Dancing with Elves (3)
There were several reasons for cremating Plambel Sevillea's ghoulified corpse and handling it publicly. For one, if they were simply going to bury the body in the ground, it naturally had to be shown to others. Using a body double until the coffin lid was closed made no sense, and even if they wanted to, there was no one willing to do it. Magic? Even if they conjured an elaborate illusion with magic, could they maintain it all the way through the burial? And above all, they couldn't risk exhumation.
The first concern was grave robbing. A noble's poorly maintained tomb was a treasure chest to any thief, blind to what lay inside. Even snatching a ring meant as a cherished item would more than cover the cost. That alone was trouble enough, but if robbers discovered no corpse, that would be an even bigger problem.
'Anything that could be used for blackmail.' The absence of a body would become Baron Gamos Sevillea's weakness. Sure, someone might say they could just control the grave robbers, but Plambel's character itself was a worrying factor.
Second, posthumous dismemberment. If, even in death, his crimes were revealed and a sentence came down to smash the coffin, drag out the body, and behead it. Plambel wasn't exactly a saint, so who knew what grave offense might lead to such a punishment. That's why they cremated him. Thanks to that, his gravesite took up even less space than a full coffin burial with a mound—no land, no plot, no tombstone.
'The biggest obstacle to kingdom development.' In the Empire, people were primarily cremated to make the most of limited land. They'd put the bone ash in an urn and leave it in a columbarium, honoring the departed with just a niche. But here's the issue: Was that white powder in the urn really the deceased's bone ash? Or just flour dressed up to look the part? No one could confirm it. No one would bother checking, and even if they did, no one would expose the truth to others. If such a person existed, they'd cease to exist.
Not certain yet, but probably many Empire columbaria were like that. 'Or maybe they don't even need to leave bodies behind.'
From the crown prince's perspective—those inferior beings unfit to pass on their blood to future generations. Those without family or ties, whom no one would even visit at a grave. Those framed for heinous crimes to justify execution.
'At least none in my presence.' I'd carried out countless musket executions, but none were vampires dragged in.
'Turned after death? Doesn't seem right.' If the crown prince was behind it, at least the ones sent to me weren't turned into vampires right before dying.
"...Hoo."
"What's wrong, child?"
"I needed a moment to think."
About the mastermind. "Why come to Gibraltar regarding the vampire issue?" About reality. "Why invite me to the forest? If I may guess the reason." And about how to proceed. "Does the Platinum Lord wish for us Gibraltars to become vampire hunters?"
"To some extent."
"And you intend to personally instruct me in the elf forest?"
"That's precisely it, child."
"Thus, to raise Grey Gibraltar as a vampire hunter?"
"You've already shown such prowess in Sevillea, so I thought it a fine proposal."
Ipheria wanted a deal.
"Guardian. Let not this tale be recorded, nor spoken to any soul. Canst thou swear it?"
"I swear upon the name of Gibraltar. Speak."
"By my contract with [Chronostrum]… Ah. The guardian dragon of Nostrum Kingdom, the Golden Dragon."
"......A legend, is it not?"
"Legend? 'Tis a living being. By pact with that one, I and the elves cannot cross forest and gorge toward the Empire."
Ipheria placed her hand on the table and swept it westward.
"Elves may tread only the Golden Dragon's domain. Thy Gibraltar-guarded lands of Nostrum, that is."
"Nostrum we may roam freely, but the Empire lies beyond our reach?"
"Aye. 'Tis rule, oath, curse—the pact and bane of all elfkind with that one."
"Yet from thy words, these 'traitors' seem unbound."
"Aye. Those who broke the Golden Dragon's edict, becoming demons and falling to corruption. We call them the [Red Slaves]."
Ipheria bit into a cookie with evident reluctance.
"To make it simple for thee: vampires, bloodsuckers, Bloody Elves, fangs of the gray forest—suchlike."
"Bloody Elves. Understood."
I had to drill it in.
"Then they craft this Silver Dust?"
"Likely. Hand in glove with the Empire, or its slaves."
All those things I hadn't known before regression—or hadn't cared to remember—now pegged as the crown prince's minions.
"Thus, my proposal, Guardian. I shall teach thy son directly, raise him strong. In return, eradicate our elven traitors."
"......."
"A win-win, as humans say. Ye purge the demonic vampires plaguing mankind; we cleanse our betrayers. We cannot act ourselves, but we can aid thee in growing strong."
"That is…."
Father glanced at me.
"I grasp the Platinum Lord's will, but as current Margrave of Gibraltar, I say this."
"Speak."
Before I could utter a word, Father extended a hand toward me, resolute, and spoke.
