“He's been asleep for three days now. Is he still not awake?”
“He should be waking up soon. I've prepared some food for him. Let's go in and check.”
Elvin and Isabella were worried about Ning Busan, so they went to visit him early in the morning.
Ning Busan was currently admiring his new appearance. Turning around upon hearing their voices, he asked with a smile, “What brings you two here?”
Dark green, almost black eyes, pale skin with a cold luster, and three droplets of solidified black crystal blood floating between his brows, radiating a strange, dark aura.
Isabella tugged on Elvin's sleeve and whispered, “Don't you think his face looks a bit familiar?”
“What do you mean a bit familiar?” Elvin roared. “This is Ning Busan!”
Isabella still couldn't believe it. “Y-Y-Y-You... Are you really Ning Busan? You didn't get possessed by some strange creature, did you?”
Ning Busan clicked his tongue. “What are you blindly imagining?”
Elvin asked, “What on earth happened? How did you turn into an elf?”
Ning Busan lied without batting an eye, “Actually, I'm a half-elf born to an elf and a human. My bloodline suddenly awakened, so I turned into an elf.”
Elvin came to a sudden realization. “So that's how it is!”
“Don't believe everything he says!” Isabella facepalmed. “Don't you think that's incredibly absurd?”
Elvin said, “Though it's absurd, there's still a shred of plausibility to it.”
While Isabella and Elvin were talking, Ning Busan had already opened the breakfast they brought and began devouring it ravenously.
He was absolutely starving right now, and no one could stop him from stuffing his face.
Isabella walked up to Ning Busan, staring at the three ominous droplets of blood between his brows. “Even if you turned into an elf, you shouldn't have such a dense dark aura about you.”
Ning Busan couldn't help but chuckle. “It's quite obvious—I'm a dark fallen elf! If a dark fallen elf isn't dark, is he supposed to be sparkling all over with holy light?”
Realizing that they had never seen a dark fallen elf before, Ning Busan pointed to his forehead and explained, “This is the symbol of a dark fallen elf.”
“One droplet represents questioning the light, a wavering faith. Two droplets represent turning one's back on the light, a sinking soul. Three droplets represent falling completely to darkness, never to return.”
“Remember, only someone like me is a dark fallen elf. Next time, don't be so foolish as to confuse falling to darkness with the plague.”
Elvin's first reaction was: “But I've heard the elders say that dark fallen elves suffer from the constant burning of holy light. Are you okay?”
Ning Busan gave a thumbs-up. “I'm in tip-top shape!”
Being a dark fallen elf was awesome!
Rejected by the light and shunned by the dark, this meant he had no boss above him. He could do whatever he wanted, causing trouble however he pleased!
As for the punishment of being burned by holy light, that thing wasn't fatal anyway; it was just like having a permanent debuff.
Isabella asked, “Can you still change back into a human?”
Ning Busan said, “Yes, but I'll have to wait a while.”
Once he fully digested Faelo's memories and power, he would be able to switch freely between his human and elven forms.
Before that, he planned to stay in the Elven Valley for a while.
If he returned to the Dawn Empire as an elf, wouldn't it be even harder to explain?
Elvin said worriedly, “If the elders find out you're a dark fallen elf, will they kick you out of the Elven Valley?”
Ning Busan looked extremely surprised. “Who would dare kick me out? Do they want me to go complain to the Mother Tree?”
Elvin widened his eyes. “How could you disturb the Mother Tree over something like this?”
Ning Busan countered, “Why not?”
One viewed the Mother Tree as their Mother God, while the other viewed the Mother Tree as his mother. Their ways of thinking were completely on different wavelengths.
Just then, a guest arrived.
It was Lislene.
Elvin was startled. “Why are you here?”
“I sensed a dark aura, so I came to check.”
After saying this, Lislene looked toward Ning Busan.
Ning Busan preempted her, “No way, right? No way? I just helped you resolve the plague, and now you're going to kick me to the curb after I've served my purpose?”
