Elqueeness [EN]: Chapter 488

The situation calmed down after quite some time. The lamias, who had begged and pleaded to barely avoid contract termination, became very subdued and docile. This made explaining the purpose of our meeting much smoother. When I finished, he wore a strange expression.

“A soul gem?”

“Yes, I need one.”

“Hmm, is there some kind of accessory called a soul gem? You’re not talking about solidified Laphenaria [a type of magical energy], are you?”

“That’s probably it. I heard you have one, Lamias. Is that correct?”

Lamias’s expression became even stranger. I tensed, unsure how he would react, but then he jumped up from his seat and shouted.

“I see! You’re an angel, aren’t you?”

“……Pardon?”

“Which god’s angel are you? Is this some kind of investigation? I knew you couldn’t be human!”

It was clear this Blue Dragon had an uncontrollable amount of silliness flowing through his veins. Fortunately, he quickly calmed down after an ice spear was stabbed right in front of him.

“……If you’re not from the divine realm, why are you looking for something like a soul gem? It’s just called a gem, but it’s not even pretty. It’s just like a common, rolling stone. It has no decorative value at all.”

“That’s why I’m looking for it.”

“Then?”

“I can’t tell you the details. I’m sorry.”

“Hmm, well… You know soul gems aren’t common, right? Even if I have one, what makes you think I’d hand it over to someone who can’t even explain their reasons?”

He wasn’t wrong. It seemed luck would only get me this far. After hesitating, I slowly opened my mouth.

“……I need it to save a friend.”

This much should be okay. Even though it was a simple answer, my throat felt parched, perhaps because I was nervous. I could feel the Spirit Kings, who had been watching with great interest, pause. Come to think of it, this was the first time I had revealed this much. Everyone had been avoiding asking, so I hadn’t bothered to explain, but I guess the reason was unexpected. Lamias also looked a little surprised. He asked, his face a little less wary.

“Save a friend? What kind of problem would your friend have that requires a soul gem?”

“I don’t know the details either. I just heard it’s a necessary ingredient, so I’m looking for it.”

“……You’re not trying to revive a corpse, are you?”

“No, that’s not it.”

“Hmm, I’ll give you a warning first. Don’t mess with the realm of spirits carelessly, especially with souls like Laphenaria, which are subject to retrieval by the gods. If you mess with them, the price you’ll have to pay will be enormous. Your afterlife will be very difficult, you know? It’s best not to even start whatever plan you have.”

“You’re not one to talk, are you?”

Trowell’s monotonous voice cut in, as if he were dismissing the whole conversation.

“What about me! I didn’t use it for black magic! I didn’t create an Ego Sword [a weapon imbued with a spirit’s consciousness] that had any particular impact on the world! I can at least collect them!”

Lamias, who had been shouting in anger, suddenly bit his lip, realizing what he had said. Trowell smiled at me.

“That’s good. He has it.”

“Damn it! How could I fall for such a simple trick!”

The poor dragon, who unintentionally admitted to collecting them, grabbed his head and sighed. The Spirit Kings watching him all had expressions that said he wasn’t worth pitying, making this moment feel even more miserable. More importantly, he really had one. My gaze must have sparkled without me realizing it. He flinched and stepped back.

“I don’t have many! How do you think I collected them!”

“I don’t need all of them. I only need one. Besides, not just any one will do. I need to find one that meets the conditions, so there might not be one among them.”

“R, really?”

“Yes. To be honest, it’s more likely that there won’t be one. So, could you at least show them to me?”

“Damn it! What if I show them to you and you find what you’re looking for? What will you give me in return?”

“Anything I can do.”

“Anything?”

“Yes, I’ll do everything you tell me to.”

Honestly, I wasn’t thinking about what would happen next when I said that. I just felt like everything would work out somehow once I found Lapis. Considering what Sibelius had told me about the past, it didn’t seem like the time was right for him to return yet, but I could handle helping him for a while. Fortunately, it seemed like a pretty tempting offer for Lamias as well. His expression, which had been indifferent the whole time, changed for the first time. I was nervous, wondering what kind of outrageous demand he would make, but what followed was an unexpected proposal.

“Then, will you be my successor?”

“Successor……?”

“My role as a playful god is slowly coming to an end. I’ve been looking for a suitable successor lately. I originally had Ain Idris in mind, but if you’re a contractor of the same Spirit King, you’d be better. Well, it’s not because I expect to see Elquines more often thanks to that.”

“…….”

No matter how I looked at it, that seemed like the reason. Everyone seemed to feel the same way, staring at Lamias with dumbfounded faces. I was amazed that his expression didn’t change even a little in the midst of all this.

