Elqueeness [EN]: Chapter 531

531.

“What on earth…….”

The first to arrive were armed soldiers. They seemed to be members of the Royal Guard dispatched to assess the situation. Looking around, they could only swallow groans, their faces pale. I, too, followed their gaze and looked around. Thanks to Ellyuen, most of the building debris had been removed, but the foundation, still bearing the collapsed framework, revealed the tragedy that had unfolded here. Rather, the parts that had been hidden by the debris were now exposed, making it even more miserable. Corpses were all that could be seen everywhere. Some were survivors, but they looked just as horrific as the dead.

“C, Commander…….”

“F, First, sort out the survivors!”

A knight, who appeared to be the leader, shouted at everyone. The soldiers, who had been staring at the sky with frightened faces, barely moved their bodies at his words.

“El!”

I was blankly staring at the scattering soldiers when I heard someone calling me, and I turned my head. A familiar face was running towards me from afar. It was Chris.

“Chris.”

“Thank goodness! You’re alive!”

He ran and hugged me tightly. I could feel his heart pounding fiercely against me. Just looking at his pale, hardened face, I could tell how shocked he was.

“Do you know how surprised I was when everything started shaking shortly after you left? The sky was all black, and when I barely managed to come here, the buildings were all collapsed. Corpses were lying everywhere. Damn it, what is all this? Is that the Wind Spirit King up there?”

Chris pointed at Minerva floating in the sky and asked. I thought she had faded to the point of being almost transparent and returned to her natural form, but it seemed she was still visible. I belatedly wondered if the contractors would be in danger like that, but I had bigger problems to worry about.

*콰과광!* At that moment, a tremendous noise erupted from the sky. It was the sound of Ifrit and Trowell’s energy, which had been binding Minerva, being repelled. Startled, people hurriedly fell to the ground, screaming. Chris, who had reflexively wrapped his arms around me, also raised his head with a frightened expression.

“Wh, What is it! What’s going on right now?”

“……It would be best to avoid this place for now.”

I wasn’t worried that the rampage would progress further here. Seeing that Minerva was safe in my era meant that this situation would somehow be resolved. But I couldn’t know what else might happen in the process.

“Where’s Anais?”

I was trying to evacuate Chris when another voice suddenly cut in. I turned to see someone I recognized standing there. It was Crown Prince Luciel, looking more mature and with longer hair than I remembered.

“What happened to my sister?”

From the memories I had been filled with, he was staying in the capital because his sister was refusing to return. The war with the Demon God Army was dragging on without any significant results, so he spent more time in the capital than on the battlefield. He must have been residing nearby and rushed over after hearing the news late. Thanks to that, he avoided the disaster, but I don’t know if he would consider it fortunate. His always brazen and relaxed face was pale and bloodless. The attendants who had come with him all had grim faces.

“Anais was staying here……. Is she alright? Where is she now…….”

“The Princess is already dead.”

Someone gasped sharply. But everyone had similar expressions, so there was no need to distinguish them. The Crown Prince clenched his fist and glared at me with bloodshot eyes.

“What did you just say?”

“The Princess had already passed away before the explosion occurred. The news spread widely; didn’t you hear it?”

“That can’t be.”

The firm voice was spat out. Judging by the fact that he didn’t ask about the cause of death separately, it seemed he really came without knowing anything.

“That can’t be. It can’t be.”

The Crown Prince shook his head repeatedly and looked around distractedly like a madman.

“She is not destined to die here like this. It shouldn’t be!”

Eventually, his wandering eyes stopped, focusing on something. He had found Ian Idris, who was collapsed on the ground. The Crown Prince immediately rushed to him. Even seeing that he was unconscious, he grabbed him by the collar.

“Wake up, Ian Idris!”

He shook him violently to wake him up, but the limp Ian Idris didn’t respond. His injuries were too severe for him to wake up. Anyone could see that his condition was serious, but the Crown Prince didn’t care and slapped his face.

“What did you do to Anais!”

“Your Highness! You’ll kill him!”

“He needs to be alive to be interrogated!”

The horrified attendants hurriedly tried to stop him. I watched the chaotic scene for a moment before averting my gaze. Either way, the damage was done, and it ended as badly as it could get. I didn’t want to care about what happened over there anymore.

*콰과광!*

Just in time, a noise that reminded me of reality echoed again. This time, the situation was even more serious. The lights that had been enveloping the wind were gone. It seemed that the power that Ifrit and Trowell had been suppressing had been completely released.

