Chapter 123: Consultation(1)
Chapter 123: Consultation(1)
I’m not sure if I’ve mentioned this before, but Xenon’s Biography is merely a novel based on facts; it is by no means a record of actual events.
I am aware that Demons face discrimination, but at the time of writing, I had no idea what kind of convictions they held. Even the romance between Kair and Elisha was just something I’d heard bits and pieces of; I never witnessed or experienced it myself.
However, my readers are under the delusion that I have experienced all of the above. Some believe I once received a great favor from the Demons, citing Sacran’s sacrifice as proof, while others have gone as far as to claim that the story of Kair and Elisha is a firsthand account of my own life.
If it were some far-fetched, nonsensical tale, they might have just let it slide. But because Xenon’s Biography is composed of stories that feel incredibly "plausible," the readers couldn't help but be completely immersed.
Furthermore, since the book possesses a level of prose and readability never seen before, it was perhaps inevitable that people would fall for it.
At any rate, considering these factors, people currently speculate that I am a Sage who has experienced the world alone for decades, and a scholar who has even visited the Holy Land of Albenheim.
If I had written a fact-based novel in my previous life, people would have nitpicked the "historical accuracy." But this is a fantasy world where anything can happen.
Here, it is perfectly normal for theoretically impossible battles and magic to be unleashed left and right. Conversely, common sense is so inverted that something like a "steam locomotive" is what gets flagged for lacking "historical accuracy."
In fact, I heard news that there was a movement to invent a steam locomotive in Machina, the land of the Dwarves. However, the mechanism was so complex that everyone except for the most obsessive types eventually gave up.
Regardless, I appreciated not having to worry too much about the finer details of historical accuracy, but I remained uneasy all the same. The moment my well of knowledge ran dry would be the moment my true identity was exposed.
Moreover, the story has begun to shine a light not just on humans, but on all races. I plan to feature a diverse array of stories involving Humans, Demons, Elves, Dwarves, and Beastkin alike.
Because of this, I desperately need people to consult. For the Demons, I have Cecile, so that’s fine. For the Elves, I have Arwen and Siris. As for the Dwarves, there is plenty of information available in books, and their role isn't massive, so that shouldn't be an issue.
That leaves only one: the Beastkin, who still have a strained relationship with humans to this day. Furthermore, since their nation, Animus, was founded quite recently, almost nothing is known about its internal structure.
'I do have Leona, but... she’s a bit awkward to deal with.'
Leona is the only Beastkin I’m on friendly terms with, but our relationship can't exactly be called good or bad. We just happen to see each other's faces occasionally.
Though we became acquainted by chance, it didn't change my daily life. Besides, lately, I’ve only been attending history lectures, so I rarely run into her.
'Let’s focus on the story between the Elves and Dark Elves first. It’ll be a while before the Beastkin make their full appearance anyway.'
I shook off my worries about how to depict the Beastkin and devoted myself to writing. In Xenon’s Biography, the Beastkin nation pursues an isolationist policy, so they appear later in the narrative.
More importantly, the Elves are a higher priority than the Beastkin right now. I plan to dedicate two whole volumes just to the invasion of Albenheim.
Therefore, organizing the structure of Albenheim is more urgent than dealing with the Beastkin. Fortunately, I’ve received consultation from Arwen, so it hasn't been too difficult.
'First, the Council is the highest authority, followed by the Warlords, and then...'
Unlike humans, who have large populations, the Elven military tends to operate as small, elite units. This is why every single Elf warrior is said to be a match for a hundred men.
Not only that, but even civilians possess formidable power. From a young age, they receive basic martial arts and magic training from their parents, and they are further disciplined at Lukeron, which is known as the very first Academy.
And while one might typically imagine a warrior as someone fighting with a sword and shield, for Elves, this includes mages as well. Instead, warriors specialized in magic are usually referred to as "Magus."
In any case, the rank of "Elf Warlord" refers to the commander who leads all the aforementioned groups. As commanders, their individual martial prowess is catastrophic by human standards, though they rarely take to the field personally.
