Norway had always thought that his faith in Nesses was confined to the remote north, but he did not expect it to have infiltrated the middle of the continent and his kindred...... The elves were not incapable of accepting a new deity, but it took an extremely long time. And when he noticed that Sandwater didn't seem to have a temple or altar for a second god, his uneasiness intensified.

Ever since he came into contact with the followers of Nesses at Miaz Weiss, the uneasiness has been lurking in his heart. Although among those he knew, Khaliat and his companions were brave, simple, and respectable ordinary people, and Copas Fenton was a calm, reliable, and articulate priest, Scott possessed surprising strength...... On the face of it, nothing seemed wrong, but there was something in the teachings of the priest that hinted at Scott's special status as a paladin to the god of water, and the sign that appeared on the slate he had obtained from Ankland...... There was always a faint doubt that lingered in his mind.

But he knew that faith was not something to be questioned at will—either in object or in a manner. Since the elves of Sandwater didn't seem to want to say anything more, he wisely kept his mouth shut.

In any case, Sandwater was much more beautiful than he had imagined, the random treehouses in the woods were uncarnable, light and natural, and the elves who lived here seemed to maintain the simple and pure tribal life of ancient times, which was in harmony with nature. There are no elaborate robes, cumbersome etiquette, they dress simply, behave casually, but are full of life. There are even many wild animals wandering the village leisurely, oblivious to the elves that come and go around them or overhead—the elves of Grivar need to rely on long-term training and skill to maintain their ability to communicate with animals. It still seems to be a talent here.

There's no doubt that Tess loves this place—even though she wants to take it home when she catches a squirrel that cries nuts in her palm, and climbs on the back of a deer that won't run away from her right away. Let Norway be in a hurry and have a headache.

The elf who had led them into Sandwater, Orin Feather, did not repent of Tess's actions, but watched with a smile on his face, and even helped her to soothe the stag that was clearly starting to get impatient, with a look on his face that could be described as "kind". In his eyes, Tess is probably no different from an ignorant underage child.

In fact. Sometimes even Norway himself can't tell whether Tess is more like a daughter or a little more like a lover to him...... But anyway. They won't leave each other - and that might be enough.

According to elven tradition, there is no place where the elven king is directly ruled or has a appointed lord, and it is usually governed by an elven elder composed of elders, but Sandwater has a lord elected by the elves themselves. Panasses Nandi. Norway suspected that the lord had not been recognized by the Silver Leaf King. But the elves here probably won't care.

The place where Pananthus lived was located on a huge oak tree, not unlike the houses of other elves, except that in front of the house stood a banner with a green background and a golden flower.

However, the lord is not at home at the moment.

Although Orin unconcernedly pushed open the half-hidden door to usher the guests into the empty treehouse, Norway insisted on waiting outside until the outgoing owner hurried back.

"I'm sorry!" the young lord smiled heartily, "I didn't expect guests to come. ”

Panasses was about the same age as Norvi, and his brown hair was cut short. The sun jumped in his leopard-like golden green eyes, if not for those pointed ears. He looks more like a passionate and strong human hunter.

Even his home was furnished like a hunter, simple and rustic, with bows and arrows and all sorts of weapons - and furs hanging on the walls.

Noticing Norwe's surprised gaze, Parnassus smiled and asked, "Don't the elves of Grivar eat meat?"

Norway shook his head: "Of course not. We're just ...... Animal fur is not used for decoration. ”

"It was not a decoration - it was used in the winter to protect against the cold, and sometimes it was exchanged with Damaran for wool, grain and salt. "We don't hunt animals more than we need, and we don't waste their sacrifices. ”

The barbarians of the ice fields say the same. Tess blurted out.

She didn't mean anything to chance, but it was almost offensive to the elves - Norvi's face turned slightly pale, but Panatas just smiled disapprovingly, "I know you've been to the Ice Field...... The barbarians do it because they can't survive in that harsh place, and we do it because we choose to do so. The forest is rich, but that doesn't mean we can ask for more. ”

Norway nodded silently. The elves here follow the ancient ways, and this back-to-basics life is enviably simple, but in a sense, it has also lost the impetus to move forward - desire may be the root of all evil, but it is also a great power. There is no desire to drive...... Many miracles don't happen.

