Chapter 190: Everything’s a Mess Here Too (1)
Chapter 190: Everything’s a Mess Here Too (1)
“Ooh….”
A gasp of admiration escaped Patrick’s lips.
The cause? The Elven village that had just revealed itself before his eyes.
Patrick had seen many beautiful sights in his life, but the Elven village was special.
The sunlight filtering through the verdant branches illuminated the village in a way that made one marvel just by looking at it.
It’s like a scene from a fairytale.
The ground was covered in a carpet of soft, plush grass. In the center, instead of a well, there was a spring of clear water so transparent that the bottom was perfectly visible.
The primary dwellings were built like birdhouses atop massive trees, yet they didn't seem to harm the trees at all. It was as if the trees had intentionally spread their branches wide to make it easier to support the houses, with smaller branches extending like stairs leading up to the entrances.
It didn't feel like humans developing a forest to create a place to live; it felt like the forest was granting the Elves permission to reside within it.
“Beautiful.”
“Isn’t it? It’s a village built with the intention of minimizing damage to the forest.”
“It’s truly incredible.”
“Fufu, I’m glad you like it.”
Patrick was genuinely impressed. They were controlling the growth of the trees and utilizing them for architecture. Building a house this way would surely take over a hundred years. It was something humans couldn't even dream of.
While Patrick was lost in admiration, Elione led him toward her home.
“Please, come in. This is ‘our’ home.”
“…Uh, sure. Excuse me.”
Patrick felt a momentary sense of dissonance, but he followed her inside nonetheless.
The interior was modest but neatly organized.
A dining table with two chairs.
A two-seater sofa and a coffee table in the sitting area.
Even the slippers came in two pairs.
“Do you live with a younger sibling?”
“No. He lives separately.”
“A sister, then?”
“No. I live alone.”
Right. She lived alone.
Yet every piece of furniture in the house was set up for two people.
What is this? Why do I have such a bad feeling about this?
As Patrick hesitated to step further into the house, Elione gave him a gentle nudge from behind.
“Please, go in and make yourself comfortable.”
“Uh… yeah….”
As soon as Patrick stepped inside, Elione followed. And then…
Click. Clack! Snap! Clack!
Almost simultaneously with the door closing, the sound of a lock being turned echoed three times.
Patrick turned around to find Elione standing by the door, a beaming smile on her face as she looked at him.
“Is something wrong?”
“No, I just thought your security was quite thorough.”
“Security is important. To make sure no one can get in. And to make sure no one can get out.”
“…….”
Then, Elione spoke with a bright smile.
“Please, rest. You like Elven liquor, don't you? I’ll go get some now.”
“No, before that, I think I should meet the high-ranking officials. You know, the matter with the World Tree?”
“That can wait. I’ve already reported to the Elders, so they’ll contact us in due time.”
“Ah. Right. You reported it.”
She was certainly efficient. Or should he say, thorough?
As Patrick tried to subtly create some distance, Elione closed the gap even faster and spoke.
“More importantly, Sir Patrick.”
Elione stepped close and placed her hand on his chest.
A seductive smile, ragged breath. The way she lightly licked her pale pink lips was almost bewitching. With a hazy gaze, she looked up at him and whispered.
“I missed you.”
“Ah, right.”
“You missed me too, didn't you, Sir Patrick?”
“…….”
“You missed me, right?”
“…….”
“Didn't you?”
As she spoke, a hint of madness began to swirl in her eyes. When the nails of the hand resting on his chest began to slowly dig in, Patrick answered hurriedly.
“Yeah. Sure.”
“I knew it….”
Hearing Patrick’s answer, Elione beamed. With a smile of genuine happiness, she slid into his embrace.
“I thought so. You were thinking of me every day too, Sir Patrick.”
“Well, maybe not every single day….”
“I’m so happy.”
“Uh, yeah. If you say so….”
What is with her? What is wrong with this girl?
For the first time in both his past and present lives, Patrick felt a sense of genuine fear while facing someone one-on-one.
He had encountered several assertive women back in the Martial World. There were even bold ladies who would barge into his bedroom wearing nothing but thin silk robes.
But this felt like an entirely different genre.
Sensing that getting involved with her might go beyond a mere headache and lead to him being completely screwed, Patrick began searching for an escape route.
I’ll dive through that window and bolt. And then…
At that moment…
Bang! Bang! Bang!
“Sister! Sister!”
The sound of someone urgently pounding on the door rang out. It was a voice Patrick recognized.
