◈ Episode 257. This Is Not a Request, It Is an Order (2)
The setting of the Claudi family.
I had even scribbled down settings about dragons.
A cat might pass by a fish shop without stopping, maybe.
But did you really think I’d just pass by elves?
In fact, the setting for elves was even more detailed than that for dragons.
That was because…… back when Arcana was nothing more than a game.
There were more rumors about elves than there were about dragons. ‘About how nasty they were.’ They were elves said to spend most of their time in Sisley.
Unlike dragons, elves were not bound by system-related reasons.
Why, even AAU’s information had stated as much. ‘Because they were NPCs, not monsters.’ In fact, before the Cataclysm.
Even back when it was just a game, elves had appeared on the continent several times.
That was why rumors of their rotten attitudes had spread.
If I had to summarize all those countless rumors in one phrase……
In heaven and on earth, I alone am supreme.
Why, you could tell just from Elsidore’s first appearance.
Not only had Elsidore mercilessly cut down demons, he had even attacked the Shadow Mercenary Corps member Rockid without question. Well, now he was just cutting weeds in the garden…… ‘I’ve known for a long time that elves are no pushovers.’ That’s right.
Which meant the young Lee Hoyeol.
Did you think my childish arrogance would have stayed quiet……! 『Claudi and elves were oil and water, incapable of mixing.』 Once I became aware of the existence of elves.
Naturally, that middle-schooler syndrome flared up.
I had to cram in every good trait I could. 『The elves could not tolerate Claudi’s existence. They were clearly insignificant humans. And yet Claudi lacked nothing, no matter what strict standard was applied to them.』 It was truly severe, Hoyeol! ‘I don’t even want to explain it.’ Maybe because no one else had written it but me, I could see right through the petty intention. Most likely, my past self had needed additional settings for Granfel’s striking appearance……
In other words. ‘A setting for looks so great even elves would envy them.’ It’s painfully embarrassing, past me……!
Thanks to Diend awakening my dark past.
The settings that followed came back to me vividly as well.
The radiant symbol of Claudi.
Their silver hair was something even elves did not possess.
Their discerning eye for beauty was no less than that of elves.
Furthermore, their lofty dignity was enough to make even elves feel cowed……
Because I had such a history.
I could understand the hostile gazes pouring down on me now.
As though water truly repelled oil. ‘……
That’s one murderous look you all have.’
One hundred (一百)
elves.
They were emitting rough killing intent toward me.
So I immediately brought forth [Hierarchy of Blessing].
Even so, their gazes were still hostile.
Why, except for one person, that is.
“……
This cannot be!”
The leader of the elves, Argentress.
His expression was quite different from the other elves’.
Rather than hostility, should I say it was closer to shock? ‘As expected, you know.’ The existence of the Claudi family.
That must be why you’re so startled.
Of course, even if I put myself in his shoes, it would be surprising.
There were humans so irritating he felt jealousy toward them.
And one of those humans.
Had suddenly appeared, revealing Mother’s blessing.
“I will never allow it.”
So I understood even if he twisted his face like some ferocious evil spirit.
But as I said, even if he threatened me that openly.
I had no reason to be afraid.
I told you earlier, didn’t I? ‘Our “class” is different.’
I leisurely opened my mouth.
“You are mistaken, Argentress.”
“……?”
“Are you not in no position to allow anything?”
“……!!!”
How’s that for Granfel’s way of speaking, scraping right at one’s pride?
But somehow, rather than Argentress himself.
The other elves seemed more shocked.
Small voices reached my ears.
“Why is he just listening to such an insult?”
“Be quiet. He must have a plan.”
“More importantly, how long do we have to stay like this?”
These guys still haven’t tasted the bitterness of life, have they? ‘They really must have been raised with everyone spoiling them.’ Well, they probably had never properly left the greenhouse called Sisley.
Their bewildered reactions were understandable.
