Chapter 518: The Trend(4)
Chapter 518: The Trend(4)
Now that I knew the true nature of the Black Bead, I asked Hirt for advice on how to raise Ariel.
Hirt told me to simply shower her with love just like any other child, but I was still uneasy. I wondered if the sprout on her head would stay there forever, when her translucent wings would become fully formed, whether she would grow into an adult, and so on.
I had known this since the moment I read her thoughts, but seeing her flutter her wings and fly earlier drove the point home once again. Ariel could not be raised the same way as other children. The mere fact that she could read minds could have a profound impact on her development.
"Are you worried that this child might get hurt?"
"Yes. I can laugh it off for now, but I'm worried she'll mature too early."
There’s a saying that a child should be like a child. It’s a problem if they mature too late, but it’s just as much of a problem if they mature too early. Ariel, in particular, would be more prone to this because of her ability to read minds.
She would inevitably become overly sensitive to others' feelings. Mind reading is a vast and powerful ability, but it carries a high risk of harming the user. Even now, people were talking, and as time passed, Ariel’s telepathy would only exert more influence on those around her.
"You needn't worry about that. Though she is only half, the blood of an angel flows through her. Once she clearly realizes who she is, she will grow in an instant."
"…It’s hard to grasp exactly what you mean by that."
"You will understand when the time comes. As you have felt before, the thought processes of a transcendent being are entirely different from those of a mortal. Please understand."
It seemed that matters concerning Ariel were difficult for a mortal like me to comprehend. Her certainty that I wouldn't understand confirmed it. In the end, my quest for parenting advice had brought me right back to square one.
Still, she emphasized 'love' consistently, just as she had before. It was only natural that a child needs a parent's love to grow up healthy. Conversely, her words could be interpreted as a suggestion that I hadn't been giving Ariel enough love lately. A subtle jab, if you will.
Since I had indeed been leaving her education to my mother under the pretext of being busy, Hirt had plenty of ground to criticize me.
"Yaaaawn…"
As it was nearly time to leave, Ariel, who had been napping soundly on top of Hirt’s head, woke up. Hirt placed her on her palm and gently slid her toward me.
Ariel looked adorable, rubbing her eyes with a dazed expression, not quite awake yet. I smiled and took her into my arms.
"Mmm… Daddy…"
As soon as I held her, Ariel wiggled and snuggled into my chest. Then, she fell back into a peaceful sleep, her breathing soft and rhythmic. I patted her back gently and looked at Hirt. She was wearing a warm, satisfied smile.
There was nothing left to ask her, so it was time to go. I bowed my head deeply in farewell.
"I shall take my leave now. Thank you truly for your advice."
"There is no need for thanks. It is we who should be grateful for your broad-mindedness. Please know that we have absolutely no intention of being at odds with you."
"I will keep that in mind."
That was a firm assurance from a god on the level of a Chief God. All that remained was the reconciliation between the twin sibling gods. Since they likely felt guilty toward me as well, smoothing things over shouldn't be too difficult—though things with Mora might be a bit awkward.
[May blessings be upon your future.]
As soon as the conversation ended, Hirt dissolved into particles of light and vanished. The particles scattered, dancing on the breeze. I watched the scene in silence, turning away only after the light had completely faded.
Arwen was staring blankly at the spot where Hirt had been. With her mouth slightly agape and a dazed look on her face, she looked incredibly cute.
"…My love?"
Perhaps sensing my gaze, she blinked and looked at me. I stared into her silver-grey eyes, which were filled with a whirlwind of emotions, then shrugged and spoke.
"Shall we go?"
My business with the gods was mostly settled, but my time with Arwen was just beginning. She seemed to catch my drift, as her stunned expression melted into a smile. It was a beautiful smile, as always.
"Yes."
With that short but meaningful answer, we turned our backs on the World Tree and began to walk.
"Mmm-nya…"
Ariel, cradled in my arms, was still wandering through dreamland.
*
After the meeting with Hirt, we returned to Elodia, Albenheim’s political center and Arwen’s residence.
For the record, I wasn't going back to the dormitory immediately; I planned to stay here for about three days. Arwen had suffered a lot emotionally, and I wanted to help her release all that pent-up stress.
Besides, everyone who needed to know already knew I was here. That included Arwen’s attendant, Keir. Furthermore, the place was internally busy with various reports coming in from the ongoing Grey Desert expedition. No one had the leisure to pay me much mind.
