Tears of the Elf Queen
(Note: This chapter contains highly disturbing content. Readers who may find this distressing are advised to skip it.)
The world of Hol Plain is one where the concept of “death” is ever-present. Even a chick knows how frequent death is here. Anyone who has lived in this world long enough has likely faced the death of a friend or stranger, whether they wanted to or not.
I, the writer of this report, also lost a comrade during an expedition a few years ago. We had been together since the initiation rites. His last words before he died were simply, “It’s all so meaningless.” He shed a few tears before closing his eyes forever. I pondered deeply over his words and those tears.
There’s a saying about “life flashing before your eyes.” It refers to a lantern that spins so quickly that the images seem to blur together, symbolizing the swift passage of time. People often say, “Life is like a fleeting lantern,” or “My life flashed before my eyes.” Perhaps my friend felt that way, reflecting on his life in an instant before succumbing to the poison.
Some might criticize me for being overly sentimental. And they might be right. I did mention at the beginning that one must become familiar with death in Hol Plain. But the true focus of this record is “tears.”
Many are familiar with the potion known as “Angel’s Tears,” which caused quite a stir. After the secret of the user shop was revealed, a lucky user spent a fortune in Gold Points to acquire it, gaining a remarkable six-point increase in abilities. Such an increase is rare, and the fact that it could be freely allocated made many envious.
Since then, users obsessed with boosting their abilities have been in a frenzy to obtain “tears,” a trend that continues to this day. While human tears might be useless, the tears of other beings might hold similar powers.
Recently, we repelled the allied forces centered around the Southern Continent. In the process, we captured many users, including numerous elves allied with the South. Most of these elves were reduced to slavery during the post-war process, and the craze for “Angel’s Tears” shifted towards them.
Given the precedent, I thought there might be potential in elf tears. However, no reports have confirmed any efficacy from elf tears yet. I want to address the methods users employ to obtain these tears.
Elves aren’t known for showing tears easily. Their emotions are typically stable. Yet, they are beings with their own personalities. Seeing them paraded in the square, subjected to unspeakable acts to extract tears, is appalling. (Unless, of course, it’s purely for revenge for losing a comrade to an elf.)
Emotions are complex, and it’s hard to judge them. Still, I can’t help but feel there’s a difference between the tears my friend shed as he died and the tears elves shed under such duress.
It’s hard to pinpoint, but perhaps it’s the sincerity or emotion behind the tears. Expecting “Angel’s Tears” from forced tears through violence seems futile. Only tears born from genuine, unforced emotions might hold any potential.
This is merely my personal opinion. Users with elf slaves are free to do as they wish, but I hope they won’t blame me if they don’t see results.
P.S. Elves are known to have ranks. I’m curious if the tears of elves differ by rank. If one could capture the true emotions of the Elf Queen, what powers might her tears hold?
Excerpt from “Current Trends in Hol Plain: A Study on Tears” by Yang Gi-deok, a renowned explorer of the Northern Continent (7-year user).
It wasn’t my first time seeing an elf, but it was my first time encountering the Elf Queen up close. I observed her pointed ears perk up. Her pale, voluptuous form peeked through the sheets, and I found myself holding my breath.
Margarita was a vision of elegance and allure, far from the broken state one might expect. She was noble, delicate, and beautiful beyond comparison to the ordinary elves I remembered from my first life.
Her silver hair cascaded down, and as I met her soft blue eyes, she spoke.
“Master!”
”…”
“Hehe, Master, you’ve changed your appearance again. Why do you keep testing me, Master? I won’t be fooled by such tricks anymore.”
Margarita tilted her head briefly, then smiled brightly and shook her head. With grace, she descended from the bed, crawling towards me on all fours, her chest and stomach pressed to the floor.
The sight was shocking, and I instinctively activated my third eye.