"'Tis clear fact: vampires and those exploiting their remnants assail not just Gibraltar, but all Nostrum."
The Empire's Shadows chief among them.
"Yet I shan't casually send my son to the elf forest."
"Hmmm…."
"Vampire hunting likewise. If they harm Gibraltar, we'll behead them and stake 'em in the sun, but 'twill not be our life's mission."
Father's voice was firm.
"Grey has his own life, his own choices. Forcing him into vampire slayer's path wastes his talents sorely."
"...I see. Fitting Gibraltar in one way, yet most un-Gibraltar in another."
Ipheria smiled, stroking the mole beside her lips amusedly.
"Very well. I shan't impose elven rules on one blessed by my daughter. Then, a 'deal' in the human way."
"A deal?"
"Guardian, I grant power to thy heir. In exchange, vow to exterminate vampires in thy sight."
Ipheria's offer seemed almost obvious.
"Power to slay vampires demands thou slay them. Not a lifetime chasing naught else, but if they block thy path, cut them down without mercy."
"Hmmm…."
"Thou needst time to ponder. So be it. Then…."
Ipheria rose.
"I'll grant three minutes. Decide within."
"...Three minutes? Decide in that?"
"Aye."
"So urgent a matter?"
"Nay. I simply care not to drag it out."
Ipheria tapped the floor impatiently.
"Not that urgent…."
"Father."
I whispered to him. "Just as Father grows anxious away from Mother, so the High Lord for her forest."
"Is that so…?"
"Yes. Guarding the woods matters most, and there's that world tree, no?"
"Indeed. I see."
Father eased a bit, but Mother's great medicine always worked.
"What say thee, Grey?"
"A fine opportunity."
In truth, I had to go.
"Lady Mente is my mentor, but she needs time for self-adjustment. Quite long."
"Mm…."
"Since 'tis so, while she solidifies as master, I'll learn elven hunting ways."
"Elves are mere legend to me. Art thou sure?"
"Yes."
What was fine about it?
"Even alone, I'll manage."
Human common sense and laws held no sway with elves.
"No intent to publicize Grey Gibraltar invited by elves, so I'll slip away quietly alone."
"......."
No escorts. Just me, Grey Gibraltar, one man.
"I know Father's worries, but building ties with elves harms naught."
This was sincere. 'Order differs, but likely all in short span.'
Erwin Iferia's death. Elf genocide.
'Erwin held Astasia hostage, then led eight masters to assault the elf forest, massacring Platinum Lord and elves.'
Plausible. Near certain future.
'March route through elf forest, so cleared the bothersome elves.'
My hunch.
"One question for Platinum Lord."
"Ask."
"Human-elf differences elude me fully, so answer honestly."
"That thy query?"
"Nay. The question is…."
I tapped my forehead.
"Dost thou love Erwin Iferia?"
"......."
"Thy daughter. If she faced death, what then?"
"Thou hast a grave misconception, child."
Ipheria grew serious, voice laced with irritation.
"Elves and humans differ, aye. But."
She drew a deep breath.
"What being could abandon its child in peril? I am elf, but also Erwin's mother."
"Grateful. That suffices."
I stood.
"Within three hours, I'll bid farewells and prepare to depart."
As Platinum Lord said, mother comes before human or elf.
"...How canst thou decide so abruptly? Not that I stand to complain."
Mother, summoned to my room, flummoxed upon hearing.
"Art thou truly fine?"
"Yes. Quite."
"Off on hunt, now vanishing elsewhere on return. Haa…."
"Academy later means longer separations; best accustom now."
"......."
"If leaving me pains thee so, what of Noir, Letar, Ruby, Marin, Shafi?"
"...Spending time with them doesn't mean I neglect thee."
Mother clenched her fist.
"All I can do is trust thee, as Margrave does. I believe thou'st chosen rightly, as ever."
"Mother."
"Still, with time, I'd have packed somewhat…."
"Father and Mother both mistake."
I chuckled at Mother's echo of Father.
"'Tis elf forest, aye, but just short study abroad."
"...Huh?"
"Not gone forever. Platinum Lord grants conveniences; I can return to territory every ten days or so."
"......What?"
Mother's face stiffened, then flushed.
"Thou, thou…!"
"Did ye think years, nay three, in elf forest?"
"Thou shouldst have said first!"
"Ye jumped to tears afore I could; no opening."
"......."
Mother turned away.
"Mind Father and siblings well. Mother."
Powerless, penniless, yet her presence fulfilled Gibraltar's role.
"Odd to say, but elf forest is a living place."
For Mother's stability, Gibraltar stood firm.
"What great peril in elf forest? I'm going to grow strong. Haha."