You've found the Gusha-hime Knight, so put your hair up in a bun!

"Although I was very weak when I was first brought home, I've gotten much better as I've grown up! Back in the orphanage, the director always praised me as the child with the best physical condition in the entire orphanage!"

Upon hearing this, Xi Luo's dark eyes flashed with a sharp light, and he then asked, "Well, how have you been feeling lately? Have you been feeling unwell or too tired?"

Upon hearing this, Fufu shook her head firmly and said, "After being transferred from the guard, I've had plenty of free time every day. Making those little items you requested didn't take much time, and I finished them quickly. The rest of the time is spent sweeping the floor, tending to the flowers and plants, and so on... those are jobs I took over from other maids."

Silo twitched her lips, flicked Fufuro's forehead in annoyance, and said, "Since you like working so much, then from now on you'll do everything by yourself?"

"Eh-hmm-hmm—well, maybe we shouldn't, hehe..."

Fufu scratched her head and smiled sweetly.

Shiloh shook his head, then asked, "Do you know about your background? I designed the management system of the Wells family's orphanage. Everyone's origin story should be revealed to you after a certain period of time."

"Ah, as for my background... I don't know much about it, but the headmaster carried me back from under the tree."

"Under the tree? Which tree?"

"It was in that forest near the capital. According to the headmistress, I was wrapped in a swaddle and hung on the intertwined vines..."

Fufu stretched out her arms and gestured, then said happily, "She said I'm like a child of a big tree!"

Xi Luo touched his chin, the strange look in his eyes growing even deeper.

"Aren't you... just recently turned 18?"

"Huh? Ah... I think so."

After Fufu finished speaking, Shiloh nodded, no longer having any doubts.

Seeing Shiloh's expression, Arya hesitated for a moment before asking inquiringly, "Do you know what Fufro's illness is?"

"Hmm, I can be pretty sure about 80-90%."

Xi Luo nodded, recalling the contents of the "Divine Abyss" setting book, and combining it with Fu Fu Luo's strange situation just now and the other party's current age, he basically determined the other party's problem.

"Logically speaking, this disease should be extremely rare now... and besides, no matter what, Fufu shouldn't be appearing under a big tree like this..."

Shiloh frowned. He still couldn't quite figure out the problem, and from Fufro's description just now, she didn't seem to have been abandoned.

In a world where gods exist, some things that sound or look very mythical may actually be related to the gods.

The vines of the big tree intertwined, cradling and protecting the baby in its swaddling clothes... It was a scene that looked almost divine.

"Hey, stop keeping me in suspense, just tell me what you've got in mind."

Seeing that Shiro was lost in thought, Elena couldn't help but nudge his shoulder and say coquettishly.

Although there is no relationship yet, Elena firmly believes that Fulfro will definitely not be able to escape after that, so she has always regarded her as her "younger sister" who has not yet been officially recognized.

The bitterness of the bed is just that—the bed. After all, they are family, sisters who will fight side by side. Now that Fufro is unwell, Elena is naturally worried.

After snapping out of his thoughts, Shiloh reached out his hand to Fufflo's pretty face, and then, under her slightly shy gaze, pinched the girl's little ear and said, "Fufflo is a half-elf."

"Eh?"

"Huh?" ×2

"what?"

Xi Luo's words stunned all four women present, who stared wide-eyed in disbelief.

"Half-elves should retain the long ears characteristic of elves, right? Fufu looks human no matter what, doesn't she?"

Although Arya trusted Shiloh, she couldn't help but express her doubts when what he said contradicted her own knowledge.

Shiloh did not deny Arya's words, and then explained, "That is usually true, but as I said, this 'disease' is now very rare."

After saying that, Shiloh raised a finger and said with certainty, "In the Imperial Library's section on the Elven race, there is a thick ancient book that introduces the history of the Elven race. The part about the Half-Elves is explained in detail."

"In the beginning, half-elves were not like the half-elves we know today, who looked no different from normal elves. On the contrary, their appearances were extremely varied, and as they developed into adults, they exhibited characteristics of various races."

