Chapter 136: In Alfheim(1)
Chapter 136: In Alfheim(1)
The day had finally dawned for our entry into Albenheim—the land of the elves and the first nation chosen by the gods. As I’ve mentioned before, Albenheim is notorious for its grueling immigration procedures, so we set off early in the morning.
I boarded a carriage with Marie and Lina, heading toward the Imperial Palace, the symbol of the Empire. Cecile wasn't with us, as she had mentioned she would be departing from Helium rather than the Minerva Empire.
If you're wondering why we were heading to the palace, it’s because the teleportation facilities for international travel—moving between nations rather than just regions—are located there. The teleportation circle at the Rekilis mansion can only reach locations within the Minerva Empire.
"Are we teleporting directly into Albenheim from here?"
"Not exactly. We’ll arrive in Albenheim, but we’ll have to declare our identities and purpose of entry in detail once we get there. Think of this as a middle point."
A short while later, we arrived at the teleportation facility. It was located on the outskirts of the palace grounds because of the potential safety risks of having such a device inside the main palace. Perhaps to prepare for any unforeseen accidents, the security was tight, and the building itself looked quite imposing.
When I visited Helium, Cecile had used a private teleport, so I didn't have time to really take it in. Seeing a public facility like this in person was quite fascinating.
The building wasn't as large as I expected; from the outside, it looked more like a prison.
I stared blankly at the unfamiliar teleportation institution before turning my gaze to Lina, who was standing beside me. She was currently giving instructions to the guard knights who had accompanied her.
I assumed they were discussing the entry procedures.
"This is your first time going to another country, isn't it, Isaac?"
Marie, who was standing on my other side, asked as I was watching Lina. I turned my head to see her face, which was lit up with a beaming smile.
Come to think of it, Marie doesn't know.
I had briefly visited Helium because of the manuscript theft incident. However, that was treated as a secret between me, Cecile, and Arwen; Marie didn't even know such an event had occurred.
Naturally, she would think this was my first time traveling abroad. Feeling a bit complicated, I let out an awkward laugh and scratched my head.
"Yeah. Plus, since it's Albenheim, I'm a little nervous. Have you been there before, Marie?"
"Actually, it's my first time in Albenheim, too. I've been to places like the Kingdom of Tayros and the Duchy of Bellua, but this is my first time visiting another race's territory."
"So you don't know anything about it?"
"Just that the entry process is incredibly picky? And according to my father, there's quite a bit of species-based discrimination."
"Discrimination, huh..."
I pondered her words. In my previous life, there was racial discrimination, but here, since the races themselves were different, it seemed they called it species discrimination.
And according to what I heard from Cindy, the older generation was particularly prone to discriminatory speech and behavior. Not only them, but even some poorly educated members of the younger generation were said to act that way occasionally.
Truly, the more I see of them, the more I think they are the race that best fits the sin of 'Pride.' Their light and shadow are comparable to humans, if not slightly less extreme.
"Then what about Cecile? She's a demon. I feel like it'll be much worse for her than for us."
"I'm worried about that, too. She said she received entry permission, but I'm not sure what'll happen after that. They say there's never been a case of a demon setting foot in Albenheim before."
Marie expressed her concerns in a voice full of worry. In reality, it was almost impossible for a demon to 'officially' enter any country. Most of them entered illegally, which was why Helium had been forced into a semi-mandatory isolation policy.
While the situation had improved several times over since the appearance of the Xenon Biography, things were still rocky with Albenheim. Even if they permitted entry on the surface, no one knew what it was like on the inside.
Because of this, I was worried that Cecile might face discriminatory remarks in Albenheim, but if that happened, it would escalate into a serious diplomatic insult. Granting entry permission is essentially the same as acknowledging an official visit.
The news had already spread far and wide, not just in Albenheim but in the Minerva Empire as well—that Lina, Marie, and I would be visiting Albenheim to witness Queen Arwen's national address.
For the record, while Lina and Marie were introduced as the Imperial Princess and a Duke's daughter respectively, I was introduced as Marie's fiancé. It was only natural that Marie had grinned with a look of pure bliss upon hearing that.
"Don't worry too much. If they act like that, it'll only hurt Albenheim's reputation. Besides, we're planning to stay at a nearby inn, right?"
"Are you just going to stay in the inn the whole time? Don't you want to look around?"
"I don't mind if you want to. But I'm not sure if we'll have the chance. Since you and I will be sharing a room."
"..."
The moment I mentioned sharing a room, Marie's face turned beet red in an instant. Even so, the way she tightly gripped my hand was a brief testament to her own desires.
I gave a small smirk at her transparent thoughts and squeezed her hand back. Marie beamed with her characteristic radiant smile, looking overjoyed.
Though I’d said it as a joke, between Albenheim's notorious entry procedures and the need to soothe our tired bodies, we’d likely spend at least a day resting at the inn. Just in case, I had brought along my books and notebooks.
"Let's go now. They said they've finished the preparations inside. We just need to stand on the magic circle."
