Chapter 93
Chapter 93
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 93
Chapter Title: Guardian of the Black Forest (2)
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The Queen subdued the elders with effortless ease. It was only natural. The Queen of Lüset was an elf who had lived for a thousand years and was counted among the continent's top powerhouses. If Grisel hadn't obtained the Fragment of the Origin God in the first place, none of this would have happened.
By the Queen's command, Blanche and the other elders, along with their accomplices, were all imprisoned in the underground dungeons. They offered no particular resistance or excuses. It was probably because the Queen already knew everything.
In contrast to the elders, the Dark Elves who had been unjustly detained were all set free. Thanks to my testimony and Darion's about the horrific atrocities that had occurred in the Dark Elf villages, they were promised reconstruction aid for their homes. A fortunate outcome.
"I've brought the two of you."
Thanks to the Queen, I was able to reunite with Lloyd and El as well. The two had been on their way across the Lüset border toward the Barak Empire. If I'd been even a little later, we might have been separated for good. Well, I could have tracked them down easily enough, but it would have been a hassle.
-Awoo!
"I know, I know."
-Kring, huff, huff!
"It's h-heavy!"
As I'd expected, Isla had been wandering the forest near the palace. She must have been looking for me. Because of that, rumors had already started circulating about a ghostly wolf haunting the area. That's why I'd asked Luisa to look after her. What was done was done, though. I had to spend quite a while soothing Isla as she burrowed into my arms like a puppy.
"Master."
"...Yeah?"
"I knew this would happen."
"What?"
"You always solve problems, Master. So I figured it would be the same this time."
"Is that so."
"That's why I tried to stop Lloyd from leaving the country."
"Pfft, hahaha!"
"It didn't work, though."
"El, I specifically told you to escape Lüset if you didn't hear from me. You should have listened to Lloyd."
"I told you! I absolutely believed in you, Master! Lloyd's strong and all, but honestly, he's not on your level, right?"
"Don't let Lloyd hear that last part, no matter what."
"Of course."
Unfortunately, Lloyd happened to pass by right behind El at that moment. He must have heard every word. 'Lloyd's strong and all, but honestly, he's not on your level, right?' He'd heard it crystal clear. The man could pick up the sound of leaves rustling in the wind like a ghost. I swallowed my chuckling laugh.
Thanks to the Queen's consideration, we were allowed to stay in the Lüset palace for the time being. Not only was it incomparable to any inn, but even the lavish Silvanus estate felt shabby by comparison. The guest rooms were as large as ballrooms, lined with platinum decorations here and there. Whoa, didn't they worry about thieves? Were there anti-theft enchantments? I picked up a platinum candlestick, then quietly set it back down.
-Knock knock.
"Come in."
"Good afternoon, Sir Theodore. I've come to deliver the invitation from Her Majesty the Queen."
"Ah, thank you."
I opened the ornate invitation on its platinum tray. Surprisingly, it was written not in Elvish, but in the Empire's common tongue. The haughty elves had made an effort to accommodate humans.
"A banquet..."
We'd received an invitation to a banquet from the Queen. She'd made it abundantly clear—insisting with a firm grip—that she wanted to repay us properly, so there was no way to refuse.
The banquet was set for two days later. We decided to rest in the palace until then.
'The Lüset palace has hot springs.'
A massive, opulent hot spring bathhouse inside the palace proper. The Lüset palace hot springs were already famous even in the game. I'd experienced them once myself, and the thought of seeing them in person made my heart race.
Monumental statues greeted us at the hot spring entrance: carvings of male and female elves holding pitchers, from which fragrant silver droplets flowed with a soft melody. A small portal must have been installed inside the pitchers. We entered, misted by the spring water like a drizzle.
"Too bad El can't join us."
"Her identity can't be revealed."
That's right. No matter how much we insisted she wasn't from the Empire, there was no benefit to El's true nature being discovered, so she stayed in the room. She couldn't bathe, but she could stuff herself with snacks to her heart's content, so she was probably happy.
Lloyd and I soaked in the steaming hot spring. Bubbling carbonated water prickled the skin. For some reason, it carried a faint floral scent—nothing like a regular bath.
-Bubble bubble bubble!
"Oh, that area's boiling."
In the center-rear of the bathhouse stood something like a giant golden tray, overflowing with boiling spring water.
"...Ah!"