Freed from her restraints, Minerva had become a massive storm itself. It was a ferocious whirlwind full of thunderstorms. The power of that mighty vortex finally began to reach the ground. The wind became so strong that I couldn’t open my eyes properly, and it became impossible to stand upright. Cold rainwater lashed my entire body like a whip. Even the ground rumbled.

“Aaaagh!”

“Chris!”

I hurriedly grabbed his arm as he was being lifted upside down. But the pulling force was even stronger, and it felt like I would be dragged away with him.

“How annoying.”

I thought I heard Ellyuen’s voice from somewhere. At that moment, a massive wave surged up. The surging waves began to cover the sky at a rapid pace, defying common sense. The firm roof of water blocked the air currents in the sky that were fiercely dominating the ground. It was as if a clear boundary line had been drawn between the land and the sky. The harsh rain and wind disappeared, and the heaving ground slowly calmed down.

“…….”

There was no need to question whose work it was. Ellyuen had defended us. The people who had witnessed the miraculous sight stared blankly at Ellyuen. Everyone was sprawled out, looking like wet mice, but he stood out alone, perfectly intact. His appearance, as if sculpted from jade, made him look even more surreal.

“El, isn’t that person your stepfather?”

“Yes, well…….”

Chris, who had been sitting down with a dazed expression, finally voiced his question after a long time. Regardless of the gazes pouring in from all directions, Ellyuen was only watching the situation in the sky. I also raised my head. The scene beyond was reflected on the rippling surface of the water. Unlike the ground, which had regained peace, the sky outside the boundary line was still in a precarious situation. Trowell and Ifrit, who had been pushed far back, looked completely exhausted.

―Damn it! It’s really not easy trying to subdue her without hurting her. They say that when she rampages, she exerts her full power even in the middle realm [the mortal realm]. Even though she’s only half as strong, what is this power? I’m glad I made the Blaster. Otherwise, we would have died.

―Shut your mouth, Ifrit.

―I’m just saying because it’s frustrating. Hey, Elquines! Don’t just watch; come and help!

“Why would I?”

This time, Ellyuen’s reaction was indifferent. “Who is your father talking to?” Chris whispered, unable to see the Spirit Kings. While I was awkwardly smiling, not knowing how to answer, the conversation continued.

―I’m going crazy, really! If the rampage progresses further here, it’s really all over! Arc-Acheon will be completely destroyed!

“So?”

―Just look at that smug expression, as if it has nothing to do with him! Even if you’re okay, you should think about Young Master! Are you going to make El live in a broken and desolate world? He’s your son! If you’re a father, you should think about providing a good environment for your child! Did you become a father without that kind of resolve!

“……How annoying.”

Ellyuen sighed and raised one hand. Accordingly, the waves rising from the roof began to rapidly engulf the center of the storm. I could see the people watching gradually losing their minds. Everyone had been too disoriented a moment ago, so they were all unsure, but now he was openly proving once again who was protecting this place.

“El, was your stepfather also a spiritist [someone who can control spirits]?”

Chris also blinked with a dumbfounded expression.

“Um, well…….”

“Wow, it’s said that spiritists are usually inherited by bloodline; it seems that’s true. He’s really incredibly strong. No, but he can’t even see the spirits, but he just manipulates the water? Anyone would think he’s a spirit himself. Hahaha…….”

“…….”

It was meant as a joke, but I couldn’t laugh along because it was unintentionally the correct answer. Chris, who had read my subtle reaction, stopped his awkward laughter.

“……Is he really a spirit?”

I subtly avoided his gaze. I left Chris, who was frozen with a mixture of question marks and exclamation points, and turned my gaze back to the situation in the sky. Perhaps thanks to Ellyuen joining in, the air currents, which had been getting worse and seemed impossible to handle, were noticeably being brought under control. The form of Minerva, which had disappeared inside the core of the storm that was shining purely white, was reappearing. Relief appeared on Trowell’s hardened face. Conversely, Ifrit, who was making all sorts of faces, squawked.

―Ugh, this is annoying! You can do it all by yourself, but you’re making us suffer! You bad bastard! Don’t live like that!

“I told you I have no intention of being brothers with someone like you.”

―Who said I called you brother because I liked you…… Ack! Don’t reduce the power! I understand! It was my fault! You do it all yourself! Please, have mercy! Is that okay, you demanding son of a bitch!

I already knew that Ifrit’s language became harsher as he got angrier. But wasn’t that rather provoking him? Fortunately, Ellyuen didn’t seem to care much, as he had no intention of stopping from the beginning. Then, he made a face as if he didn’t like something, and soon his figure became faint. He had shed his physical body. It seemed he had judged that he couldn’t use his power comfortably in a summoned state. Whispers spread from all directions. It was understandable that ordinary people would be flustered since it would look like he had suddenly disappeared to them.

