I Became a Cub in the Elven Kingdom

Hearing their master’s furious roar, the two servants did not dare hesitate. They brandished their fists and charged at Shu Li.

Shu Li stood where he was, hugging his magic staff without dodging or retreating. There was not a trace of fear in his gray-green eyes.

Coffin, the clothing-shop owner, opened his mouth as if to speak but ultimately remained silent. He looked helplessly and sympathetically at the brothers in coarse linen.

Just as the servants’ fists were about to strike Shu Li, Ilio unhurriedly raised his leg and kicked.

Two heavy thuds rang out. The burly servants [N O V E L I G H T] were sent flying and landed flat on their backs, howling like pigs being slaughtered.

Most stared blankly.

His servants were fairly skilled and had taught many insolent commoners a lesson on his behalf. With them at his side, he had grown accustomed to acting arrogantly wherever he went. Who would have thought they would suffer such a defeat today?

“Useless trash! Get up and keep fighting!” he shouted, stamping his feet in fury.

The two servants struggled upright. Ignoring their pain, they roared and charged at Shu Li and Ilio again.

Shu Li shook his head and sighed.

They knew nothing about Ilio’s strength. They had no idea just how powerful the person they intended to teach a lesson truly was.

Ilio did not even furrow his brow. He kicked again, putting more force into it this time and sending both servants straight through the clothing shop’s entrance.

“Aah—ow!”

The two servants sprawled in the street and rolled around in agony.

The sight finally made Most lose his nerve.

The tall, slender black-haired young man before him had effortlessly kicked two burly men out the door, as calmly as though he had punted a pair of leather balls.

He was no ordinary man.

Anyone with such terrifying strength had to be a swordsman!

Most might have relied on his family’s influence to behave outrageously, but he bullied the weak and feared the strong. When he encountered someone genuinely formidable, he would never dare continue provoking them. Instead, he knew when to retreat, run home, and find a powerful supporter to avenge him.

“J-just you wait! As long as you remain in Daoto City, I’ll make sure you have no place here!” Most threw out the threat before hastily leaving the shop. As he passed his two servants, he kicked them viciously several times.

“Get moving!”

Enduring the pain of broken bones, the servants scrambled away in miserable disarray.

“Haha, was that it?” Shu Li mocked as he watched them flee. A moment later, he gently tugged on Ilio’s clothes and looked up at him. “Brother Al, didn’t you say we should keep a low profile?”

Ilio folded his arms and raised an eyebrow with a smile. “Keeping a low profile doesn’t mean allowing others to walk all over us. When we encounter people who don’t know better, we act when action is called for.”

Elves and Fairies had never been afraid of trouble.

They kept a low profile to make their affairs easier and avoid unnecessary complications. But if anyone dared bully them, they would naturally retaliate without mercy.

They could overlook a minor offense, but they would relentlessly avenge a serious insult until the offender dropped to their knees and begged for forgiveness.

In some respects, Elves and Fairies held grudges fiercely. As long-lived races, they could carry those grudges for an exceptionally long time.

If a human offended them, that human’s descendants would become their enemies as well. Forgiveness would never be granted.

Shu Li nodded solemnly, committing Ilio’s words firmly to memory.

Before leaving the Faerie Forest, he had been filled with curiosity about the outside world.

After being cursed, he had volunteered to deliver the letter to the queen of the Dalia Empire partly because he wanted to seize the opportunity to see more of the world.

Yet everything he had witnessed over the past two short days had given him an initial understanding of human society in this other world, and he was disappointed.

This was a society divided by rigid social classes.

Royalty, nobles, and the wealthy possessed unparalleled power and prestige, controlling vast resources and riches. Commoners and slaves belonged to an exploited, subjugated class with low social standing and faced constant discrimination.

The princess of Pedam they had encountered earlier, for example, had treated commoners with extreme arrogance, calling them “lowly commoners” at every turn. Clearly, she had always believed that royalty stood above commoners and that commoners had no right to refuse the demands of the royal family.

Unfortunately, she had forgotten that once she left her own country and lost the protection of a Great Swordsman, she was nothing.

