Chapter 130: Position(3)
Chapter 130: Position(3)
Titania, Queen of the Elves.
She was sitting on the edge of her bed. A thin, white lace nightgown fluttered around her, revealing her voluptuous figure in stark detail.
The queen simply rested her chin on her hand, bored.
Her entire life was tedious.
Money, status, honor—none of it brought Titania any joy. She had been a high elf from the moment she was born.
She was born having everything.
She had lived that way for over 500 years. The happiest time, if she had to choose, was when she was courting her late husband.
But her husband was gone now, killed after joining a war between humans.
The elves, in their ignorance, believed their king had been sacrificed because of humans, but Titania knew the truth.
He had joined the war purely out of his own ambition.
“Huuu...”
A deep sigh escaped her lips. It had been 300 years since she inherited the throne after her husband’s death.
Titania felt like she was only living because she couldn't die. There was no one she could speak to openly. After all, she was the noble queen of the elves.
She had considered finding a new husband, but no man ever met her standards.
Many high elves had died throughout their blood-stained history, and she had become the oldest of them all.
In other words, she had known all the men around her since they were in diapers.
No matter how handsome or good-natured they were, she could never see them as men.
A tedious life, shackled by the title of queen, unable to even step outside the elven forest.
That was how Titania saw her own life.
In front of the other elves, Titania had always been forced to present a solemn and perfect image.
“....”
Then came the news of the hero.
That the hero had entered the elven forest. If it was true, she desperately wanted to meet them.
She had lived for 500 years but had never seen a hero before. Perhaps it would bring a little excitement to her boring life.
That was why Titania held the banquet.
Indeed, the heroes were worthy of their title.
The hero, overflowing with a noble grace, and her companions, each possessing an extraordinary aura.
They truly looked like the heroes from a fairy tale.
With the exception of just one person.
‘That man... he was different.’
And ‘different’ was a mild way of putting it. Compared to his companions, the man looked utterly ordinary.
The mana he possessed was equivalent to maybe twenty years’ worth, at most. He felt lacking compared to the other heroes.
But ironically, the most interesting person was none other than that man, Kerry.
Titania had been observing Kerry throughout the banquet.
That ordinary man held the reins of the party. The red-haired woman next to him was always clinging to him.
The blonde-haired woman was always smiling as she looked only at him.
The woman called the Saintess was busy watching his every expression, anxious that she might displease him.
Even the noble Lina, who fit the title of hero perfectly, treated him with respect.
Though at times, she would send him a wistful gaze.
They were a rather amusing party just to watch.
‘How on earth did that ordinary man get such a hold on the party?’
What could be the reason that women of such skill and unparalleled beauty were so devoted to him?
She couldn't help but be intensely curious.
‘Come to think of it, has it really been that long since I’ve seen a human man?’
300 years since she lost her husband.
The elven men didn't satisfy her. And then she met Kerry, who made her feel as if she were meeting a man for the first time in 300 years.
Ever since seeing Kerry at the banquet, Titania couldn't stop thinking about him.
Then, a piece of bad news arrived.
Titania’s daughter, Arwen, had disappeared, leaving behind only a torn piece of clothing and a brooch.
This was the reason the heroes and Queen Titania were now facing each other.
Titania spoke in a calm voice.
“May I hear your story, Hero?”
“...We don’t know much ourselves, but we will tell you everything we can with the utmost sincerity.”
Lina recounted the events one by one, in detail.
She explained that after investigating, they had found the cursed spring that was the source of the elves’ illness, and that the Saintess had lifted the curse.
In the process, Arwen had returned to the village, saying she wanted to deliver the news first.
“So my daughter said she would come to Scandinavia first... and that is why she parted ways with you heroes?”
“That is correct.”
“Hero. You must know how much our people have been persecuted by humans throughout history. No, there’s no need to bring up history. Just a few months ago, another elf went missing.”
“....”
“But I am not trying to interrogate you with this. Quite the opposite. I am asking for your understanding if there are those who look upon you with unkind eyes because of this incident.”