"Among the few races that can reproduce with elves, humans are undoubtedly the most favored by them, so over time, there have been more and more half-elves with human appearances."

"However, those half-elves who do not fully exhibit elven characteristics will invariably develop a special adult disease upon reaching adulthood. The specific symptoms are similar to those of Fufro, including high temperature, coma, and violent turmoil in the mental sea."

"This adult disease, like natural selection, has taken the lives of almost all half-elves who have human appearances. The remaining half-elves, after several generations of reproduction, are no different from normal elves, and their offspring are the same."

"That's why I said that this kind of adult disease in half-elves should have almost disappeared in this era."

After hearing Shiloh's explanation, everyone present fell silent.

It's cruel.

Just by listening to Shiloh's calm and simple narration, the women present could feel the despair of the half-elves of that era.

Why...why is this happening?

Elena's face was extremely pale, her lips were white, and her body was trembling slightly.

Cecilia also frowned, clenching her fists without saying a word.

Arya, meanwhile, pursed her lips and stared intently at Shiloh, as if trying to discern something from him.

Despite being suddenly shrouded in the shadow of death, Fufu felt a warmth in her heart as she sensed the genuine care the three women had for her.

"Hehe, don't worry, sisters. As the saying goes, there's always a way out. I was able to survive when I was just a little kid and was picked up by the headmistress in the forest, so I'll definitely be fine now!"

Looking at Fufu's innocent and carefree smile, the three girls felt a tightness in their chests, a dull and uncomfortable feeling.

"Ha, you're quite optimistic."

Silo ruffled Ffullo’s smooth, glossy gray hair and chuckled.

"Hehe~"

Fufu smiled sweetly, her blush deepening on her pretty face.

Seeing that Shiloh's expression remained calm, the girls, including Aria, relaxed. Then, Elena quickly stepped forward, gently tugging at Shiloh's sleeve with her knuckles, and biting her lip, said, "You...you have a way, don't you?"

Xi Luo blinked and nodded, "Yes, that's right."

Upon hearing Xi Luo's answer, the women's tense expressions suddenly relaxed, and they breathed a sigh of relief.

"you really……"

Cecilia gritted her teeth, couldn't help but roll her eyes at Shiloh, and muttered, "What a nasty guy."

Seeing this, Xiluo shrugged innocently and said, "You didn't ask either~"

"Alright, alright, I know you're the best. What should we do next to treat Fufuro?"

After praising her a couple of times, as if she were coaxing a child, Aria asked the question.

Upon hearing this, Shiloh patted Fufuro's head, a slight smile playing on his lips, and said, "Treating Fufuro coincides with our next destination, so we can take care of it together."

"Five days from now, Aria and Frost will travel with me to [Clorensa]. Cecilia, while I'm gone, you will be in charge of Irene and Elena's combat training. Try to raise their transcendental rank as much as possible before I return."

"Elena, the results for the new batch of products from [Maple Nest Workshop] that were sent to the capital should be available soon. We must take advantage of this opportunity to raise our brand awareness."

The four women naturally had no objections to Xi Luo's arrangements, but their feelings were naturally different.

“I understand… but why do you suddenly want to go to the border city? It’s dangerous there. You should bring more defense forces with you.”

Cecilia frowned slightly, her blue eyes revealing confusion and worry.

Even though she knew the other person was describing an objective fact, Arya still felt somewhat ashamed.

After all, in a border city, war could break out at any time, and the area is a mixed bag of people, so no one knows when they might be tricked.

The "Stairway to the Stars" is merely a place where one can openly operate normally. If one is not careful enough, there are quite a few instances where one's plans can be thwarted unexpectedly.

"Uh, Aria, I didn't mean that..."

"Yes, I know, Miss Cecilia... If only I were a little stronger."

Seeing the somewhat guilty expression on Aria's face, Shiloh stood up from beside Fufro, then pinched the girl's soft cheek and said, "Don't blame yourself. Besides, I'm here, so don't worry."

Upon hearing this, Arya and Cecilia recalled how Shiloh seemed to have everything under control when he was in the water city of Hifiel, and they felt somewhat relieved.

