Ch.19464. Uphold Your Mission.

As they left the reception room and even stepped out of the Queen’s palace, Remira quietly expressed her concern beside the Queen.

“Even so, Your Majesty personally escorting him is…”

“My goodness. Escorting? I’m simply going to pay my respects to the World Tree while I have some free time.”

Despite being a queen whose conduct was impeccable and whose every gesture was as radiant as falling flower petals, with a touch of melancholy that seemed to fade away…

“……”

Such a formal, self-serving, and flimsy excuse.

“There’s a reason, and isn’t this more efficient? Don’t you think so too, Kariel?”

“Your words are most wise.”

Hmm, efficiency.

…Or is it just laziness?

Living through long ages probably means that daily life becomes mundane.

So perhaps she secretly welcomes this kind of fresh breeze.

…At least that’s how it appears on the surface.

While Kariel quietly organized his thoughts along these lines,

Remira still seemed unsatisfied, her expression stoic but her eyes noticeably narrowed.

“But Your Majesty, I’m not sure if it’s appropriate to reveal our vulnerabilities to him so candidly.”

“I can answer that on her behalf, if Your Majesty permits.”

“My goodness. How could I refuse such kindness?”

Remira observed the Queen’s attitude with detached indifference.

The Queen’s immediate response—smiling while clasping her hands together—felt like she was passing off an annoying burden. Perhaps that was just an oversensitive interpretation.

“This might sound like I’m bragging.”

Regardless, Kariel turned to Remira with a slight smile.

“The reason Her Majesty revealed that fact to me is because of what I’ve shown and proven on my way here. She gained confidence in me because of that.”

“Indeed, indeed.”

Her Majesty responds with modest but cheerful agreement.

“First, because of me, the Wolf Prince of Dabas became the Crown Prince. I also mediated a conflict between feuding houses in Banus, preventing a territorial war. In Metran, I devised a strategy to strengthen royal authority, which was so effective that the ministers began to be wary of the king. I almost put myself in danger because of that, but well, it was nothing worth mentioning.”

……Is that really nothing?

Deliberately killing the child of a Knight of Radiance and a great hero would literally mean picking a fight with the Empire.

Hostages and captives only have value while alive.

…It’s painfully obvious that the Empire’s wrath would descend without restraint the moment Kariel dies.

In a situation where even unfortunate accidents should be feared, they tried to kill him? This is essentially saying “let’s both die.”

In reality, it’s no different from surrendering in despair, saying “please kill me harshly.”

“There are other minor instances, but I’ve always benefited those I sided with, never causing them harm. There were risks, but those were inevitable secondary issues. If an opponent determined to fight draws a weapon, we must settle things decisively—that’s our situation, isn’t it? I devised strategies and schemes to lure them into drawing their hidden blades, then made them realize those blades were actually rusted weapons, thus eliminating their will to resist. This was also the most efficient way for me to prove my worth, even without physical strength.”

Whether spoken by a child or an elder, schemes and strategies made of words… actually don’t matter to the one executing them.

…Without strength or special abilities, and at a political disadvantage as a hostage, this was all he could prove…

But in other words, that alone was enough.

Though he was speaking to Remira, his words were also clearly meant for the Queen.

Otherwise, he wouldn’t have deliberately used honorifics in his speech.

“It’s nearly impossible for a human child to be this brilliant. But in your case, Kariel, it’s not brilliance but innate talent.”

“I don’t think of it that way.”

“That’s because you’re not one who looks down on others, but one who looks up.”

Someone who feels competitive toward beings who wander and soar in places infinitely higher than crawling on the ground.

Those consumed by admiration don’t even feel jealousy.

Therefore, those who struggle, those who never give up challenging, will inevitably grow in some way as long as they don’t fall into despair.

“Perhaps it was due to exceptional educational guidance.”

The Queen smiled, throwing out words tinged with envy.

“Perhaps the heavens bestowed this modest talent on me so I could have an audience with someone as beautiful as Your Majesty?”

“My goodness. You really do have a way with words.”

Remira briefly stuck out her tongue at the back-and-forth between the two.

