Chapter 33
Chapter 33
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: penny
Chapter: 33
Chapter Title: Elf Princess Vene (6)
-----------------------------------------------------------------
“Sit on the bed.”
“Is that okay?”
“Of course. Hehe. We’ll be sharing a bed once we’re married anyway.”
“…”
I carefully sat down beside Vene on the bed.
A bitter herbal scent wafted from Vene, who was pressed right up against my side.
‘So this is the drug.’
It definitely had a strangely intoxicating feel to it.
But with my mind firmly in check right now, I was confident I wouldn’t fall for it.
Raine’s holy water components were still lingering in my body, after all.
Vene hesitantly placed her hand on top of mine, which was resting on the bed.
I flinched for a moment at the feel of her soft hand, but I didn’t let it show.
“So, what brings you to this young lady’s room? Hehe, you’re welcome anytime, of course.”
“I came because there’s something we need to discuss seriously.”
“Oh? Could it be…?”
Vene put on an exaggerated act of surprise.
“Finally made up your mind to choose marriage?”
“No.”
“Hmm…”
I met her gaze head-on.
“Before we get into the details, I have one question first.”
“Ask away.”
“Do you have any talent for archery?”
Vene thought seriously about my question and nodded lightly.
“Elves are designed from birth to excel in archery and spirit arts. As the pinnacle among them… yes, I have talent.”
I’d already been convinced she was the last member of the hero party, but hearing it confirmed like this melted away my tension.
With a lighter heart, I opened my mouth.
“I believe you, Princess, are meant to be the archer in our hero party.”
“Yes?”
Up until now, Vene had worn a relaxed, seductive smile, but in that instant, her expression cracked.
“W-wait… what did you just say…?”
Even an elf with keen hearing must have heard me clearly, but Vene asked for confirmation as if she couldn’t believe it.
I repeated myself calmly.
“I believe you came to this territory to take on the role of archer, the final piece of our hero party.”
“…You’re serious?”
“Dead serious.”
Vene’s eyes wavered as they took in my resolute gaze.
Then, her gentle, warm face hardened coldly.
“Hmm… I thought you were sane, Baron…”
The tender atmosphere vanished, replaced by a chilling voice.
“This won’t do. I’ll have to turn you completely into my puppet.”
As she uttered those cryptic words, a strong herbal scent emanated from her body.
She must have been dosing me with a controlled amount until now, but this time, she wasn’t holding back.
“Don’t worry. A foolish baron can just bury his face in my chest and bask in love.”
Vene approached my lips with a cold expression.
“It won’t be a bad life.”
Then she kissed me.
The bitter herbal scent crashed dizzily into my mind, and I widened my eyes, struggling to hold onto my sanity.
After about ten seconds, Vene pulled away from me, looking utterly baffled.
“H-how…?”
She seemed flustered that I’d resisted the drug.
“Princess.”
“W-what…”
“Do you have any knowledge of holy power?”
“A little…”
“Then, do you know about Purifying Flame?”
“Yes… Isn’t that a skill only heroes or saints can use?”
Vene continued the conversation candidly while gathering mana, preparing to attack me.
“Let me show you proof that I’m the hero.”
I gathered holy power at my fingertips and unleashed Purifying Flame.
“Kyaaak!”
The flame grazed Vene’s head as she was channeling her mana.
Whoosh!
It burned away the golden hair she’d so carefully tended.
Sizzle…
With her hair charred black, Vene’s eyes went wide—not with anger, but with shock.
“P-pure white light?”
“Yes, Purifying Flame.”
Vene pointed at me with a trembling hand.
“A-a real hero?”
“Yes.”
She stood there blankly for a moment, at a loss for words.
Then she plopped down onto the bed.
‘Given the mood, I should stay by her side, right?’
I tactfully sat next to her.
A brief silence passed, and Vene calmly began to pour out her circumstances.
I quietly listened by her side as she spoke.
