Chapter 151: Banquet

"That’s good to hear."

"I’ll explain things to them face-to-face." Winter was drawing to a close, and spring was coming fast, Ethan needed to start preparing for spring plowing, so he couldn’t spare the time now, later this year, once winter came, he would make another trip to the Elven Kingdom to settle things and avoid unnecessary conflict.

"I’m not sure Marquis Karloitz will accept your explanation," Leon said.

"He will try every means possible to capture you and force you to serve him."

If Ethan really demonstrated his abilities in front of Marquis Karloitz, the Marquis would definitely try everything to control him, after all, Ethan’s abilities were simply too powerful, he alone could complete large-scale agricultural production, this meant Marquis Karloitz could secure a stable food supply to bolster his own power — perhaps even covet the throne.

"Sigh... it seems a clash with Marquis Karloitz is inevitable after all." Since that was the case, bring it on, a flash of resolve passed through Ethan’s eyes, and he smiled and nodded.

"No matter what happens, we will stand by your side," Leon said.

"Thank you."

"Hahaha, our ranch is close to the Great Forest anyway, worst comes to worst, we’ll just move into the Great Forest to live," Leon said, half-joking.

Hearing this, Elara puffed out her cheeks in dissatisfaction, her territory was closer to the royal capital — she couldn’t easily talk about moving like Leon could. "However, you’ll need someone to help from the inside, right? If anything really happens, I’ll do my best to gather intelligence for you."

"Then I’ll have to trouble you." Ethan nodded at them in gratitude, then smiled.

"But you don’t need to worry too much."

"The Great Forest isn’t a place that can be easily breached."

...

It had been several days since Leon, Elara, and their group arrived in the Great Forest.

Elara quickly settled into the rhythm of life here, it was simple and regulated, following one principle, he who does not work, neither shall he eat, everyone participated in the labor.

Every morning, Elara woke up early and headed to the fields with everyone else, after toiling in the dirt, her appetite would surge, making breakfast taste even better.

If time permitted, she would play with Liora in the mornings or read the books Zharok brought over.

After lunch, she went to the greenhouse to help tend the rare crops.

In the afternoon, she joined the others cutting grass for the sheep and cleaning the pens.

By evening, after washing the day’s exhaustion away in the river, she could enjoy a lavish dinner.

Day after day, Elara lived a fulfilling and happy life in the Great Forest.

But happy times are fleeting, and the moment of parting arrived at last.

"It’s time for us to head back." On a bright and sunny morning, Leon found Ethan just returning from the fields, his tone was calm.

Ethan nodded, showing his understanding.

Usually, when Leon came to the Great Forest, he would only stay for a day or two before leaving, this time, to accommodate Elara and give her time to properly tour the Great Forest, he had stayed for a full week, he knew Leon had a lot of things to attend to and couldn’t stay here forever, so he wasn’t surprised by the decision.

"Is Miss Elara going back with you?"

"Yes, I really can’t bear to leave this place, especially Liora." As Elara spoke, she patted the head of Liora, who sat beside her munching on bread.

Perhaps used to Elara’s petting by now, Liora didn’t react, she just kept eating the souffle Ethan had made for her.

"I’ve already prepared everything you requested." Ethan had promised to give Leon honey sweet potatoes, sugar beets, and a few other crops, as well as the Mana Grass and pottery Elara wanted. He pointed to a stack of crates piled up not far away.

"It’s all over there."

"Are those it?"

"Yes, ten crates of honey sweet potatoes, ten crates of Rock Potatoes, ten crates of sugar beets, and some fruit."

"Thank you!"

"You’re welcome, we’re just supplying each other’s needs." The dairy products from Leon’s territory had greatly improved Ethan and his group’s quality of life, the cheese and butter, in particular, were indispensable delicacies, although Ethan could make cheese and butter himself, the taste and texture still couldn’t compare to the products from Leon’s ranch, which were refined over years of trial and error.

"What should I bring next time?" Elara asked with a bright smile.

Ethan looked around, seemingly pondering what else he needed, seeing this, Zharok handed him a piece of paper, it listed the titles of several books, Elara took the list, examined it carefully, and nodded, indicating she would help him find these books as soon as possible.

"If possible, I’d like you to help me find some koji, I planted quite a bit of paddy rice this year, and after the autumn harvest, I should have a good amount of rice, I’d like to try brewing some rice wine," Ethan said.

"Koji... I’ll ask around when I get back, the dwarves are experts in brewing — they should know where to find it."

If he couldn’t find koji, Ethan would just have to make it himself, he knew the method, but he wanted to see what the fermentation starter in this world was like first.

Elara thought for a moment, then smiled and agreed to his request.

After the conversation ended, her gaze fell on Liora, who was dozing off. "Liora, is there any gift you want?"

"Help Ethan find some books about soil and trees," Liora said lazily.

"Mr. Ethan already told me that." Elara promised she’d look into it as soon as she returned, she gently poked Liora’s cheek.

"What about you? What do you want for yourself?"

"I don’t want anything."

"Then next time I come, I’ll bring you some pretty clothes."

"I already have a lot of clothes." Liora pointed to the clothes Ethan had asked Leon to bring this time.

Elara, however, shook her head with a look of disapproval. "Those are just clothes suitable for working on a ranch, they’re too plain, you should wear prettier clothes — like dresses, for instance, those clothes look too much like boys’ clothes."

"Those are girls’ clothes, there are skirts too."

"That’s still no good — too plain."

The clothes Leon brought were styles commonly worn by girls on the elven ranches, sturdy, durable, easy to move around in, Ethan and his group weren’t particular about what they wore, so they had no complaints.

Elara, however, frequently attended social events, she couldn’t accept such plain styles.

"An adorable girl like Liora should wear the most beautiful clothes, when attending banquets, she has to be dressed up properly."

"But there are no banquets around here..."

"If there aren’t any, we’ll throw one, didn’t you say there are other beastmen nearby? Next time I visit, we’ll have a banquet." She turned to Ethan.

"By the way, Mr. Ethan, are you never going to the Elven Kingdom again?"

"I’ll go when I get the chance."

"Then you must visit our territory, I want to show Liora what a real banquet looks like."