Riley would naturally not refuse Mathilda’s invitation. Most importantly, it was an invitation to watch the newest movie in the Weissenasche Theater.
Riley’s excitement defeated her unease and fear from following a group of strangers. On their way to the Weissenasche Theater, Riley gathered her courage to ask Mathilda many questions. Naturally, she asked what she was most concerned with — whether Léon was still alive.
“What... Léon is really still alive?” Riley spoke with disbelief.
“Mmhmm, perhaps you might even be able to see him at the premiere,” said Gallolei.
Gallolei believed that the actor for Léon would definitely be invited to the premiere of the new movie.
“Really? Daughter of the Forest, that demon hitman... is still alive?”
Suddenly, one of the elven priestesses following Gallolei interrupted into the conversation. Gallolei remembers that this priestess’s name was Luvita. She was also the youngest of the elven priestesses.
When Gallolei turned around to look at the elven priestess, the other three priestesses beside her also started looking at Gallolei with curious eyes.
It would appear that these four elven priestesses had grown to like the main male lead of ‘Léon: The Demon’ after they’ve watched the movie in the World Tree.
“Sisters, please keep your composure before the Holy Tree.”
At this moment, the eldest priestess Oranka placed her hand on one of the priestesses. She reminded them that they’ve not come to this human city for the sake of tourism.
Having been reminded by their immediate superior, the four elven priestesses quietly returned to their ranks.
“My apologies, Daughter of the Forest. Luvita and the others have been attending the Holy Tree all their lives. Because of that, they’ve never stepped foot outside the forest before... To them, the human world might be too novel.”
Priestess Oranka took a glance at the elves behind her. When they first stepped foot into Norland, they were on guard and slightly afraid because there were humans all around them.
But, gradually, they’ve grown used to the humans. With that, their eyes began to wander all around.
They resembled country girls that were yearning to learn about the lives of the city folks.
“It’s alright. They’re only interested in the movie. Besides, we are not far from the Weissenasche Theater. We will soon be able to settle down and rest.”
Gallolei displayed her understanding. Then, she went back to the front of the group and continued to guide them.
“If only it were so.”
Oranka sighed briefly. She turned to glance at the young elven priestesses at the end of the group.
They seemed to have forgotten about how a priestess should behave with reservation.
It would be one thing if they were still in the Blackwood Forest. But, they were now in the human world. Moreover, they would need to negotiate with a certain human as representatives of the Blackwood Elves.
At this moment, Priestess Oranka only hoped that these girls that have entered a human city for the first time in their lives would not overstep their bounds due to their curiosity.
.........
Weissenasche Theater. Inside a private lounge established for the sake of the movie premiere.
“Mister Joshua, is this attire truly alright?” Frost Elf Tylene examined her outfit. She couldn’t help herself from questioning Joshua worriedly.
She learned from Joshua that the Blackwood Elves would be present in the movie premiere. She was to be Joshua’s envoy and communicate with the Blackwood Elves.
But today, Tylene was dressed in ordinary clothes.
“You can dress however you like. After all, this is not the nobles’ ball.”
Joshua was holding the list of invitees for the movie premiere. The members of the Weissenasche Theatrical Troupe occupied most of the people on the list. Then, there were performers that Joshua had worked with in the past.
Currently, the only people that were not yet here were the two lead performers for ‘Léon: The Demon,’ Gallolei and the Deceiver Pluk.
Suddenly, the door to the lounge was pushed open. Joshua could hear the gasps of surprise from the members of the Weissenasche Theatrical Troupe. Joshua turned to look at the entrance.
The person who appeared at the entrance was none other than the ‘Flower of Farucci.’
Even though her attire was much more simple and plain than the time when she was participating in the ball, her charm as the number one actress in Farucci was still sufficient to cause others to exclaim in admiration.
Many of the performers from the Weissenasche Theatrical Troupe wanted to go up to the Flower of Farucci and strike up a conversation with her. But, there were ten hood-wearing people standing beside her.
Their pressure successfully intimated those brazen fellows that wanted to go up to Gallolei. Gallolei immediately found Joshua and directly walked over to him.
“There’s black circles around your eyes. Miss Gallolei... although it’s very important to update your camp, it’s not a good habit to stay up all night.”
Joshua examined the Flower of Farucci. Compared to their last meeting, the current Gallolei appeared to be much more pallid. Even though she tried to make herself look healthy, there were things that her performing skills cannot conceal.
“Black... circles?”
Gallolei murmured the strange term Joshua mentioned. Soon, she was able to realize what he meant by those words.
“It’s merely caused by the exhaustion of my journey here. I’ll be fine with a bit of sleep. Compared to that... Mister Joshua, please allow me to introduce you. This person here is the head priestess in charge of attending the World Tree Narushi, Priestess Oranka.”
Standing behind Gallolei the entire time, Priestess Oranka removed her hood and made a strange gesture of etiquette toward Joshua.
“My greetings.”
Even though Priestess Oranka was greeting Joshua, her attention has been captured by Tylene who stood beside Joshua.
Oranka was able to sense the vigorous vitality emitting from Tylene. There was no mistake... that was the vitality from a World Tree. Her vitality... far surpassed the vitality of the World Tree within Gallolei’s body!
Gallolei has informed Oranka before that Tylene was the only survivor of the Frost Elves.
With the faith of a single Frost Elf, she was able to germinate the World Tree once more.
Had it been before, Priestess Oranka would definitely think that Gallolei was telling her an unfunny joke.
But, the truth was placed before her. This Frost Elf survivor has revived their race’s World Tree.
Now, Priestess Oranka’s final misgivings have been dispelled.
With a solemn expression, she looked to the young ‘human’ standing before Gallolei.
But, before their talking about cooperation could even begin, a small disturbance appeared in the lounge.
The reason for that was because the final invitee, the actor who played the demon hitman Léon, Pluk, has arrived.
The Deceiver was dressed in practically the same manner as his movie’s counterpart. He had a black beanie on his head and wore a long windbreaker. But, beside him was not Gallolei. Instead, he came with two Gray-cat Beastmen and two Half-dragons.
He appeared much more ‘approachable’ than Gallolei. The first people to discover him was a Blackwood Elf priestess and the little girl who followed Gallolei here.
Priestess Oranka wanted to remind her subordinates to maintain their composure. But, it was already too late.
The youngest and the most sensitive elven priestess, Luvita, had already ran over to ‘Léon.’ The little girl was also pointing at Pluk and shouting “Léon’s alive!”
Many of the Weissenasche Theatrical Troupe’s female performers also ran over to Pluk. After all, the opportunity to meet the actor playing Léon in real life was extremely rare.
The Deceiver Pluk was at a complete loss as to how to handle this situation. The two Gray-cat Beastmen immediately hide behind him. All their hairs were standing on end.
“My deepest apologies, my sister had caused a spectacle...”
Priestess Oranka felt like this disturbance was all caused by that young priestess Luvita.
This was not a favorable impression to give toward the upcoming negotiations!
“You don’t have to worry about this. This is what I’ve expected. Well... since the premiere of the new movie is about to begin, can we continue our conversation after the premiere is over?” asked Joshua.
“Of course. That is also what the Daughter of the Forest wished for.”
Priestess Oranka had long noticed that Gallolei was looking forward to the new movie.
Soon, the small disturbance has been quieted down by the news of the premiere starting. Guided by the attendants of the Weissenasche Theater, the lucky invitees were led to a special screening theater.