Chapter 161: Abnormal Earth Veins

After purchasing the pop-up book, Olivia selected several more of a similar style and placed them into Perletti’s arms.

She did not ignore Scarlet Night either.

Instead, she deliberately slowed her pace, staying beside her while softly bringing up small everyday topics.

Although Scarlet Night was withdrawn and usually disliked speaking, in truth, she deeply longed to be noticed.

She wanted someone willing to approach her first.

Someone willing to stay beside her and talk with her.

That feeling of no longer being an isolated individual rejected by everyone else—that was the warmth her soul desired most deeply.

Just as she disliked staying among the vampires, because at the end of the day, Scarlet Night had once merely been an insignificant livestock-like existence within vampire society.

Even after the Queen categorized her as a member of the royal bloodline, she still considered herself human rather than a vampire.

Precisely because they were both witches, and both possessed elements unwelcome to ordinary people, she held such intense attachment and possessiveness toward Perletti and the former Qingcheng.

As though, in the entire world, only the two of them were truly her kind.

This type of personality was rather rare among elves, but for Olivia, it was not difficult to deal with.

Originally, she had prepared several gifts more suited to Scarlet Night’s tastes.

But bringing them out now would likely only provoke deeper vigilance and rejection from the girl.

No rush.

She could wait a few more days and casually produce them later when the atmosphere became more relaxed.

Patience was the virtue she lacked least.

As for the World Tree’s problems, those could be postponed.

In her previous life, nothing unexpected had happened during the following five years anyway.

That meant Olivia had plenty of time within those five years to slowly cultivate her relationship with Perletti—

and conveniently push the outsider, Scarlet Night, away in the process.

Suddenly—

without any warning whatsoever, a violent gale swept through the area.

Countless green and withered leaves surged through the air like a torrential storm, smacking noisily against their bodies.

Perletti instinctively turned around, tightly shielding Scarlet Night within her arms while using her own back to block the chaotic rain of leaves.

Only after the roaring wind gradually subsided did she slowly open her eyes again.

“Did Caroline arrive or something? Why did such a huge wind suddenly blow up?”

she muttered in confusion.

Then she noticed that at some unknown moment, a burnt-edged leaf had appeared in Olivia’s hand.

The elven princess stood there with her eyes closed, fingertips lightly touching the leaf’s veins, her expression focused as though listening to whispers hidden within the leaf itself.

Perletti immediately sensed that the leaf was far from ordinary.

Most likely, it was some special emergency communication method used by the elves.

“Olivia?”

She stepped forward slightly, concern in her voice.

“Did something happen?”

Olivia’s long eyelashes trembled faintly as she opened her eyes. A trace of gravity flashed through her emerald gaze.

With a casual motion, she tossed the leaf away. The instant it left her fingertips, it dissolved into particles of light and vanished.

“Mhm. There’s been an abnormal fluctuation at one of the leyline nodes in the western forest,” she explained, speaking slightly faster than usual though still maintaining perfect clarity.

“Some kind of unknown energy contamination is currently eroding the area.”

After saying that, she turned toward Perletti and Scarlet Night, sincere apology appearing upon her face.

“Sorry. This happened rather suddenly. As princess, handling leyline abnormalities is part of my duty, so I’m afraid… I can’t continue accompanying you today.”

When she spoke the word “duty,” her brows furrowed ever so slightly.

The expression vanished instantly—

but Perletti, who had been watching her closely the entire time, still caught it.

She seemed…

to not actually like this responsibility all that much?

The thought flashed through Perletti’s mind.

“It’s fine,” she said almost without hesitation. “I can come with you.”

Olivia clearly hadn’t expected that answer and froze briefly.

“Why are you so surprised?” Perletti tossed the books in her arms into spatial storage. “I actually want to see with my own eyes what a leyline abnormality looks like.”

“The human world doesn’t have miraculous sacred objects like the World Tree. This kind of opportunity is rare.”

Olivia stared at Perletti’s sparkling eyes.

The words of refusal lingered at her lips for a moment before ultimately turning into a helpless sigh, though the corners of her mouth still lifted faintly.

“…Alright then. But stay close to me and don’t act recklessly.”

This was the second time someone had voluntarily asked to accompany her while handling a leyline anomaly.

The first time had been during her earliest attempts at dealing with such matters, when an elder from her clan had guided her.

A strange warmth quietly surfaced within Olivia’s heart.

She deliberately slowed her pace.

Unlike her usual swift efficiency while carrying out official duties, she maintained a speed both Perletti and Scarlet Night could easily follow.

The three quickly arrived at an open area near the forest’s edge.

The sight before them formed a painfully stark contrast against the surrounding lush greenery.

The land carried an unhealthy grayish-brown color. Vegetation was sparse and withered, while a faint atmosphere of decay lingered in the air.

Anyone with functioning eyesight could immediately tell something was wrong here.

“This is the place.”

Olivia stopped walking, her gaze sweeping across the scarred land.

“As you guessed, leylines are essentially the World Tree’s root network extending throughout the earth.”

“They spread across the entirety of the Elf Forest. You could say the entire forest exists because of the World Tree’s roots.”

She crouched down and gently pressed her palm against the dried earth, silently using magic to investigate the situation.

“Do you usually handle things like this alone?” Perletti looked around at the somewhat desolate surroundings and couldn’t help asking, “Aren’t they worried you might encounter something even you can’t handle?”

Anything capable of affecting the World Tree’s roots was definitely no ordinary threat.

And Perletti’s impression of Olivia’s combat strength still remained stuck at Falisa getting instantly killed by Scarlet Night.

Could Olivia really handle unknown dangers like this?

“As for that, Titi can rest assured.”

Olivia didn’t open her eyes. Her calm voice drifted over steadily.

“Within the boundaries of the Elf Forest—especially near the World Tree’s root systems—my power receives the World Tree’s blessing and amplification.”

“Ordinary monsters or contamination sources do not pose any true threat.”

She paused slightly, brows knitting together.

“Based on the feedback… the source of this contamination appears to be a Devouring Beast.”

“These monsters usually hide within the fissures of deep underground ley veins. It’s rare for them to approach the surface this closely…”

As if to confirm her judgment—

the very next moment, Olivia raised the hand pressed against the ground, palm facing upward.

A deep rumbling echoed through the area.

Before the three girls, a massive section of gray-brown earth suddenly rose slowly into the air as though seized by some invisible giant hand, revealing a bottomless pit beneath it.

Olivia skillfully controlled the enormous chunk of contaminated soil, carefully moving it aside before placing it down within a nearby dead forest, crushing large swathes of trees beneath its weight.

“Why are you both looking at me like that?”

Olivia turned around just in time to meet the slightly stunned expressions of Perletti and Scarlet Night. She smiled helplessly.

“I couldn’t exactly leave a giant pile of contaminated soil floating in midair forever, could I?”

“Don’t worry. Afterward, one restoration spell will be enough to return these trees to normal. It’s very simple.”