“…No one can deny Your Majesty’s beauty. But even so, isn’t your reaction a bit excessive to flattery from a human child?”

“Oh my, Remira. That’s disrespectful to Kariel. Besides, Kariel is praising and blessing me with sincerity. This is quite special. You shouldn’t diminish his true intentions by calling it mere flattery.”

“? So others don’t do the same?”

“That’s right. Unfortunately, that’s correct.”

The Queen said this while raising the corners of her mouth.

It was a complex emotion rarely shown by elves.

Though faint, what appeared in her expression was clearly close to cynicism.

“Most living beings don’t really know what they’re thinking, what they like, or what they want to do.”

Remira slightly adjusted her posture as she walked.

“Please enlighten me.”

“It’s something infinitely difficult yet simple. What is it? It’s sincerity. True heart. Whole-heartedness. Most people don’t know what these are and just drift through life aimlessly.”

“……?”

“Don’t understand? Then you don’t. Neither with your head nor your heart. In your case, Remira… it unconsciously manifests when you hold a bow or grasp a sword, but rarely appears otherwise. Self-awareness is even more difficult.”

“Hmm….”

As Remira tried to contemplate this, Kariel added an explanation.

“Remira, imagine you’re protecting Her Majesty from an enemy threat, and you can only save either your life or hers. What would you do?”

“Obviously, I would sacrifice my life. Without a moment’s hesitation.”

“Right. That’s it.”

“……?”

Kariel shrugged at the still-puzzled Remira.

The Queen gave a gentle eye-smile.

“Though different in nature, he explained it in a way that’s easy to understand. But if you still don’t get it, perhaps it’s not yet time.”

“No, I did hear what you said. But… if it means dedicating oneself wholeheartedly in every moment, as if offering one’s life, and if I understand correctly, that’s what he’s doing now when he speaks—is that right, Your Majesty?”

“That’s right. The praise Kariel offers me carries that weight. And it’s neither false nor simple flattery. That’s why I’m truly pleased. And what you say you understand is still just the surface. You need to know more to truly understand.”

For Remira, this was something that seemed simple yet remained profoundly difficult.

Like a wind that couldn’t be grasped.

“…I still don’t quite understand.”

“Time will solve that too. You’re still young, aren’t you?”

“But aren’t humans beings who repeat lies as naturally as breathing? So does that mean everything Kariel says is truth rather than falsehood?”

“That’s also correct. Whatever Kariel says, he always speaks the truth. If we had keen senses like some races—smell, hearing, and other senses—we might try to judge truth based on physical responses. All species fundamentally contain souls of good and evil, and depending on their background, they learn to curse and reject evil. And such people, when they lie or harbor killing intent or hostility toward others, always reveal tension or unease, whether they realize it or not. Those with keen senses try to discern whether someone is lying by gauging such discomfort.”

“But we’re different, aren’t we?”

“Yes. What we sense is energy. The energy and remnants, fragments of energy that emanate when someone acts unnaturally, speaks unnaturally, or harbors unnatural intentions or thoughts—that’s what allows us to easily discern the truth.”

“…So Kariel has no issues with even that, always remaining even and pure?”

“That’s right. He doesn’t lie. He always speaks the truth and talks with sincerity.”

Kariel, feeling a bit embarrassed, fidgeted with the back of his head.

“I’m concerned you might be gilding my face too much.”

“Accept it graciously. It’s for both you and me.”

“If you say so, gladly.”

“……”

Though she couldn’t quite tell what it was, Remira sensed that some hidden content had again passed between the two.

At times like this, Remira felt frustrated by her own naive intelligence.

It was because of this personality that she became a guardian, but it made her uncomfortable in many ways.

Understanding her predicament, the Queen offered some words of encouragement.

“Feeling urgency and realizing one’s inadequacies is how one grows. Stagnation is the deserved suffering of those who don’t understand the need and meaning of growth. Don’t worry. If you continue to strive as you do now, I look forward to seeing you in a hundred years. Hohoho.”

Kariel added:

“Remira, you’re still in your growth phase, so don’t be impatient.”

“……”

What an irritating little brat.

