I Became My Elf King Character In A Game-Like World
Chapter 126: Little One

Chapter 126: Little One

"Alright then, little one," Renjiro said, holding the pearl closer again, deciding to try a direct approach. "Let’s try this again. Are you a Sea Sprite, or are you a Dragon Sprite?"

"Guu Guu! Hmph!" The tiny figure looked up at him and started waving its little arms around frantically, making sharp, angry gestures and letting out annoyed chirps. It pointed at itself, then shook its head, then pointed outside the pearl, then stamped its tiny foot. Unfortunately, whatever complex message it was trying to communicate, Renjiro couldn’t understand a single word or gesture. It was like watching an angry, miniature mime.

"Okay, okay," Renjiro sighed, rubbing his forehead. "Can you at least understand me? Do you understand my words?"

"Hmph!" came the sound again, sharp and clear, but this time, the little creature gave a sharp, definite nod. Yes.

Renjiro smiled slightly, seeing an opening. "Good, that makes things a bit easier then. Alright, listen carefully. I’ll ask you a simple question. Just nod for yes. Are you a Sea Sprite? From the ocean? Nod your head if the answer is yes."

The tiny creature just blinked its big eyes slowly, remaining perfectly still. No nod. Its expression was completely blank.

Renjiro raised an eyebrow. That could mean no, or it could just be stubbornness. "Okay... then, let’s try the other one. Are you a Dragon Sprite? Related to the dragons? Nod if yes."

Again, the little creature just blinked, staying completely still. Still no nod. It just stared back at him.

Renjiro’s expression darkened slightly. A vein started to throb faintly at his temple. He had the distinct feeling this tiny creature was deliberately, gleefully, messing with him. Playing dumb.

"Alright, you little troublemaker," Renjiro muttered darkly, his patience wearing thin. "It seems I need to show you who’s boss here! You clearly don’t know who you’re dealing with!"

"Eeek!" The little sprite seemed to sense the dangerous shift in his mood and the tone of his voice. It shrank back slightly within the pearl, looking up at him with wide, suddenly nervous eyes. The defiance flickered, replaced by a hint of fear.

Too late. Renjiro grumbled under his breath, gripped the large Pearl firmly in both hands, and started shaking it vigorously up and down, back and forth, side to side! Not hard enough to break it, but more than enough to turn the inside into a dizzying storm.

"Guuuaaaahhh!" Faint, panicked cries came from within.

It didn’t take long before the poor little creature inside was completely dizzy. It tumbled around helplessly within the Pearl’s confines like clothes in a dryer, its little head lolling from side to side. Finally, Renjiro stopped, and the tiny figure ended up sitting slumped against the inner surface, looking thoroughly dazed and unsteady, eyes spinning, almost lying flat on its back.

Renjiro stopped shaking and peered inside. "Alright," he said sternly, his voice leaving no room for games. "Last chance. Answer the question. Are. You. A. Sea. Sprite? Nod for yes!"

"Hmph..." The little creature slowly, groggily pushed itself back up, shaking its head clear, looking very unhappy. Once it seemed recovered, however, the stubborn streak returned full force. It turned its head away with a very deliberate, haughty air, crossing its arms again tightly. Its actions clearly screamed: ’I have nothing to say to you, you big bully!’ It absolutely refused to cooperate or tell him anything about its identity.

"Oh, really?" Renjiro muttered, a dangerous glint in his eyes. He wasn’t going to be defied by a ten-centimeter tall creature, no matter how rare it was. "You really

think I can’t deal with a stubborn little thing like you?"

Without another word, Renjiro reached into his storage ring the magical space where he kept his items and pulled out a thick, dark magic robe. With a grim, slightly vindictive smile, he began wrapping it tightly around the large Pearl, layer after layer, blocking out all light, until the world inside the pearl was plunged into complete, pitch-black darkness.

Sure enough, muffled but furious little squeaks and high-pitched shrieks immediately started coming from within the wrapped Pearl. The tiny creature was clearly throwing a massive tantrum in the dark, probably banging its little fists against the inside of the pearl, demanding Renjiro let it out right now.

Renjiro simply ignored the muffled protests, the sounds growing fainter as he added another layer of cloth. "Maybe some time in the dark, with nothing to look at, will help you think," he said calmly to the wrapped Pearl. "Next time I decide to ask you something, remember to consider your answer more carefully! Perhaps a little quiet time will improve your attitude."

With that, he tucked the completely wrapped Pearl safely back into his storage ring, silencing the tiny protests entirely.

Elaria watched this whole exchange unfold with wide, slightly bewildered eyes. Once the Pearl was put away and silence reigned again, she asked curiously, her voice hesitant, "Your Majesty, was that little sprite being... particularly difficult?"

Renjiro sighed, running a hand through his hair. "Let’s just say the little one is far too used to having its own way and needs a bit of... discipline. A bit too wild for its own good." He paused, thinking back to the creature’s unwavering defiance, even after being shaken silly. "But based purely on that stubborn attitude, that refusal to acknowledge the Elf King... my guess is that it’s probably a Dragon Sprite."

Elaria considered this for a moment, then nodded slowly in agreement. "That... that actually makes a lot of sense, Your Majesty. Because although the Sea Sprites primarily worship the Sea Goddess and not our Elf Goddess, they are still technically considered a distant branch of the Elf family. Even being so distant, they would likely still show some basic, ingrained respect to the recognized Elf King. They probably wouldn’t dare be that openly defiant."

Renjiro nodded in agreement. "Exactly my thinking." That level of sheer, stubborn pride and disregard for his authority strongly suggested it wasn’t bound by the same ancient loyalties or traditions as even the most distant relatives of the Elves.

After all, if Elaria’s knowledge was correct, Dragon Sprites have no real connection or kinship to Elves at all the name ’Sprite’ is just a convenient description for a small, magical being.

The Elf King wouldn’t be their king by any stretch of the imagination. Their primary connection, their loyalty if they felt any, would naturally be towards the Dragons themselves.