"Once we get there, a powerful helper will be waiting for us."

Shiloh turned around, gently smoothing Cecilia's hair, and explained softly, "You know, I never do anything I'm not sure about."

Upon hearing this, Cecilia smiled helplessly and said softly, "Ha, you're right."

"Elena—"

Before she finished speaking, Elena suddenly took a step forward and then hugged Shilo tightly.

Looking down at Elena's little head buried in his chest, Silo pursed his lips, gently put his arm around her waist, and whispered, "Thank you for your hard work, Elena."

Elena shook her head and said in a muffled voice, "I'm actually very happy to be able to help you. It's just... I don't want to part ways."

Feeling Elena's deep affection for him, Shilo gently kissed her delicate white earlobe and said, "After returning from [Clorenza], there won't be many more times like this when we part."

"Really? You...you're not doing this just to appease me, are you?"

"Of course it's true. After we finish this, let's all go back to the capital together. And while we're at it, let's meet my parents."

? !

Upon hearing this, all three women except for Fufuro tensed up, then their beautiful eyes widened.

"See—?! But, but I—"

Shiloh pressed her finger against Elena's pink lips, then said with a slight reproach, "Why are you still saying such things at a time like this? They'll definitely be very happy to have so many smart, virtuous, and capable daughters-in-law, won't they?"

Daughter-in-law...

Elena, Cecilia, and Aria were all flushed, especially Elena, whose eyes were almost overflowing with emotion.

Chapter 91 Vera: Heh, resurrected! (3k words, half a chapter missing, to be added)

Meanwhile, at the bottom of the abyss, in a place where life could no longer survive.

Scalding lava roared from the bursting crater into the sky, then transformed into a sky full of bright and dazzling flames, crashing down like meteors onto the charred earth, creating one large crater after another in the brittle ground.

At the bottom of this abyss, filled with violent energy and the pungent smell of sulfur, no living being can approach it.

Rumble—!

The deafening roar of volcanic eruptions echoed continuously. Deeper into this continuous volcanic mountain range, there was a lava lake surrounded by towering, colossal mountains.

Glug glug...

Unlike the turbulent and violent scene outside, the lava lake here is as calm as ever, just like a normal lake.

At this moment, a series of bubbles suddenly rose on the surface of the lava lake, as if a playful fish was approaching the lake and frolicking.

Whoosh—!

As the bubbles rose faster, a figure suddenly burst out from the bottom of the lava lake, sending up a splash of lava water several meters high.

slam-la-

The scorching lava slid down the mermaid's fair skin, but it didn't cause the slightest scratch, not even a hint of redness.

It seemed that for this woman, magma, which could melt everything, was just like ordinary bathwater.

"Phew—it's been a long time."

The woman tossed her waist-length, beautiful red hair, tucked the strands behind her earlobes, and stretched languidly.

crackling-

As she stretched, the woman's muscles and bones relaxed greatly, as if she had been asleep for thousands of years, producing a crisp sound like firecrackers.

She lazily exhaled the stale air from her chest, and the dazed look on her face, as if she had just woken up, disappeared, replaced by the familiar madness and unbridled passion.

"Hehe, this trip to the human world wasn't a complete waste."

“Human… no, I should say… him. Heh, Shiloh, you’re quite an interesting man.”

Vera tossed her hair back, her smooth forehead making the expression in her bloodshot eyes even more vivid.

With a thought, the surrounding molten lava flowed into Vera's feet as if at her command, slowly lifting her up from it.

The magma surrounding her instantly transformed into an elegant ancient noblewoman's dress under Vera's manipulation, and the madwoman with the "refined scoundrel" temperament returned to the world!

"Ugh~ Speaking of which, after that guy Shiro 'killed' me, he should have obtained the Chosen Authority, right?"

Vera touched her chin, slowly closed her eyes, and began to feel the call of divine authority.

"Ok?"

"Did I sleep for a long time? Why does the connection to authority feel so weak?"

Vera opened her eyes, her gaze somewhat dazed.