“H, He disappeared.”

Chris was also restless, looking around.

“El! Your father! No, Father! No, no, anyway, that person disappeared!”

“Calm down. He didn’t go anywhere.”

“What? But…….”

At that moment, a fiercely surging wave covered Minerva. It was as if a tsunami was rising and swallowing the sky.

“Ah, it seems he really didn’t leave…….”

Chris, who had a speechless expression, quietly closed his mouth. The water that had swallowed Minerva was expanding its momentum infinitely. It looked like a balloon that was constantly swelling. Now, water felt more threatening than wind.

―Huh? No, wait a minute!

Ifrit shouted. His voice sounded somewhat urgent. At that moment, the figures of Ifrit and Trowell were completely swallowed by the rapidly approaching waves.

―Hey, you crazy bastard!

That was the last voice I could hear.

*쿵! 콰지직!* A sound of crashing and breaking came rushing in, and an intense light burst out. With a muffled sensation, everything around me vibrated. The people who had barely managed to stand up lost their balance again and collapsed. The pouring screams were instantly buried in the even louder noise.

When I came to my senses, it was pouring rain. Only after feeling the icy raindrops covering my face did I realize that I had briefly lost consciousness. I blinked my eyelids a few times to clear my vision. The sky visible in front of me was no longer filled with water. Neither the giant whirlwind, nor Minerva, nor the figures of Ifrit and Trowell were visible.

What had happened?

I slowly got up and looked around. The other people were also getting up with bewildered faces. Then, someone walked out, cutting through the pouring rain. The sound of their footsteps echoing heavily on the water-flowing ground. It was Ellyuen, still not wet at all even in this fierce downpour.

The world seemed to have become quiet. I blankly stared at his appearance, as if light was being added every time the raindrops touched him. I wondered if this was the feeling others had when I was the Spirit King, but I immediately shook my head. No matter how I thought about it, it seemed that only he could create this kind of atmosphere.

“Are you hurt anywhere?”

I barely came to my senses at the following voice.

“Oh, no. Are you okay?”

“It’s the first time in my life I’ve heard the question of whether I’m okay.”

It was a nonchalant reply, but he clearly looked exhausted. It seemed that calming the Spirit King’s rampage had been overwhelming for him as well. As I was staring intently, thinking it was a rare sight, I felt a sullen gaze on me. Feeling embarrassed, I quickly changed the subject.

“Oh, but what happened? Did you contain the rampage?”

“I sealed her because I didn’t think she would come to her senses as she was. It won’t progress any further.”

“I, I see. Still, I’m glad the progress stopped. So, Minerva is okay now, right?”

“I don’t know.”

“You don’t know?”

“My role ended with sealing her. The rest is up to her. She’ll be released when she calms down, so maybe she’ll be okay then.”

I asked if my body was okay, but this time again, Ellyuen was speaking his mind. I couldn’t help but feel happy about that fact. As I was grinning, Ellyuen, narrowing his eyes, grabbed the hood of my clothes and forcibly put it on my head. Startled by the suddenly obscured vision, I heard a voice filled with fatigue.

“Keep it on. Don’t go bewitching unnecessary humans with a face that causes trouble.”

“……Isn’t that something you should be saying.”

“What?”

“Ahaha, I meant I’ll wear it diligently. Oh, more importantly, why isn’t anyone around? Where are Trowell and Ifrit?”

“I sent them away.”

……That wasn’t to the Spirit Realm, was it? I remembered Ifrit’s desperate screams at the last moment. It seemed that he had forcibly banished not only Minerva but also the other two Spirit Kings together. I wondered if this was a normal situation, but when I thought about whether I could do it, the answer quickly came to me. I quietly decided to correct my earlier thoughts. Now that I saw it, it wasn’t just exhaustion; it was terrifying.

“Why is that guy acting like that?”

“Oh? Ah…….”

I turned around without thinking at Ellyuen’s words and became embarrassed. Chris was trembling like an aspen tree. Once at the sky, once at me, and then once at Ellyuen. His wandering eyes couldn’t find a place to fixate and were busy moving around. Then, finally, as if he had steeled himself, he tightly closed his eyes.

“So, um! Maybe, perhaps, th, th, th, Elquines-nim [a respectful title]?”

Ellyuen glanced at him.

“Why.”

At the same time as the reply, a sound of collapsing was heard.

Chris had fainted.