Name: Margarita Dallant Beatrice
Class: Queen of Elves
Nation: Forest of Elves
Clan: -
True Name · Nationality: Wingless Elf Queen · Yggdrasil
Sex: Female (788)
Height · Weight: 171.8cm · 48.7kg
Disposition: Obscene · Obey
[Strength 14(-76)] [Endurance 2(-76)] [Agility 28(-72)] [Stamina 12(-70)] [Magic 4(-92)] [Luck 0(-98)]
(For nearly 300 years, she has endured immense physical and mental suffering. Despite her noble and strong nature, she succumbed to the continuous brainwashing and training of a wicked sorcerer. Her original spirit has collapsed, and she has lost all semblance of the queen and hero she once was.)
(Margarita’s current state, after being subjected to the sorcerer, can be described as “broken” both inside and out. Her original intellect has long been lost, and she has been “remade” to suit the sorcerer’s desires.)
(Margarita has exceeded her natural lifespan. Though her life has been artificially extended by ancient magic and the sorcerer’s efforts, it is only a temporary solution. Her body is alive, but she is in a paradoxical state akin to death.)
(The ancient magic sustaining her life has been severed. The actions taken to prolong her life will now backfire. In three hours, when her physical stats reach zero, the Elf Queen will face an excruciating death.)
(Even an elixir cannot resolve the “paradox” of her current physical state. However, if her severed magic is restored, a slight extension of her life might be possible.)
What horrors had she endured to reveal such overwhelming information? As messages filled the air, I couldn’t help but sigh. Looking down, I saw Margarita’s slender back. Where there should have been twelve pairs of wings, there were none.
“So, she’s going to die soon.”
“Woof woof! Master, come here. Woof woof!”
“What…?”
As the shocking scene unfolded, Margarita stopped crawling right in front of me. She looked up with a bright smile, wagging her hips like a dog greeting its owner.
“Hoho… Marvolo de Aylight…? That bastard…!”
“Ugh… Ugh…”
Suddenly, a terrifying aura of killing intent erupted from both sides. Even Go Yeon-ju, who usually refrained from cursing in front of me, and Lee Yu-jeong, who growled despite her nausea, were genuinely enraged by Marvolo’s actions. Margarita, the Elf Queen, was so pitiful and wretched that it was hard to believe.
Sensing the murderous intent filling the room, Margarita whimpered and clung to my leg, her eyes brimming with tears.
“Master, please… I’m sorry. Don’t hit me. I did everything you asked. Look! I ate half the unicorn meat, drank all the water, and even finished the candy you gave me. So please, don’t punish me. I’m sorry…”
Mavolo was undoubtedly a madman and a pervert. He fed unicorn meat to a fairy. The “water” seemed to refer to human blood, and the “candy”… perhaps it was some concoction of Mavolo’s to unnaturally extend her life. The ingredients were likely the many things strewn about this place.
I gently pried Margarita off my leg, where she was clinging and rubbing her head. Kneeling down to meet her eyes, I spoke with a voice imbued with magic, ensuring she heard every word.
“I am not your master. Are you Margarita, one of the heroes who saved Hol Plain, known as the Fairy Queen?”
“Huh…? Oh, yes! I was once called that, though I didn’t deserve it. I’m sorry for being so arrogant back then, Master.”
”…Fairy Queen. Mavolo de Ailight, who once imprisoned you, is dead. You’re safe now.”
”…”
As I spoke each word clearly and deliberately, Margarita’s expression shifted slightly. The bright, innocent look faded, her eyes widening, though they remained unfocused. Our gazes met, and her lips slowly parted.
“Ah…”
“Your mind…”
“Oh, come on~. I won’t be fooled, Master!”
But it was only for a moment. Margarita giggled, her smile broadening. She lay back on the floor, looking at me with a coy expression.
“Master, you really want to test me, don’t you?”
”…”
“Don’t worry. I’ll prove my loyalty to you. I even thought of you today while… comforting myself. I’ll show you the proof.”
