Chapter 299 – ODL ELVES (3)
Terms used in this episode:
Nine tails – This refers to the nine tails of a k.u.miho, a mythical nine-tailed fox spirit that could transform into a human, usually a beautiful woman, in order to seduce men and eat their heart or liver.
The empress dowager frowned.
It was not because she did not like the decision of the Royal Knights.
She was just in disbelief that they would be fighting Mountain King.
The empress dowager did not know much about battles, but there was one thing she knew.
The fact that even the most outstanding general could be killed by a stray arrow on the battlefield.
‘But why…’
The empress dowager was not the only one in the group.
Although he was still young, the emperor who was the supreme ruler of the empire was with the group. No, it was more of a problem because he was young.
How could everyone be so disloyal as to take the emperor to the battlefield when everyone made him avoid even drizzles?
Moreover, even the empress dowager had heard of rumors about Mountain King.
He was a strong warrior comparable to a Sword Master, and all his subordinates were said to be ferocious beastkin.
“Haa…”
The empress dowager was frustrated and troubled, but she tried to keep her dignified expression.
Because she knew that if she was anxious, the young emperor would be even more anxious.
Actually, the empress dowager was very weak now.
She was called an iron lady on the outside, but she was actually doing her best to endure it for the young emperor.
They had desperately escaped the imprisonment of the Chancellor who betrayed them.
Frankly, her hands were still trembling every time she thought about the time of their escape.
At that time, she heard loud noised from outside and the carriage was being shaken. It was fortunate that she did not faint at the sight of the Royal Knights covered in blood.
‘This is too much.’
She was referring to the fight just now.
The emperor appeared to be excited at the strength of the group, but the empress dowager was honestly afraid.
How could one not be afraid when fierce beastkins from all directions were shouting and running at you?
But they were now heading to the place where the boss was.
No matter how strong they were, there was no need to take such a risk especially when the emperor was here.
She deeply felt uneasy.
In her thoughts, she wanted to change the direction of the Royal Knights’ march by shouting out loud right away.
But the empress dowager couldn’t do that.
Because apart from her personal feelings, she knew that they had to cross Asain Pa.s.s.
‘Eueueue…’
The emperor and her young children were by her side, so she couldn’t let her feelings show.
Her feelings of frustration and resentment towards the Royal Knights only grew.
‘No matter how strong you are, how can you take a risk when the emperor’s here!’
But around an hour later.
The empress dowager’s thinking completely changed.
***
This was how the dog beastkin Robin (24 years old, unemployed) described the scene that day.
“There was a fire in the village below, so I went to take a look. But when I came back, our base was on fire!”
In reality, he didn’t even see it properly.
There seemed to be a series of bangs and explosions all over the place, and the base soon began to burn.
In his surprise, he ran out of the building but was struck by a chain in the head and pa.s.sed out. When he woke up, everything was already over.
Their base was burned down and his comrades were tied up in a row.
Seeing that the people who had been kidnapped to serve as slaves were looking triumphantly at them outside the prison, it really seemed like his group had been defeated.
The human boy Philip (11 years old, emperor) had a more detailed explanation.
“Spirit King Punch! Spirit King Punch!”
A rain of arrows poured down from all directions, but he was not scared at all.
The pink-haired angel looked back at the emperor and gently smiled.
The arrows bounced off the translucent barrier.
Roars and loud explosions were heard with each wave of the angel’s hands.
As the vicious-looking beastkin bandits approached, the angel spread out her white wings and began throwing bombs with both hands.
Boom! Boom! Boom!
It was fine if some bandits survived the explosion. Because they couldn’t break through the angel’s barrier like the arrows, and the growling beast girl blew them away with the chain she swung.
“Spirit King Punch! Spirit King Punch!”
The extremely excited emperor shouted and punched the air.
He knew that it was an undignified act, but he couldn’t help it as he was so excited.
A huge golden fist fell from the sky through the clouds.
He had never seen anything so cool since he was born.
It was even cooler than the sword dance of Sir Galahad that he liked very much.
It was big, strong, and cool.
And the angel was beautiful too!
“Spirit King Punch!”
The young emperor and his younger siblings punched the air and made a resolution.
I must listen to the angel. I must stay by the angel’s side.
And that was why the cat beastkin Kirara (15 years old, mascot) shouted without hiding her delight.
“Master is a G.o.ddess!”
Even now when she closed her eyes, she could vividly remember the sight of Cordelia spreading out her angel wings.
Those pure white wings and that sparkling angelic halo.
She was first surprised by the shield barrier that easily blocked hundreds of arrows, and was surprised for the second time by the explosions that boomed in succession.
She could only say the word ‘G.o.ddess’ when she saw the angel laughed ‘hohoho’ while causing an earthquake.
And as for her other master, Jude.
Her master Jude was also a G.o.d. He rushed out of the barrier at some point and became a gust of wind that swept away Mountain King’s subordinates.
