Ch.288Impersonation (3)

“Hah…”

While Issac and his group were still dazed by the taste of Elven communism, Queen Arwen of Alfheim, the person at the center of the incident, let out a frustrated sigh at the situation that showed no signs of resolution.

Since the meeting to coordinate opinions with her subjects had ended and she was alone in her office, no one could see her powerless reaction.

This was one of only two times when she could show weakness, as she needed to maintain a strict and virtuous image when sitting on the throne.

One was when she was alone like now, and the other was when she was with Issac.

To be precise, it should be called her true nature. She had never revealed her true self even in front of Cyris, the knight sent by the Dark Elves to guard her.

That’s how comfortable Issac was for Arwen, someone with whom she could express herself as a person, not as a queen.

‘How did it come to this…’

Currently, she was suffering from a headache due to the recent incident in Alfheim—the Kayre impersonation case.

If Cecilly’s motive was Reckyless, then Elisha’s motive was herself. It was a statement containing both the need to check the frighteningly growing Helium and her personal feelings.

From the queen’s position, Helium’s growth needed to be delayed somehow. Otherwise, it would remain Alfheim’s most dangerous rival.

She had originally underestimated Helium, but after experiencing their cultural power at the exhibition, her thoughts changed.

If things continued as they were, Helium would experience terrifying growth and develop into a superpower no less formidable than Alfheim.

Especially when citizens unite with one heart and mind following their leader’s will, history has proven what results can be achieved.

Humans did so during the Racial War, while Alfheim was busy being divided. There are side effects, but it’s difficult for citizens to trust their leader in the first place.

‘This is official business, so it can’t be helped.’

It’s not self-consolation; public and private matters must be clearly distinguished. While she feels compassion for the cursed demon race, Arwen is a wise leader.

No matter how pitiful the demon race may be, what needs to be guarded must be guarded.

Despite tensions after the Racial War, Alfheim has established itself as a powerful hegemonic nation.

Moreover, they’re experiencing growth after expelling the Senate, which had stagnated to the point of becoming petroleum.

“But do these bastards think Kayre is easy to impersonate?”

Arwen, alone in her office, spat out harsh words without hesitation. Her fine brow furrowed with displeasure.

The events that occurred in less than two years, followed by the current incident, made her irritation rise.

Although her statement was politically motivated and contained personal feelings, she never imagined it would lead to such results.

Moreover, not just one but dozens of people, well-known adventurers or mercenaries in human society, had flocked in droves.

It was enough of a headache that they insisted they were the real Kayre, but the frequent fights breaking out were even more troublesome.

‘This is an insult to Kayre.’

The poignant romance between Elisha and Kayre is one of Arwen’s favorite stories.

Being an Elven queen and a half-blood herself, she couldn’t help but be deeply immersed in it.

And Kayre in the Biography of Xenon is a human who is polite, kind, and considerate of others.

He’s a faithful man who looked at only one woman until his death, and although his personality is somewhat eccentric, he’s a man with excellent character in many ways.

It’s an insult to even compare him to the trash outside who are spouting nonsense claiming to be Kayre.

‘At least no one is claiming to be Xenon.’

If that were the case, Sabre would have intervened directly. If it were a lie, they would be dragged away for blasphemy.

She wished divine punishment would befall those claiming to be Kayre, but that was somewhat problematic.

First, the mindset of those claiming to be Kayre is the issue. They truly believe they are Kayre.

Of course, there must be impure intentions behind it. She had approached them in disguise, unable to resist her curiosity.

She could tolerate it when they were protesting on the streets or fighting among themselves.

She only thought, how little do these idiots have to do to act like that? But things changed after evening.

Having Cyris follow them just in case, she found that all sorts of lewd talk was the norm, and most had come to make a quick profit.

Upon hearing this, she wanted to expel them all immediately due to rising anger, but political issues made it ambiguous.

‘Fortunately, the citizens took care of it themselves.’

As her insides boiled with anger, Arwen’s expression softened as she recalled how the citizens had taken action themselves.

Due to the Kayre impersonators repeatedly crossing the line, the citizens of Alfheim didn’t view them favorably either.

Above all, the elves had decided to send Arwen as a gift to Xenon to avoid losing to the demon race.

Thanks to the citizens of Alfheim, not Arwen herself, expressing this position, the impersonators had become hesitant.

‘Issac must have been… surprised?’

The announcement that she was a gift for Xenon and no one should think of taking her away. With this one announcement, the whole world was in an uproar again, but Arwen was satisfied.

She had been planning to announce it someday, and thanks to the impersonators, she had seized the appropriate opportunity.

Moreover, it was even more meaningful because it wasn’t Arwen who made the announcement, but the citizens of Alfheim who spoke with one voice.

‘Anyway, Kayre isn’t those kinds of guys, but Issac.’

Arwen was making quite a misunderstanding. However, considering her situation, it’s a reasonable misunderstanding.

Despite Issac having committed major mistakes, he had shown goodwill to Arwen and even resolved the half-blood issue.

Even during the manuscript theft incident, he gave Rain a suspended sentence rather than an actual punishment.

Issac himself might be thoughtful and kind, but she realized after the non-confrontational confrontation with Cecilly last time.

Issac had crossed over from another world, and the world he lived in was similar to the world in the Biography of Xenon.

More precisely, it should be seen as a vanished ‘future’, that is, another form of this world.

‘I understand why he denied without hesitation when asked if he returned from the future. Because it’s not a lie.’

