Chapter 552

Chapter 559: Ongoing Persuasion (Please Subscribe!)

It took about the time of a tea-serving for Izay to give a crash course on Familial Groups and some basic knowledge about Orario to the gold elves present.

Laentoluca and Nafude were already somewhat informed, and during this time, they also helped Izay explain things to their confused companions.

The reason it took so long to start explaining was because Izay was waiting for these adult gold elves with independent judgment to all be present.

As mentioned before, the gold elves are all girls aged seven to fifteen. Once they hit thirteen, they’re considered “adult individuals” among the gold elves.

Though this “adulthood” is more akin to being a young lady rather than a full-grown adult in the usual sense.

But at this stage, the girls have developed a basic ability to judge situations, making them far more reliable than the little ones who just stack themselves up at the door like blocks.

Simply put, if Artemis wants to invite the gold elves to join her Familial Group, she’ll need to focus on getting Kodorii and the others on board.

With these “older sisters” leading the charge, taking the other little ones along would naturally be no issue.

“Deity from another world…”

Laentoluca tilted her head slightly.

Her clear eyes inadvertently glanced toward Artemis.

Honestly, Izay suddenly bringing a deity to visit them like this was a bit frightening.

However, it also showed that Izay had a close relationship with this goddess.

“Laentoluca… May I call you Laen?”

Noticing her gaze, Artemis smiled at her.

“Y-yes… That’s fine.”

With a touch of sudden restraint, Laentoluca nodded.

Perhaps it was a mere illusion.

But she thought she detected a subtle scrutinizing look from the goddess’s eyes?

That sensation vanished in an instant.

“So Laen… Would you like to become part of my Familial Group?” Artemis asked, seizing the moment.

“Excuse me, does Goddess mean to take Laentoluca away?”

After the invitation was made, Eitherea, whose curly hair resembled a cat, suddenly spoke up, cutting straight to the point.

“Well, what else? As I recall, I already mentioned my intentions when we first met…”

Izay chuckled as he looked over.

“When we first met…” Eitherea paused briefly, then said, “Ah, I see… Not just Laentoluca alone, but all of us are your targets, huh? What a creepy… scary!”

“You meant ‘perverted’ just now, didn’t you?” Izay twitched his face.

“I misheard!” Eitherea quickly shook her head, her braids and cat-like hairstyle bouncing up and down.

There was no way she’d admit to such a slip-up.

“May I ask why Lady Artemis would invite us? We’re not particularly extraordinary people…”

Kodorii voiced her doubts, her speech tinged with a lack of confidence.

To think, the one in the gold elves most similar to an “ordinary girl” was undoubtedly Kodorii.

Sometimes she doesn’t grasp the timing or the essence of things, even though she plays the role of the predecessors to the elves, her personality is more like a little girl.

And a little girl faced with a deity’s invitation wouldn’t have the confidence to directly take the deity’s hand and say, “Of course!”

“You’re too harsh on yourself.” Artemis gently shook her head, rejecting Kodorii’s comment.

Then, she spoke with a calm and assured tone: “Your long-held beliefs might make you overlook this, but in reality, you’re much more remarkable than you imagine, Kodorii.”

“Laen, Nafude, Eitherea, and even Nevlene, all of you are the same.”

“The combined area of the floating continents exceeds even Orario, battling terrifying foes and protecting these lands—this is already something that can be called a ‘great deed,’ which most adventurers couldn’t achieve.”

“But if I must pinpoint the reason for inviting you… It’s largely due to Izay pushing for it. After all, it was him who told me about your deeds. But there’s also the fact that I wish for you to live better lives.”

Though going to Orario might expose the gold elves to the threats of Dungeon monsters,

In return, Artemis would do her best to offer them the life and rights they desire, and the freedom to pursue what they love—even without venturing into the Dungeon.

With so many little ones, sending them into the Dungeon wasn’t practical anyway.

Artemis could find other ways to secure income for them.

Like helping Demeter tend to crops or something…

This might seem a bit self-centered.

But Artemis believed that rather than letting the gold elves, who’ve lost their “purpose,” stay on the floating continents,

They should relocate to Orario.

At least in Orario, no one will look at them with prejudice, nor know about the gold elves’ past as “disposable weapons.”

For the elves, this is a chance to start anew!

Of course, whether they accept or not, Artemis wouldn’t force them. Refusal would merely make her feel a bit regretful.

At its core, this was just an invitation.

Not a kidnapping~

After Artemis finished speaking, the room fell into a quiet silence.

“Lost and confused”—this phrase aptly described the current state of the elves.

For the first time, they felt acknowledged, and at such a high level.

No one had ever said such things to them before. Everyone seemed to think that guarding the floating continents was simply the gold elves’ duty.

Does anyone thank or express gratitude for something taken as granted?

Obviously not!

This was precisely why Artemis believed Orario suited the elves better, and it was just one of many reasons.

If she wanted to persuade them, there were plenty of reasons to cite~

“So… Will you join my Familial Group?”

Artemis asked again, looking at the girls deep in thought.

Izay was quietly enjoying the sweets brought by Negiran nearby, keeping silent.

After all, the deity here was Artemis, not him.

Izay couldn’t spontaneously become a god and create a Familial Group for the gold elves to join.

For now, he’d just watch from the sidelines.

But while he was eating, someone had already made a decision.

“I want to join! Please let me join!”

The first to step forward and agree was Laentoluca.

She had been considering her response since Artemis first asked, and now gave a definitive reply.

If one were to trace the reason for her agreement back to its roots…

Perhaps it stemmed from when she first met Izay?

Unknown books, unknown human markets, unknown adventures and worlds.

Why wouldn’t her heart flutter?

What reason could there be not to be moved?

Especially the differences in the world.

Just in terms of living environment.

There was no comparison between the floating continents and the Labyrinth City!

“If Laen joins, I’ll join too. A chance to live in another world, only a fool would pass it up~”

Nafude sat on the armrest next to the cat-like figure, swinging her legs back and forth.

Unsurprisingly, they were the first two to agree.

“Hey… This is moving to another world!? You’re agreeing too fast!”

Eitherea couldn’t help but chuckle.

Could she report this?

It seemed like there were two traitors here!

“Too hasty? But Eitherea, have you ever thought about what we’ll do if we don’t change? What’s our future?”

Laentoluca frowned slightly as she countered her companion’s doubt.

“This…”

“You don’t know, right? Neither do I! Because after that ‘ancient elder’ appeared, the floating continents no longer needed disposable weapons like the gold elves. We’ve been rendered obsolete.”

“Why wait idly for an uncertain fate when we can choose to change and live in a more comfortable environment?”

This was Laentoluca’s personal view, and also her way of persuading her companions.