The King and the Qu...eens (2)
The King and the Qu...eens (2)
We were on the way back to the mansion, spirits in tow and Lee Ji-yeon walking beside me.
When I subtly expanded my Observation, I sensed Hong Yeon-hwa's presence near the mansion entrance.
"...!"
[Joy]
"My king, hweeng?"
"Junior?"
My body jolted hard. The moment the fairies clinging to the Sky Wing Feather and Lee Ji-yeon tilted their heads, my legs were already kicking off the ground.
- Patter-patter!
My legs moved frantically. I held back enough force to avoid cracking the floor, but the raw, impatient anticipation drove me forward.
I opened my eyes to the wind striking my face.
In the distance, a flash of red. My focus sharpened, and Hong Yeon-hwa's figure became crystal clear.
"...Huh?"
Hong Yeon-hwa, who had been leaning against the wall near the entrance staring at a hologram, abruptly raised her head.
Her eyes went wide. Inside those crimson irises was the image of me sprinting toward her at full speed.
"Yeon-hwa!"
Without hesitation, I threw myself straight into Hong Yeon-hwa's arms. I wrapped my arms tightly around her waist and pressed my face firmly against her chest.
The feeling I had been missing the whole time inside the dungeon returned at once.
The soft texture, like sinking into clouds, and the sweet, mellow scent of her skin filling my senses. My mind naturally relaxed against the warmth of her body, so wholly comforting.
"Hehe..."
[Happiness]
Happiness bloomed profusely. Every bit of stress I'd accumulated in the dungeon seemed to melt away like snow.
The Sky Wing Feather, still in its wing state, fluttered softly.
"Ah, Ha-yul... did you miss me that much?"
Hong Yeon-hwa, who had been blinking in a daze, brightened up and pulled me into a tight embrace. One arm wrapped around my waist, and her other hand came up to rest on my head, stroking gently.
"Yes... I missed you."
"Hehe. I missed you so much too. You have no idea how much I was longing for you."
I tilted my nuzzling head up slightly. Crimson eyes gazed down at me in her arms. The affection brimming in them felt like it was spilling onto my face.
"Hehe."
A giggle slipped out easily again. Smiling faintly, Hong Yeon-hwa slowly brought her head down.
I knew exactly what was coming next. I didn't even need to guess.
I didn't close my eyes; I calmly savored the aching anticipation.
"Hm?"
...Even after waiting, nothing came. When I blinked, I realized that Hong Yeon-hwa's gaze was now fixed somewhere behind me. My cheeks puffed out on their own.
[Jealousy]
Curious, I shifted my Observation toward where she was looking and sensed the fairies and Lee Ji-yeon standing awkwardly a little distance away.
Lee Ji-yeon was rolling her eyes back and forth, pointedly staring off at a distant mountain, and the fairies were tilting their heads, covering their mouths.
"...What's that."
Among them, Hong Yeon-hwa's gaze was locked onto the fairies.
'Ah.'
Her dazed mutter made me realize the oversight. Oh, right. I hadn't introduced them. I'd been so overjoyed to see her that I completely forgot.
[Ah... these are the fairies I met in the dungeon and brought back.]
"Hweeung...?"
Hong Yeon-hwa blinked again. She seemed unable to process it.
"...Ahem, hello."
Just then, one of the nine fairies fluttered forward with a pororong sound. It was Kali, recognizable by her distinctive black hair.
"I am Kalla, a fairy who has followed the King. I look forward to being in your care."
"King...? Ah, er, yes. Nice to meet you."
Kali's crisp greeting. When she even bowed slightly at the waist, Hong Yeon-hwa stammered a reply and subtly rolled her eyes toward me.
No words or Sound Transmission reached me, but the mental image of 'what is that supposed to mean?' came through loud and clear.
[Ahaha...]
I let out an awkward laugh at that. Honestly, I still don't get that 'King' title either.
"My King, is this person also one of the Queens?"
"Hehe, that's right, I'm... 'also'?"
Oops.
.
.
.
[Kids, don't go around calling just anyone a Queen...]
Even as I somehow managed to smooth things over with Hong Yeon-hwa and stepped into the mansion, I didn't forget to send a cautionary Mind Speech to the fairies.
I'm just as clueless, so I'm letting it slide for now, but them calling me King and naming any random woman a Queen is incredibly troublesome for me...
[So the human named Hong Yeon-hwa is not a Queen?]
Rio, the yellow-haired fairy, tilted her head and asked.
Maybe because they'd heeded my warning, her question was whispered via Mind Speech, and my expression naturally turned wry.
[...No, well, how should I put it... it's not that she isn't... but in the first place, I'm not even a King...]
[So can we call her Queen or not?]
[......]
I kept walking, responding as best I could to Rio's mental whispers beside me.
"Ha-yul! You're a day later than your schedu... hweeung?"
"The homeowner has finally returned! Miss Hong's tyranny ends as of today... you've brought something else again?"
