Chapter 175: Unexpected Situation (2)

Upon returning to the mansion, my father had a troubled expression on his face when he saw me. It couldn't be because of Cecily, as he wouldn't react like that even if he disliked her. There must be some definite reason behind his reaction.

Curious about what was going on, I asked him what happened, and he looked embarrassed as he gestured for me to follow him. Cecily and I exchanged glances before complying.

Though I had many questions, following him was the priority. We walked, filled with curiosity, and ended up in the same room where we had the interview with Adelia last time. It was not a space for formal reception, but a place where we could face each other and have discussions on various topics.

"Have you come?"

"Yes, Mother."

In that room, Mother was already sitting, probably having received a prior notice from Father. By the way, Father had briefly stepped in and out, so he had already met Mother. Mother greeted me with her characteristic warm smile and gently patted my belly. Lily is growing up healthily without any problems.

"Please take a seat first. Princess, sit next to Isaac."

"You can speak comfortably. You're already my father-in-law now, right?"

"... ..."

When Cecily cheerfully uttered the word 'father-in-law,' Father looked at me with a strange expression. Since it was already confirmed, I didn't have any intention to deny it, so I just shrugged my shoulders. Father chuckled and squeezed himself next to Mother. Cecily and I sat across from them, waiting to hear what they had to say.

I prayed that it wouldn't be something serious, but when I recalled the oracle that Mora told me I knew it was likely not good news. Moreover, Father clearly showed an uneasy reaction as soon as he met us.

Whether it was something deeply related to me or something related to the family, the fact that it was troublesome remained the same.

"Phew... Didn't you say you would spend the entire vacation in Helium?"

Father, who sighed again, asked in a complex tone. It seemed like he didn't expect Cecily and me to return.

At first, my plan was to stay only in Helium, but he changed his mind after hearing about Mora's oracle. Moreover, there was a good reason to see each other, so Cecily gladly joined. I quietly replied, feeling somewhat uneasy.

"Being only in Helium feels a bit... awkward. At least we should see each other's faces."

"That's true, but... why now of all times?"

"...What's the matter?"

It was rare to see Father in such contemplation. He had been stressed before due to an increased workload, but that was an exception. After pondering for a while in response to my question, he shook his head. It seemed like he had made a decision in his mind.

"By any chance, when are you planning to return to Helium?"

Despite my curiosity, he didn't forget to test the waters. I maintained a composed attitude and answered.

"I plan to stay for about 2 to 3 days and then leave. There's still about half of the vacation left."

"What if I told you to go back right away?"

"If it's something related to me, I won't go back."

Perhaps realizing that he couldn't sway me, Father chuckled as if he couldn't hold back, then nodded in agreement.

He then shifted his gaze to Mother, who was pregnant with Lily with a warm and worried look, before turning back to me. His golden eyes were shining brightly.

"Since you've already exposed your identity, there's nothing left to hide. As you suspected, it's a matter closely related to you. The news came from the connection through which the manuscript was delivered."

"Could it be that I've been found out?"

It was not me, but Cecily who asked the question. In response, Father nodded heavily as he met her gaze.

"Yes... no, that's not right. Fortunately, we weren't completely exposed. The accomplice noticed the pursuit and took a roundabout route to get here. But they will likely reach this place soon."

Father was willing to speak openly after Cecily had given her assurance earlier. Cecily herself seemed unfazed by the situation.

"I've heard of Father-in-law's skill in Helium. Known as the 'Red Lion,' right? Since you mentioned an accomplice, are they as capable as Father-in-law?"

"They used to be comrades-in-arms in the borderlands. He's quite adept at espionage and reconnaissance. He willingly helped with delivering the manuscripts because I once saved his life."

"But for someone like that to be pursued... could it be... an Elf?"

"There's no one else but an Elf, and a skilled one at that."

Elf again. I tried my best to suppress my impressions.

Last time it was a Dark Elf who intruded into our mansion without permission, and now it's an Elf. I can't figure out why they keep causing trouble.

Though there may be normal Elves like Arwen or Keir, their tendency to cause trouble seems to be an inherent characteristic of their race.

