Gathering to Pet Cats

"Zhi Ye! They gave me so many gifts."

Arl followed Elder Enya all the way to the Hearthstone tavern in the Forgotten Land. Along the way, she showed Zhi Ye the huge pile of things in her arms.

"They probably... thought they would never see us again."

Zhi Ye was carrying a large pile of gifts as well, but receiving them did not make her happy at all, because they were all gifts that represented "farewell."

After the news that they were heading to the Profaners' territory spread throughout the High Elf community, Zhi Ye and Arl were besieged by their friends and relatives.

Flowers, prayers, all of it made Zhi Ye feel as if she were heading to some "battlefield so brutal that survival was absolutely impossible."

Zhi Ye had not understood what was going on at first, but gradually, she realized...

They must have mistaken Zhi Ye for a hostage being sent to the Profaners' territory, where she would surely suffer inhuman treatment!

Sacrificing herself for her people, as noble as a princess offering her life to an evil dragon!

When Zhi Ye received those gifts, she had really wanted to tell them, "We're only going away for a few days."

But Zhi Ye simply could not say it, because she was uneasy too.

If she were going to Nolan, Zhi Ye could happily write travel notes on the Spellcaster Forum, but the Demon Realm was a completely unknown world to her.

Her understanding of the Demon Realm was limited to a few scattered descriptions from older elves...

That was right. In Zhi Ye's mind, the Demon Realm was an even more terrifying place than human cities.

Now, Zhi Ye could only hope that Joshua would overturn her understanding once again.

Zhi Ye carefully followed Elder Enya through