Because of this, even during the Race War, the prevailing attitude was: Do we really need a Warlord just to deal with humans? Most of them simply didn't deploy. While it’s natural for a commander to stay back, their decision was rooted in that fundamental Elven arrogance.
Except for one person: Iker, who recognized the true potential of humanity.
When the Human Alliance began pushing forward with irresistible force using extraordinary strategies and tactics, he sensed the crisis and personally took to the field. Unfortunately, as is well known, he was arrested by the Elder Council on trumped-up charges.
'There are four Warlords in Albenheim. Since it’s said that Elf warriors serve in the military until they die, there definitely won't be any "hidden masters" living in seclusion.'
Elves are a stubborn race, and because of that trait, they tend to devote their entire lives to their chosen profession. There is no such thing as retirement; even if they are injured, they often remain as advisors.
So, even if Albenheim is invaded, they will hold out stubbornly, though their strength will be chipped away bit by bit as they battle the demonic executives.
'But why don't Elves use mages like an air force?'
As I saw when Cecile floated me in the air last time, Elves could also fly freely through the sky with just a little effort.
The idea of using mages as an air force might sound a bit funny, but it’s a genuine question since it’s actually possible for Elves and Demons. If they were utilized like reconnaissance planes or bombers, humans wouldn't even be able to touch them.
Of course, the narrow-minded and stiff-necked Elves would likely dismiss this as a cowardly trick, proudly insisting on a fair, head-on confrontation. I should probably add another Warlord to Xenon’s Biography and incorporate this setting.
'If this changes their perspective, then well...'
Since the concept of an "Air Force" doesn't exist in this world, they might just laugh it off. They’ll probably dismiss it as nonsense, just like the steam locomotive.
I continued writing the story for a while, but eventually, my pen faltered. Even though I knew a lot about Elves, I realized I knew nothing about their actual combat methods.
I knew they insisted on head-on battles, but I didn't know what weapons they used, whether they fought while weaving in magic, or what their unit organization looked like.
It wasn't exactly classified information, but I was ignorant of the most basic elements.
I pondered what to do, and when no suitable solution came to mind, I decided to summon Siris.
'While I’m at it, I should ask about the details of Dark Elf life too.'
After Albenheim is invaded by demons and the World Tree is eventually burned, the Elves are forced to leave their homeland. One of their places of refuge is the forest where the Dark Elves have been hiding.
In reality, the Dark Elves lead a tribal life in deep, secluded forests, but calling it "tribal" is an understatement—it’s practically a city.
Siris once mentioned that because the Dark Elves have lived through such harsh conditions like the Demons, they are quite skilled with their hands.
'Still, it’s better to ask.'
I set my pen down and opened my desk drawer. A thick roll of paper revealed itself.
It was quite bulky, consisting of dozens of sheets rather than just one. As you might have guessed, these were magical summoning papers for Siris. If I tore one, a signal would be sent to her, and she could either accept or decline my summons.
'I hope she doesn't show up while bathing this time.'
I called her once before, and she arrived completely naked. When I asked her in a panic, she said she had been in the middle of a bath...
In the end, I sent her back after telling her to at least put some clothes on when responding to a summons. I hadn't summoned her since then because I had no particular reason to, but I was worried the same thing might happen again.
Dark Elves are supposedly more flexible than ordinary Elves, but Siris is quite stiff. Fortunately, I’m summoning her to my private quarters, so there’s no risk of getting caught, but I still felt nervous for some reason.
Ssh—
As I pulled a sheet from the well-rolled scroll, I saw the magic paper covered in mysterious characters. I believe a single strand of Siris's hair was required to make each of these sheets.
I stood up and walked to a slightly more open space. Then, without hesitation, I tore the paper.
Rip!
The moment the paper was torn clean in two, it turned into blue particles and scattered into the air. Now that the signal had been sent to Siris, all I had to do was wait.
