Elqueeness [EN]: Chapter 150

150.

“You believed I would come, but aren’t you the one who showed up?”

The voice I heard was gentle, but I couldn’t respond. Actually, I wasn’t even sure what was happening. Thankfully, I wasn’t the only one confused. The monsters were also bewildered by the sudden appearance of this unknown creature.

“What is that! Some kind of sorcery? Bah, ignore it! Keep attacking!”

The commanding man quickly regained his composure and shouted. At his command, the scattered monsters reorganized and began to approach again. Seeing this, the unicorn slightly furrowed its brow and said,

『What are those things?』

Yes, it definitely ‘said.’ The unicorn, muttering as if puzzled, blatantly scanned the monsters before fixing its gaze back on me. It seemed to have guessed something, showing a look of displeasure.

『Are those guys perhaps… El’s enemies? Were you being attacked by them?』

At the question, I unconsciously nodded. A light sigh escaped the unicorn’s lips.

『Tsk, I knew it. Daring to target El in my presence, those fools have lost their minds.』

His muttering voice contained a light anger. But unlike his cool tone, the look in his eyes as he gazed at me was incredibly tender.

『Wait here for a moment, El.』

The blue eyes staring straight at me felt familiar, as if I had seen them somewhere before. As if entranced, I soon remembered where I had seen them. It was the same color as the lapis lazuli gem adorning the circlet on my forehead.

『I’ll get rid of them all.』

A small whisper echoed in my ear. The softly curved blue eyes emitted a strangely captivating light. Because of that, I didn’t immediately grasp the meaning of his words. I understood the situation only after witnessing what happened next.

Whoosh! KWA-AAANG!

“……!”

As soon as a brilliant light burst from the unicorn’s golden horn, an enormous flame erupted. The crimson flames instantly engulfed a large number of monsters in front, causing the ranks behind them to stir.

“KIEEEEEK!”

I was just as horrified. I never imagined that the beautiful unicorn would have such an aggressive side.

The monsters engulfed in the flames turned to ash without leaving a trace. The embers didn’t stop there, but even melted the ground beneath the feet of those who remained, turning it bright red. It was as if lava was flowing.

“R-Run away! Scatter, everyone!”

Only then did the monsters realize the gravity of the situation, hesitating and retreating. But as it turned out, it was already too late. The unicorn’s attack was not over yet.

『Hmph, trying to run.』

The unicorn snorted and lightly tapped its hooves. Then, with a loud rumble, the ground cracked open, and flames surged up from within again. The monsters, who were fleeing in panic, were all swallowed up on the spot. Their commander, who had given the orders, was no exception. He couldn’t even scream as he was dragged into the ground. Not a single being survived the merciless flames. All that remained were a few embers and the blackened ground. In the middle of that desolate space stood the unicorn, its pure white wings spread wide, in all its noble glory.

“No way……”

Unable to believe what I had just witnessed, I muttered blankly. At that moment, the unicorn, who had been staring straight ahead, turned its head and looked back at me. Our eyes met, and my face involuntarily stiffened. I wondered if it was going to attack me this time. But contrary to my expectations, it still spoke to me in a gentle voice.

『El, what’s wrong? Are you hurt somewhere?』

“Huh?”

『You’ve been spacing out since earlier. We haven’t seen each other in so long, but you don’t seem happy at all. What’s wrong? Don’t tell me you didn’t want to see me?』

At the barrage of questions, I finally came to my senses. I still felt detached from reality, but I knew I had to address this situation.

“Umm, just a moment.”

『……?』

“Are you… are you talking? No, I mean… are you the one talking?”

At my question, the unicorn tilted its head, wearing a bewildered expression (I realized today that horses could have such a variety of expressions).

『What are you talking about? Who else would be here besides me?』

Well, Isana is here, but it’s a shame she’s unconscious.

‘What on earth is going on!’

No matter how bizarre this world is, I’ve never heard of a winged unicorn appearing. And for a horse to be able to speak human language! Does that mean it’s also a sentient being?

But what’s most bewildering is that this unknown being knows my name. Moreover, I don’t understand why it’s acting so friendly, as if we’ve been friends for a decade. Noticing my strange expression, the unicorn tilted its head slightly. Then, in a worried tone, it asked again.

『Something seems wrong. Are you really not feeling well?』

“Um… excuse me, do you know me?”

『Huh? What kind of joke is that? Ah, I get it. You’re angry at me, aren’t you? Because I didn’t listen to what you said and left.』

“Pardon?”

『I’m really sorry about what happened back then. But I really didn’t know it would turn out like this. Can you forgive me just this once? I’ve reflected a lot during that time. I won’t make this mistake again.』

“I have no idea what you’re talking about……”

『Huh? Is that not it? Then perhaps you were too shocked by the explosion earlier. Hmm, that could be it. Humans have very weak bodies, after all.』

“Humans? Are you talking about me?”

