Elqueeness [EN]: Chapter 514

514.

I blinked slowly. It was a meadow where the weeds danced with the wind. I lifted my head, and golden sunlight poured onto my face. The sky, painted with watercolor hues, felt close enough to touch. Walking a short distance, I reached the edge of the terrain. Beneath the dizzying cliff, the deep blue sea spread out fiercely.

Everything was beautiful, but it was a place I didn’t recognize. However, I didn’t need to worry about where this was or why I was in such a place. The memory of lying in bed trying to sleep was still vivid. So, unless someone had picked me up and moved me while I was asleep, this was a dream. Well, the former wasn’t entirely impossible, but considering how strangely unreal it felt, it seemed like a dream after all.

Was this what they called a lucid dream? Just as I was about to click my tongue at the extraordinary event, I saw the back of someone standing in the distance. The form wasn’t clear, but I could tell that the hair, which stretched long below the waist, had the same color as the sea spread out below the cliff. Slowly, the tension eased, and my lips naturally curved upward.

“Now you’re even appearing in my dreams like that, Father.”

I guess that means I’ve adapted to this world that much. While I felt proud, I was also a little disappointed. I wanted to see Ellyuen’s original form after a long time. Although I’m getting along well with him here, there’s still a slight difference from the person I know. That’s probably why I sometimes feel a sense of longing even when I’m with him.

He clearly sensed that I was nearby, but he didn’t turn around. Unfortunately, his personality seemed to be the same as ever. Even he had already adapted, but maybe because it was a dream, I felt even more hurt for no reason.

“Hey, Father. I still haven’t found Lapis.”

The reason I started spouting nonsense was because of that.

“I don’t know where that guy is hiding. There’s no clue whatsoever. I knew it would be difficult, but it’s more daunting than I thought. But honestly, pretending not to know what I know is the hardest. I wish it was a completely unfamiliar place. Were you anticipating that I would go to the past? You could have given me a heads-up so I could at least prepare myself.”

Still, I felt somewhat relieved. These were things I could never say to him as the Spirit King. It felt like vicarious satisfaction, even if it was just in a dream. It would be even better if I got a response. Whether he comforted me or clicked his tongue at me, I don’t think I’d mind either way. He still didn’t seem to want to turn around.

“Are you listening to me?”

Even raising my voice out of frustration didn’t make a difference. It was as if he couldn’t hear my voice at all. Even though we were in the same place, it felt like we were separated into completely different spaces. It seemed like this was just a dream with a background like this. A dream where I could only stare at his back standing like a wooden statue. These kinds of dreams are common, but usually, if it’s a lucid dream, shouldn’t I be able to make it go the way I want? I don’t know why even in a dream, nothing goes my way. Just as I was about to sigh in resignation, it happened.

“I don’t know why you’re going around in circles.”

“……!”

Was he just ignoring me? Unexpectedly, his mouth, which had been so heavy, suddenly opened. But was it just my imagination, or was his tone a bit strange? It was too light, and somehow the timbre seemed a bit higher. I paused, trying to figure it out, when he turned towards me. Thanks to that, I could see his face clearly and quickly gasped.

He wasn’t Ellyuen. It was me. Me, the Spirit King, with the color of water.

“What is this…….”

No, why am I here? When I was the Spirit King, I faced the human El, and now it’s the opposite situation? Unable to hide my bewildered feelings, the me in front of me smiled brightly.

“Why are you 고민 [agonizing]? There’s a simplest way.”

“……What?”

“Don’t pretend you don’t know. You already know the answer.”

That’s definitely me, but I don’t understand what I’m saying at all. I narrowed my eyes, and I suddenly came closer. I flinched, my shoulders trembling at the embrace-like closeness. A low voice whispered along my ear, brushing against it.

“Just give up.”

When I opened my eyes, I saw a splendid painting. It was a scene of lovers embracing each other with happy faces against a backdrop of a meadow full of colorful flowers. It was a sight that could only be seen in this room of the inn, a ceiling painting that the innkeeper had painstakingly commissioned from a famous artist for a large sum of money. He boasted about how it was a room only nobles could stay in, and people came from faraway countries to see this painting. It was such a prized room that he wouldn’t even accept long-term contracts for fear of the painting being damaged (though I don’t know what one could do to damage a painting on the ceiling). But in the end, money talked. Anyway, this time it was definitely a familiar place.

“You’re awake?”

A low voice was heard in my ear. I only moved my eyes to shift my gaze, and I saw red eyes staring at me intently. Before I could properly identify the face, I recognized the identity. There was only one being with eyes of this color around me.

“……Ifrit.”

My mouth felt as dry as if I had sand in it. I frowned at the rough voice that even I could hear, and a warm touch reached my forehead. It was a clear and distinct, realistic sensation. Only then did I breathe a little easier. I wanted to get up, but my whole body felt as heavy as waterlogged cotton. As I tried to move by force, the quick-witted Ifrit quickly supported me.