At first, she really thought there was a ‘restriction’ preventing him from speaking. But looking back, Issac never lied.

To explain this, one must deeply examine ‘time’, a truth that even gods find difficult to handle.

Let’s say someone returned from the future to the past. And they start changing the past, which has now become the ‘present’.

Then can the future that person came from still be called the future? A future that has changed too much?

It was once a famous theory, but it was buried due to its complexity and fear that it might challenge the position of gods.

Unlike the Dark Elf expulsion incident, forbidden magic, or fusion, which were artificially erased, this theory was discarded because it was too difficult and even elves feared it.

But if that theory is applied to Issac, it fits surprisingly well.

Of course, it would be the future for him, but he would have cleverly avoided the truth using the above theory. Even the gods would side with him on this.

In other words, Issac is a returner who has experienced all the events in the Biography of Xenon and come back.

This was the conclusion Arwen reached after numerous logical deductions. If Issac heard this, he would say she was writing a morning drama by herself.

‘The future has changed quite a bit, but…’

Arwen recalled the women by Issac’s side. Women who were not at all inferior to her and even surpassed her in some aspects.

She wanted to abandon Alfheim’s state affairs and run to Issac, but her duties were too demanding.

Elisha in the book must have felt similar. But unlike her, she would never experience tragedy.

The Senate, which she had been checking from time to time, had retired into history, and the citizens themselves were urging marriage.

Everything was perfect. All that remained was to drive out all the greedy impersonators.

After that, all she had to do was go to Issac, explain the situation, and fall into his arms with the excuse that ‘it can’t be helped’.

Her face reddened at the thought of falling into his arms, but no one could stop her from spreading her wings of imagination.

Knock knock knock-

[Your Majesty. It’s Kayre. May I come in?]

It just happened.

Arwen quickly gathered her wits as Kayre, recently appointed as a knight guard, knocked on the door.

Such an unseemly appearance should not be shown to anyone except Issac. So she shook her head vigorously.

“Ahem. Enter.”

Arwen cleared her throat briefly and granted entry.

As soon as she granted entry, Kayre carefully opened the door and stepped inside.

“What is it?”

“Well, I have urgent news to report.”

“Have those people caused trouble again?”

Arwen wrinkled her pretty face and expressed displeasure. Since the impersonators had descended upon Alfheim, there hadn’t been a quiet day.

The impersonators who coveted Arwen’s position and appearance, as well as their delusions.

After she appeared once, it intensified, leading to frequent disputes with the citizens of Alfheim.

“They should know. Not just me, but citizens like you have spoken with one heart and mind. I, Arwen Elidia, am a gift for Xenon.”

“Yes, I know. I agree with that as well. But the problem is…”

Kayre sighed deeply, wondering whether to say this or not.

Then, with a bitter smile as if it was a headache, he looked at Arwen and opened his mouth.

“It’s not those guys, but another guy who has finally crossed the line.”

“What do you mean?”

But the world is wide.

“Now, instead of Kayre, someone claiming to be Xenon has appeared.”

“…What?”

And there are more crazy people than you think.

Arwen heard Kayre’s report and opened her silver-gray eyes wide, then blinked repeatedly.

No matter how many lives they think they have, impersonating Xenon instead of Kayre is truly crossing the line.

She was more surprised than angry, so she stammered as she asked Kayre.

“Is, is that really true? Not Kayre, but Xenon?”

“Yes. Well, we don’t need to ask Luminus to know it’s 100% a lie… but you know?”

Kayre subtly questioned Arwen in a hushed voice. It was a kind of advice that things would get more complicated.

As soon as Arwen received the question, she quickly thought. The impersonators had crossed the line despite warnings not to.

Should she expel them now? Even if expelled, their voices would echo throughout the world, and impersonators would spring up everywhere.

The best method would be to take them to the temple for verification, but would they willingly go?

Above all, they were likely impersonating the ‘hero’ Xenon from the Biography of Xenon, not the ‘author’ Xenon.

Not just Arwen, but others would know this too. That’s why it’s even more absurd.

It’s not a new form of suicide, but how big must their liver be to impersonate Xenon? Was her position that coveted?

“…Can you tell me what he said?”

“He’s going around saying he’ll make you happier than Kayre, so marry him. He also said he’s going to be a hero in the future, so treat him accordingly.”

“What kind of sick…”

Arwen suppressed the words “godlike bastard.” She calmly patted her chest and barely opened her mouth.

“…Just tell me his name and characteristics.”

“It’s written as Xenon on the entry application form too, should I call him that?”

“Just call him the fake.”

Xenon, my foot. He’s a counterfeit.

Kayre shrugged at her words and continued slowly.

“Understood. He’s 17 years old, just becoming an adult by human standards, and he’s been proclaiming himself as Xenon within the mercenary guild too. Given this, there’s a high possibility his real name is also Xenon.”

“And?”

“Despite his young age, he’s reportedly quite skilled. His talent is also outstanding. Perhaps because of this…”

Arwen realized the reason and sighed.

‘He’s an immature human…’

*****

Meanwhile, around the same time, at the Luminus Temple.

“Someone claiming to be Xenon has appeared in Alfheim?”

“According to the news we’ve heard, yes. Shall we go there?”

“Of course.”

Kate, who had received the news faster than anyone, smiled brightly and answered the messenger’s question.

“I’d like to see what kind of madman would commit such blasphemy.”

With a truly terrifying smile.