Chapter Eleven: The Elven Forest

Chapter Eleven: The Elven Forest

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Now, the story continues.

“Shust, could you take me back to the Elven Forest first? I want to inform Mother Queen,” Amiru said to Shust as she nestled in Lolita’s arms.

“Eh? That’s a great idea!” Lolita and Shust exchanged glances, speaking in unison.

Should I comment on how in sync these two are? Sakuya mused, watching the pair who looked almost identical.

“I thought you were planning to head to the Empire of Light first!” Amiru was surprised by their decision to go to the Elven Forest.

“Because we’ve made enemies with the Empire of Light. At the arena, we didn’t show them any respect at all,” Shust replied helplessly.

“Well, the Elven Forest is quite close to the Phoenix Dance Empire. It’s the perfect time for us to set up a defensive line!” Amiru said after a moment’s thought.

“No time to waste! Let’s go!” Shust took the lead, flying northward.

Scene shift: The Elven Forest to the north.

Inside a magnificent palace formed entirely of plants, a breathtakingly beautiful young girl stood on the second-floor balcony, her face full of worry. Her skin was flawless as white jade, delicate and smooth, with a rosy glow. Her face was like a sculpted gem, with a pointed chin, rosy lips, pearly teeth softly biting her lower lip, and emerald eyes gazing eastward.

“Your Majesty, are you still worried about the princess?” asked another lovely elven girl, not quite as beautiful as the first.

“Oh, Monica, it’s you! You startled me!” The girl addressed as “Your Majesty” was clearly the Elven Queen. She jumped up in surprise, the bright moonlight illuminating her pointed ears. After seeing who it was, she sighed in relief.

“Don’t worry. Even though the Spark Mercenary Group was wiped out, the Eastern Empire hasn’t found the princess’s body. Please don’t jump to conclusions. The princess will surely return safely,” Monica comforted her.

“There’s something happening!” Suddenly, a shout rang out from outside.

“Protect Her Majesty!” Monica immediately snatched the longbow from her back, calling out to her guards.

In an instant, two hundred elves surrounded the queen’s castle, each one a formidable seventh-tier warrior.

“What’s that? Angels? No—fallen angels! Everyone, remain alert!” As the captain of the Queen’s Guard, Monica’s keen eyes and knowledge were unmatched. She instantly recognized Shust’s group hurtling through the night sky a thousand meters above—a feat, given the hour.

“State your purpose, outsiders! If you don’t, we’ll attack!” Monica shouted when the group was within range.

“Mother Queen! It’s me, Amiru! They’re my companions!” Amiru called out from Lolita’s embrace.

“It’s Amiru! It really is Amiru! Come down here, let me have a good look at you!” The Elven Queen leapt down from the second floor in excitement.

With a flutter of wings, Shust and Lolita landed.

“Mother Queen!” As soon as Amiru touched the ground, she threw herself into the Queen’s arms, sobbing as she recounted her ordeal. “Mother Queen, Catherine and the others are dead! If it weren’t for Shust and his companions, I’d never have made it back to you!”

“There, there, don’t cry. You still have me, and I’ll always be by your side. Now, introduce your friends to me,” the Elven Queen soothed her clumsily, finally resorting to a change of topic.

“Okay! This is Shust, who saved our mercenary group—he’s a man,” Amiru said, glancing at Shust, who scratched his head sheepishly. “This is his sister, Lolita. And this is their head maid, Sakuya Izayoi. If it weren’t for them, I wouldn’t have made it back!”

“Your Majesty, there’s no need to thank us. This is what friends do,” Sakuya stepped forward. When it came to negotiations, Sakuya outshone everyone.

“Of course, I must thank you. But you’ve come a long way; you should rest. Monica, prepare rooms for our honored guests!” the Elven Queen commanded.

“Thank you, Your Majesty,” Sakuya replied. With Monica leading the way, Shust and the others followed her out.

“Come, tell me everything that happened on your journey and what your companions are like,” the Elven Queen said, drawing Amiru toward her chambers.

The night passed.

“Good morning, young master, young miss!” Sakuya greeted Shust and Lolita as they stepped out.

“Good morning, Sakuya!” they replied in perfect unison—their expressions, movements, and voices so alike they seemed one person. Gone were the indistinguishable battle outfits; Shust now wore his waist-length silver hair in a stylish ponytail, silver-framed glasses before his large eyes, a black overcoat, a fitted white shirt beneath, black fingerless gloves, tight black jeans with a gun holster on his right leg holding the Paradise Spark, and black high-heeled boots—altogether giving him a bright, handsome look.

Lolita wore her long hair loose over her shoulders, with twin silver braids on either side. She also sported silver-framed glasses, a black overcoat, black fingerless gloves, a fitted white blouse, a black pleated skirt, and creamy thighs visible above her black knee-high socks, finished with the same black high-heeled boots as Shust. She radiated the same sunny aura. If not for the differences in their attire due to gender, even acquaintances would be hard-pressed to tell them apart. Lolita’s outfit made Shust bend over in exaggerated defeat for half an hour, mumbling, “That’s not me. I absolutely refuse to admit that this cross-dressing lookalike is me. It must be my long-lost sister. It must be…” When he finished his self-hypnosis, he straightened up, fixed the wrinkles on Lolita’s clothes with the care of an older brother, and sighed, both of them knowing exactly what the other was thinking. This would soon become their regular attire.

“Good morning! Did you all sleep well? Come, I’ll take you to the dining hall,” Monica greeted them. Though her expression was calm and cool, she inwardly admired their outfits—the black and white contrast was just right, and their matching temperaments and expressions were striking. Many elves who had just stepped out were charmed by their synchronized greeting with Sakuya.

At a lavishly set table, Shust and his companions sat with the Elven Queen.

“I have heard most of your story. Thank you so much for rescuing Amiru, and I am deeply sorry for those you couldn’t save,” the Elven Queen said, rising and taking Amiru’s hand. The two bowed together to Shust and the others.

“Your Majesty, please, there’s no need for such formality!” Shust stammered, unable to help them up due to the table between them.

“Well then, Lord Shust, perhaps it’s time you told us who you really are. I don’t believe you’re just some young master out for family training,” the Elven Queen said, her tone shifting as she and Amiru sat down.

“Uh… could I maybe not say?” Shust, Lolita, and Sakuya exchanged uneasy glances before Shust asked, voice small.

“Absolutely not!” Amiru and the Elven Queen replied in unison, charmed by Shust’s bashfulness but quick to regain their composure.

“We… um… actually, we’re visitors from another world,” Shust stammered, finally admitting it after both Lolita and Sakuya nodded in encouragement.

“Visitors from another world! Then that theory is true?” Amiru and the Elven Queen exclaimed together.

“What theory?” The three of them were confused.

“In the inheritance of the Goddess of Nature, there is a theory about the existence of other planes—other worlds with cultures, behaviors, and races both like and unlike our own. Your arrival as visitors from another world fits this theory,” the Elven Queen replied, striking a scholarly pose.

“Well, that theory of relativity was developed in our world ages ago,” Lolita said, annoyed by the Queen’s patronizing look.

“What kind of civilization is yours, to have discovered the theory of relativity as well?” The Elven Queen was clearly taken aback.

PS: The next arc is “Unlimited Terror.” The protagonist’s abilities will be completely restricted, leaving only peak second-tier energy and combat experience! As a hint, peak second-tier magic power is only enough to cast five Thunder Arrows!