Chapter 76
Chapter 76
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 76
Chapter Title: In Search of the Queen (1)
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Seeing Lady Sylvannus's earnest face, there was no way I could say, "No."
According to Darion, the Queen's niece was on her mother's side, not her father's. She was the only female in the Queen's bloodline, which was why the Queen cherished her so much. That was also the reason she had no desire for power.
The Queen hadn't shown herself for a whole year, but for some reason, whenever someone entered the "Dream Maze," a sorrowful song could be heard from outside the door—her voice. However, only Lady Sylvannus had heard it.
Because of that, her opinion that "we must find the Queen" had been thoroughly ignored. The Elder Council believed the Queen's disappearance must be for some grand purpose too profound to fathom, and they shouldn't interfere.
"But I know the truth."
"......"
"It's embarrassing to admit this to an outsider, but... Lyset is currently in a state of illness."
I listened quietly to her words.
"Ever since Her Majesty vanished, the Elders and nobles have been locked in a power struggle. They know problems have arisen, but they're pretending not to notice."
"......"
"It's not that they don't want to disturb Her Majesty. They hope she never wakes."
"......"
"That's why I need your help, Theodore."
So that was the situation. For a race like the elves, who valued honor above all, it must not have been easy to confess such rotten internal affairs. I nodded.
"I understand your intentions, my lady."
"It won't be easy, but you're the only one I can trust... Please."
I was startled to see Lady Sylvannus bow her head deeply. The Queen's most cherished niece, an elf of her stature, bowing to an outsider...
"...I can't promise it'll definitely help, but I'll do my absolute best."
"Thank you, Theodore."
Afterward, I even received a promise of full support from the Sylvannus family. Now there was no turning back.
Indeed, the Queen's appearance in the Dream Maze had looked precarious. A figure like the elven Queen should be one of the continent's top powerhouses, yet the one I saw in the Dream Maze...
She was in a state that truly needed help.
The surging thorn vines and terrifying darkness were concerning enough, but what bothered me most was the Queen's legs, rooted to the ground like a tree.
That must be why she hadn't awakened for over a year. She couldn't escape the Dream Maze.
In that case...
I would have to enter the Dream Maze again.
Of course, I had no intention of going back unprepared.
First, I needed to find out what the Queen meant by "Griselle."
I asked Lady Sylvannus.
"Her Majesty said to find 'Griselle.' Do you have any idea what that might be?"
"Griselle" meant "pebble" in Elvish. But surely the Queen didn't mean a literal pebble...
I asked in case Lady Sylvannus had some inkling, but her expression suggested otherwise.
"Griselle..."
...Or did she? Did she know something?
She hesitated. Her face was a complex mix of uncertainty—whether to speak, fear, shame.
"Anything you tell me will be a great help."
I spoke firmly to her. Hiding things would only make problems worse. It was better for both me and the client to know any information upfront.
After a long hesitation, Lady Sylvannus finally spoke.
"...Griselle is a derogatory term for the dark elves who live around the Dark Forest."
That explained why she hesitated.
Elven society had clear class distinctions: the Queen, Elders, nobles, priests, ordinary elves... and "dark elves."
Dark elves were severely ostracized in Lyset. To the point where they were treated worse than humans.
Of course, there was a reason for their plight.
According to ancient elven myths, it was the dark elves' ancestor "Sidika" who tried to steal the "first flower to bloom," beloved by the gods.
Sidika, an ancient elf, was cursed for attempting to steal the "first flower to bloom" that the gods adored. Cursed, Sidika fled Lyset and later settled in the Dark Forest. Hiding in the Dark Forest, where even midday light didn't penetrate, Sidika's descendants gradually became tainted by darkness, turning into the dark elves of today.
"Why would Her Majesty tell you to find Griselle?"
I shook my head at Lady Sylvannus's question.
"I'm not sure. I'll just have to inquire around."
"The Dark Forest has become much more dangerous lately."
"It's fine. I have companions."
Everyone knew the Dark Forest was dangerous. But in my case, my worries were halved.
