The Extra Strategist’s Royal Road Chapter 242

The Extra Strategist’s Royal Road Chapter 242

After the method of contacting the Elves was confirmed, it was a smooth process. 

I sent a letter to the informant. The content was an official request for a visit as an envoy of the kingdom.

The response came a week after that. 

Elena said in disbelief, “I didn’t expect them to allow the visit. They are such a closed-off group…”

“They might be tired of it all deep down. Anyway, let’s go as soon as possible. We don’t have much time either.”

For this journey, it was decided that Elena, Juras, and the court mage Leitin from the kingdom would accompany me as the official envoy.

As we headed towards the port, which was the meeting place, a half-elf with a gloomy expression pointed to a ship and said, “Please board quickly. If you miss the timing, the next available day will be a week from now.”

“A week from now? Does that barrier have some kind of cycle?”

“I’m afraid I can’t give you the details.”

The impatient half-elf man urged us to board without further ado.

The ship departed at midnight. 

Afterwards, it passed through the open sea and entered the area where the barrier was erected.

The man was busily looking around, waiting for something.

Juras whispered, “It seems even the elves can’t properly control that barrier.”

“Well, when I escaped the island before, an elf named Cailum from the separatist faction helped me. Of course, I didn’t break through the barrier…”

“If you didn’t break through it, then how?”

“I passed through the part unaffected by the barrier, under the water surface. It’s true that I didn’t control the barrier.”

After some time, they finally started rowing vigorously. 

At that, the barrier at that point was gently traversed.

Unlike before, when passing through the barrier caused a tidal wave, this time it was calm without any such disturbance.

‘Was that tidal wave a reaction to the barrier being broken?’

Whatever the case, it was clear that there was a mysterious secret to these elves’ island.

We soon arrived at the first island, which was the half-elves’ island where I had landed before.

“Lord Elaine!”

A woman suddenly called out my name and came rushing towards me with quick steps.

She grabbed my hand and expressed her delight.

“Ah, Rita!”

“Yes! I am Margarita!”

She was the elf woman who had helped me infiltrate the island last time.

I’m not sure if the seductive effect I had cast before still lingered, but I felt strong goodwill from her.

Rita cleared her throat and politely bowed her head.

“Welcome. I am Margarita, the guide assigned to you. Please, allow me to lead the way.”

Given that this was an official visit representing the kingdom, the reception was remarkably warm.

Even Elena seemed to feel a sense of unease, vigilantly observing her surroundings.

We were soon guided to the central island where the pure-blooded elves resided.

Along the way, we boarded a lavishly ornate ship decorated with gold.

‘It seems they have decided to receive us as VIP guests.’

Without knowing the reason for this, it was difficult to simply accept this treatment at face value.

The lodging assigned to us was the same building that had previously held Eonia captive.

Elena mentioned that this building was originally used to host distinguished guests.

“At the time, Eonia was a valued guest. She came from the Magic continent, and above all, she shared the same bloodline as me, a descendant of Mirabel.”

“What exactly is the significance of Mirabel’s bloodline?”

“You can think of it like the Akasha household of the Luc clan, which is famous for its martial arts. The descendants of Mirabel are also renowned among elves for becoming exceptional martial artists.”

“I see, so Mirabel’s bloodline is similar in that regard.”

“Yes, those who inherit Mirabel’s blood are said to become exceptional martial artists. But now, only Eonia and I remain as her descendants.”

“They must have been desperate to keep that bloodline alive.”

“That’s right. However, I had a devoted husband, so I resolutely refused. In that situation, the pregnant Eonia appeared and caused a commotion, wanting to leave the island. Can you imagine what happened?”

“So you erased her memories and made her live as one of the island’s elves…”

“That’s the gist of it. And Cailum used that to try to increase his political standing.”

I’m glad I didn’t bring Eonia and the twins. It was obvious they would have set their sights on the newborn twins.

***

After staying a day in the lodging, we were guided to what seemed to be the audience chamber around noon the next day.

Accordingly, the elves with grim expressions began to instill some precautions.

“Refrain from making any remarks that could offend the Queen Mother. Any misfortunes resulting from offending the Queen Mother’s sensibilities will be your own responsibility to bear.”

I had not met the Queen Mother the last time I came. When I asked Elena about her, she shook her head ambiguously.

“I don’t know much about this Queen Mother either. She is such a mysterious figure…”

“Huh? ‘This Queen Mother’? Is there another Queen Mother?”

“To be precise, there are two Queen Mothers. One publicly represents the island and determines its policies and governance.”

“Two…? What about the other one?”