Most likely, everything was a first for them.
Because of that, they didn’t even realize it.
What position they were in.
Why they could not move their bodies.
Why Argentress was only watching the situation.
Truthfully, explaining it in words would not be difficult.
But you remember what I said earlier, don’t you?
That you were caught in the act.
No matter that you had hunted a Demon King.
Your intent was beyond impure.
As expected, I continued in a manner that scraped right at their insides.
“Do you not find your own appearance laughable, Argentress?”
Argentress ground his teeth—grit.
“……
Laughable?”
“To think you would borrow the power of a demon merely for eternal life. Were your kind of such low class? And yet you dared speak of class. If so, that is deeply regrettable.”
“Shut up.”
Naturally.
I did not shut up.
No, I was going to go even further than that.
If it were the Granfel I knew, that is.
“I express my regret for that self-esteem which knew not its place, both in the past and now.”
“……!”
You might wonder why I was suddenly going on about self-esteem.
It was understandable that the other elves couldn’t grasp it.
This was an insult only Argentress could understand.
Because he knew the relationship between Claudi and the elves.
Especially the “in the past” part. ‘The Claudi family’s self-esteem really is something else…….’ As expected, he understood.
Argentress’s face turned bright red.
However, I wasn’t kind enough.
Nor was Granfel.
To simply listen to him talk back. ‘Neither of us is that kind.’ Worse, they hadn’t merely dealt with an ordinary demon.
At the point they tried to make a deal with a Great Evil.
There was even less need to show you mercy.
With that in mind, I opened my mouth.
“Kneel.”
“!!!”
It was necessary to make them understand clearly.
Before we could talk about the World Tree, dragons, and the Fruit of Good and Evil.
The elves’ attitude was far too impure.
That was right.
It was time for discipline.
Thud!
At my words, Argentress and the elves.
Every last one of them dropped to their knees on the ground.
Their heads lowered to the earth of their own accord.
Amid a sight that was profoundly burdensome.
As always, I continued in grand fashion.
“This is the Demon King’s Castle that you trampled upon.”
“……?”
“Until you realize the true value of your actions.”
To put it simply.
“I will not permit you to rise.”
In other words, kneel and reflect a little....
Tremble, tremble. ‘I can’t even resist at all……?’
It was the third humiliation he had felt since birth.
Argentress trembled with rage.
Then he chewed over the humiliation.
The first humiliation he had felt was an inferiority complex toward lizards.
Dragons, they were a flawless race beyond compare.
But because Mother’s blessing existed.
He had been able to escape that innate inferiority.
The second humiliation he had felt was on the Arcana Continent.
He had never imagined he would feel humiliation from humans, that insignificant race. However, he had not cared. Human lives were finite, and even if they bloomed like flowers, he knew they would wither soon enough.
But the third humiliation he felt now was beyond words.
It could not be helped.
The silver hair that had made him taste his second humiliation, Claudi. He had never imagined that the man said to have returned to the continent would be the existence who had taken Mother’s blessing. ‘Damn it.’ The surging rage was beyond description. ‘I cannot resist.’ Yet Argentress could sense it instinctively.
As long as Mother’s blessing existed.
They could not defy that man’s words.
The cold floor against his knees was proof of that. ‘……
I am not alone.’
If he had been alone, he might have broken, but he would not have bent.
However, his kin were here.
His pitiful kin, who, perhaps because they had lived without any harm in Sisley’s embrace.
Could not even make basic judgments.
Argentress gritted his teeth. ‘So I will bend.’ But he would not bend forever.
Even if that man had once again presented him with humiliation, he was only human.
Argentress was confident.
Confident that when the man’s vigilance slackened, he could take his head.
No matter that he held Mother’s blessing.
No matter that he possessed an impressive body for a human.
The experience born from the years he had lived could not compare.
Argentress opened his mouth.
“Tell me what you want. I will cooperate.”
“……!!!”
