Chapter 14: A Taste of Persuasion

“Follow me.”  

The elf guard led me to the highest point in the village.  

As I parted the curtain of dangling flowers and stepped inside, I found a cozy space carved within the tree.  

“Chieftain Sharin, a messenger claiming to be sent by Elenia has come to see you.”  

There stood an elf woman, easily two meters tall.  

“A human child as a messenger? That’s the most intriguing thing I’ve heard lately.”  

“Excuse me, but I’m 18 years old—an adult.”  

“Oh, my apologies. It’s hard to gauge the age of other races.”  

Though she looked barely in her thirties by human standards, her deep, soulful eyes hinted at centuries of experience.  

“So, tell me, what brings you here?”  

I spoke politely to Chieftain Sharin.  

“I’m here to pass along Elenia’s regards and to make a proposal.”  

“A proposal?” 

Sharin’s expression turned slightly curious.  

I got straight to the point.  

“I’ve heard there’s a tree here that lives for a thousand years. I need its seeds.”  

“You mean cypress seeds? Why do you need them?”  

“To build a house on the Floating Island.”  

“A house on the Floating Island?”  

Sharin’s face grew even more skeptical.  

“Hmm…”  

After a moment of quiet contemplation, Sharin spoke.  

“Even if it’s Elenia’s request, giving away cypress seeds is no simple matter.”  

From the way she casually mentioned Elenia, they seemed to be close.  

But even for a friend, I figured she wouldn’t easily part with something so precious.  

“I know the seeds are valuable. I’m not asking for them for free. I’m willing to pay a fair price.”  

“Pay a price?”  

Sharin’s eyes narrowed.  

“Human money holds no value for elves. Gold and silver are mere shiny rocks to us. So, what do you propose to offer?”  

“I don’t have that kind of money anyway.”  

Taking a deep breath, I played the card I’d prepared.  

“So, here’s the deal: let me do business here.”  

“Business?”  

Murmur, murmur.  

The surrounding elves showed signs of surprise.  

In contrast, Chieftain Sharin squinted her eyes with amusement.  

“Business? Tell me more.”  

“If you allow me to trade here, I’ll use the profits to buy the cypress seeds.”  

My goal was the cypress seeds, but if I could also establish trade with the elves, it’d be like catching two rabbits at once.  

“Interesting.”  

Is this working? Sharin’s reaction wasn’t bad.  

“But I don’t see why we should allow it.”  

My hopes were dashed as Sharin shook her head.  

As expected, it wouldn’t be easy. I needed a reason to convince her.  

“I brought crops I grew myself. Please take a look and decide.”  

“Your effort is admirable, but I doubt elves would care for ordinary human crops. This forest is full of ingredients far superior to field crops.”  

“Just wait until you see this!”  

I pulled a Potato from my bag and held it up.  

“These were grown on the Floating Island using Dragon Dung as fertilizer!”  

“Hmm?!”  

Sharin, who had maintained a calm demeanor, suddenly widened her eyes.  

The elf guard and the girl named Mary behind her reacted similarly.  

As Elenia had predicted, the elves showed great interest in crops grown on the Floating Island.  

“On the Floating Island? With dragon fertilizer?”  

“Yes, as you can see, they’re fresh, packed with nutrients, and taste amazing!”  

“Elenia not only let you onto the Floating Island but allowed you to farm there?”  

The chieftain looked genuinely shocked.  

If she heard Elenia acknowledged my ownership of the Floating Island, she’d probably faint.  

“Elenia really said that…?”  

Her eyes narrowed as she let out a small chuckle.  

“So, about those cypress seeds…”  

Muttering to herself, Sharin smiled as if a question had been answered.  

Seizing the moment, I pressed forward.  

“My crops are brimming with nutrients! Eat these, and you’ll be bursting with energy all day!”  

At that, the guard showed interest.  

“Bursting with energy?”  

This was a good sign. Just a little more push.  

“Yes! There’s no better health food. You’ll regret missing out on these!”  

“If that’s true, I’d like to try some.”  

Sharin, who had been listening quietly, finally spoke.  

“Intriguing.”  

Her eyes crinkled with interest. 

Then she turned to the elf guard who brought me here.  

“Gail, what’s your opinion?”  

“With dragon fertilizer, they’re plump and fresh. They’re more appetizing than most, but not something I’d go out of my way to eat.”  

His assessment was harsh.  

But I wasn’t discouraged. I’d prepared for this.  

“I’m not done yet!”  

“Hm?”

Heh.  

I pulled out my trump card.  

The guard, Gail, glanced at the basket with a skeptical look.  

“More field crops like Potatoes?”  

“These aren’t just any field crops!”  

“Then what are they?”  

“Open your eyes and look!”  

I lifted the cloth covering the basket, and Gail’s eyes widened.  

“Ta-da!”  

“This looks familiar… like wild strawberries.”  

“Exactly! Wild strawberries!”  

“These are wild strawberries? Why are they so big?”  

“Grown on the Floating Island with Dragon Dung fertilizer! Unlike regular wild strawberries, which are small and unsatisfying, these are bursting with sweet-tart juice!”  

A glint of excitement flashed in his eyes as he swallowed hard, clearly tempted.  

“Here, try one.”  

