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Lord of Entertainment C11 Magnus
🕑 Added 2024-08-18 16:46:34 +0000 UTCNasha chuckled darkly, "What if they decide to eliminate our race instead?"
I laughed, perhaps a bit too confidently. "That wouldn't happen." I continued, my words flowing almost without thought, "Humans may be powerful, but they wouldn't want to eliminate you. If they did, the dwarves and demons would be the next to feel threatened..."
As soon as the words left my mouth, I noticed the elves looking at me strangely. Talindra, her eyes narrowed, said, "I'm sorry if this offends you, but you really talk as if you're not taking the humans' side..."
Realizing my slip, I coughed awkwardly. "I'm- I'm just talking from a third-person perspective. I'm not a biased person, after all..."
To my relief, the others seemed to accept my explanation, nodding in understanding. But I could see a seed of curiosity planted in some of their eyes, particularly Firfel's and Nuesti's.
As Firfel pushed open the door to the Moonleaf Café, the rich aroma of coffee enveloping us, I couldn't help but feel a mix of excitement and trepidation. My words had clearly struck a chord with the elves, potentially shifting their perspective on their activism. But in doing so, I had also come dangerously close to revealing more about myself than I intended.
As we stepped into the warm café, a small creature suddenly leapt into Firfel's arms, catching my attention immediately.
"Is that a Tarsier?" I asked, surprised to see such a rare creature.
Firfel nodded, a soft smile playing on her lips. "Yes. I've named him Philip."
Drawing on my memory of books I'd read, I commented, "From what I remember, that little creature is very sensitive and doesn't want to be touched, or it'll kill itself. How come it seems so comfortable with you, and it's okay when you touch it?"
Firfel's eyes widened slightly, a mix of surprise and appreciation in her gaze. "I'm a bit surprised you know about them. People from Aethoria or Novaterra usually don't know about this creature from the Sunhaven Archipelago."
"Well, I read books a lot," I replied, grateful for once that my bookish nature wasn't a lie.
Firfel nodded, her hand gently stroking Philip. "You're not wrong. Tarsiers are incredibly sensitive creatures. They prefer not to be touched, and if they're disturbed, they will kill themselves." A hint of sadness colored her voice.
"They are sad creatures," I agreed, feeling a genuine pang of pity. "Just a small tremor from an earthquake can disturb them enough to end their lives."
Eirfel chimed in, her voice solemn, "That's why they're endangered, on the brink of extinction."
Curiosity getting the better of me, I asked, "So... how come that little guy is okay with you touching him?"
Firfel exchanged glances with the other elves before replying, "Well, I'm not really surprised you didn't know this, but as it was commonly known, we elves have an affinity for nature." She caressed Philip's forehead as she continued, "As you can see, since this little guy is also closely connected to nature, he's very comfortable with me. In short, other than elves, no other races can pet any kind of Tarshir."
"I see..." I nodded, fascinated by this new information about elven abilities.
As I looked at Philip, his big eyes staring back at me, he suddenly bared his teeth aggressively.
"Oops, it seems he's very stressed by my presence," I said, taking a step back.
Firfel smiled reassuringly. "It's okay..." She used what I assumed was elven magic to calm Philip, then, to my surprise, held him out to me. "Here, you can touch him."
"What? I thought only elves could touch them?" I asked, confused.
"Well, other races actually can... Of course, with the help of elves casting magic on the little creature so they can pet it," Firfel explained, her smile encouraging.
Gently, I took Philip into my arms, marveling at his soft fur. His big eyes stared up at me, no longer aggressive but curious.
I held this rare, sensitive creature, with wonder. Not only that, this interaction was giving me invaluable insight into elven abilities and the unique fauna of this world.
Looking around at the elves, their faces a mixture of surprise and approval at my gentle handling of Philip.
As I settled into the café, I watched with a mix of amusement and surprise as the elves changed into maid outfits. The juxtaposition of their ethereal beauty with the frilly, human-invented uniforms was jarring, to say the least.
"You guys look cute," I chuckled, unable to hide my amusement.
The elves exchanged glances, a mix of resignation and annoyance in their eyes. Galadhel, adjusting her frilly headpiece, said, "That's the reason we wear this outfit. Humans really like it when we wear these kinds of things."
"It's that damn Magnus Clarkson's fault..." Nimriel muttered, her voice laced with resentment.
Nimreth nodded in agreement with her sister. "Yes. That damn inventor of Chess is to blame for all of this."
I chuckled at their evident displeasure, but my mind was racing. From what I remembered from the books I'd read, Magnus Clarkson was the inventor of Chess in 1082. He was said to be incredibly intelligent and had contributed significantly to the world's innovations.
But as I watched the elves in their maid outfits, a suspicion I'd long harbored resurfaced. This Magnus character... could he have been a reincarnated person from my previous world? The meme-like name, the invention of chess, and this otaku-inspired maid café concept - it all seemed too coincidental.
"So, Magnus Clarkson started this maid café trend?" I asked, trying to keep my tone casual.
Firfel nodded, her expression a mix of resignation and amusement. "Yes, he opened the first café staffed entirely by elves in maid outfits. It was a sensation among humans, and well... here we are."
I nodded with a chuckle.
Unfortunately, Magnus Clarkson had long since passed away due to old age. If he were still alive, I would have loved to meet him, to find someone who could relate to my unique situation.
"Do you want a coffee?" Firfel's voice pulled me out of my thoughts.
I looked up, about to nod, but then remembered my dwindling funds. Reluctantly, I shook my head. "It's alright, I don't feel like having a coffee right now." I added, trying to soften the refusal, "Maybe next time..."
Firfel's emerald eyes studied me, seeming to see right through my excuse. "Don't worry, you don't need to pay. It's on the house."
Despite her generosity, I tried to politely decline. "It's okay, really..."
"Please..." Firfel insisted, her voice warm. "Think of it as payment for the song you performed earlier."
I chuckled, recalling our earlier interaction. "But you already paid me with five dollars, remember?"
A slight blush colored Firfel's cheeks. "Umm... That five dollars isn't enough for such a deep song. Let me get you coffee - just choose."
Seeing there was no way out of the situation, I sighed in defeat. "Alright... I'll have an Elven Mist Latte." I chose, naming a specialty that caught my eye on the menu board.
Firfel nodded and went to prepare the coffee. A few minutes later, she returned with a steaming coffee cup, its contents swirling with an almost ethereal quality.
"Thanks," I said, nodding appreciatively as I took the cup. I brought it to my lips and took a sip, the rich flavors dancing on my tongue.
Realizing it was time for me to go, I looked up at Firfel. "Well, I'll be on my way now. I'll try to visit once in a while."
Firfel nodded in understanding, a small smile on her face.
I turned to the other elves, bidding them farewell with a wave of my hand. As I left the café and stepped onto the sidewalk, the warm mug cradled in my hands, I couldn't help but mutter, "Delicious."
It was the first truly good thing I'd tasted since arriving in Saint Angeles. The flavors were complex, hinting at forest herbs and morning mist, unlike anything I'd experienced in the demon realm or my previous life.
