Elqueeness [EN]: Chapter 524

524.

“Why is she so out of it? What did you do to El?”

“I didn’t do anything! She’s been like this from the start, hasn’t she?”

“She was fine when she was with me! But now she looks like she’s lost her soul!”

“I don’t know. She was like this from the beginning, I’m telling you. Maybe she fell for me?”

*Truly*, an answer befitting someone’s mother. Self-praise was hereditary, after all. A wave of nostalgia washed over me, bringing a smile to my face. Ifrit, even more serious, pulled me into a tight embrace.

“Lantasha, she can see herself in the mirror, too.”

“What are you talking about?”

“Think about it. How could she fall for you when she sees a face like this every day?”

“Do you want to die?”

The already sharp eyes became even fiercer in an instant. Ifrit didn’t back down and glared back. Once again, I forcibly reminded myself that they were in a contract, not enemies. Why did all the spirit kings’ contracts in this era seem so abnormal?

“It’s noisy.”

Fortunately, there was someone in this space to stop them. At the low,沉음 [deep and resonant] voice, Ifrit and Lantasha, who had been bickering, froze. Relieved that the quarrel had ended, I turned to look at Ellyuen inside, intending to greet him. But he wasn’t the only one sitting in the living room. I blinked, pausing, and the black-haired boy leaning against the window slowly met my gaze.

“Trowell…”

“Hello.”

His sudden visits weren’t anything special anymore. However, because of what he had done recently, my fingertips stiffened for no reason. Did he know that I had met Minerva? He probably did. There was no reason for him to appear at this time otherwise.

“Wow, Elquines and Trowell are really here.”

Lantasha, muttering as if dumbfounded, stared at Ellyuen for a while. Her gaze was filled with inexplicable dissatisfaction and annoyance. Ellyuen didn’t even look back, though. Could there be a story between them that I didn’t know about? Just by looking, it seemed like Lantasha was the only one burning with hostility, but Ellyuen always ignored everyone, so there was no way to know the inside story. Then, Lantasha, who had been chewing on her lip, suddenly turned to me.

“Human, you’re the contractor, so tell me. Do you think Elquines and I look alike?”

“Huh? No?”

I answered reflexively to the sudden question, and Lantasha’s eyebrows furrowed deeply.

“You don’t think we look alike?”

“You look completely different?”

If I had to insist, we had the same kind of vibe, but our faces weren’t alike. That’s what I was thinking when I answered, but Lantasha interpreted it in a twisted way.

“Does that mean my appearance is significantly inferior to Elquines?”

“Huh? No. I just mean you look different…”

“Then who do you think is more beautiful, me or Elquines?”

“…Huh?”

Why is the conversation going like this? I looked at Ifrit, flustered. He was shaking his head, looking like this was happening again. It seemed like this wasn’t the first time.

“Don’t make it difficult for her. Young master, just answer Elquines in this case. Then she’ll grumble to herself and disappear.”

“What?”

“That’s because you’re trying something ridiculous again. I told you, Lantasha. She can see herself in the mirror, too? Elquines, please. You have to beat young master first.”

“Do you really want to die!”

The fire that had barely died down was rekindled. As I watched in a daze, Trowell flicked his fingers. It was a signal to get out of the way. I awkwardly moved away and immediately stood next to him. “Why is she doing that?” I asked in a small voice, and Trowell, sending a pathetic look in their direction, replied.

“Don’t worry about it. It’s just Lantasha being like that.”

“Honestly, I don’t even know what’s going on.”

“It’s a really trivial reason. She’s been comparing herself to Elquines’ appearance and fueling her competitive spirit.”

“Why? Lantasha is pretty, too.”

It was a really thoughtless thing to say. But was that the problem? Lantasha, who had been arguing with Ifrit, turned around sharply. My shoulders flinched involuntarily at the bizarrely gleaming gaze.

“Human, say that again. What did you just say?”

“Huh? Oh, um… Lantasha is pretty, too…”

“More than Elquines?”

“Um… I don’t know. They’re all pretty in their own way, so I can’t compare them.”

“Why can’t you compare them! There must be a ranking even among them!”

“Well, I don’t know. If I had to rank them here, I think personal preferences or feelings would play a bigger role…?”

So it’s a really meaningless ranking, I answered in a barely audible tone, and the fiercely burning eyes softened a little. It seemed like it was a satisfactory answer.

“You’re a little better than that Lars guy. Actually, Elquines is better, but I’m not going to pretend to say nice things to make you feel better.”

