289th Episode
An elf has come.
Among the elves, there are those who leave the embrace of the World Tree to live intertwined with humans.
However, the elf that came to see Ray this time was someone who had officially received identity confirmation and a residency permit from the Imperial Royal Family.
It meant that he came to see Ray in an official diplomatic capacity.
Ray wasn’t pleased that the elf had gone out of their way to visit amidst the chaotic situation in the Osiris Countdom due to the Devil Worshipper attack.
On his way to meet the elf, Ray met Ulte and asked him.
“Ulte, do you want to come with me? Bring Genesis.”
“…”
Ulte tilted his head, wondering if Ray was serious.
Ray briefly pondered seeing Ulte’s reluctance.
“Maybe I’ll just bring Mineher?”
“…”
Hey, look at your crawling cousin domesticated by humans, hahaha.
Though Ulte didn’t serve the Empire enthusiastically, he still shook his head out of concern for the relationship between the Empire and the elves.
“Just go alone.”
There were onlookers, so his tone remained polite.
As Ulte opposed, Ray clicked his tongue with an unpleasant expression and headed to the reception room alone.
Upon entering the reception room, he saw an unfamiliar elf sitting arrogantly on a chair.
True to form, the elf possessed remarkable beauty. However, they looked somewhat young.
It wasn’t because they were short or hadn’t shed their baby fat, but rather…
Since meeting an aged Guardian-class elf before, Ray could roughly estimate their age based on the aura elves emitted.
When Ray sat across from them under the guidance of a servant, the elf finally spoke.
“Are you Ray, the human?”
Their tone was extremely arrogant from the start.
Elves living in human society often referred to such arrogant elves as ‘World Tree water not having dried up yet,’ though it was a disrespectful expression. Elves who mixed with humans generally didn’t hold much affection for their homeland anyway.
Ray smirked and asked the elf.
“What should I call you?”
“Rafaela.”
“Alright… Rafaela.”
You must have seen the mess that is the Osiris Countdom on your way here.
A formal expression of regret would be the least you could offer, but perhaps asking that much of an elf was too much of a luxury.
“So, what brings you here?”
“I heard you’re hesitating after being invited by the Guardians.”
“Hesitating?”
“Yes. So, I’ve come to fetch you.”
“Hmm… A guide, huh? But it’s strange. When you first extended the invitation, it seemed like you didn’t care whether I came or not. Why are you suddenly acting so anxious?”
Rafaela immediately frowned.
She didn’t seem to be acting. Compared to the Guardian-class elf Ray met previously, Rafaela was definitely more straightforward and honest in expressing her emotions.
“Human. And one who probably won’t live longer than fifty years, you’re far too arrogant. Are you even thirty? With such limited experience and wisdom, how dare you presume to judge anyone’s intentions?”
“…”
The people standing guard nearby trembled as they quietly listened to the conversation between Ray and Rafaela.
Had Ray shown even a hint of displeasure, Rafaela would likely have been threatened with a drawn sword right away.
But Ray calmly replied.
“It seems there’s some misunderstanding.”
“Misunderstanding?”
“Yeah. Of course… by human standards, I’m twenty.”
“…Human standards?”
“Yep. But if converted into ‘elf years’… I’d be around 300 years old.”
“…?”
“You don’t get it? Humans usually live about seventy years, while you live around a thousand, right? So, in elf years, I’m approximately three hundred.”
“…”
What kind of ridiculous nonsense is this?
As Rafaela momentarily fell into confusion, twitching her ears, Ray leaned back in his chair and continued haughtily.
“So, it’s problematic to underestimate me based on age. Aren’t you around two hundred? That would make you about fifteen in human years.”
“…?”
“You’re at that cute age. If you’d like, you can call me Big Brother Ray.”
“…?”
Is this person insane?
Rafaela stared at Ray with such emotion, prompting him to mutter with a smile.
“What’s wrong, pointy-ear girl?”
*
The verbal sparring match with the elf ended in grand fashion.
This meant that the people around spent all their time trying to separate Ray and Rafaela during the heated exchange.
Ray found dealing with elves extremely tiresome.
Given that they lived for hundreds of years, it wasn’t entirely incomprehensible that they looked down on humans who only lived for decades.
Still, it was bothersome, and engaging with them always seemed endless.
As Ray stepped out of the reception room and gazed out the window, snow was falling.
Waging war during winter was truly a pain in the ass.
After repelling the assault in the Osiris Countdom, everyone was working hard to prevent the residents from freezing to death and restoring the devastated areas.
If the weather had been a bit warmer, the hardship would have been halved.
Nevertheless, the war was nearing its final stages.
The enemy’s main force had been annihilated.
The key figures of the Rubia Kingdom that needed securing had been successfully acquired.
Now, the war had shifted to rooting out and eliminating the remnants of the Devil Worshippers.
Afterward, the Empire would need to stabilize the Rubia Kingdom.
Overthrowing and then stabilizing an entire country was no easy task.
All Ray could hope for was that the power brokers of the kingdom, who had allied with the Empire, were competent and didn’t waste their efforts.
“…”
While Ray stood dazed, watching the snowflakes swirling outside the window, an armored Templar approached.