“Ah, thanks.”

“No thanks needed. Did you have a nightmare? Look at the cold sweat.”

For a moment, I couldn’t find the words to answer and stared blankly. Ifrit, who was busily wiping away the sweat, met my gaze.

“Why?”

“……Was this a nightmare?”

A question mark was drawn on his smiling face. Come to think of it, I hadn’t even told him the contents of the dream. I still felt like a fool, not fully awake from the dream. Just as I was about to explain, my eyes met Ellyuen’s, who was looking at me from behind him. Seeing that face, my mouth closed on its own. Was it because my head was all messed up? None of the things I recalled could be organized into appropriate words.

“Young Master?”

I barely came to my senses at the questioning voice. Ifrit’s expression had hardened. His gaze was more worried than before.

“Ah, sorry. It wasn’t a big dream. There wasn’t anything particularly scary either. I don’t know why I’m like this when there was really nothing to it.”

“Hmm, is your body weakened? You’ve been eating nothing but bread and snacks lately.”

“No, I’m eating meat and other things evenly. I even ate it just yesterday, right?”

“Ah, that’s right. Then isn’t that still not enough? Come to think of it, Young Master hasn’t grown much for someone in their 성장기 [growth spurt].”

“I, is that so.”

“That’s what I’m saying. Take the 술 [alcohol] you drank last time, for example. Originally, if you drink that during 성장기 [growth spurt], your body grows quickly, right? But somehow, there’s almost no change in Young Master. That means the 술 [alcohol] didn’t fill enough nutrients for your body to grow. I think it’s because Young Master’s 저장고 [storage] is too big.”

“저장고 [storage]?”

Ifrit explained with a simple example. He said that if an ordinary human’s body is a 항아리 [jar], my body is a well so deep that the bottom can’t be seen. So, even if you pour enough water to overflow for others, there’s not much difference.

The truth is, it’s just that my body is different because it was created with divine magic, but I couldn’t tell the truth, so I just listened quietly. Ifrit, who had no way of knowing such circumstances, was burning with a sense of challenge.

“If it comes to this, I get competitive. My sense of responsibility as a 보부 [attendant] is growing vigorously, you know? I’ll definitely fill that well inside. I promise.”

“No, there’s no need to…….”

“Don’t worry and just trust me, Young Master. Let’s see. What’s a good food to boost a human’s 원기 [vitality]? Ordinary food won’t do…… Ah, in this case, it’s definitely that. Wait a minute. I’ll get it soon.”

I couldn’t bring myself to ask where he was going to get it. Because Ifrit disappeared even faster than that. Is this okay? I was also a Spirit King, but I couldn’t imagine what a 원기 [vitality]-boosting food that falls under the standards of non-human beings would be. I hoped it would be something I could eat without any problems, but judging from Ellyuen’s subtle expression, it seemed like I had to prepare myself a bit.

Suddenly, I saw a piece of paper placed on the bedside table. It was an invitation to attend the family’s 연회 [banquet]. Just looking at the ink mark left on the outer envelope and the elegant handwriting written inside, I could clearly see the sender’s status. But in the end, it would have been one of the 불쏘시개 [firewood] thrown into the furnace as usual. This time, I couldn’t bring myself to dispose of it that way.

‘I had a restless dream because I slept with something like this by my head.’

I looked down at the sender’s address written at the bottom of the card with a gloomy feeling. The Dellucio barony. It was the family hosting the 연회 [banquet] that Lamias had asked me to attend. After letting out a light sigh, I put the invitation back where it was. Today was the day the 연회 [banquet] was being held.

* * *

I don’t have good memories of 연회 [banquets]. The 연회 [banquet] I attended in the modern world ended in an unprecedented disaster of mass abduction, and at the 연회 [banquet] I attended here, I only realized facts that I didn’t really want to know. So, there was no way I could have any expectations for the 연회 [banquet] being held today. No, what am I even talking about? Just looking at the list of attendees, I already knew the ending. I’m definitely going to get sick today. The diagnosis will be 화병 [suppressed anger] and stress-induced gastritis.

“Come to think of it, all three of us are attending because of Lapis, right? That bastard, just wait until I find him.”

“Yes?”

“Haha, it’s nothing.”

I smiled awkwardly, and the gatekeeper, who was checking the invitations, gave me a questioning look before stepping aside so I could enter. I was glad that he didn’t call out my name in such an embarrassing way this time.

After entering, I slowly surveyed the atmosphere inside. It was quite late, so the 연회 [banquet] was already in full swing. There were quite a few people in attendance, but it wasn’t difficult to find Ein Idris among them. As expected of a famous figure in the empire, he was in the place where the most people were gathered. I wondered if I would meet Minerva again this time, but she wasn’t visible, perhaps she came alone today. I was relieved, but also a little disappointed.

