Chapter 516: The Trend(2)
Chapter 516: The Trend(2)
The journey to Albenheim was swift. Since I had contacted Arwen through Cecile’s help, there were no obstacles along the way.
However, I had been receiving some sharp glares lately because I’d been running around all over the place. Marie, in particular, had puffed out her cheeks in clear discontent.
I hadn't brought her along during the visitation, and now I was taking only Ariel to Albenheim. It was only natural for her to be upset.
So, before leaving, I showered her with plenty of love. I’m sure I don’t need to explain exactly what form that love took.
Thanks to that, my body was covered in hickeys and even distinct teeth marks. I couldn't help but wonder what Arwen would think when she saw them.
‘I’ll have to talk to Cherry after I get back, too.’
The work wouldn't end just by going to Albenheim. There was Cherry—my business partner and a junior I hadn't been able to look after lately.
With the paper supply being so unstable that even Blood and Iron was struggling to be published, her work must be in an even worse state. In truth, she was one of the victims in all of this.
Yet, I had been so busy running around that I failed to take care of my only partner. And as everyone knows, Cherry currently has an excessive dependency on me.
One could call this irresponsible. I felt I could say nothing to her but "I'm sorry."
‘Well, I did give her a letter...’
The day before I left, I handed her a letter. I apologized for not taking care of her, explained—though it sounded like an excuse—that I had been busy with many things, and suggested we talk after I returned from Albenheim.
Just before I departed, her reply arrived.
[It’s alright. Unlike me, you are a busy person, Senior, so I understand. You don’t need to worry about me.]
You don’t need to worry about me. You don’t need to worry about me. You don’t need to worry about me.
If nothing else, that last sentence really bothered me. Was this the same girl who had clung to me during the exhibition, begging me not to abandon her?
Something was definitely up. Given Cherry’s personality, receiving such a short reply was strange enough, but telling me not to worry was even weirder.
I wondered if her father, Count Letiz, was acting up again, but the probability of that was low.
Perhaps Cherry had added those words out of consideration for me. A 'normal person' would have thought so.
But people don't change easily. Even if Cherry had found salvation through me, self-esteem that has once hit rock bottom is almost impossible to fully restore.
If she were with Kate, whose compatibility with her is like nuclear fission, it might be different, but if Cherry was alone, she would only be surrounded by a dark, gloomy atmosphere.
‘...She might notice something if I’m the one who approaches her.’
In times like this, one shouldn't act rashly. It was better to have someone else quietly look into things.
If someone had noticed the connection between Cherry and me and was exploiting it, she would definitely be keeping it hidden, given her personality.
"You want me to meet Cherry and talk to her?"
"Yeah. She’s not the type to send a reply like this. You feel it too, don't you, Marie?"
"Hmm... It certainly is unsettling. Alright. I’ll mention it to Cecile as well."
Marie, who had met Cherry before, also sensed that something was off and readily agreed to my request.
She said she would have found it annoying if it were anyone else, but she could allow it because it was Cherry. She mentioned that the girl was so pitiful she felt like she had to do something for her.
"Then, one bite before you go!"
"Ouch."
In return, I was sentenced to a cheek-biting, but I’ve grown used to it by now.
Afterward, with Cecile’s help, I crossed over to Albenheim immediately. For the record, this wasn't an official visit, so we didn't go through the checkpoints.
How did we teleport there? There are teleportation coordinates known only to the Queen of Albenheim or those of equivalent power.
Since the coordinates changed in real-time, it didn't matter much if Cecile knew them.
Furthermore, the coordinates themselves were twisted like a complex code, so even Cecile took quite a while to activate the spell.
"Elves are certainly proficient in this field. We can still only manage simple things..."
Upon realizing this, Cecile looked both fascinated and bitter. Although the Demons were considered rivals to the Elves, their foundations weren't as deep.
As seen in the history of Albenheim establishing the first civilization, their basic academic foundations were incredibly solid.
On the other hand, the Demons had been semi-forcibly isolated, and while they possessed great firepower, they lagged behind Elven magic in many areas.
"Knowledge is supposed to develop through exchange. Now that Helium has opened up, it will gradually improve."
"It’s comforting to hear you say that."
Just as stagnant water rots, the same goes for academia. For example, the dispute between Newton and Leibniz over calculus once led to the isolation of Britain.
That isolation alone was said to have set British mathematics back about a hundred years compared to the continent, so one can only imagine the state of Helium.
It was a stroke of luck that Demons could use magic as naturally as breathing; otherwise, they would have perished long ago.
