Chapter 66
Chapter 66
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 66
Chapter Title: Challenging the Elf Queen
-----------------------------------------------------------------
"Yes, it will be troublesome for you."
"!!"
Minerva gazed at me with a hint of surprise, as though she hadn't expected me to speak so calmly in the face of the aura she was radiating.
"Just a few months ago, Your Majesty nearly became a puppet of the Empire, didn't you? So what makes you so confident that it won't be troublesome?"
I openly dragged up Minerva's painful memory and laid into her.
No matter how strong a single individual might be, they couldn't fend off ten hands at once.
Even those who ascended to the throne needed supporters propping them up to wield their power properly.
At my provocative words, not just Minerva, but sharp killing intent prickled from the walls throughout Alfheim.
The gazes that had been steadily following me from the entrance of Alfheim.
They were warning me not to speak insolently to their queen.
"...It's true that we didn't anticipate that incident. But a situation like that will never happen again."
Minerva stated flatly.
"And human child, while I'm certainly grateful that you saved my daughter, even without you, our clan's rangers would have rescued her."
Her voice brimmed with confidence—no, conviction.
"My elf rangers would never be troubled by mere humans."
She harbored not a shred of doubt about her elf rangers' abilities. But that also meant...
"...You're arrogant."
It signified complete ignorance of the world beyond Elruneheim.
"I agree that the elf rangers possess outstanding abilities. Ash was an impressive warrior too. As Your Majesty says, you might have resolved it somehow even without me."
I had no intention of denying their strong sense of belonging and trust. However...
"Then, allow me one question."
Right now, her trust was nothing more than a product of arrogance and stubbornness.
"With such exceptional elf rangers at your command, why do countless elves still wander the continent as slaves to 'mere humans'?"
At my near-insulting remark, Minerva's beautiful eyes twitched and narrowed.
"...You're crossing the line, human child."
A chill crept into her previously languid voice.
Not only the elves behind the walls, but even the aura she exuded gained a frigid edge of killing intent.
'Feels like being a frog in front of a snake.'
At my current level, I wouldn't last a few exchanges before my head went flying.
But the instincts honed since the past told me this: if I backed down now, an alliance with the elves would be forever out of reach.
"Am I wrong? Even orcs are welcoming their 'king' in this era of upheaval."
I clenched my fist tightly, resisting Minerva's killing intent as I pressed on.
"Your Majesty's formidable power surely wouldn't lose to mere orcs. But do you truly believe that power can protect all elves and handle everything? Then let me ask: assuming a direct clash with my family, could Your Majesty repel us without taking any losses?"
"......!!"
"When you can't even fully handle one family from a mere human nation...!"
That's when it happened.
Fwhoosh!
A searing heat grazed one side of my cheek, an arrow like a beam of light streaking past.
An arrow had flown from the wall behind Minerva in response to my blunt words.
"That's far enough, human. If you utter one more rude remark to Her Majesty, the next one takes your head."
It came from the source of the strongest killing intent I'd sensed behind the walls.
A young elf carrying a massive bow just like Ash's had already drawn his string taut, aiming at me from beside Minerva.
Judging by the bow he wielded and the energy in the arrow, he was in no way inferior to Ash.
'This guy's on par with my brother or sister.'
He was undoubtedly talented, but that put him at my siblings' level.
I wasn't about to be shaken by a threat like that.
"I'm still in the middle of speaking with Her Majesty. Do the elves have no respect for their queen, like a band of thugs?"
"...Insolent human."
Creak...
The elf pulled the bowstring even tighter.
The energy gathering at the arrowhead suggested he meant to shoot for real.
'No choice, then.'
It might be mere blood under a queen's gaze, but my pride wouldn't let me shrink from an attack like this.
'Surely even a queen like her wouldn't intervene in a kids' squabble.'
As I began subtly channeling my aura and steel, trusting in Minerva's nobility(?),
Bang!
The doors to Alfheim burst open.
"Stop it, Lena! What are you doing to my lifesaver?!"
Even among the beautiful elf race, this elf stood out with her striking features as she flung open the massive doors I'd entered through and shouted.
At her appearance, the elf called Lena quietly lowered her bow and stepped back.
"...My apologies, Princess."
Her attitude was worlds apart from how she'd treated me. The elf glared silently at Lena for a moment before bowing her head to me.
"I'm sorry, Young Master Jerome. It's been so long since we met, and I had to show you such an unseemly sight."
The elf bowing to me was Millia Minerva.
Paulo Minerva's daughter.
As Millia apologized, I eased off my aura and steel, accepting it.
"Think nothing of it."
Once I accepted, Millia gave a short nod before glaring at the queen, Minerva.
"Mother! I told you he's my lifesaver!"
Millia protested, but Minerva replied languidly, as if her fun had been spoiled.
"Hmm, yes. Your lifesaver."
Her tone had grown bored, but the killing intent hadn't subsided one bit.
"That's why I've let this human child live until now."
That sent a chill down my spine.
"Now, shall we continue with the answer to your earlier question? You asked what would happen if we clashed with your family."
