Elqueeness [EN]: Chapter 570

570

“Well, it’s not entirely for that reason. Rantasha praised you, saying she liked you, so… I wanted to test how amazing you really are.”

“…What do you mean it’s not entirely for that reason? If the girl you like praises someone and it makes you competitive, that’s the same thing.”

“Haha, I guess so… Huh, but how did you know Rantasha is the girl I like?”

*Is this guy an idiot?* I stared at him, dumbfounded, and Diagon swallowed hard, covering his face with both hands. If I hadn’t told him not to run away, he would have dug a hole and disappeared. *Well, Lapis wouldn’t be childish for no reason.* I calmed my complicated feelings, reaffirming the mysteries of genetics.

“Anyway, I’m really sorry.”

“Well… I didn’t really suffer any damage, so it’s fine.”

“Right, you’re really strong.”

Having already been subdued twice, Diagon readily admitted it. He repeated the same things I’d heard before, like how he’d never seen a human as strong as me, and how even a Sword Saint wouldn’t be able to handle a high-level monster that easily.

“It’s not for nothing that Rantasha praised you. She really has a good eye. If she praises you, it means you’re the real deal. I’ve realized that again.”

“Ha, okay…”

“But how did you know my name? I was really surprised when you called my name as soon as we made eye contact.”

“Oh? Ah, I just guessed. Seeing you control high-level monsters, I figured you were a dragon, and I think I heard that Trowell’s contractor had that name.”

“Ah, I see. I thought you might have met me somewhere before.”

We *did* meet, but it was 4,000 years in the future. He was cheerful back then too, but the young Diagon was more than just cheerful; he was scatterbrained. He seemed relieved that I didn’t hold a grudge, and he started chatting like he’d met a close friend of ten years. It seemed like it would never end if I left it like this, so I forcibly changed the subject.

“Enough with the other stuff. Anyway, I came to find you, but I don’t have any business with you.”

“If not me… Trowell?”

I nodded, and his expression became troubled again. Maybe there was hope that I could contact him.

“Do you know where he is? Can you arrange a meeting?”

“Hmm, what do you want to do by meeting Trowell?”

“Does that mean you can arrange it?”

“It’s possible, but…”

*Thank goodness.* It seemed like all this time wouldn’t be in vain. Overwhelmed with emotion, I grabbed Diagon’s hand tightly.

“Please let me meet him! I’m begging you!”

“I don’t understand. Do you remember how dangerous it was back then? Don’t overestimate the fact that you’re Elquines’ contractor. He might really try to kill you this time.”

“I’ll take care of that myself.”

Even after pushing back his dissuading words several times, Diagon finally sighed with a helpless look.

“Don’t regret it later.”

I smiled bitterly at his words. I already had so many regrets that there was no room for more. So, I would be fine. I *had* to be fine.

* * *

The place Diagon took me was in a dense jungle. I couldn’t tell exactly where on the continent it was, but it was clear that no human had ever set foot there.

“Is Trowell here?”

“Yeah, it’s a bit of a walk from here. But I don’t know if he’ll be awake. If he’s sleeping, you’ll have to wait a bit. He’s not awake for very long these days.”

“I don’t mind waiting, but… what do you mean he’s not awake for very long?”

“Didn’t you know? Trowell’s not doing so well right now. Elquines completely collapsed the earth domain.”

“…What?”

*Who did what?* I blinked in confusion, and Diagon looked even more surprised, asking if I hadn’t heard anything from Elquines. I couldn’t tell him that the spirit contract had been terminated, so I just kept my mouth shut.

“So right now, the earth spirits can’t be summoned or anything. And Trowell, who needs to restore the domain, is in the middle realm…”

“Ah…”

“If left alone, it would negatively affect the entire spirit realm, so Ifrit seems to be trying to fix things to prevent further deterioration. That’s why I haven’t heard from Ifrit in a while either. It’s not easy to handle someone else’s domain.”

I never thought I’d find out here why the two spirit kings hadn’t been summoned. The reason was more terrible than I had imagined, and I didn’t know what to say. The domain completely collapsed; wasn’t that worse than being sealed? The thought that many of the earth spirits might have disappeared weighed heavily on my heart.

