Chapter 47
Chapter 47
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Translator: uly
Chapter: 47
Chapter Title: Easter Egg (3)
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Captain Qwa.
I'd tried it once before coming into the game.
Actually, make that twice.
The first time was back at the orphanage. I must've been in my second year of high school. Since I had to graduate from the orphanage the moment I finished high school, the director—who'd always been kind to me—taught me how to drink.
"This here's some fine stuff, Young-jin! Drink up!"
"I-it's a bit strong for me, Director."
"Drink! A real man downs it in one go! That's when you become a man!"
When he pulled out that Captain Qwa and passed around a glass, my mouth said, "Don't drink it. You'll die." My heart screamed, "Save me." My gut groaned, "Are you insane?"
In the end, I took one sip of that Captain Qwa—technically a sticky, 35-proof chemical brew with a weird barley-coffee tang—and gently set the glass down.
This was booze no human should touch.
And our director...
"Young-jin, drink! Live hard. Live real hard! Got it?!"
"...Yes, Director."
"That's my boy. Happy New Year, Young-jin. Let me bow to ya."
"Director, what're you doing?!"
"Lemme bow!!"
After downing half a bottle of Captain Qwa, the director bowed to me like it was the new year.
It was July.
The second time was during my service days. Probably when I was a sergeant.
I got dragged to a company dinner and ended up toasting with the platoon leader.
"Young-jin, what're you planning to do after discharge?"
"Thinking of getting into fieldwork."
"Fieldwork? Why not something else? What do your folks say?"
"Well... the truth is..."
After that, I came clean about being an orphan and shared some of my past.
"...N-no parents means exemption, right?"
"Heard combat engineers get an extra mil in the field?"
"......Hah. That's why you did full service, you little shit. Damn... What a fucked-up world. How can..."
Then the platoon leader slammed a glass of Captain Q and bellowed.
"What a shithole world!!"
And just like that, he face-planted into the table and started bawling.
It was November, three months before my discharge.
Anyway, that Captain Q—with all those memories attached—had been rechristened Captain Qwa and brought into this world as an Easter egg from the game devs.
An item you could only get from Wolfram's illicit storage.
In the main story, using an appraisal scroll or Find Item skill would reveal: [Liquor received as a bribe by former Student Council President Wolfram von Loengrin. Makes you question his sanity for drinking this. Type: Rum (or similar). Might come in handy where fancy foreign booze is needed...] The description stuck with me—pretty hilarious.
And surprise—that Wolfram was me.
Knowing that tip let me prepare the perfect snack for the fairy queen: top-shelf treats laced with the finest booze... well, booze anyway. The fairy queen shook the whiskey... er, Captain Qwa bonbons and smiled.
"Ooh, fancy snacks! Nice! I like 'em!"
She popped one the size of two finger joints into her mouth and crunched. Crunch.
"Oh, this flavor... The sweet candy crunch unleashing that intense booze aroma... Ack."
Thud. The fairy queen toppled over. The wolf beside her roared.
"Poison?!"
"Nah, the queen just can't hold her liquor."
"...What? Our queen's been pickled for the last three hundred years! How dare you?!"
She doesn't believe me, huh.
"Then you try one."
"Pardon?"
You shouldn't give chocolate to dogs normally, but this one's a spirit. In the game, it scarfed them down fine.
Hmm, but I brought these for the queen. Feels wasteful giving them to this glorified shuttle service. Captain Qwa's rare here—only fifteen crates in the whole world.
Let's see...
"Scared you'll pass out too?"
"...Hah. Bold words. Should I turn you into ground meat right now?"
"The pact with your ancestors."
"Grr... Y-yes, master."
"We can't be enemies."
"Grrrr...!"
Yeah, yeah. Your loner ass can't hear me? Bark like a dog, pup.
Anyway, I'd figured out what I needed, and it wouldn't hurt him either.
"Let's bet."
"A bet...?"
"Eat five of these bonbons. If you pass out, I win. I'm innocent—no poison. And you become my minion."
"And if I don't?"
"Then you don't. You just ate five fancy candies."
"You're joking."
"If you don't like it, forget it. Think it over... It's not a bad deal for you."