『Yes. El, aren’t you human?』

……Okay. Now I understand for sure. This unicorn is mistaking me for someone else. What, it was a very simple problem? Whew, I was so surprised, thinking I had run into some weirdo. I let out a sigh of relief and smiled brightly. Then, I decided to politely correct the misunderstanding to the unicorn, who was grinning along (not a very pleasant sight).

“Um, I think there might be some misunderstanding.”

『Huh? Misunderstanding?』

“I think you’re mistaking me for someone else.”

『Mistaking? What do you mean? Are you saying you’re not El?』

“Well, my name is El, but that’s just a nickname. My full name is Elquines.”

『El… quines?』

“The current Water Spirit King of Arkhadon. To be precise, I’m not human.”

Since it seemed okay to tell him, I confidently revealed my identity. Then, eyelashes as radiant as his silver mane blinked blankly.

『Elquines? You’re the Water Spirit King?』

“Yes, that’s right.”

『Huh? I don’t understand what you’re saying, El. Why are you saying such things? I know you admire Elquines, but that doesn’t mean you can call yourself the Spirit King…….』

After muttering in bewilderment for a moment, he suddenly stared intently at my face. He had an expression of slight shock.

『Huh? Come to think of it, why is your hair like that?』

“My hair?”

『El, you had blonde hair. Why did it suddenly turn blue? And it’s the same color as Elquines. Even your eye color has changed to the same color as his. It used to be green……?』

The unicorn’s eyes darted around busily as it examined me, looking flustered. It seemed that the ‘El’ he knew had blonde hair and green eyes. I sighed and said,

“That’s why… I told you that you mistook me for someone else. I’m not human, remember?”

『But El is human?』

“That’s why I’m saying that El isn’t me!”

I raised my voice without realizing it. Then, the unicorn, who had been staring blankly, suddenly contorted its face. Then, it strode up to me and buried its snout(?) in my neck, sniffing!

“Heeek! What are you……!”

『It’s El. There’s no way I could mistake this unique scent. Besides, your face is the same, and your voice is the same. You! Are you making fun of me like this just because we haven’t seen each other in a while? I’m already dying of frustration from being trapped in that stuffy space!』

“I’m telling you! I don’t know you!”

『Liar!』

“I’m not lying! There’s no way I wouldn’t recognize such a striking horse! It’s not like you have an easily forgettable face!”

It’s not just unforgettable. It will probably remain a vivid memory for the rest of my life. Annoyed by the unfairness, I retorted sharply, and the unicorn stopped sniffing and raised its head abruptly. I flinched and stiffened my shoulders at the chilling gaze.

『What did you just say? A striking horse?』

“H-Hey! Sorry if I offended you. But anyway, to me, you just look like a horse no matter how I look at you……”

『Aha! Is that why you don’t recognize me in this form? You should have said so sooner. It’s such a simple thing…….』

“Huh? What do you mean…….”

I asked back with a puzzled face, but at that moment, I had no choice but to freeze at the sight unfolding before my eyes. A dazzling light burst from the unicorn’s body, and I could see its form changing.

Soon, a man stood before me, a head taller than me. Bluish skin covered his entire body, and his blue eyes were even darker. The ears protruding from either side were long and pointed like those of an elf. Snow-white silver hair that reached down to his waist fluttered lightly in the gentle breeze.

“Do you recognize me now? It’s me, Sibelius. It’s been a long time, hasn’t it?”

“…….”

‘Um… who are you again?’

Those were the words swirling in my head, words I couldn’t bring myself to say out loud.

* * *

KWAANG!

A loud door slam echoed in the narrow room filled with bookshelves. Entering was a woman with a dignified appearance who looked to be around forty.

“Master! Are you here?”

The woman’s voice was cheerful, not befitting her age. Just by listening to her voice, one would believe she was a maiden who had just shed her girlishness.

“Master……”

Her gaze, which had been quickly scanning the interior, soon wavered as she discovered the man sitting by the window frame. Fiery red hair that seemed to burn, eyes as red as those eyes. His appearance, shining brilliantly as if crafted from jewels, made her breath stop involuntarily. It was an appearance that she could never get used to, no matter how many times she saw it.

There was a time when she had faced that face directly and sneered. Thinking about it now, she couldn’t understand what courage she had. Perhaps she would never even attempt it now.

The man remained fixed on the book, without the slightest reaction to her appearance. Feeling somehow resentful, she shouted even louder.

“Master! Can you hear me? Master!”

“……What.”

At the persistent call, the man finally raised his head and cast a scowling gaze. His tone toward the woman, who appeared to be much older than him, was very disrespectful, but she didn’t care and ran up to him with a beaming smile.

“An answer has come!”

“An answer?”

“From His Majesty’s Royal Knights! They said they’ll come here! Chief Ikana just delivered the message!”

“Ah, is that so?”