"Here's the letter delivered by the publisher. They tried to send it discreetly from their home, but they were eventually caught because they are an ordinary person."

"Hmm..."

After receiving neatly folded letter paper from my father, I slowly unfolded it. I didn't forget to show it to Cecily so she could also see. The content of the letter was roughly as follows:

Elves came again to look for my letter after Arwen's speech. This time, unlike the previous occasion, they persistently pestered me until they would find me.

I've heard of the elves visiting the publishing house before. According to what Arwen told me, they belong to one of the distinguished families affiliated with the Council of Elders. They are led by a chief named 'Fieren.' Being part of the Council was not unusual for prestigious families since it is a political organization. So, the probability of them being stuck-up conservatives who adhere to elitist ideologies is very high.

"I'm not sure which faction these elves belong to, but I'm certain they are arrogant. That much I can guarantee."

"Why do you think so?"

"If they weren't arrogant elves, they wouldn't have acted like this from the beginning. They were the ones who demanded from the publishing house to hand over the letter in the first place."

My father, who encountered an elven reconnaissance team in the border zone, spoke with such conviction that I couldn't take his words lightly. Moreover, I also had developed close relationships with several elves, so they approached me more intimately.

However, that doesn't present a fundamental solution. After thinking for a moment, I asked cautiously.

"So, what do we do now? It won't take them long to find their way to this mansion."

"Two situations will unfold from now on. First, they will 'formally' visit this mansion. In that case, you can simply talk to them politely and send them away. But now that they know this place is the end of their pursuit, they might use force."

"And the second is trespassing into the mansion."

"Elves trespassing?"

Not dark elves but normal ones. Elves were a race that even refused assassinations, calling them dirty tricks during the race wars. I can't quite understand how such a race would engage in trespassing.

"Of course, they won't blatantly charge in. The idea that elves don't do dirty tricks is something from the time of the race wars. They probably have a high chance of infiltrating using magic, whether it's for orders or for a just cause. Self-justification is enough for them."

"Isn't the mansion protected by security magic?"

"Those elves aren't fools, and they can easily neutralize security magic."

"In the end, both situations lead to the same conclusion."

"If you think about it, that's right."

Either way, it doesn't seem like those elves will back down easily. Father also had a hunch about that, which is why he was planning ahead. However, due to Cecily and I unexpectedly returning to the mansion, the situation seemed to have become a bit complicated.

Thinking carefully about the complex situations ahead, I asked my father a question.

"Would the elves benefit from doing something like this?"

"What kind of benefit couldn't there be? You know there were rumors recently in Alvenheim about your books being censored, and your books have also given rise to the social issue of half-bloods. Of course, the Queen managed to handle it well, but there might be more incidents in the future. Moreover, the existence of Dark Elves is gradually resurfacing. Forbidden magic like the 'Fusion' is the same. From Alvenheim's perspective, they have more than enough reason to find you."

"... ..."

"I've heard that in Alvenheim, there is a political conflict between the Queen and the Council of Elders. The Queen is favorable to an open-door policy, but the Council of Elders opposes it. Since the elves don't act independently, they must have received orders from one of them. I want to believe it's from the Council of Elders."

It wasn't particularly surprising as it was already a known fact. The main point was how to overcome this situation. It wouldn't be long before the elves dispatched by the Council of Elders would enter our mansion.

Just like what happened to Rain, there was a high chance they would come to my room to look for the manuscript. However, I couldn't move the manuscript elsewhere either. If they found out that this mansion was the source of the transmission, they wouldn't be foolish enough not to notice.

"If we weren't here, how would Father have dealt with it?"

"I initially planned to move everything, including the manuscript, and endure it. If there's no evidence, they'll have no choice but to leave."

"But, Father-in-law. That's just a temporary solution. There's no guarantee they won't come back and find out someday."

Cecily pointed out firmly when she heard Father's plan. As she said, elves could use magic anytime, anywhere, and there was a high possibility they would thoroughly search the mansion.

While we might be able to endure it for now, it's not a fundamental solution. To achieve a complete resolution, we must deal with them.

