Elqueeness [EN]: Chapter 528

528. Special Measures

“I really don’t like it.”

Kanos, who had been watching me for a while, chuckled. His outstretched hand gently brushed my eyes. It was only a moment later that I realized my face was wet.

“Cute junior. How am I supposed to handle you being more and more to my liking? I appreciate you thinking of me, but this is counterproductive.”

“…Pardon?”

“I’m selfish, so my satisfaction comes first.”

He shouldn’t have said that with such a sweet face. I think I know what that means even more now. I couldn’t manage my expression well because I felt so upset and dumbfounded. Kanos, seeing my probably messed up face, clicked his tongue as if he was in trouble.

“But it seems like you’re quite stubborn too, junior. I was caught off guard because you seemed so docile for an Elquines [a member of a powerful magical race], but when I think about it, you abandoned your physical body and left, so you’re not ordinary. Since it doesn’t seem like you’ll give up no matter what I do, should I take special measures?”

Special measures? The ominous feeling from the sound of it made my face stiffen. I tried to shake my head to tell him not to do whatever it was, but Kanos reacted faster. Before I knew it, he was gone.

“I’ll give you a fun experience from now on.”

Before I could even look around, a voice filled with laughter whispered from somewhere. At the same time, everything went dark as if the lights had been turned off.

“…Kanos?”

What’s going on? I called out his name, but there was no answer. It didn’t seem like the space submerged in ink-like darkness would brighten again. I don’t know what’s going on at all. Did he trap me somewhere? To keep me from doing anything?

I was dumbfounded, but I couldn’t stay like this, so I slowly got up. Using Fire Buster as a cane, I groped through the invisible space. If I’m trapped, there must be an end somewhere. If it doesn’t work out, I’ll have to ask Ellyuen for rescue, but I was a little worried that Kanos’ personality wouldn’t allow such a gap. But at that moment, light suddenly flooded in. I blinked my stinging eyes and was dumbfounded again by the sight that slowly began to appear.

Two people were fighting with swords. The blades were blunt, so it seemed like they were sparring. Unlike one side, which was somewhat relaxed, the other was barely managing to block. No, in fact, the opponent was holding back, and he was hardly blocking properly. Only one person was panting, his breath reaching his chin. The problem was that the person’s face was very familiar.

“Ain Idryss?”

Is it a hallucination? They were so focused on sparring that they didn’t notice me at all. Soon, Ain Idryss, whose posture had collapsed, fell to the ground. The opponent, who had been pushing him almost unilaterally, clicked his tongue and sheathed his sword.

“I’ll stop here for today.”

“Y-You’ve worked hard…”

The opponent looked down at him with a complicated expression as he barely answered without even getting up.

“Wouldn’t it be better to focus more on spirit magic? In my opinion, Idryss doesn’t have a talent for swordsmanship. It would be fine to learn it as self-defense, but at this rate, you’ll only hurt yourself.”

“…Thank you for the advice.”

Ain Idryss, who answered, had a face that was obviously forcing a smile. The sparring partner shook his head.

“Greed can bring disaster. What are you going to do, take the entrance examination?”

The voice he muttered as he passed by was very small, but Ain Idryss seemed to have heard it, and he bit his lip.

“Ain.”

Soon, another person approached him, who was left alone in the training ground. It was Minerva. Her expression was cloudy, as if she had been watching him train. Ain Idryss, feeling the presence, bit his lip again.

“I’m sorry, Minerva. Please don’t say anything right now.”

“…”

“I know. I’m being stubborn right now. I know that better than anyone else. But we can still dream, right?”

His voice began to tremble little by little.

“El is skilled in both spirit magic and swordsmanship. Is it wrong for me to want to be like that too?”

“People are given different things. There’s no need to compare yourself to others.”

“Yes. Everyone is different. If there are those who have a lot, there are also those who have little. That’s why it’s unfair. Why can’t I be the one who has a lot? Why isn’t that me?”

Minerva couldn’t say anything to his sorrowful expression. Instead, she quietly hugged him and comforted him.

“Ain, you have to let go of that. Once you let go, you’ll see things.”

“I can’t understand.”

“You probably don’t right now. There’s nothing to be anxious about. It’s all part of the process.”

Ain Idryss closed his eyes tightly and cried in Minerva’s arms for a long time. My heart was complicated as I watched it. Why is Kanos showing me these illusions? I didn’t know if it was something that had already happened or if it was showing me something that would happen in the future. I was feeling impatient about how long I would have to watch when the scene suddenly changed.

