Elqueeness [EN]: Chapter 27

“I can’t believe it. Why on earth would Ellyuen make such a decision? An adopted son? I could just marry him later and have children of my own.”

“Huh, marriage? When did things get so far?”

Did such a promise happen while I was passed out? I stared in shock, and Ifrit replied with a flustered expression.

“W-Well, it’s just a figure of speech. Are you really taking it so literally?”

“What, is it just your wishful thinking?”

“Hmph, don’t you know that wishes can become reality? I asked Arehis, and he said you can choose your gender when you become a god. So, I’m thinking of becoming a goddess.”

“Hmm, did you confess properly? You seemed to be getting along earlier.”

At my sudden question, Ifrit’s face turned as red as a hearth fire. I was worried she might have just started another fight, but thankfully, it seemed my concerns were unfounded.

“I conveyed my feelings. I decided not to hide and conceal them anymore, only to regret it later.”

“Ooh, well done. So, what did Ellyuen say?”

“It was a very Ellyuen-like response. He said, ‘What’s a greenhorn like you doing talking about love? Come back and say that when you become a goddess!’”

“How old are you now?”

“Me? I’m a little over two thousand years old, why?”

“……”

I was momentarily speechless at Ifrit’s puzzled expression. Two thousand years. That’s an immense amount of time, enough for history to change several times over in human terms.

And to call that age ‘greenhorn,’ what is he even thinking? No wonder they treat me, who was just born, like a child. I wonder if a fully grown human would even look like an adult in their eyes.

However, despite her grumbling tone, Ifrit seemed quite pleased. As a high-ranking god with an outstanding appearance, Ellyuen was constantly receiving proposals from goddesses, but he had always ignored them. The fact that he gave Ifrit a proper answer, even if it was what she said, was significant.

“…So, you’re happy?”

“Of course! Why wouldn’t I be?”

To me, it seemed like he was brushing her off just the same. No, in terms of giving false hope, it seemed several times worse. Or is that just my imagination?

But if I said that, I felt like I’d get hit, so I quietly shut my mouth. Of course, even if I did say it, she wouldn’t listen. Ifrit was already completely lost in her own world.

“Ah, Ellyuen. He was cool even back in the Elquines days, but he seems even cooler now that he’s a god. As expected of a high-ranking god! How can he be so cool?”

“I’m more amazed by your change. How did you manage to hold back from saying all that until now?”

“Shut up! Anyway, my goal is to become a goddess and marry Ellyuen in the future. If you even think about getting in my way just because you became his son, I’ll never forgive you. Got it?”

“Sorry, but I have no intention of interfering. But do gods even get married and have children?”

“Of course. Gods aren’t asexual like us; they definitely have genders.”

“Hmm… Then, if gods marry and have children, what race are their children? Gods?”

Arehis nodded and explained.

“That’s right. The children born from them become low to mid-ranking gods.”

“Even if high-ranking gods marry each other?”

“Haha! Even so, it’s the same. The position of high-ranking god is only granted to those who meet special qualifications.”

“Special qualifications?”

“First, they must be the most noble soul of a god directly created by the chief god, and they must go through an apprenticeship as a Spirit King. Just like you Spirit Kings here.”

“……Huh?”

Like us? It wasn’t just that the ranks were divided later when becoming a god? In a fluster, I asked a question to confirm what I understood.

“Are you saying… we become high-ranking gods when we disappear? Is that what you’re saying?”

“Oh dear, did I not explain that far? Yes, that’s right. Spirit Kings can all be considered prospective high-ranking gods. In that sense, I was very moved by Ifrit’s words about becoming a goddess. I hope Elquines will also choose the path of a god when the time for selection comes. It’s quite difficult to replenish the constantly dwindling numbers.”

“……”

Unlike me, who was feeling bewildered, Ifrit had a very excited expression. She clearly thought that becoming a high-ranking god would bring her closer to Ellyuen. Arehis, who looked at her with a pleased expression, bowed politely.

“Then, I’ll be on my way. I can’t leave the underworld empty for too long. It was an honor to be with you two Spirit Kings. I suppose we’ll only see each other at the time of your disappearance. Until then, I hope you both are at peace.”

“Goodbye, Arehis. Thank you so much.”

“You’re welcome.”

Even after Arehis left, Ifrit couldn’t hide her excitement, humming a tune. I clicked my tongue and said.

“Aren’t you getting too excited?”

“Oh my, of course I should be happy when there’s something to be happy about. In that sense, you should start calling me ‘Mom’ now.”

“……What?”

“As your future stepmother, you should naturally call me ‘Mom.’ It’ll be embarrassing to call me that later. So, think of it as practice and call me that from now on.”

“Am I crazy?!”

I can’t even handle Ellyuen’s declaration of being my father, and now Mom? Are you all trying to make fun of me as a pair?

Ifrit sighed as if she felt sorry for me and swept back her hair.

