29. Infermur, City of Navigators (1)
Despite the elves’ stubbornness and arrogance, their cities were remarkably fluid. Unable to set foot on land, the elves built their cities on ships, allowing their cities to maintain more than half of their functionality at any time and place.
Infermur, the port city of the Guimerin royal family. Every time Fernandez saw the horizon filled with elven merchant fleets and warships, he felt a mix of memories from his past life, leaving him confused. The Infermur he remembered was a cursed port filled with death, decay, and vampires.
“Elven ale for sale! Elven ale here!”
“Cheap! Special on elven blacksmiths! From kitchen knives to greatswords! Selling by metal weight! The owner’s gone mad!”
However, the Infermur that Leia led him into was a bustling port city brimming with life, where the scent of fresh food tempted passersby.
Everywhere, buildings constructed in the unique wooden style of the elves were intertwined, and cool sea breezes ventilated the streets.
The most distinctive feature of this city was that it was ruled directly by the Elfin Serpent King. Unlike typical elven tribes, which have no concept of a kingdom or capital, they are a nomadic people, and the palace of the Elfin Serpent King was always a massive ship.
This city was no different. Centered around the Serpent King’s flagship, the harbor was surrounded by a city built by humans and half-elves.
The ships densely packed in the harbor were homes, streets, shops, and the city itself.
In other words, this peculiar port city was half made up of ships and the harbor, with only the remaining half on land.
“Fascinating, isn’t it, Inquisition Officer?”
“Extremely impressive. I doubt any human-made city could be so harmonious.”
Half of the city’s functions were carried out on ships. Kirhas was overwhelmed, admiring the city’s scenery.
“We can’t set foot on land, so we had no choice.”
Fernandez reminisced about the past as he thought of Infermur’s scenery. How could the vampires have taken over such a powerful city?
Infermur was a city easy to attack but hard to defend. The land-based half of Infermur was merely a free trade city with no proper defensive forces.
However, the other half belonged to the elves, who possessed the world’s strongest naval power.
Unless one could defeat the elves at sea, it was impossible to fully control this city. Fernandez recalled the sealed letter in his possession.
Whatever it was, the contents of this letter would be the key. A letter from a fugitive of Franzrit to the Elfin Serpent King…
*
-Clank.
“No arms are allowed in the audience chamber.”
An elven guard in heavy armor pointed a spear at Fernandez and Kirhas as he spoke. Well, if that’s the rule, they had to comply. Fernandez and Kirhas handed over their weapons to the attendant and shrugged.
“Leia Pin Guimerin. You may enter.”
“You may enter.”
The large white wooden door, carved with a sea serpent, slowly and silently opened. The Elfin Serpent King’s flagship was no different from a royal castle floating on the sea, so massive that a small town could form within it.
Fernandez and Kirhas had to pass through nearly seven inspections before they could finally enter. They had to repeatedly confirm that they were lightly dressed in tunics and carried no weapons.
“Quite sturdy, aren’t you?”
Leia looked at Fernandez and chuckled. Her thin silver hair fluttered in the wind, and her bright blue eyes sparkled. Truly elven beauty. Fernandez smiled back and said,
“Care to teach me the elven way of complimenting?”
“What? Hehe!”
Leia laughed brightly and walked ahead. Her hair swayed with her movements. Dressed in elven formal attire, Leia’s sleek and flawless figure was on full display.
‘Elves are indeed a sight to behold.’
-It’s just that their insides aren’t as pleasant.
‘Well, you never know until you see, and I have no intention of finding out.’
Kirhas frowned slightly and poked Fernandez.
“Disrespectful!”
Huh… Was she always this devout? Fernandez shrugged. Well, given her upbringing as an Inquisition Officer of Vaitas in this life, it made sense.
Under the strict watch of the elves, they entered the king’s hall. As they passed through the massive arched pillars, a servant standing behind a pillar suddenly shouted.
“Bow before the ruler of the seven seas and five kingdoms! The master of the ocean, the spear of storms, the prophet of the waves! Bow before the great king!”
Quite the grand introduction. Fernandez struggled to keep his expression neutral.
-The Elfin Serpent King isn’t just one guy, so why all the pomp?
‘Well, kings are all like that. If they were humble, would they even be kings?’
-True, the Triad Kingdoms were all like that, and look where they ended up.
Anyway, it meant that the Guimerin royal family wasn’t a nomadic people at this time. Fernandez slowly bowed and proclaimed,
“Angelo, the sword of Vaitas, greets the great ruler of the ocean, His Majesty the Elfin Serpent King, Guimerin.”
“Raise your head.”
A languid voice echoed through the hall. The king’s audience chamber was meticulously constructed so that even the smallest sound would reverberate, allowing the elven king to convey his will to the entire chamber with a mere whisper.
Truly, it was a structure beyond human craftsmanship. Fernandez raised his head.
First, he saw a crown intricately woven like intertwined tree roots, resembling deer antlers. The elven king’s shimmering silver hair, cleanly defined features, and a face that blended wisdom, arrogance, joy, and annoyance all at once looked down upon him.
As someone who once stood above all, Fernandez couldn’t help but admire the elven king’s presence.
‘How much practice did it take to perfect that expression?’
It was an authoritative expression that could never be achieved naturally! The elven king, Guimerin, spoke without changing his expression.
“You have traveled far for this, human wanderer. Show me what you have.”
At his words, a servant approached and extended a hand to Fernandez. On the purple silk the servant held, Fernandez…
Ss carefully presented the letter.
The attendant walked exactly eighteen steps and prostrated himself at the feet of the Elven King. The Elven King reached out and picked up Fernandez’s letter. He held the letter for a moment, examining something, then looked at Fernandez.
