Tears of the Elf Queen
(Note: This chapter and the next contain extremely graphic and unsettling content. Readers who may find this distressing are advised to skip these sections.)
Elves can be defined as supernatural beings who interact with spirits, distinct from ‘users.’ They consider the World Tree, Yggdrasil, as their parent and live in harmony with nature and spirits, forming a sophisticated society. Reports indicate that elves have not been found on the eastern, western, or northern continents, but only in the ‘Forest of Elves’ on the southern continent.
Elves resemble humans in appearance but have distinct differences. It is well-known that regardless of gender, they possess extraordinary beauty. Their ears are not rounded like humans but are pointed, resembling leaves. They have wings similar to dragonflies, which denote their social rank. Their physical vitality is remarkable, housing a life force far superior to that of humans.
What are the unique traits of elves? Users from the southern continent often refer to them as ‘the noble race that sings the light of nature.’ They are elegant, pure, and peace-loving, with a deep appreciation for music. However, they are also rational and logical, showing no mercy to those they deem as enemies.
Elves move with incredible agility, especially in forests, which are akin to their sanctuaries, enhancing their abilities. Some claim that elves possess powers akin to the forest’s blessing. While not officially confirmed, the few elves I’ve encountered lend credibility to this theory.
Numerous records document sightings of elves in their forest. While we can’t review them all, one common piece of advice stands out: never lie to an elf if you can’t control your emotions.
Elves have clear, pure eyes, capable of reading human emotions and discerning their inner thoughts with uncanny precision. Their society mirrors that of humans, with ranks determined by their wings. Baby elves are born with small wings, which mature over about 30 years.
There is no ‘king’ in elf society; only a ‘queen’ can lead, as traditionally, only females are eligible for leadership. The position of the Elf Queen is reserved for the most exceptional elves, whose grace and nobility are said to rival ancient goddesses. However, the throne is currently vacant. The last known queen, ‘Margarita Dallant Vitrais,’ elected 300 years ago, has mysteriously disappeared.
Yggdrasil seems to prevent the election of a new queen, suggesting Margarita might still be alive somewhere on the northern continent. (For more details, refer to records of the ancient magical city of Magia from 300 years ago.)
Occasionally, there have been calls among elves to elect a temporary queen, but most reject this idea, indicating Margarita’s influence persists even after 300 years. Her sanctity and nobility were unparalleled.
The noble character and beauty of the queen, who appeared during the salvation of the Hol Plain continent, were widely discussed, and records of her continue to surface.
Refer to the expedition records of the ‘Forest of Elves’ in the central city of the southern continent, ‘Mariposa’ Grand Library, E row, 15th shelf.
The rescue operation on the first floor was complete. We saved seven users, some barely clinging to life. Their survival now depended on their tenacity.
All were unconscious, having endured severe hardships. After laying them in a wider corridor, I turned my gaze to the inner passage. According to Go Yeon-ju, there was a passage on the opposite wall leading to stairs going down. So…
The persistent sound of sobbing snapped me out of my thoughts. It was An Sol, overwhelmed by the sight of a man with all his limbs severed. Despite her tears and sniffles, she continued chanting healing spells. I spoke softly.
“Kim Han-byeol, Baek Han-gyeol, An Sol. You three stay here. Keep healing them, and if any wake up, ensure they remain calm. An Hyun, protect them. Stay alert for anything unexpected.”
“Yes, brother. Don’t worry. Oh, here, take this back.”
An Hyun promptly returned my sword, the Ilwolshingeom. After sheathing it, I turned to Go Yeon-ju and Lee Yu-jeong.
“Go Yeon-ju, lead me to the passage you found. The number of rescued users is fewer than expected, so we need to check it out. Yu-jeong, are you coming with us or staying?”
“I’ll come. Yes, I’ll come…”
Lee Yu-jeong’s usual energy was absent from her voice and expression. She was accustomed to hunting monsters, not being hunted by them or witnessing such horrors. Expecting her to handle this like Go Yeon-ju or me was unrealistic.
Leaving four behind, I took three with me to the passage Go Yeon-ju discovered. On the way, we passed other cells I hadn’t seen before. Though now empty, the marks left behind hinted at the users’ ordeals.
We soon found the entrance to the second basement level, opened the door, and descended the stairs. We spoke no words, likely because the growing stench of blood hinted at what awaited us below.
Unlike the descent to the first basement, this took little time. In under five minutes, we reached another silver door. The stench was overwhelming, far worse than the first floor, reeking of malevolence.
The door was locked, faintly enchanted, but not dangerously so. With a strength of 96, it was manageable. Just as I was about to force it open, I paused and turned to Lee Yu-jeong, intending to warn her to brace herself. That’s when it happened.
“Yu-jeong.”
“Uh, yes? What is it, oppa?”
Startled, she looked up like a child caught misbehaving. She quickly hid her right hand, but I’d already seen it. She was gripping the Scurep tightly, her hand trembling. I approached and forcibly took the sword from her. She resisted weakly, but it soon transferred to my hand.
Her eyes, a deep red, looked up at me, filled with uncertainty.
“Oppa…”
“Just throw up if you need to. I won’t say anything. I understand how you feel, and I won’t be too harsh.”
“It’s not that…”
“I told you not to rely on it, not to be swayed. But you’re leaning on Scurep, aren’t you? You were about to do it again, right?”