“Hoo, what can I do? As much as I don’t want to have such a grown-up son at my young age, I have no choice but to accept it since that’s my husband’s wish. I’ll also try to call you ‘Son’ from now on……”

“Don’t do it! Don’t call me that! Don’t try to!”

“Don’t do what?”

“Well, Ifrit is saying the absurd thing that she’s going to call me her son… Huh?”

The moment I carelessly answered, I felt a sense of incongruity and widened my eyes. Who did I just answer? Wasn’t it just me and Ifrit here?

And as soon as I turned around, I found Trowel standing there quietly with his arms crossed and a cold expression. Next to him, Minerva was also standing with an equally stern expression.

“T-Trowel. Minerva……?”

When did they come? No, more than that, their expressions are strange. They look darker and scarier than usual, like someone who’s angry.

I looked at the two Spirit Kings in bewilderment. Then, Trowel’s low voice rang out.

“What on earth happened to you two?”

“Huh?”

“The energy of two Spirit Kings disappeared from this land all at once. Do you know how worried we were?”

“……!”

Only then did I realize that we had gone on a distant outing without saying a word to them. I was so focused on helping Ifrit that I hadn’t thought about anything else.

Since the guy who went to reconcile and the person involved had been missing for a whole day, I could easily guess how anxious the two Spirit Kings must have been.

“Ugh! Trowel, Minerva. W-Well, you see, what happened was……”

As I tried to make excuses while sweating, I saw Ifrit gesturing to me, telling me to explain everything myself. Reluctantly, I had to take the lead and explain everything that had happened.

As the story continued, the faces of the two Spirit Kings turned blue. They were surprised that we had moved dimensions, flustered that we had gone to the divine realm, and couldn’t hide their shock at the reality that we had met the previous Elquines who had become a god.

“You went to the divine realm and met the previous Elquines?”

“What on earth did you do!”

“N-No, it was an unprecedented event, but nothing really happened……”

“It’s not that nothing happened that’s the problem! Do you even know how dangerous it is for a Spirit King to cross dimensions in the first place? It’s one thing for Elquines, but what about you, Ifrit?”

Every word they said was right, so Ifrit and I had no choice but to shrink back.

It took over an hour for the anger of the two Spirit Kings to subside. During that time, Ifrit and I silently listened to their nagging, repeatedly apologized, and even had to make a vow not to do such a thing again.

It was a moment of gaining a difficult lesson that everything comes with a price.

* * *

“Hmm, so that’s what happened.”

Even after everything was settled, I remained alone with Trowel and talked about what had happened in the divine realm. He was initially surprised to learn that the previous Elquines had become the god of punishment, Ellyuen, and that he was also my father, but he soon seemed to accept it without any fuss.

“I’m really sorry, Trowel. I did this without consulting you.”

“No, it’s okay now. You seem to have reflected enough. More than that, you have a father now. Good for you, Jihoon. Congratulations.”

“Umm, actually, I don’t know. I don’t know if this is something to be congratulated for.”

“Why? I think it’s definitely something to be congratulated for.”

“Hah, but I still don’t know if Ellyuen really meant it. And I’m the only one who has a father when the other Spirit Kings don’t. It’s like admitting my shortcomings, so it’s a bit…”

“Shouldn’t you admit it?”

“Huh? W-Well. I actually have a lot of shortcomings… so admitting it is natural, but…”

Trowel smiled helplessly as I muttered in a small voice.

“That’s not what I mean, Jihoon. I’ve never thought you were lacking as a Spirit King. You’ve actually been doing very well so far. But, Ellyuen said that, right? That he’s becoming a father to give you what he thinks you need most.”

“Uh-huh? Yeah, I think so.”

“I agree with that point. You need a place to rely on, as well as someone to help you become independent. No, to be precise, you need someone to comfort you so you don’t fall apart.”

“What… do you mean?”

At my question, Trowel shrugged lightly and began to explain.

“There are many races in this world. Humans, elves, dragons, dwarves, and monsters, including us spirits. Each has a different way of life and lifespan. But you were the first to recognize your ego as a human. And it just so happened to be a race with a short lifespan and the strongest social tendencies.”

“……!”

“That’s why you tend to find your value in forming relationships with others. Jihoon, you don’t seem to realize it yourself, but even the fact that you approached Ifrit first, who clearly wasn’t favorable to you, shows that. It’s not just because you’re kind, but because you were afraid of being rejected by him. Right?”

“……”

It felt like he had brought out a hidden weakness deep inside me. I couldn’t find a place to look and quickly lowered my head. Trowel stroked my hair and said in a soft voice.

“That’s not a bad thing. Rather, that’s why Jihoon will be remembered as a kind and warm Spirit King. But that’s why you’ll be greatly shocked if the relationships you’ve already formed collapse. Especially in the face of separations you can’t do anything about. For example… death.”

It was a problem I had never thought about before.

The person I like dies before me. A child who was younger than me becomes an old man or woman, sick, but I’m still the same as I am now.

I suddenly felt a chill. Maybe I was being too optimistic about my current situation? It didn’t seem like my future would be as smooth as I thought.