Elqueeness [EN]: Chapter 20

20.

“It’s Ellyuen.”

“Pardon?”

I blinked at Arehis’s sudden words. What… what is this? Is this god using clairvoyance now? But what did he just say? That his name isn’t Arehis, but Ellyuen?

Confused, I looked at Ifrit. He just shrugged, equally questioning. Arehis chuckled, finding our reactions amusing.

“I’m referring to the previous Spirit King’s name that Elquines is curious about. It is ‘Ellyuen Krino Lusate.’ Elquines’s guess was correct. He has ascended to the God Realm and been granted divine status. He is a high-ranking god of the demonic attribute and the supreme god governing the dimension of Vyton.”

“Gack! W-what did you say?”

“Is that true?”

With a scream-like shout, Ifrit’s body shot up like a spring. Arehis nodded calmly, not at all flustered.

“Normally, this shouldn’t be revealed, but I’m making an exception since you are both Spirit Kings. You would eventually learn this after completing your terms as Spirit Kings anyway.”

“I, I see. I suspected as much, but it’s still surprising that he actually became a god. Right, Ifrit?”

“……”

At my prompting, Ifrit blankly nodded. He sat back down, but he seemed completely out of it. Well, I’m also shocked enough that my heart is pounding, so he must be even more so.

Moreover, a high-ranking god. Just hearing it makes him sound incredibly powerful. And my hunch was right. High-ranking gods are the highest in the God Realm, excluding the chief gods, and they are quite rare, with fewer than 20 in existence.

At that moment, a common romance novel trope flashed through my mind: my childhood first love becomes incredibly successful and turns into a prince charming. Ifrit must be feeling exactly like that. The name Ellyuen is quite dashing too.

‘……Wait. But if he’s telling us this, does that mean we can’t actually meet him?’

I had braced myself, but the finality of it made me feel bitter. Ifrit seemed to realize this as well, his expression filled with regret. I guess we should be grateful that we at least got to hear some news about him before leaving.

Just then, as if on cue, Arehis stood up from his seat.

“Well, then……”

“……!”

What, is he already trying to send us back?

I and Ifrit simultaneously looked up at him, startled. Seeing our flustered faces, he laughed out loud again. Is our lingering attachment that amusing? The more I see him, the more annoying this god is.

But I had to doubt my ears at what I heard next.

“What are you doing? Aren’t you going to the God Realm?”

“Huh? Eeeh?”

“The time is just right, in the afternoon. As you may know, the four dimensions have the same flow of time. Visiting Ellyuen’s palace at this hour wouldn’t be impolite.”

“……Th-then?”

Is he really going to take us to the God Realm?

I couldn’t hide my surprise, as I was certain it was impossible. He clearly said he couldn’t open the door for trivial matters, and anyone could see that my reason for wanting to go to the God Realm was quite insignificant (wanting to know what kind of guy he is, really?). So why the sudden change of heart?

As if reading my thoughts, he explained lightly.

“I owe Elquines a debt.”

“Yes? Ah, b-but……”

“It’s alright. You’ve suffered because of us, so I should at least grant you this request. However, I can’t give you much time. It will only be a brief greeting. And, of course, I will never open the door for you again after today.”

“O-of course! I wouldn’t shamelessly ask for such a favor again. I won’t! I promise!”

I blurted out words I didn’t even need to say in my nervousness. Was that amusing to him? A faint smile appeared on Arehis’s face as he nodded.

“Very well. Shall we go then? This will likely be a very unusual event. There have been a few cases where Spirit Kings have crossed over here to go to the God Realm, but there have been no successful cases so far.”

And he’s granting such a difficult request because of me!

Ah! A halo seems to be shining behind his retreating figure. All those complaints I had about him being petty and annoying, I take them all back! What was I thinking, doubting such a kind god? I will never forget this favor! Thank you, Arehis!

“This is great, Ifrit. We can go to the God Realm!”

“Y-yeah!”

Ifrit’s cheeks were flushed as much as mine, filled with emotion. Just then, Arehis, who was walking ahead, paused.

“Ah, that’s right. I almost forgot one thing.”

“Yes, anything, Arehis!”

It was Ifrit who answered. I inwardly clicked my tongue at his use of honorifics, which he never used, as if he had become his follower.

If he meets the former Elquines, will he bow down to him? It’s hard to imagine, but I’m afraid he might actually do it in his current state.

The moment I met Arehis’s face, I flinched. A meaningful smile was on his lips.

“Come to think of it, didn’t you say that Elquines wanted to meet Ellyuen?”

“Y-yes? Ah, yes…… well, that’s……”

“It’s admirable to care for your comrade, but lying is not good, Elquines.”

“Ahaha……”

‘I’ve been caught!’

I guess I was acting too calmly for someone who had business to attend to. Rather, Ifrit was the one who was restless, so it would be strange if he didn’t notice. Embarrassed, I replaced my answer with a forced smile. Then Ifrit turned to me, as if he had just realized something.

“What, that’s what it was? I wondered why you suddenly stepped up. Funny, aren’t you?”

“Funny… You’re supposed to say thank you at times like this. Is that all you have to say to someone who went out of their way to help?”

“Hmph― Well, who told you to do something you weren’t asked to do? Well, anyway, I don’t feel bad. I guess you do have some use.”

“……”

What was I expecting, Kang Jihoon? You already learned a long time ago that he’s a witch, right? Yeah. So I’m not newly hurt by this, not hurt, not hurt…… yeah right!

