Chapter 248 - Kkeun Kingdom
With a slight quirking of his lips, Elliot fell to the floor victoriously. Jester's face was still frozen after what he witnessed. He laid on the ground, blood trailing on his chin as he stayed on that position.
His guild mates were shocked about his expression. Jester had never been surprised before. He was abandoned by his parents when he was eight when they discovered he doesn't like the circus act. A series of misfortunes followed his life like a trail after, making him the crazy-looking man he was today.
"Jester, are you okay?" Tempest asked, running to his friend. "You're surprised."
"H-He…" Jester trailed off. "He looked both gentle and terrifying at the same time. I can't even begin to explain."
While Jester's guildmates ran to him, Christina was the first to kneel beside Elliot and use her water healing magic on him. The bubbles appeared on her hands bursted into Elliot's skin, replenishing his HP and MP.
When he felt better, Elliot reached out for his Inventory and took one of his stamina potions out. Healing alone wouldn't recover him entirely. His Adventurer stats, the HP and MP, are separate from his physical stats, which is his stamina.
"I'm okay now," Elliot smiled at the light blue-haired girl. He raised his hands over her head and gently ruffled her hair, slowly standing up to see Florencia and Viper run to them.
"Mr. Elliot, are you okay?" Viper asked. Anyone could tell that he was on the verge of tears. Viper didn't have that much experience in fighting, so he was still quite new to battles like this. He was just keeping it together for his two female friends, maning up so they could be strong too.
"I'm fine, guys," Elliot chuckled and ruffled both their hair. "Lance must've rubbed this habit on me. I swear I don't–"
"Elliot Max." Elliot turned after hearing his voice behind him. There he saw the entire twelve of the Top 30 Adventurers from Circus Carnival Guild bowing in front of him.
Jester was the first one to rise while his guild mates remained bowing. "We honor your strength, and we wish you all the best. I, Jester, will always be here in times of your need."
"T-Thank you," Elliot chuckled lightly. He didn't know what to do after such interaction. It was his first time someone bowed in front of him like he was royalty.
"In return for our submission, we will treat you any meal you desire. Name it and we shall buy–"
"Eastern steamed dumplings!" Elliot and his students cheered. The Circus Carnival Guild members looked at each other in amusement seeing the excited faces of the kids in front of them.
"V-Very well," Jester clapped his hands once. "I know just where the best of the best steamed dumplings is."
'New quest [ Kkeuner Dumplings ] available.'
–
[ Kkeuner Dumplings
Reward: Twilight Brew
// Discover a new recipe from the Kkeun Kingdom of the East. When you know the recipe, it will automatically be automatically added to your list. ]
In the corner of the square of food stalls, a regular sized stall wasn't particularly doing well with their business. The owner placed his elbow on the counter, his hands cupping his face in regret.
"I wish we didn't move here," his wife scorned. They both have the same features. Their skin was fare and their eyes were narrow. They had long legs and slender figure, like they were dolls of some sorts.
They also have an accent to them that was common in the Eastern kingdoms. The kingdoms who had dominion over gems and crystals.
"I told you I didn't know," the man said. "I was told to go here years ago. No one expected that life here would be like this."
"The only costumers we have are those clowns," the wife grunted. "And they're very much annoying."
"Hello!" Jester walked inside the restaurant stall. He was grinning at the couple, his green eyes glimmering under the dim sunlight that passed through the red cloth roof. "We're back."
"H-Hello, Mr. Jester," the man bowed and walked out of the counter. "How are you today? I was told you battled someone? I bet you had beaten their butts easy."
"I failed," Jester said with a light laugh. "And this is the man who defeated me."
Since Jester was quite tall even without mounting his ball, he had to step aside and gesture to Elliot who was covered behind him. "This is the boy who defeated me. He is quite strong. And I bet Galaxia would agree."
"Y-You were defeated… by this… boy?" the man gulped and looked at the two.
They both had different figures, different sense of presence, and obviously different height. For Adventurers, bloodlines with higher magic concentration would mostly have the best genes.
Tall, slender, vibrant eyes, and many more to mention. In most cases, the ones with Elliot's height and build would usually die early. Some wouldn't last for a week, some lives for up to a month.
"O-Oh," the man paused and flattened his lips. His wife had to elbow him, making him wake up from the trance he was in. "Welcome, everyone! Please enjoy your meal here. It's noon and I have the perfect meal for you."
"We'll have Eastern steamed dumplings, please," Elliot and his students chorused.
"B-But it's noon…" the shop owner trailed off. "Is that okay if you–"
"They're here for the dumplings, give them the dumplings!" his wife scolded and chased him back to the kitchen. She then went to lead their customers to the tables, smiling widely since these are their first guests for the day. "Please, enjoy your stay here."
"Thank you," Jester chuckled. Him, Tempest, and Elliot's group were on the same table while the others sat on the vacant ones beside theirs.
"How much do you know about the east?" Jester asked. "Do you know that they have a variety of crystal beasts there that some say are powerful like the Palace Knights?"
"The Eastern texts are not available in most libraries," Christina said. "I believe I do not know of this."
"Let me tell you then!" the man had returned. Elliot had to stop his gasp when he saw that he now had eight arms. All were carrying trays while delivering them to the tables.
"First of all, my name is Ilwoo, I am from a kingdom in the East known as the Kkeun," Ilwoo started. "The East has eight kingdoms, as opposed to the three here in the West. And each of these eight kingdoms has a guardian called Crystal Maiden."
"And these Crystal Maiden…" Elliot trailed off. "Are they powerful?"
Ilwoo nodded, flattening his lips, "They are the only ancient magic that hasn't fallen into the pits of the Abyss, you'd know how powerful they are by just that."