need to see the broader world."
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Elaria spoke softly, her eyes full of longing for adventure.
Talcavano was the starting point of Elaria's adventures, but it was definitely not her final destination. One day, she wanted to visit every corner of this world and leave her mark.
Perhaps only then could Elaria settle down, find a place she truly yearned for, and live there forever.
Listening to the lives John and Elaria described, Elowen also felt a tinge of longing in his eyes.
But soon, that small longing was replaced by the heavy burden on his shoulders.
He couldn't leave yet. He had to stay.
The elves needed a leader, at least for now.
"But... I think I understand what Elaria means now. If, in the future, I have the chance to go on an adventure, I hope I can follow in Elaria's footsteps and explore the world."
"Elowen, everyone in this world is unique. You don't need to follow my footsteps. You'll embark on your own adventure."
...
With this in mind, John let out a long breath, got dressed, and left the bedchamber. He happened to see Elaria forcibly pressing Elowen onto the throne, saying firmly, "You are now the Elven King. Why sit in such a humble seat? From now on, you will sit here!"
"But, but..."
"No buts! Did you forget what I told you before? Or do you think you're so capable now that you can ignore my words?"
"No, absolutely not!"
"Then sit here. Also, after we leave, you should move into the bedchamber. That's where the Elven Kings have always lived.
Before I leave, I'll take you to the Whispering Forest, so the spirits can witness the birth of the new king!"
"I understand, Elaria."
Hearing this, I stepped out and smiled, "Exactly, it's about time. I haven't slept this well in ages. Elaria, are you sure you don't need to rest?"
"I'm fine. The thought of returning to the Elven tribe kept me too excited to sleep, so I got up."
"Fair enough. Since everyone is here, Elowen, how's the preparation for the tasks I assigned you?"
"Everything is ready, Master John. We've collected many monster corpses, as per your request, focusing on higher-level monsters, generally around level 40."
"Level 40? Do you have some misunderstanding about high levels..."
"Well, there's not much we can do about it. The monsters we can hunt nearby are only around that level..."
Elowen scratched his head, looking a bit helpless.
But it's not his fault. After all, Deep Forest is an early-stage map, so we can't expect too much.
With that in mind, John waved his hand and said in a serious tone, "If there are enough of them, we can overlook the details. Where are the monster corpses stored? Gather your men, and let's go there now."
"Due to the large number, I was worried about causing panic, so I had the monster corpses piled near the labyrinth and arranged for guards. We can head over now."
"Wait, there's one more thing before we leave."
John shook his head, stopping Elowen.
Hearing this, Elowen was puzzled and asked, "Master John, is there something else?"
"Before we leave, bring the people you selected to meet me. Of course, it's not that I don't trust your judgment, Elowen, but I trust my own assessment more.
If they meet my criteria, I'll ensure they get contracts with powerful monsters. But if they don't, we'll have to find others."
"No problem, I'll call them right away, Master John."