Chapter 86
Chapter 86
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 86
Chapter Title: New Alternative
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“What a mess. Priest, sorry, but it looks like we'll have to continue our unfinished talk another time. Tsk, I thought I could finally relax for a bit, but being emperor truly allows no room for respite.”
The emperor departed. From what he had been saying, it seemed some kind of upheaval had occurred in the Citadel Republic.
How serious was it? Even His Majesty didn’t seem to know yet. Still, if the republic’s people were expressing their intent to evacuate to the capital via the gates, it was clearly something enormous.
‘Has Roca not returned yet?’
Something similar had happened at Duke Schumira’s estate, but I pushed the stray thought aside. Surely, the same thing wouldn’t happen again.
The child was probably pondering what to choose in the imperial treasure vault.
“You’re playing your instrument so diligently, yet you won’t even spare me a glance.”
As I rose to return to my room, someone addressed me. A woman with a large wooden instrument slung around her neck smiled at me. Her golden hair made me briefly wonder if she was of imperial blood, but a princess wouldn’t be performing like this.
‘Pointed ears. Could it be...’
Moreover, those unusually pointed ears. They felt slightly off for a human.
The woman covered her mouth and chuckled. She had noticed my gaze on her ears.
“Is this your first time seeing an elf? Well, it might be better that way. Not all elves live as productively as I do.”
The instrument she held, with its wheel and strings—known as a hurdy-gurdy or dreilaire—marked her unmistakably as a bard. An elven bard, no less. The capital truly drew all kinds.
She turned the wheel with her right hand to rub against the strings for sound, while pressing buttons on the instrument with her left to create melodies. It was a staple for bards.
It wasn’t common in palace music, so her presence here despite that meant her skill must be exceptional.
“It’s my first time seeing the forest folk, so I was a bit startled. I’m Kyle.”
“Rowena. No family name. Pleased to meet you, priest of the Ancient Gods.”
She looked me up and down with her violet eyes, then smiled warmly.
“One of our distant ancestors was a servant of the Ancient Gods, just like you. Before passing, he petitioned them to leave us the World Tree. But that wasn’t entirely a blessing. I’m very curious if the one you serve feels the same.”
Thud. She plopped down in the seat right in front of me—the one the emperor had just occupied.
Was that allowed? I glanced around, but surprisingly, no one stopped her.
“I’m also an envoy from Elvenhome. Strictly speaking, being a bard is just a side gig. When you’re addicted to the drug of song, it dulls the pain a little. The torment of longevity isn’t something our minds can endure.”
Kyahaha. She laughed. I wasn’t sure if it was a laughing matter, but she introduced herself as an unusual elf.
“The World Tree granted us lifespans nearing a millennium, but you know. We elves spend most of that time in meaningless idleness. The drive to achieve anything lasts maybe a century. After a hundred years, everything becomes a chore. We turn into pleasure machines shaped like elves, chasing only gratification.”
“In what sense exactly?”
“Every aged elf has tried drugs. I’ve done opium myself, and even kids smoke marijuana. Some kin smoke hashish and indulge in orgies. Hm... that’s how my parents conceived me. They weren’t married. Elves don’t do marriage.”
Elves were known across the continent as pure, beautiful forest dwellers, but hearing it from an actual elf, they were beautiful yet far from pure.
Rowena smiled faintly again.
“Still, my parents had some sense of responsibility for elves. Not good ones, but better than those who sell their kids into slavery for drug money.”
“Things got that bad?”
“It’s simple. Even humans like you could descend endlessly into depravity if they chose. What makes elves incapable? Once you cross the line, it’s all the same.”
Rowena downed her drink and smirked. This alcohol’s strength seemed like juice to her; she poured another and gulped it down.
It appeared her youthful indulgences weren’t limited to drugs.
“Of course, selling kin like that draws massive condemnation. So usually, it’s the half-elves from romps with humans who get sold. The lofty high elves completely ignore it. Half-elves aren’t kin to them. Those folks seem utterly disinterested in worldly affairs.”
No qualifications, no experience, just some musical talent and knowledge of the imperial tongue? That’s why I’m Elvenhome’s full ambassador, you see?
Rowena asked just that. Indeed, she lacked the aura typical of highborns. She didn’t seem high-ranking in elven society.
“The truly qualified high elves... to me, they just seem to have no attachment to life. They have secrets passed only among them, and once they learn them, they give up and go wild. So, honestly, I’m curious too. What exactly is this ‘Cycle’?”
...How did she know I was seeking the meaning of the Cycle?
As I faltered, she chuckled mischievously.
“I told you. I’m Elvenhome’s full ambassador. No one wanted the post, so I got it, but I still have the right to a private audience with His Majesty.”