“...You believe me?”
“Of course. You are the hero. Seeing you in person has convinced me. Besides, I heard the stories. They say the resonance of your soul is so beautiful it makes the heart ache. Someone with a soul like that would never kidnap my daughter.”
“Thank you for believing in me, Your Majesty.”
So that was it. There was a reason the elves weren't showing the same blind hostility as before.
Lina’s song really paid off.
“If possible, I would like you to help find my daughter...”
Just then, Arein interrupted.
“Your Majesty, the Queen. May I say a word?”
“What is it?”
“I understand your intentions, Your Majesty. All the elves present here surely feel the same way. As do I.”
“Then why did you interrupt?”
“The hero and her beautiful companions can be trusted. Though it was brief, I have spoken with them and am convinced of their upright character. However!”
“However?”
“But that man is different.”
Arein pointed a finger at Kerry.
Why the hell is he picking on me again?
“....”
“That man is a human male brimming with lust! Furthermore, his lack of dignity is enough to make one doubt he is even a companion of the hero.”
Titania didn't think Kerry seemed so undignified, but she listened quietly for the time being.
“It has always been human men who kidnap our elves. Just because the hero is righteous does not mean we can believe that man is. That is what I wish to say.”
Kerry was momentarily dumbfounded.
The ‘conversation’ Arein had with the party was nothing more than a brief exchange of pleasantries. And even then, the party hadn't been very receptive.
Because Kerry had made it obvious he disliked Arein.
He’d barely spoken to them, yet he claimed Lina’s party had upright characters while Kerry’s was rotten.
‘Arein. You face-judging bastard!’
Giving him the benefit of the doubt, I can understand being suspicious in this situation.
But this kind of illogical suspicion was just absurd.
He wanted to refute it, but he didn't even know where to begin.
Because it was all complete bullshit from start to finish.
“Arein, I understand your point. So what do you propose we do? You don’t intend to torture the man, do you?”
“...Please use Your Majesty’s power on this man. If, after doing so, you judge him to be trustworthy, then I too will trust him.”
Her Majesty’s power? What’s that?
Titania stared at Kerry. He just let out a scoff, a look of disbelief on his face.
‘He’s not intimidated by Arein’s attack at all. He really is an interesting man.’
“This is what Arein says. What are your thoughts? Man. No, your name was Kerry, wasn't it?”
“Yes. It’s Kerry, Your Majesty. And as for Lord Arein’s words, I don’t know what to say. This is nothing more than prejudice against human men.”
“Hmph! If you’re so confident, then you should have no problem being tested by Her Majesty’s power.”
“And what is this ‘power’?”
As soon as Kerry asked, the queen smiled and said.
“It is the ability to look into your soul. I call this power Clairvoyance.”
This soul crap again. I really hate this!
Why does everyone in this world make such a fucking fuss about souls? Kerry was already sick of it after his bad experiences with the Goddess and the spirits.
“Clairvoyance or whatever, I don’t like it. I refuse.”
“Kerry?”
Lina looked at Kerry, surprised. She had apparently been certain he would agree.
“I can’t help it, Lina. If I do it, I’m sure I’ll just hear the same thing the spirits said last time, something like, ‘His soul... is too lewd!’ I don’t want to get hurt anymore.”
The queen chuckled at Kerry’s words. He was even more amusing than she’d expected.
“Are you talking about how spirits see the color of a soul? Huhu. My Clairvoyance is a similar ability. But what kind of soul color must you have for the spirits to say such a thing... Huhuhu.”
“Anyway, I’m not doing it!”
At Kerry’s firm refusal, Arein’s lips twisted into a smirk.
“You must have something to hide. Perhaps you’re afraid your black heart will be exposed.”
Okay. You just wait. I was going to take it easy on you, but the moment I get a chance, I’ll just...
As Arein continued his baseless provocations, the party stepped in.
“Kerry is not a bad person.”
“That’s right. My husband isn’t a bad person! Don’t speak ill of him.”