For a moment, the agitation of his kin pierced into his mind.
But this was the best choice.
Argentress thought. ‘He has a purpose.’ Only by knowing what that purpose was could he create an opening in the man’s awareness.
However, even that first step was not easy.
A cold voice followed.
“Have you realized the value?”
What had he been saying, like some riddle, since a while ago?
Argentress desperately racked his brain.
But he did not realize it.
He had destroyed the Demon King’s Castle because it was there.
He had killed because the question had not been answered.
What value could there be in those actions?
Argentress once again gritted his teeth.
“……
I have not realized it. But I ask for your understanding.”
Then the answer followed.
“Indeed, just as expected.”
“……?”
“It means you remain exactly as expected, for I expected nothing from you.” ……
Was that not the very gaze I turned toward Demon Kings?
In other words.
Was the man’s gaze no different from mine when I looked at demons?
For the sake of his kin.
Argentress’s patience, which had resolved to endure any humiliation, began to crack.
But fortunately.
“Then I understand. Even that much can be called progress.”
“…….”
Whatever the reason.
Argentress was soon able to raise his head.
Still kneeling, he looked at the man.
The moment their gazes met, the man spoke.
“My purpose in seeking you out is simple.”
“I will cooperate. Speak.”
“I wish to enter Sisley.”
Sisley?
What purpose could a mere human have in Sisley?
Argentress could not fathom his intentions.
But was this not a favorable situation?
Sisley was their homeland.
Furthermore. ‘It is an unfamiliar place to him.’ Mistakes and carelessness became more frequent in unfamiliar environments.
Just as he had lost track of the Great Evil, Gluttony, on the Arcana Continent.
In Sisley, the man would surely have no choice but to reveal an opening. ‘Things are working themselves out on their own.’ If he could seize that opening and take the man’s life.
Mother’s blessing would also return to them.
It even saved them the trouble of going back to Sisley themselves.
Hiding his joy, Argentress said.
“As promised, I will cooperate.”
So release this restriction at once, arrogant human.
It was while Argentress looked at the man with that thought in mind.
The man opened his mouth.
“But before that, there is something we must make certain.”
Anything was fine.
As long as he could bring him to Sisley.
When he nodded, the words continued.
“What do you think of dragons?”
……
He was suddenly mentioning lizards?
You irritate me to the very end, human.
Suppressing his anger, Argentress asked back.
“What is your purpose in asking?”
Then, as if determined to provoke him, the reply came.
“Because there is a need to restore your relationship.”
He could not even laugh.
A mere human.
Was saying he would interfere in the relationship between dragons and elves?
Leaving aside himself, an elf.
The arrogant kings of all creation.
If those lizards had heard such a statement, they would not have stayed still either.
So any answer would do. ‘No.’ He needed to use this to erase suspicion.
Though nausea rose within him……
Argentress spat out the words without showing it.
“That is welcome news. If our relationship with them can be restored, it would not be bad for us either. However, that is not something that depends on us. The kings of all creation are not so easygoing as to accept such a proposal.”
It was from then on.
That something strange happened.
The man spoke immediately, without hesitation.
“Then with this, I will believe that the relationship has been restored.” ……
Had he heard that correctly?
It was not something that depended on them.
It depended on the thoughts of dragons.
He had said that clearly.
And yet, as if he had confirmed the lizards’ intentions…… ‘He is certain……?’
It was while he was feeling doubt.
“……?!”
Something began to appear in Argentress’s eyes.
A massive figure wavering behind the man.
There was no mistake.
Argentress stammered.
That was……!
“D-Dragon……!”...
Argentress.
I can hear the gears in your head turning from here.
But just now, you made a clear mistake.
To dare ask the will of dragons in front of the “Black Dark Dragon.”
[The legend, “Black Dark Dragon Lee Hoyeol,” is materializing.]
Now, it is time to take responsibility for the words you spoke.