She didn’t know how, but Mountain King seemed to have been defeated by him in one fell swoop.
“Masters, please let me eat and live well.”
Kirara put her hands together and began to pray in respect. For her, Jude and Cordelia were already G.o.ds themselves.
The group had directly attacked the base guarded by hundreds of beastkins and defeated the king of the far western region who was said to be like a Sword Master.
The empress dowager had a dumbfounded expression as she said.
“It’s not dangerous.”
Strange. Isn’t it normal for this to be dangerous?
Why is it not dangerous when we’re clearly on the battlefield ourselves?
“Your Imperial Majesty?”
“Huh? Oh, yes. Uh… Sir Leon. Is it always like this?”
Subjugations aren’t supposed to be this easy, right?
Isn’t this supposed to be a fight between Sword Masters?
The way the emperor dowager questioned him was not as dignified as usual because her common sense had broken.
But Leon was in a similar situation, so he couldn’t give a straight answer like usual.
“Uh… yes. I-I think so.”
Leon himself couldn’t have imagined that the subjugation would proceed like this.
‘Isn’t it fine if we just attacked the Chancellor?’
There was no need for them to run away like this.
Leon thought of that possibility for a moment, but shook his head afterwards.
Because it was a bit impractical.
There was the imperial capital’s defense forces and the numerous protective spells cast on the Imperial Palace.
Considering the imperial capital’s elite forces that was incomparable to mere bandits, both the quality and quant.i.ty of the defense forces were not at a level that an individual could penetrate.
‘Still, they’re amazing.’
Aren’t those two just 18 years old now?
How can 18-year-olds be this strong?
‘I-I’m a genius too.’
No, at this point, am I really a genius?
Maybe there are only three geniuses in this world. Those two and Maximilian.
As Leon thought about it, Lucas gazed at Leon with a bitter smile.
Because he could clearly see what Leon was thinking.
‘Hey, you too?’
I think the same too.
In any case, Mountain King’s base was subjugated in just one day – no, in one hour, so the group made the Mountain King’s base their resting place for the night.
***
In fact, subjugating a bandit hideout was not as easy as it sounds.
To be exact, cleaning up after the subjugation was not easy.
In the game, one only had to beat the enemy and it would be over, but in reality, there were a lot of things to deal with, such as the apprehension of survivors and the liberation of those imprisoned.
“I can tell them apart!”
Kirara was a professional betrayer, so she was good in remembering faces. Because she had to properly discern those she had betrayed and those she did not.
In any case, all of Mountain King’s subordinates who pretended to be prisoners were found out because of Kirara.
Leon and the Royal Knights imprisoned all the surviving subordinates of Mountain King in order to prevent the immediate spread of rumors, and those who were held captive were also released, though they were not allowed to leave the bandit hideout.
Because it was better if the rumors did not spread, at least until the group left Asain Pa.s.s.
And the next morning.
Having handed over all the post-processing to the Royal Knights, Jude and Cordelia headed to the top of Asain Pa.s.s as soon as dawn arrived.
“It should be fine here.”
They were here to establish contact with Kamael.
After installing a signal transmitter that was like an antenna, Jude spread out a blanket and sat down. Cordelia sat herself next to Jude and opened the basket she had prepared.
“But I feel a bit sorry.”
“To whom? To Mountain King?”
“No, I don’t feel sorry for him.”
Because people who did criminal acts such as murder and rape as if they were just eating their daily meals were the lowest of sc.u.m.
“I just thought that it would have been a good experience for Lucas or Kajsa.”
“Oh, that is indeed a waste.”
If Lucas and Kajsa worked together, it would not be impossible for them to defeat Mountain King.
However, the empress dowager was worried since the emperor was with their group.
From the perspective of Jude and Cordelia, they had to focus on ending the fight quickly even if they had the biggest advantage of the situation.
“Well, there will be another chance.”
At Cordelia’s words, Jude unconsciously smiled.
“Why?”
“No, nothing. It’s just that we’ve become really strong.”
It was almost like yesterday when they almost died while fighting the Lord Protector who was the weakest of the Ten Great Swordmasters.
They had vomited a lot of blood in that fight.
“But there are still a lot of strong guys.”
“This must be the bad effect of role-playing games.”
The two exchanged jokes that only they understood before bringing out a lunch box.
Inside were crepes that were folded beautifully.
“It looks good, right?”
“I’m looking forward to it too.”
“Huh?”
“You said that you’re good at cooking ramyeon.”
“I’m only a bit good.”
Cordelia giggled before opening her mouth and taking a large bite of the crepe.
Jude then clicked his tongue and put his hand on Cordelia’s lips.
“My goodness.”
His fingers wiped it.
When his fingers removed the cream and honey from the corners of her mouth, Cordelia reflexively bit Jude’s finger and began to suck it lightly.
And her eyes looked up at Jude.
An innocent yet bewitching look.