As soon as she finished speaking, Margarita’s hand moved to her intimate area. Her fingers delved inside, pulling out a slender, conical object coated in a sticky substance but faintly glowing. It was a unicorn horn.
”…Tsk.”
“Suhyeon, it seems… it’s over.”
I clicked my tongue, and beside me, Goyeonju’s somber voice confirmed my thoughts. She was right. The dignity and grace of the queen I had seen when she first awoke had vanished like melting snow. Before me was a fairy, irredeemably lost to desire, like a depraved courtesan. There was no saving her, no making her an ally in this state.
‘In that case…’
I pondered Margarita’s fate for a moment, then sighed inwardly and stepped forward.
“Master, you know, my body feels cold, and I’m short of breath. I keep feeling sleepy. Please, make me warm again.”
“You are the queen of the fairies.”
“Yes! I’m your loyal pet, always ready to serve you, Master!”
Margarita responded reflexively, as if trained. Hearing her words, I finally made my decision.
Having resolved, I needed to act swiftly. I wasn’t sure if it would work, but if there was even a sliver of a chance, I had to take it. It was all or nothing. Besides, she was destined to die soon. Better to end it cleanly here than to prolong her life artificially or let her suffer a painful death.
“How far will you go to embarrass me, Master? Hehe. But I’m glad you’re here. So, please, let me show you my lewd…”
“Enough.”
Margarita, panting and spreading her thighs, stopped at my command. I calmly helped her sit up. Kneeling again to meet her gaze, I reached for the side where a fairy’s heart would be. I felt the softness of her chest under my fingers but paid it no mind. I began to awaken the dormant fire within her heart.
“Hehe, Master, you’re so gentle today.”
”…Yes.”
“I like this side of you, but you can be more… no, much more intense.”
”…”
If only I could silence her. I focused on channeling my power into Margarita’s core. I felt the warmth slowly consuming her from within. This wasn’t an act of destruction. Though it would hasten her death, I fervently wished for the fire to burn away all the malevolence within her. And if possible, to erase her painful memories too.
“Oh, it’s warm… Master, what is this…?”
”…”
“It’s so warm… and comforting… it feels like…”
”…Like what?”
“Like the forest… oh…?”
As the fire engulfed her, burning brightly, Margarita’s eyes widened. I didn’t miss the fleeting moment, supporting her neck and whispering in her ear.
“Margarita Dallant Beatrice, leader of the Fairy Forest, born with the blessing of the World Tree Yggdrasil, the most noble of fairies.”
“Oh… oh… oh…?”
“In the past, you were one of the heroes who saved Hol Plain. Though I didn’t witness it, your deeds are still celebrated, and I personally admire your achievements.”
“Oh… yes…”
Margarita’s life had already run its course, but Mavolo had unnaturally prolonged it. Yet, defying nature’s order was bound to fail. Trying to cultivate a fairy’s pure body through such heretical means was a contradiction.
Time passed as I maintained the state. The room was silent, save for Margarita’s occasional groans echoing in the air.
Finally, as if her body had been purified, a clear flame emerged, visible even outside her body. Despite 300 years of accumulated malice, it was powerless against the fire’s strength. Ironically, as everything that had unnaturally sustained Margarita vanished, her body began to respond.
A soft, golden light emanated from her, starting from her toes, as if she was returning to her original state, undergoing the process of dissolution. Mavolo had intended for her to die painfully through destruction, but I aimed to let her pass peacefully through purification. And then…
“Ah… ugh… ah…”
‘No reaction yet… it’s uncertain, but still…’
Margarita’s entire body was slowly disintegrating into golden dust. Even with forced purification, it seemed impossible to instantly restore a mind broken over centuries. She continued to groan, her face vacant. I pondered for a moment, then whispered in her ear once more.
“Your fiancé, the hero Lloyd, has already passed on.”
“Ah…?”
