Chapter 8 The Fairy Village "Really?!"...
"Really? Fan!?"
Upon hearing this, Shivering was so moved that his big tail kept wagging behind him, almost like a propeller—come on, it really does look like a puppy.
It rushed into Bai Er's arms, hugged his arm, and was overwhelmed with emotion:
"You guys are such great fans...! Humans are so kind! Tremblers fans are so incredibly grateful to you fans!"
As it moved, the small tuft of downy hair on its forehead and its long, large ears rubbed against Bai E's arm, making him laugh and say it tickled as he dodged back.
"It's nothing! It's just a small favor. I just finished making the bread and still have a lot in stock. I'll go get some more."
Xi Lian was alright, but Bai E was known in the village for his boundless energy. After helping with farm work, he still had the energy to run and play everywhere. He had practically covered all the fields near the Ai Li Secret Pavilion.
However, as you follow the trembling idiot deeper into the wheat fields at the village entrance, Bai'e is surprised to find that he seems to have never set foot on this road before.
A few days ago it rained, and you walked through the freshly harvested wheat fields, still carrying the scent of fresh earth. Stubble stood upright on the ground, and your hurried footsteps startled sparrows that were preening their feathers. Rivers crisscrossed, like the silent lines of the earth's palm.
You walked along the overgrown path, hidden by branches, stepping over the solid shadows of the trees and crunching the fallen leaves under your feet. Xi Lian's sleeve was slightly torn by the barbed thorns, and you anxiously fluttered around her, but she smiled reassuringly and whispered, "I'm fine, it's just a piece of clothing, I can mend it when we get back."
You walked for what seemed like an eternity, or perhaps not at all; you had lost all sense of time, until you finally arrived at the entrance to a hidden cave.
"The Lost Realm is just behind here!" the trembling fan exclaimed impatiently, and then plunged in first.
The entrance was dark, making it difficult to see inside. You volunteered to scout ahead—after all, you have no physical form in the game, no one can harm you, and you have a self-illuminating mechanic, practically a walking, glowing fluorescent light—wait, did we switch channels again?
The opening wasn't large, but it was just the right size for a child's body.
You crawled out first, then quickly looked back at the two behind you. Bai E, covered in dust, crawled out and squatted at the cave entrance to pull Xi Lian up—but he didn't control his strength well, and the two of them fell to the ground together.
[Are you alright?]
You hurriedly flew around the two of them, trying to check their injuries.
“…Bai E.” Xi Lian fell to the ground, staring at the moss-covered mountain wall above her head.
Bai E touched his nose, knowing he was in the wrong, and guiltily looked away. "Sorry..."
Fortunately, it was just a fall. I was already walking carefully and hunched over in the tunnel, so the fall wasn't too steep.
The two dusted themselves off, stood up, and checked themselves over; they found no injuries.
Xi Lian's adorable face was covered in dirt, like a little kitten's, with puddles of mud and dust, but she didn't seem to care. Normally, she was the cleanest person around, but now she just casually wiped her face with her sleeve, revealing her clear blue eyes beneath the dust.
She turned around, "The Trailblazer, Bai Er—"
Before she could finish speaking, she was met with Bai E's face, which looked as if it had been given a mud spa treatment.
Xi Lian: ...
You: ...Pfft.
Bai's entire face was covered in mud, even his clothes were covered in it from shaking. Only his eyes and mouth were free of mud. Uh: (puzzling) What happened?
He was about to comfort you, but you stared at his muddy fingertips for a while, and he suddenly realized his predicament.
"..." Bai E lowered his head.
"Hahahahahahahaha—"
He laughed heartily, completely unconcerned about the dirt and mud covering his body. Although his ears turned slightly red, he showed no sign of impatience or disgust.
You and Xi Lian couldn't help but laugh too. For a while, the group rested and laughed against the mountain wall. Their ankles ached, their clothes were covered in dust, and their hair was a mess, but they felt a long-lost sense of peace and contentment.
The cave was dark and the sun was nowhere to be seen, but strange firefly grasses grew near the path, emitting a faint, gentle blue light.
Walking along the gnarled trunk of the tree, you see huge mushrooms growing all around. Sunlight filters through the cracks in the rocks, casting a glossy sheen on the caps, revealing the dense gills underneath.
The trembling fan is waiting for you at the village entrance.
"Whoa...! You've finally come to the mystery—"
It anxiously pointed to the door of the mushroom house behind it.
A yellow elf, resembling Shivering, leaned against the doorway, its eyes closed weakly, seemingly unconscious.
"Please save Rafafa—it's fainted from hunger!"
*
Bai Er pulled out the bread from his pocket—he was covered in mud and dust, but the paper bag containing the bread was only slightly torn, and the bread inside was intact and had an enticing golden-brown color.
Because Bai E had carefully protected the bread in his arms the whole way, it was still warm.
