Chapter 363: An Unexpected Encounter(2)
Chapter 363: An Unexpected Encounter(2)
I’m not sure if I’ve mentioned this before, but the most severe racial slur you can throw at an elf is "pointy-ears."
An elf’s elongated ears are known to be the organs through which they communicate more deeply with the gods. To make them an object of mockery is, naturally, infuriating to them.
To give you an idea of how serious it is: if I were to say it to Arwen even as a joke, our relationship could end right then and there. She might let it slide the first time, thinking it was a slip of the tongue or a prank, but there would be no mercy after that.
If it can ruin a relationship between lovers, imagine what happens when you say it to a stranger. It’s considered justifiable homicide if the insulted party kills the person who uttered the slur on the spot.
In my previous life, it would be comparable to using the 'N-word' against a Black person. That is how much of an insult and a wound the term "pointy-ears" is to an elf.
Of course, the Dark Elves are an exception. They hate the fact that they are elves so much that they cut their own ears off, so they don't really care.
As a side note, humans are surprisingly insensitive to racial slurs. This is because they are clearly aware that they are the weakest race.
Anyway, back to this history book written by Iker. He dropped the most offensive slur against elves in the very first sentence.
Even though he’s an elf himself, he put a racial slur on the first page. Just how much resentment had he bottled up?
‘I mean, he has every right to be pissed.’
Honestly, I’d be angry too. Looking at the humiliation Iker endured, it’s perfectly understandable.
His allies were looking down on the enemy and suffered consecutive defeats. When he realized things couldn't continue that way and changed his tactics, the Elder Council found fault with him.
Furthermore, he was thrown into prison on the grounds that he had acted against the law, and as a result, Albenheim suffered a humiliating defeat.
Fortunately, the country wasn't overthrown, and the war ended with a treaty, but looking at the terms, it was nothing short of a total loss.
If they had done as Iker suggested, they could have excluded all the clauses unfavorable to Albenheim.
For the record, those clauses involved opening Albenheim’s holy lands and sharing their magic—along with unconditional openness for the next 100 years.
[Even just 300 years ago, humans revered Albenheim as the land of the gods. We treated those humans like livestock in our pens and took it for granted.]
[But look at them now. Are they truly livestock in a pen? They are intellectuals capable of thought, divine creations who managed to rebuild their civilization after it collapsed during the Demon War.]
[They are also a race that stood firm and avoided extinction even during that war. They are beings who may fall but will not kneel; who may kneel but will not grovel; and even if they grovel, they do not surrender.]
[But we elves have never knelt to anyone except the gods. This confidence turned into arrogance, and that arrogance consumed us from within. The results were laid bare in the war.]
[It wouldn't have mattered if humans were as weak as they used to be. However, I noticed that the demons were passing magic on to the humans.]
[Yet those pointy-eared bastards in the Elder Council refused to believe a word I said. Far from understanding why the demons were helping humans, they didn't even attempt to understand. They only focused on the fact that my actions went against their stale 'laws.']
The overall content felt more like a memoir than a history book. Most of it was a critical perspective directed at elves.
He evaluated humans favorably in some parts, but since he was a man who had fought a war against them, he wasn't that friendly.
Instead, he posed various questions: how humans came to compete on equal footing with elves, where their grit came from, and why they went to such lengths. By providing hypotheses based on his research, it was becoming a 'history book' in the truest sense.
[I protested vehemently. I argued that human tactics were becoming more sophisticated by the day and were causing us significant damage, so we should strike first. I suggested that if they were reluctant to kill, we should use magic to annihilate their supply lines.]
[But those pointy-eared bastards refused. They claimed nothing was as barbaric as starving someone to death. And they insisted that Albenheim had no need for 'tactics,' forcing us into a mindless defense.]
[But did they know? That Albenheim had never fought a 'war' between mortals, excluding the demons. Even the expulsion of the Dark Elves was closer to a political struggle. Humans, however, established strategies and tactics far superior to ours through countless wars while building their civilization.]
