DKIE CH48: Going to Sea

While Luka was suspecting the old man might be a fraudster, the Saint was deep in thought.

Ordinary people’s futures tended toward a straight line; only the fates of the strong were unclear to this old fellow.

He glanced at the still-young child before him.

Mm, the Demon King was blessed.

The elder extended his hand to Luka: “Please sit. One of my students specifically mentioned you.”

Seeing that he only invited him alone, Luka hesitated whether to sit by himself.

In the end, he still sat down.

Who knew the elder would begin resting with his eyes closed.

Luka was stunned. The Saint promptly explained: “He likes having someone accompany him while waiting for nightfall.”

Luka expressed understanding: “I prefer waiting for the next dawn.”

The astrologer: “…”

This wait lasted several hours. The weather wasn’t great today, and it grew dark early. Luka didn’t idle either; during this time, he continuously reviewed the curses he had learned in the past.

After an unknown amount of time, the elder suddenly opened his eyes and asked the Saint and Quill Pen to temporarily step aside.

Luka hurriedly spoke: “I have an important matter coming up and want you to…”

The elder shook his head and interrupted: “Those who come to me all ask about opportunities, and your father was the same.”

The Demon King had been here before?

While Luka was surprised, the elder continued: “I can only divine opportunities you may currently possess. However, since you describe it as an important matter, there’s a high probability the two are connected.”

Luka’s heart eased somewhat at these words.

The star robe began surging with brilliance. The elder stared fixedly at him, then suddenly tilted his head back.

His movements were strange, his limbs stiff like a puppet’s. For an instant, Luka saw countless white threads descending from the starry sky, connecting to all the elder’s joints.

The next moment, the elder’s thin body became like a puppet of the stars. From the corners of his eyes, ear canals… spreading through all seven orifices and joints, everything was bleeding.

The entire scene was too horrifying. Even during the previous fate observation, it hadn’t been this exaggerated.

Luka couldn’t help but shift back a bit. From the corner of his eye, he accidentally saw several lines of text in the lower left corner of the star chart.

Fee schedule: Eyes bleeding 1,000,000 gold coins/person, nasal cavity bleeding 1,000,000 gold coins/person…

Holy crap!

His earlier fright was scared away by an even greater fright.

Luka counted zeros on his fingers. When the elder finally opened his eyes, he asked impatiently: “Is there a children’s discount?”

At this moment, he was willing to admit he was a child.

The elder waved his hand, indicating the Saint would settle the bill.

Luka’s shoulders relaxed: “Then feel free to vomit.”

The elder violently spat out another mouthful of blood. Though his bloodshot eyeballs were very clear, in that instant just now, he had seen a different trajectory appear in the starry sky.

This foretold that some major change would occur in this world.

“The Elf King. The answer given by the stars is the Elf King.”

The elder wiped away the blood from the corner of his mouth: “With the Elf King, you have a chance to find your answer.”

Luka’s expression immediately became rather colorful: “Are you sure it’s the Elf King whose beauty I challenged?”

Originally somewhat displeased that his conclusion was being questioned, upon hearing the latter half of the sentence, the elder recalled the newspaper he had read and gave a definitive answer.

“Yes.”

Luka immediately got a headache.

He thanked the astrologer, stood up to leave, and prepared to contemplate what to do next.

The elder suddenly called out to Luka: “That young friend who came with you—if he’s interested, he can also have his fortune told.”

The astrologer seemed very interested in Quill Pen.

Luka thought for a moment, and after walking out, chose to relay this truthfully.

Quill Pen raised an eyebrow, seemingly calculating something. In the end, he didn’t refuse and calmly walked in.

It didn’t take long. Soon after, he walked out with a thoughtful expression.

Luka: “That fast?”

Quill Pen nodded, as if still immersed in the astrologer’s words. After quite a while, he finally raised his head and, looking at the Saint, said: “He’s asking you to go settle the bill.”

The Saint told them to wait here: “I’m going to pawn the snow ferret for a few days.”

Luka: “…”

Inside, the astrologer lay sprawled on the star chart, covered in bloodstains, completely lacking in dignity.

The snow ferret emerged from the Saint’s sleeve and came to the astrologer’s side with practiced ease, clearly not the first time it had been pawned to pay debts.

Its healing light could restore bodily functions.

The Saint: “You actually took the initiative to divine for someone. What did he ask about?”

The astrologer’s mouth opened slightly—a prelude to speaking.

The smile on the Saint’s face faded somewhat.

