I Became a Cub in the Elven Kingdom - Chapter 4

Chapter 4 – I May As Well Settle In

Shu Li was lost in thought.

He sat cross-legged in the Flower Bed, his chubby hands propping up his round cheeks. His wide, tender green eyes stared blankly ahead.

The Nursery was filled with rare flowers, herbs, and trees. The setting sun streamed through the skylight, painting the leaves and blossoms crimson. A sweet, refreshing fragrance permeated the air, and glowing green insects materialized from nowhere, flitting among the flowers and creating a dreamlike spectacle.

The newly born Fairy Cubs, full and content, spread their wings and darted about curiously. Spotting the luminous insects, they approached cautiously, reaching out to touch them.

The insects obediently landed on the cubs’ fingertips, their translucent wings fluttering gently as their abdomens pulsed with light, drawing giggles from the Little Fairies.

While the cubs reveled in joy, Shu Li sat in the Flower Bed, his brow furrowed in worry.

“Sigh—”

After his fifth sigh, Shu Li shifted positions, lying down instead of sitting cross-legged.

“Ouch~”

Something poked his back. He yelped softly, reached behind him, and pulled out a beautiful red crystal.

This was a gift from the other Fairy Cubs.

Although a minor conflict had arisen during the gift-giving, Shu Li didn’t dwell on it and made a decision in his heart. If the red-haired fairy cub came looking for him again, he would forgive him for stealing the Flower Nectar earlier.

After tucking the beautiful crystal into the flower’s pistil, Shu Li pulled the soft Flower Petal blanket over himself and lay flat, staring blankly.

He had truly transmigrated.

He had been transported to an unknown Otherworld.

Here, there were beautiful Elves, adorable Little Fairies, and countless unknown creatures.

And he, a high school student from Earth, had fallen and, in the blink of an eye, his soul had been reborn as a newborn Fairy Cub.

Was the Transmigration God punishing him for his fervent patriotism and inability to learn foreign languages, deliberately sending him to this fantastical world where everyone spoke an alien tongue?

Shu Li sensed the Transmigration God’s deep malice.

As a linguistic dunce, how was he supposed to survive in this unfamiliar Otherworld?

If only the language here had even a passing resemblance to English, he could grit his teeth and force himself to learn.

But there was nothing.

Whether it was the tall Elves or the flower-like Little Fairies, their words sounded like arcane scriptures, utterly incomprehensible and bearing no resemblance to any Earth language Shu Li knew.

The golden-haired Little Fairy lying in the Flower Bed silently wept.

If time could rewind, Shu Li would have studied diligently and resolutely avoided playing games. That way, when his dad knocked on the door, he wouldn’t have felt guilty, wouldn’t have tripped, and wouldn’t have transmigrated.

Alas, the world offered no “what ifs.”

Clutching his flower petal blanket and listening to the joyful laughter of the other Fairy Cubs playing, Shu Li’s heart overflowed with tears.

He wanted to go home.

He missed his parents, his three older brothers, and the family pets.

Now that his soul had been reborn in this Otherworld, what had become of his original body?

Was he comatose, a vegetable, or had he met an untimely end?

Shu Li suddenly sat up, puffing out his cheeks and shaking his head vigorously. “Peh peh peh! What I’m thinking, don’t take it seriously! I’m definitely still alive! Alive and well!”

“I might be the Hero chosen by the Transmigration God!”

“Destined to save the people of this Otherworld from their suffering—”

“As long as I become stronger and more powerful, defeat the Great Demon King, and complete my adventure quest, I’ll definitely be able to return home!”

As a seasoned anime enthusiast, Shu Li’s inner chuunibyou spirit instantly ignited, optimistically crafting the most logical explanation for his transmigration.

What else could he do?

Rant and rave? Weep and wail? Wallow in self-pity?

None of that would help.

His dad had always told him: “The more dire the situation, the less you should panic. Everything has a pattern. Find the method, and you can solve any problem.”

So—

“Since I’m here, I may as well settle in!”

“As the ancients said, ‘When Heaven bestows a great task upon a person, it first tests their resolve, strains their muscles and bones, and starves their body…'”

“It’s just a language barrier. Nothing insurmountable. I can learn!”

Shu Li clenched his fist, psyching himself up. He focused on the positive, burying his fear and sorrow deep within his heart, temporarily sealing them away.

Mentally fortified, he lay back down, pulled the Flower Petal blanket snug, and settled into a peaceful expression.

At least there was one piece of good news:

He didn’t have to take the college entrance exams anymore!

He was now a newborn Fairy Cub, whose only duties were to eat, drink, play, and grow happily.

Shu Li licked his lips, savoring the sweet fragrance of the Flower Nectar.

I wonder how varied a fairy’s diet is? Besides Flower Nectar, are there other delicious foods?

He patted his round little belly beneath the Flower Petal blanket, feeling he should get up and move around.

Now that I’ve made up my mind, I should fully embrace this world!

First, he needed to learn how to fly.

Shu Li threw back the Flower Petal blanket and lazily rose to his feet. He unfurled his gossamer wings and tentatively flapped them.