"......"
The wolf pondered, then grinned.
"Fine. Not bad. Actually..."
"Don't say more, or it's not fair. Watch your mouth."
"...Right. Hand 'em over! Come on!"
I gave the wolf five bonbons.
"Mm. Unique flavor. Hmmm."
One.
The wolf's cheeks flushed.
"Ooh, hits hard. Got more? Gimme more!"
Two.
The wolf's tongue loosened.
"...Ah, this floor punk's picking on me! Hey! Hey! Come at me! Shiiit, I hate floor scum!"
Three.
The wolf started fighting the floor.
"...Kinda tough, huh? Oof. Eat this, then face me. What're you? Hey! Hey! You druid bitch, hey...!"
Four.
The wolf got slapped by the floor and collapsed.
"Hm. One left. Four's not bad—you held up."
"What was that just now?"
Eve—who'd watched the farce—shrugged at her question.
"A midsummer night's dream."
"Don't pose. It's gross."
"You barely did shit getting here, but you've got a mouth."
"Hah...!"
We flipped each other off with grins.
Don't smile.
Don't get attached.
"Let's head back. Follow the path we took, and we're out to the Eastern Forest."
"Huh? Just leaving?"
"They'll wake up the day after tomorrow."
"...Not tomorrow?"
"Mm."
Yeah.
They won't wake tomorrow.
Day after, they'll snap out hangover-free.
"That's the booze."
"Magical stuff, huh."
Well.
Feels like magic.
Two days later, we returned to the Eastern Forest. The guide wolf stood waiting upfront.
He looked apologetic as he eyed us.
"...Did you come yesterday by chance? Slept all day, missed it."
"Nah, wasn't yesterday."
"Good."
"No hangover?"
"...Yeah. Crystal clear. Lost a whole day, though. Queen's waiting, right as rain."
Guided by the wolf, we reached the queen's palace and her audience chamber. A voice called from within.
"Come in, descendants of Hark."
"Pardon the intrusion."
The world flipped the moment we opened the door.
"Whoa."
It was the sea.
Vision sank into blue, fish and corals drifting by. No ceiling—just a blue barrier with sunlight gently caressing the seafloor.
Like breathing underwater. I tested it instinctively.
"Beautiful."
Confirmed I could breathe and let out a sigh of awe.
The pinnacle of mystery from a magic monster who'd manipulated space for five centuries.
Even Eve with her 22 Magic Power couldn't pierce the illusion.
"Hehe. Surprised? But it's all land—come on in."
"Right."
We sat at the table as the queen led. Eve settled cautiously too.
"So, descendants of Hark. Heard you have business with me."
"Yes. Fairy Queen Elphirane, straight talk: Stop messing with Jefrin."
"Messing?"
"Don't make me repeat. The pollen you deliberately blow toward Jefrin."
"......Same conversation? First I've heard."
"Trying to renegotiate? Captain Qwa's harsh, but after five hundred years honing magic, you won't forget a nap."
"......Urk."
"Ancient texts say your Will's over 20. No way one bonbon breaks you."
"Hark noted that too?"
Nope.
Knew from partying with her before.
But claiming it's in the texts sells it.
"It's in the records. One more time: Cease the one-way pollen barrage."
"...Fine. Got those nice snacks too."
She nodded at the Captain Qwa bonbons I'd left in the corner.
"You liked 'em? Not that fancy."
"Cheap stuff's sweeter, punchier."
"And one more: I bet with that wolf, and it stuck."
"......Bet? What bet?"
"If I won, the wolf's mine."
"......So it lost, and now it's yours?"
"That's how it shakes out."
The queen's vibe shifted.
First hate, rage, disbelief, resignation. Then deep despair.
"You knew what'd happen with that bet."
"That wolf obeys me now. Can leave Jefrin anytime."
"And you're an accomplice?"
"......Sorry, Your Majesty."
Fairies are free spirits,
mischievous,
liars,
and above all, wanderlust incarnate.
"I'd love to erase you here... But as property of Hark's heir, can't. Shame."
"Knew you'd understand."
"...It's a bet. A promise."
So the wolf jumped on my bet quick.