I felt a bit bad calling her for such a trivial matter, but she always complied without complaint. Honestly, she’s called an errand runner, but she’s practically a slave. Of course, I don't actually treat her like one.
'She’s a bit late today.'
During previous summons, Siris would respond and appear almost immediately after I tore the paper. Today, however, the summons was taking a bit longer, as if something was holding her up.
I had told her she didn't have to respond if she had circumstances that made it impossible to accept, so perhaps that was it. Siris also serves as Arwen’s guard, so she’s bound to be busy in many ways.
Just as I was about to give up and head back to my desk with a sigh of disappointment...
"Did you call for me?"
"Huh?"
A woman’s voice—husky, low, and dignified. There is only one person with such a unique voice.
I turned back around. And when I saw Siris, I nearly had a heart attack.
She hadn't come naked while bathing like last time, but she was only wearing her underwear, so it wasn't much better. To make matters worse, she was wearing black lingerie that complemented her bronzed skin, making it impossible for my eyes not to wander.
Her well-defined abs and the lingerie that barely covered her ample chest were incredibly provocative. Her usual attire was already quite revealing, but seeing her in just her underwear was a direct assault on my masculine instincts.
I stared at Siris, my eyes darting up and down in panic, before I hurriedly spoke.
"Wh-why are you dressed like that? Where are your clothes?"
"I came while I was in the middle of a deep sleep."
"... ..."
I immediately checked the time. It was 1:30 PM.
I didn't know if Dark Elves were nocturnal or if she was just taking a nap, but sleeping in only her underwear was likely Siris's habit.
As I stood there looking dizzy, Siris seemed to recall the previous "naked incident." She spoke in her signature husky voice.
"I judged that since I am in my underwear and not naked, it would be acceptable to respond to the summons."
"No. It’s not acceptable for me."
My head throbbed at Siris's complete lack of common sense. She might be a perfect guard, but she seemed utterly hopeless when it came to daily life.
The problem was that Siris herself didn't seem to understand what the issue was, as she merely tilted her head in confusion. It made me seriously question the sexual culture of the Dark Elves.
No matter how much of a "slave-like" errand runner she was, between the bath incident and now showing up in her underwear after sleeping, I couldn't tell if she had any sense of modesty at all.
I rubbed my face with my hands and stole another glance at her. The combination of her bronzed skin and the toned physique of a female warrior was truly formidable.
"Um... do Dark Elves not have a sense of... chastity or anything? Arwen told me that for Elves, just showing their naked body to someone other than their partner is enough to ruin their virtue..."
"That is an Elven custom. We live in a harsh environment, so we are quite liberal when it comes to sex. If a partner dies from an accident or illness, one can take another partner if they are compatible. Of course, adultery and rape are severe violations of our laws and are met with strict punishment."
"What kind of punishment?"
"For men, the genitals are severed. For women, the inside is seared with a red-hot iron skewer to make them infertile."
"Eek..."
I had just learned a terrifying fact about Dark Elf customs. Anyway, putting that aside—
"...I’m truly sorry for waking you. If you want, Siris, you can go back and sleep."
"Then, may I sleep here for a moment? I came straight from training just before this, and I don't even have enough mana left to cast teleport."
Siris must have been truly exhausted; despite her stiff tone, her golden eyes were slowly fluttering shut. She was forcing them open, but seeing her blink repeatedly, it was clear she had reached her limit.
I’d heard that Dark Elves undergo training where they stay awake for days on end. If she was this tired, just how intense was it? I looked at her with pity and gave my permission.
Normally, unauthorized entry into the dorms is forbidden, but if I let her in secretly, no one would know. It meant there was no problem with Siris sleeping here.
"...Do as you wish. There’s a blanket, so make sure you stay warm."
"Thank you. Then, if you'll excuse me."
And so, as soon as she was summoned, Siris stumbled over to my bed and began to settle in for a nap. Just as she lay down on the soft mattress, looking like she would pass out instantly...
"The bed smells nice."
"...Just go to sleep."
It seemed the consultation would have to wait until after Siris woke up.