His body floated effortlessly upward, and in moments he was airborne, drifting away from the Flower Bed.

He glanced down nervously at the flower thicket below. His wings stiffened, and he plummeted downward.

“Ah—!”

Determined to avoid another dizzying fall, he frantically beat his wings, propelling himself upward past the shrubbery.

Holding his breath, Shu Li wobbled through the air for a short distance before gradually stabilizing. Finally, he managed to execute a turn.

It seems flying is instinctive for Little Fairies. Once you master the technique, you can soar freely wherever you please.

Shu Li’s brow smoothed, his eyes widened with excitement as he darted through the flower thicket, brushing past other Fairy Cubs.

Aisha, who had been observing him from a tree branch, pondered thoughtfully.

Before leaving, Sayah had asked her to keep a close eye on Sperien.

After a brief observation, it was clear that this Little Fairy, blessed by the Elven King, was indeed different from the others.

While other Fairy Cubs could fly effortlessly from birth, Sperien struggled awkwardly, unable even to turn properly. He crashed headfirst into a tree trunk, tumbled to the ground, and wept inconsolably.

Yet even in his distress, he didn’t forget to drink Flower Nectar.

After finishing, his eyes and nose red, he stumbled back to his Flower Bed and sat there, lost in thought.

Concerned about his well-being, Aisha flew to a nearby branch, keeping a watchful eye on him.

The cub, likely unaware of her observation, sat cross-legged in his Flower Bed, his chin resting in his hands, completely absorbed in his thoughts, as still as a wooden doll.

Aisha waited patiently, but when he remained motionless for an extended period, she was about to descend and inquire when the cub finally stirred. He shifted from sitting to lying down, pulling a Flower Petal blanket over himself.

Is he going to sleep?

Aisha glanced up at the skylight.

The setting sun still shone brightly; it was too early for bedtime.

Aisha lowered her head, continuing to observe the little cub. Her exceptional vision allowed her to clearly see the expression on the cub’s face.

A look of sorrow, his mouth turned down in a pout, and a tiny, glistening tear clinging to the corner of his eye.

Was he still upset about bumping into the tree earlier?

She had already healed him with magic; the sore spot should have completely healed by now.

Could a newborn Fairy Cub, with its still-developing intellect, be so prone to melancholy?

Sperien truly was extraordinary.

Aisha retrieved her small notebook and quill, meticulously recording every movement of the little cub.

As the Fairy Godmother, she needed to track each cub’s progress to ensure their healthy and robust development.

The quill scratched softly against the paper, leaving behind elegant Elven script.

Just as Aisha finished a page and prepared to turn it, the Fairy Cub in the Flower Bed stirred again.

His previous sorrow vanished, replaced by a vibrant energy. He let out adorable “giggling” sounds, clenched his tiny fists, and waved them vigorously.

Aisha: ?

Moments later, the little cub lay back down, his entire aura calming. Covered by his flower petal blanket, he seemed ready to finally drift off to sleep.

Aisha blinked, flipped a page in her small notebook, and quickly scribbled down a line.

But before she could finish recording, the cub, who was supposed to be sleeping, rose from the Flower Bed, spread its wings, and energetically flew out.

Worried it might crash into a tree again, Aisha hastily stowed her notebook and quill, preparing to rush forward and protect it. To her surprise, the cub had overcome its difficulties and learned to fly.

Watching it play with the other Fairy Cubs, the weight in Aisha’s heart finally lifted.

Completely unaware of being the Fairy Godmother’s observation subject, Shu Li was exploring the Nursery with two Fairy Cub companions.

The two Fairy Cubs were Reddy and Whitey.

Hmm, since they didn’t have names, Shu Li could only distinguish them by their hair color.

Reddy was the same fairy cub who had stolen his Flower Nectar but later gifted him a red crystal.

Whitey was a fairy cub with silver hair and amber eyes.

While practicing flying among the flowers, Shu Li encountered Reddy. Reddy greeted him enthusiastically, Whitey trailing behind, chirping, “Yip-yah, yip-yah!”

Unable to understand their words, Shu Li perched on a blade of grass, quietly watching them.

Reddy, ever impatient, noticed Shu Li’s silence and flew over to grab his hand. With powerful wingbeats, he pulled Shu Li toward the Nursery’s skylight.

Whitey chased after them, calling out “Hiya, hiya!” and occasionally darting to Shu Li’s side, grinning widely.

The three Fairy Cubs reached the top of the skylight and perched on the massive, transparent glazed window, peering curiously at the world outside.

To these creatures, each less than ten centimeters tall, the Nursery was vast, a seemingly endless forest teeming with flowers, grass, and trees.

The only glimpse of the outside world came through the skylight above.

The skylight wasn’t flat but shaped like an inverted “U,” with crisscrossing beams supporting the structure. The Fairy Cubs sat or stood on these beams, their eyes darting around in wonder.

Reddy found a spot with a wide view and beckoned Shu Li and Whitey over.

Shu Li carefully balanced on the finger-wide beam, afraid to look down.

It was too high!

Reddy had flown him up the equivalent of seven or eight stories. If he lost his footing and fell, he’d be seriously injured, if not killed.

