Chapter 230: Dark Elf
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 230: Dark Elf
I wasn’t sure if it was because her skills had improved, but the table and chairs that came into view were quite splendid, especially for being made of roots. Naturally, Jung Hayeon was presiding over this meeting. Since I had decided to just watch, I intended to leave as much as possible to her. Of course, the meeting itself didn't have a real purpose.
“Darling.”
The moment Jung Hayeon was gone, Choi Eunju instantly slid into the seat next to me. The sight of me flanked by Baek Ahyeon and Choi Eunju was hardly appropriate for a summit with the head of a nation, but I didn't think it mattered.
The queen of a fallen kingdom has no country and no power; showing her any courtesy would have no bearing on our affairs. In fact, I was quite looking forward to seeing her reaction to this display.
“Her Majesty is entering.”
Soon, with a rather majestic expression, the queen of the Eveluse Kingdom appeared. She was accompanied by armed guards and, unexpectedly, Elia. Seeing Elia enter with her head bowed and ears drooping, as if remembering her own words, made me think the situation was about to get very interesting.
The reason I’d allowed the armed guards inside was that I knew they couldn't possibly harm us. Jung Hayeon alone could wipe them out with her magic without any trouble.
I slowly observed the queen of the fallen kingdom. Eliane, Alisha's eldest sister. I had received reports that she had fought until the kingdom was completely swallowed by the Japanese.
I had also heard reports that she was extremely proud and filled with an intense pride for her kingdom. Like Alisha and Elia, she wore a crown atop her shining golden hair.
“Please, have a seat. I was told you requested a discussion.”
Though her tone was quite polite, her voice was cold, suggesting she disliked her counterpart all the same.
“Insolent.”
“.......................?”
“I did not request a discussion with you, but with the chieftain of your group, sitting back there.”
Her forceful demeanor made me scoff. Did she still think the Eveluse Kingdom was intact? Her expression was so confident. The equipment of her armed guards was shabby, and their complexions were poor, as if they were physically exhausted.
It was only natural, since their treatment had just ended. Yet, her confident expression reminded me of Jang Ye Ri.
There was one difference between her and Jang Ye Ri.
One's confidence was rooted in substance, while the other's was baseless.
Jung Hayeon sighed once before speaking.
“I am currently the Chieftain's representative. The great Blood Dagger, Chieftain of the Blood Dagger Clan, has delegated his full authority to this humble servant. My decision is the will of the entire Blood Dagger Clan, and by extension, the will of the entire Brother's Land.”
“Hmm…”
I felt her gaze on me, so I playfully groped Baek Ahyeon's and Choi Eunju's breasts.
“Da… Darling.”
“My… my Savior.”
Their voices naturally followed. Of course, the queen's expression instantly soured. She couldn't possibly be pleased.
“Is what she says true?”
I nodded at the question directed at me.
“She is correct, Queen of a fallen kingdom. Her will is my will. I will not interfere in this meeting.”
“What a pathetic king.”
The moment she finished speaking, killing intent flared up from all sides. It was Choi Eunju and Baek Ahyeon. The guards' faces turned pale, but the queen maintained her dignified expression. Her lips and ears were trembling, but she was managing to keep her composure.
Jung Hayeon was the same. She was glaring at the queen with such terrifying eyes that I thought any ordinary person would have collapsed to the floor, pissed themselves, or immediately turned and fled.
I could sense one thing.
‘She’s decent.’
That was about it. The guards were on the level of our young warriors, and the queen seemed just a little stronger than them.
I slowly lowered my hands, and as if following my will, the killing intent began to subside. I was curious to see what kind of tantrum she would throw. Once the atmosphere had calmed a little, Eliane spoke. Her statement was a bit hard to understand.
“Was this your method?”
“............................”
“First, I wish to express my gratitude to you. It is true that our kingdom fell into the hands of humans, and it is also true that we received your help. I swear to the Mother of the Earth, it is not that we are ungrateful.”
“Yes.”
“However, this is an unequal treaty. It is preposterous. We have reviewed all the contents of the contract, and it is utterly absurd. There is no law anywhere that says the price for saving a kingdom is the kingdom itself.”
I had expected her to come out like this. No, I knew it beforehand. As the hall grew even colder, Jung Hayeon spoke.
“We did not save a kingdom. We saved you, who were suffering here. We received the kingdom as payment for saving you, and as you can see, this is clearly stated in the contract.”
“That contract is false.”
“What are you talking about…”
“The third princess of the kingdom, Alisha, is not in a position to make such a contract. All decisions in the Eveluse Kingdom are made by me, the queen. Furthermore, she is no longer a member of this kingdom, nor is she my sister. A contract bearing the signature of someone with no credibility has no effect on us.”
