As the first light of dawn began to filter through the canopy, casting a soft glow over the campsite, Hikaru and Lydia’s conversation was interrupted by the subtle sounds of movement around them. The rest of the group began to stir, shaking off the remnants of sleep. Heeding the goblin’s warning from the previous day, they decided to wait at their camp for the High Elf guide while packing up their stuff. Meanwhile, Hideo busied himself preparing a simple but hearty breakfast for everyone, the aroma of cooking food gradually filling the air and lifting their spirits.

Once breakfast was ready, the group gathered around, enjoying the warmth of the morning meal. The rich, savory flavors of the food rejuvenated their tired bodies. They chatted amiably, sharing thoughts about the journey ahead and recounting moments from their travels. The pleasant atmosphere around the breakfast circle made the wait for their guide seem shorter, and their collective excitement grew as they anticipated the day’s events.

They didn’t have to wait for long. Before they could even finish their breakfast, two High Elves, clad in elegant elven attire, approached their camp. The elves greeted them with a nod and instructed the group to follow. Hastily finishing their meal and packing their eating utensils, the group quickly fell in line behind the elves, who led the way deeper into the forest. Instead of going straight, they took a winding route, presumably to avoid the traps mentioned by the goblins the previous day.

Soon, they arrived at the High Elf settlement nestled within the heart of the Misty Grove. The settlement featured houses with unique green architecture, some perched atop towering trees connected by gracefully arched bridges, while others were elegantly built on the forest floor. The ground was covered in soft, lush moss, creating a natural carpet that muffled footsteps and added to the serene ambiance. High Elves, Humans, and Goblins mingled harmoniously, exchanging goods and engaging in lively conversations, a testament to the peaceful coexistence that defined this hidden sanctuary.

As they walked through the bustling settlement, Hikaru marvelled at the scene before him. “Wow, I can’t believe humans, high elves, and goblins can live together in peace!” he exclaimed, taking in the sight of the diverse races mingling harmoniously.

Lydia glanced at him and smiled. “Well, considering Asura is the creator of all monsters, it’s not that surprising that he wants all his followers to live harmoniously. Naturally, he also wants to prevent them from killing each other, which would further decrease his already dwindling number of followers.”

The guides led them to an Asura temple within the elves settlement, marked by the prominent display of Asura’s Crest at its entrance. A high elf priest greeted them and explained that Arael was currently away. They were instructed to join the queue, as there were three others ahead of them, and wait for Arael’s return. In the meantime, they needed to reserve a place to stay inside the settlement.

The group decided to follow the priest’s instructions and headed to the only hotel in the settlement that could accommodate humans. The hotel was a modest but charming establishment, primarily made of wood, featuring rooms with large windows that offered views of the serene forest. Hideo rented two rooms for them, each furnished with simple yet comfortable beds, wooden furniture, and soft, woven blankets. Hikaru was placed in the second room with Lydia, Jesper, and one of the porters.

As their group settled into their rooms, they began to unwind from their journey. Hideo, ever the leader, suggested a brief rest before exploring the settlement further. Hikaru, Lydia, Jesper, and one of the porters shared a room, each finding a corner to make their own. Lydia unpacked her belongings methodically, while Jesper immediately stretched out on one of the beds, clearly exhausted. The porter, always diligent, started organizing their supplies. Meanwhile, Hikaru stood by the window, gazing out at the tranquil forest. He observed the high elves joking around with goblins as if they were close friends.

Hikaru reflected on the Asura religion and how it fostered a harmonious relationship between humans, high elves, and monsters. ‘As someone originally from Earth, isn’t peace between all intelligent beings a better doctrine than the Heaven Alliance’s doctrine of killing all monsters?’ he wondered.

As Lydia noticed Hikaru gazing out of the window in silence, she asked: “What are you pondering, Hikaru?”

“The depiction I read in the book about goblins seemed off. They are more cultured than I thought, and their savageness is nowhere to be seen,” Hikaru said, staring at the goblins playing.

“Don’t be too quick to judge, Hikaru. They may seem friendly inside the High Elf settlement, but outside they are a bunch of savages. It’s a well-known fact that goblins eat people to charge their monster cores. There’s no smoke without fire. The fact that many kingdoms, including ours, actively hunt them is not without reason,” Lydia replied.

Hearing Hikaru's conversation, Jesper got closer and chimed in, “Well, my brother was ambushed and killed by them without any justification, so no matter what, I won’t be their friend!”

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Upon hearing Jesper mention his brother’s death, Hikaru remembered that his own parents in this world were also killed by monsters. “Don’t worry, I won’t be chummy with them or anything. Just stating the facts,” Hikaru reassured Lydia.

As Hikaru continued gazing out the window, he noticed a familiar face—Rasla, Masaki’s opponent in the preliminary match, walking towards the hotel. Unlike during the tournament, Rasla now had both of his hands. Hikaru left his room to ask him about it, with Lydia following closely behind.

