The Goblin Market

After finishing her personal biological needs in reality, Li Wen logged back into the game just as dawn was breaking.

She checked her status. Her health had dropped to 34%, and her Magic Power remained at 10/20. This was normal, as health and Magic Power didn't automatically recover while offline.

After some thought, she decided to use a Prayer Incantation to restore her health to over 80%. This would put her out of the severely wounded category, preventing her from being easily killed by a surprise attack.

Following this, Li Wen left the cave.

Outside was a forest filled with plants that even Li Wen didn't recognize. At a glance, there were no signs of human presence, so she had no choice but to head in a direction that seemed like an exit.

The dense, primeval forest didn't even have a path, forcing Li Wen to occasionally draw her Bone-Gnawing Short Sword to cut through the bushes and vines blocking her way. This undoubtedly added to her already meager stamina.

"You won't be able to get through like that."

Just as Li Wen finished cutting down another crooked tree that was blocking her path, a sharp, piercing voice called out.

Li Wen stopped and looked around, but couldn't see anyone speaking.

"Here! Here!"

This time, the voice was clearer and closer. Li Wen looked down and saw a small, green-skinned humanoid creature, no more than half a meter tall, peeking out from the grass at her.

Could it be a Dwarf Elf?

Dwarf Elves were a type of fairy, usually short with distinctive green skin and pointed, elven ears. They were widely distributed throughout the Kingdom of Arthur, and sometimes they could even be seen in commoner homes. Some said they were skilled thieves and liars, while others claimed they hid stolen gold at the end of rainbows. However, most people tended to avoid mentioning them.

"This is Mr. Bird speaking. If you want to participate in the market, you need to show proof of invitation. Otherwise, you won't be able to enter this forest, which is sealed by Magic Power."

Sealed by Magic Power?

Li Wen frowned. "I just want to leave here."

"Then you're going the wrong way! The way out is in the opposite direction!" the Dwarf Elf said, then muttered something in what sounded like an elven dialect.

So that's why the path had become more difficult the further she went – she was going the wrong way. Li Wen nodded in understanding.

"What kind of market are you talking about?"

Having obtained the information she needed, Li Wen began to focus on other things.

"It's a market held by the fairies! Mr. Bird is in charge of stopping those who aren't invited!"

Fairies didn't traditionally have markets; this was likely something they learned from intelligent races like humans. Fairies were naturally gifted with magic and enjoyed collecting all sorts of strange and magical items, which was why many extraordinary individuals tried to find ways to participate.

"Then how can I get qualified?"

The Dwarf Elf in front of her didn't seem very bright, so Li Wen put aside her immediate desire to leave. She still hadn't obtained The Final Codex. To enter the Amber Temple and to deal with other situations, Li Wen needed to use this market to gather magic raw materials. If she could also find some useful magic items, that would be even better.

"It's the Black Henbane Leaf after Granny Marsha casts her spell, like this one!" The Dwarf Elf produced a palm-sized leaf from somewhere. Faint, pale blue Magic Power could be seen flowing through its veins.

"Do you have a lot of these leaves?"

"Of course! Mr. Bird is specifically in charge of this. Everyone who is invited has to hand their Magic Leaves over to me." As if to prove it, the Dwarf Elf conjured a pile of similar leaves in its hands. "Ha! I understand you want to get these leaves from the clever Mr. Bird, but I'll tell you, that's impossible!"

After speaking, the Dwarf Elf muttered in its language again, appearing quite agitated.

"...Ah, of course, nothing is absolute. If you can correctly answer Mr. Bird's riddle, I'll let you in!"

Fairies had a peculiar habit of testing other intelligent races, a custom they had picked up from somewhere.

"Alright, ask away."

"Hmm, let me think of a good riddle. It definitely can't be too easy, or Granny Marsha will blame me..."

Li Wen didn't expect to guess the Dwarf Elf's riddle correctly. While it was distracted thinking up a riddle, she quickly snatched a leaf from between its fingers. The Dwarf Elf didn't react at all.

There was a reason why Nimble Hands and Professional Pickpocket were considered the best traits for new players. Even in Li Wen's previous life, the very first piece of advice in beginner guides was to choose one of these two traits.

"Got it! I ask you: If you don't speak, you speak my name; yet you must speak. But if you can speak my name with words, it will be a miracle."

"I don't know," Li Wen replied lazily, handing over the leaf she had just obtained. "But I have a Magic Leaf. I'm invited, can you let me participate in the market?"

The Dwarf Elf blinked. Its not-so-bright mind struggled to find any issue with this. It was just sad that no one could answer its riddle. "Of course, fairies welcome any friend, except for the red-skinned scum from the inferno..."

The leaf in Li Wen's hand broke free and imprinted itself onto a large, ancient oak tree in the distance. With a flash of light, a tree hollow large enough for one person appeared in the oak. The hollow was deep and dark, leading to an unknown place.

"Welcome! Welcome!"

A few more Dwarf Elves hopped out of the tree hollow, welcoming Li Wen into this unknown world. They hopped in front of Li Wen, tugged at her cloak, and only turned back into the tree hollow after realizing they couldn't move it.

Li Wen didn't hesitate and followed them in.

Unlike the feeling of weightlessness from teleporting in Amber City, Li Wen merely saw a flash before her eyes and found herself in a brand new world.

Various strangely shaped plants formed a magical forest. For example, there were giant mushrooms tall enough to serve as houses, unknown trees with branches that felt soft and wet like tentacles, and flowers with eyeballs on their petals that seemed exceptionally shy.

And various types of fairies, hopping and flitting about.

Li Wen wasn't surprised by any of this. This place wasn't entirely separate from the human world. Fairies used magic to reshape their forests. Long before Arthur was even called Arthur, this place had already been the realm of the fairies.

Li Wen looked at the only path in this magical forest. At the end of the path was the center of the forest, a place bursting with flowers and lush vegetation. She could already hear the lively clamor of people.

Thus, Li Wen, who was already filled with anticipation, grew even more curious about what she would see here.