A perfect tantrum. It was like saving someone, feeding them, and keeping them alive, only for them to demand you hand over your own house. It was such a perfect tantrum that it made me think the old saying, “Never take in a black-haired beast,” should be changed to “Never take in a golden-haired one.”
Jung Hayeon slowly turned to look at me. The killing intent in her eyes seemed to be asking if she could kill them. I just smiled and shook my head. This wasn't a stage for her to show off her military might.
I also wanted to watch this little show a bit longer, and because the one to end this affair was neither me nor Jung Hayeon.
“That is sophistry. At the time of signing the contract, Alisha was the third princess of the Eveluse Kingdom. Since the queen, the first princess, and the second princess were in no state to make rational judgments, we understood her to be the kingdom's supreme commander.”
Jung Hayeon was a hundred percent correct.
“Even if that were so, your methods were wrong. That child is young and not in a state to make normal judgments. We cannot rule out the possibility that you obtained her signature by intimidating her with barbaric methods, like emitting killing intent just now.”
“There was no intimidation or coercion. On the contrary, the negotiation was conducted in a very amicable atmosphere, and she agreed to the contract of her own free will.”
I did remember Gark punching the floor at the time, but the contract wasn't made through threats or coercion. Just as Jung Hayeon said, Alisha had signed it of her own will, and I even remembered her saying she would take full responsibility for it.
“Tsk…”
I clicked my tongue softly, and I saw the queen's eyebrow twitch.
“I cannot believe your words. Look at the behavior of the one called the king of this tribe, even with the head of a nation present. His debauched state, with two women on his arms, is no different from the human king who occupied this place.”
That last one was quite a strike. Jung Hayeon was suppressing her killing intent as much as she could. I was sure that if I weren't here, that woman would have been instantly impaled with roots all over her body, suffering a hell on earth.
If we were to settle this with force, the situation would be resolved very easily. Nevertheless, I smiled. The scene that was about to unfold kept replaying in my mind.
“Your kingdom is strong. I am not denying that. I know that if you make a move, we will be crushed. However, do not think you will escape unscathed. Our race is also strong.”
No, you're weak. Very weak. I smiled, and in the meantime, Eliane spoke again.
“Our race loves peace. This is not to say we wish to fight you. Anything but returning the kingdom is fine. If you name other conditions, we will grant any of them. This I propose to you, in the name of the Mother of the Earth herself.”
“Hmm…”
I had said I wouldn't interfere, but I couldn't resist opening my mouth. I spoke playfully.
“What if what I want is you? You are quite beautiful. I would like to see the queen beneath me.”
Eliane's shoulders began to tremble. Her ears also trembled faintly, and I felt her reaction was the same as Alisha's. It seemed sisters were sisters after all.
After a short moment, she nodded her head.
“If that is what you truly desire…”
“Puhahahahahaha!”
I laughed. I couldn't understand what she truly wanted.
“Is it the kingdom you wish to protect, or its people?”
“Both.”
I felt she was doing something that would make her lose both. It was hard for me to understand the psychology of acting so boldly despite knowing the extent of our power, but if I had to guess, it was probably the pride of a fallen queen.
Green Skins aren't the only ones who value history and tradition.
They, too, clearly have their own pride. If someone told us to leave the Brother's Land, we wouldn't be able to leave either. Countless brothers shed their blood for the Brother's Land to exist. To fight even in death—that is the Green Skin way. Recalling the pride Alisha originally had for the Eveluse Kingdom, I figured that Eliane, the first princess, would feel the same.
The towering castle and developed civilization, the ancient tomes in the library, the great tree they call the World Tree, history and tradition, pride and dignity, the magical artifacts visible here and there—they are all magnificent, but they are meaningless in the face of death.
I looked at Eliane and spoke.
“I appreciate the sentiment, but I prefer something new over something worn-out and used.”
Eliane bit her lip, as if humiliated. Before she could open her mouth to ask what I meant, another voice was heard from the door.
“Her Majesty, Queen Alisha of the Eveluse Kingdom, is entering.”
She had arrived right on time.
“What…”
I smiled, recalling the conversation I had with Alisha last night. As she had said, she was prepared to become ruthless. A cold gaze and a dignified posture.
And crucially, her black skin.
‘A Dark Elf.’
The shocked faces of Eliane and Elia as they saw their younger sister came into view. Before they could even call out their sister's name, Alisha's voice echoed through the hall.
“Drag those ungrateful bitches out of here at once.”
It was a voice that sent a chill even down my spine.