In the hotel lobby, Hikaru spotted Rasla, but Masaki had already begun chatting with him. Curious and eager to learn more, Hikaru approached them, intending to listen in on their conversation.

Masaki exclaimed: “Rasla, I can’t believe it! Y-y-your left hand... Di-did Arael restore it for you?”

Rasla nodded with a smile. “Yes indeed, my master restored my hand. I assume you've also come here seeking healing, correct?”

Masaki nodded. “Yes, but you said ‘my master’? Are you Arael’s servant now?”

Rasla replied: “Indeed, I signed a divine contract and became his servant in exchange for my hand being restored. But I don’t regret my decision in the slightest! The job is similar to being a Royal Guard, with a comparable salary and possibly even more freedom. Celestials can’t be away from their God domain for too long. Therefore, I must be self-reliant since my master cannot constantly oversee my tasks.”

Hearing Rasla’s answer, Masaki felt less guilty about sacrificing three people to restore her hand. Rasla then added, “You’re lucky. My master hasn’t left this world yet. If you want to meet him, you’ll probably only need to wait for about three days.”

Upon divulging all this information, Rasla excused himself to attend to his own affairs. Masaki stood there, lost in thought, trying to process everything he had revealed to her. Hikaru decided to go back to his room and rest for a bit as he was tired from his journey.

Hikaru woke up around lunch time as he then headed to the hotel lobby with his group to have lunch in the restaurant there. After having lunch the group then decided to explore the settlement on their own. Hikaru initially hoped to explore the settlement with Masaki, but she was always accompanied by Hideo. Consequently, he decided to team up with Lydia for their exploration instead.

As Hikaru and Lydia explored the settlement, they stumbled upon a traditional high elf market. The market consisted of colorful stalls selling exotic fruits, everyday items, and magical trinkets, among other things. Intrigued by the vibrant atmosphere, Hikaru decided to browse the stalls and interact with the locals. They sampled some of the exotic fruits as they perused the stalls. Next, Hikaru visited stalls selling magical trinkets, intending to purchase items to aid him on his future adventures.

“Lydia, do you think they might have Spring Boards here?” Hikaru’s voice rose above the din of the marketplace as he inspected a display of intricate magical trinkets. “You know, the one Masaki used to conjure water. It was incredibly handy.”

Lydia furrowed her brow in thought, scanning the nearby stalls for any sign of the coveted item. “I’m not sure, Hikaru,” she replied, her gaze sweeping across the bustling marketplace. “But let’s ask around. Perhaps someone here might know.”

Approaching a nearby vendor, Lydia leaned in to inquire about their elusive quest. “Excuse me, sir,” she called out politely, catching the attention of the stall owner. “Do you happen to have any Spring Boards available?”

The vendor shook his head regretfully. “I’m afraid not, miss. We don’t have those particular items.”

Undeterred, Hikaru’s gaze fell upon a bulk of blue scrolls nestled in the corner of the stall. “What are these?” he asked, pointing at it.

Lydia stepped forward to examine the scrolls more closely. “Ah, these are mana scrolls,” she explained, her fingers trailing over the ornate designs etched into the parchment. “They’re coated with a special resin that allows them to capture projections made from visible mana.”

Hikaru’s interest was piqued as he considered the possibilities. “And how much do they cost?” he inquired, turning to the vendor with a curious expression.

The vendor paused, considering his answer. “Eighty-seven Bailey copper coins,” he replied.

Hikaru’s brow furrowed at the price, his mind racing with calculations. “That seems rather steep,” he mused aloud. “Why bother with these scrolls when can just use regular ones?”

Lydia shook her head. “These scrolls are different,” she explained patiently. “They’re usually used in conjunction with a certain magic spell to create photographs. And at eighty-seven Bailey copper coins, they're actually quite a bargain compared to what you’d find in Bailey.”

Hearing Lydia answer, he suddenly considered making profit using the scrolls. “Perhaps we could purchase a few of these scrolls and sell them back in Bailey,” he suggested, noting the scroll wasn’t heavy or large. “What do you think, Lydia?”

“It’s all up to you, Hikaru,” Lydia responded, her tone neither agreeing nor rejecting his proposal. “But if it’s money you need, you can always come to me.”

Hikaru mulled over the decision. Eventually, he turned back to the seller with a determined nod. “I’ll take ten of those scrolls,” he declared, his mind already calculating the potential profit.

Hikaru then paid the seller using Eden beads, while the seller gave him change in Bailey coins. As he received the change, Hikaru grew curious and decided to ask: “Why do people here use Bailey coins, when this place is not part of Bailey?”

The seller explained: “Our settlement doesn’t create our own currency, because we don’t produce or process any type of precious metal. Thus, we trade using currency from other kingdoms, and Bailey happens to be the nearest to our settlement.”

After returning to their hotel room around dusk, Hikaru carefully packed the mana scrolls into his backpack, ensuring they were safely stored for their journey. They decided to rest a bit while waiting for the rest of the group to come back and having dinner together.