“That little brat….”
Elione muttered through gritted teeth, her expression turning icy.
Patrick spoke to her quickly.
“Isn't that your brother? Kilios, was it?”
“…I think so.”
“Then you should open the door, shouldn't you?”
“…….”
Elione pouted and muttered something under her breath before finally pulling away from Patrick and heading to the door.
She undid the triple locks, opened the door, and spoke in a blunt tone.
“What is it?”
Kilios, his face still swollen, shouted.
“Sister! Sister, you’ve been deceived!”
“Deceived? About what, all of a sudden?”
“Look at those humans over there!”
Kilios pointed toward where Patrick’s companions were gathered.
Seeing them, Patrick nodded and said, “Ah, now that I think about it, I’d forgotten.”
Did they hear him?
Matthew and the others were glaring at Patrick with eyes that seemed to ask, Are you even human?
Patrick avoided their gaze and started whistling.
Amidst that atmosphere, Kilios spoke urgently, with the solemnity of a witness in a courtroom revealing a crucial truth.
“Sister, do you see that black-haired woman over there?”
“What about her?”
“They say she is the Princess of the Atronia Kingdom and that Patrick fellow’s fiancée!”
“…What?”
“You’ve been tricked, Sister. So please, snap out of it!”
Despite Kilios’s desperate plea, Elione merely snorted.
“That’s impossible. Sir Patrick only has eyes for—”
“Whoa! I missed you, my beloved fiancée!”
Patrick dashed over to Isabella and grabbed her hand.
Isabella was taken aback. “What on earth is—”
“Shh, just play along.”
Patrick pulled Isabella into a tight hug and announced, “I missed you, my fiancée, officially recognized by His Majesty the King.”
It was a terribly awkward self-introduction.
However, it seemed it was more than enough to make someone’s eyes flare with rage.
“Hoo boy….”
The corners of Elione’s beautiful eyes twitched.
A clear sense of hostility settled on her face as she looked at Isabella. In response…
“Hmph.”
Isabella’s brow furrowed as well. And then…
“Oh? Senior?”
She pulled Patrick tightly into her own embrace.
As a result, Patrick’s head ended up buried in Isabella’s chest.
Patrick was flustered, but Isabella didn't even look at him, keeping her eyes fixed on Elione.
“Do you have some business with my fiancé?”
“Fiancé, you say….”
“…….”
“You’ve got a lot of nerve.”
In an instant, a chilling killing intent pressed down on Isabella.
“Ugh….”
Elione was an Elven Knight.
Although her grades at Arcana had been mediocre, that was only because she hadn't used her spirit magic or her bow. If she chose to go all out, her martial prowess surpassed that of a 7-Star Knight.
When she revealed her genuine hostility, Isabella, whose realm was still lacking, couldn't help but feel suppressed.
Elione took a step forward.
“Would you care to say that again?”
“…….”
Elione was exerting pure pressure.
Though Isabella felt the weight of that power, she didn't look away, staring back with a fierce gaze.
For a moment, Elione found those eyes incredibly irritating.
She felt an urge to pluck out those silver eyes of the black-haired human who dared to glare at her while holding Patrick in her arms, to crush them so she could never look like that again….
“That’s enough.”
Before she knew it, another figure had stepped in to block Elione’s path.
“I will not permit any further rudeness.”
It was April.
She stood firmly in front of the Elven Knight. Elione spoke coldly.
“Move.”
“Please step back.”
“I said, move.”
“If you take another step, I will cut you down.”
“Ha….”
Elione let out a short, dry laugh.
What were these people? Why were they interfering?
Why were they getting in the way of her, who had kept only Sir Patrick in her heart since that day, waiting only for the moment they would meet again?
This blonde woman was even more irritating than the black-haired princess. Her beauty rivaled that of most Elves, and her skill was such that she didn't back down an inch against an Elven Knight.
And most decisively…
They’re similar.
She gave off a feeling similar to Patrick.
That was what bothered her the most. What was this woman’s relationship with Patrick?
Could it be? Could it be? Could it be? Could it be? Could it be? Could it be? Could it be?
Along with ominous imaginings, an unbearable sense of unpleasantness washed over her.
The situation was on a hair-trigger.
Just then, an Elf came running from a distance, shouting urgently.
“Lady Elione! The Elders are asking for Patrick Schneider.”
“Already?”
“Yes. They are looking for him right now.”
“…….”