There was a contract between them: as long as what the diviner asked wouldn’t harm human interests, the astrologer need not tell. Now that the other party was willing to speak, could it be detrimental to the human race?

The astrologer: “He came to consult about marriage.”

Thinking he had heard wrong, the Saint fell silent for a moment and asked again.

The astrologer’s expression was also very strange; otherwise, he wouldn’t have said it.

Generally, when given the chance to ask questions, people asked where they could break through, make money, or find their enemies.

Who would waste an opportunity consulting about this?!

The cold, stern short-haired youth sat across from him and opened with: “Master, help me look at my love line and what direction I need to work toward. Roughly what age will I be able to marry?”

He was stunned at the time too!

On the other side of the door, Luka was also gossiping: “What did you have the astrologer ask about? Also opportunities?”

Quill Pen: “Fate.”

Luka looked puzzled.

The Saint happened to walk out at this moment. Hearing the last word, his expression was complex.

A head stuffed full of romantic fortune was far from what ordinary people could understand.

Luka, on the other hand, was full of career ambition. Upon seeing the Saint, he proactively explained the previous divination results.

“The Elf King?” The Saint sighed lightly: “This is somewhat troublesome. Even if I step forward, it might not be useful.”

Luka: “Did you also challenge his beauty?”

“…” Not that.

Seeing the dark clouds in the sky that seemed to portend rain, the Saint didn’t immediately explain what troubles there were. Instead, he first called an enforcer to take them to rest.

On the way, Luka asked the enforcement captain: “Is the guild hall that exploded last time rebuilt? I want to stay there to recall bitterness and think of sweetness.”

The enforcer looked at him deeply.

Recall the bitterness of Alec being bombed and think of his own sweetness?

In the end, Luka still got his wish to move into the reconstructed guild hall.

That night, he burned the midnight oil working on his manuscript. Whenever he felt tired, he would think of Alec to motivate himself.

Writing and such was still better than being bombed, right?

In the latter half of the night, a light drizzle began falling outside the window.

Quill Pen sat across from him, recalling what the astrologer had said—

“Late marriage, but the phase of the star signs is very good, representing a high-quality future marriage partner with deep feelings between both parties.”

He decided to take back his past prejudices against the astrologer.

Fate divination had persisted to this day, indicating it had decent accuracy and was trustworthy.

The night passed quickly. The next day was a bright, sunny day, and both parties went out early.

Near the Holy Tower.

Guard: “Is the Holy Tower somewhere you can just go whenever you want?”

The familiar stern shout, the familiar lines.

Quill Pen went to help collect information about the elf race. Luka, who came alone, took a deep breath. Are you an NPC?

After going through the notification process again, Luka finally entered the Holy Tower once more.

As soon as he entered, he saw the Saint chasing the snow ferret around the room.

The Saint turned his head with a gentle smile: “Doesn’t this feel familiar?”

Luka: Thanks, it just feels like I’m stuck in a loop.

But the snow ferret actually came back?

The Saint understood his confusion: “It ate too much and was returned.”

Luka expressed celebration at the snow ferret’s misfortune and said: “I’m preparing to finish the first draft and immediately set off for the elf race.”

Seeing he had more to say, the Saint came to the chess table: “Sit.”

After both were seated, Luka continued: “The new book is almost finished, but I’m still missing some details to enrich it. I wanted to ask you about more marriage details between the Saint and the Demon King…”

He paused: “Also, behind my birth, were there any other expectations placed on me?”

Lying in front of the Saint would be directly detected. Luka attempted to gradually guide the topic toward the Tree of Life while obtaining information he genuinely wanted.

The snow ferret brought a book to Luka, using its claws to leave text in the air:

There are some official records of this marriage alliance. You can take it and look.

The Saint: “Regarding your second question, it’s related to the divine.”

While Luka took notes, the Saint spoke of major matters in a tone like casual conversation:

“The Holy Court’s pillar comes from the Tree of Life. Long ago, the Tree of Life could communicate with the divine, then transmit it to people in the Holy Court through prophetic dreams. Unfortunately, it later lost this ability.”

The so-called divine actually referred generally to rules under the starry sky, sometimes collectively called world will.

This was an open secret among the strong on the Holy-Demon Continent. The Saint revealed the other half that wasn’t public:

“But the Holy Court denied this explanation. According to the results of generations of saints communicating with the Tree of Life, the Tree of Life was actually blocked by the world will and could no longer equally transmit divine oracles to everyone in the Holy Court.”

“…Only the strongest, purest soul can become the new oracle messenger.”

Luka listened carefully.