Because I had Isla.
Isla was a shadow wolf, and shadow wolves' habitat was the Dark Forest. With Isla, the Dark Forest's difficulty would drop sharply.
Of course, I'd need to prepare shadow-related totems or items for Lloyd and El.
'Lloyd should be fine, right?'
I'd just need to worry about El.
"I'll prepare to enter the Dark Forest. My lady, please look into areas where dark elves appear."
"Understood."
"Don't worry too much. I'll give it my all."
It was a "quest" before it was a commission, so I had no choice but to try my hardest. Seeing my resolute demeanor, Lady Sylvannus seemed somewhat relieved, offering a faint smile and nodding.
"Thank you, Theodore."
* * *
"...So, we'll head into the Dark Forest as soon as preparations are complete."
"Yes!"
El answered energetically, but Lloyd, who had been listening silently, said nothing.
"Mr. Lloyd, what do you think?"
"...Theodore, have you ever been in the Dark Forest?"
Lloyd glanced at Isla before asking me. Maybe he thought since I had a shadow wolf, I'd been there.
"No, I haven't. Surprisingly, Isla was born in the Barak Empire. For some reason, her mother pack came all the way to the Golden Road."
"I see."
"But her instincts should know what the Dark Forest is like. That's what instincts are for."
"......"
I stroked Isla's silver fur. Well, even if she didn't know the Dark Forest, her skills were top-notch. So it didn't matter.
"Have you ever fought dark elves?"
"...Honestly, I've never even seen one."
"That could be a problem."
Most dark elves stayed around the Dark Forest. Some ventured to the continent's center, but they weren't treated well. Most dark elves ended up as gladiators in Roshan. So I might have seen one there, but... I didn't like the Colosseum much, so I'd never encountered a dark elf.
'I should have gone when Jamil kept nagging me to.'
I might have learned their fighting style... Well, no use thinking about it now. I asked Lloyd.
"Do you know much about dark elves?"
"I've clashed with them a few times."
Ah, that made sense. Some dark elves served as guards for imperial nobles. A knight like Lloyd—obviously—would have crossed swords with them.
"Then you can tell us."
"......"
"All of us."
Jackpot, free lesson again. I grabbed Lloyd's shoulder and grinned.
We decided on a week of preparations: Lloyd's elemental crash course, item gathering, totem crafting, and studying Dark Forest monsters... Time flew by.
"Hmm, this should do."
The day before heading to the Dark Forest, I was crafting totems. For Lloyd and El, made from processing giant owl eyeballs found in the Dark Forest—sort of monocle-like eyewear.
Wearing the totem over one eye, I saw green afterimages around me, like viewing through a thermal camera. Yeah, this would be plenty helpful.
I had the [Owl's Eye] skill, so I didn't need it, but just in case, I made three, including one for myself.
'If not needed, I can sell them later.'
Elves or mercenaries, no one would pass up something like this. I stored the totems aside and stood to prepare emergency rations, just in case. Dried fruit and nuts with honey for energy bars, and jerky. Maybe make it a bit spicy...
The moment I opened the door to the small dining area attached to the annex.
"...Gasp!"
"Th-Theodore..."
Whoa, that startled me.
A hooded figure in black stood at the door. I reflexively reached for my dagger, then relaxed and looked at the intruder.
"...Darion, what brings you here so late?"
The intruder was Darion.
Well, if it were a suspicious guy, Isla would've lunged and torn his throat out first. Since it was a familiar face we'd met several times, Isla hadn't reacted.
Still, why here?
Did Lady Sylvannus send him?
"What are you doing here, Darion?"
Urging him again, Darion fidgeted for a while before speaking.
"Me too..."
"You too?"
"Take me to the Dark Forest too."
"...What?"
This young master... Does he realize what he's saying? A noble young lord who's probably never left Lyset without guards—what is he talking about?
Maybe reading my incredulous expression, the hesitating Darion flushed red and spoke again.
"I want to help Her Majesty too."