Chapter 10: The Hidden Elder’s Welcome

“Mayor Manrot, hello!”

Seeing Aali’s enthusiastic greeting, Qi Lin quickly followed suit.

Hearing the voice, Manrot stroked his beard and turned to Qi Lin. “Oh? And who might this young fellow be…?”

Noticing the unfamiliar face, Manrot looked at Aali with a questioning gaze.

Under Manrot’s scrutiny, Aali hastily began. “Mayor, the situation is thus…”

Once Aali finished speaking, Manrot stroked his beard, silently meeting Qi Lin’s eyes.

Under Manrot’s penetrating gaze, Qi Lin felt as though he stood naked, his entire being—body and innermost thoughts—laid bare.

“So, your name is Qi Lin, is that right?”

Just as Qi Lin felt the atmosphere beginning to grow heavy, Manrot suddenly asked with a benevolent smile.

“Ah, yes, that’s correct, Mayor Manrot.”

Observing Qi Lin’s reserved demeanor, Manrot burst into hearty laughter. “There’s no need to be so formal. Just treat me as you would any elder you’ve encountered before. Hmm, haha, look at me, my mind’s slipping; I forgot you have amnesia. In any case, just be at ease.”

“Understood, Mayor Manrot!”

Nodding vigorously, Qi Lin let out a breath he hadn’t realized he was holding. The pressure of Manrot’s seemingly all-seeing gaze had indeed been considerable.

“Alright then, you want me to check the town’s registry of residents to see if the young man’s name appears, yes? No problem at all, it’s a simple task. Leave it to this old man.”

Manrot cheerfully addressed Qi Lin and Aali, then, with hands clasped behind his back, ambled towards a nearby room.

Watching Manrot depart, Qi Lin exhaled slowly, as if expelling the tension that had coiled within him.

Sensing the unusual shift in the person beside her, Aali, though puzzled, offered comfort. “What’s wrong? Are you worried we won’t find your information? It’s alright, I have a backup plan, provided he can return.”

Listening to Aali’s voice grow progressively softer, Qi Lin inquired, “He? Who is ‘he’?”

“Ah? Oh, you… you heard all that?”

Faced with Aali’s astonished expression, Qi Lin found himself at a loss for words. Ever since crossing the rift into this world, his previously uncontrollable superhuman sight and hearing had become fully manageable.

“…Since you heard it, I’ll tell you.”

After her initial surprise, Aali didn’t wait for Qi Lin to explain how he’d heard her quiet words. Instead, she began to speak, her voice tinged with a confessional air.

“He is my brother, Aric. He’s also a half-elf, a hybrid of human and elf. Unlike me, my brother displayed exceptional magical talent from a young age. Even in his youth, he could cast healing spells to mend others, both internally and externally.

For instance, he could cure your amnesia, but…

A few weeks ago, he vanished without a trace, neither alive nor dead. Tell me, do you think my brother is still alive? …Of course, even if my brother isn’t here now, our Elder can still help you.”

Witnessing Aali’s sorrowful mood, Qi Lin found himself speechless. However, upon learning that it was her brother who could restore his memories, and that her brother had gone missing, the anxiety stirring deep within him began to slowly dissipate.

Yet, when she mentioned that others could also treat amnesia, he nearly performed a dramatic stumble for Aali’s benefit, though he managed to restrain himself.

He also noticed, of course, that Aali seemed to harbor many unspoken burdens, yearning for someone to confide in.

“Little Aali, are you thinking about your brother again?”

Unbeknownst to them, Manrot had returned and was now looking at Aali with a complex expression.

Hearing his voice, Aali lowered her head. “Ah? Apologies, Mayor, I…”

“Hey, it’s alright, you don’t need to apologize. If anyone should apologize for what happened to your brother, it should be us.”

Qi Lin did not interject into their conversation, remaining silent and mentally chanting, ‘Don’t see me, don’t see me, I heard nothing at all.’ Yet, within his mind, he began to ponder, sensing a hidden secret beneath their words.

“Ahem, Qi Lin, I’m afraid you are not a resident of our town.”

Finally, with Manrot’s clearing of his throat, the focus shifted back to Qi Lin.

Qi Lin, who had already anticipated the outcome, subtly displayed a sorrowful expression. “…Is that so? I understand…”

Ha, with that expression, Qi Lin felt he could return to his original world and effortlessly outshine all those internet video performers, perhaps even claiming an award for best actor.

Just as Qi Lin was basking in his internal self-congratulation, Aali and Manrot’s subsequent words nearly made his feigned expression a genuine one.

“Of course, even if you’re not from our town, it doesn’t matter. We will still help you.”

Aali said, gently patting Qi Lin’s hair.

“Aali is right,” Manrot affirmed, nodding with a smile. “We have a way to cure your amnesia, and then you’ll know where you truly belong.”

Manrot, too, smiled and nodded, confirming Aali’s words.

‘Well, thank you so much,’ Qi Lin thought, a touch of despair coloring his mood, for he knew this was entirely his own doing.

“Without further ado, come on! I’ll take you to the Elder now to cure your amnesia.”

As soon as Aali finished speaking, she attempted to drag Qi Lin out of the Mayor’s house. Fortunately, Manrot intervened just in time, preventing Qi Lin from being caught off guard and falling to the ground.

“Aali, my dear, don’t be so impatient. The Elder hasn’t even woken up yet at this hour. If you go disturb her like this, she’ll likely ignore you completely.”

At Manrot’s words, Aali suddenly recalled the Elder’s peculiar nature, and she sheepishly scratched her head.

Seeing Aali’s reaction, Manrot shook his head, then slowly walked out of his house, leaning on his staff.

Once Qi Lin and Aali caught up to him, he closed the door and proceeded towards the town center.

In the very heart of Manda Town stood a towering tree, which served as the residence of their Manda Town’s Elder.

Indeed, the Elf Elder resided within the massive tree at the town’s core.

Qi Lin stared, wide-eyed, at the colossal tree adorned with doors and windows.

“How can such an enormous tree be invisible from outside the town, or even from its very edges?”

To Qi Lin’s bewilderment, Aali explained, “It’s quite simple. Our Elder has hidden the tree, preventing outsiders from seeing it.”

Qi Lin nodded blankly.

“Alright, the timing is perfect. Let’s go in!”

With one hand gripping his staff and the other clasped behind his back, Manrot cheerfully approached the main entrance.

Manrot knocked, and almost immediately, the door swung open.

The one who opened the door was an elf with golden hair that cascaded naturally to their shoulders.

The elf’s pointed ears peeked out from amidst their hair, appearing both adorable and playful. Their face gleamed with pallor, their eyelashes were long and dense, and their lips thin and rosy.

‘The Elder… so young?’ Qi Lin felt a pang of bewilderment. After all, the Mayor was so old; surely the Elder should be ancient as well…

“Manrot, are you not attending to your official documents? Little Aali, are you not fishing? In short, why do you both have time to visit me? And who are you?”

The Elf Elder spoke, her words a barrage from the outset.

Her voice, however, was rough and hoarse, sounding almost masculine.

“Uh, ahem, Elder,” Manrot said, clearing his throat with a fist held to his mouth, “we’ve come here with a request.”

The Elder, hearing this, nodded understandingly, for few sought her out unless they had a matter of importance. She then pointed to Qi Lin, the unfamiliar face, and asked, “Him?”

In response, both Manrot and Aali nodded.

“Very well, then come inside!”

Turning sideways, the Elder gestured towards the interior of the great tree.

📚 Also on NHV Novels

Miss Witch, Please Kill Me

FantasyGender BenderMagical

Read Now →
Not interested