"Once we move, the entry process starts there, right?"
"Yes. It won't be as tight as its reputation suggests, so don't be nervous. Unlike others, we're nobles. Our identities are already guaranteed."
"Got it. By the way, Lina, have you ever been to Albenheim?"
"I went once with my older brother. I met the Queen then, too."
"Really?"
Setting aside the visit to Albenheim, the news that she was already acquainted with Arwen was new information to me. How had Lina met Arwen?
Lina saw the questioning look on my face, smiled, and answered in a casual tone.
"I had the chance to tour Albenheim's Academy once. The Academy was inside a massive tree called the World Tree. It was truly amazing. I met the Queen once during that time."
"How does it compare to Halo?"
"It's much better there. I suppose it can't be helped, since it's an academy built by the elves themselves. For us, even a simple bit of magic costs a lot of budget."
When will the day come when humans can use magic freely? Not like elves or demons who use it as naturally as breathing, but so that anyone can use it if they just put in the effort.
If not that, then borrowing the power of science wouldn't be bad either. Honestly, seeing as air conditioners and refrigerators exist quite plainly, it seems they have the ability to manufacture machinery well enough.
I moved into the teleportation facility while harboring these idle thoughts. Passing the guards stationed at the entrance and stepping inside the building, I felt the air grow heavy.
"Oh..."
As soon as I looked around the interior, I let out an exclamation filled with various meanings. On the floor was a magic circle that looked like it contained complex formulas, and it was surrounded by mages wearing robes.
Rather than teleportation, it looked more like they were summoning a demon. Furthermore, the mages were muttering something, and the faint echo made the atmosphere feel quite eerie.
"Everything is ready, Princess. You just need to stand on the magic circle."
While I was quietly observing the preparation process, an elderly voice cut in. It seemed to be the person in charge of managing the teleportation facility.
Lina nodded and stepped toward the magic circle. As she moved, Marie and I moved with her, still holding hands.
Soon, as everyone bound for Albenheim stood atop the magic circle, the man in charge spoke again.
"Activating teleportation in ten seconds. 10... 9... 8... 7... 6... 1."
Wait a minute. Why did he suddenly skip from six seconds to one?
Regardless of my confusion, the man activated the magic circle with that same elderly voice.
"Departing for Albenheim."
Flash!
At those words, a light so bright it was blinding erupted from the magic circle. I squeezed my eyes shut and waited quietly for the light to fade.
Just in case, I tightened my grip on Marie's hand, and I felt her quietly squeeze back as if telling me not to worry.
Just as I was starting to feel at ease, the light emanating from the magic circle gradually dimmed. Sensing it was safe to open my eyes, I slowly did so.
Perhaps because the bright light had burst out so suddenly, black flickers danced in my vision, obstructing my sight. Still, it wasn't so bad that I couldn't see at all; I could make out my surroundings.
The mages who had been surrounding the magic circle just moments ago were nowhere to be seen, and a man was standing proudly before us. Looking closely at his face, he was a man of exceptional beauty with ears much longer than a human's.
The man was, without a doubt, an elf. When he saw me staring with a blank expression, he gave an elegant smile and spoke in a kind tone.
"Welcome to Albenheim, everyone. You may proceed over there for the entry procedures."
"Uh... hello?"
"Yes. Hello, red-haired gentleman."
When I reflexively greeted him, the elven man returned the greeting smoothly. My face flushed, feeling like I’d just done something stupid.
Meanwhile, Lina greeted the elf with proper etiquette and spoke.
"Hello. I am Lina Urmi Christine, the First Princess of the Minerva Empire. Have you heard the news of our arrival?"
"Of course. You can find the detailed entry procedures just past that path."
"Thank you. Everyone, let's go."
"Okay."
I looked around as I followed behind Lina. Unlike the teleportation facility I had seen earlier, this place was filled with dense trees.
The characteristic scent of the forest stimulated my sense of smell, and everything around us was green. Moreover, there seemed to be only one elf guarding this place.
As I passed the elven man who seemed to be in charge, I caught his eye.
I didn't know what he was thinking, but he was watching us with that same elegant smile.
Are they just letting us through this easily?
Albenheim's entry procedures are famous for being incredibly picky. I had come prepared for the worst, so being sent through so easily felt a bit anticlimactic.
Or perhaps there was some kind of checkpoint further down this path? Doubts began to crawl up, so I asked Lina. Although there were guard knights beside us, I didn't need to mind them, so I spoke informally.
"Are we just heading straight into Albenheim now?"
"Not quite. If you walk a little further ahead, there will be an institution set up for entry procedures. The actual process starts there."
"What about that person back there?"
"He's a mage who manages the teleportation facility. Unlike humans, elves can use teleportation with just one mage."
"He can manage it all by himself?"
"Since he has to transport multiple people, he must be an expert in that field. And there are likely others standing guard in places we can't see. The forest is like a home to the elves, after all."
As expected, they were likely standing guard in hidden spots. I found it fascinating as I learned new facts one after another.