Jude’s heart involuntarily pounded fast, and he just stared at her without even thinking of removing his finger. Cordelia playfully sucked Jude’s finger as if she was having fun, and afterwards, she licked it.
And her eyes had a cute and sly look again.
Her eyes made it seem like nine tails would come out under her skirt if you raise it, so Jude took a deep breath, though he couldn’t stop his face and even his ears from burning red.
Cordelia was already beautiful, cute, and lovely, but she was s.e.xy today.
“Jude.”
Cordelia softly whispered and pushed Jude’s chest, making him lie down before she got on top of him like a cat. She bowed her head and lightly sucked on his lower lip this time, and not his finger.
“Your face is red.”
How can it not turn red? Especially in this situation?
As Jude protested with his eyes, Cordelia had a l.u.s.tful gaze at him again.
And Melissa thought.
Hey, isn’t it morning?
What are you doing in the morning?
You were eating just now. What are you doing in the middle of eating, huh?
Melissa’s voice did not reach Jude.
However, Jude seemed to have the same thoughts.
“Uh, first of all. There’s a time and place for this.”
Because we’re eating.
Can you endure it for now?
I actually can’t endure it either.
Frankly, I feel like going crazy.
Jude gently pushed Cordelia away, and she pouted her lips before muttering in a low voice that only he could hear.
“I can’t endure it.”
Jude flinched at that moment.
His heart began to pound like crazy.
No, uh…
That… ah… uh…
And it was then.
[Jude.]
Jude was startled at the voice of Kamael that he heard over his head, and Cordelia who was on top of him lost her balance and fell to the side.
And a few seconds later.
[Should I come back later?]
Kamael’s voice was heard again from the crow perched on the signal transmitter, so Jude shook his head.
He stood up and said, being unable to do anything about his blushing face though.
“N-no. It’s okay.”
[All right.]
Because it was hard to contact Kamael.
Their conversation with Kamael was currently more important.
‘And…’
To be honest, it was really dangerous just now.
Jude breathed in and out as he struggled to calm down his heart that was still beating like crazy.
The Maha Prajna Paramita Heart Sutra.
His heart calmed down as he quickly recited it in his mind, and after reciting it twice, the usual color of his face returned.
And Cordelia’s lips pouted at this sight, but that was only for a moment. She quickly remembered what she had said and covered her face with both hands.
What do I mean by I can’t endure it?
What was I about to do if I couldn’t endure it!
“Eueueue…”
I’m crazy.
Cordelia groaned and curled up her body a bit more.
And one more person.
Melissa seemed to be pleasantly smiling when she saw Jude and Cordelia struggling in their incomplete combustion.
T/N: This is an a.n.a.logy. Incomplete combustion is when a fuel is only partially burned due to a lack of oxygen or low temperature, preventing a complete combustion. Jude and Cordelia were almost about to have s.e.x, but got cut off, so their ‘combustion’ was incomplete.
[Is this perhaps the world deterring you two?]
Anyway, Kamael had come, so Jude hurriedly reported to Kamael on what had happened so far, and asked about the things on Kamael’s side.
[The situation of the empire is seriously unusual.]
Kamael expressed his concerns first and began his story on what happened at the eastern region of the empire.
***
At the same time, inside the fortress of the Red Gate, one of the seven gates built by the elves.
Sarah was exhausted because she had used Spirit Rush for three days, but she suppressed her desire to collapse and rest at any moment as she looked at the elf in front of her.
He was the gatekeeper of the Red Gate and the grandson of Vincenzo Lombardi, the elf capitalist.
As one of the empire’s Twelve Sword Masters, he nodded as soon as he read the secret letter.
“I understand the emperor’s will. As friends of the Imperial Family, we elves promise to spare no effort in a.s.sisting him. Please tell His Imperial Majesty that we accept all the conditions of the secret letter. This is my proof.”
Seeing that he answered immediately, it seemed that Vincenzo’s side had already given them an implicit pledge.
Sarah was very relieved and smiled brightly.
Perhaps because he had readily accepted it, or because his handsome face had looked more handsome now. His hair which seemed to be made from melted silver was brilliantly shining.
“Thank you. His Imperial Majesty the Emperor will be greatly pleased.”
Sarah accepted the golden bird crest from Elio Lombardi, the elf she was facing who was the eldest son of the elves’ ‘crown prince.’ As soon as she finished her greeting, she hastily left the Red Gate.
Because she had to deliver this good news as soon as possible to the emperor, so that they could pa.s.s through the land of the elves.
It was the shortest route to the territory of Marquis Buckingham, the leader of the pro-Imperial Family faction and the father of the empress dowager.
Sarah was already exhausted, but she drank a recovery potion and began running with all her strength.
And one person watched Sarah leave.
Elio Lombardi stood still by the window of his office before he slowly turned around.
He raised the communication magic device in order to convey that the emperor of the empire would be stopping by the Red Gate.