Chapter 74: The Aftermath(5)
Chapter 74: The Aftermath(5)
While Humans, Demons, and Beastkin finish their physical growth in their early to mid-twenties, Elves take much longer, only reaching physical maturity in their thirties.
Reaching physical maturity in one's thirties means having an exceptionally long adolescence. Regardless of race, individuals in their adolescence tend to learn much faster than those in other age groups.
Furthermore, long-lived species like Elves and Demons share the trait of having exceptional memories. When these two advantages combine, an Elf who reaches adulthood possesses a breadth of knowledge comparable to a walking library.
However, while thirty is the age an Elf is recognized as physically mature, they are generally not recognized as "socially" adult until around the age of fifty.
During that time, they must find the path they wish to follow, delve deep into it, and master a specific skill to be acknowledged as a proper adult.
Thus, while Elves are naturally predisposed to acquiring vast knowledge, their learning speed is somewhat lackluster compared to the sheer adaptability of Humans. However, they have the advantage of never forgetting what they learn, unlike Humans, which keeps the playing field level.
"I did well, didn't I? Hehe."
"... ..."
Arwen, the Elf Queen who had ruled Albenheim for a century despite ascending the throne at an exceptionally young age for her kind, couldn't even find her voice despite Rain’s bright smile. She simply couldn't process what was happening.
She had experienced many turbulent events over her long hundred-year reign.
She had poured immense effort into standing up against the Elder Council, who had looked down on her as a mere child, and she had used her talents to wisely navigate occasional frictions with neighboring countries.
Recently, the Elder Council had been throwing a fit over the Xenon Chronicle, but she had grown enough to brush it off easily. Compared to her days as a novice queen, her transformation was nothing short of miraculous.
...I'm screwed.
Yet, Arwen felt she was facing the greatest crisis of her century-long life. If it were a simple national disaster, she might have been able to prepare for it, but this went far beyond that.
And it was all because of the single Dark Elf girl standing before her, Rain. The girl herself seemed completely oblivious to the gravity of what she had done.
Oh, child...
Arwen struggled to maintain her composure, but she couldn't stop her head from throbbing. She desperately wanted to grab Rain by the shoulders and wail in despair.
Rain was still very young, barely over ten years old, and every action Arwen took as her guardian was crucial. A wrong move could leave the girl with an indelible scar.
Of course, the primary reason for her restraint was the strong premonition that if she lost her temper now, things would explode beyond control. It was better to persuade her gently now and scold her properly in private later.
Arwen managed to clear her mind, which had been on the verge of going blank, and calmed herself.
For now, explaining the situation to Rain seemed like the best course of action.
"...Rain? Do you realize what you've done?"
"Huh?"
"I asked if you understand the weight of your actions."
Arwen asked in a gentle tone, but it masked a deep, simmering fury. However, the young Rain didn't notice.
She only blinked, trying to figure out the intent behind Arwen's question.
"Sigh..."
In the end, Arwen couldn't help but let out a long-suppressed sigh. Looking at that face, devoid of even a shred of malice, only made her feel more suffocated.
The girl had brought this manuscript solely to make her happy. The intention was praiseworthy, but the result was catastrophic.
"...My Queen?"
Rain, sensing from Arwen's reaction that something was wrong, asked in a cautious voice. Her large blue eyes were filled with worry and concern.
At that, Arwen gritted her teeth and forced a smile.
"Rain. I know you wanted to please me, but this was wrong. Stealing someone else's property is never the right thing to do. How would you feel if someone stole something precious from you?"
"Hmm... I'd do the same to them. Or maybe just rob them of everything they have? That's what my teachers taught me."
It was an answer that perfectly reflected the unique mindset of the Dark Elves.
If someone wronged them first, they would retaliate with something even worse; conversely, if they received a favor, they would strive to repay it twofold.
The only silver lining was that she seemed to understand that stealing was "bad." Seeking revenge meant she recognized that a wrong had been committed.
However, the fact that she had committed a wrong despite knowing better was a bitter pill for Arwen to swallow.
As her surrogate parent, Arwen couldn't help but feel a pang of heartache.