“Should I?”  

Without hesitation, he picked up a wild strawberry and popped it into his mouth. He chewed slowly, savoring it.  

Munch, munch.  

The air was thick with tension, like a food critic’s judging.  

I waited stiffly until he swallowed and asked,  

Gulp.  

“How is it?”  

“This… this is…” 

Gail’s expression melted.  

“Amazing! As you said, the juice is far richer than regular wild strawberries. I didn’t know they could taste like this!”  

“Really?”  

“Yes, give me a few more. My mouth’s been bored, and this is perfect.”  

“Wait, for free?”  

“Ahem, one saffron should do, right?”  

He pulled a small orange stigma from a glass vial at his waist.  

Saffron, harvested from the stigma of a flower, yields only three per bloom, making it a precious spice.  

Elves, living in a communal society, primarily bartered, with no fixed currency, but certain items like herbs and spices were commonly traded.  

In human society, spices like pepper were often treated as luxury goods, sometimes even traded like gold or silver.  

“Thank you for your purchase, sir!” 

I handed Gail ten wild strawberries wrapped in a leaf.  

The deal was struck on the spot.  

Watching this, Sharin stroked her chin.  

“How about it? Would you like to try one, Chieftain Sharin?”  

I offered her some wild strawberries on a leaf.

After a brief hesitation, she brought one to her mouth.  

Munch, munch. 

Her lips moved slightly, and a faint smile spread across her face.  

“…Delicious.” 

Her reaction was calm, but it was clear she liked the wild strawberries.  

“So, what do you think? I’d say I’ve caught the elves’ interest.”  

“I can’t deny that.”  

“If you trade with me, you’ll enjoy a variety of healthy meals. These ingredients can’t be found anywhere but the Floating Island.”  

I emphasized the benefits of trading with them, hoping it would sink in.  

Thump, thump.  

I suppressed my racing heart and waited for her response.  

“Hmm…” 

She closed her eyes, deep in thought.  

“But elves don’t trade with humans…”  

Though my offer was tempting, it seemed she was hesitant since it was unprecedented.  

Was wild strawberries not enough? What should I do…  

I racked my brain.  

Then—  

“Hmm… smack.”  

I noticed Sharin licking her lips, savoring the lingering sweetness of the wild strawberry.  

That’s it!  

I quickly rummaged through my bag and pulled out my final shot.  

“Chieftain Sharin!”  

At my call, she gently opened her eyes.  

“My goods aren’t just crops! Look at this!” 

I thrust out a glass jar, and her eyebrows shot up.  

“What’s that?”  

“Wild strawberry jam!”  

“Wild strawberry jam?”  

Pop.

As I opened the jar, a sweet wild strawberry aroma filled the air.  

“Jam made from Floating Island wild strawberries! Want to try some?”  

I handed her the jar, and her lips twitched.  

She was clearly intrigued.  

“Ahem, to make an informed decision, I should try it.” 

Without hesitation, she dipped her finger into the jam and brought it to her mouth.  

Suck.  

“Mm!”  

A small gasp escaped her lips.  

“How does this jam taste so good?”  

“Delicious, right? It’s my special recipe jam!” 

The ultimate recipe, enhanced with wild strawberry honey to maximize the flavor and aroma!  

I call it… Honey Jam!  

“…It’s delightfully sweet.” 

Sharin’s eyes curved into a pleased smile.  

Whisper, whisper.  

“Look, the chieftain seems delighted.”  

“What kind of flavor is that?”  

“I want to try some too.”  

Her glowing praise stirred the surrounding elves.  

“…Human messenger.”  

The hesitation was gone from Sharin’s face. 

Instead, she spoke with a satisfied smile.  

“Very well. For your efforts, I’ll grant you special permission to trade here.”  

“Really?”  

My lips curled upward uncontrollably.  

“Yes. If you pay a fair price, I promise to provide the cypress seeds. Work hard.”

Not only had I secured trade with the elves—an incredible achievement—but I also got a promise for the cypress seeds.  

“However, since we’ve allowed you to trade, leave the Potatoes as a gesture.”  

“The Potatoes?”  

Sharin was pretending to be aloof while clearly coveting the Potatoes.  

With a trading partner secured, this was nothing.  

“Ahem. Alright. I’ll leave them as a gift of goodwill, so enjoy.”  

I set the Potatoes down and finally looked around.  

Seeing the elves’ homes, I was certain. I wanted a house like this.  

A natural home overflowing with romance and charm—what skilled artisan could craft such a thing?  

Even a king with all the gold and jewels in the world couldn’t easily have a house this special.  

“I’ll work hard and get a house like this!”  

I was already enchanted by the beauty of the elves’ homes.  

“Excuse me.” 

Suddenly, an elf approached and asked.  

“Can I buy some wild strawberries too?”  

“Of course!” 

I immediately handed over ten wild strawberries wrapped in a leaf. 

The strawberries were a hit.  

That’s right! Strike while the iron’s hot. 

Since I had the strawberries, I should sell them to the elves.  

And while I’m at it, I’ll bring back some maple syrup for Elenia.  

“Gail, sir, where should I set up for business?”  

“Head to the plaza.”  

Filled with excitement, I hurried toward the village plaza.