“Anyway, this is the deal I’m offering. What do you think? Would you like to become the next Duke Sepion?”

“Are you saying I should become your adopted son?”

“Yes. No matter how precious soul gems are, I can give one to my adopted son. You’ll be calling me father.”

It wasn’t a bad offer. No, rather, wasn’t this a deal that was only good for me? The next head of the duchy family, known to be the wealthiest in this empire. If I were an ordinary human living in this era, it would be stranger not to accept the offer. There was no need to hesitate. But before I could answer, someone else spoke first.

“Rejected.”

The owner of the coldly dropped voice was Ellyuen. I, who was about to answer, and Lamias, who was waiting for an answer with a pleased face, turned to look at him, feeling awkward.

“Why, why does Elquines object?”

Crack! A sharp sound rang out. It was the sound of an ice spear being stabbed into the ground again near his feet. A blue chill flickered in the eyes staring straight at Lamias.

“Rejected.”

“…….”

The surroundings became silent. There was no one who could stop a Spirit King who could destroy even the realm of kings if he set his mind to it from causing a ruckus. I glanced at him, and a murderous gaze returned as if telling me not to even think about it. Did he hate being involved with Lamias that much? Considering the situations so far, it was natural that he would hate it.

Well, if I became his successor, I would have to move my residence to Lamias’s mansion. From Ellyuen’s perspective, who had contracted with me to see how far I would go, he might think that I was escaping his control. It seemed like I had to cleanly drop this deal. Lamias, who swallowed hard, also opened his mouth with a resigned face.

“Alright. If Elquines objects, there’s nothing I can do. Let’s forget about the successor proposal. I’ll give up. But Elquines, I have to say this.”

“What is it?”

“Monopolize me too!”

“Get lost.”

The words he shouted with determination ended without any effect. Lamias, turning around with a dejected face, drooped his shoulders. He looked pitiful, but no one pitied him.

“Sigh, I thought this was the best way.”

“While we’re on the topic, you might as well exclude Ain Idris from the successor candidates.”

Trowell said to Lamias, who was grumbling with a disappointed face. Lamias’s eyes widened.

“Huh? Why?”

“He won’t be Minerva’s contractor in three years. If you don’t care, do as you please.”

“Eek!? Is that true? Of course, I care! Ugh, I almost made a big mistake. No, is it already a big deal? If that’s the case, I have to start thinking from the beginning again. But, how did that happen? Aren’t Minerva and he dating right now? What could possibly cause them to terminate the contract…… Could it be that Ain, that guy is having a change of heart?”

Lamias’s face contorted in dismay. He asked in the form of a question, but it was a question that didn’t need an answer in the first place. A Spirit King would never betray first.

“Wow! Isn’t he crazy? I didn’t see him that way, but he’s a terrible guy? No, how can he have other thoughts while having Minerva? I’d be angry even if someone else did that, but even a spiritist! Wasn’t he the one who fell in love with Minerva first? And the ending is a change of heart? Really, humans!”

“Do you think it’s a human problem?”

“Honestly, isn’t it? They’re inconsistent. They’re too easily corrupted, and once they start being greedy, there’s no end to it. Isn’t that why you guys are particularly interested in human spiritists? Because there are so few pure souls. But if even such a spiritist betrays, isn’t that the end?”

“For once, I agree with you. So, I’m going to end human civilization now.”

“Oh, really! That’s great! What a cool decision…… What?”

Lamias, who had been enthusiastically agreeing, soon asked back with a blank face. Trowell, who had everyone’s attention, smiled.

“It might not even make sense to choose a successor, since everything will disappear in three years anyway.”

“Haha, isn’t that a bit harsh for a joke?”

“Do I look like I’m joking?”

“……No.”

After shaking his head with a complicated face, Lamias kept wiping his face. He was excited and flailing, but once he calmed down, he didn’t seem to be happy to accept it. Hating humans was different from wanting them to perish. Besides, if he only hated them, he wouldn’t have wandered around the human world.

“Do the other kings all think the same way?”

“Even if that guy objects, he’ll still do it anyway, right?”

Ifrit, who was smiling with a troubled expression, shrugged.

“Ah, but don’t be so sure yet. It might not happen that way.”

“What are you talking about?”

“Anyway, it’s something that will happen in three years. Trowell is angry because Minerva is hurt by humans, so if the trigger doesn’t happen, wouldn’t it be okay? So, the young master here decided to change the situation. Right?”

“Ah, uh-huh…….”