"You’ve arrived. My dear. I have been waiting for you."
While I was chatting with Cecile, a familiar voice reached my ears. A voice that was clear and pure, like a young girl's.
Turning my head, I saw Arwen welcoming us with a warm smile.
As always, she wore a silver dress that emphasized the curves of her lower body. It stood in stark contrast to Cecile, who wore a black dress to highlight her ample bust.
"Ah! It’s White Mommy!"
At that moment, Ariel, who had been leaning against Cecile’s chest like a soft pillow, shouted with a bright smile.
Slipping out of Cecile's arms, she flapped her wings and flew vigorously through the air to give Arwen a tight hug. Arwen didn't seem flustered and welcomed her with a smile.
...Wait. What? Flapped her wings and flew?
"Hehe."
"It has been a while, Ariel. Have you been well?"
"Uh-huh! Uh-huh!"
While the "mother and daughter" were having their reunion, I couldn't hide my stunned expression. Unless I had seen wrong, Ariel had definitely flown.
She hadn't used magic; she had flapped her wings like a bird. I had clearly seen those translucent wings fluttering.
"Ariel could fly?"
"...This is the first time I've seen it, too."
Cecile asked in a surprised tone, as if she were witnessing it for the first time as well. But since it was new to me too, I could only give a dazed reply.
I had no idea if she could fly from the start or if it was due to her recent rapid growth.
When she stayed at the mansion for a while, Ariel had always waddled around on her two feet; she had never spread her wings.
In the first place, she had hidden her ears and wings to avoid being caught by the people in the mansion. Even if she were caught, we could have just claimed she was a distant relative.
Of course, as those translucent wings showed, they weren't something that could be hidden under clothes. They always poked out, just as they were now.
However, her mother’s training must have been effective, as she was able to hide them. Perhaps that was why she hadn't flown before.
‘...I’m a failure. No, beyond a failure, I was just an idiot.’
Lately, I seemed to find myself in situations that triggered guilt more often. I told myself it was for Ariel’s sake, but in reality, I was just worrying about my own safety.
What was I so afraid of that I kept her so hidden that I didn't even notice her actual growth? This wasn't just irresponsible; it was selfish.
While I was reproaching myself internally, Ariel was nestled in Arwen’s arms, rubbing her face against her.
Arwen, seemingly finding the girl adorable after their time apart, gently stroked her red hair.
"Mommy. Mommy."
"Yes. Mommy is here. Is there something you want to say?"
"Hehe."
The little angel only laughed at Arwen’s gentle question. She seemed particularly fond of Arwen.
It was likely because the first people she saw after being born were Arwen and me. Although she got along well with my other lovers, they couldn't compare to Arwen.
"Hmph. I’m getting a little jealous. I feel like I’ve lost somehow."
Cecile also seemed to be feeling some complicated emotions, narrowing her eyes as she watched the two.
Since Ariel had been using her chest as a cushion just moments ago, it was a situation that would naturally spark jealousy.
I chuckled and asked her, just in case.
"You’re not having strange feelings toward a child, are you?"
"As if I would. I just wish you and Marie would get married as soon as possible. That way, I could have a cute child like Ariel too."
"..."
Cecile spoke in a voice full of sensuality while subtly placing her hand on her lower abdomen. I cleared my throat and turned my head away from the incredibly seductive woman.
My face was heating up, but I was just glad Ariel hadn't seen this scene.
If she had read Cecile’s inner thoughts, a disaster would have occurred. One really couldn't let their guard down around Cecile.
"Well, I’ll be going now. You three have a nice, cozy time~ Just don't play too dirty."
Cecile left, firing off one last sexual joke. I stared at the spot where she had been with a complicated expression before turning forward.
"Whoosh~ Whoosh~ Our Ariel flies so well~"
"Kyahaha!"
Now Arwen was actually tossing Ariel up and catching her. Isn't that usually something a father does?
Also, as if to prove that what I saw earlier wasn't a mistake, the moment Ariel was tossed into the air, she flapped her wings and descended slowly.
I watched them with a warm, even joyful smile before quietly approaching.
"Have you been well? No major headaches?"
"You need not worry. The recent Great Depression is a bit of a headache, but it is nothing like the hardships of before. Is it not the Minerva Empire that is the busiest?"
"...That’s true."
Albenheim was a country relatively free from the Great Depression originating in the Minerva Empire.
It wasn't that they were completely unaffected, but they were much better off than the Empire, where the economy itself had ground to a halt.
