There's Something Wrong With You, My Lord!
Chapter 157: Not Fated, Never Destined (3)

Chapter 157: Not Fated, Never Destined (3)

From the tree, a small green orb of light emerged. It landed near Luis’ foot so out of reflex, he sidestepped a couple of times.

Luis watched in wonder as the light formed into a translucent body of a python approximately 15 inches in length but its width is as fat as his two index fingers.

The Moon Elf Lord couldn’t stop his lips from twitching. It looks cute being tiny like that but its eyes are full of mature vigilance.

"Oh my, I wonder what you are talking about? I’m just about to knock, you see?"

"Knock. Kno-," he playfully knocked on the tree’s rough and dry trunk.

"No, please! No!" Cried the little snake.

"I am here now, Great Moon Elf Lord. Please do not knock."

It slithered near the Moon Elf Lord’s foot and lowered his head a few times.

’Is this how snakes bow?’ Luis thought for a moment but then he realized that it’s funny to even compare it to a real snake since the one in front of him is an intelligent spirit with consciousness.

"Alright, then I won’t. I’m just trying to give you a friendly greeting since I seemed to forget to return your "hello" earlier," Luis then flashed his signature saintly smile.

The tree spirit uncontrollably shivered under the "friendly" gaze of the bearer in front of him.

This is the new moon elf lord!

As a spirit, he is extremely sensitive to nature’s energy. That’s why he wanted to drown himself in regret because he even tried to test the moon elf lord.

He was too stupid for throwing that fast stick!

This newly born moon elf lord has a nature’s energy reserve that transcends the previous lord!

"What is wrong with you?" Luis promptly asked. This spirit has been shivering since earlier.

’Is the wind too chilly for this spirit?’ The moon elf lord is oblivious that he is the reason behind that weird action.

"I want to apologize for being playful with you earlier. I only want to see if you are kind just like they said."

"Oh." Luis’ reaction is clearly saying that he doesn’t believe that bullshit.

However, out of pity for the spirit who is shaken because of his joke, he let it go.

"It’s okay, it’s not like that could kill me. I can easily handle small and sneaky attacks like that."

"Thank you so much, Great Moon Elf Lord!" The spirit’s hiss suddenly raised to a higher octave.

’What a cheeky spirit. This kind is the one that survives longer during the chaos.’ Luis couldn’t help but note internally.

"I ask as a humble tree spirit if you can stay away... for about ten steps backward? I am afraid that standing in close quarters in your overwhelming presence will make my existence fade."

The translucent python moved smaller but a little more active. He then stuck his forked tongue and made tiny waves using it.

’Is this the spirit’s way of charming him? A snake-style "aegyo"?’

Luis swore that if snakes could blink then it would probably blink a sleepy baby-eyes!

"Okay," the Moon Elf Lord decided to be lenient for a while and did as requested.

Ten steps are already far from the tree. Even if he shadow box from here, his punches will not hit it.

But once he was through, the snake suddenly said, "No, I mean fifteen steps backward."

"Hey," Luis called the spirit with a serious tone.

"Yes, G-great Moon Elf Lord?" The spirit of Heart of the Forest croaked. He will not be pummeled by the moon elf lord right?

He is just testing the patience of the moon elf lord. He doesn’t mean any harm.

"You forgot to say please in your second request."

That statement was spoken with a smooth and gentle tone, with a bright and lovely smile painted on his face.

But why does it feel like there is a dagger pointed directly at him?

"I apologize about that," the python once again bowed his head to the ground.

"I think ten steps away is already good! It’s perfect."

"I see, glad to hear that. I was under the impression that you still think that I am violent and disastrous like Lord Flamion, although I listened and obeyed your requests."

"No way, Great Moon Elf Lord! You are ten times better than him!"

The spirit of the Heart of the Forest is strongly denied even if it kills him.

The thing with this little tree spirit, he speaks the truth most of the time but if it’s for the sake of saving his skin. He is more than willing to lie!

How can he say that the moon elf lord might be smiling and all but he’s still feeling the danger coming out of that slim body?

In this aspect, this new moon elf lord is no different than the previous lord!

"You’re really great at using words! I wonder who tutored you on how to flatter someone."

Of course, Luis is not that gullible to blindly believe this little spirit’s words.

He failed a lot of salespeople during his past life.

Ten times better? Luis is not buying it.

If this spirit were to pretend fine, then he should do his best not to flicker.

"Anyway, now that you are here I have some matters that I need to discuss with you." Luis immediately shot his main purpose of going here.

"Actually, my subordinates and I have the intention of mining some mana stones in this place. We needed it to make a Transportation Circle."

Unsurprisingly, the spirit reacted strongly upon finding out their plans and for a different reason. "The moon elves are now dabbling in magic?!"

The fear flew out of the window and the spirit’s curiosity is evident in its long and standing neck.