“May you fulfill the dreams you couldn’t in life, even if only in the afterlife…”
”…”
‘Please, remember.’
Perhaps she was recalling something now. I knew of no successful attempts from the records I’d read, but I couldn’t be certain they were entirely accurate.
Meanwhile, Margarita’s body continued to vanish at an increasing pace. Feet, legs, arms, and torso—all enveloped in radiant golden dust. Only her upper chest remained, but even that was now disappearing past her neck.
Was it over? I sighed, standing up. My body ached from the exertion of the fire, but still…
“Lloyd…?”
It was then. Just as I was about to leave, resigned yet regretful, a faint voice reached my ears. Startled, I turned back to see the light covering Margarita’s nose. But whether it was a final burst of clarity, her once-dull eyes now shone brightly. And at that moment…
A single tear rolled down from Margarita’s right eye.
Drip… roll…
The tear gathered into a small, round shape, then fell to the floor, rolling gently.
It was the tear of the Fairy Queen.
With a final burst, the fire flared up, scattering golden dust like dancing sparks. Margarita was no longer visible. The Fairy Queen, who had suffered for over 300 years, met her true end in the castle’s depths.
‘That old man was right.’
For a while, I stood there, staring at the scene before me. Then, with a calm demeanor, I bent down to pick up the items that had fallen to the ground. In my right hand, I held a unicorn’s horn. In my left, the tears of the fairy queen. They felt solid and unyielding in my palms. Perhaps it was just my imagination, but the hand holding the tears felt strangely warm.
As I turned around, I noticed two women standing solemnly nearby. Passing by them, I spoke in a low voice.
“Let’s head up now… Oh.”
I was about to ascend the stairs when a thought struck me, and I glanced back at the bed. There lay a white divine beast, still in its pitiful state.
“I should take that with me too.”
---------------------------= Author’s Note ---------------------------=
Hello, this is Ryu Jin.
First, I want to apologize to any readers who might have felt uncomfortable with this chapter. I bow deeply. (__) I thought it might be a bit much, so I added a warning yesterday, but seeing your comments, I might have gotten a bit emotional. (?) Honestly, after writing it all, I felt it was too intense, so I cut out the middle part entirely. (To be precise, Suhyun didn’t say “Stop.”) Originally, there were supposed to be two encounters with the queen, but I decided it would be better to condense it into one. Whew. Now it’s time to leave the prison. We need to take what we can and resolve what needs resolving. Thank you. (__)
『 Reader Comments 』
Miwolya: Congratulations on being first! Haha. It seems like someone is finally taking the top spot in Memorize consistently. I think it’s really impressive. Enjoy this chapter! :)
HarujionS: I’m so, so sorry. (__) After much deliberation, I decided it was best to stick to the original plan.
LumpOfSuger: So today, I decided not to leave any cliffhangers. Hahaha.
ElJH: I’ll dedicate the next chapter to you! Yay!
Fabian: Speaking of which, isn’t Mexico known for its gangs? Or should I say cartels? I’ve heard there’s a lot of crime there. ㄷㄷㄷㄷ.
HyunO: Ddu, dduroochigi! I love dduroochigi too. It’s absolutely delicious with meat, tofu, and kimchi. :)
Sarum: In the first round, she was found dead. In other words, the ‘poisons’ that sustained her life eventually burst.
NinthSky: It seems like the tension finally snapped with the unicorn’s corpse.
Yurikenne: Haha, I’m surprised and delighted to hear that so many people are fond of Suhyun. In Memorize, it’s partly due to the protagonist’s charm, but I didn’t expect so many to genuinely like him. :)
GradeRown: Many people were talking about Wilsaku, and I was curious what it was. (…….) Personally, there was a novel I enjoyed reading in the past. It had Ifrit Sultans and vampire Berchika? I suddenly can’t remember the title. Haha. I thought you were referring to the Wilsaku from that story’s setting. :)
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.