Chapter 29
Chapter 29
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 29
Chapter Title: Infermur, City of Navigators (1)
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Elves’ stubbornness and arrogance aside, their cities were remarkably fluid. Unable to set foot on inland soil, the elves had built their cities atop ships, ensuring that more than half of their urban functions could operate anytime, anywhere.
The port city of Infermur, under the Gaimern royal family. Every time Fernandez beheld the horizon brimming with elven merchant caravans and warships, memories from his past life intertwined, stirring confusion. The Infermur he remembered was a cursed harbor overrun with death, decay, and vampires.
“Elven ale for sale! Elven ale here!”
“Cheap deals! Elven blacksmith special! Kitchen knives to greatswords! Sold by metal weight! The boss has lost his mind!”
Yet the Infermur they entered following Leia teemed with vibrant life, the fresh scents of food tempting passersby—a quintessential thriving port city.
Wooden structures in the elves’ distinctive style intertwined everywhere, cooled by refreshing sea breezes ventilating the streets.
The city’s defining feature was that it was ruled directly by the Elfin Serpent King. Typical elven tribes lacked concepts of kingdoms or capitals. Nomadic by nature, the Elfin Serpent King’s palace was always a massive vessel.
This city was no different. Radiating circularly from the Serpent King’s flagship in the harbor, it merged with a city built by humans and half-elves.
The ships densely packed in the harbor served as homes, streets, and shops in their own right—indeed, as the city itself.
In short, this bizarre port city consisted of half ships and harbor, with only the remaining half on land.
“Impressive, isn’t it, Inquisitor?”
“Quite striking. No human city achieves such harmony.”
With half its functions operating from ships. Kirhas marveled endlessly at the cityscape, her eyes darting about.
“We nomads have no choice but to adapt.”
Fernandez recalled the past while contemplating Infermur’s vista. How had vampires seized such a formidable city?
Infermur was easy to assault but hard to defend. Its inland half was merely a free-trade city lacking proper garrison forces.
The other half, however, belonged to the elves, possessors of the world’s mightiest naval power.
Unless one could best the elves at sea, claiming the city outright was impossible. Fernandez thought of the sealed letter in his bosom.
Whatever the case, its contents held the key. A letter from a Franzrit fugitive to the Elfin Serpent King...
*
-Clank.
“No arms in the audience chamber.”
An elf guard in heavy plate aimed his spear at Fernandez and Kirhas. Well, rules were rules. Fernandez and Kirhas unbuckled their weapons, handing them to an attendant with shrugs.
“Leia Fin Gaimern. You may enter.”
“You may enter.”
A massive pure-white wooden door engraved with a sea serpent slowly parted without a sound. The Elfin Serpent King’s flagship was no different from a floating castle, vast enough to house a small village within.
Fernandez and Kirhas endured nearly seven layers of inspections before finally passing. Only after repeated confirmations of their light tunics and lack of arms.
“Pretty sturdy build, huh?”
Leia smirked at Fernandez. Her slender silver hair fluttered in the breeze, her sky-blue eyes sparkling. A beauty befitting an elf. Fernandez smiled back.
“Teach me elven compliments too?”
“What? Heh heh!”
Leia laughed brightly and led the way, her hair rippling with her movements. In elven formal attire, her lithe, streamlined figure was on full display.
‘Elves really are a sight for sore eyes.’
-If only the insides matched.
‘Insides? Who knows till you check. And I’ve no plans to.’
Kirhas frowned slightly and poked Fernandez.
“Blasphemous!”
Uh... Was she always this devout? Fernandez shrugged. Well, her upbringing differed from his past life, and as Beitasser’s Inquisitor, piety made sense.
Under strict elven surveillance, they entered the king’s hall. Passing grand arched pillars, a steward behind them suddenly bellowed.
“Beware! Sovereign of the seven seas and five kingdoms! Ruler of the great ocean, spear of the storm, prophet of the waves—only one! Beware the great king!”
Quite the mouthful. Fernandez schooled his expression.
-The Elfin Serpent King isn’t just one guy, so why the pomp?
‘Kings are all like that. Humble ones don’t rule.’
-Fair. The Trident Three Kingdoms were that arrogant and got wiped out.
At any rate, the Gaimern royals weren’t nomads yet in this era. Fernandez slowly prostrated and declared.
“Beitasser’s blade, Angelo, pays respects to the great sovereign of the ocean, His Majesty the Elfin Serpent King Gaimern.”
“Rise.”
A languid voice echoed softly through the hall. The audience chamber, centered on the throne, was crafted so even whispers resounded, allowing the elf king to convey his will throughout.
No human craftsmanship could match it. Fernandez lifted his head.
First came the crown, intricate as deer antlers woven from tree roots. Gleaming white-silver hair, refined features, an expression blending wisdom and arrogance, joy and irritation. A middle-aged elf gazed down at him.
Fernandez, who had once lorded over all, couldn’t help but admire the elf king’s presence.
‘How much practice went into that face?’
An authoritative expression impossible to fake naturally! Elf King Gaimern spoke without shifting.
