Chapter 21: True Identity! The Fairy Prophecy!

As her appearance changed, so too did Nara’s entire aura. If before she had seemed excessively alluring, bordering on the otherworldly, now she exuded a mature sensuality softened by a hint of gentle grace. She was like a cup of fine, lingering tea—at first, seemingly unremarkable, but moments later, its fragrance would curl around the senses, tempting one to savor it deeply.

Wang Chen stared, dumbfounded, his mind a tangle of questions. What was happening? Was this some kind of magical girl transformation?

Noticing his astonishment, Nara smiled and said, “Why are you so surprised? Weren’t you here for me?”

Wang Chen looked at her pointed ears, recalling all the strange details he’d noticed before. For example, why was the most sought-after technician in the “Exotic Gentle Haven” someone who showed no visible traits of any non-human race, appearing entirely human? Why did the games played at the banquet all feel like tests? And why had Nara regarded him so appraisingly during the meal?

“You’re the Elder of the Fairy Tribe?” Wang Chen asked.

Nara nodded with a smile.

As she acknowledged her identity, a chime sounded in Wang Chen’s mind: [You have found the Elder of the Fairy Tribe. Prerequisite quest completed.]

Whatever lingering doubts Wang Chen had instantly vanished.

Seeing this, Nara extended her hand with easy confidence. “Allow me to introduce myself again. I am the Elder of the Fairy Tribe, though you may still call me Nara if you prefer. Greetings, prophesied human hero!”

“Hello, I’m Wang Chen!” He shook her hand, still puzzled. “What prophecy? Human hero? Are you talking about me?”

Nara nodded. “According to a prophecy passed down in our tribe, a human hero will appear, enduring many hardships, and bring back the Spring of Vitality for our people!”

“Wait!” Wang Chen quickly interrupted. “Please don’t throw out terms I don’t understand one after another. What is the Spring of Vitality?”

Nara considered for a moment. “It’s a little complicated to explain, but all you need to know is that it’s an invaluable treasure to the Fairy Tribe.”

“Alright, so I’m supposed to retrieve this treasure for you? Where am I supposed to find it?” Wang Chen asked, but immediately shook his head, realizing, “You probably don’t know where it is either, or you’d have retrieved it yourselves.”

Unexpectedly, Nara replied, “We do know where the Spring of Vitality is. Our tribe’s stargazer divined its whereabouts!”

“But…” Nara’s expression grew troubled. “The location of the Spring of Vitality is rather unique.”

“In what way?” Wang Chen pressed.

“It’s inside a very strange instance called the ‘Dark Plateau.’ That instance isn’t under the jurisdiction of any nation, so there are no resurrection points within it,” Nara explained.

“In other words, entering it means risking your life with no second chances,” Wang Chen mused. “But, as it seems to be so important to your people, surely there are brave experts willing to risk their lives to retrieve it?”

Nara nodded. “At first, many fairies volunteered. Myself included.”

She confirmed his guess, then continued, “But when we tried to enter, we found that fairies are forbidden from entering that instance!”

“That’s possible?” Wang Chen frowned. “Couldn’t you hire some non-fairy experts to undertake the quest? Offer a great reward—surely someone would accept.”

Nara sighed. “We’ve thought of that. But inside that instance, anyone who enters—regardless of their strength—has their level forcibly reduced to ten. Only after leaving does their level return to normal.”

Worry clouded Nara’s eyes. “And within the instance are vicious, dark creatures—bizarre monsters made of corpses! Anyone entering at level ten faces mortal danger at every moment, let alone making it to the core and retrieving the Spring of Vitality.”

“All these years, only a handful of non-fairy experts have dared to try, and they all failed—only bringing back a few scraps of information.” She looked at Wang Chen with a glimmer of hope. “That’s why I’ve always wondered what kind of person would truly risk everything and succeed in bringing back the Spring of Vitality.”

“I never imagined you’d be so young!” Nara exclaimed with a touch of wonder. “I thought the human hero of prophecy would be a grizzled, unsmiling veteran!”

“I’m not that young!” Wang Chen protested. “Are you saying you’re so much older? You hardly look a few years older than me, and you had the courage to venture in and attempt to retrieve the Spring of Vitality yourself.”

Nara smiled warmly. “I’ll soon be three hundred years old.”

“What?” Wang Chen was stunned. So this was the longevity of her kind?

“Fairies live very long lives, witnessing the rise and fall of things humans can scarcely imagine,” Nara said softly. “But as I told you, now that we’ve lost the Spring of Vitality, our lifespan has become a curse, not a blessing.”

Sorrow clouded her brow.

Wang Chen couldn’t bear to see her like this. He spoke gently: “Give me everything you have on the ‘Dark Plateau’ instance. The more detailed, the better.”

He paused, choosing his words carefully.

“I’ll bring back the Spring of Vitality, so please, don’t cry anymore.”

He met Nara’s gaze, speaking gently: “If these eyes, as beautiful as gemstones, were to be clouded by tears, how could they witness the moment I return with the Spring of Vitality?”

Nara stared at him, entranced. After a long moment, a brilliant smile bloomed on her lips like a summer flower.

“Wang Chen, I’m so glad you’re not some cold, unshaven veteran!”

Before Wang Chen could puzzle out her meaning, Nara turned away and stepped to the bookshelf in the corner of the small room. She slid aside a row of books, revealing a hidden safe.

“Ahem, do you need me to look away?” Wang Chen offered, seeing her about to enter the code without hesitation.

Nara turned and smiled. “Don’t be silly. Fairies don’t guard themselves against their friends.”

With that, she continued to turn the clicking dials.

Friend, huh? Wang Chen smiled to himself. Not bad at all.

With a click, the safe unlocked. Nara took out everything from the lowest compartment and laid it across the desk.

“These are all the materials on the ‘Dark Plateau.’”

Wang Chen approached and began to read through the documents carefully.

Seeing the seriousness in his expression, Nara fell silent, waiting patiently for him to finish.

As Wang Chen read, he realized the situation was far trickier than he’d thought.

At first, he assumed that although he’d have to enter a no-respawn instance, the mission was simply to retrieve something. If he prepared thoroughly, focused on getting the item and escaping, and avoided getting entangled with the monsters inside, he should be fine. After all, with Forest Gale, he could widen the gap in speed, making escape feasible. He also had other tricks, like Immobilization Spell.

But he hadn’t expected the Spring of Vitality to be sealed by the dark creatures themselves. It could not be easily taken out.