“That’s good.” At the lukewarm response, the middle-aged woman wore a deflated expression.

“Is that all the reaction I get?”

“We expected it anyway. Should we be happy about something obvious?”

“Tch, you’re too cold, Master.”

The woman made a sulky face, harboring a deeply resentful meaning. Seeing that, the man’s face contorted as if he had seen something he shouldn’t have.

“Don’t try to act cute when you’re an old lady. It doesn’t suit you at all.”

“You’re the one who made me like this, Master!”

The woman retorted with a dumbfounded expression. Of course, he wasn’t one to bat an eye at such things. The beautiful man with red hair—Lapis—retorted even more cynically.

“You seem to be mistaken, but you weren’t that pretty in your original form either.”

And at those words, the middle-aged woman—April, who was originally only in her early twenties—received a light shock. She made a dumbfounded expression and attempted to protest.

“I was called the most beautiful woman in the duchy, you know?”

“The people in this duchy must all be blind.”

“I heard I was pretty a lot in social circles too!”

“Correction. The standards for beauty must be terribly low in this empire.”

“You’re too much, really!”

“Hmph, before saying such things, you should put your hand on your conscience and think about it yourself. Do you really think you’re the most beautiful woman in the duchy?”

“…….”

At his words, April pursed her lips tightly. In fact, she knew best that she wasn’t. Ikana, the chief of the Cliff Merchant Guild who was closest to her, was such an outstanding beauty that she could captivate men just by making eye contact. Even the man in front of her seemed to be the epitome of what it meant to be breathtakingly beautiful. She hadn’t shown it, but she didn’t know how much her pride as a woman had been shattered.

But now, she just wanted to return to her original form. Even though she had to disguise herself, the face that was much older than her original age and the body that had turned into a giant were unbearable for her, who was in a period of life where she liked to dress up and had a rich sensibility. When she first transformed into this form, she secretly cried for a while.

“Instead of that, can’t you change my appearance a little? It’s too clumsy to move around in this form. Besides, His Majesty’s knights will be here soon, and I don’t want to greet them in this form.”

“Too much trouble.”

“Come on, Master. Please?”

“I told you not to act cute.”

“If you don’t change it, I’ll keep doing it!”

April made a deliberately threatening statement. Although she hadn’t known him for very long, based on her judgment in a short period of time, her beautiful master was a very aesthetically inclined person with high standards for his own appearance. Therefore, his patience for things that didn’t meet his standards was also very low. As expected, Lapis’s face completely crumpled.

“……Alright. I’ll give you back your body shape.”

“And my face too!”

“Do you want to get caught?”

“I’m not saying to undo the magic. Just change it to another face of my age.”

“Your demands are getting bolder and bolder?”

“Can’t a disciple make this much of a request to their master?”

“Since when have you been my disciple?”

“From the moment I decided to serve you as my master.”

“Ha! Hey, you must think I’m easy to bully just because I’m helping you quietly……!”

At that moment, Lapis, who had suddenly risen to his feet, widened his eyes. April, who had been preparing to counterattack, wore a flustered expression. He had suddenly collapsed, clutching his chest.

“M-Master?”

“Keuk! Cough, cough!”

April froze stiffly with a horrified expression. Red blood was gushing from Lapis’s mouth as he coughed.

“Kyaaak!”

The woman’s thin scream echoed in the narrow space. April approached Lapis with a panicked face. The blood that was pouring out was running down his hands and soaking the carpet.

“M-Master! Are you alright? Master!”

“……Just go away.”

“But the blood……!”

“I said it’s alright. It’s nothing.”

Suddenly spitting out blood, could it be that he had a chronic illness? At Lapis’s gesture of waving his hand as if it were a nuisance, April bit her lip, not knowing what to do. Even after spitting out a burst of blood, he was still clutching his chest with an uncomfortable expression. His face, distorted with pain, looked pale and ghastly.

“Damn it, that El. Stealing someone else’s mana…….”

“Pardon?”

At April’s question, Lapis frowned and closed his mouth. Then, wiping the blood-stained lips haphazardly, he said,

“Get out.”

“B-But the doctor…….”

“I said get out.”

The tone of his voice became even lower. Startled by the fierce gaze, April had no choice but to turn around. She seemed to be very agitated now, so she thought she should come back later when he had calmed down. Even after heading towards the door as if being pushed, she couldn’t let go of her worries and kept glancing back at Lapis. From behind her, she heard Lapis muttering quietly.

“……Well, I guess this is the fate of a shared destiny.”

The sigh he let out lightly was faintly mixed with annoyance. But April thought he looked rather pleased. His face, distorted with pain, looked happy, which was strange even to herself.

‘Could it be that he has a taste for enjoying pain?’

She had once heard that there were people who had such hobbies. April, who had turned pale, fell into serious contemplation.

It was a small commotion that took place in a remote house in Clamore at the same time that El was being attacked by monsters.