[Sometimes, among the idiots, there are those who say: 'If you copy what that guy does, you're no better than him.' The pointy-ears said the same thing. That we, blessed by the gods, must not engage in such lowly acts. That we must always rule with a noble mindset.]
[Bullshit. This is war. A place where spears, swords, and all sorts of lethal magic fly back and forth—a place where nobility cannot be found. The bastards who spout that crap during a war are above me and even below me. At least my adjutant is sane, but since the commander-in-chief spouts such nonsense, it doesn't mean much. I have no choice but to choose my words carefully so my adjutant doesn't get caught in the crossfire.]
He must have been unable to contain his rage while writing, as the text was full of scathing profanity.
Why was I suddenly reminded of the colorful insults from my previous life in this world I’d finally adjusted to? It came as quite a plot twist, especially since it was coming from Iker.
The Iker I had imagined until now was literally a tragic hero. A hero who always loved his country but was ultimately betrayed by it.
That type of hero is usually strict regarding military law but quiet in private—the type to bury their personal troubles deep in their heart.
And here he was, pouring out all his feelings in this memoir. It was essentially a diary, so it probably would have been awkward to publish.
The reason it was kept in the Holy Land was likely because he was an elf. The purpose of the Holy Land was to preserve every book on the surface, after all.
‘Does that mean not many people have read this?’
There are almost no records related to Iker, save for a few. Most books only mention that Iker was imprisoned after cutting off supply lines.
Most focus on the 'tragic hero' aspect; none relate to personal matters like this.
In the Xenon Chronicle, there is a character modeled after Iker. His name is Luden.
A hero on the Dark Elf side, he 'fuses' with Eir to sweep away all the demons, then perishes along with the World Tree that had become nourishment for Diabolus.
He is the epitome of a hero, and his personality is calm and serious at all times.
‘Turns out he was the exact opposite of Iker.’
The Iker in the memoir was quite flexible and pleasant. However, he was extremely strict when it came to military law.
That wasn't because he was an elf, but because he was a soldier. He was an elf with an enlightened mind, despite being from the old generation.
Of course, since it was a memoir, some parts needed to be taken with a grain of salt. Regardless of race, people tend to be lenient toward themselves.
Regardless, Iker could be called a hero born in the wrong era. If he had been born in the current age, he would have surely been a great asset to Albenheim.
"Tsk, tsk."
I clicked my tongue, feeling genuine pity. What was even more tragic was that while the book was full of the word "pointy-ears," he never once insulted Albenheim itself.
Seeing this, he was a true patriot who worried for his country rather than being loyal to specific people.
Furthermore, he was an indispensable talent who had even researched humans from various angles after developing a curiosity about them during the war.
I heard he’s currently living in seclusion at his estate; I’d love to meet him one day.
Of course, if I asked for a meeting, he’d probably agree reluctantly. But I didn't want to force someone who didn't want to come out.
"......Hm?"
Just as I was about to focus on the book again, I suddenly felt a strong gaze from the side.
I hadn't noticed at all because I was so focused, but for it to be this intense, they had to be staring openly.
I turned my head to see who it was.
"..."
"..."
It was Thor. A pointy-eared Thor was staring at me.
Sideburns that connected into a beard. Deep-set eyes and a sharp nose.
His glowing blue eyes were filled with curiosity, and he wore his hair long to his shoulders, like a warrior from Vikings.
An elf who looked exactly like the God of Thunder from the movies of my past life was staring at me.
Usually, elves—whether male or female—are famous for their literal 'beautiful' looks. On the other hand, this elf looked masculine rather than beautiful.
Not that he was ugly at all; he just looked like a 'man's man.' The kind of person who looked like he should be holding an axe in each hand.
"......Hello?"
Since he was staring so intensely, I offered a simple greeting to break the awkwardness.
The elf looked back and forth between the book and my face before speaking quietly.
"Are you, by chance, Xenon?"
Wow. His voice is incredibly sexy.
A low bass voice that made me feel like I’d stepped into a cave vibrated in my ears.
