Chapter 16

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Translator: Ace

Chapter: 16

Chapter Title: The Elven Envoy's Arrival

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Peace had reigned over the imperial capital, but one rumor began to spread.

-Eltea has sent an envoy to the Empire as a gesture of friendship!

At first, no one believed it.

Everyone knew elves didn't like humans.

It wasn't just dislike—they practically expressed outright disgust. So, that finicky race was offering overtures of friendship?

Sending an envoy?

And not under imperial pressure, but of their own volition?

Ridiculous. Most imperials scoffed. It was only natural that the rumor died down within a day or two.

But about a week after it faded, people witnessed with their own eyes that the "nonsense" rumor wasn't nonsense at all.

An elven delegation had truly arrived in the imperial capital.

Led personally by Edelin, the High Elf princess of Eltea, top heir to the throne, and captain of the Eltea Central Patrol.

"Wh-what's going on?"

"No idea."

"Is the sun rising in the west?"

Some marveled at the legendary beauty of the elves they'd only heard about in rumors. Others were awed by the disciplined aura of the elven knights.

As the delegation paraded down the avenue toward the palace, murmurs rippled through the crowds. Amid the bustle, one group was especially busy: the bureaucrats of the Imperial Magic Bureau's Magic Management Division.

"Damn it. What does Eltea's delegation have to do with our Magic Management Division? Why do we have to host them?!"

"Because we're the ones involved."

"Huh? What're you talking about?"

"That fancy elf princess specifically requested to visit our division. That's why all this crap."

"What? Say that again."

"What's your reaction? You hearing this for the first time?"

"Yeah, so I'm asking."

"It's been the talk of the town for two days, and you missed it? That princess Edelin named one of our own specifically."

"Who?"

"Right there."

"Who... Senior Investigator Ian?"

"Bingo."

"Why him? Did he screw up or something?"

"Beats me. Go ask him yourself. How the hell did he charm those hostile elves a month ago?"

Ian froze mid-cleanup in the office. The whispers and stares were unmistakably aimed at him.

Some were curious, but most were accusatory glares. He bowed his head apologetically to those shooting daggers.

Ian usually ignored others, but this time he was genuinely sorry.

The entire division was in chaos—from dawn cleaning like a military base prepping for a general's inspection—all because of him.

'Sorry, everyone. Did I expect this?'

It started like this.

On the 30th day Edelin had borrowed Lara—which was two days after Lara's successful bifurcation—a message came through the mana communicator they'd exchanged.

Edelin was coming personally to return Lara.

She'd said something odd about "a gesture of sincerity," but Ian brushed it off.

She'd probably prepared a modest gift in return for borrowing Lara.

But who could've guessed?

'That "modest sincerity" would be a full delegation...'

He was utterly dumbfounded. Who knew a "gesture" meant national diplomacy?

'What good does this do me? Seriously.'

Of course, a month ago, Ian had earnestly asked her to ease her grudge against humans.

Was she fulfilling that in this over-the-top way?

'No, I only said that for the mission. Whether the Empire gets cozy with elves is none of my business.'

If that was it, it was kinda sad. If she wanted to reward him, couldn't she do it quietly? As personal thanks.

Like rare materials. Top-grade alchemy ingredients unique to Eltea, like moonstones? Or elfwood?

Or better yet, cash.

Money was great. Alchemy was a money pit—more was always better.

He wouldn't have needed to beg his dad...

"Alright, everyone, stop!"

"Pardon?"

"Wrap it up. The elf princess finished her audience with His Majesty and just arrived on the first floor."

Director Blake's words snapped Ian from his thoughts. Everyone froze.

Tension etched every face. She wasn't human, but she was royalty—a foreign princess. How could they not be nervous welcoming such nobility?

Soon, footsteps echoed. Closer they grew, until a group of elves appeared.

"Whoa..."

Unbidden sighs of admiration filled the room.

No one had meant to—they'd just never seen a real elf, let alone a High Elf, despite the rumors.

"The humans here are at least tolerable. Not completely repulsive."

Her cold, clear voice made some bureaucrats grin like idiots. So this was a High Elf!

But Ian's expression darkened.

'Please just say a few words and leave quietly. Don't stir things up. Better yet, ignore me.'

For his peaceful work life, that was best. But Edelin had no intention of obliging. She strode right up to him and stopped.

In the spreading silence, everyone saw her icy gaze soften into a pout.

Then came her bright voice.

"Long time no see, Guide. I hope ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠you've been well?"

The ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠moment shocked and questioning stares turned to him, Ian cursed inwardly.

