Chapter 165: Fairy Knight
◆Elven Princess, Luusien (TL: Previously spelled as "Luthien" until the author gave the correct pronunciation in English last night 16/12/2023]
「Is something the matter, Auntie?! Is there something unusual?」
I asked my aunt, the elven queen, Tatania-sama.
After arriving at the capital of the elven kingdom, Arseidia, I went to Shishias Palace along with Kouki to meet my aunt.
Shishias palace was the center of Arseidia, and my aunty had never left that palace.
She always looked really delighted whenever I came for a visit and would invite me for a tea party.
The elven capital was as peaceful as ever, thus my auntie had always been complaining to me that she was bored.
Alas, today was different.
My aunt seemed to be running about in her office.Her face looked rather haggard from exhaustion. That was strange, I mean, she looked just like usual before I left for the journey.
This was the first time I saw my aunt this busy.
「Luusien. The forest is in danger right now… You know about Ferion right? This year is the year when Ferion's seal weakens. That's why those fanged folks went crazy.」
I was already familiar with the matter of Ferion the wicked beast that my auntie was talking about.
He was the wicked God who went on a rampage long before I was born.
But, he had already been sealed, and that seal weakened once every seven years.
The time when the seal weakened, Ferion's kin such as wolfmen or werewolves would become more brutal and atrocious as their wicked side became stronger, making this time of the year busier than usual.
But even if I said busy, it was not a big deal since our fairy knights could deal with them. No need to be afraid of the fanged folk.
Though the fanged folk were powerful in close combat, they didn't have ranged attacks. Thus as long as we kept our distance and sniped them with our specialty bow and magic, we could easily triumph over them.
That had always been the case until now. I couldn't imagine that my auntie would get exhausted by something like that.
「Surely, this year is the year the Ferion seal gets weakened. But it should be just like usual right. Did something happen?」
My aunt heaved a sigh.
「The thing is, we really are in trouble now, Luusien. Those guys are in cahoots with those snakes from the west. There were also Lamia necromancers sighted entering this forest.」
「Lamia? Are they strong?」
I heard that Lamia was a race that was composed of only females with the lower half of a snake.
I knew they existed but I didn't know about their strength.
「They're quite powerful, Luusien. Not as strong as high elves like us, but dryads will have a hard time against them. Not to mention that we won't be able to ambush them due to their keen sense. And they brought those dirty orcs with them. This is the first predicament in a thousand years.」
「R-Really!? Isn't that a really serious situation?! What about the Heavenly Beings?」
「They're mobilizing their forces of course. The same goes for the evil Gods though. And they're the ones who brought those female snakes. The evil Gods are the ones who are taking care of the heavenly force. Thus, it's up to us to protect the forest from their subordinates. You get it now, Luusien.」
「Yes, auntie…」
We, the elves, were entrusted with the management of the forest by the Heavenly Beings.
My auntie said that she would give her all to accomplish her job.
「Well then Luusien. Sorry for saying this when you’ve just returned but, can you go meet Arberon? He should be in Qtar right now.」
「Eh, Arberon? To the place of the dwarf lord? Why though?」
I was confused for a moment.
The dwarves who lived in Qtar were residing at the foot of the Great Elios mountain.
We exchanged communication but we never shared important information.
Arberon, the dwarf lord, usually spent his time in Kauf, northwest of here.
But, he would be back to Qtar at the foot of Elios mountain at this kind of time.
「About that, the Heavenly Beings sent a notice telling us to cooperate with the dwarves to drive out the snakes and wolves.
Though I doubt they'll be useful for us, it's an order from the Heavenly Beings. We have to cooperate with the dwarves. That's why you'll go to their side as our envoy.」
「Me? What about the other people?」
Given a choice, I wouldn't go to those dwarves' place.
I mean, their residence smells like soil.
A great contrast with our brilliant fairy knights. Thus I was quite reluctant to go to their place.
I want someone else to go instead.
「That won't do. I've already asked the others. For that reason, you're the only one left. I'll tell you the details later. If the envoy we send isn't up to their status, those devil's advocates will flip the table. And you're the only one available among the royal family, Luusien.」
「Eh…」
I was at a loss for words upon hearing her remark.
That meant I had no choice but to go.
「By the way Luusien. Who is that adorable boy over there?」
Auntie looked at the boy behind me.
Kouki was standing behind me.
Kouki was standing timidly. Maybe he still had no idea why he ended up in this place.
Well, that was only natural since he woke up just as we arrived in the elven country.
he would get used to this country in no time.
「Fufufu, adorable, isn't he? His name is Kouki. I'm sure that he will become a splendid fairy knight. What do you think, Auntie?」
I urged Kouki to step forward and hugged him from behind when he did so.
Kouki's face flushed red when I hugged him. Oh my, how adorable.
「How rare of you to fall in love right after you meet this boy when you always ignored them. Can you bring him here? Let me look at him.」
My aunt then approached slowly, looking at Kouki from up close.
Kouki was looking back timidly.
「Fufufu, he's an adorable boy indeed. But, he seems to be a bit weak. It might be a bit too much for him to become a fairy knight. I do want to turn him into a fairy knight since he's the first male you fell in love with alas, I have to follow the rule as a ruler.」
Auntie spoke regretfully.
Not all boys could become fairy knights. They had to go through trials to become a fairy knight.