As I nodded awkwardly, Lamias turned to look at me with an interesting expression. Trowell was also looking at me. I didn’t know what expression to make, so I was feeling anxious when his voice reached me.

“What’s wrong with you?”

“Uh, uh?”

“You haven’t been able to look me in the eye since earlier. The only thing you’re good at is being boldly confident.”

“…….”

Ah, so it was obvious. I thought I was acting the same as usual, but it seemed I wasn’t as skilled as I thought. I felt like I had to meet his gaze now, but it didn’t work as I wanted. There was no way Trowell wouldn’t notice that obvious awkwardness.

“Did you suddenly lose confidence after meeting Minerva?”

“That’s…….”

“That’s strange. Minerva is in the happiest period right now. You didn’t see an unhappy face, but a happy face, so why did your motivation drop? I thought you’d come back excited. Did I expect too much from you?”

I opened my mouth, but I couldn’t say anything, because whatever I said now would be a lie. The words that I could have said without any hesitation until recently were stuck in my throat like thorns.

“How boring.”

As I was only looking down at the floor, he took his body off the wall he was leaning against. A stinging gaze reached the top of my head.

“If you’re going to do it with a half-hearted attitude, then quit. I don’t want to waste my time either.”

With those cold words, I couldn’t feel his presence anymore. Only then did I hurriedly raise my head, but I couldn’t find Trowell’s figure anymore. It was as if he had disappeared.

“Look at him, look at him, saying such harsh things.”

Ifrit, clicking his tongue, examined my expression.

“Are you okay, young master?”

“……Sorry.”

“Why is the young master apologizing? He’s just got a bad personality. He’s talking about destruction right in front of you, so it’s okay to be intimidated or suddenly scared. In the first place, why is that guy making a fuss after entrusting an impossible task to an innocent kid?”

“Ah, no, Ifrit. It’s my fault.”

“The young master did something wrong? Anyone can see that he’s just taking his anger out on you because he can’t control his temper.”

I shook my head and tightly grabbed my clothes. My hands kept slipping because of the cold sweat. I’d rather he be cold-hearted, but Ifrit’s words of comfort were so kind that my heart ached even more.

What should I do, Ifrit? I might not deserve to be treated kindly by you. I doubted whether I should have come here. My thoughts kept flowing in a bad direction. If the era I was in was a predetermined result, then no matter what I did here, the situation wouldn’t change. So, I’ve been making excuses that it can’t be helped if I just stand by, that it’s just what’s going to happen anyway.

But what if it’s not just that? What if all of this actually started because of me? If this happened because I came here, what should I do? What face should I show everyone in the future?

“What’s wrong?”

I raised my head at the low voice. I saw the blue eyes quietly staring at me. The calm eyes, as always, were staring at me with a hint of doubt. I imagined disgust and contempt seeping into that gaze.

“El?”

Kang Jihoon.

“Can you hear me?”

Our family is unhappy because of you.

“……Father.”

At the words I blurted out without thinking, Ellyuen paused and soon made a strange expression. It was an expression that could only be described that way.

“That wasn’t me you were calling.”

Ah.

My shoulders flinched involuntarily. I couldn’t believe what I had done, so I covered my mouth with both hands. His sunken eyes shone coldly, taking control of me.

“Who are you daring to overlap with me right now?”

My body trembled. Goosebumps ran all over my body. Oh my god. What have I really done? To think of an absurd person while looking at Ellyuen, someone I should never overlap with him.

“S, sorry…….”

“That can’t be the answer. That’s not what I asked, is it?”

“I’m sorry. I’m sorry.”

“Answer properly. Do you want me to get angry?”

“You crazy bastard! What are you doing now?”

A hurried voice cut in. Ifrit, with a flustered face, grabbed my arm and forcibly pulled away Ellyuen’s hand.

“Don’t interfere.”

“What to do, I can’t do that? Did you forget? You made me his guardian.”

“Do you want to die?”

“Can’t you see his face is pale? He looks like he’s in bad shape, do you think he can answer if you push him? Let’s calm him down first!”

Ellyuen glared at me with an annoyed expression, then sighed and placed his hand on my head. Soon, a sensation tickling my skin and a cold energy slowly seeped into my head. Only then did my head, which had only been dizzy, seem to calm down. But there was only one thing I could do.

“I’m really sorry.”

This time, neither Ellyuen nor Ifrit said anything. They just looked at me with faces that said they couldn’t understand.

“Hey, everyone? I’m here too, you know? Won’t you have a conversation that I can understand too?”

Only Lamias’s voice, feeling wronged, echoed emptily.