Quill Pen had mentioned these things before, but not in as much detail as the Saint, especially regarding the Tree of Life.

He said softly: “People are only blank slates when they’re born.”

A baby’s soul was too fragile. Simultaneously meeting the condition of being strong was difficult. Currently, the only known naturally strong souls were atavists.

Besides the dragon and elf races, only the Demon King possessed certain atavist bloodlines.

The Saint said: “The Holy Court and the Demon King wanted you to become the new carrier for communicating with the world will.”

It was a marriage alliance that simultaneously satisfied interests and emotions.

Undeniably, the young Demon King and Saint had indeed loved each other. They just more urgently wanted to obtain from the world will a method to break through to godhood.

Luka was silent for a while. Recalling the scene from his dream, he asked seemingly casually: “Did the Demon King personally go see the Tree of Life?”

The Saint looked up, keenly detecting the abruptness of this question.

Luka showed no tension and said: “The Demon King is naturally suspicious. He couldn’t possibly just believe the Holy Court’s people when they said the Tree of Life had no problems, then actively cooperate with marriage and childbirth.”

The Demon King’s reputation remained as solid as ever.

He only had one son, obviously not interested in reproducing offspring.

“On the eve of the marriage alliance, he did see the Tree of Life once.”

Having reached the Saint’s level, no matter how distant the events, he could recall details.

“I remember the Demon King played a game of chess with me before leaving and even mocked the name ‘Tree of Life.'”

The Demon King criticized heaven and earth. This should have been a very ordinary thing, but for some reason, Luka felt something was off.

Connecting to the scene in the dream, he had a very strong premonition that the Demon King hadn’t just said it casually.

Why mock the Tree of Life’s name?

Lowering his eyes to hide his doubts, Luka attributed his leaked emotions to other questions: “So this is the reason for my birth.”

In a certain sense, it really was filled with his parents’ ‘love and expectations.’

He hesitated before speaking: “You and the Holy Court…”

“The Holy Court extremely reveres the Tree of Life, even treating it like a god.” The Saint said lightly, “Excessive worship means never being able to surpass it.”

His expression carried some melancholy: “Later, I left the Holy Court and achieved some transcendence.”

“As a result, a whole group of people came to worship me.”

It annoyed him so much he lost two strands of hair.

After a brief silence, Luka ended this melancholy topic and began inquiring about matters related to the elf race.

The Saint: “The elf race refuses excessive contact with other races.”

Between him and the Elf King, it was even more of a superficial acquaintance. Elves had no favorable impression of the human race.

“However…”

Hearing the transitional word, Luka’s eyes brightened slightly.

“You might be received if you go.”

Luka didn’t quite dare believe it. He pointed at himself, surprised: “Me?”

Could the elf race be appearance-obsessed?

Would he rush in based on his looks?

The Saint denied his looks-based reasoning: “Recently, the elf race has specifically gone out to purchase items twice, both related to you. One was publications featuring the suona special.”

Luka flipped his hair: “So they value my talent.”

“The other was also a publication—the report marketing that you’re more beautiful than the Elf King.”

Luka’s hand froze for a moment.

“Elf Island once sparked heated discussion.”

“Oh, and their neighboring dark elves also purchased frantically, but to destroy them.”

The other sections of the report all described how dark elves peeped at others bathing. Light elves and dark elves had always been at odds. Both sides purchased against each other, and the combined newspapers could pile into a mountain.

“…”

Luka had predicted this matter before, but reality was even more exaggerated than he thought.

He said dryly: “If I encounter danger, if I issue a beauty challenge in person and say let’s have a showdown in twenty years, will the Elf King let me go?”

In stories, when protagonists issued delayed challenges, didn’t villains always agree?

The Saint looked at him quietly.

One minute, two minutes. At the third minute, Luka: “…I was joking.”

The Saint changed from his relaxed sitting posture, his tone serious: “This trip to the elf race is absolutely no joke. The Elf King’s temperament is inscrutable. The previous Beast King died at his hands.”

Luka’s eyelashes trembled.

“Light elves simply don’t like bloodshed.” Not liking and not engaging in killing were completely different concepts.

“Your talent in space is extremely high. Given time, surpassing him is not impossible.” The Saint scooped up the snow ferret with one hand, placing it on the chess table, saying lightly: “If you encounter trouble, pawn it there.”

Having finished speaking, he said no more, already having the intention to see guests out.

Luka sensibly left holding the snow ferret.

Returning to the guild hall, Quill Pen saw he had something fluffy in his arms and frowned: “Why did you bring it back?”

Luka: “Collateral.”