And the boy who couldn't become a fairy knight wasn't allowed to stay in this country. They had to be returned to their birthplace with their memory erased.
That was the rule.
This was one of the rules imposed by the Heavenly Beings so that the elves wouldn't monopolize all excellent men.
If all men became excellent fairy knights, that in return would weaken the power of human countries.
Thus there was a test if one wanted to become a fairy knight.
「I disagree Auntie! I'm sure that Kouki will become a fine knight! He'll pass the test with ease! Right, Kouki?!」
I objected to my auntie while looking at Kouki.
The moment I saw Kouki, I knew that he was my fated partner. I knew that he would be able to pass the test with flying colors.
「Uhm, Luusien-sama. I do want to become a knight but… That is」
Kouki spoke timidly.
He was timid for sure. But, I knew that he had self-confidence.
「Yes, he has guts for sure. As you are already aware, Luusien, unfortunately, we have no time to conduct the test right now.」
「Yes, I understand. Auntie.」
I bowed my head as I spoke.
===
◆Black Haired Sage; Chiyuki
After stepping out of the wind path made by the spirits, we moved toward the interior of the forest.
「If I'm not mistaken, the elves should be around this place right, Rino-san?」
I ask for Rino-san's assistance.
Rino could speak with the spirits, so she’ll be able to know the situation.
「No doubt about it Chiyuki-san, they should be around this area. I mean, the living place of the elves is easy to understand.」
Rino nodded, followed by Shirone and Nao.
「That seems to be the case. The traces of charm magic are all over the place.」
「Yeah, they don't even try to hide it.」
The elves applied charm magic around their dwelling place to prevent unwanted intruders.
Even my detection of magical power got deceived.
Maybe the elves were really around here.
Though it didn't mean that we could just break through the protective magic just because we sensed it, we had Rino whose forte was her charm magic and Nao with her excellent sense.
We could find them immediately.
Soon after, Rino and Nao found the loophole in the magic and guided us through the route.
「Let's follow this route.」
When I stepped forward followign the route.
「Watch out Chiyuki-san!」
Suddenly, Shirone drew her sword and stood before me.
And then, arrows fell down around Shirone.
Those were familiar arrows. Elven arrows.
「YOU MUST BE KIDDING ME! SHE STRUCK DOWN ALL OF OUR ARROWS!」
「WHO'S THERE?!?」
Shocked voices.
Upon a closer look, we saw a few people surrounding us.
All of them had beautiful androgynous appearances which might make some people mistake them for girls, but they were genuine men.
And since there were no men among the elves, it meant that they weren't elves.
So they might be the so-called Fairy Knights, otherwise known as the Elven Knights.
It’s said that when an elf abducts a man with certain qualities, they would then turn the said man into a knight to protect them.
In short, some of these knights might have been abducted by force in the past.
Alas, they were by no means pitiful.
I mean, many men were envious of the men who got surrounded by the beautiful elves.
「Please lower your weapons! You're no match for us!」
Shirone unleashed the wings from her back as she threatened the knights.
The fairy knights looked even more surprised upon seeing Shirone's bold attitude.
Shirone's wings resembled that of an angel's wings. It was only natural for them to be that surprised.
The one who looked like the captain of the fairy knights raised his hand, keeping his subordinates in check upon seeing Shirone's wings.
「Well I guess there was no way such adorable ladies would be in cahoots with the snakes, alas, may I ask you to identify yourself?」
The captain of the fairy knights asked us.
He was a beautiful man with long, blue hair. I saw Rino's eyes were already glowing.
「We're the comrades of Reiji-sama, the Hero chosen by Goddess Rena-sama! We have no intention to be your enemy!」
I took out our fast pass, using Rena's name.
The elves were the kin of the Gods of Elios.
For these elves, Rena was their superior. This should be enough for them to lower their vigilance.
「RENA-SAMA!? WHAT ARE YOU DOING HERE THEN!? ARE YOU COMING TO ASSIST US?!」
And just as expected, a fairy knight looked really surprised.
Alas, I felt anxious at the same time.
I mean, what did they mean by assisting them?
「WAIT! WE HEARD NOTHING ABOUT THIS! WE SHOULD ASK HER MAJESTY, THE QUEEN'S OPINION FOR THIS!」
The captain of the fairy knights stopped his subordinates.
And then, he bowed to us.
「My apologies for our rude welcome, young ladies. Though it was our negligence, it doesn't change the fact that we fired our arrows at you. My name is Tamriel. I'm the servant of the beautiful queen Tatania.」
The fairy knight who introduced himself as Tamriel bowed respectfully at us.
I felt good when a hottie did that to me.
「No, please don't worry about it, Tamriel-dono. We're also at fault for trespassing on your territory.」
「My gratitude for your kind and forgiving heart. If possible, I would personally guide you to Arseidia. Alas, we're unable to do that right now as we're in a state of emergency. Please wait in the Carterhoff's fortress for the time being. We will contact Her Majesty immediately.」
He said something that weighed in my mind again.
Come to think of it, the greenmen did say something strange was happening in the forest right now.
There might be some sort of connection between the two.
We decided to follow Tamriel.
According to Tamriel, Carterhoff's fortress was one of the fortresses protecting the area around Arseidia.
The forest was the battlefield against the snakes led by the evil Gods.
I felt like we came at the wrong time.
===
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