Elione let out a deep sigh and suppressed her energy. There were many things she wanted to demand and many things she wanted to ask.
But for now, the clan’s problems came first.
She quelled her killing intent, exhaled, and spoke.
“I understand. Um, Sir Patrick.”
“Yeah, I heard. I just need to go to these Elders, right?”
“Yes. I will guide you.”
“No, it’s fine. Kilios, was it? You guide me.”
“Why should I have to guide someone like you?” Kilios protested vehemently.
Patrick walked over to Kilios, put an arm around his shoulder, and whispered.
“Do it.”
“I don’t—”
“Do it if you don’t want to die.”
Kilios flinched at Patrick’s killing intent. The memory of the horrific and brutal violence he had suffered at the hands of this monster of a human flashed through his mind.
As a result, he looked away and muttered, “The clan’s business comes first, I suppose. Come this way.”
“Right, thanks. The rest of you, wait here. I’ll be back as soon as I’m done.”
With that, Patrick fled the scene.
“…….”
“…….”
“…….”
He completely ignored the awkward atmosphere left behind.
*
On the way, Patrick spoke to Kilios.
“Hey.”
“…….”
“Aren't you going to answer?”
“I have nothing to say to you.”
“You want a beating?”
At those words, Kilios flared up and shouted.
“Do all humans solve everything through violence like you?”
“Of course.”
“…Huh? Really?”
“Yeah. It’s common sense in the human world that most problems can be solved by beating them into submission.”
Patrick spoke with his chest puffed out proudly.
“How barbaric….”
Kilios spoke with a look of horror. He didn't know much about humans, but he hadn't realized they possessed such a violent culture.
Patrick patted Kilios on the shoulder.
“What can you do? We’re just different. Shouldn't we respect each other’s differences?”
“Hmm…. That does make sense.”
No, it doesn't. Only this guy is like this. Please don't lump all humans together as a barbaric warrior race.
Unfortunately, there was no one there to point that out.
Anyway, seeing that Kilios seemed somewhat convinced, Patrick got to the point.
“Let me ask you something.”
“What is it?”
“What’s wrong with your sister?”
Kilios’s face contorted into a scowl.
“Didn't you take my sister’s purity?”
“I did no such thing!” Patrick yelled back.
Seriously, if he actually had, he wouldn't feel so wronged. No matter how much Patrick racked his brain, he hadn't committed such a terrifying act.
“I only used her as a medium for True Qi Guidance to breathe life into the branch of the World Tree…. Argh, seriously, would you even understand if I explained it like that?”
“That’s it! That’s exactly it!”
“Wait, you understand?”
“I don't know the details. But didn't you make a flower bloom on the branch of the World Tree together with my sister?”
“I did. What about it?”
Kilios spoke as if he were frustrated.
“What Elven woman wouldn't develop feelings for someone after having such a fantastical experience?”
“…Huh? Really?”
“Of course.”
Only then did Patrick start to get a clue. It seemed that the experience of making a flower bloom on a branch of the World Tree was an incredibly unforgettable event for Elves. However…
“But seriously, it wasn't her purity. Nothing actually happened, okay?”
“Tsk, tsk. This is why humans are….”
“What? You little Elf brat?”
“Physical relations are merely a secondary act. Even animals without emotions engage in physical relations without love.”
“Uh… and?”
“Doesn't true love between a man and a woman lie in spiritual communion?”
“Keep talking.”
Patrick listened with an expression that said, I don't agree, but I’ll hear you out.
Kilios continued.
“In the process of blooming the flower on the World Tree’s branch, you gave my sister an experience like no other in this world.”
“And?”
“And so, my sister feels a powerful love for you.”
“And?”
“If she has given you her heart, how is that any different from giving you her purity?”
“It feels completely different to me.”
At Patrick’s words, Kilios beat his chest in frustration.
“For us Elves, that is what love is. The communion of hearts. And the fact that you have entered my sister’s heart means that you… Urgh….”
Kilios bit his lower lip until it bled, looking like he was dying of resentment.
“You… my sister’s purity… how dare you…. Urgh….”
“Wait, wait, hey. Come on… no. No matter how I look at it, that’s not it. Think about it. Purity is, you know, that thing. When a man and a woman are passionately in a bedroom together….”
“We Elves are different.”
“I’m a human, though.”
“I’m an Elf.”
“…….”
“And didn't you say that we should respect each other’s differences?”
“…Dammit.”
This was why one had to be careful with their words.