At the very least, those words shouldn’t come from a human child.

“And in Kariel’s case, since he harbors a snake in his head, you should know that you can’t fully trust everything he says, even if it’s sincere and truthful.”

“…This is too difficult for me, Your Majesty.”

“Time will solve that too, so don’t worry.”

After such casual yet meaningful conversation, they walked for some time.

While the World Tree is said to be visible from anywhere, by now it filled their vision completely, unless they turned around.

“And this is also important—Kariel, you mentioned you couldn’t get along well with spirits? Perhaps you might find a small clue here. I hope there will be positive progress for you.”

“As Your Majesty said, I believe they avoid me because of the snake in my head. Even Lady Geornia said this was unavoidable.”

“That’s because she walks the path of magic. When it comes to handling spirits, few can match us.”

“Indeed, would it be inappropriate for the husband of a fairy to be unable to handle spirits?”

“It’s better than not being able to use them at all, isn’t it?”

…There they go again.

Remira unconsciously frowned at the conversation that seemed to skip context.

“Your Majesty, are you really planning to promote marriage between Kariel and our kind? And… Kariel, are you okay with that too?”

Kariel responded with a wry smile.

“Remira, beyond what you know intellectually, human males, as creatures, have extremely strong obsessions and desires for companions, spouses, and mates. I believe I should have at least ten wives. And all of them should be women whom the whole world envies!”

“W-what indecent! Greedy! Your Majesty! Look! How could we possibly entrust our precious daughters to someone like—”

Though she deserved at least a scolding, if not an outright reprimand,

the Queen instead seemed to take Kariel’s side.

“If it helps bring peace to the continent, even if only partially, why not?”

“W-what?”

What kind of absurd logic was this?

But the Queen’s next words shocked Remira even more.

“In exchange, if you form a bond with me, you’ll have to stay here for the rest of your life.”

“If I can spend the rest of my life with Your Majesty, I would gladly accept that a hundred times over.”

“Yes. Still, there might be room for your mind to change… I’d like you to think carefully and tell me the optimal conclusion you reach later.”

“Your way of speaking is becoming old-fashioned again. I told you, you can speak more casually.”

“Speech patterns built up over hundreds of years don’t change easily. Hohoho.”

“That’s fine. Even that aspect of you is lovely.”

H-h-how can he say such embarrassing things without batting an eye?

“Hohoho!”

And seeing the Queen accept it purely and joyfully, Remira’s stomach began to ache with suspicion.

“Hmm?”

As they approached the World Tree, various altars and crowds began to come into view.

Some elves were simply filling cups with water and offering prayers,

while others were lighting fires on platforms and immersed in prayer, quite diverse in their practices.

And there seemed to be no distinction between high elves and common elves among them.

“If you wish to pay respects to the World Tree alone later, you can visit by following that path.”

“I see.”

As Kariel calmly nodded, the Queen smiled and asked:

“I could have called you here or guided you directly from the beginning. Aren’t you curious why we took such a roundabout way?”

“I assume it was due to Your Majesty’s wise insight and thoughtful consideration.”

“My goodness. Thank you for saying so.”

Seeing the Queen smile gently, Remira added:

“Outsiders and foreign races are not normally allowed to pay respects to the Sacred Tree. Only Your Majesty and the 14 councilors can permit that.”

“Remira, Kariel already knows all that. He’s been here for days—how could he not know?”

“……”

When she gave him a look that seemed to ask if this was true, Kariel lifted his chin and began looking up at the World Tree as if gazing at distant mountains.

“And you still say he’s a truthful person?!”

“He didn’t tell any lies, did he?”

“How is that…”

Kariel changed his tone and suddenly began to whimper.

“Remira, I was just giving you an opportunity to step in. Why don’t you appreciate my thoughtfulness? It breaks my heart.”

“My goodness. That’s certainly sincere too.”

“Your Majesty!”

Why do I feel like these two are playing with me?

Is it my imagination? Or am I interpreting things too sensitively?

“Look at her. Isn’t she adorable?”

“She has a cuteness befitting her age.”

…Please speak in a way I can understand! Your Majesty! Kariel!