“Lars?”

“Lamias. That’s his nickname.”

Ifrit answered with a relieved expression, as if a storm had passed. My mind was racing. Did Lamias really say that Elquines was better? That dragon, didn’t he say his first love was Lantasha? I think I know why he was dumped now.

Anyway, Lantasha, who was in a better mood, sat down on the living room chair with a calmer expression. After looking around lightly, she disparaged the special room, which was the innkeeper’s pride and joy, in one word, saying, “Do spirit kings live in such shabby places?” While I was inwardly marveling at how strong the power of genetics was, Ifrit, who had brought out tea, asked grumbling.

“But why did you come here?”

“I’m just curious. What kind of human is it that makes Elquines, who is so noble that he puts up iron walls all around, come down to the human realm? Not to mention Trowell, who is so prickly and fierce, peeks in from time to time. And to top it off, Ifrit is so out of it that he even steals my blood and offers it up.”

Wow, she just slandered three spirit kings at once while sitting here, right? I was about to open my mouth and admire her without realizing it, but then I paused. Wait a minute. Wasn’t there a strange word mixed in with what she just said?

“…Blood?”

Ifrit, flinching, subtly avoided my gaze. A chill ran down my spine in an instant, and a thunderous realization struck me.

“Blood?!?

Was that red drink I had before blood? Even Lantasha’s blood? I didn’t even have to look to guess how dumbfounded my expression was. Lantasha looked at Ifrit with a surprised expression.

“Did she not know?”

“How could I tell her that? Blood isn’t something you normally eat.”

“I thought she was begging for it. I was going to see what kind of brazen human she was, but I misunderstood?”

“Oh, come on, what are you talking about? Our young master isn’t like that.”

“You’re the one to talk? You’re the problem, you!”

Lantasha, making an absurd expression, hit Ifrit’s back wildly. It was like swatting a fly with a fly swatter. While Ifrit was making a fuss and protesting against violence, Trowell gave me a silent look. ‘Don’t play with them.’ The meaning was conveyed without him having to say it. Of course, I was too shocked by other things to even think about interfering with what they were doing.

“That was blood…”

No wonder Lamias’s reaction was so unsettling. I tend to be averse to seeing blood, so I always cook my meat well-done. When I lived in Korea, I didn’t even eat blood sausage soup. And yet, I drank raw blood. I even thought it was delicious. My mind went blank, and only sighs escaped my lips. I felt like I was experiencing the word ‘dumbfounded’ with my whole body. Seeing me like that, Lantasha whispered to Ifrit.

“She looks like she’s lost the whole world. Don’t humans make medicine out of monster byproducts?”

“It feels a little different from processed stuff.”

“Is that so? Well, anyway, don’t worry, human. Our blood is clean, so you can eat it as is. No, don’t even think of it as blood. The smell and taste aren’t that different from your blood, were they? It’s just like a universal nutritional supplement for other species.”

Come to think of it, Lapis had mentioned it that way a few times. It definitely didn’t smell or taste like blood. But, still! Even so! This is a bit much, isn’t it? Lantasha, as well as everyone else, had such a nonchalant look on their faces that I felt even more wronged. Am I the weird one? Huh? Am I the only one who thinks this is weird right now!

“Don’t worry about it. Dragon blood is like a magic-infused concentrate. It’s common for dragons to give it out, and you should accept it as a favor and consider it lucky.”

“That’s true, but…”

I couldn’t find the words to answer Trowell and just clutched my head. Just in time, as if to give me a chance to change the subject, there was a knock on the door. Usually, someone who visited in such a normal way was my guest, so I hurriedly got up and ran to the door. I thought it would be Chris or Davian who had come to visit. But standing in front of the open door was someone I never expected.

“Oh…?”

“Can I come in?”

Minerva, wearing an awkward smile, asked. He was almost completely covered in a black cloak and hood, but it was definitely Minerva. I quickly made way for him to enter, and he nodded lightly to thank me. Fortunately, I wasn’t mistaken, and there were surprised reactions from inside as well.

“Huh, Minerva?”

“Could it be Minerva?”

Ifrit and Lantasha widened their eyes with disbelief. Ellyuen rarely showed interest and turned around, and even Trowell looked a little embarrassed. He had come to see me, conscious of our last meeting, but he probably hadn’t expected to meet Minerva himself here.

“It seemed like everyone was gathered here.”

Minerva, taking off his hood, smiled sheepishly.

“Am I interrupting?”

