Chapter 149: Chapter149-Make Your Own Decisions
"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."
...
On the first day back in the Elven habitat, John, Elaria, and Elowen stayed up almost all night.
They shared stories from their adventures, listened to Elowen recount the current situations facing the elves, and John and Elaria offered their insights.
Before they knew it, it was already dawn.
The warm sunlight streamed through the window, casting a glow on Elowen's face, making him realize he had lost track of time. He quickly stood up.
"Master John, Elaria, it's getting late. You've finally got some free time, so you should rest. I won't disturb you any longer."
"Alright, don't forget what I mentioned, Elowen. Materials, monster corpses, golems, and three trusted subordinates."
"Don't worry, Master John, I remember. I'll have people waiting in the hall. When you and Elaria wake up, just contact me."
As Elowen left, Elaria let out a long sigh and leaned gently on John's shoulder.
"It feels like the Elven tribe has changed so much in just this one month we've been away. Elowen has grown a lot too."
"Shouldering the fate of an entire race must be quite a burden for Elowen, right? Although his mindset has matured significantly during this time, his strength hasn't improved much. Elaria, do your elves have any methods to increase their strength?"
"Unfortunately, every elf's strength ceiling is determined at birth. When they reach 180 years old and their bodies mature, they reach their peak strength, which lasts for at least 900 years.
If their innate talent isn't sufficient, there's almost no way to extend or forcibly increase this peak period."
"That's... really harsh."
John rubbed his temples, unsure of what to say.
Currently, Elowen's strength is roughly equivalent to a level 45 player. For an ordinary elf, this is certainly impressive. However, as the Elven King, his talent is somewhat lacking.
"The best I can do is to find more helpers for Elowen. With the increasing number of elves, including those from other tribes, who can guarantee they won't have ulterior motives? If any unexpected situations arise, I hope Elowen can handle them on his own."
With that, John struggled to stand up and looked toward the closed door leading to the bedchamber. He smiled and said, "Shall we go back to rest?"
"No, it wouldn't be proper... It's broad daylight..."
"No one will notice. Elowen has already ordered the palace to be sealed. No one will come in."
...
At noon!
John groggily climbed out of bed and instinctively reached out beside him, only to find the space empty.
Turning around, he realized that Elaria was already gone.
But he thought she must be too excited to sleep after returning to the habitat after such a long time.
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."