In fair bets without rigging—judged equal—the loser fairy becomes the winner's familiar.
We tacitly agreed then. Odds were fifty-fifty, but I trusted Captain Qwa. Worked.
First shot in three hundred years to flee fairy lands.
Bet was fair. Wolf admitted defeat.
Winner—me—claimed ownership.
And the queen can't touch imperial blood or its property.
The wolf beat her to the punch.
We eyed each other and smirked. Our looks said, "You con bastard."
"Sigh. Would've been better if I'd bet you, lost, and left."
"Make the queen my minion? Hah..."
I stared her down.
I still remembered Fairy Queen Elphirane's stats crystal clear.
Strength 4, Dexterity 5, Stamina 8... Magic Power 21, Will 21.
No way I'd control that monster. She'd never listen.
"One day, an imperial will free you."
"One day? When? Another three centuries?"
"Nah. Like three years?"
"Pardon?"
I glanced at Eve; the queen stared too.
Then nodded, convinced.
"...I see. Not yet, but she surpasses me in ways."
"Yeah."
"She'll fight me to the death? Like Hark, who tried killing each other from the start?"
"Of course. Hates losing more than dying."
"...Her growth excites me. Hehe. Blood's boiling."
"So rest easy."
"What're you two on about?"
Eve tilted her head at our cryptic chat.
"Nothing. Haha."
"Yeah, nothing. Hehe."
The queen and I shook firmly.
Nothing big—just by graduation, she'd soul-link in a bloody showdown with Eve and free the queen.
"Hang in there, Eve."
"Get strong, heir."
"......?"
Leaving clueless Eve behind, we bid farewell.
"Pollen issue settled."
"Yes."
"Actually, avoid Jefrin if you can."
"Deal. Visit sometimes. Bring good booze or snacks, get gifts in return."
"...Yeah. I'll drop by. Remembered your faves."
"In the ancient texts too?"
"......Mm. Yeah."
I knew all her hobbies and tastes.
Elphirane's a hidden heroine, derailed to side in Eve's route.
"Safe travels, heirs."
"See ya, Elphirane."
Leaving the palace: me, Eve, and the wolf.
On the way back, Eve spoke up.
"Thanks."
"For what?"
"The pollen. Jefrin's hundred thousand students felt class divide less, even once. You... no, your side more."
Her tone was downcast. Bitter smile of sorrow and self-loathing.
"Why the sour face?"
"...Jeez."
"Ah, is it 'Wolfram von Loengrin fixed what Eve von Loengrin couldn't, so why rebel? Am I an idiot?' or something?"
"......Right now, yeah, thinking of smashing your skull and killing Wolfram von Loengrin."
Whoa, hold up. Ehe, not that kinda shot.
Hmm.
In the story, Eve had a loner whine route like this.
What'd Kelters say then?
Ah, right.
"Regret's not gonna cut it."
"What?"
"Accept it. Find a way out. Or you're stuck forever."
Eve's eyes widened, then she puffed her cheeks.
"......Y-yeah! Damn right!"
She stormed off.
Temperamental one.
"...You care for your sister, huh?"
"What? Her moping just tires me out."
"Sure, whatever. So we part here? I'll repay any favors later."
"......?"
What're you on about?
"Guess I'll wander the human realm..."
"Don't make me laugh. Who said you're free?"
"......What?"
"Recheck the contract. You're my property."
"Wait, wait. Heirs can't control me—no Magic Power for it. How?"
"I'm a battle spirit! Red-maned wolf!"
I know. Got my ass handed to me plenty.
But.
"Who said battle?"
"What?"
"Tomorrow, you're pulling my cart."
"......?"
"Accept it."
"...C-cart?"
"Help my business. No biggie. Mornings: ship packages, deliveries, pull the cart, guard me sometimes."
"......So."
"Dog chow enough? Whatever you want, I'll hook you up."
"Turning me into a real dog?"
I nodded.
"That's the bet, right?"
"Thought it was fine print."
"Let's make it work. Partrasu."
"That name's worse!"
"...Wolfie? Trueboy? Whiner? Redpup? Shitdog?"
"Fine... Call me Partrasu."
Good listener.
Nice pup.