It’s better to get hit sooner rather than later, but I didn’t intend to rush to act like I knew him. Especially since the 왕세자 [Crown Prince]’s slick face was visible nearby. If it weren’t for that guy, today’s schedule wouldn’t be so annoying. I forcibly swallowed the sigh that was rising up.

But in the end, Princess Anais, the purpose of this 연회 [banquet], was next to him, and that was the reality. She was always stuck next to her brother and didn’t get along well with other people, so the princess was really quiet, as if she wasn’t there. The blonde man across from her kept talking to her, but she only smiled briefly and didn’t even answer well. Perhaps that made him even more anxious, and the blonde man was busy trying to lead the conversation in a fuss. He was the most flamboyantly dressed and leading the atmosphere, so he was probably the 황태자 [Imperial Prince].

The 황태자 [Imperial Prince] never took his eyes off Princess Anais. It was such an intense gaze that I knew what it meant to say that honey was dripping from his eyes. Perhaps feeling burdened by it, the princess kept her gaze fixed on the floor, but even that seemed lovely to the 황태자 [Imperial Prince]. It wasn’t just me who felt that, as I heard small murmurs around me.

“Look at His Highness. He can’t take his eyes off the princess. I guess that rumor was really true.”

“I heard that Her Majesty is neglecting food and sleep and is bedridden. It’s really too much.”

“Even seeing it in person, I can’t believe it. They were such a loving couple. He was someone who really cherished and loved Her Majesty.”

“That’s right. I wondered if such love could exist in reality. There were so many people who envied the two Highnesses, saying they were like the main characters in a novel. You really can’t know what will happen in life.”

“I feel so sorry for Her Majesty.”

Knowing the truth made me feel uncomfortable. Originally, the 황태자 [Imperial Prince] wasn’t someone who would hear such 뒷말 [gossip]. Is there no way to break that bewitchment? I don’t intend to get involved in this kind of thing if possible, but seeing the 왕세자 [Crown Prince] manipulating a perfectly fine person as he pleases made my stomach boil. It’s not like I’m changing the future, so wouldn’t it be okay to screw over that guy a little? Ah, right. Sibelius, who is skilled in magic, might know a way. I should ask him as soon as I get back today.

I was quietly burning with enthusiasm inside when my eyes met Ein Idris’, who was looking around. He blinked blankly for a moment after discovering me, then opened his mouth in a daze. He even rubbed his eyes, as if he thought he had seen wrong. I smiled awkwardly, and he hurriedly excused himself to the people around him and rushed towards me.

“El? Is that really El?”

“Hello, Ein. It’s nice to meet you here.”

“I was really surprised. El also attended this 연회 [banquet]. I wish I had known you were coming in advance.”

I could feel the gazes gathering more and more. Thanks to coming in quietly, I liked that no one paid attention to me, but now that I thought the peaceful time was over, I felt a little sad. Ein Idris, who had no way of knowing my inner thoughts, admired my attire as he examined it.

“The clothes really suit you.”

“Thank you.”

“I mean it. I don’t know which clothing store’s skill it is, but they really brought out the atmosphere that suits El.”

I looked down at the clothes I was wearing with an embarrassed feeling. It was a flamboyant form with white 우단 [velvet] and gold embroidery embroidered like the Milky Way, so I thought it was a bit excessive, but I didn’t feel bad that he said it suited me well. In fact, I was originally going to wear the clothes I had received from Lamias again. But Ifrit jumped up and down, saying that couldn’t be done, and forcibly thrust these clothes upon me. It was obviously a custom-made suit, but I had no idea when he had prepared it. In fact, the most 궁금한 [curious] thing was the identity of the strange drink he had handed me along with it.

The image of Ifrit smiling meaningfully as he handed me the cup before departure came to mind. When I asked what it was, he said it was the 보약 [tonic] he had said he would get before. It didn’t smell particularly bad, and the color was red like wine. But he told me to swallow it in one gulp, but he never told me what the ingredients were. That suspicious behavior inevitably reminded me of what happened in the Underworld one day.

‘It was really the worst.’

Fortunately, what Ifrit gave me wasn’t as terrible as the 물 [water] of oblivion. It was so suspicious, but if I only knew what it was, I would think it was roughly edible. It seemed like some kind of fermented liquid or 술 [alcohol], but what was it? It wasn’t a particularly important matter, but my thoughts kept leaning towards that side. Yes, I know too. This was just a reality escape from the situation that would continue in the future.

“El, would it be okay if I introduced you to some people I’d like you to meet?”

Yes, that’s exactly what I’m talking about.

A sigh filled the inside of my throat. But I couldn’t back down any further after coming this far. I nodded helplessly, and Ein Idris’ expression brightened. With an excited face, he led me towards the group he was with. As I followed him, pretending to be unable to win, curious gazes poured in from all directions. In particular, the 왕세자 [Crown Prince]’s eyes were like harpoons. I didn’t bother to make eye contact, but my cheeks tingled from how intensely he was staring.