The wealthy young master who had just demanded that they be taught a lesson was the same kind of person as the princess of Pedam.

Neither Shu Li nor Ilio had provoked anyone. They had merely finished buying clothes and crossed paths with the wealthy young master, yet he had looked at their coarse linen garments with contempt and even mocked them aloud.

He despised commoners to his very core, judging people solely by their appearance. It was easy to imagine how overbearing he must ordinarily be.

Compared with the outside world, the equality between Elves and Fairies was almost unbelievable.

There were no social classes whatsoever. Everyone addressed one another by name as equals. The older members cared for the young and patiently taught the cubs. They shared resources, divided their duties clearly, cooperated with one another, and each fulfilled their own responsibilities. Even someone as exalted as the Elven King had to participate in tedious work and patrol the forest for danger.

Shu Li was extremely grateful that he had been reborn as a Fairy.

Had he become a human or a member of some other race, he might already have been unable to endure the cruel reality of this world and died young.

He had once planned to wait until he was strong enough before venturing across the continent.

Now, having left the Faerie Forest early and discovered a world completely different from the one he had imagined, he had been given much more to consider.

What kind of hero did he want to become?

And what kind of world was he supposed to save?

Would defeating the Demon King, the ultimate final boss, be enough to complete his mission and return home?

Or were there other conditions he would have to fulfill?

These questions surfaced in Shu Li’s mind all at once, adding a new burden to his naturally optimistic heart.

But no matter how painful or difficult the future became, he would grit his teeth and continue fearlessly onward.

Because he now had only one unwavering conviction—to return home.

Ilio sensed the Little Fairy beside him suddenly brimming with determination. His gray-green eyes shone as brilliantly as gemstones, leading Ilio to believe that his words had inspired him.

“Come on. Let’s go take the test for your magic badge.”

The little fellow had only just entered the Human World and had no identification. Traveling with the song-and-dance troupe had allowed them to muddle through for the moment, but inspections would become much stricter once they entered the capital’s territory.

Mages, however, fell under the authority of the Central Court’s Magic Tower and were not subject to any individual nation’s restrictions. Anyone carrying a magic badge could travel freely throughout the continent.

“All right.” Shu Li urged him onward. “Let’s hurry!”

Buying the magic staff and clothes had already taken time, and then they had been delayed further by that rude wealthy young master. If they arrived too late, the Magic Association might close.

They had only just reached the doorway when Coffin called out to them.

“Please wait, honored customers.”

Ilio turned and asked with a smile, “Is something wrong?”

Coffin spoke worriedly. “You offended the young master of the Hobner family. You’re in serious trouble now. If possible, you should leave Daoto City as quickly as you can.”

Ilio inclined his head. “Thank you for the warning.”

Taking Shu Li’s hand, he calmly walked out of the clothing shop and into the bustling street.

Coffin watched them leave and sighed.

Yet another outsider who refused to listen to advice. They were on their own now!

As they walked, Shu Li asked, “Is the Hobner family very powerful?”

Ilio looked toward the Magic Association a hundred meters away. “Who knows?”

When he had traveled the continent, the Hobner family had not even existed. Human lives were too short, and old families were replaced by new ones far too frequently for him to remember them all.

Only ancient families with histories spanning several thousand years were worth remembering.

There was no reason to concern himself with an insignificant new family.

Seeing that Ilio paid them no mind, Shu Li put the ridiculous family out of his thoughts as well. They were only passing through Daoto City and would leave first thing tomorrow morning. If the family wanted to cause trouble, they would have to find them first.

Standing before the imposing entrance of the Magic Association, Shu Li craned his head back until his neck ached.

As expected of the largest organization on the continent. It was obscenely wealthy. Compared with it, the neighboring buildings looked both tiny and shabby.

Ilio patted the Little Fairy’s head and whispered, “Hold back your magic during the test.”

Shu Li froze. “Hold it back? How?”

He was a Senior Mage now, and his affinity with the elements was extraordinarily high. Whenever he recited even the simplest incantation, the slime-like natural elements would gleefully bounce over and snuggle against him. He could not drive them away even if he tried.

“Learn to command them selectively,” Ilio said.