As a land blessed with abundance, crop harvests were not a problem; in fact, they were currently exporting.
"Uuu..."
While I was feeling relieved internally, Ariel, who was being held by Arwen, put a finger in her mouth with a troubled look.
It seemed she had read Arwen’s thoughts, but since she had been taught by my mother and me not to reveal other people’s inner thoughts carelessly, she was keeping her mouth shut.
Before my ascetic training, I would have just ignored it and moved on. But now, if there was a problem, I wanted to solve it immediately.
I felt sorry for Arwen, but I wanted to shoulder some of the responsibility.
"Ariel? Do you have something to say?"
"Can I say it?"
"No! Absolutely not! Do not say it!"
As I was gently coaxing Ariel, Arwen shouted urgently. Her face, flushed with embarrassment, turned bright red.
Her face was already pale, making the blush even more obvious, and even her pointed ears were turning red.
I didn't know exactly what she was thinking, but I knew it was far from anything 'normal.'
Ariel blinked her golden eyes at Arwen’s aggressive reaction and spoke with the characteristic innocent face of a child.
"Mommy says not to say it."
"...Then you don't have to."
"Phew..."
When I replied dazed that she didn't have to, Arwen let out a sigh of relief. She was so startled that she even closed her eyes in relief.
And I didn't miss that opening. Taking advantage of the moment she let her guard down, I mouthed a message to Ariel.
‘Tell Daddy later.’
Ariel nodded, having understood me perfectly despite the mouthing. Even if it was an embarrassing concern, a concern was still a concern.
I wanted to resolve it if possible. Especially since Arwen, unlike the others, was far away.
I wanted to start listening to every little thing from those around me. Not as someone irresponsible and selfish, but with an altruistic heart, ready to shoulder responsibility.
"Ahem. Ahem. Then, shall you go to see Lord Hirt immediately? I have already informed the believers about the path to the World Tree, so you need not worry."
"There’s no rush... Let’s talk as we walk slowly. I think that would be best."
The path to the World Tree was tranquil. Only the giant tree, with its magnificent roots, filled the view ahead, surrounded by golden fields.
Arwen, who seemed to have a mountain of things she wanted to talk about, readily agreed. Her reddened ears showed no sign of cooling down.
She offered to lead the way, and Ariel naturally moved over to me. Ariel, who had been in my arms, wriggled around and changed positions.
The place Ariel settled was none other than my back. To be precise, I gave her a piggyback ride.
I’d felt it before, but her weight had definitely increased. Lord Hirt said I only needed to give her love, but I felt the need to look into things more specifically.
-Daddy. Should I tell you now?
Ariel whispered into my ear. It seemed she wanted to tell me what I had asked for earlier.
Hearing her question, I looked at Arwen walking ahead. Perhaps because of the tight-fitting dress, her lower body was even more noticeable than before.
Lust began to simmer from deep within my heart, but I barely suppressed it since Ariel was there.
Still, I thought it would be okay, so I gave a small nod.
-I’ve had a hard time lately. As soon as I solved one problem, the Great Depression hit. The old fogies complained so much during the land reclamation.
As soon as I heard those words, my lust vanished, replaced only by mounting guilt. She had reacted so strongly because she didn't want to worry me...
-So, you have to make it up to me that much. That’s only fair. The others must have done it plenty. You meanie.
...It wasn't me; it was exactly what I expected.
-I’m going to charge interest for the times I missed before, too. I’m going to let it all out. That would be fair, right?
The Communist Ero-elf wasn't going anywhere. No, should I call this egalitarianism?
I felt dizzy from the thoughts Ariel was relaying to me. What on earth was she thinking in front of a child?
"Hm? What are you doing not following?"
Unaware that her inner thoughts had been relayed, Arwen asked with a perfectly innocent expression.
I chuckled, seeing through the hidden darkness—and lewdness—beneath that innocence.
"Arwen."
"Do you have something to say?"
"...No."
Sometimes, there are concerns that are better left unrevealed.
I feigned ignorance to the tilting of Arwen’s head.
-There’s more. Should I tell you?
Just how many thoughts did she have in that short time? Is an Elf’s thought process faster than a human’s?
I almost let out a hollow laugh at the absurd situation but managed to hold it back. I didn't think I needed to know.
‘No. It’s okay.’
I should have listened a bit more then.
‘Forget it all. It’s not helpful for Ariel.’
If I had, the shock of the 'gift' I would receive that night might have been less severe.