Paulo Minerva spoke calmly amid the skin-prickling killing intent.
"I'll tell you. It wouldn't matter if it was Bacchus or anyone else."
Rumble...
The air in the great hall grew oppressively heavy.
"No one in this forest can threaten the elves."
Just her rising to her feet made the atmosphere buckle.
"You humans speak of eleven thrones on the continent. Do you think everyone seated on one is equal?"
An overwhelming wave of fighting spirit crashed over me. Even the me from the past, teetering on the brink of stage 3 Heterogenous Power, couldn't have guaranteed victory.
...No, I'd lose. Definitely.
Watching my father up close had made me momentarily forget what ascending to a throne truly meant.
"When I first took my throne, your father included, none of the current humans had even been born. Do you think fledglings who haven't lived a mere few decades can make Paulo Minerva flinch?"
"......"
"If you have nothing more to say, then leave. Out of regard for your father's face and saving my daughter, this is as far as I'll tolerate your rudeness."
The atmosphere screamed that one more word, and she'd tear me apart.
Swish.
"......?"
I turned at the tug on my sleeve to see Millia subtly shaking her head while silently gripping the hem of my clothes.
It meant we should withdraw for now.
But...
I gently shook off Millia's hand from my sleeve and shouted toward Minerva.
"Truly worthy of the title Forest Queen. A power that counts you among the continent's greatest superhumans."
"......?"
Minerva eyed me as if wondering what nonsense this was.
Having seen my father up close, I could evaluate Minerva objectively.
Experiencing it firsthand made the answer crystal clear.
For the sake of exchange with the elves—and ultimately, an alliance.
And to shatter that frog-in-a-well queen's arrogant mindset.
I had to say it.
"But one thing Your Majesty said is definitely wrong. Your Majesty, you are weaker than my father."
My calm, declarative words.
Froze the air in Alfheim.
"How amusing. Truly amusing."
Her expression laughed as if entertained, but no one would take Minerva's face at face value.
If she were truly amused, she wouldn't be leaking such savage energy.
"Your father, Bacchus, stronger than me... Quite the pride in your sire."
Swish.
Minerva's right hand slowly rose.
"The weight of words only holds when backed by one's own power."
Whoooosh!!
The air began compressing wildly around Minerva's fingertip.
"Try blocking this."
The compressed wind shot straight for my forehead in a perfect line.
A simple attack, straight without any finesse.
But I had no time to think.
I channeled steel to activate Iron Body, crossing my arms to shield my face and body.
Kaboom!!
Rumble!!
With a sound like a shell exploding, my legs carved furrows as I was pushed straight back.
For an instant, the impact shook Iron Body to the verge of breaking.
Even now, on the cusp of stage 3, no ordinary expert's aura blade could scratch me.
Yet this casual flick from a single finger surpassed any attack from my past foes.
'This... is the power of one who has ascended to the throne.'
A hot liquid surged from deep in my gut, but I swallowed it down without showing it and spoke.
"...Does this prove it?"
"...Hmph. Seems you're at least qualified to spout such nonsense."
Minerva clicked her tongue in displeasure before reclining back onto her throne.
As if there was no reason for further pointless talk. A clear dismissal.
I tried to take another step forward,
Grip!
But a hand seized my hem far more firmly than before.
Millia still said nothing, but shook her head more vigorously to convey her intent.
The meaning was unmistakable, even without words.
-That's enough for today. Stop here.
Her eyes warned that pushing further now would backfire.
'...Damn it.'
With my plans for exchange with the elves grinding to a halt,
I began to feel a growing frustration.
The nearest orc great village to elven territory—the heart of the Black Scythe Tribe. The massive tent symbolizing the chieftain's authority now hosted an unusual guest as its master.
"Chwik! Y-You've arrived! Chwik! My king."
Kasim, chieftain of the Black Scythe Tribe that had long divided and ruled the southern Dragon Mountains, spoke with utmost reverence.
Though he was a brave warrior who dispatched even ogres with ease, the orc before him was etching a living legend into the history of Dragon Mountains orcs.
He himself had remained one of the southern great villages, unable to best the Red Axe or Blue Sword.
But this great king had swallowed the south and center of the Dragon Mountains in less than a year.
Conquer the east and north, and he'd unify all Dragon Mountains orcs—a monumental feat.
After that, the foundation to spill out of these mountains onto the continent would be laid.
And to tie up potentially troublesome rear lines before that grand undertaking, he'd come here in person.
Who would dare be rude?
"Chwik. Kasim. Thanks to your tribe's guides, the journey was smooth. My gratitude."
As King Hatan praised him, Kasim bowed even deeper.
Hatan patted Kasim's shoulder a couple times before gazing south.
"Chwik. How goes the supply situation?"
"Chwik! In three days. Chwik! We can advance anytime. Chwik!"
Hatan nodded, his gaze still fixed south, at Kasim's confident words.
"Chwiik. Truly, a long time. Chwik!"
The restrictions from handing over his dagger and the humiliating bind as a warrior.
Those restrictions would end in three days.
Undoubtedly.