A brilliant idea struck me. The kind any Korean couldn't resist.
I pulled two fresh eggs I'd stored in my subspace ring for rations and dropped them into the golden tray. Lloyd stared at me like I was insane, but once he tasted these hot spring eggs, he'd understand. I waited a bit, then fished out the hot eggs. And then.
-Splat!
I cracked one on my head and offered it to Lloyd. He was still eyeing me like a madman.
"Eat up. Hot spring-boiled egg."
"...Fine, but why'd you just crack it on your head...?"
"It's a tradition from my homeland. Tradition."
Lloyd took the broken egg with a dubious look and began peeling the shell. The sight of his callused sword hand fumbling with the tiny shell was hilarious.
I cracked the second egg on my head too and started peeling. I was tempted to smash one on Lloyd's head like I used to do with friends at the bathhouse, but I held back, figuring my own head might end up cracked instead. Anyway, once the shells were off, I dipped it in stir-fried salt in a bamboo bowl and took a bite!
"Kyaa~~~!"
This is the stuff! Tender, mild whites and a gooey, rich yolk that's just about to flow! Topped with fragrant bamboo salt—perfection. Ah~! If only I had some soda!!
'I heard you can make something like soda with pine needles. Gotta try that later.'
Seeing Lloyd eat his without complaint, he seemed to like the hot spring eggs too.
We made another round of hot spring eggs, leisurely enjoyed the baths, and got out. My skin felt baby-soft thanks to the waters! Nothing beats a bath for relieving fatigue, and hot springs are the best of the best! It was a shame El missed out.
'Ah, hot springs again tomorrow.'
Grinning at my smooth face, I returned to my room.
Two days later.
The day of the Queen's banquet arrived. We donned the custom formal attire delivered by the tailors she'd sent the day before and headed to the banquet hall. The attendees were just the Queen, me, Lloyd, El, Isla, and Darion—a total of six. Yet the table laden with a lavish spread stretched endlessly: clear milk crackers topped with black shark roe, halved and grilled lion shrimp, pudding made from mountain goat milk, glistening honey...
And all sorts of rare fruits! Star apples, white mountain strawberries steeped in honey, sugar-glazed roasted oranges, black melons piled with cream, and white ananas resembling pineapples. Fruits that would cost a fortune in the Empire were heaped abundantly on platinum trays.
"Amazing!"
With El's cheer, the meal began. I minded my manners moderately, but Lloyd, El, and Isla dove right in... So in the end, the only ones actually conversing and enjoying the banquet properly were me, the Queen, and Darion.
"Is the food to your liking?"
"Of course. Especially this black melon's flavor—it's no joke. The juice is incredible."
"Black melons are the pride of the Dark Forest."
We chatted amiably with ha-ha-hos, eating as we went. In truth, the Queen didn't touch the food. Not because of poison or anything like that. It was a trait of long-lived elves like the Queen: they didn't need to eat, sustaining themselves like trees through photosynthesis.
"Theodore. I can never thank you enough."
The Queen whispered in a soft voice, a gentle smile on her lips. Man, they say there's a fine line between queens and witches... What a captivating voice. Of course, it had no effect on me.
"You're too kind. It wasn't just me."
The Queen—Dianta, true to her name—smiled like a heavenly flower and nodded.
"You're right. Your companions contributed greatly as well."
"Darion too."
Darion, who hadn't uttered a word out of tension in the Queen's presence, jumped and looked at me. Come on, man. Can't you even pick up the crumbs?
"If Lüset had talent like yours..."
Ah, this script.
I set down my fork, which had speared a black melon. I could easily guess what the Queen would say next. It was the same line I'd heard countless times throughout my adventures.
"Lüset already has excellent talent like Darion, doesn't it?"
I decided to use Darion. I flashed him a grin, and he started sweating bullets.
"That's not all."
Perfect timing for what I'd planned. I smoothly changed the subject.
"You may not realize how many talented Dark Elves there are, Your Majesty."
It was borderline rude, but the Queen showed no sign of offense, merely smiling.
"Is that so?"
"Yes. Lüset is wasting talent right now. Dark Elves of immense ability are just rotting away in the corners of the Dark Forest."
"..."
"Just because they're Dark Elves."
Darion started coughing, probably choking on my words. Idiot... I glanced at him, then turned back to the Queen. Time to settle this.
"If you truly want talent, you should heed my advice."