“The one who has guarded the island for countless years. Though she does not officially hold the title of Queen Mother, no one sees her merely as a figurehead. She is the very embodiment of the nation’s mother. Therefore, she can also be considered a Queen Mother. I’ve only had the chance to meet her once. She was truly an extraordinary person. You’d best prepare yourself.”

In other words, there is a Queen Mother who serves as a sort of interim president, and a separate Queen Mother who represents the ‘mother of the nation.’

The audience chamber was a lavishly decorated room adorned with dazzling jewels. The impression of simplicity the elves gave was completely dispelled by this sight.

In the audience chamber, rows of elderly-looking elves stood as elders. 

Leitin seemed to sense an ominous magical aura from them, as she swallowed hard.

“Welcome.”

The voice was crystal clear. Listening to it, one might think it belonged to a young woman, but her appearance did not match that.

She looked so aged that she seemed to be a weathered old tree sitting there. The elders nearby also had white hair, but their skin and physique did not appear as decrepit as hers. Her wrinkles were so deep that it was quite startling.

And yet, she did not give off an impression of being decrepit.

“You said you wanted to meet me.”

Leitin stepped forward and greeted her with proper etiquette.

“It is a pleasure to meet you. I am the court mage of the Ellan Kingdom and the representative of this envoy…”

“Enough, I have no interest in you. Step back.”

“…Pardon?”

“Elena, you too, step back. The ones I’m interested in are those two men over there.”

The Queen Mother pointed directly at me and Juras.

She observed us closely.

“Indeed, both of you possess extraordinary abilities. But the one shrouded in darkness is more seasoned. If he wished, he could devour the one in the light, and yet he refrains from doing so.”

Judging from this, it seems the discussion was about Juras. 

“I don’t understand. You could grasp everything in the world, yet you have no intention of doing so. Why is that?”

Even with that strange question, Juras seemed to understand and replied.

“Because it’s not worth it.”

“Not worth it?”

“If I just wished for it, everything in the world would be at my feet. But then, what’s the point? What’s the fun in a world that just goes according to my will?”

“Aha, so that’s why you’ve decided to watch over the path of light from the sidelines.”

“That’s right.”

It was hard to understand what they were saying, but Juras’ answer seemed to satisfy the Old Queen nonetheless.

The Old Queen turned her gaze to me.

“I’m particularly curious about you. I once received a divine revelation. It said that a human who seeks to unify all continents and quell the chaos will come to me. That had to be you, Ars Elaine.”

“…!?”

“But in the revelation I received, you were older than you are now. Time-wise, it would’ve been 30 years from now. However, that revelation suddenly disappeared a few years ago. And now, the young you has appeared before me. I cannot fathom the meaning of this.”

It’s because I’ve entered Ars’ body.

The Ars who came to the Old Queen 30 years later was the one in the game’s story.

It’s clear that the story has been distorted due to me entering Ars’ body, causing that revelation to disappear.

“What are you, and what do you desire?”

“As for unifying the continents and quelling the chaos, that part remains the same. But I’d like to ask you as well. You speak as if you know everything, so what are you?”

At that, the elders began murmuring. Some even shouted that it was impolite.

The Old Queen gazed at me intently, then tested me with her words.

“I am the one guiding you. In the foretold revelation, I had revealed everything to you. But now, you are 30 years younger than in that vision. And still, you wish to know the truth of this world?”

“The truth of this world, you say…?”

“Everything. Why is this turmoil occurring, causing dungeons to spawn and monsters to appear? Why has the Magic Continent become divided? And why has the coexistence dragon Mepatra gone mad, bringing chaos?”

“…!”

Mepatra was the dragon that the dark mages had used in the war.

“I’m asking if you wish to know all of that.”

It felt like I was approaching a dangerous secret.

It’s like this – a level 20 novice adventurer learning all the story points at that moment.

However, if I didn’t hear it here, I might never get the chance to know.

“…I would like to know. Please tell me.”

“Good, then let’s move to a different location.”

The Old Queen rose from her seat. A younger-looking elf stepped forward instead.

“Welcome, representatives of the Ellan Kingdom.”

This woman seemed to be the Old Queen in her role as the ruler, as Elena had mentioned.

‘I heard they were a staunch isolationist faction, but she’s greeting the representative Leitin quite politely.’

While Leitin and Elena seemed to be handling things, Juras shook his head when I tried to go meet the other Old Queen.

“I’ll refrain from listening.”

“You’re not going to listen? Why?”

“Well, I have my own hypothesis about the secrets of this world. If I were to have that hypothesis completely confirmed as right, I think I’d feel terribly bored. So I’d rather just leave it as is, not knowing.”

What a peculiar fellow.

I left Juras behind and followed the guide.

Hi guys, please check out the new novel I picked “I killed the Demon King. It was a mistake.”

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