Compared to Shu Li’s stiffness, Reddy and Whitey were far more agile.

They showed no fear of heights. Their wings weren’t just decorative; if they fell off the beam, they could simply fly back up.

“Eeya—!” Reddy pointed outside the skylight with one hand and patted Shu Li’s shoulder with the other.

Shu Li nearly stumbled forward from the force of the pat. He frantically grabbed Whitey’s arm, causing the little fairy to wobble. Whitey quickly flapped his wings to regain balance, then turned to give Shu Li a puzzled look.

“Uh…” Shu Li awkwardly released Whitey, instinctively puffing out his cheeks.

He would never admit he was afraid of heights!

Ignoring Whitey’s strange gaze, Shu Li followed Reddy’s pointing finger.

Beyond the Nursery lay an even more expansive world.

Towering trees, their crowns reaching into the clouds, stood so close together that they formed a vast, verdant canopy, blotting out the sun. Thick green vines coiled around the massive branches, some trailing down like curtains, others bristling with thorns, some adorned with delicate blossoms, and still others completely bare.

On the Giant Tree closest to the Nursery, a row of exquisite, colorful houses perched like jewels, each uniquely shaped. Adult fairies, resembling busy bees, flitted about with outstretched wings.

In the distance, graceful, spire-topped structures peeked through the forest canopy, their glazed windows reflecting the golden hues of the setting sun in a dazzling display.

The three fairy cubs were mesmerized, pressing their faces against the skylight in unison, their hearts filled with longing.

“Eeya, eeya, eeya—” Reddy pounded his tiny fists against the Glazed Window, muttering in frustration. He wanted to go out and play!

“Hey! Hey!” Whitey swung his tiny fist, pounding with all his might. The glazed window remained unmoved, and his own fist began to ache. His mouth twisted into a pout, and tears welled in his large eyes, hovering between crying and not.

Shu Li wanted to facepalm.

Seriously? With their tiny bodies, they couldn’t possibly push open the skylight. Besides, a massive nursery like this must have a proper exit.

“Don’t hurt yourselves,” Shu Li said gently, taking each cub by the hand. “Let’s go play downstairs, okay?”

Reddy tilted his head, confused, unable to understand Shu Li’s standard Chinese.

Sighing in resignation, Shu Li released the cubs, spread his wings, grabbed onto a ceiling beam, and swooped down first, demonstrating what he wanted them to do.

Reddy and Whitey pouted but reluctantly followed, gliding down.

They flew with practiced ease, while Shu Li still hesitated above.

“Eeya!” Reddy darted upward, grabbed Shu Li’s hand, and yanked him down at breakneck speed.

“Aaaaaah!”

Shu Li screamed in terror.

The descent was so rapid that the scenery blurred into streaks. The terrifying weightlessness made him forget to flap his wings, tears streaming from his eyes.

Reddy nearly had his eardrums shattered by the scream. Nearing the bushes, he flapped his wings to slow down, landing gracefully on a large, green leaf.

Shu Li’s legs buckled, and he collapsed onto a leaf, tearfully accusing Reddy.

Reddy rubbed his pointed ears, utterly bewildered.

Whitey arrived at the bush a moment later. Seeing Shu Li’s tears, he showed no sympathy, instead bursting into heartless laughter.

A vein throbbed on Shu Li’s forehead.

Don’t get angry! Don’t get angry! Don’t get angry!

They were different from him—true Fairy Cubs, less than a day old, barely more than clueless infants.

He wouldn’t stoop to arguing with babies.

Sniffling, Shu Li wiped away his tears. “I’m going back to the Flower Bed to sleep. You two go play by yourselves!”

The day’s shocks had left him drained. He needed to lie down and rest to recover his energy.

However, Reddy and Whitey didn’t understand his words. Seeing his listlessness, they grabbed him by the arms and flew him toward the bushes.

“Hey, hey!” Shu Li struggled against the cubs’ chubby little hands, but couldn’t break free and was forced to land with them.

“Eeya~” Reddy picked up a red crystal from the ground and offered it to Shu Li.

Shu Li took it suspiciously, realizing it was identical to the one Reddy had given him earlier—pure, flawless, and dazzlingly radiant, even more beautiful than any natural crystal he’d ever seen.

He looked around in astonishment, discovering red crystals scattered everywhere nearby.

Wow!

So many!

Can you just pick up treasures from the Otherworld anywhere?

I’m rich! I’m rich!

Shu Li excitedly gathered the crystals, his hands overflowing. He used his robe to scoop up even more, piling them into a heavy, weighty bundle.

As he collected them, he pondered how much money he could sell these crystals for. Suddenly, a rustling sound came from above, and something struck him on the head.

He quickly dodged and looked up. Whitey was perched on a plant’s leaf, gripping its green stem with both hands and shaking it vigorously.

With each shake, a “red rain” began to fall from the plant.

The crimson droplets landed on the ground, transforming into beautiful red crystals that quickly piled up into a glittering heap.

Shu Li stared at the shimmering crystals, his dreams of wealth instantly dissolving like bubbles.

So these are a plant’s seeds!