Usually, when someone looks like that, their voice can be a letdown, but this Thor... no, this elf had a voice that perfectly matched his appearance.
I don't know what my own voice sounds like to others, but I felt truly envious.
Anyway, I had to answer.
"Yes. That is correct."
"Your red hair is as striking as they say. You are quite handsome as well."
"Th-thank you."
I’d heard that compliment countless times, but hearing it directly from him made me feel strangely bashful.
Moreover, hearing it from an elf—of all races—seemed to double the effect.
I scratched my head awkwardly and checked the book the elf was reading.
‘It’s a history book. But...’
Why does it look so small? I had to rub my eyes as I looked at the book the elf held in both hands.
I couldn't tell if the book itself was small or if the elf was just that massive, but the sense of perspective felt distorted.
It wasn't like he was holding a pocketbook; how could it look so tiny?
Even I, who exercise regularly, am on the larger side, but this elf was comparable to my father.
"Are you very interested in history?"
As I was gauging the elf’s burly physique, that deep voice reached my ears again.
His somewhat archaic tone was unusual, but given the atmosphere, it suited him perfectly.
"Yes. More than just an interest, it's a field I love."
"Which era interests you the most?"
"At the moment, I'm quite interested in the Race Wars. It was a monumental event where humans first challenged elves, and it was the beginning of change."
"Change... that is also true."
The elf nodded, expressing his agreement.
Despite his warrior-like appearance, he seemed to be someone with a deep interest in history.
"Ah. Just in case you're wondering, I am not a strange person. I was simply curious because a celebrity who has set the world abuzz was reading a book right next to me."
"That’s understandable. Are you also interested in history?"
"I tend to focus on the races themselves rather than history. Specifically, I am conducting an intensive study of humans."
"Humans?"
"Indeed. A race born weak, but with nowhere to go but up."
It was a perfect summary of humanity’s innate weakness and their contrary achievements.
I nodded, inwardly impressed by his eloquence.
"Then what about elves?"
"You could say they are a race born at the highest point, unable to look down."
"That’s a very sharp insight."
When I spoke in admiration, the elf gave a soft, faint smile.
He looked stern when expressionless, but that smile made him feel cheerful.
"Is that book interesting?"
The elf then tilted his head and tossed out a question. He was referring to the book that was essentially Iker’s memoir.
To be honest, it was a very intriguing and fun book. Not just for the critical view of elves, but because it allowed me to get to know the man named Iker himself.
It made me realize that even a tragic hero doesn't have to be serious all the time and can have a sense of humor.
Come to think of it, I believe the character who looked just like the elf in front of me had a similar personality.
"Yes. As you know, Iker is known as a tragic hero. But most books explain things centered around events, with almost no explanation of the individual. I think this book is better because it tells you all of that."
"I see. Then what is your evaluation of the man? I am curious to hear the evaluation given by none other than Xenon."
"I haven't finished reading it yet, but..."
Even if I hadn't finished it, I had long since grasped what kind of person Iker was.
Recalling that intense first sentence, I spoke to the elf, who seemed to be waiting expectantly.
"Patriot. That one word is enough."
"A patriot?"
"Yes. Albenheim abandoned Iker. But while Iker insults elves by calling them pointy-ears, he never insults Albenheim. Even though his motherland abandoned him, he did not abandon his motherland. He can be seen as a patriot in the truest sense."
"A patriot..."
Did the word 'patriot' leave a deep impression? The elf looked upward, his expression suggesting he was lost in thought.
Meanwhile, a thought occurred to me, and I spoke up cautiously.
"Come to think of it, I didn't catch your name. May I ask who you are?"
"Hm? Me?"
"Yes."
The elf stared at me intently after hearing my question, then let out a faint chuckle.
Then, in his signature deep voice, he stated his name clearly.
"Iker."
"Ah. I see... wait, what?"
"Iker Lightsinger."
The elf who looked like Thor.
"I am the author of that book."
"..."
The foul-mouthed author was right in front of me.