“His Majesty asked me about the Cycle, and I said I didn’t know... but I’m not entirely ignorant. I’ve heard high elves muttering ‘Cycle’ among themselves.”
Did that mean I should detour to Elvenhome instead of the North Pole Citadel?
Incredibly useful information. Far safer than the Arctic stronghold. I bowed in thanks, but Rowena waved it off.
“But those folks are so insular, they might not share with you. Well, if they refuse, threaten them. Rage about whether the one behind me can’t revoke the World Tree’s blessing from the Ancient Gods. I think they’d negotiate then.”
Haha, what an entertaining person.
The story she shared with a smile wasn’t exactly amusing...
If so, there might be no need to go to the North Pole Citadel at all. I should discuss it with Roca when she returns. I’d have to leave the child behind for the Arctic, but not for Elvenhome.
It wasn’t likely, but Roca might even make an elven friend.
‘Then I’ll need to talk with the princess again.’
If only I’d known sooner. Everything was getting tangled now. The princess had been appointed envoy to the North Pole because of me; changing course would disrupt her plans too.
For now, I needed to coordinate future steps with His Majesty and the princess.
“By the way, why’s it so noisy outside? There was a bit of an earthquake, but people wouldn’t be this agitated over a little shaking, right?”
Suddenly, Rowena excused herself, saying she’d use her ambassadorial status to find out what happened. When she returned shortly after, her face was ashen.
“This is bad. That... Grimudo... the Primordial Demon King attacked the Citadel Republic! The republic’s on the brink of annihilation!”
My face probably paled somewhat too.
“Did he himself make a move?”
“No. But one of Grimudo’s crown existences did. The Monster Emperor... Phoenix herself induced the explosion in the Calderan Mountains. Who else but Grimudo could be behind it!”
“Then it might not be the worst-case scenario.”
If it was just a monster rampaging rather than Grimudo acting directly,
Wasn’t this exactly like when the manticore attacked Pumpkin Vine Village?
The Primordial Demon King lets monsters roam freely as usual, ignoring any resulting damage. Perhaps the Citadel Republic’s peril was Phoenix’s solo act, not Grimudo’s.
Either way, I knew we couldn’t just sit here.
“Please explain in more detail. What exactly happened?”
*****
“So you’re Roca. I heard about you from His Majesty.”
“Elder. Then I’ll take my leave.”
The imperial chamberlain who escorted Roca bowed politely to the treasure keeper elder. It wasn’t because he knew the old man was a top-tier master among masters.
He simply knew even the emperor treated this elder with respect. And that the old man’s extraordinary skill was elite even across the entire palace.
With no ambition for power and solely guarding the vault, there was no reason to antagonize someone he’d never clash with.
“Your qualifications are confirmed. Now enter. Pick any one item inside and bring it out. If you try taking two or more, don’t get caught by me. I’m too old to scold children.”
The elder guarding the imperial treasure vault reviewed the documents from the chamberlain, then spoke irritably. Roca nodded. She sensed immense power from the old man.
It dwarfed the third prince’s knight, and even surpassed the greatest powerhouse she’d seen in her life, Princess Ardein, in depth and grandeur.
No need to pick extras and brawl with someone like this.
As Roca moved toward the open door, she turned to the elder.
“What’s the best item?”
Surely an expert like him, who’d been here forever, would know better than her.
“You brat. They’re all good. Different fields, so where’s the good or bad?”
She’d asked expecting advice, but got philosophy instead. Roca glared, but the elder ignored her, rambling on about some old tale only he knew.
“Long ago, the Masterless Swordsman said: All things in the world come from the cosmos, so none escape the principles of mutual generation and restraint. Even the mightiest have weaknesses, as you now see from your foolish question.”
The elder looked at the sullen girl like a cherished granddaughter and chuckled.
Only then did he offer something helpful. He’d already discussed it with the emperor, after all.
“But if I must recommend, it’s the sword that man left embedded inside. No one’s drawn it yet, but give it a try. Who knows? You might grasp something by holding it.”
“Masterless Swordsman...?”
“No one taught him to wield mana, so he made the world his teacher and honed his swordsmanship. It’s ancient lore, so who knows if it’s true.”
Still, it held some truth.
The elder himself had grasped something from the sword’s intent upon touching it. Geherr had once boldly claimed the title of Grand Master.
Such a powerhouse progressed just by gripping a sword casually left by its owner—not even the owner himself. He couldn’t deny the leaver’s realm dwarfed his own, not after experiencing it.
Afterward, neither Geherr nor Rayman claimed Grand Master status.
Thinking back brought only shame. There’s always a sky above the sky, and one must remain humble.
“That legend can’t be entirely false.”
The sword’s existence, at least.
Roca thanked him and entered. If just holding it could help greatly, she’d try. Though she held no great expectations.
Things easily obtained rarely carry heavy hopes.
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