'They said the investigation is still underway, right?'
The investigation of the Grey Desert—specifically the Kingdom of Gerios—was expected to take quite a long time. Gerios had been a powerful nation that started from the eastern edge and swallowed the entire east. Though it had been wiped out by demons, every single ruin was a massive legacy.
Rumor had it that finding even a small gold coin there could build a lifetime of wealth. There were even whispers of grave robbers sneaking in here and there.
"You included not just Aiker, but Siris in the Grey Desert expedition?"
"Yes. However, while Aiker is an official member, Siris is unofficial. I cannot fully trust the Holy Nation 'Savior,' after all."
I learned several other surprising pieces of news through Arwen. Aiker, who I thought had gone into seclusion, had joined the expedition on her orders. And Siris had infiltrated secretly, uncovering facts that Savior was trying to hide one by one.
Much like Cecile, who had purged all the radical demons, I was reminded that Arwen was the leader of a nation. At this point, I started to feel a sense of skepticism about whether I was actually writing or just making a mess. While everyone else was living so diligently, I had been busy whining.
I realized I shouldn't treat Blood and Iron as a mere 'hobby'; it should be viewed similarly to the books written by Marx.
"…You’re working very hard."
"It is a duty I must naturally bear as Queen."
"Duty, huh…"
I muttered the word 'duty' under my breath. I had never properly claimed my rights, but I had never shouldered a duty either. However, as the famous saying goes, with great power comes great responsibility. I decided I would no longer be a bystander and would embrace a sense of duty.
Events that were bound to happen eventually, like the Great Depression, were one thing, but I planned to avoid giving 'advice' as much as possible.
Take Stavirk, for example. The moment the concept of National Self-Determination appears, it’s obvious that the wave of independence in Stavirk will grow even stronger. They will likely scramble to contact me, just as the Dwarf Trio and Geas did, risking their lives to find me.
But I won't give advice as thoughtlessly as I did back then. Furthermore, the moment Hitler invades Poland, that fervor will turn ice-cold. Even if I somehow end up talking to Stavirk officials, I won't just stand by with my hands behind my back.
Of course, I would have to consider the worst-case scenario of being at odds with Lina, so I would likely refuse the conversation altogether.
"…Arwen."
"Is there something you wish to say?"
"How are things with the Dark Elves right now?"
And one more thing. I had to consider the relationship between the Elves and the Dark Elves, not just Stavirk. Once an ideology is spread, its heat might cool, but it never truly disappears. While Stavirk might settle down once Hitler invades Poland, the Dark Elves were a different story.
As everyone knows, the reason the Dark Elves split from the Elves was due to a religious civil war and ideological conflict. If they had lived together harmoniously, it might be different, but the characteristic stubbornness of the Elves had driven the Dark Elves away.
The Dark Elves loathed those Elves and cut off their ears, which were their symbol. Since then, they had cultivated their own culture and continued their lives. Though much had changed after the long passage of time and the outbreak of the Race War, the relationship between them couldn't be called good, even as a polite lie.
"The Dark Elves? Why do you ask about them?"
"I'll explain slowly. Anyway, how is it? Is there any progress?"
"Progress, you say…"
Arwen fell into deep thought at my question, then let out a sigh. It meant the situation wasn't great. She then proceeded to tell me about the current status in a somewhat troubled tone.
"Thanks to the Xenon Biography, the gap between the Elves and the Dark Elves has narrowed. We have been engaging in small exchanges since then."
"Then what’s the problem?"
"Just as our Elves have been split into the new and old generations since the Race War, the Dark Elves are also divided into factions."
The generational divide that happens everywhere. It seemed that this divide was causing many problems within the Dark Elves as well, not just the Elves. Arwen hesitated for a moment, wondering where to begin, before speaking in a heavy voice.
"As you know, the Dark Elves were exiled 3,200 years ago following a civil war among our kind. That is more than enough time for them to forget their homeland and establish their own identity."
"3,200 years…"
Elves have a lifespan of a thousand years. But 3,200 years was a span of three generations even by Elven standards. Although their long lifespans might cause their way of thinking to stagnate, preventing them from forgetting their yearning for home, it was still an incredibly long time.
"They are divided into those who believe they must return to the spiritual home designated by the gods, and those who believe they should build their own civilization. It is a matter that could potentially spark a civil war, so I cannot touch it lightly. It is a headache in many ways."