Lina saw my expression, let out a small chuckle, and informed me of the plans ahead. Specifically, about how to pass the entry procedures smoothly.
"When you use the teleportation facility, you're usually treated as a VIP, so the entry procedures become much more lenient. So as long as you don't give any strange answers, you'll pass easily."
"Like what?"
"When they ask for the purpose of your visit, you shouldn't just say 'travel.' You have to specify where you're traveling, which inn you're staying at, and exactly when you plan to depart. It's only like this for us because we're VIPs; for ordinary people, it takes much longer. As you know, elves are exceptionally picky when it comes to other races."
"Why are elves so picky?"
It wasn't me, but Marie who asked. Her blue eyes were full of curiosity.
However, Lina didn't seem to know much about that part either, so she passed the baton to me.
"Well. I'm not sure about that myself. Wouldn't Isaac know?"
"Do you know, Isaac?"
"It's just a guess, but... it's probably because of the Race War."
"The Race War?"
"Yeah."
Marie gave me a look that asked for a detailed explanation. Lina, beside her, was the same. She really didn't know either.
Seeing the two women's curiosity-filled gazes, I slowly organized my thoughts and began to explain one by one. It was a story I had heard from Cindy, so it was easy to tell.
"As you both know, humans and elves fought a Race War 300 years ago. It was a war that caused significant damage to both humans and elves. However, 300 years to an elf is like 30 years to a human. On the other hand, for humans, three centuries have passed. For humans, it's a war recorded in history, but for elves, it's still a living memory. That's likely why the entry procedures are so strict. The aftermath of the war is probably still lingering for the elves."
"You mean it's to prevent potential terrorism?"
"In a way, I suppose? But keep in mind that it hasn't been long since the elves adopted an open-door policy. Naturally, they have to be cautious. After all, one bad apple can spoil the bunch."
"Ooh..."
Marie marveled, seemingly convinced by my explanation. Not just her, but Lina had a similar look on her face.
Then, Marie gave a silly grin and clung to my arm. She rubbed her face against it and murmured in a voice overcome with happiness.
"To think such a smart and handsome man is my boyfriend... I think I'm a truly lucky woman."
"Marie. Lina is watching, you know?"
"Let her watch. What do you think? Jealous?"
Marie teased Lina while linking arms with me. It was a good thing the two of them had reconciled recently; otherwise, this was a scene that could never have happened.
Lina also chuckled at Marie's innocence and spoke as if she were helpless.
"I am jealous. I wish I had a man like Isaac, too. Handsome, smart, and..."
Lina paused for a moment, and her gaze slowly drifted downward. Soon, her eyes stopped somewhere in the middle, and she even pressed her lips together. At the same time, I could see a faint blush rising on her cheeks.
Not knowing what she was thinking, I tilted my head, and around that time, Lina subtly averted her gaze and let out a dry cough.
"Ahem. It's nothing. I'm just jealous."
"You're thinking about that again, aren't you?"
When Lina tried to change the subject, Marie suddenly asked that. The question seemed to hit the mark, as Lina became visibly flustered and began to stutter.
"N-No! Absolutely not! It's not like I'm a pervert...!"
"For someone saying that, your face is bright red. Don't tell me you..."
"B-Be quiet! You're making Isaac misunderstand!"
Why was my name being mentioned all of a sudden? While I was wondering, Lina faced me with a face that was as red as it could get.
Her eyes, which were a similar color to Marie's, were fixed on my face for a moment, but her gaze kept repeating a cycle of dropping down and then coming back up.
And then...
Gulp—
Whether she was cornered or just nervous, Lina swallowed hard. Considering her usually dignified personality, it was an unexpected reaction.
"Hmm."
In the meantime, Marie, seemingly thinking she had caught Lina in something, unlinked her arm from mine and slowly approached Lina. Judging by the subtle hum she let out and her expression, it seemed her mischievous side had been triggered.
Approaching Lina, Marie leaned in and whispered softly into her ear.
"...!"
I don't know what she said, but with that one short sentence from Marie, Lina's body flinched violently. Her fair skin turned entirely red, and I could see her lips trembling.
What on earth had Marie said? While I was wondering, Marie giggled and then clung to my arm again, sticking close.
"What did you say to her?"
"Nothing. Just a little joke."
"Haaah..."
For a 'little joke,' the reaction was quite intense. Lina had her face buried in both hands and couldn't even bring herself to look up.
"Hehe."
"..."
Regardless, Marie was busy acting all lovey-dovey, clinging to me. After that, we were able to step toward the checkpoint visible in the distance.
"It is not allowed. No matter how much approval you have, a demon cannot set foot in Albenheim unless the Queen or the Elder Council directly permits it."
"How many times do I have to tell you for you to understand? I clearly received permission directly from the Queen, and I have the documents right here. Are you saying you don't believe an official document issued by the Queen herself?"
"For what reason would our Queen permit a demon to enter? Provide proper evidence."
"Phew...!"
There, we encountered Cecile, who was currently in the middle of a heated argument over the entry procedures.