But that's not something he can judge.

“...... You've been here before. Panasses looked at his blonde hair thoughtfully, "About a dozen years ago...... I shot an arrow at the top of your head. ”

The look on Norvi's face made him laugh, "I'm sorry...... It shouldn't be a good memory for you, but we've just caught a spy from Grivar, and we're a little too wary. ”

Spy—Norway pondered uneasily the hidden meaning of the word. As he had previously realized, the elves of Sandwater did not submit to the rule of the Elven King...... Or worse.

"Is there anything I can do to help you?" asked Parnasas bluntly, and Norway remembered what they were here for.

When he explained his intentions, Panasses readily admitted: "We did arrest those two men, because they obviously didn't tell the truth...... And after we expelled them from the forest, they snuck back. But they just used anesthetic against our leopards without harming them, so I didn't think anything about them. It was going to be locked up for a few days and then thrown out, and if it was your friend, it wouldn't matter if you let it go now—but what the hell are they here for?"

"As far as I know, it's to find a plant called 'Jason's Beard'. Norway replied half-truthfully, "Gavin is a wandering entertainer, and that thing seems to work for him." ”

“...... Your friends say the same thing. Panasses looked calmly at Norvi, "but that plant grows under the antalans and can be picked at the edge of the forest, and they really don't need to venture deep into our territory despite warnings." ”

Norway opened his mouth, suddenly speechless. It's not that he can't lie, but in the face of such undisguised frankness, he can't respond with lies.

"Actually, we don't know what they're here for. Tess's eyes widened innocently, "But we said we would meet in Visa, but they came here without even saying hello, so we had to find them - it's a hassle to have such an unreliable friend!"

Panasses smiled, didn't ask anything more, but made a simple gesture to Orin, who was standing aside. It didn't take long for Gavin and Pansy to be brought in.

Gavin nodded at Norvi, not as if surprised, but Pansy smiled and hugged Tess, "Hey, beauty, are you here to save me?"

Tess laughed and snorted at him, "Your tongue is soaked in honey!"

Pansy counts as Gavin's cousin, but the two don't look alike at all. Gavin was a tall, thin man, plain-looking but pleasing to the eye, not smiling much, always a little careless, but his eyes were sober and vigilant, and Pansy was a little man not much taller than Tess, with round hands and feet, chubby and very cute, and he acted briskly and dexterously, and laughed all day long.

Panasses did not ask them for any more explanation, and even warmly invited them to stay for lunch. Despite Pansy's constant winks, Norway politely refused and hurriedly led them away.

Before leaving, he finally couldn't help but ask Panasses, "Except for Nesses...... Do you believe in other gods?"

Parnasas looked at it and calmly replied, "We remember all the gods...... But I'm afraid they've forgotten about us. ”

Norway smiled reluctantly and left with doubts, looking back at Sandwater, who was still unhurriedly raining golden flowers, he couldn't help but wonder that this place might not be as simple and beautiful as it seemed.

As soon as she left the Antlers Forest, Pansy began to complain, "I say, Elf, where has our tacit understanding gone?

- Yes, he is the one who laughs more, but he is also the one who is more impatient.

"Because the elves have not ...... you Or let your guard down on me, and even if you stay there, nothing will be gained. Norway replied with a sigh. He wouldn't be naïve enough to take the friendliness of Orin and Panasses for trust, nor did he want to ruin this rare friendliness without figuring anything out.

"Who has any hell tacit understanding with you...... But what did you find?" asked Tess curiously, "don't tell me it was the elves who went north and attacked Collins—their great priest's brother and nephew!"

Gavin frowned, "What is this?"

"Leave that alone. Norway smiled wryly and said, "Can you tell me what you found?"

Gavin and Pansy glanced at each other, and Pansy scratched at her flaxen curls a little embarrassed, and smiled wryly, "Did Alan ask you to come to us?"

"Or else?" Tates glared at him suspiciously, "wait...... You burrow into the forest of those elves, and it doesn't have anything to do with what Eren asked you to do, does it?!".

(To be continued......)