"……"
"Was there nothing similar in the world you lived in?"
"There were similar situations."
For example, Taiwan, Hong Kong, or the United States. These were cases where, rather than National Self-Determination, a different national identity evolved due to strong external pressure. Originally, National Self-Determination was an ideology that spread commonly among defeated nations, not a tool used for conquest like Hitler did.
Furthermore, if there was a faction that still considered Albenheim their spiritual home after such an immense amount of time… it was difficult for me to give a definitive answer based on my standards.
"I'm sorry, but I don't think I can do anything about this. The thought processes of Elves and humans are different. I can, however, offer a bit of advice."
"What is it?"
"Never use pressure. Just follow this one rule."
Under external pressure, everyone tends to fight with one heart and one mind. Ukraine is a current example of that. Although Hong Kong knelt to China, they did not surrender—at least, that’s how it was before I came here.
Finally, the United States. While many political factors were involved, they broke away from Britain to establish a new nation.
"You must deal with them through conciliatory measures. In these situations, the side that uses force first becomes extremely disadvantaged."
"Hmm… I see what you mean. Since we have plenty of time, I just need to refine the approach slowly."
"Exactly."
"My mind feels much clearer now. Thank you truly."
Arwen looked at me and gave me a soft smile. She even subtly took my hand. I squeezed her hand back and smiled. I was glad I could be of help.
"Oh, right. This isn't the time for this. I have a gift I want to give you."
"A gift?"
"Yes. I am sure you will be pleased."
Just as the atmosphere was getting sweet, Arwen broke the mood and spoke. She seemed to think it wasn't the right time yet. Indeed, there was still plenty of time until evening. Ariel was sleeping soundly, but it would be a disaster if she woke up in the middle of something. Now was a time for patience.
Honestly, I was curious about what the gift was. Since she didn't call herself the gift like last time, it was definitely something material.
"I'm curious. Where is it?"
"Fufu. Do you see that?"
When I asked with anticipation, Arwen smiled warmly and pointed to a spot. I turned my head in the direction she indicated.
But there was nothing there. Only the window, through which the warm sunlight was streaming, met my eyes. As I wore a puzzled expression, she took action.
Snap!
A simple finger snap. The sound rang out clearly.
At that moment, something shimmered like a mirage in front of the window, and soon a shape began to form. It seemed she had been hiding it with magic. I watched with anticipation to see what the gift was…
"…Huh?"
"I had it made based on the uniforms from your book. Even the tailors of Elodia praised it as a truly magnificent garment."
Whether Arwen was explaining proudly beside me or not, I couldn't help but look stupid. My mind went completely blank.
The garment was generally dark-toned, with an impressive design of bold, straight lines. It was sharply tailored, exuding a stiff, formal image.
But even setting that aside, it was undeniably stylish. To be honest, the design itself was far cooler than the uniforms of the Navy Knights. If I wore that out right now, I would draw the gaze of countless people. It looked as if every ounce of 'cool' had been poured into its appearance.
Of course, if I had worn that back on Earth—especially if I had walked around Europe in it—I would have been lynched by a mob. And after the lynching, I would have been dragged away like a dog. It was the ultimate 'do not associate' item.
"It is a custom-made outfit just for you. Not only does it use silk from silkworms raised on World Tree leaves, but it has also been enchanted to maintain a constant, comfortable temperature. It will be cool in the summer and warm in the winter."
Gee, thanks. The original ones were so impractical that everyone froze to death in the Soviet Union. Surely she wasn't suggesting that I actually wear that… please, I hoped not.
"Furthermore, it has defensive properties capable of stopping arrows. Albenheim’s finest tailors crafted it so you can move more comfortably. Oh! If you wish, I can even add a mark to the arm. I didn't make one separately because I thought a mark might not be necessary."
"…Is that so?"
"What do you think? Isn't it magnificent?"
The seeds I had sown everywhere…
"Haha…"
…had finally become karma and returned to me like a boomerang. Those Nazi bastards really did make stylish uniforms. The problem was that I had to be the one walking around in it. If I had known this would happen, I wouldn't have included the illustrations.
I had tried to show off and ended up screwing myself over.
'At least I'm glad there’s no Hakenkreuz symbol…'
But why did she put an Iron Cross on it? I wore a bitter expression, caught between laughing and crying.
'If God saw this, He’d send me straight to hell.'
I was 100% sure of it.