Chapter 91: Chapter 91: The Queen’s Secret
-Whack!!!
The cane struck my head. Ah, damn it, why does he keep hitting my head? My brain cells are going to die, huh? I wanted to argue, but no words came out. Damn it, I can tolerate everything, but not this old man.
The other elves grabbed me from my half-conscious state and lifted me to my feet. They laid me next to the queen and attached one side of the shackle, which had been on my wrist, to the queen's wrist. Men and women should not be in close contact, but these unholy bastards…
This is…
More importantly, the shackle they used on the queen and me was the problem. When it was only on my wrist, I hadn't noticed anything, but once connected to the queen, I felt something change.
My life force is draining away…
No wonder I felt dizzy; it wasn't just because my head was hit. My life force, magical power, purification power, and all the strength I had were slowly flowing into the queen through the shackle. So it was engraved with a spell for this purpose. My mind grew increasingly hazy, and my eyes closed as if sleep was overtaking me.
Am I going to die?
No, that didn't seem to be it. The life force wasn't draining away that much. It was more like when receiving an IV in the hospital, with life force flowing out drop by drop.
"Is it stable?"
In my daze, I heard Blanche's voice.
"Yes, it's very stable."
And the voice of someone checking my pulse.
"If it's too much, the queen might wake up."
"Don't worry, the life thread is perfect."
"Keep watching for a while, and tighten the security."
"Yes, Sir Blanche."
The elves began burning some strange incense by my head.
Sandalwood? Blue scent tree? Fox flower? Damn it, I couldn't think straight. I couldn't even move my body. Meanwhile, through the "life thread" or whatever it was, my life force was slowly draining away. Not enough to kill me instantly, but…
Wait a moment.
Right, the magical power wasn't enough to kill me instantly, but it was leaking out little by little, just like I thought before as if receiving an IV drip.
So, their goal wasn't to kill me.
Their real aim was to use me as a backup battery for the queen.
It was fortunate that I realized this much, but…
Unfortunately, there was nothing I could do.
It felt like an overwhelming drowsiness was taking over, making my eyes close repeatedly. Life thread, my ass. It was a sleep thread. A sleep thread…
"~~…"
Despite my desperate efforts to stay awake, I eventually closed my eyes.
***
Darion Sylvanus woke up in a strange place.
"Where is this…?"
The surroundings were filled with darkness. After waiting for his eyes to adjust, he saw familiar statues not far away. The figures of the elven heroes who had protected Lysette from the cursed land's invasion…
That meant Darion was in the underground tomb of the Lysette royal palace.
"Why am I here…?"
Darion mumbled in a daze. It wasn't a question expecting an answer. It was a bewildered statement, an attempt to somehow organize his thoughts.
But then…
– Darion.
An answer came back.
A voice that was fragile yet powerful, beautiful yet terrifying.
It was the voice of Queen Dianta.
Though it sounded muffled and blurred as if it sounded from underwater, he was certain it was her voice. With a blank expression, Darion spoke into the empty space.
"Your Majesty… the Queen?"
– Ah, I knew you would hear my voice. Dear child, you have always listened to my voice since you were young.
"Of course. Although I haven't been able to visit you recently, how could I ever forget your voice, Your Majesty…"
– Shh, Darion. We have plenty of time to exchange pleasantries later. For now, listen to my request.
"A request…"
Darion felt a chill run down his spine. A direct request from the Queen was not just rare but a great honor.
"Anything, Your Majesty."
– Lend me your body.
"…What?"
Despite his confident words, Darion responded to Dianta with a bewildered voice. Lend her his body? Was that even possible?
– Normally, your mother should have answered, but you are the one who resonates with me now. So please fulfill your Queen's request.
"O-Of course…"
– I knew you would answer that way. My dear child of the Silver Forest, let us go together to help your friend.
"My friend…?"
– Theodore.
Theodore! Upon hearing the name, Darion was able to recall the memories he had just forgotten. Yes, while passing through the dark elf villages one by one, he had been kidnapped by a little dark elf inside the carriage. And then… and then… Overwhelmed by confusing memories, Darion shook his head.
– Shh. Darion, calm down. That child was me…
The Queen was that little dark elf? It was hard to believe. Darion frowned without realizing it. How could such a lowly dark elf child be the Queen…?
– It must be hard to understand. I wanted to save that child before he committed more sins. I had no choice but to sacrifice you… but in the end, it turned out to be helpful. I can receive your help now.
