Chapter 218: Gifts and Preservation Magic

Luo De's spirit lifted.

The Jade Tree's ability to ignore distance—【Tree Form of Space】—had always been what he desired, but the charred remnants had never been revived.

Even with all her methods, Vivian could only keep it in a state where its spiritual essence no longer leaked, still far from truly becoming a Jade Tree.

Fortunately, Luo De had obtained 【Dew of the Tree Realm】 from the 【Cat Sprite Paradise】, and he had intended to test it on the Jade remnant.

Cui Qian, a Lottatosk gray squirrel born in the Tree Realm, might have a better way to revive the broken branch.

The large squirrel was quite surprised upon seeing the 【Dew of the Tree Realm】 Luo De presented.

It was preserved in a form resembling amber, appearing to contain nothing more than an ordinary drop of dew.

"This item loses its effect ten minutes after leaving the World Tree—yet it's been preserved like this? What an incredible spell. But how do you extract it?"

Luo De had stepped through the door of magehood, but he was still far from a proper mage.

He saw nothing unusual about it.

He had no idea how to extract it.

At this point, we can only turn to our Forest King, the elf Calyste.

Have the large squirrel and Tally go first to the dawn redwood zone where the Jade remnant is kept.

Luo De would go find the elf himself.

Sending Tally away had a reason—after all, their relationship had never been good.

Add to that the night raid; if it provoked the elf, trouble would follow.

Soon.

Luo De arrived one hundred meters from the magic treehouse.

Just as he opened his mouth, Calyste stepped out and walked toward him.

She must have placed numerous magical sightlines around the treehouse—she emerged the moment he arrived.

"Long time no see."

Luo De greeted with a smile.

The elf's face was as sour as ever, yet she acted as if nothing had happened that night.

What an impressive performance.

If I didn't still remember how you shook me that night, I'd start doubting if it even occurred.

"Since you've been gone these two days, even the air in the forest has improved."

Not just a sour face—her mouth was sour too.

Luo De wasn't in a hurry to state his purpose.

He pulled out the magic preservation box and opened it to reveal the Aden cake.

Unlike the paper-cup cupcakes Bond and Cui Qian ate, this one was more refined, more suitable as a gift.

"Look, a specialty pastry I brought back from my trip."

Calyste stiffened, asking awkwardly, "What's this for?"

Her heart stirred strangely, as if she'd been caught stealing.

She feared Luo De had discovered what happened that night and was deliberately trying to appease her.

She couldn't pass this inner barrier.

As a traditional elf, she could not tolerate what she had done that night.

Such indulgence! What's the difference between her and the succubi by his side?!

Like?

No! I will never like a human!

A profligate, immoral race—they are the obstacle to our elf's return to the continent!

Just like a paramecium.

Yes, as a sentient race, who would like a paramecium?

As for that night…

It was merely due to the magic potion losing its effect.

Hmph.

"You know, whenever I travel, I can't help but buy you gifts—it's my thanks for you managing the forest while I'm away."

His handsome, masculine face broke into a sincere smile.

Calyste's heart still gave a sudden thump.

But at the same time, she breathed a sigh of relief.

At least, he didn't seem to know what had happened that night.

She took the cake.

Luo De: "Try it right away—I know you don't like things too sweet, so I picked this one specially."

Seeing the cake's refinement, and having felt uneasy and lost her appetite these past days, she was indeed tempted.

She picked up the wooden spoon beside her, scooped a bite, and put it in her mouth.

As the flavors of chocolate, cream, and soft bread burst in her mouth, she suppressed the urge to smile.

She judged with a sour face: "Meh."

"As long as it's not disgusting."

"Hmph."

She immediately scooped another bite.

This time, a sharp *crack* sounded.

She moved the wooden spoon aside in surprise and discovered a small object wrapped in oil paper inside the cake.

She froze.

Luo De wanted to see her expression, but her sour face remained motionless, as if petrified.

He had no choice but to take the wooden spoon from her cool fingers and dig out the object.

He opened it.

There lay a magic-tinged finger bracelet, adorned with a few tiny leaves.

Seeing she still stood frozen, sour-faced,

Luo De simply put it on her finger himself.

"I know you dislike using external items, so I picked this one—only one spell: automatically cleans your nails."

Calyste finally reacted.

"I can put it on myself."

She snatched her hand back, coldly: "If I'm not mistaken, you'll use this same trick six more times—for Vivian, Xiao Ke, the zombie, the ghoul, the succubus, and the orc?"

"Of course not. What do you take me for?"

Luo De laughed. "Only three: you, Vivian, and Xiao Ke."

"... hat a disgusting man."

He didn't deny it, laughing heartily.

Without further small talk, he explained the situation with the 【Dew of the Tree Realm】 and requested her help.

"I knew you wouldn't come here unless you needed something."

Her tone was sharp, but her mood had noticeably eased.

After chatting about his journey and finishing the small cake,

the two arrived at the dawn redwood zone.

At this moment,

besides the large squirrel Cui Qian, the little mare, and Tally, the tree spirit Vivian was also present.

The moment she saw Luo De, she opened her arms without expression.

She gently leaned into his embrace, burying her small face against his neck, her breath tickling him.

Luo De whispered: "I brought you a gift—exclusively yours. Come find me at the treehouse later."

Vivian was simple-minded; she didn't overthink—she simply nodded.

Calyste heard this. She glared at Luo De with a cold face, as if he were trash.

"Bond wants a hug too!"

"Alright, alright, come here."

Luo De picked up Bond and hoisted him onto one shoulder.

"Tally wants a hug too~"

"Go away."

"Waaah~"

On to the matter at hand.

Calyste traced the amber 【Dew of the Tree Realm】 Luo De handed her, then spoke her judgment.

"It's 【Fenna's Amber Preservation Spell】, a seventh-rank spell."

"Seventh rank? Can it be undone?"

"Yes, not difficult if you know the trick. This mage named Fenna pioneered preservation magic; her philosophy was 'a preservation spell for everyone,' so the threshold to undo it is low."

As she spoke, Calyste pointed to a paper box holding a cake preservation container.

"Look, all these magical food containers were created by Pan Ni the Mage."

Luo De sighed: "There are still mages who hold such ideals—this is indeed a remarkably convenient spell."

"As a human, her thinking is truly worthy of learning, but it is a great pity—two months ago, she was betrayed and killed by her own daughter during an expedition into an alternate dimension."

(End of Chapter)