"...I'm asking just in case, but do you have any idea how valuable this paper is?"
"Whatever it is, the original is always the most valuable, right? That's why I brought it. I thought it would be helpful to you, My Queen."
Far from being helpful, it was a ticking time bomb. Arwen barely suppressed another sigh and continued.
"...Then do you know how important this paper is to the Humans?"
"Of course I do. That's why, if we use this correctly, won't we have the upper hand? Even if the Humans scream and shout, they won't be able to challenge us. Because we're strong."
She knew the 'what' but not the 'why.' And above all, it was an incredibly arrogant thought.
Whether Elf or Dark Elf, that arrogance was clearly a racial trait.
A young age ignorant of the world's workings, combined with the innate arrogance of her race, had produced this result.
...This is driving me insane.
Arwen wiped her face with her hands, feeling like she wanted to cry.
If possible, returning it to its original place would be best, but it was too late for that. It would take time for Rain to return to the publisher, and even if she put it back, people might doubt whether the manuscript was real or a fake.
Most importantly, the Minerva Empire's Imperial Family had already dispatched an investigation team to the publisher. No matter how skilled Rain was at stealth, if she were caught for even a second, it would be the end for both of them—politically and personally.
As the ruler of Albenheim, Arwen had to avoid the absolute worst-case scenario at all costs, so choosing the lesser of two evils was the only way. Therefore, it was better to keep the manuscript for the time being.
"I see. I'll hold onto it for now. But I have a lot to think about, so go and rest for a while."
"Yes!"
"And be prepared for a stern scolding later. Along with your punishment, I'll have to inform the Elder of this matter."
"Yes... Wait, what?"
Had she expected things to end on a high note? Rain's eyes went wide, and she looked startled by Arwen's cold words.
Arwen narrowed her eyes and glared at Rain. No matter how much she cared for her, a wrong was a wrong and had to be punished.
"It's only natural to be scolded when you've done something wrong, isn't it? I am your guardian, but I am also acting as your parent. When you make a mistake, I must be firm. Furthermore, what you've done could bring a great crisis upon Albenheim."
"Is... is that true? But why?"
"Because Humans are much stronger than you think. They may lack many things we have, but they are never to be underestimated. And it won't just be the Humans; the Demons will go on a rampage as well."
"The... the Demons too? B-but we..."
As Rain stammered, trying to argue, Arwen could only offer a bitter smile.
Rain was likely thinking this:
Why should we, the race chosen by the Gods, bow our heads? We might have messed up during the Race War, but things are different now.
However, moderation is key in all things. Rain currently possessed not pride, but "hubris." Having entered the emotionally unstable period of adolescence, that hubris would only grow.
[Humans are beneath us, so there's no need to treat them as equals. Therefore, even if we wrong them, it won't be a big deal.]
That was likely the reason she had stolen the manuscript despite knowing it was wrong.
Arwen herself had been like that once, but over her hundred-year reign, she had realized a few things.
No matter how much a race is chosen by the Gods, they are ultimately mortals subject to joy, anger, sorrow, and pleasure, and the moment they succumb to hubris, they become blind.
In the past, she had boldly stepped forward out of ignorance, only to suffer a massive diplomatic blow from a Human nation. From then on, she had changed her mindset, realizing that Humans were a race that should never be taken lightly.
So, she had to fix that hubris first. Arwen vowed to properly educate Rain in the future and spoke quietly.
"Yes. As you think, we were chosen by the Gods. But that doesn't change the fact that a wrong is a wrong. An unforgivable act cannot be forgiven."
"But I..."
"No 'buts.' I'm barely holding back my urge to shout at you right now. My head hurts, so would you please leave for a moment?"
Sensing that Arwen was serious, Rain's expression darkened instantly.
Usually, Arwen didn't scold her severely even when she did something bad, but today was clearly different.
"...I understand. May Mora grant you rest."
Rain left with a dejected voice, offering the traditional Dark Elf greeting before vanishing. It was a perfect stealth technique that allowed her to blend seamlessly with her surroundings.
As soon as Rain disappeared, Arwen immediately cast a detection spell. There was no sign of Rain, nor was there anything else detected in the audience chamber.