Lislene fell silent.
Had she even spoken just now?
She didn't seem to have said anything, right?
How did it become kicking him to the curb?
Lislene spoke slowly, “Our people are very concerned about your situation. His Highness Silvin and the elders also wish to thank you in person.”
Ning Busan smiled bashfully and waved his hand. “Why thank me in person? It's really quite embarrassing!”
“Don't be embarrassed just yet,” Lislene questioned. “I think you should first explain why you've turned into a dark fallen elf.”
“...”
What could Ning Busan explain?
There was no record of Faelo in the Silverglow Annals. Even if he said he used to be the king of the Elven Clan, who would believe him?
Elvin seriously explained from the side, “Ning Busan is a child born of an elf and a human. His bloodline suddenly awakened.”
Lislene wore an expression that said, Are you kidding me?
Isabella whispered her complaint, “Elvin, you're the only one who would believe Ning Busan's nonsense.”
Elvin belatedly looked at Ning Busan. “You lied to me? You're not a half-elf?”
Ning Busan played mysterious. “Do you really want to know why I suddenly became a dark fallen elf?”
The three of them nodded simultaneously.
Ning Busan shrugged. “Then go ask the Mother Tree.”
Ha!
He just wouldn't tell them!
...
The Greenwild Royal Court.
A crowd of elders stared in unison at Ning Busan opposite them, their expressions solemn and their gazes heavy.
Being stared at so intensely by a group of elves, Ning Busan felt a bit lacking in confidence for some reason. He asked dryly, “What are you all looking at?”
Silvin walked up to Ning Busan and bowed deeply to him. “You resolved the plague disaster for the Elven Clan. You will forever be a friend of the elves.”
Ning Busan let out a sigh of relief.
He had thought these elves were going to turn on him.
Ning Busan smiled and said, “Since we're all friends, you wouldn't mind if I stay with the Elven Clan for a while longer, right?”
Silvin agreed without hesitation, “Of course.”
Although Ning Busan's identity as a dark fallen elf was questionable, he had saved the entire Elven Clan and was their benefactor.
Silvin said, “Actually, there is one more thing I would like to discuss with you today.”
Ning Busan asked, “What is it?”
Silvin said, “Have you forgotten? You are the successor to the throne jointly chosen by the Elven Mother Tree and His Eminence Salos.”
Ning Busan shook his head frantically. “I'm only staying temporarily in the Elven Valley. You and Elvin are the prospective crown princes; decide amongst yourselves.”
Afterward, Ning Busan sat in a corner, listening to them bicker back and forth for over an hour without any result.
Ning Busan propped up his chin, unable to comprehend and deeply shocked.
When it came to inheriting the throne, the Dawn Empire was full of scheming and infighting, whereas the Elven Valley was full of harmony and polite modesty. They were practically two extremes.
Ning Busan couldn't help but say, “How about we let the Mother Tree make the decision?”
The elves looked at each other and nodded in agreement.
Before long, Ning Busan realized he was wrong.
Once he stood before the Mother Tree, what did Elvin and Silvin have to do with anything anymore?
A crown woven from silver leaves and green vines floated above Ning Busan's head.
Ning Busan nudged to the left, and the crown nudged to the left along with him.
Ning Busan nudged to the right, and the crown nudged to the right along with him.
Ning Busan whispered a reminder, “Mother, you're supposed to choose one of them. I have nothing to do with this.”
The Mother Tree played dumb.
Who's speaking?
Suddenly, I can't hear a thing.
In the end, the silver crown still landed on Ning Busan's head.
This was the Mother Tree's oracle, and no one could defy it.
The surrounding elves dropped to one knee and shouted in unison:
“All hail the new King—”
Ning Busan was left speechless and unable to defend himself.
Was anyone actually listening to him?
He was only staying temporarily in the Elven Valley; he really had no intention of staying here to be the king!
Do you people even know what a temporary stay means?!
Rate on N.U.