Sure enough, the fairies drew a grand reception the moment they stepped into the mansion.
I gave a wry smile at the reactions from Ellia and Baek A-rin, whose eyes had gone round, their greetings cut short.
[Yeon-hwa's tyranny?]
Among them, my curiosity was piqued by Baek A-rin's cut-off words.
Tyranny? Of course, I didn't think she actually committed tyranny. There had to be a story behind it.
"Ah! That's right! You have to hear my side of this!"
When I asked, Baek A-rin shouted out as if she'd been feeling grievously wronged and thumped her ample chest.
"While you were gone, Ha-yul, Yeon-hwa tormented me! She was talking about kicking me out... sniffle, she nagged me to the point of tears..."
"Hey! You son of a... ahem! You devoured my hot bar!"
"To torture me that much over just one from that massive pile, can't you spare a single one? Aren't you being a little too narrow-minded?"
"Ha-yul made them for me, you son of a... bitch!"
"Yeon-hwa, Yeon-hwa, your filter is slipping..."
There was indeed a story, and it was their usual bickering. Just as I was nodding in understanding, a voice rang in my head again.
[My King, are those people also Queens?]
This time it was a whisper from a fairy called Dip, who'd bypassed Rio's Mind Speech channel. Dip's gaze shifted back and forth between Ellia and Baek A-rin.
[No... ... ...Mm...]
Mm... er... hm... hmm...
- Ahem.
[I'll explain when everyone is gathered.]
[Ah! You dodged the explanation!]
[Dip, it means He is telling you to take a hint.]
[Aha.]
'Heh.'
The fairies whispering among themselves. The sound picked up by my automatic mana detection somehow made my chest feel poked...
"Ah, Seo-yul just fell asleep..."
[Yes, I confirmed.]
[I'd feel sorry waking her up now, so I'll explain to Seo-yul separately later.]
As it happened, Master and Professor Liana were also at the mansion.
Thanks to that, gathering everyone was quick.
"Hmm, hmmm..."
"Mm..."
As we gathered around the round table in the first-floor lobby, the two of them soon descended the central staircase.
They blinked only briefly at the unexpected fairy visitors; the moment they saw me, they rushed over to check my condition.
Mana emanated from their hands as they moved them over my body, sweeping through my insides.
There was a time before when I deliberately neglected internal injuries to boost my recovery speed; ever since I got caught and the household was turned upside down, I've been examined for internal injuries too.
This was the inconvenient side of living together.
Before, in the dormitory, I could cut off and reattach my arm whenever I wanted without issue, but now, if I'm not careful, I might get found out and punished...
[I really didn't get hurt.]
But this time, I truly hadn't sustained any significant injuries.
Because from the start, the spirits and undead fought in my stead, and Lee Ji-yeon stuck by my side, treating me like a child who'd collapsed by a rough riverbank.
It was also a bit frustrating. If I had gone in alone, I could have pushed my body more aggressively.
...But that comfort, that sense of security from being protected... was incredibly nice. The desire to protect is strong, but the feeling of being protected is just as precious.
- Hmm-hmm.
I pulled together my thoughts that had momentarily strayed. Either way, I had no injuries and no reason to be scared. Without shrinking back, I confidently straightened my chest.
A moment later, the hands that had been meticulously checking my condition slowly withdrew.
"Since it was a Grade 2, I was worried you'd come back injured, but luckily you look fine. Did you manage to gather many spirits?"
[Yes, nearly a hundred just from the dungeon.]
[The children already here have all been fully satisfied too, so they just need to ascend.]
[Would you be able to help later, if at all possible...?]
"Of course. I've already prepared everything necessary for ascension, so just let me know when you need it."
[Yes! Thank you!]
Professor Liana's hand, which had been toying with the ends of my hair, pulled away as she gave a bright smile.
Master, who had been watching that scene with clear disapproval, also began to withdraw her hand.
Her palm had been gently pressing my cheek. Before it fell away, I turned my head and brushed my lips lightly against it.
Smooch. The palm covering my face flinched.
Startled, Master's eyes flew wide open. But quickly grasping the situation, she pressed firmly around my mouth again, lips twitching, then dropped her hand.
"Er, ehem. Whose disciple do you think he is, getting hurt over something like this? It's only natural he's fine."
"That 'natural' person couldn't sleep properly after Cadet Lee Ha-yul left—"
"Sh-shut it."
"Looks like your filter will come off soon too... Anyway."
Trailing off, Professor Liana shifted her gaze.
Her gaze fell upon the fairies. When they flinched at the sudden attention, Professor Liana curved her lips into a gentle smile, as if to reassure them.
"Nice to meet you, fairies. I'm Liana Bellus."
A gentle tone matching her gentle face. Her usual aura, coupled with a hint of maternal warmth, noticeably eased the fairies' tension.
'Professor Liana's Spirit Affinity must have influenced that change.'
