Ch.157157. Invasion: Aftermath (2)

The Royal Palace, which had appeared so brilliant and beautiful from the outside, naturally boasted an interior beauty that matched its external splendor.

The exterior of the Elven Royal Palace was coated with none other than orichalcum (divine metal).

The most distinctive characteristic of orichalcum—considered one of the three legendary metals alongside mythril (true silver) and adamantium (black iron)—was undoubtedly its considerably higher price and rarity compared to the other two.

Not only does it have excellent compatibility with holy magical power, also called divine force, but despite looking not much different from gold, this metal possesses durability and defensive capabilities comparable to mythril…. It’s expensive. Truly disgustingly expensive.

If one were to make a full plate armor purely of orichalcum, the cost would be enough—no joke—to purchase an entire proper estate and become a lord.

‘A magical metal with a gold base.’ A material that multiplies precious upon precious, so it’s only natural that it would be expensive….

These elves, suspiciously wealthy, had not only coated the entire surface of their castle with such expensive orichalcum but had also liberally applied it to the interior decorations.

For instance, door ornaments, doorframes, and the seams between walls, floors, and ceilings.

They committed the extravagance of applying orichalcum as accents on pure white walls and crafting all sorts of decorative items from it.

All the lighting in this palace consisted of magical lamps resembling light bulbs, and the candlesticks and chandeliers supporting these lamps were made of solid orichalcum embedded with jewels.

Considering that I could see at least dozens of chandeliers just within my view… they likely transcended mere luxury items and probably possessed some magical capabilities.

Anyway, after proceeding through these incredibly lavish palace corridors, I arrived at what the elven attendant had previously explained was the massive door leading to the central hall.

It was an arched door, carved from a single piece of giant ebony wood—a now extinct (or reportedly extinct) species—and lavishly decorated with orichalcum, like all other doors in this palace.

Deliberately ignoring the sun-like energy emanating from beyond the door, I stole glances at the twelve palace guards standing on either side.

Warriors wearing splendid full-body armor made of mythril and orichalcum, draped with golden lion fur capes.

Though called guards, they were essentially the elven king’s royal guard and personal bodyguards—a monstrous group composed entirely of mid-level Aura Awakeners.

‘I wonder how strong they are….’

They were powerful enough that before I reached the advanced level, I could have barely defeated one, and would have been at a disadvantage against two.

As I observed them briefly, the massive door before me suddenly split in half and opened….

‘…!’

Upon seeing the scene beyond, I instantly froze in place.

The most luxurious sight I had ever witnessed unfolded before my eyes.

The central hall, where I doubted anything could be considered non-precious, possessed “something” that my inadequate vocabulary could not fully capture.

This space, transcending mere luxury into the realm of art, was adorned with banners and curtains bearing various patterns, and the floor was covered with the finest red-dyed wool carpet.

On either side of this red carpet stood those who could be considered the high officials of the Elven Kingdom.

At least 5 advanced-level individuals. Roughly 80 or more from the upper echelons of the mid-level ranks.

Including all other personnel, the total of about 150 people represented the highest concentration of power I had ever seen gathered in one place.

But none of this mattered.

Not when compared to “that being” seated on the massive orichalcum throne placed on the dais at the innermost part of the central hall.

“That being,” the monarch of this Elven Kingdom…. was like the sun descended to earth.

The androgynous-looking elf, emitting a dazzling radiance that felt warm even from behind, was a being that could only be described as a “sun.”

The “Sun’s” attire resembled the formal wear I was currently wearing but was incomparably more splendid, and simultaneously had several solid orichalcum plate parts attached to it as if they had been part of the garment from the beginning.

The orichalcum plate armor was embedded with dozens of large, colorful jewels of incalculable value.

Behind their head… floated a metal (orichalcum) ring, as if representing a halo.

The magical radiance emanating from these accessories and clothing was overshadowed by the “Sun’s” own halo.

“They,” the “Sun,” sat on a throne made of orichalcum, like the other furnishings in this palace.

This throne was not only an aesthetically supreme work of art but also clearly showed that it was more than mere decoration.

Golden tubes connected to the massive magical circuit drawn on the wall behind the throne, and orichalcum pipes or wire-like structures on the dais floor naturally connected to the throne.

And then, “They,” the divine monarch of the Elven Kingdom, turned their head slightly, directing their fierce, radiant eyes toward me….

[“Hero of the Grove, Gregory Aleinos, approach the throne!”]

As the attendant standing beside the “Sun” shouted with an Aura-infused voice, I forced my trembling limbs to remain steady as I slowly entered the central hall.

※ ※ ※

After hearing the instructions from the one I presumed to be the palace’s head attendant, I slowly proceeded forward through the central hall.

During this process, presences that had been suppressed by the “Sun’s” aura began to emerge, but having experienced too much to be surprised by such things anymore, I calmly walked along the carpet.

Simultaneously, I recalled various rumors about the Elven monarch.

According to the rumors I had heard, the ruler of the Elven Kingdom, sometimes called the Lord-god, was a descendant of the Sun God, the chief deity of the Elven pantheon.

Normally, one would dismiss such stories as founding myths or propaganda, but…

In this fantasy world, such tales were highly likely to be true.

In a world where gods exist and still exert their influence, the consequences of falsely claiming divine lineage would be obvious, and in this world, propaganda-like stories often turned out to be factual.

In the eastern part of the western continent, in a region called “Romania,” there is a nation known as the Principality of Wallachia, whose ruler inherits the titles of “Count Dracula” and “Duke of Wallachia” through generations.

The House of Dracula is famous for having a dragon among its ancestors, and it is said that children who partially inherit dragon powers are occasionally born into that family.

Therefore, while I had no doubt that the Elven royal family truly had the Sun God among their ancestors, I hadn’t expected the bloodline to remain so evident even now.

But the moment I saw the elf-demigod sitting on the throne beyond, I finally recalled the elven lifespan and chastised myself for my foolishness.

Basically, an elf’s life expectancy is around 1,000 years.

Of course, few elves live this long and dangerous life in full, but the important thing is that divine lineage was added to elves with such long lifespans.

Even I had become a semi-immortal whose lifespan had disappeared after learning druid magic, so would the concept of “lifespan” even have meaning for a demigod?

‘I was… stupid.’

So as I stared at the demigod before me, the founding monarch of the Elven Kingdom, as if to engrave them in my eyes,

I found myself having arrived at my designated position and immediately assumed the posture required when receiving the monarch, according to the elven etiquette I had been taught.

《…Raise your head.》

And it was at this moment that I first heard their voice.

‘Is this… truly a demigod?’

Different from the demigod “Thunder Eagle” I first met, or Grand Master Hecate whom I met later. If I had to compare, wasn’t it similar to the blacksmith Hephaestus when he briefly lifted his veil?

‘…Is a mortal attempting ascension?’

Thanks to the filter magic protecting my mind, I didn’t faint, but this being before me carried a higher and more powerful dignity than any I had experienced before.

As the elves called them, the name “Lord-god” suited this majestic presence before me more than anyone else—

-CRASH!

‘…Ah.’

My contemplation ended right there. Hearing the sound of my mental filter shattering under the strain, I now had to control my body and soul that seemed determined to make me faint.

A god bound to earth by their own will possesses a corresponding dignity, after all.