As soon as the Queen finished speaking, Darion could glimpse the truths unfolding in his mind. The child had teleported everyone in the dark elf village to the underground prison. He planned to send Theodore's group to the underground prison of the seventh village as well. However, by interfering with the child's soul, the Queen had only managed to transport Darion to an unexpected place: the underground prison of the Lysette Palace.
– There isn't much time, Darion.
"…Ye-Yes!"
– I will put your soul to sleep for a while. Don't worry and close your eyes.
Darion closed his eyes as the Queen instructed. Soon, he felt an unknown yet familiar soul and power inhabit his body.
"Whew…"
As the soul of the Queen, Dianta, settled safely into Darion's body, his eyes began to shine with the Queen's characteristic noble silver light.
Dianta waited briefly for her soul to adapt to Darion's body. It took quite some time for a soul that had wandered through the "Labyrinth of Dreams" for so long to settle properly. Nonetheless, it was much faster and more stable compared to when she interfered with dark elves, who had weaker connections. This was likely because Darion was a close relative.
Dianta clenched and unclenched her fist. As she did so, the mana within Darion surged roughly.
This should be enough…
It was fortunate that Darion's body and her soul were a good match. Dianta who was now borrowing Darion's body quietly walked out of the underground tomb of the palace and headed for the secret passage only she knew about.
***
– Piiro beep beep …
A plump Beepy fluttered in front of my eyes. The long purple feather sticking out of its short tail looked so awkward it was almost funny, and I chuckled.
– Beep!
Then Beepy couldn't resist and started pecking the top of my head relentlessly. Hey, hey, at this rate, I'll go bald. This is a man's pride! I grabbed Beepy to stop him from pecking my head any further.
"But, really…"
How did you get here? I muttered as I looked at Beepy. I distinctly remember being knocked out by the Elves and becoming the Queen's backup battery …
– Beeeep!
While I was lost in thought, Beepy struggled violently and slipped out of my hand. The little creature flew to a tree and began grooming itself leisurely.
"This tree…"
It was Lysette's guardian tree. The flowers on its branches were blooming and wilting repeatedly in a slow continuous cycle. I approached the guardian tree as if mesmerized and placed my hand on its rough bark. The flowers stopped wilting and fully bloomed, just like during the ritual of proof.
At the same time, I could read the guardian tree's memories. Its memories were the history of Lysette itself; they were countless and old. Among them were memories of the current queen, Dianta, from her birth to her ascension.
And then…
There were also memories from when the guardian tree was a branch of the World Tree. The first ancient elf of Lysette had received this branch from the gods, and it became Lysette's guardian tree.
The pieces of the puzzle were coming together.
The queen is connected to the guardian tree, and the guardian tree is connected to the World Tree…
These three entities influenced each other. The World Tree affected the guardian tree, and the guardian tree affected the queen.
That's why the queen was trapped in the labyrinth of dreams, which was like her own backyard.
And the elf elders are trying to take advantage of this moment.
When the king who is the foundation of a country is shaken, wolves lying in wait seize the moment and attack viciously.
But if the queen dies, the problem becomes bigger. Is that why they were trying to use me?
As a backup battery to keep the queen barely alive.
In that case, finding the queen is the top priority…
Defeating Grizel alone wouldn't solve the problem. Is the queen still in the labyrinth of dreams? How do I get to the labyrinth of dreams?
While I was lost in thought, a familiar voice reached my ears.
-… The…
-.o…
-… do…re …
Huh?
Was the queen calling my name just now?
Or did Blanche hit me too hard, and something was wrong with my head?
Or maybe…
Am I dying?
Just as that foolish thought crossed my mind, I felt an intense pain on my cheek. Huh? Wait, pain? Isn't this a mental world?
-Smack!!!
Now, along with the pain, I heard a sound. Wait, wait! This hurts too much…!
-Smack!!!
Whatever it was, the hand slapping my cheek was getting rougher. Despite the haziness, it felt much more painful than Blanche's cane beatings.
-Smack!!!
When you experience pain that transcends perception, you either faint or, conversely, wake up.
I was the latter.
"Ugh!!!"
I instinctively sat up, like a student jolted awake by the teacher's flick during a boring class.
After I looked around in a daze…
"You've come to your senses."
There stood Darion with his hand wrapped in terrifying magical power.
No way, did he hit me with that?!
"…Isn't this attempted murder?"
Weekly Power Status
-- Power
Ranking 
-- Power
stone