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Chapter 303: “Oh, Looks Like I’ll Be the King!”

Young Chloe thought as she watched her rambunctious sister, Claire, bouncing about.

It didn’t mean that Claire was unqualified to be a queen. It was just that her sister had no desire to be one.

And honestly, Chloe thought that if she could become a queen, that wouldn’t be so bad after all.

Chloe seemed to possess every complex trait that a sentient being could have, hinting at her innate potential to be a ruler. A genius born with the qualities of a king. All the elder elves observed Chloe with that impression.

Their mother, the former queen, had long since given up trying to sway Claire and had started Chloe on her heir training.

However, absurdly, such training was met with the opposition of the elders.

Igrdals held primacy in the precedence of the eldest daughter.

Despite inheriting abilities that were unprecedented, Chloe had to deal with numerous nuisances in her path to the throne simply because she wasn’t the eldest.

In truth, Chloe was fine with that. Elven lives are long. Taking a few more decades to become queen wouldn’t change anything.

To put it plainly, the old folks’ opinions were of little concern to her. To her, their ramblings were no more significant than leaves rustling in the wind.

All she needed was Claire. In this world, Claire was the only person who understood her.

Sister as the strongest elf swordsman, and herself as the best elf magician. With the two of them combined, what couldn’t they achieve?

While Chloe was lost in those thoughts during her heir class, Claire suddenly left. The reason was painfully obvious.

Claire likely thought her presence was a hindrance to her younger sister, even though Chloe didn’t see it that way at all.

“I wanted to kill them.”

“…Kill whom?”

“The old geezers who babbled about how I’m unqualified since I’m not the eldest.”

“Yet you didn’t actually kill anyone, right?”

“I didn’t kill anyone. Just gave them a bit of a scare.”

A bit of a scare? That sounds alarming. I can guess what she might have done. Perhaps a little magical terrorism?

“But is that okay? If you officially restore the sister’s title, those old geezers will cause an uproar.”

“It’s fine. That’s why I want your help.”

“That’s politically charged, right? I mean, sure I agreed to cooperate, but I can’t stand excessive damage to my image.”

“I know. I’ll just say something like, ‘I support you’ or whatever.”

Is that… really okay? I’m not too sure. I don’t know what kind of queen Chloe is.

No one would dislike having the support of Igrdals, the top wood producer in all three dimensions, but still.

“What else do I need to do?”

“Sister will probably refuse if I tell her I’m reinstating the princess title. The most important part is convincing her, and then breaking the thoughts of those nobles claiming she should be queen.”

“…How do I convince them?”

“I’ve got some thoughts on that. Just focus on the task at hand.”

“Uh, got it.”

Having shared that conversation, the two exchanged a handshake. Given those terms, securing the World Tree’s branches was a bargain.

*

“I heard that.”

“…Really?”

Claire’s reaction to Chloe’s proposal was just that one word.

The current royal authority is stable enough without taking those actions. Why would they need to?

Well, if you don’t think about Chloe’s deep feelings for Claire, I guess you could think that way.

“The queen must’ve felt incredibly wronged by the sister leaving.”

“Of course, but that’s not the only reason I departed.”

With a somewhat sheepish expression, Claire spoke that way. Was there another reason? Yeon-woo raised an eyebrow gently, pondering.

Regarding Yeon-woo’s curiosity, Claire lightly replied.

“The position of the Swordmaster is a lifelong title. Unless one of my descendants surpasses me, I have to remain in that position until I die.”

“…Wow.”

Just from that statement, it became clear. Claire had simply left because she found the Swordmaster position boring and didn’t want to deal with it.

“Seriously, think about it. It’s been over a hundred years, and not a single person has inherited the Shield Sword? I took it on when I was just fifteen! Where are all the talents!?”

“Oh man, that’s suffocating.”

Irrespective of Yeon-woo’s personal reflections, it was remarkable to realize just how extraordinary the nun before them was.

For a hundred-plus years, no swordsman had surpassed her, yet even after ditching her responsibilities, she was still called the Swordmaster.

So much so that Igrdals decided to create a new primary sword rather than continue with the Shield Sword as their symbol.

“Wow, you truly are the GOAT, nun.”

“Finally, do you understand my greatness?!”

Claire beamed at Yeon-woo’s double-thumbs up. It was hard to believe how such an appreciation-lover hid it before her regression.

“Indeed. For several hundred years in the elven race…”

“A hundred-some odd years.”

“Cough, to hold onto the title of the strongest for that long is quite something. I’ve never heard of such stories in the records of the previous world.”

Nea corrected herself under Claire’s fierce gaze, speaking with pure admiration. Even a dragon praised her; Claire’s shoulders felt like they were on cloud nine.

‘But really, what’s in it for the nun if she’s reinstated?’

Unlocking that dedicated account where I occasionally pulled out BIG bucks? Now I’ve got enough money, it’s fine. I’m kinda curious how much is in there, though.