Natural elements were like soldiers, while a mage was their commander. It was the mage who decided how many soldiers to deploy.

“Oh.” Shu Li absorbed the technique Ilio had taught him and decided to try it during the test.

Hopefully, everything would go smoothly.

The two entered the Magic Association through its magnificent doors. A young man dressed in a white magic robe received them and, after learning why they had come, led them to the registration desk.

The clerk spoke in a businesslike tone. “Who is taking the magic badge test?”

Ilio pushed Shu Li forward and said with a warm smile, “My younger brother.”

The clerk narrowed his eyes and scrutinized him. Shu Li stood obediently and allowed the man to inspect him from head to toe.

“Name and age.” The clerk withdrew his gaze and took out a form.

Shu Li looked back at Ilio, silently questioning him with his eyes.

Should he give his real name or a false one?

Ilio answered for him. “His name is Sperien. He’s ten years old.”

Shu Li was surprised.

They were actually using his real name?

The clerk finished recording the information and handed the form to Shu Li. “Go to Testing Hall One. The instructor there will tell you what to do.”

Shu Li accepted the form and said politely, “Thank you.”

The clerk barely lifted his eyelids. “You’re welcome.”

The mage who had received them dutifully led them to Testing Hall One.

Holding the form in one hand and the pitch-black low-rank magic staff in the other, Shu Li stepped through the doors and looked around curiously.

The testing hall was extremely spacious, about the size of a basketball court. A transparent crystal sphere stood on the left, while a drowsy mage sat on the right.

Hearing them enter, the mage opened his bleary eyes.

“Oh, it’s rare for anyone to come for a test at this hour.” He stood and stretched. Ignoring the diminutive Shu Li, he launched into an explanation directed at Ilio. “I’m Instructor Job Carter Gulain. You may call me Instructor Job. Give me your registration form, then go over there and place your right hand on the crystal sphere. We’ll test your magical attributes first.”

Ilio placed both hands on Shu Li’s shoulders and pushed him in front of Job. “He’s the one taking the test. I’m merely accompanying him.”

“Huh? Him?” Job lowered his head and looked at the ten-year-old child.

Shu Li smiled, showing his teeth, and respectfully presented the registration form with both hands. “Good evening, Instructor Job.”

Job grunted, accepted the form, and pointed toward the crystal sphere. “Go over there.”

“Yes, Instructor Job.” Brimming with confidence, Shu Li approached the crystal sphere, raised his right hand, and pressed it against the surface.

He possessed Seven-Element Magic. The instant his palm touched the crystal sphere, seven dazzling rays of light blazed inside it.

Job had been yawning continuously, paying little attention. But when he saw seven blinding lights appear within the crystal sphere, his eyes nearly popped out of their sockets.

Seven magical attributes!

How was that possible?

In all fifty years of his life, he had never encountered a mage who possessed all seven elements.

Most mages possessed one or two attributes. Those with three or more could be counted on one hand.

Yet today, a ten-year-old child dressed in coarse linen had made the testing sphere shine with seven different lights.

Unbelievable!

“Instructor Job, am I done?” Shu Li called.

Job returned to his senses and adjusted the monocle over his eye. “Yes, you’re done.”

He took out a quill and recorded the child’s magical attributes in the appropriate section of the registration form.

Seven-Element Magic. A genius among geniuses.

Unfortunately, he was only an ordinary commoner dressed in coarse linen. Without immense financial resources and an outstanding magic instructor, he would never go far.

After completing the form, Job looked into the child’s sparkling eyes. He hesitated before saying, “Congratulations. You possess all seven magical attributes. It is an exceptional gift. If you have the means, I recommend studying at Saint Velia Magic Academy in the Central Court. It has some truly outstanding magic instructors who can teach you how to advance through the magical ranks.”

“Thank you!” Shu Li ran excitedly toward Ilio and threw himself into his arms. “Brother, Instructor Job says I have Seven-Element Magic!”

Ilio vigorously ruffled the child’s hair and praised him. “Little Sperien is amazing!”

“Hehehe!” Shu Li grinned brilliantly.

The Elf and Fairy displayed superb acting skills, behaving exactly like a pair of delighted human brothers.