The Demon Lord's Bride (BL)
Chapter 431: There are all kinds of adventures in the realm of nature

Chapter 431: There are all kinds of adventures in the realm of nature

Each race that belonged to the Realm of Nature had its own style of governance. The elves, for example, had two kingdoms with two kings, but shared a common law. Druids used to have a kingdom that governed over their nomadic tribes, but now, it was just the Council of Chiefs and Elders who held the law and authority.

The drows, meanwhile, had their city-state.

Each underground city was ruled by a mayor, who was elected by the citizens. Each city had its own laws and rules, although there was a general list of commandments that should be abided by while they made the rule.

I was honestly surprised to find an election system in this world.

Consequently, the visitors had to search in advance what rules applied in what city, because it might differ, and with that, the vibe of the cities was also different. There were cities with a very strict law, and there were cities with a loose one--just as long as they abide by the commandments.

Anyway, Ahrat was one of the underground cities closest to the Great Forest of Alnin. Coincidentally, it was the biggest too. Easily, because it was established near rich elemental mana stone mines, as well as other precious metals. Naturally, it became a market hub, either for raw materials trade or ready-made items. Because of that, it was a city with a nice balance between strict law--especially about commerce and fraud--but also somewhat flexible, to be able to accommodate many visitors.

In many ways, Ahrat was the ’realm of greed’ equivalent of the drows community.

And that was why I was excited to visit this city.

Anyway, after Halurean came with the news, the elders dispersed so I could change and get ready while Halurean fetched the drow guide from the plaza. Haa...I couldn’t believe that I had been talking with the elders in clothes full of grass and dirt, not to mention in a messy hairdo.

It was easy for Jade because all I needed to do was activate the clothing artifact’s self-cleaning spell, and he was all clean. I still had to wash his face, though, so we ended up taking a bath nonetheless. Just a quick one so the guide wouldn’t have to wait for a long time. After wearing the clothes Arta prepared me for some adventuring--light tunic and leather pants--as well as tying my hair in a simple high ponytail, we went down.

Thankfully, the drow was still had his drink when I came to the living room. I tried to be as fast as possible, but I knew people who had to wait had a different sense of time than people who were being waited upon. He also didn’t look upset, and greeted me politely when he saw me.

"Your Grace," he bowed slightly.

Just like the drows in the border, he wore a leather vest and light boots, wrapped his torso in straps that held weapons and mobility gear, as well as wore his hair short. Unlike elves and druids whose ability depended on magic, drows were more physical in nature, and their magic was solely to keep their bodies from decay, as well as for craft. So, there was no need for them to maintain the magic circuits in their hair, which would only hinder their mobility.

But ugh--another title. "You don’t need to call me that," I held back a sigh, and I saw his little smile. What is this? He was teasing me?

"I see you are in good health, Sir. I had heard about you from my brother," he said.

"Oh!" I clapped my hands, pleasantly surprised. "Is your brother the one traveling the world with the elves? The one I saw in the Oasis?"

"I’m glad you remember him, Young Master."

See?! He knew what to call me already!

"Hmm...which one is him?" I looked at the guide’s ruby eyes, and recalled the one who sold me the druid equipment I gave Doun before. "Bellite?"

"You have discerning eyes, Young Master," he nodded. "And I am Sarttite, at your service."

He sounded polite and all, but he was as cheeky as his brother, with those twinkling gem-like eyes that seemed to save a lot of mischief. Those eyes shifted to Jade, who was in my arms. He stopped for a few seconds, thinking with slightly narrowed eyes.

"Ah," he said after a while. "This must be the elemental bird."

Wow, I was impressed. No one who saw Jade first had ever

"That’s right! This is Jade!" as usual, my child introduced himself with vigor. "How Drow know?"

Yes, how did you know?

"Because, to my knowledge, there’s no human with naturally green and rainbow hair," he smiled. "Seeing that you look exactly like Young Master, and there’s no elemental bird that my brother said never left the Young Master’s side..."