“Anyway, Trowell is very sensitive right now because of that. Are you still really going to meet him? This is your last chance to change your mind.”

Diagon, asking seriously, looked like he was begging me to reconsider. He could have taken me straight to Trowell, but it was strange that he didn’t; he must have wanted to say this. When I still said I would meet him, he trudged ahead with a pitiful look like a beaten puppy.

After a while, we arrived in front of a huge pit. It seemed to be connected to a cave, and grass and trees grew lushly from below, covering the floor and dirt walls. Right in the middle, on a patch of grass laid out like a lawn, lay a boy quietly. It was Trowell, his eyes closed as if he were asleep.

That was all, but for some reason, my heart seemed to drop. It couldn’t be, but I had this strange feeling that he would never open his eyes again. Ignoring Diagon’s voice saying something behind me, I jumped straight down. Using the trees as stepping stones, I carefully landed on the ground and slowly approached him.

“Trowell.”

At that moment, the tightly closed eyelids slowly opened. Seeing the golden eyes shining brilliantly between the thick eyelashes, my body tensed, but at the same time, I felt relieved. His gaze, turning only his head to look at me, contained no sleepiness at all. Yet, he somehow looked languid.

“…You’re really fearless.”

I took a step closer to him as he muttered in disbelief. As I bent down and sat by his head, his eyes flickered. Diagon’s anxious face could be felt watching from afar. I was the one whose life was in danger, but he seemed more nervous than I was. Then, Trowell, who was lightly sweeping back his hair, frowned slightly as if he had found something.

“Hey, what’s wrong with your forehead?”

“Ah…”

He must have recognized that the seal of the contract was gone. As I reflexively tried to touch it, Trowell moved closer to me. I heard Diagon gasp in surprise.

“…It’s really gone.”

I answered with an awkward smile, and his golden eyes shook slightly. After looking at me searchingly for a while, he let out a breath as if he was dumbfounded.

“You had the nerve to show up in front of me in that state.”

“Ahaha, I guess so.”

“What are you thinking?”

“I just, wanted to meet you.”

I answered honestly without embellishment. I couldn’t think of anything else to say anyway.

“I thought we had to meet again.”

“Why? Are you going to tell me to take responsibility since it turned out like this because of you?”

“I hadn’t thought that far. I’d be happy if you did, though.”

“…”

Trowell stared at me silently. He didn’t seem very upset, but his gaze was scrutinizing me as if he was checking if I was sane, which made me feel a little awkward.

“I was just kidding…”

His expression became even stranger. Trowell sighed, his face tired.

“Instead of wasting time on such trivial matters, you should be trying to appease Elquines to save your life. You should be grateful that I’m not my usual self. I can’t even be bothered to kill you right now. Stop doing strange things and go back.”

“Are you feeling very unwell?”

“I’m just a little sluggish. This state won’t last very long, so don’t get your hopes up.”

“I didn’t ask for that reason.”

*This wouldn’t do.* Trowell was too sensitive right now, and it seemed like he would take everything harshly no matter what I said. Maybe it would be better to face him head-on. After taking a deep breath, I opened my mouth.

“Trowell, can you give me a little time?”

“Time? What time?”

“Give me a chance to persuade you.”

He chuckled. It seemed more like a sigh than a genuine laugh.

“I think I’ve already given you plenty of time.”

“Until now, it was time to try to change the future. I’ve never tried to persuade you directly to move your heart.”

“So you’re going to try that now? How? Are you going to list all the good things about humans? Or are you going to kneel and beg for your life?”

“Whatever it takes. Everything.”

“…”

For a moment, no words followed. My mouth felt dry as I became anxious.

“Give me time. A month, or even a week is fine. Let me do whatever I can for the last time. If your mind doesn’t change then, I’ll do as promised.”

“Promise?”

“You said you’d kill me first. Do that.”

I heard a gulp from somewhere. It was the sound of Diagon swallowing hard. Trowell didn’t show any emotional change, but he stared at me silently for a while.