“Ain!”

This time, it was Princess Anais who appeared. The princess, with a bright smile, was showering Ain Idryss with praise.

“You’re really amazing, Ain. You must be busy with your daily schedule, but you train your body every day without fail. I heard you’re studying tactics too?”

“It’s just a trivial level.”

“You’re even humble, so you’re even more amazing. I know very well how difficult it is to learn two abilities at the same time. The fact that you’re attempting something that others can’t even imagine is amazing.”

“Thank you for saying that. But there are more amazing people than me. El is a spirit swordsman, too…”

“But he’s a high-level spirit mage. You’re a contractor of the Spirit King. The more power you have, the harder it is to learn other abilities. I think you’re more amazing. With your talent and passion, you’ll definitely do it!”

The sparkling eyes stared with fervor. Ain Idryss’s face turned red at the sight of someone he admired.

“Thank you.”

The illusion changed again. This time, the characters were also Princess Anais and Ain Idryss. But unlike the harmonious atmosphere of the previous scene, this time the princess was crying sadly.

“What’s wrong, Anais? Tell me.”

“Ain…”

The princess, with tears filling her eyes, sobbed as if clinging to Ain Idryss.

“What should I do? I didn’t know anything.”

“What do you mean?”

“I can control mermaids. It’s a power that’s passed down to women in our family.”

“Yes…?”

“When I receive baptism at the coming-of-age ceremony, I can fully awaken my abilities. But if I awaken that ability, I’ll turn into a different person. The soul of a siren [a mythical creature known for luring sailors to their deaths with enchanting songs] will descend and take over my body.”

“What is that…”

“I read it in a letter that my brother exchanged with my mother. She said to be careful because if I noticed, I might refuse baptism and run away. I’m so scared. What if I’m not me anymore?”

Ain Idryss’s expression, which had been fluctuating in confusion, gradually calmed down. He forcibly raised the crying princess and made her look him straight in the eye.

“I will protect you. No matter what happens.”

“Really?”

“Yes, Princess. I am your knight, am I not? Don’t worry about anything. I will use all my power to protect you.”

After that, the princess began to oppose the crown prince. When the crown prince tried to forcibly drag his uncooperative sister away, Ain Idryss had Anais stay at his mansion and stayed with her day and night. Repeated kidnapping attempts almost always failed, but sometimes they succeeded. Most of them occurred in situations where Ain Idryss could not attempt spirit magic.

Each time, Ain Idryss tenaciously tracked down and rescued the princess. The two became rapidly closer. The princess began to love Ain Idryss. A different kind of heat gradually seeped into her purely respectful gaze. She didn’t hide her feelings. Ain Idryss was burdened but didn’t dislike it. Rather, the more it happened, the more he seemed to be consumed by a sense of duty to protect the princess. He became increasingly obsessed with stronger power. But it didn’t work out as he wanted.

“Why isn’t it working!”

Idryss, who had repeatedly lost in sparring, collapsed on the floor and sobbed in despair. A shadow fell on Minerva’s face as she watched.

The scene changed again.

This time, it was a place I knew well. The sky was filled with brilliant radiance, the realm of wind that seemed to use white clouds as a carpet. In the middle of it, Minerva, standing aloof, was facing Ifrit and Trowell.

“What are you doing now? Did I hear you right?”

Ifrit shouted as if pressing her. Anger, contempt, sigh. Only emotions that I had never seen before were revealed on her distorted face.

“You’re going to share your abilities with a mere human? Are you crazy, Minerva?”

I gasped at the following words. Ah, could it be… is this that situation? I looked around in embarrassment, but I couldn’t find a way to escape this space. Even if I got closer, I couldn’t feel anyone recognizing me. It seemed like I couldn’t do anything but watch this time too.

“Damn it! I knew this would happen! I’m the crazy one for even trying to think of that guy in a good light! Trowell! Say something too! Stop that crazy짓 [a Korean slang term for a crazy or foolish act]!”

Ifrit, as if frustrated to death, ruffled her hair with both hands. Minerva also looked at Trowell. Trowell was just staring at her blankly. Her expression was indifferent, but the sadness filling her eyes was clear. After a long time, she opened her mouth with a face that swallowed something bitter.

“He doesn’t love you.”

“Trowell…”

“But he knows better than anyone that you love him.”

I wasn’t the only one who thought there was moisture in her calm voice. I heard Ifrit, who had swept her hair back again, muttering a curse in a low voice.