Whoa...he didn’t even think about some secret love child.

"Are you...perhaps...working in intelligence?" I asked in a whisper.

He chuckled subtly and left me with no answer. "Now, shall we go down before the path becomes completely dark?"

* * *

Fortunately for Vrida, Sarttite guided us through a tunnel that was big enough for a wyvern. She couldn’t fly, though--it wasn’t big enough for her wingspan. Instead, she would experience her first boat ride. Although...seeing it was big enough to accommodate a wyvern, calling it a ’boat’ was rather...

Anyway, we flew with Vrida to the outpost at the border of Alnin Great Forest, where a boat--ship?--had already waiting for us. Despite running on the ground instead of flying, Sarttite arrived before us by shifting through the rocks and the cliffs along the way--which fascinated Ignis to no end.

Vrida needed convincing at first, but when she knew she would have to wait for me for hours if she stayed behind, Vrida immediately aboard the ship even before I stepped on the deck. But just like Ignis felt uncomfortable in the sky, Vrida was grumbling restlessly with stones all over her sides.

Ignis, meanwhile, had a conflicting feeling. He didn’t like the water, but it was an underground river surrounded on all sides by stone caves, with beautiful stalactites in iridescent colors and glowing worms hanging off the roof of the cave. Those were things Ignis--and me too--had never seen before, and we couldn’t take our eyes off them.

At least, until Jade pulled my sleeve and pointed at the water. "Papa, fishes! White fishes in water! Fishes don’t have eyes too!"

Ah...there really was no lack of wonders in this world. Jade was running around the deck and asked to drive the ship, even--this rascal.

The journey was kind of long, but I couldn’t be so sure because I could barely have my bearing with everything looked the same. The path started with the natural river, but after we got down, it turned into a complex waterway with all kinds of turns and alleys. There was even a six-way intersection leading to six different underground cities. We entered the biggest one, and from there, it was a straightforward way. There were several branches, but the ship stayed on the main channel.

In the intersection, we passed a few ships, but Sarttite said there would be a lot more during the day, mainly for trade shipment. The few that we passed were water taxis for drows that were going back home or visiting another city. No ship went to the surface in the evening, however, so we didn’t pass any in the main channel.

After turning a few times, we entered a wider, circular area with some kind of three-shaped pillar in the middle that spanned from the top of the high ceiling to the bottom of the river. The pillar looked like it was made of crystal, and Sarttite told me it was made of stalactite and a stalagmite that joined into one. There were carefully crafted gemstones on the foliage part of the tree that seemed to be its fruit from afar, but once we got closer, it was actually artifacts and weapons.

"This is the entrance to Ahrat’s main channel," Sarttite explained. "Pass this is Ahrat’s territory."

"I see..." I stared at the tree and looked at my left arm. "It looks like Alveitya and Alzeriya."

"Indeed, you have discerning eyes," he replied with a smile. "Those gems were made as a smaller replica of all the sacred artifacts we made for the three races."

Ah...no wonder Alveitya had been buzzing since earlier. "You want to see?" I asked my left arm, and Alveitya came out before I even summoned it, shooting toward the crystalline pillar.

There, between the gems, should be those that were Alveitya’s ’kin’.

"I’m grateful that at least the Scepter came to the right owner," Sarttite held his hand against his chest and bowed slightly. This time, his voice only bore sincerity.

Yeah...aside from the druids who lost the kingdom, of course, the drows would feel the loss of their precious, treasures, respected craft to the hands of people who had no idea how to handle them right.

"I’m going to get them all back," I said, in a quiet voice that only us two could hear. "Bit by bit, I will get them back."

Sarttite turned his head to look at me with widened eyes, but before he could open his mouth for any inquiry, Jade already jumped on the edge of the railing and pointed forward. "Papa! Papa! There’s a lot of sparkly things!"

Ah, we were finally arrived; in the sleepless city, Ahrat.