“Kerry, you should try to reduce your lewd thoughts from now on. See how you invite these strange misunderstandings?”
“....”
This is pissing me off. I can take it from anyone else, but to be told by Victoria of all people to restrain my lewd thoughts...
The talk about the color of his soul seemed to have piqued the queen’s curiosity, and she smiled.
“This sounds fun. I’d like to see your soul, too.”
“I said I’m not doing it.”
“I’m telling you to do it.”
“I refuse.”
“Even when I’m asking you like this?”
Titania was the queen. This was an absurd other world ruled by class. Normally, Kerry’s attitude would only be tolerated because of Titania’s generosity.
Then, Lina spoke.
“Kerry. Why don’t you give it a try? What the spirits said back then must have just been a joke. I know better than anyone that you are kind and righteous.”
Ah. I really don’t want to do this.
But when Lina looked at him with such trusting eyes, he couldn't bring himself to say no.
“Haaah. Alright. But in exchange, you can’t say anything about my soul being lewd or anything like that.”
“I promise.”
“..”
Titania looked uncharacteristically full of curiosity. Just what kind of soul did this man possess?
“Kerry. All you have to do is look into my eyes.”
“Understood, Your Majesty.”
Kerry looked into Titania’s eyes.
He didn’t know how old she was, but meeting the lovely Titania’s gaze made him feel strangely shy. Is it because she’s an elf? She really is beautiful.
Blood doesn’t lie; she resembled Arwen. In fact, based on looks alone, she could have passed for Arwen’s older sister.
Titania used Clairvoyance as she gazed into Kerry’s eyes.
Titania had ruled Scandinavia peacefully using her Clairvoyance.
The ability to grasp another’s soul helped her, as queen, to manage her people well.
‘Just what kind of soul does Kerry have for the spirits to say such a thing?’
It was then.
Titania, who had been looking into Kerry’s eyes, screamed.
“Haaaahhh!”
‘Goddammit! I knew this would happen! That’s why I said I didn’t want to do it!’
In an instant, the queen’s head slumped forward.
Her face was beet red all the way to her ears, like a woman who had just encountered a flasher.
“....”
Again! This bullshit again! I knew this would happen.
She kept her promise not to say anything about my soul being lewd, but what did that matter?
Not with a reaction like this.
Titania panted, her face flushed.
“Hahh... Heuhhh...”
“Are you alright, Your Majesty?!”
Arein shouted as he supported the gasping Titania.
“What in the world did you do to Her Majesty?!”
“...I only did as I was told.”
“Don’t lie! This is the first time Her Majesty has ever reacted like this while using Clairvoyance. You must have used some cheap trick to avoid it. What are you all doing?! Seize that man at once...”
“Arein, stop. I... Hhng... I am fine. This man—no, Kerry—he truly did nothing.”
“Your Majesty?”
Titania, her face still bright red, lifted her head.
The afterglow hadn't faded yet, and she couldn't even look Kerry straight in the eye.
“Your Majesty, what should we do with this man?”
“I think I understand why the spirits said what they did....”
“So he is the culprit after all?”
“That’s not it. I have never in my life seen a soul so full of pink... but it is not a wicked soul, Arein.”
“....”
“And that’s not the only surprising thing. This man’s soul... Kerry. Your soul is something special. I have no way to explain it... but I could feel that your soul was different from an ordinary one.”
Kerry just listened in silence. Victoria then chimed in.
“Didn’t I tell you? Kerry may have many lewd thoughts, but he isn’t a bad person. Huhuhu.”
“Right, but why are you saying that to me, Victoria?”
This is ridiculous. No, it’s unfair. The real lewd noble is Victoria!
The queen, seemingly unable to even support her own body from the aftereffects of seeing Kerry’s soul, left with Arein’s help.
And as a bonus, the babbling Arein finally shut his mouth.
Until the very end, the queen kept her eyes on Kerry.
The man who had seemed the most ordinary possessed the most special soul.
He was a truly, endlessly fascinating man.