I thought she was handling the gruesome sights well, but it seemed she was relying on the cursed sword. If she couldn’t control it, it was like pouring poison into her soul. She lowered her head, unable to respond. I sighed and said, “We’ll talk when we get back,” before tucking the Scurep away and returning to the door.
Placing my hand on the center, I felt its weight. Slowly, I leaned in, pushing the heavy iron door open.
The second basement wasn’t structured like the first. Instead of multiple cells, it was a large room, almost like a single massive prison. About 60 pyeong in size, it was filled with torture devices, interspersed with furniture like beds and bathtubs, creating a dissonant atmosphere. But these oddities were secondary to the shocking scene that lay within.
The room was suffused with the stench of blood. The source of the smell was the bodies hanging or strewn about in various states of disarray. As I looked at them with a detached gaze, the words of Kwon Sora and Mavolo suddenly came to mind.
“But for the second time, if it’s a man, it’s limb amputation! And for women, there’s an option for rape!”
“If you dare run that pretty mouth of yours one more time, I’ll personally split you in half from the groin up.”
Their words weren’t lies. Perhaps they could speak so casually because they’d already done it.
Just as Kwon Sora had described, various human body parts were neatly arranged on one side of the floor. Among them, a severed head lay apart, and upon closer inspection, it was a man’s face. His expression was oddly serene, eyes closed, as if at peace amidst the chaos. Nearby stood a triangular torture device, upon which a woman’s body was draped, just as Mavolo had described.
But that wasn’t all. The scene resembled a butcher’s shop, with bodies everywhere. Human remains hung in pieces, others were piled in large basins. The floor was slick with blood, pooling and flowing from the hanging corpses. As I stood there, someone gently tugged at my arm.
“Suhyeon, look over there.”
“What?”
Go Yeonju’s face was pale, speechless at the horrific sight. As I turned to where she pointed, I too let out a gasp. Though I’d seen my share of horrors over the past decade, this was beyond anything I could have imagined. There lay a unicorn, its horn removed, legs severed, and belly split open in a gruesome display.
“Uweeeeh!”
Unable to hold back any longer, Lee Yujeong bent over and began to vomit violently. Her retching sounded almost like a wail of despair, echoing through the room. Tears mixed with saliva dripped from her mouth.
“Uweeh, uweeeh! Oh no!”
”…”
I watched Yujeong retch repeatedly, and just as I was about to approach her to offer some comfort, I heard a rustling sound.
Rustle, rustle.
Someone was stirring, pushing aside a dry blanket. The sound came from the bed. I immediately turned my gaze to the corner of the room where the bed was.
“Huh…? Master, you’re here…?”
And then, I heard a voice, beautiful and calm, and saw a cascade of silky silver hair gently flowing down.
---------------------------= Author’s Note ---------------------------=
Hello, this is Ro Yujin.
Well, I couldn’t manage a double update today. I’m sorry. Some of you have asked why I don’t do two updates a day. While it’s true that I have more time during the break, I’m currently under contract for an e-book publication, and as a college student, it’s nearly impossible to do editing during the semester (unless I stop serializing, which is out of the question). Even if there’s a lot to revise at the start, maybe I’m just being too ambitious. Anyway, I need to make as much progress as possible on the e-book in less than two months. That doesn’t mean I won’t do any double updates at all. I set a daily editing goal, and if I finish early, I have more time to write. So, what I’m trying to say is, dear readers, please bear with me. It’s the break, and I’d like to take a short trip, even if just for a day or two… sob sob… ^_ㅠ
PS. The unpleasant scenes will continue into the next chapter. If you prefer, feel free to skip them.
『 Reader Comments 』
Hanbangmode: Congratulations on being first! Hehe, I see you often these days. I’m unintentionally mastering the art of dismemberment. :)
Jangmawabangs: Is that so? Haha. The answer will be revealed in the next chapter. Please look forward to it!
Flute: Currently, I expect the return to happen within 3 to 6 chapters. If I skip item descriptions, it might be sooner.
vkfkd54: Huh. It seems my perception differs from that of the readers. I came home late yesterday due to an appointment, and while writing, I worried that the background description might be lacking. But you feel it’s too much. I’ll consider this gradually. :)
GradeRown: I’ve put a warning at the beginning of today’s first paragraph. The next chapter might be truly unpleasant for some. (…….)
Dallidakum: The protagonist’s group will soon find out, but the vagrants (subordinates) have been here for some time. The newly captured users haven’t been here long, and between these events, one of the ‘incidents’ Mavolo mentioned occurred.
Yurikenne: Thank you for your first comment! Wow, you’re quite taken with Suhyeon! (Sorry I couldn’t return today. ㅜ.ㅠ) I hope to see you often in the comments section. :)
Brikio: Hoho… Hoho…! You’re quite composed! How about today’s dismemberment?
Jirisan’s Wolf: There will be scenes where women treat men ‘that way’ occasionally. It seems right to include them when they return to the city.
Cheonnyangboeun: No! I’ll keep dismembering! I’ll keep using the art of dismemberment! ( —)(Thud thud!) T^T… I’m sorry. I just wanted to throw a tantrum. ㅜ.ㅠ
Thank you for always reading. Your recommendations and comments are a great source of strength.
I hope you always read my work with a relaxed mind.
Recommendations, comments, critiques, and questions are always welcome.