Chapter 11
Chapter 11
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 11
Chapter Title: The War Hero Decides to Defect (4)
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After deciding to formulate an escape plan and tour the entire continent—excluding the Empire—the carriage rattled along leisurely, departing the Grates Kingdom toward the Elf Kingdom.
"Robert."
"Yes, my lord."
"It seems like the Wilhelm family could have traveled separately, so why are the Royal Knight Order sticking to our tail?"
"They're probably keeping tabs on you under the pretext of escorting you, my lord."
Trailing behind our procession to the Elf Kingdom were the Silver Cross Knights, the pride of the Grates Kingdom.
Riding horses clad in silver armor, they maintained a precise distance matching our carriage's pace, doggedly following us.
"They won't listen if I tell them to turn back, will they?"
"No, sir. You announced your reason for heading abroad as 'to check for any threats from the Empire lurking outside our borders,' didn't you?"
Leaving the capital Evergarden had not been smooth.
—This wouldn't be some protest exile because the king suddenly forced a marriage on him, would it?
—A simple tour might be fine, but... there's a chance he might not come back.
—Lord Wilhelm! Please!! Don't abandon the kingdom!!
From the start, a few sharp-eyed folks had suspected my trip abroad might be a defection. I countered them with the excuse I'd discussed with Robert, making those blocking the way step aside on their own.
Whether it was their quick wits or just deep-seated worry leading them to the truth, who could say?
"From the Grates Kingdom's nobles' perspective, would my absence be that fatal?"
"It's a nation that's relied on your protection for twelve years, my lord. If the Continental Shield heads elsewhere, the whole kingdom will shake."
"Hm..."
"The people aren't overly worried about the standoff with the Empire. But the mere fact that you've 'abandoned the Grates Kingdom' would rock it to its core."
"Yeah, I suppose so."
Even in a mere company, if a top ace jumps ship, morale crashes. And I was no ordinary employee.
Far from it.
The Empire had signed the armistice largely because of one man: Hans Wilhelm.
I was a one-man army, but that single force had defended the continent.
Even the Empire's war hawks had concluded mutual destruction was inevitable against me, so they'd settled for securing the territories they'd seized to avoid it.
In the end, overwhelming power was key in war.
That raw might was craved not just by humans, but especially by other races—like the elves—who'd faced heavy internal divisions during the war with the Empire.
The war with the Empire was on hold, for now.
But internal racial conflicts hadn't fully resolved—like the strife within the Elf Kingdom we were now approaching.
The rift between High Elves and Dark Elves.
"Robert. Have you ever met a Dark Elf in person?"
"Regrettably, no, my lord. But I know you've encountered them often."
"Right. Yeah. I dealt with Empire-aligned Dark Elves plenty—on the front lines and in the bedroom."
To sum up Dark Elves briefly: just elves with skin closer to deep tan.
"Dark Elves are elves who've fallen. Obsess over magic, and your body discolors."
The trigger for an elf turning Dark Elf? Abandoning pure nature essences for the widespread human magic, corrupting them into Dark Elves.
"They forsake communion with spirits for the path of magic arts."
Elves don't use magic.
Those who do get consumed by mana, their skin turning chocolate-brown.
"Call it naturalism versus progressivism. Dark Elves pursue advancement through curiosity in magic arts; High Elves protect nature and seek symbiosis with spirits."
Once turned Dark Elf, you can't revert to a regular elf or High Elf—no spirit magic, no pale skin.
"That's the only difference. No twisted bodies, sunken cheeks, or ruined figures from the corruption."
Learning magic brings conveniences to the mage, but for elves, it meant falling into Dark Elfhood.
"The Empire even deployed Dark Elves as frontline scouts or assassins..."
In short.
"Elves or Dark Elves— just a difference in flavor."
Whether they wield magic or not, both were stunning beauties without exception!
'White milk or chocolate milk—that's all it is.'
As someone who'd bedded both elves and Dark Elves, I could declare it confidently.
Ideological differences over magic? Sure. But why not set aside white-elf black-elf prejudice and all cuddle up nicely in bed?
"Robert."
"Yes, my lord."