"Phew..."
Snap!
She let out a deep sigh and then, just in case, snapped her fingers to cast another spell. As soon as the magic took effect, a circular barrier formed around her.
The identity of this magic was none other than...
"AAAAAAAAGH!!"
Soundproofing magic. She violently ruffled her silver-gray hair and let out a scream that sounded like a wyvern's shriek.
Normally, it would have been a scream loud enough to be heard outside the audience chamber, but because of the soundproofing magic, not a single sound leaked out.
"O Luminous! Why do you grant me such trials?! Aaaaaagh!"
The accumulated stress had finally reached its limit and exploded. Arwen fought a powerful urge to just run away from it all.
The current situation could only be described as the absolute worst. If they were caught, it would be the worst of the worst, and even if they weren't, it was still a disaster.
Moreover, to be checkmated like this not by the Elder Council, but by someone she trusted—how could she not feel this way? She wanted to collapse onto the floor and sob her heart out.
"Haa... haa... haa..."
After throwing a tantrum for a while, she finally managed to calm down. Venting her pent-up frustration made her feel a little better.
However, her disheveled hair and the venom in her silver-gray eyes showed that her stress was still at its peak.
She had already been under a mountain of stress, and to face the ultimate crisis from an unexpected source had made her snap.
But I can't just sit still. I have to find the author somehow.
She couldn't act on a national level; she had to meet him strictly "personally." And what would she do when she met him?
First, I'll start by prostrating myself. It's the only way to survive.
To hell with her royal dignity; she was prepared to bow her head. It was partly her fault for failing to stop Rain, and she had to appease the author somehow to prevent Albenheim from being destroyed.
It wasn't an exaggeration. Considering the influence of the Xenon Chronicle, this manuscript was more dangerous than a weapon of mass destruction. It was an item that should be designated a national treasure; she would have no defense even if a declaration of war were issued.
Furthermore, Albenheim had already issued a statement regarding the theft of the manuscript. There was a very high possibility they would face a massive backlash for shamelessly carrying out a covert operation and then lying about it.
But what if he goes on hiatus while I'm looking for him? Then the next book will be delayed again. I heard there were even protests; what should I do?
Arwen habitually bit her thumbnail in anxiety.
To return the manuscript without any trouble, she had to meet the author privately. But for some reason, the author was currently hiding his identity and was extremely reluctant to reveal himself.
Until now, she hadn't searched for the author due to issues with the Elder Council and various other reasons, but today, the situation had changed. She had to find the author, apologize somehow, and hand over the manuscript for her and Albenheim to survive the aftermath.
"Ugh..."
It was the ultimate dilemma. To avoid the worst, she had to meet the author, but the moment she found him, there was a risk he would stop writing altogether.
Arwen agonized over how to wisely overcome this situation.
For a moment, she thought about pinning it on the Elder Council, but if they counterattacked, she would be finished. They were cunning snakes, more than capable of turning the situation to their advantage.
First, I have to meet the Dark Elf Elder. Even if it's risky, I have no choice but to find the author.
The lesser of two evils was definitely better than the absolute worst. Arwen made a firm resolution, even as she glanced at the manuscript.
The manuscript, which held more influence over the cultural world than a weapon of mass destruction, was now in her hands.
Wait. What if I use this to my advantage...?
If she said the manuscript had "coincidentally" fallen into her hands after some time, would anyone believe her? It would arouse much suspicion, but since it was already a stolen item, she could just act shamelessly.
There was no concrete evidence, and Albenheim was one of the great powers. In diplomacy, national power often spoke louder than words, so even the Minerva Empire wouldn't be able to say much.
However, she soon had to discard that thought.
No. The Elder Council would just throw another fit.
The Elder Council was always the problem. Arwen let out a hollow laugh, lamenting her situation as she touched the silver circlet on her forehead. A brilliant blue gem was embedded in its center—the symbol of a king.
Arwen then removed the circlet from her forehead and looked down at it with a bitter smile.
She had worn this circlet for a hundred years, but it had never felt as heavy as it did today.
"Honestly, this job is the worst."
The storm had completely receded, but the aftermath was devastating.