‘Eeeish! What’s with him? I went out of my way to think of him!’

I’ll never do anything I’m not asked to do again!

I vowed revenge against Ifrit in my heart. But it seemed like the day I could beat him would never come.

* * *

“Here we are.”

After navigating through a maze-like corridor, we arrived at a small room located in a secluded area. The dark interior had no windows and no decorations, with only one long, massive piece of furniture placed there. Even then, it was covered with a thick cloth, so I couldn’t tell what it was.

We’re going to the God Realm, so why are we in a place like this?

As I and Ifrit stood there, bewildered, Arehis strode forward and pulled off the cloth. As the accumulated dust (it’s surprising that dust accumulates even here) scattered in all directions, the large object hidden beneath was revealed. It was a long, round mirror, taller than me.

Judging by the amount of dust, it was clear that it had been neglected for quite some time, but the surface of the mirror was as clean as a new one that had just been processed. It felt as if another me was standing in front of me.

The moment I touched it without thinking, I was startled and stepped back. Instead of the usual hard, cold sensation, I felt like I was sinking into rippling water.

“W-what is this?”

Indeed, ripples were forming on the surface of the mirror. Are they using a lake instead of glass to make mirrors here? As I seriously pondered, Arehis’s calm voice echoed in my ear.

“It is the Mirror of Connection.”

“C-Connection?”

“Normally, it is an ordinary mirror, but its properties change like this when a being of intermediate god rank or higher stands before it. It can be said to be a kind of ‘door’ to the God Realm.”

“A door… then do we have to go inside?”

“As you see it.”

With his answer, Arehis suddenly put his hand into the mirror. With a splashing sound, his arm sank in without any resistance up to his shoulder. After demonstrating, he pulled his arm out and said.

“The passage is opened individually for each person. You will not be able to meet inside, so please keep that in mind. Since the door will close once I enter first, it would be better for you two Spirit Kings to go ahead.”

“Hmm, what’s inside? Underwater?”

“Just a normal hallway will appear. Just walk straight until you reach the connecting door on the other side. When you open that door and go out, you will find the ‘Hall of the Gods,’ which is called the entrance to the God Realm.”

Wow, hearing it like this makes it feel like something serious is about to happen?

Is that why? I was fine until a moment ago, but suddenly I started to feel nervous. On the other hand, Ifrit seemed excited.

“Hmph― So, we just have to walk, right? Can I go in first?”

“The order doesn’t matter.”

“Alright, I’ll go in first then. See you later, Elquines.”

“H-hey, wait, Ifrit…!”

Before I could stop him, he suddenly disappeared into the mirror. Arehis looked at me, who was standing there blankly with my hand outstretched, with a puzzled expression.

“Aren’t you going in, Elquines?”

“W-well… haha, just a moment. As you know, I’m a bit inexperienced. So, I need a little time to prepare myself….”

Then Arehis smiled brightly and continued with a kind explanation.

“Did you know? Even if someone goes in first, the door on the other side of the passage will not be created unless I enter last.”

“Huh?”

“It’s because there might be dangerous individuals who try to invade the God Realm by threatening the Underworld. It’s a trick created to prepare for that. In addition, there is a set time frame for me to enter after the first person enters. If I miss that time, the door will automatically close. In other words, the more you delay, Elquines, the later I will be able to enter, and the door may close. If that happens, Ifrit may wander in the mirror forever without finding an exit….”

“Eek! I’m going! I’m going!”

I shouted as if screaming and hurriedly jumped into the mirror.

At that moment, I saw it. Arehis’s eyes, filled with a sense of victory, twisting mischievously!

‘Jeez! Was he playing with me!’

I take back what I said about him not being annoying! Damn it!

* * *

The hallway in the mirror was very narrow and long. It’s said to be a passage created individually, but it’s only wide enough for one adult to barely stand. If you’re going to create it, you could have made it wider and bigger. What about people with claustrophobia? I thought to myself, thinking unnecessary thoughts, and walked forward aimlessly.

However, the moment I reached the exit, an unexpected obstacle unfolded before me. There were two doors, when I expected there to be only one. Without any signs or separate markings, both were the same color and shape.

“……What. I don’t think there was any mention of this.”

Which one should I go out to?

In the end, after much deliberation, I decided to open any door. I thought lightly that it would connect to the same place no matter where I went out.

However, the moment I opened the door and took a step, I suddenly felt the floor give way. There was no ground beyond the door. By the time I realized that, my body was already falling rapidly downward.

“Uwaaack!”

Why is there a cliff in a place like this! Did I have to risk my life to come to the God Realm! I didn’t hear that! I didn’t hear anything about this, Arehis!

Fortunately, it wasn’t as high as I thought, and I soon fell to the ground. However, it was tragic that the area I fell into happened to be a hill. I had to roll down further for a long time without even having time to assess the situation.

“Ugh. What is this……”

When I came to my senses, I was surrounded by an unknown thicket. Somehow, I seemed to have arrived safely.

That simple process of just opening the door and going out turned out to be so spectacular. I groaned at the dull pain and barely managed to get up. There were no injured parts, but my whole body ached as if I had been beaten.

Thanks to that, I learned that spirits also feel pain. But would that make you like me? No way, Arehis! You damn god! I almost said goodbye to the world as it was! You should have warned me about this situation in advance!

If I had known in advance, I might have been able to prevent the unsightly situation of rolling down the hill. I gritted my teeth inwardly and vowed revenge against him.