“?”

The snow ferret had a keen sense of smell. Smelling the residual smoke from the past explosion in the guild hall, it went out for a walk to get some fresh air.

Luka didn’t chase after it. Taking advantage of the gap, he recounted his meeting with the Saint.

After listening, Quill Pen deliberated briefly, seemingly having some ideas: “When I recover most of my strength, I’ll personally investigate the Tree of Life matter. What the Saint said may not be the complete truth.”

This had nothing to do with concealment. Just like how Luka, without evidence, couldn’t discuss many issues with the Saint face-to-face, including how the Holy Court had secretly conducted many secret experiments.

“For now, focus on your network development.”

Luka naturally understood the importance of network construction. He first organized the materials obtained from the Saint and began revising the first draft.

While he wrote, Quill Pen sat beside him as usual.

Quill Pen glanced at the new passages Luka added.

The article focused on describing the love token the Saint gave the Demon King: mandarin duck pendants.

The mandarin duck pendants had a magical function—the wearing parties could sense each other’s location at any time. The Demon King’s return gift was even more precious: the Thousand Days Unity Gu!

For a thousand days, when one party was injured, the other would automatically share part of the injury.

After exchanging love tokens, both parties’ feelings deepened further.

The Saint would occasionally sneak out of the Holy Court, appearing on the Demon King’s inevitable path, giving her lover a little surprise.

Unfortunately, the weather was unpredictable.

After some people in the Holy Court learned about the Thousand Days Unity Gu, they attempted to assassinate the Saint to severely injure the Demon King.

Fortunately, after experiencing multiple assassination attempts, with the help of more kind people in the Holy Court, the Saint successfully rooted out these assassins.

Soon after, they happily entered the palace of marriage.

The overall writing continued the dreamlike style of the previous text, vigorously rendering the beauty of the princess and prince’s love.

Unfortunately, strong individuals who had experienced worldly matters were best at inferring details and deeply exploring human nature. After reading, they absolutely wouldn’t think this was a romantic fairy tale.

Luka had been paying attention to Quill Pen. When he noticed the latter’s emotions fluctuating, he knew he had succeeded.

It wasn’t hard blackening—he had gotten goosebumps while writing it.

The love tokens the Saint and Demon King gave each other were each more terrifying upon reflection.

The Unity Gu gift was superb quality. The marriage alliance was critically important, but who would willingly give up an opportunity to severely injure the Demon King and greatly defeat the demon realm?

The series of internal conflicts this generated ultimately weakened human racial strength.

Of course, the Saint was no pushover either.

There were many more details that were terrifying upon reflection.

Luka wrote almost non-stop for a day and night. When he finally finalized the draft, he was too tired to speak.

Maintaining his last breath, when dawn barely broke, he immediately sent the manuscript to Boulder City.

Luka didn’t know that after Karen saw the first draft, he had nightmares for several nights. He also didn’t know that the continent’s first dark romantic style work helped him successfully establish his position as a literary master while greatly reducing the continent’s marriage rate for the next ten years.

These were all later stories.

At this moment, he was walking on the street, coldly scoffing and shaking his head: “What great parental love.”

A father practicing family planning, him who brought misfortune to both father and mother, and a mother who didn’t know what she was doing somewhere.

Without directly returning to the guild hall, Luka first came to a four-sided glass building similar to a conservatory.

“Two tickets for sailing, bringing a pet.”

To reach the elf race, one must ride a jiao ship. Entering elf territory through other channels would be considered smuggling.

The ticket seller looked at the mechanical clock: “There’s a departure in three hours.”

Luka nodded: “Let’s take that one.”

Two exquisite little tickets with silver edges were handed out through the window. The ticket seller saw the customer’s appearance, and the drowsiness from work immediately disappeared.

“You’re Iliade! Right?! I heard you won the demon race’s Return Hunt.”

Luka nodded modestly.

“Are you going out to sea this time to compete in beauty with the Elf King on the same stage? Aren’t you afraid the neighboring island’s dark elves exposed for peeping will retaliate? You’re so brave.”

Luka: “…”

Done for.

Even the ticket seller had this reaction. This journey really was going to be courting death.

Author’s Note:

Luka’s Diary Guide:

Who is more beautiful, me or the Elf King?

Alex: Luka is far more beautiful. How can the Elf King compare to Luka?

Dragon Clan: How can the Elf King compare to our cub?

Astrologer: The Elf King is not as beautiful as future lord.

Luka: @Elf King

Elf King: …

Elf Island randomly drops one hundred little red packets~

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