"If I bed a High Elf and a Dark Elf together, keeping them from fighting—wouldn't that symbolize true racial harmony?"
"......."
Robert stared at me blankly.
Seemed like he had words but held back out of respect for his lord.
"What's wrong? No secrets between us."
"You've never tried it with three?"
"......."
"So you want to try it with three?"
"Hm."
I'd dressed it up with lofty talk, but bluntly...
"You know me best."
Flowers in both hands.
Spending a night with a High Elf on one side, Dark Elf on the other—romantic, even.
"If those who clash at a mere glance can peaceably grasp the same thing, what better symbol of peace?"
"Why does it sound so devious and sleazy to me?"
"Obviously— that's how I meant it."
Dropped into a fantasy world, became a Grand Master? Time to dream big.
So once we reached the Elf Kingdom—
"Hm?"
The carriage slowed to a halt.
Malcolm, the coachman from Wilhelm Mansion seated up top, knocked on the carriage door.
"My lord. You'll want to come out for a moment."
"What's going on?"
"High Elves are aiming bows at us."
"......."
I stepped out of the carriage at Malcolm's words.
And stirred my mana to verify if he was telling the truth.
Whiiiing.
"Halt! If you move... eh?"
"What is it?"
"A—a Grand Master?! What are you doing here...?"
The elf guard captain aiming bows at us from the forest entrance spotted me and jolted in surprise.
"Long time no see, Lady Raphaella."
"Lady is... no, why bring such a large group so suddenly...?"
"Some misunderstanding, but it doesn't seem like they were deployed here specifically to block us from the start."
I scanned the barrier over the forest and the defense squad led by guardian Raphaella.
"Something happen inside the Elf Kingdom?"
"...Not exactly, but we can't just let 'outsiders' in recklessly."
"Me too?"
I pulled a pre-prepared item from my pocket.
"Am I an outsider, even after stopping the Empire's Orc Legion from burning the World Tree and receiving a token of friendship directly from it?"
"A branch of the World Tree...!"
It looked like an ordinary twig, but infuse it with mana and it transformed—a magic item.
Preferred as a symbol over a weapon, and thanks to that World Tree branch, the elves began lowering their bows one by one.
"But..."
A resonant woman's voice echoed through the forest.
A familiar voice.
"Queen Asteria."
The Elf Queen, High Elf Asteria.
"What's got you all on high alert? Surely the elves know about the armistice already?"
"......."
"For now... alright."
I signaled Robert, then entered the forest.
Neigh.
"Damn, too late."
Jason Winchester, the Prime Minister, rode up on horseback and clicked his tongue at the standoff—or standoffish gathering—before the elf forest.
"Already swamped quelling noble unrest, and now the Royal Knights blindly follow suit."
"My apologies, Prime Minister."
Royal Knight Order Captain Hubert, a Swordmaster, bowed to Winchester.
"Knights follow the king's orders. His Majesty commanded us to shadow and protect him unconditionally, so we had no choice. Please understand."
"I do. And you chose wisely. Marching boots into elf territory uninvited means instant war with the elves."
Count Winchester sighed in relief at the mere standoff.
"After the armistice, I feared some internal Alliance Kingdoms rift. Good thing it's not."
"...It still could be?"
"What?"
"If Lord Wilhelm gets trapped between the elves' bosoms..."
"Watch your phrasing."
Winchester cleared his throat in warning but glanced at the elves perched in the dense treetops, then shook his head vigorously.
"If mere size made Lord Wilhelm an elf kingdom man, he wouldn't be Grates Kingdom's anymore."
"But..."
"But what?"
"Well."
Hubert tapped his temple cautiously.
"The Elf Queen... she's that, you know. Symbol of abundance."
"Abundant, sure. ...Tch."
Winchester slowly began gnawing his thumbnail.
"Why have the elves set up defenses in the forest, though...?"
"Any guesses?"
"I have one, but it makes things serious."
"Assassination?"
"Yes, my friend."
Reuniting with Elf Queen Asteria, I got shocking news right away.
"The Dark Elves are plotting to assassinate us."
"......The armistice ink's barely dry."
"Not the Empire. They call it."
War.
"A personal rogue act."
Was marching on in another form.