Professor Liana's Spirit Affinity affects not only spirits but also fairies, who are somewhat akin to relatives of spirits.
Proof of that was how even Seo-yul, who is quite wary, opened her heart easily to Professor Liana thanks to her high Spirit Affinity.
The fairies must be feeling that same sense of closeness. Even I was feeling the urge to be held by Professor Liana and be spoiled right then and there.
The same goes for Ellia, who possesses a fair amount of Spirit Affinity herself.
Whether that affinity can ever develop into a Unique Ability is questionable, but if she continues to grow like this, it might become one someday.
[So, to explain the situation...]
In the first-floor lobby. After surveying everyone seated around the round table and looking at me, I opened my mouth to speak.
[I think Queen Liana is the legal wife.]
[First, regarding the dungeon itsel—]
—Cough!
"Ha-yul?! What's wrong all of a sudden?"
"Ah, n-no... it's nothing."
My throat sealed up at the voice that suddenly pierced my head. For a moment, I thought I had blurted out that weird nonsense myself.
But it wasn't me. Hong Yeon-hwa, sitting beside me, jumped in alarm and held out a glass of water.
I gulped it down, swallowed the emotion stuck in my throat, and glared... I mean, looked at the fairy who had made the strange sound.
Now that they had relaxed quite a bit, the fairies were plopped around the table with comfortable expressions.
Their mouths were shut, but the Mind Speech passing between them was being automatically picked up.
...I really need to block automatic detection.
"Ooweyeng?"
Suppressing the grimace that threatened to surface, I poked the cheek of the fairy who had whispered that bizarre statement.
A soft sensation pushed back against my fingertip.
The fairy, whose cheek I had suddenly poked, blinked her eyes adorably.
[Don't think weird thoughts.]
"Neyeng...? Gasp! You read my thoughts?"
[Well... something similar. Here, eat this quietly.]
"Wow! Thank you!"
Seeing the other fairies blink as well, I let out a small laugh and handed each of them a candy.
Not store-bought, but fruit candies I'd made myself.
They all sparkled their eyes at the lollipops that were as big as their own bodies, then hurriedly began unwrapping them.
[There's plenty, so don't eat in a rush. Take it slow, okay?]
"Yes, My King!"
It's convenient to put something in children's mouths before starting a story.
Sure enough, having received something that perfectly suited their tastes and relaxed, the fairies were plopped on the table, busily licking their candy.
"?"
While I was laughing at how incredibly cute that sight was, the gazes I felt on my skin seemed... odd.
When I turned my head, everyone gathered around the table was staring at me with peculiar expressions.
[Why are you all looking at me like that?]
"...My King?"
[Ah.]
Was it because of that title?
My own expression turned awkward too.
[I don't know why the children call me King either.]
"The King is the King!"
[...See? Haha... wait, don't bury your face in it. Eat neatly, okay?]
"Heehee."
When I wiped the crumbs left around her mouth from eating messily earlier, she gave a sunny smile, pleased. The innocence pouring out of her felt truly endearing.
"...No, it's not just that, Ha-yul."
[Yes, Miss Baek A-rin.]
"Your whole demeanor is different around the fairies, isn't it?"
[Huh? Demeanor?]
What did she mean by that all of a sudden? What about my demeanor?
"Mm... how should I put it, it's a sort-of-sort-of something."
[What does that mean? I've always been the, sam...e...?]
Huh?
A sudden ringing struck my head. Shhrak! Accumulated knowledge unfurled in my mind like a book.
- Hello?
- There's no need to be so tense. And you can speak out loud now.
- Hmm... so you're Loa? You're the child who asked me for help, correct?
- My name is Lee Ha-yul. It's nice to meet you.
My attitude, thoughts, actions when I first met the fairies in the dungeon...
Come to think of it, why did I use casual speech right from the start?
- Ddududuk...
Casual speech and polite speech. Language that carries respect and language that is deemed impolite.
In some language regions, this distinction doesn't exist, but in this world, where communication is unified by the Authority of Harmonization, even that distinction gets translated.
As much as possible, I put respect into my words. It doesn't have any special meaning; it's just a habit.
There might be instances of using casual speech recklessly and suffering losses, but polite speech almost never causes problems.
It's because I learned that there are almost no people in this world at whom I can just direct casual speech. And since distinguishing between the two is also a hassle, I usually respond with polite speech.
But with the fairies, it hadn't been that way.
Automatically, as if it were the most natural thing in the world, comfortable words had come out...
'Why?'
Was that so?
I don't really know.
- Ddududuk...
A sense of dissonance tapped at my brain.
- Flutter.
The Sky Wing Feather, still maintained in its wing state, gave a small flutter.
* * *
[Initiating the Origin Awakening]
[Mental State 「Yo?Jeong」 is changing]
...
[The 「Curse of Beauty's Misfortune」 is interfering with the change]
...