It’s a lifelong title, but after over a hundred years of work, there must be quite a bit saved up, right?

“…Well, if Chloe said so, I suppose I should cooperate. Ugh, pesky little sister.”

“The only one who could say that to the queen is probably the nun.”

Well, Chloe’s outward image was meticulous and fair, so beautiful it felt like she emerged from another world. Not the type to be troublesome at all.

The first wall Chloe mentioned crumbled down more easily than expected. Is this what it means to have trust between sisters? It was like conceding to a pesky younger sister against her will.

So, do I just need to break the heads of the nobles? They mentioned having a plan, so I guess I’ll wait for that.

“Shall we head to the World Tree first? I heard they’d provide a room if we made an official visit.”

“Sounds good.”

“Hmm, it’s been a long trek, feels a bit tiring now.”

“Are we going to sleep inside that tree!?”

“Does the World Tree smell different?!”

To the two excitedly throwing questions, the answer would be revealed a bit later, so the group turned back from whence they came.

*

“Wow….”

“It’s amazing!!”

The grandeur of the World Tree before them was astonishing. Rather than a tree, it was more akin to a mountain. The tree surged high without a care for the sky, impressively majestic and yet stunningly beautiful.

Will they really live inside something like this? Or maybe it’s so enormous that they could carve out a living space without harming its sanctity?

Even if they carved out just a small space for inhabitation, it would barely affect the World Tree.

As they approached the World Tree, men clad in golden armor blocked their way. The sharp spear tips glimmered brilliantly in the light of the tree.

“Move.”

Claire spoke just one word to them. A noble royal presence unimaginable from her usual image.

There was an undeniable weight in her single order that couldn’t be refused. Was it because she was an Aura Master? No, it wasn’t just that.

The origin of that pressure was the World Tree itself. The words of the most noble descendant were transformed into something almost like a decree through the very power of the World Tree.

It touched the essence of living beings, tapping into instinct. The knights, who tried desperately to avoid moving, ended up shifting aside like malfunctioning machines in front of the group.

‘Do nobles perceive such a display as kingly quality….’

I suppose that makes sense. Yeon-woo thought as he followed behind Claire.

After a long walk, they arrived before the queen seated on a massive throne made from the intertwined tree branches. It was the queen who spoke first.

“Welcome.”

Thump, it felt like her heart dropped. The sensation was vastly different from all the formidable beings they had encountered up until now.

While the presence of the individual felt inferior, the overwhelming pressure emanated was in an entirely different league. Before them stood not just an individual, but the totality of the fairy kingdom, the grand nation of Igrdals.

“““We pay our respects to the most beautiful flower of the World Tree.”””

In response to the queen’s words, many who were lined up on either side, including Claire, knelt in homage. Yeon-woo hurriedly followed suit, aware of the previously known etiquette.

“Enough.”

With her single word, the overwhelming pressure that weighed down on them seemingly vanished. Their bodies felt extraordinarily light.

So this is what a king is. Up until now, I’ve met nobles, but aside from the Demon King, this is my first encounter with royalty, Yeon-woo mused.

“You have returned, my other half.”

“I’ve come back without shame, my flower.”

‘Flower’ was the term by which the queen was elevated here. The most beautiful fruit borne by the World Tree.

If one knows the Elder Council is referred to as the “roots,” they might realize that this kingdom uses plant anatomy for their titles.

‘Roots, huh? Do they operate something like a shadow organization?’

Surely no one here would be insane enough to stick foreign eyes into their own arms.

“There’s no need for formality between us.”

“…Understood, Chloe.”

Claire seemed to feel that if she didn’t call her by name, they would continue this way for eternity, so she quickly gave in.

Though she hadn’t seen much of it herself, even Yeon-woo could tell Chloe’s stubbornness.

“Would you introduce your party to me?”

It was the second introduction, but it was the first meeting in a more public sense. After Yeon-woo and his party finished their introduction, the many nobles in the grand hall began to murmur among themselves.

It was only natural; the Swordmaster, who had the right to inherit the throne, had returned with a dragon and its contractor after having thrown it all away. Such a moment surely promised tumult.

Every noble present there besides the party awaited the queen’s response. She might respond in anger or perhaps take it lightly, given those sisters shared a historically harmonious relationship.

“They must be treated with honor. Guards, escort our guests.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

The guards standing closely by the queen swiftly approached the party. The reaction was so helplessly diminished that everyone present was struck with a sense of unease over their heads.

That was the end of the audience. All nobles gathered there had to leave with an inexplicable discomfort remaining in their chests.

And that had been the queen’s plan.

Whether they were wary of Claire or welcomed her in a hesitant manner.

The seeds planted this way would soon sprout among them. Perhaps it was an opportunity?

‘Then I’ll need to cut them all down when the time comes.’

With a cold expression, the queen thought just that.

(To be continued in the next chapter)

 

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