Xi Lian poured some water, broke off a small piece of bread, moistened it to make it less dry, and then helped Rafafa eat it little by little.
"..."
Rafafami smelled food in his sleep.
It smelled sweet, like crops, but with a hint of warmth, like fire, unlike any nectar or wild fruit I'd ever tasted before.
It slowly opened its eyes.
“Shivering…” it said weakly, “Is it you who has returned…”
"It's me!" Trembling Mi circled around it, saying worriedly, "You're so weak, Mi, don't talk anymore! Rest well, Mi!"
Only when the Rafa fans awaken will you know what really happened here.
Winter is approaching, and the little elves of the Lost Realm don't know how to grow crops. They can only rely on wild fruits and honey that grow naturally for their food.
However, this winter came particularly fiercely—the Elegant Pavilion was enveloped by the [Veil of Eternal Night], where spring blossoms and autumn fruits ripened, the climate was warm, and winters were not too cold. Tender new shoots could often be found on the chilly ground. But this year, for some reason, a cold wave passed by, the fruits withered early, and the little food that the fairies had stockpiled was quickly consumed, leading to a famine.
Trembling Fairy is the bravest little fairy in the whole village. Ignoring everyone's advice, it secretly slipped out of the Lost Realm, which is how the three of you found it and brought back life-saving food.
"Humans, hello!"
Rafafa regained some strength and flew up shakily, rubbing its fluffy cheek against Bai'er and Xilian's fingers. When it was your turn, it hesitated for a long time, seemingly struggling with how to address you:
"Hmm...uh...even a flying star would be nice!"
It said this with absolute certainty.
You silently swallowed back the words, "Actually, I'm human too."
—Well, it seems the fairies have mistaken you for a star that has accidentally fallen into the secret realm because you're untouchable and radiate a warm, golden light.
The bread that Bai'er brought was far from enough. He hadn't expected the famine to be so severe. A few pieces of bread couldn't feed all the village's elves, and he had only managed to save a small portion of them. He was so anxious that sweat beaded on his forehead.
"...I'll go get it later!"
He stood up and headed outside. "We can't delay any longer! Every second counts and a little elf might be lost... Xi Lian, please stay here with your partner to take care of them. I'll be right back..."
[etc. ]
You called out to him.
[It's too far, leave it to me.]
...
Fortunately, the amount of Star Essence needed for [feeding] is not much. You thought to yourself.
Who says [feeding] can only be used for daily feeding tasks? Be bold, this game setting is actually quite convenient at times.
Many wondrous things, beyond the understanding of the little elves—and even beyond the understanding of Bai'er and Xilian—appeared out of nowhere here.
[Hot goat milk soup, Cosmic Fried Rice, Mixed Vegetable Soup, Lotus Root Cake...]
You count them one by one.
They haven't been full for a while, and greasy food is hard for them to digest. Let them eat something light.
"...Won't this be too much trouble for you?" Bai E asked, somewhat worried for you.
Although I know his partner is incredibly powerful... but so much food, enough to save an entire village of elves, must be hard to come by, right?
[It's alright, getting it wasn't too difficult.]
You have a lot of strange and unusual dishes in your backpack. You usually make a dish when you unlock recipes, or you buy some novel dishes that you see from street vendors.
There's no need to train partners lately, and I'm even running out of credits to spend. Now that you're a shareholder of Pinocchio, you're making a fortune every day, so you don't have to worry about credits at all.
...It's just that each feeding costs 10 stars, which is a bit expensive.
You really need Xingqiong, huh?
But looking into the distance, you see the little sprites gathered together, obediently enjoying their food. Their fur gradually changes from dull to glossy. When they're full, they pat their bellies and wander around you. Those who aren't full sit in front of the mushroom house, looking at you with bright, adoring eyes. And you suddenly feel relieved again.
Sigh, eat up, eat up. Xingqiong isn't incapable of earning more.
Unable to touch you, the little elves spontaneously joined hands and danced around you. Their big ears swayed, they nuzzled you with their soft cheeks, hugged you with their tiny paws, and murmured incessantly:
"Thank you! Thank you! Thank you, golden stars, thank you, white humans and pink human fans! You saved the Lost Realm—we will sing for you for many, many years!"
"Cough cough."
An unusual spirit approached, surrounded by others. Its eyes were wise and calm, its fur was a silvery-white hue weathered by time, and it exuded an extraordinary air.
When it came over, the little elves dancing around you automatically made a small opening for it to go in.
"Village chief! The village chief is bewitched!"
"Thank you for your contributions to the Lost Realm; you saved us all," it said. "On behalf of all the fairies of the Lost Realm, I sincerely thank you and warmly welcome your arrival!"
—It doesn't even speak in riddles!
A note from the author:
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Did everyone see the preview? This new form for Little March is so cute, I'm definitely pulling for it! [starry eyes] Gudetama is so handsome too! I'm a huge fan of the Train team! [heart][heart]
But everyone looks like they have knives...
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