He may have lived a short life as a spirit so far, he knew that the string that connects the moon elves and magic is thin.

How come now they are focusing on their weak point?

Luis also took advantage of the snake’s gape and added, "Yes, and just to clarify; when I say subordinates, it is not just the moon elves but also the orcs of mystical wolf blood."

"Huh?! Even the orcs?!" The python which is made up of energy raised its body higher and stiffer.

He doesn’t know much about orcs. In the little tree spirit’s mind, the moon elf lord must conquer orcs and force them to be slaves.

That is how it usually goes in Xerxes’ stories.

Meanwhile, the moon elf lord looked at the little actor in front of him.

What’s with that overly dramatic cry of surprise?

"Hey, you are not pulling my leg, are you?"

"No, Great Moon Elf Lord! I am just amazed!" The spirit lied.

In reality, he doesn’t really care about whatever affairs that those beings of flesh have.

All he wanted was silence and just him lazing around as a tree spirit.

That’s why he is discreetly leading the conversation astray.

This is one of Xerxes’ teachings to him. If he doesn’t want to expose a secret, then he needs to make subtle responses that will veer off the topic.

But is it easy to confuse, Luis?

Yes, if the one in front of him was Xagrien but it isn’t.

"Oh, thank you, I would wholeheartedly believe that if you are in a different form and not a snake,"

The little tree spirit innocently tilted his snake head and rolled his tongue, "Why is that? Great Moon Elf Lord?"

"Because we refer to someone as a snake if they are a liar and a backstabber who speaks ill about people behind their back," the little tree spirit horribly failed to dodge.

He is guilty, albeit a little bit.

The silence continued for at least a few seconds until Luis’ voice broke the stalemate.

"So what now? Can I hear you agree to let us mine mana stones here?"

Knowing that he cannot drag the conversation any longer, the spirit of Heart of the Forest finally spoke regarding the mana stone mining.

"Great Moon Elf Lord, this place is open to anyone who holds claim over this land. If there’s anyone whom you need to ask for permission, then it is Xerxes, his lair is found somewhere in this place and he is the only one I know that can disarm those magic circles."

The tree spirit of Heart of the Forest tapped his tail lightly on the ground, the tone sounded a little downcast.

"My permission is not needed if you want to mine the mana stones in this place."

"Oh? Do you really think so? I think that’s a lie though. Those traps are laid for your sake, right?"

Luis leaned forward to directly look at the python following him. There is an emotion that flickered through the spirit’s eye for a split second.

It’s impossible to know what it was so the Moon Elf Lord left it at that. Instead, he started to appeal to the emotions of the python.

"Hey little spirit, I am here talking to you and negotiating because I consider you as an equal. It’s best if we both become honest and say what we need or desire so that we can have an equivalent exchange."

"Great Moon Elf Lord..." the spirit uttered in disbelief and a touched expression is apparent in his swinging tail.

"I appreciate the thought that you are looking at me as an equal and I am flattered that you wanted to do a fair exchange with me, Great Moon Elf Lord."

"Can I really be honest?" Finally, he let himself go. It’s too difficult for his little consciousness to think of lies.

"I’ve been encouraging you since earlier. Do you think I am thick-skinned to take that back?"

"You will not hurt my tree at all?"

The little spirit in snake form approached Luis and circled around his ankle.

"Can you promise that with your soul at–"

"Don’t even go there, I did Oath of the Soul once and I promise to myself that I will never do that again," Luis doesn’t want to die. He tasted the sample of being poked in the soul and it is not the most relaxing feeling ever!

"Just spit it." At this point, Luis doesn’t know how honest the little spirit in front of him is and he will regret encouraging him to be forthright.

"The thing is, I do not know anything about your capabilities and I can’t see anything that could be exchanged with me. You seem to own nothing, Great Moon Elf Lord."

"Huh?" The moon elf lord was stunned stupidly by the scathing truths spoken by the spirit of Heart of the Forest.

"The clothes of that rude moon elf lord look better than yours. I worry about the future of the moon elves and the orcs under you, Great Moon Elf Lord."

Just like that, the moon elf lord was roasted alive for the first time since his reincarnation.

"I don’t think that any material things that you have are sufficient in trading for the rights of mining in this place."

Should Luis burst the tree up? This is the real talk that he never liked!

He wanted to act according to his first statement above but whenever he looked at the innocent tree spirit, he just wanted to forget everything.

"That’s why I want to try what Xerxes once told me. If I don’t have anything to give then I should offer my service."

"So now, I am the one who should be trying that condition since I am "broke" have nothing on me?"

Luis squinted his eyes at the little tree spirit.

Feeling the concentrated stare of the Moon Elf Lord, the snake crawled forward with a slight tremors in its translucent body.

"I am willing to agree but I am asking for your service."