“You’ve traveled far for my sake, human wanderer. You may present what you carry.”
At his words, a steward approached, extending a hand. Fernandez carefully placed the letter atop violet silk.
The steward prostrated after precisely eighteen measured steps at the king’s feet. Gaimern reached down, taking the letter. He held it briefly, examining something, then eyed Fernandez.
“Have you read it?”
“Would I dare read the Serpent King’s missive?”
“Serpent King... Amusing, coming from a human. Once men called me World Tree King or Forest King; others, Plains Sovereign or Continent’s Conqueror.”
Gaimern smiled faintly.
“In the next age, and the one after—what will they call me then, human?”
“Whatever it may be, Great King.”
“Heh heh, a smooth tongue indeed.”
Gaimern smiled in satisfaction and opened the letter. He read for a long moment before setting it down slowly.
“Intriguing words, human. Can you guess its contents?”
“I dare to speculate.”
Fernandez met Gaimern’s gaze.
“A Franzrit vampire sent it evading my house, so it warns of vampire schemes. Aimed at the elven sovereign, it speaks of Franzrit infighting and elven royal strife, no?”
“Insolence!!”
At “elven royal strife,” the elf ministers lining the chamber roared in unison. Fernandez calmly regarded Gaimern.
(1) The undying elven royals fall in war, becoming nomads.
(2) Victorious Franzrits lack naval might.
(3) Thus, they must back another power with sea forces.
(4) Only elves can best elven fleets.
The conclusion: elven royal division.
Fernandez hadn’t peeked not just to spare the king’s pride, but because he could infer it.
“Not just a silver tongue, but a sharp mind too.”
Gaimern smiled meaningfully.
“But wrong. It’s a warning to beware you, human. Amusing that you brought it.”
‘A trap?’
-No way. No bait worth setting one.
‘If genuine, the elf king...’
-Wants something from us.
-Clank! Clank!
Guards at the entrance and pillars drew weapons, aiming at Fernandez. Kirhas’s ears twitched as she glared sharply.
“Benefactor, what now?”
“Stay calm.”
Fernandez didn’t shift, speaking quietly. Resistance now meant death here.
Gaimern laughed merrily at the sight.
“Is it boldness or detachment? No regrets in life? Or do you assume I won’t kill you?”
“If Your Majesty intends my death, would resistance matter?”
“Eloquently put. Stand down.”
-Clank!
At Gaimern’s gesture, elf soldiers sheathed arms and stood rigid. Gaimern eyed Fernandez keenly.
“Bold yet upright, a rare mortal breed. I shan’t slay you now. Your insight touched part of the truth.”
Gaimern glanced around.
“Withdraw. I’ll speak with this human alone.”
“B-but Majesty!”
Ministers paled, but Gaimern frowned. Sinking deep into his throne, he declared arrogantly.
“Dare you think this human could harm me?”
“Great King, a word from your servant.”
“Oh, daughter. Speak.”
“What this servant has witnessed: this human wields forgotten magics, and his blessings from the pantheon are no trifles. Please tread carefully, Majesty.”
Leia liked Fernandez. Yet the king’s safety trumped personal feelings.
She had watched him fight and bore the duty to report.
‘Having a blast among themselves.’
-The elf king’s putting on a cute act.
‘Yeah. Threat before request... Traditional fellow.’
The elf king had lived ages unimaginable to humans. That weight was no light thing. Yet in strategy, schemes, traps, and ploys, Feizashi was a master.
‘Seventeen so-called heroes fell to my hand.’
The elf king saw him as a pawn. Fernandez found it amusing instead.
“Very well, daughter. You may attend me.”
“Honored.”
With Gaimern’s word, ministers and guards withdrew, keeping distance, exiting the chamber. Gaimern rose, approaching Fernandez step by step.
His long robe trailed across floor and stairs. Backlit by midday sun over the sea through the window, Gaimern loomed over Fernandez.
“Beitasser’s mongrel. So you’re called.”
“Yes.”
“Then do what you can.”
Gaimern dropped the letter before Fernandez’s eyes. Fernandez picked it up from the floor.
*
1. A traitor among the sovereign’s five generals conspires with Richter van Franzrit.
2. Human cultists and Franzrits plot Infermur’s overthrow.
3. Beware [RuneRaven]. O King.
*
Scribbled hastily, details were sparse. The woman’s script brimmed with concern for the king.
Its failure to reach him in his past life had greatly aided Infermur’s fall.
‘See? I was right after all.’
Fernandez folded the letter, mocking the elf king’s pride. The meaning aligned: elven division, Franzrit strife. Only human cultists were unexpected.
‘Who’s RuneRaven?’
-Local tribe around here, probably. Plenty of those.
An era of rampant, fleeting heretic sects. If he didn’t recall it, it hadn’t left marks in his past life.
“But Great King, I owe no loyalty to elven lords.”
“Name your desire.”
Fernandez smiled up at Gaimern. The king turned threat to persuasion. Fernandez turned persuasion to negotiation.
Naturally, deals were a black mage’s core virtue.
*