After performing a brief salute, the Templar spoke.
“I have a message to deliver.”
“Hmm, what is it?”
“Karen has awakened.”
“…”
Ray absentmindedly rubbed his brow and let out a deep sigh of relief.
Thank goodness.
*
Upon hearing the news, Ray immediately went to see Karen.
When Ray opened the door to the room where Karen was staying, she was seated cross-legged on the bed.
Karen appeared more neatly dressed and well-groomed than Ray had expected.
Apparently, she had regained consciousness some time ago.
Ray inwardly cursed the elf who had taken up his time and approached Karen.
“Karen.”
At the sound of her name, Karen slowly turned her head toward Ray.
Karen was alive and moving.
Her usual vitality could be seen in her red eyes.
Relief washed over Ray once again upon confirming this with his own eyes.
At that moment, Karen asked in a slightly trembling voice.
“Who… are you?”
“…”
Ray’s expression froze.
The atmosphere in the room quickly grew heavy as silence ensued.
Ray’s eyes widened as he tried to speak, but Karen turned her head away.
“Just kidding.”
“YAAAAAAAAAAAH!!!!!!!”
Ray screamed, his blood pressure skyrocketing as he grabbed the back of his neck.
“Ahhh…!”
After calming himself with deep breaths, Ray groaned and walked over to sit in a chair opposite Karen.
Although she had recovered from unconsciousness, Karen didn’t look entirely well.
Ray observed her weary appearance and asked.
“Are you feeling alright? Anywhere hurting?”
“Yeah… I’m fine.”
Nodding, Karen forced a smile and murmured.
“I… didn’t die. I’m still alive.”
“No… Karen…”
Ray wanted to ask why she had gone so far, but ultimately left the question unspoken.
After the battle concluded, Lea explained the situation through tears, so Ray knew exactly how Karen had almost lost her life.
Karen nearly died protecting Lea.
She took the blow meant for Lea and, in the final moments, stayed behind to face death after sending Lea to safety.
If Luna hadn’t intervened in time, she surely would have perished.
“…”
Ray felt deeply apologetic and troubled towards Karen.
He wanted to ask why she had sacrificed herself so completely for Lea but couldn’t bring himself to do so.
It wasn’t something to ask someone who had returned from the brink of death.
Additionally, Lea was indispensable to Ray.
Bella’s happiness depended on Lea’s existence.
Moreover…
Though Ray couldn’t love Lea like a younger sister, he certainly wasn’t indifferent to her.
Lea was a bright and adorable child who followed him faithfully as her older brother.
Ray couldn’t simply hate her.
Therefore, he couldn’t ask Karen why she hadn’t abandoned Lea.
“Karen… going forward… please… take better care of yourself.”
When Ray finally managed to say this, Karen shook her head.
“I had no choice.”
“I know. I understand, but…”
“Lea is important to Ray, isn’t she?”
“Of course Lea is important, but…”
“I’m not as important to Ray as Lea is, am I? So, I had no choice.”
“…”
Ray mulled over Karen’s words, unsure of what she was getting at.
“…Karen, what do you mean by that?”
“…”
Karen was aware that revealing her inner feelings in such an ugly manner wouldn’t win Ray’s affection.
Yet, she could no longer hide her emotions.
After closing her eyes, prepared for death, and reopening them, Karen had felt emptiness rather than joy.
She no longer wanted to cling to that thin thread of hope and worry endlessly about whether Ray would leave her.
She wanted to let go of those painful and terrifying days.
“Ray… you don’t need to pretend to be nice to me.”
Karen tried to sound nonchalant.
But her eyes were already reddening, and tears were threatening to spill.
She wiped her blurred vision and continued speaking through gritted teeth.
“I know. I don’t suit Ray. I can’t be someone Ray needs. I haven’t been any help to Ray until now. I’ve only been a burden.”
“Karen, wait a minute…”
“Even if I disappeared, Ray would be fine. From the beginning, my absence wouldn’t have made any difference.”
“Karen…!”
“There are plenty of people in the world who could replace me. I know that. So, Ray… please stop…”
Karen couldn’t finish her sentence.
Standing up, Ray kissed her, causing them both to fall onto the bed, exploring each other’s lips like they were wrestling.
After exchanging saliva for quite some time, Ray pulled away, glaring at Karen with bloodshot eyes.
“Karen. Listen carefully.”
“…”
“I need you.”
“…Even if that’s a lie, it’s fine, Ray.”
Tears streaming down her cheeks, Karen gripped Ray’s cheek.
“Please… hold me.”
*
“?”
Alessya stopped abruptly in her tracks while heading to the dining hall for dinner with a few nobles.
Strands of her hair floated upward, fluttering randomly.
Emergency! Emergency! Emergencyyyy!
Sensing a historical emergency with her Alessya radar, she quickly turned around and dashed off.
However, Alessya soon encountered an obstacle.
Luna blocked her path.
Alessya growled menacingly at Luna, showing her hostility.
In response, Luna lightly tapped Alessya’s forehead, questioning if she was going to bite people.
“Ouch!”
Sequence (2)