'Fuck. This damn "Guide" title.'

'She loves it, just as I thought.'

Edelin beamed inwardly. Her bold plan to show modest sincerity to the Guide was a smashing success.

She'd hatched it upon learning his status.

How disappointed she'd been to hear the one guiding elven revival was merely a bureaucrat.

The clan's benefactor deserved a lofty position. A mere investigator? Unacceptable.

Objectively high, sure—but to her, pitifully low.

So she planned.

'The Guide deserves exaltation.'

Who but he, reviver of Fairies, merited it?

'I must help. Who else will?'

These lowly humans couldn't see his worth. She had to show them.

How? By becoming his backer. No one would dare belittle him then.

Thus, her visit to the Empire.

And he loved it! Pure joy.

'Look at that smile. Overwhelmed with happiness.'

Of course, she was wrong.

'I wanna cry.'

Ian was laughing through tears. Already chaos—how could he work in peace now?

"Hey, Ian!"

"Yes?"

"'Guide'? What the hell?"

"Uh, well, it's..."

"And you bastard. Spill it. How'd you seduce the elf princess?"

He couldn't fathom it. Why was he getting throttled?

"Seduce? I didn't."

"What'd you feed her on that mission? Mind magic? Huh?"

"You can't cast mind magic on a High Elf. Be serious."

"You bastard. ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠I thought you were one of us! Sob!"

"Why are you crying?"

It was scary too. He hadn't expected the elves to take "Guide" so seriously.

He thought it was just polite formality...

'If they find out I'm not the real Guide...'

Ian shuddered. Horrifying.

Their goodwill would turn to rage. Directed at him—no, the Empire. War.

No one messed with the Empire. But elves? They'd do it.

Somehow, the day ended.

Ian's workday finished, and Edelin's delegation wrapped up.

Finally, he got Lara back.

"Ian!"

Lara fluttered toward him on shimmering fairy wings, leaving Edelin's arms. Ian sighed in relief.

'Phew. She doesn't look much different.'

A bit bigger, an extra pair of wings—otherwise unchanged.

But her power? Night and day.

"I missed you!"

The immense mana from the snuggling Lara startled even Ian, who feared little.

'Mana shot up?'

Not just up—three or four times stronger, visibly so.

"Ian! You won't believe what I experienced! Eltea Forest has the most amazing flowers! There's this one called erpel flower..."

Ian nodded along to Lara's torrent of chatter while multitasking—analyzing her changes.

Skills unchanged.

But two new skills and a unique trait added.

'Fairy Magic makes sense for a fairy-type homunculus. Holy Magic? Oh, right—the sacred spirit soul.'

And the new trait.

'What? Create fairies?'

Minions?

'Jackpot. Queens get subordinates.'

A queen without minions wasn't a queen.

Ian snorted excitedly. Bigger than new skills.

'Wait. Isekai MLM scheme unlocked?'

His creation making creations!

Prime isekai multi-level marketing.

Spawn spawning spawns...

Not that he'd exploit their labor.

But having the option changed everything.

Between could and couldn't, he'd pick could—a thousand times over.

'How does she create them? Lay fairy babies? Eggs?'

Curious now.

Birth or eggs?

'Humanoid, so mammal-like?'

Wings suggested bird.

Mammal: birth. Bird: eggs.

'But no mate—how?'

Ian halted his fantasies. Just ask.

"Lara."

"...So that erpel flower... Yes? You called?"

"Sorry to interrupt, but one question."

"Sure. Ask away."

"You're a Fairy Queen now."

"Yes! I evolved! Thanks to you, Ian!"

'Thanks to me? I just made you.'

Glancing over, Edelin looked wistful.

Wanted credit?

"So, can you make subordinate fairies?"

"Of course!"

"How?"

Embarrassing question, but necessary.

"Oh! That! Haven't tried, but I can. Wanna try? I'll show you now?"

"Uh, what?"

Show? Here? Now?

"Um, maybe not."

Too public—embarrassing.

But how?

'Gasp. Hermaphrodite?'

Not female?

But "queen"...

"Hmm, here we go. Flower... found one. Wait, Ian!"

Lara slipped free and zipped to a small flowerbed.

She circled, touched one delicately. Then, miracle.

The flower slowly grew. Swallowed in light, humanoid limbs formed within.

Turning human—er, fairy—shaped.

Watching the life bloom from the flower, Ian thrilled and sighed in relief.

'Born from flowers. Not fetuses or eggs.'

For some reason, reassuring.