40 – And the groom is… really ugly

"This is the test?" (Ichiro)

"Yup, Ichiro-boy. You're the one that is doubting my ways. So it's enough for you to pass through this cave."

The same cave that Edelweiss had to go through at the end of Shamoa's training session. Unlike a dungeon there were absolutely no monsters in this cave. Even more, there are no living beings inside the cave. Not even insects. It starts at one end of a cliff range and it ends on the other end. It was a straight line. There was no way you could get lost.

"It takes 7 days to fully reach the exit."

"I don't see how can this be labeled as a test."

"You'll see soon enough. Just remember to turn back if you feel you can't advance anymore."

"Kuh. This is going to be too easy."

And so, Ichiro stepped inside the cave.

.

.

.

~Ichiro's point of view~

"This cave really is lifeless."

Seriously, what was that cat thinking? I don't doubt commander Arthur. If he says she's an extraordinary teacher then it must be true. But how does this count as a test?

*Drip**drip*

Seriously, the only sound I hear is water dripping from the ceiling. I went deep already and I can't even see a thing. It's like I am walking blindly. What gives?

*Drip**drip**...*

Hmm? Why did the dripping stop? It's like someone muted the tv with one button.

"Just what's going on here?"

*Gasp*

What the!? I know I said that out loud. What happened to all the sound? Why can't I hear my own voice?

"AAAAAA!!"

No way! I'm screaming from the top of my lungs but I can't hear a single thing. What the hell… it's like… I don't even exist at all… No. That can be. Calm down. I need to compose myself. Something simple…

That's it. I'll just touch my face. Touching my face will calm my nerves.

…

Where the hell is my face!? No, that aside I can't feel anything! I can't touch a single body part. It's like my hands are reaching and trying to grasp thin air. Have I died!? Am I alive? This… can't be happening…

------

Shamoa and the 3 girls were still waiting at the entrance. Shamoa was grooming herself, but the girls seemed concerned. Eventually they could all hear a terrible scream.

"AAAAAAH!!!!"

Ichiro emerged out of the cave, covered in sweat and gasping for air. He immediately collapsed on the ground and actually threw up.

"Oh? Back already? I take it that you enjoyed your enlightenment."

*Cough**cough*

"Ichiro, are you alright?" (Amane)

"Were you attacked?" (Kasumi)

"No… that place really is lifeless… how long was I in there?"

"Roughly 30 minutes." (Shamoa)

"Are you… serious? What kind of place was that? It puts your very existence in question. It's impossible to cross. I felt like my mind was going blank…"

Ichiro was shaking in fear. It really took a few minutes and some mind fortification potions for him to finally calm down.

"The Winter Fox… did she really spend 7 days in that place?"

"You better believe it. I warned you. I can't train you the same way I did with her. To be frank, I never train two people the same way. And I don't teach what you want to know. I teach what you need to know."

A few more moments of silence.

"Alright, kids. Are you finally ready to listen to me? From this point forward the clock is ticking. Willing to ignore everything you know and listen to my teachings for the next week?"

"Yes!" (x4)

"Then follow me. We will begin the first lesson."

------

~Morning. Duskwood Kingdom~

In any race, there is what is called beauty and ugliness by individuals. It seemed that Elves were no exception.

"I am quite thankful for being invited for breakfast and that I am given the privilege to meet the honored guests."

The man that appeared with a viscous voice… how should I put this? He seriously didn't look like an elf at all.

A pig. This guy was a pig.

At any rate, he was fat. Even my girls felt slightly uncomfortable looking at him. While having these thoughts, the Queen beckoned him over.

"Sit, sit."

"Ohohoho……Why thank you, excuse me."

He was a man that had a peculiar and greasy way of speaking. Elves had nothing but beautiful forms and looked young, but this guy was a middle-aged man.

While wiping the sweat that rose to the surface of his skin with a handkerchief, the man sat down next to the Queen.

"……U, um……Who might, that person be?" (Yuki)

Expressing a whole faced smile, the Queen answered.

"This person is Galan. Harmonia’s husband that I have chosen! The next King!"

"Haaaaaー!?"(Yuki)

Yuki’s eyes went round. Both my lolis went pale.

The Queen wasn’t perturbed.

"Galan is an excellent Elf. He is the kingdom’s best if he uses a bow, he has studied economics and politics outside, and above all, he looks sturdy, doesn’t he?"

"……Is that the Elves’ aesthetic sense?" (Edel)

Honestly I can’t blame the princess for running away. If I had to marry that tub of lard I would run away too. Although it’s none of my business…

“Hey, Queen, wouldn’t it actually be better to delay the marriage? I mean the princess looks too young and childish to marry.”

"Yes, I was thinking that she is still young. She is only 13 years old after all. But the Duskwood Kingdom requires a king immediately. It is a promise with God after all. She needs to get married quickly."

"……Endure for the sake of the country, is it?"

"Isn’t that only natural? That is what royalty is after all. A life where she doesn’t know hardship, a gifted education in childhood, all of it is due to being royalty. Since she was given preferentialt reatment ever since she was born, she isn’t allowed to be selfish at this point."

"Doesn’t she get the right to choose at least?"

"Do people born to poor families choose? What about the children of knights? The children of farmers? Did you choose to be born as a fox crossbreed?"

"No, but that logic is…"

"A princess has a princess’ life. And more importantly, since Harmonia is now the only one that carries the Duskwood royal family’s blood, she needs to fulfill her responsibility."

This other world, although it has demi-human races and magic, its fundamental culture level is in the Middle Ages. It was a feudal era. Orders of succession are standard. People’s lives are decided by birth.

Well, even in the modern society of my original world, a person’s life is influenced by their environment though. Even so it was a mentality I despised and shut myself from it. Maybe that’s also a reason I didn’t have many friends. But then again, I liked being alone.

"Ohohoho……As for me, I have no intention of pressuring her into this. However, there is no mistake that the Duskwood Kingdom needs a King after all. There is no other way around it."

The Elves depend on the forest’s blessings. And then, the forest’s blessings are granted by keeping the promise with God. A king is required. I’d personally like to meet that God and give it a piece of my mind. Just what the hell was it thinking?

"He’s amazing, isn’t heー. Such perfect logic and self sacrifice!"

The Queen was greatly delighted by how the candidate for the next king that she herself had chosen had demonstrated that he was quite skilled. A politician will be a politician. Once more, the fate of this country is no concern of mine. I ain’t a hero of justice. If that’s the  way things have to go then who am I to say otherwise? Still… what’s with this throbbing feeling coming from my chest? I don’t… feel comfortable at all.