“Have you read it?”
“How dare I read the Serpent King’s letter?”
“Serpent King… It’s quite amusing to hear a human say that. There were once humans who called me the King of the World Tree or the Forest King, and others who called me the Monarch of the Plains or the Conqueror of the Continent.”
Guimerin smiled faintly.
“In the next era, and the era after that, what will you humans call me?”
“Whatever it may be, we will call you a great king.”
“Haha, you have a smooth tongue, human.”
Guimerin smiled contentedly and opened the letter. He read it for a while and then slowly put it down.
“Interesting words, human. Can you guess the contents of this letter?”
“If I may dare to speculate.”
Fernandez looked into Guimerin’s eyes and spoke.
“The vampire of Franzrit tried to deliver it to my family, so there must be a plot by the vampires. And since it was intended for the Elven King, it must be about the internal strife within the Franzrit bloodline and the Elven royal family. Isn’t that what it’s about?”
“Blasphemy!!”
At the mention of internal strife within the Elven royal family, the Elven ministers in the audience hall erupted in anger. But Fernandez calmly looked up at Guimerin.
(1) The Elven royal family, which has never declined, was defeated in war and reduced to a wandering people.
(2) The Franzrit bloodline, the victors of this war, have no naval power.
(3) Therefore, we must assume they have allied with a force that possesses naval power.
(4) The only navy capable of defeating the Elven navy is the Elven navy itself.
The conclusion of this assumption was nothing but the division of the Elven royal family.
Fernandez did not open the letter not only out of respect for the Elven King’s mood but also because he could guess its contents.
“Not only is your tongue smooth, but your mind is sharp as well.”
Guimerin smiled meaningfully.
“But you are wrong. This was a warning to be cautious of you humans. It’s quite amusing that a human brought it.”
‘Was it a trap?’
-No way. There couldn’t have been enough information to set a trap.
‘If the letter is genuine, then the Elven King…’
-Yes, he must want something from us.
-Clang! Clang!
The soldiers standing at the entrance and behind the pillars of the audience hall drew their weapons and aimed them at Fernandez. Kirhas perked up her ears and sharply observed them.
“Your Excellency, what should we do?”
“Calm down.”
Fernandez remained composed and spoke quietly. There was no way to escape now, even if he resisted.
Guimerin laughed lightly at the sight.
“Is your lack of panic due to bravery or detachment? Do you have no attachment to life, or have you judged that I will not kill you?”
“If Your Majesty intends to execute me, would my resistance be meaningful?”
“Your words are truly smooth. Very well. Stand down.”
-Clang!
At Guimerin’s gesture, the Elven soldiers sheathed their weapons and stood at attention again. Guimerin looked at Fernandez with sharp eyes.
“Brave and straightforward, human. Truly, such mortals are rare. I will not execute you now. Your insight into the letter’s contents touched upon some truths.”
Guimerin looked around and spoke.
“Leave us. I will speak with this human alone.”
“But, Your Majesty!”
As the ministers were shocked, Guimerin frowned. He leaned deeply into his throne and spoke arrogantly.
“Do you think this human, with his abilities, could dare to harm me?”
“Your Majesty, I have something to say.”
“Oh, daughter. What is it?”
“From what I have seen, this human is capable of forgotten magic and has received significant blessings from their Temple of the Gods. Please, Your Majesty, take this into consideration.”
Leia liked Fernandez. But separately, the king’s safety took precedence over all personal feelings.
She had watched Fernandez fight and had a duty to report it to the king.
‘They’re really getting worked up.’
-The Elven King is acting cute.
‘Right. Threatening before asking for a favor… Very traditional.’
The Elven King must have lived for an unimaginably long time as a human. The weight of those years was not light. But in strategy, schemes, traps, and tricks, Faijashi also had his own expertise.
‘Just the so-called heroes who died by my hand alone number seventeen.’
The Elven King probably sees Fernandez as a chess piece. But Fernandez found the Elven King’s behavior rather amusing.
“Then, daughter. I will allow you to stay by my side.”
“I am honored.”
At Guimerin’s words, the ministers and soldiers slowly retreated and left the audience hall. Guimerin stood up and stepped towards Fernandez.
His long robe swept the floor as he descended the steps. Guimerin stood with his back to the sunlight streaming through the window, looking down at Fernandez.
“Vaitas’s dog. That’s what your kind is called.”
“That is correct.”
“Then do what you can.”
Guimerin dropped the letter in front of Fernandez. Fernandez picked up the fallen letter.
*
1. There is a traitor among the five generals of the king, colluding with Richter von Franzrit.
2. Human cultists and Franzrit are plotting to overthrow Infermur.
3. Beware of [Ravenrune], Your Majesty.
*
The hastily scribbled letter did not contain more details. The short message, written in a woman’s hand, was filled with concern for the king.
This letter, not delivered to the Elven King in a past life, must have greatly contributed to Infermur’s downfall.
‘Well, I was right after all.’
Fernandez folded the letter, mocking the Elven King’s pride. The meaning was the same. The Elven internal strife, Franzrit’s internal strife. The only unexpected thing was the existence of human cultists.
‘By the way, who is Ravenrune?’
-Probably some local tribe. There are so many of those.
It was a time when numerous heretical sects rose and fell. If Fernandez couldn’t remember them, they must have been a sect that disappeared without leaving a significant mark in a past life.
“Your Majesty, I am not loyal to the Elven King.”
“State your desire.”
Fernandez smiled as he looked up at Guimerin. Guimerin had turned threats into persuasion. And once again, Fernandez turned persuasion into negotiation.
Of course, naturally, negotiation is the most basic virtue of a Dark Mage.
*
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