Once she’d finished, I said one simple thing at the end.
“So, Princess, that’s why you want to leave descendants with me?”
“Yes… Hero.”
“It’s for the survival of the elf race.”
“That’s right…”
I playfully grabbed her cheek and tugged.
“Ububu…”
Vene made a protesting face, as if asking what I was doing.
I spoke to her nonchalantly.
“Why do you think the existing elf race is doomed to extinction?”
“Because we elves can’t hold out against the demon legion…”
“Princess, who am I?”
“…The hero.”
“What’s a hero’s job?”
“To defeat the demons and the demon king…”
Only then did Vene seem to grasp my point, her eyes widening.
“N-no way, are you saying you—the hero—will step up?”
“Exactly. To be precise, the hero party will.”
“No!”
Vene let out a shrill scream that didn’t match her image at all.
“Why not? The hero party’s mission is to slay demons. I’m just fulfilling my duty.”
“Even if you are the hero, the enemy is incredibly powerful. One of the Four Heavenly Kings, Karos the Greedy!”
Karos the Greedy?
The name didn’t immediately ring a bell.
“Even the hero party would struggle against him. He overpowered the elite elves, after all.”
“The letter didn’t mention any fighting. Did you actually battle?”
Vene nodded, her hands trembling as if recalling a horrific memory.
“Before the Elf Forest was attacked, our elite elves launched a preemptive strike. The result… wasn’t good.”
Hm, so the elves had resisted the demons.
Of course, fighting in the Elf Forest would inevitably damage the woods, so from their perspective, striking before the demons arrived made rational sense.
I looked down calmly at Vene, whose eyes were trembling.
She flinched when our eyes met.
“Even if the demons are strong, as the hero, I have to face them eventually.”
“…”
“I won’t run from fate when it comes.”
Of course, I didn’t want to fight demons either.
Who’d want to risk their life brawling?
I just wanted a peaceful life in the countryside.
But I knew.
Having taken on the role of hero meant battle with demons was inevitable.
Even if I ran or hid, they’d come for me.
Nania building a dungeon in the hills behind our territory felt like part of that.
She claimed it was to methodically conquer the human realm from the outskirts.
I didn’t buy that excuse.
I figured some force drew the dungeon here because I was the hero.
Staying holed up in the territory, idly waiting for unknown demons to show? Better to hunt them down myself.
Sensing my resolve, Vene’s eyes quivered as she stammered.
“B-but even so…”
“Honestly, Princess, you don’t want to just watch the elves go extinct like this, do you?”
“…”
“If the demons take the whole continent, even if our territory survives by some miracle, it’ll be no place for future generations.”
“T-that’s true…”
“You’re an incredibly attractive woman, Princess. Even under no drug influence, I’d want to marry you. Heck, I’d want a bunch of kids. Ones resembling you would surely be beautiful and handsome.”
Vene shuddered.
I pressed on.
“But until the demon king issue is resolved, I have zero intention of having children. I don’t want my kids born into a harsh world ruled by demons.”
Vene’s eyes trembled violently.
I gripped both her hands tightly.
“I get your worry about your race’s extinction, Princess. But please, seriously think: Would your children be happy born into a world overrun by demons?”
“…”
Vene’s eyes reddened.
“I-I want to fight to protect the World Tree too! I don’t want to bear children knowing a tragic future is set!”
I quietly listened to Vene’s outburst.
“But if I fight without having kids and die, leading to the elves’ extinction… I’d have no face to show the other elves…”
I gently hugged her and flashed a playful smile.
“Aren’t you the highest noble blood of the Elf Empire, Princess? Royalty gets to do whatever they want.”
“…”
“Besides, haven’t you already done your best seducing me? You’ve checked all the boxes.”
“R-really…?”
“Yes. Do whatever you want, our princess!”
Vene stared at me intently.
“Puhuhu…”
Then she smiled.
Not the fake smile she’d been forcing, but a beautiful one laced with genuine feeling.