“Poor Minerva. What words can I use to persuade you now? But keep this in mind. You will definitely get hurt.”

Minerva’s eyes shook. It was Trowell who avoided her gaze first. She bit her lip as if forcibly swallowing the words she wanted to say, then sighed with a slightly frowned face.

“I’m leaving. It’s too hard for me to see you.”

Then she left without waiting for an answer. Ifrit also shook her head and left the realm of wind. It was Jin who comforted Minerva, who was left alone, after watching the whole situation.

―Please leave it to me, my King. I will help him for you.

“…Thank you, Jin.”

―Your happiness is my joy and mission.

Minerva kissed his forehead with a gentle smile. As if saying goodbye. Sadly and reverently.

The next moment, Minerva stretched out her arms. Jin’s figure began to melt away as if collapsing, and a huge whirlwind began to form in her arms. The stronger the gathering power, the weaker Minerva’s power became.

No, Minerva! Stop it!

I couldn’t bear to watch, so I shouted, but my voice didn’t come out. I jumped up and reached out to him. But the moment I tried to grab him, the scene changed again.

“What is this, Ain?”

Princess Anais, with a hardened face, handed Ain Idryss a newspaper. Ain Idryss glanced at it and replied in an indifferent tone.

“It’s the press conference from yesterday.”

“That’s not what I’m asking. Why did you give this answer?”

“It’s as written in the article. I’m not interested in other women. I only have Minerva.”

“Liar.”

Ain Idryss paused for a moment. Tears were already welling up in the princess’s eyes.

“That’s a lie, Ain.”

Her voice, speaking with conviction, trembled. Minerva always believes what I say like a doll without question, but you immediately say it’s a lie, strangely enough. Ain Idryss muttered self-deprecatingly. I stared blankly at him and lowered my gaze. A sword that I hadn’t seen before was hanging on Ain Idryss’s waist. It was the first time I had seen him wearing it, but I couldn’t help but recognize the shape of the sword itself.

Bluster [likely the name of the sword].

The wind that he couldn’t block a moment ago had finally become a sword and settled by his side. My throat was parched and dry. It seemed that this illusion was continuing in chronological order.

“…I can’t betray Minerva.”

“That’s different from saying you love him, Ain. You know that, right?”

“I…”

“Don’t hide your feelings for me. He’s a spirit, and we’re humans. Humans should be with humans, and that’s natural. You actually know that too, Ain.”

Princess Anais, taking a step closer, took Ain Idryss’s hands in hers. Ain Idryss flinched but didn’t refuse.

“I hate myself for doing this. But if it means you can be by my side, I’ll gladly play the villain. I only need you, Ain. I don’t need anything else.”

“Anais.”

“Just call me Anais.”

“…”

“Ain, are you okay without me? Is that really true?”

Ain Idryss’s face, which had been moving his lips, contorted. He leaned forward and kissed the princess with a hasty movement.

Whether it was anger, betrayal, or sadness. I closed my eyes, feeling a terrible feeling that I couldn’t define in one word. I don’t know why Kanos is showing me these illusions. But I think I know what the next scene will be.

“Minerva. I think there’s something wrong with me.”

“What do you mean, Ain?”

Minerva looked at Ain Idryss, who was muttering with a confused expression, with a puzzled face.

“Princess Anais seems to have a strange power. I think she’s casting a spell on me. I’m too afraid to meet her. I can’t even sleep properly these days because I’m so anxious.”

Perhaps it was because he couldn’t bear the guilt of betraying the lover who had devoted himself to him. Ain Idryss really looked terrified. Even I, who had watched all the situations that had continued so far, felt sorry for him enough to sympathize with him. So there was no need to fathom the feelings of the one who cherished and loved him more than anyone else. Minerva quietly hugged him.

“Ain, it’s okay. There’s no trace of a spell on you.”

“No, that can’t be. It’s definitely a spell. There’s a strange power. I can’t live like this. I’m in so much pain every day. Minerva, if you pity me, please help me.”

Ain Idryss looked at Minerva with fluctuating eyes. It was a gaze that desperately craved. It seemed like a face that felt hope for something. Don’t say anything! I’d rather you shut that mouth! But this time too, my words didn’t reach him.

“I, I… I don’t want the princess to appear in front of me.”

“Is that all you need?”

“No, no, I don’t know. Will this spell be lifted just because she’s not visible? I don’t think so.”

Ain Idryss closed his eyes in pain. With his arms around Minerva’s waist, his face, buried in her arms like a child, had long been sadly wet.

“This will only end when she dies.”