“No way! How could you be! Welcome, Minerva! It’s been a while, hasn’t it? It’s so nice to see you in the human realm!”

“Me too! I can’t believe I’d see Minerva here! You know who I am, right? I’m Lantasha.”

“Of course I know.”

I was relieved that Ifrit and Lantasha were here at this moment. The harmony of the two, which had felt noisy just a moment ago, shone in a way that made the atmosphere comfortable. If it had been just me and Trowell, it would have been impossible to pull it off like this (I wouldn’t expect anything from Ellyuen). Minerva nodded with a smile, and his gaze turned to Trowell the next moment. Unlike his statue-like stillness, Trowell’s golden eyes were shaking as if ripples were forming. The two stared at each other silently for a while.

“…Welcome.”

“Yeah.”

Minerva nodded at the word that came out after a while. Only then did a smile appear on Trowell’s face. He looked relieved, really happy, and my heart fluttered as well.

“It’s been a while, Elquines.”

Ellyuen, who only glanced at Minerva’s greeting as he sat down, nodded lightly. The others hurriedly sat down as well, creating a space where they could face each other and talk. Ifrit, looking around at everyone, muttered with a disbelieving expression.

“Wow, I can’t believe it even though I’m seeing it with my own eyes. Your spirit kings are all gathered in one place, what kind of harmony is this? Something that doesn’t even happen in the spirit realm is happening here.”

“The three of us have met in Ebas Eden sometimes, though. Elquines was always missing.”

“Elquines doesn’t come out of his territory often.”

“Did you hear that, Elquines? We’re saying that you’re the main culprit for breaking our harmony.”

“…Do you want to see what it’s like to be really broken?”

“No, why are you taking it so seriously? I’m saying it’s nice to have you with us.”

While they were exchanging words, the atmosphere of the four spirit kings became much more comfortable. Everyone had an expression that they found this situation amazing. But no one in this place would feel as strange as I did. I hadn’t really gotten the impression that they were predecessors, but seeing them gathered like this made me feel quite different. Is it because their appearance is more mature? They’re also a bit calmer. In many ways, they had a unique atmosphere that was different from my era. It’s also a different atmosphere from the spirit realm before Mine was born. It’s hard to understand that there are such differences even though they’re all spirit kings of the same attribute.

“If you think about it, it’s all young master’s doing.”

“Huh? Me? What did I do…?”

Everyone’s eyes turned to me at Ifrit’s words. I shook my head in embarrassment, but Ifrit was even more adamant.

“No, it’s definitely young master’s doing. Would Elquines have come down to the human realm if it weren’t for young master? No, he wouldn’t even be sitting here quietly right now. I never imagined that this day would come.”

“That’s definitely true.”

Trowell also chuckled. Ellyuen didn’t show any particular reaction, but not refuting it meant that he acknowledged it. Lantasha, scanning the scene with narrowed eyes, muttered.

“Honestly, it’s a bit surprising. Wasn’t Elquines always dry in his attitude towards contractors? Why is this human child an exception?”

“Well, human contractors are rare. Elquines is the first one ever. It can’t help but be special.”

“Ifrit, you’ve contracted with humans a few times, haven’t you? Were they more special than me?”

“Uh, that’s…”

“Answer carefully.”

Flames flickered in Lantasha’s sunken eyes. She had a similar face to Lapis when he was angry, so I felt very strange. Ifrit, desperately avoiding her persistent gaze, brought up another topic.

“Come to think of it, there are two contractors in this place. Looking at us like this, it’s like a contractor-accompanied gathering, isn’t it? Hahaha. Should we really have a formal gathering with contractors next time?”

“Don’t talk nonsense.”

“No, why not? A friendly gathering is good. Trowell, you have a contractor you’re close to, too, right? What’s her name? Diagon?”

“Cough!”

Surprised by the unexpected name, I spat out the water I was drinking. I quickly shook my head, saying it was nothing to the gazes that were pouring in. Fortunately, the topic continued without any particular suspicion.

“That’s the one, right? The black dragon who fell in love with Lantasha at first sight and chases after her. Lantasha, is he still like that these days?”

“Yeah, well.”

I almost hiccuped this time. Could it be that they’re not even married yet? No, judging from the conversation, it seems like they’re not even lovers. Lapis was about 3,000 years old, but his parents, the two dragons, were still on parallel lines even at this point. Considering that he has an older brother, it meant that they got together like lightning striking a bean [very suddenly and unexpectedly].