“I think you’re misunderstanding something. That’s originally a promise I have to keep. I endured it because of Elquines, and your permission doesn’t matter. That Elquines doesn’t mean anything now either. You think that can be a condition?”

“But you’re hesitating.”

“…Are you talking to me right now?”

“I know. Trowell doesn’t want me to die. So you’ll eventually listen to my persuasion.”

Ha, a hollow laugh escaped. His face, smiling but without any mirth, turned to me.

“That’s a lot of confidence.”

“That’s right. Because I like Trowell that much.”

I smiled even brighter on purpose. He frowned as if something impossible had happened.

“I really like Trowell. You’re my family. Because you were there, I was able to be happy in this unfamiliar place.”

At the moment of my birth, I was a novice who had recklessly opened the door to reincarnation without knowing anything. Having lived my whole life as an ordinary human, I couldn’t possibly feel like a spirit king. The other spirit kings I met for the first time were also endlessly unfamiliar and awkward. They, too, were staring at me with curiosity and wariness. But one person, only Trowell, was not like that.

“You know what? You were the first to treat me kindly here, the first to lift me up, the first to make me think of you as family, all of you.”

The first person to let me know that I could receive affection just for being born. If it hadn’t been for him, my spirit realm life would have been a mess from the start. And such kindness was never a given. It was possible because Trowell was kind. So I have no choice but to trust him.

I stared straight at him so that my sincerity would be conveyed. Trowell looked like he was swallowing something. His frowning face was full of incomprehension.

“I don’t know what you’re talking about. I don’t think I’ve given you that much help. Aren’t you fantasizing too much?”

“I’m not fantasizing…”

“Even if I did, it’s all in the past now. Don’t you realize the situation has changed? Don’t say things you’ll regret.”

“I won’t regret it.”

Trowell’s eyes narrowed. He was the first to look away. He roughly swept back his hair as if he was annoyed, then let out a sigh as if it had become a habit.

“Fine, a month.”

“…!”

My mind snapped back. It worked. He really agreed. My heart was beating so hard it hurt. Trowell was still not looking at me.

“Just one month. But don’t get your hopes up for nothing with this. I needed time to recover anyway. I’m just giving you time that I’m going to waste anyway.”

“Okay! Thank you anyway! Thank you so much, Trowell!”

I heard applause. Diagon, with a moved expression, was clapping while crying. “That’s great. That’s really great.” I could hear him muttering to himself as he sniffled. Trowell, looking at him with an incredulous expression, shook his head.

“Let me say it again, I only resemble Rantasha.”

Lapis grumbled and drew a line with his father once more. Diagon, if nothing else, was truly unlucky with his children.

“El!”

As soon as I returned to the tent, I was met with an extreme welcome. Sibelius, who rushed over and grabbed my arms, examining me busily, was pale as if he was about to collapse.

“What on earth happened? I came back and you were gone, I was so…!”

“I left a note, didn’t you see it?”

“I saw it! That’s why I’m like this! You’re going to meet Trowell! What on earth does that mean?”

“Ah, that’s…”

I told him where I was going so he wouldn’t look for me if I disappeared without a word, but it seems it had the opposite effect. At that moment, Sibelius, whose gaze was fixed on my back, gasped. It was because he had found Trowell entering casually.

“A mansion made with magic. You have all sorts of talents.”

At the same time as I heard him mutter, a strong force pulled me. Sibelius, who hid me behind his back with the speed of light, stood in front of Trowell, trembling.

“You, you…!”

Trowell, as if he had only just noticed his existence, glanced around lightly before turning his gaze to him. Sibelius’s shoulders trembled at his nonchalant reply. A sharp aura rose from his entire body as if he was about to attack at any moment. I thought something terrible would happen, so I quickly grabbed his sleeve.

“Sibyl, wait. What happened was…”

“You can’t touch even a single hair on El’s head!”

He shouted loudly as I tried to explain the situation. He had already taken out papers for using magic from his chest. Trowell stared at him with an indifferent face before retorting.

“I won’t touch her. Not for a month.”

“Wh-what?”

“Ask that kid you’re trying to protect so much what happened.”

Sibelius turned to me with a confused expression.