"I know that too. But since we don't even know where they came from, my options are limited. The letter the boss sent seems to indicate they might be nobles, but elf nobles carry a different weight than human nobles. Above all, there is a high risk of Isaac's identity being exposed."

"It doesn't matter if it's exposed or not? There's Marie and I. Besides, Isaac is currently favored as a saint within the Luminous church. If they touch him, even Xavier won't remain quiet."

"That's true, but... revealing Isaac's true identity in the current situation would be tough for him. He's already under scrutiny for being a prophet or a regressor, and people are cautious of his dangerous knowledge. At least waiting for such circumstances to calm down would be the best course of action."

"Hmm..."

While my father and Cecily were arguing, I got lost in my thoughts. If I do it well, I can crush not only those elves but even the council, which is nothing more than a bunch of hypocrites.

Revealing the situation before and after the incident is not a significant problem. As seen in Arwen's speech, her persuasive ability was outstanding. Slightly changing the course to 'manipulation' would be enough.

Currently, public opinion towards Arwen is very favorable. By emphasizing her identity as an 'elf' without distinguishing between pureblood and mixed blood, she has instilled not only confidence but also pride in the hearts of the citizens.

And if we add the status of 'Xenon' to this? For the elves, Xenon, who saved the World Tree from contamination, is a hero in itself. After all, the World Tree was a gift from the gods.

If you combine these two appropriately, you can make falsehoods believable as truths. Of course, not entirely filled with lies, but mixed in a reasonable manner.

As I blinked my eyes, I found my right hand resting on my thigh. At the same time, an amusing plan came to mind, and I smiled slightly.

It seemed that the meaning of a hyena entering a lion's den was becoming clear to me only now.

"Father, I have a good plan. Would you like to hear it?"

"A plan?"

"Yes. If executed well, I can hide my true identity, eliminate the elves, and all those involved at once. But before that... Noona."

"Yes, Isaac?"

"Do you happen to know of any magic that can suggest or manipulate memories?"

Cecily was named the next Demon Lord, so her magical abilities would undoubtedly be exceptional. When it comes to magic, I can trust her without a doubt.

At my question, Cecily momentarily looked puzzled but then nodded and gave a positive response.

"There is such magic, but it might not work on elves since they have natural resistance to it. And if it's a cleric, it would be ineffective."

"Really? How about implanting an explosion spell in their ears?"

"...What kind of plan involves planting an explosion spell in someone's ear?"

Cecily looked at me with a bewildered expression, questioning the oddity of the idea. Well, I guess it did sound a bit far-fetched.

In response, I waved my hands, assuring her that it wouldn't go that far.

"We're not actually putting in exploding magic, it's just for intimidation. Anyway, is it possible?"

"It's possible, yeah."

"Then it's settled. Oh, by any chance, how about tracking magic?"

"As long as it stays within the range, that's possible too."

Magic is truly something. It makes things that were once only possible through the technology of past lives achievable. During that time, my father seemed to have caught on to our conversation and spoke with a worried voice.

"Isaac, I have a rough idea of what you're thinking. However, Elves are not to be underestimated. Even with the magic you mentioned, a thorough investigation could..."

"But would those people know that Cecily is here? Even if they have heard of father's might, they would know you can't use magic."

"Hmm... that may be so, but in Alvenheim..."

"Oh, you don't have to worry about that. We have an ally."

"What do you mean by that?"

Upon hearing about the ally, father widened his eyes and looked at me with surprise. Mother, who was beside him, also had a somewhat astonished expression. Indeed, having a political ally within Alvenheim is something that can be quite perplexing.

I've only been to Alvenheim once, and that was it. I hesitated on whether I should say it all, and then I glanced at Cecily with a side glance. She smiled back as if to say I could say whatever I wanted.

I gained confidence and slowly began to reveal the existence of the "collaborator" within Alveneim. First and foremost was the incident of the high-level theft.

Until the incident of the high-level theft, my parents remained composed, but as soon as they heard about Rain's unauthorized intrusion into the mansion during the exhibition, their expressions changed in real-time. Following that, when they heard about Arwen apologizing to me, they were amazed.

"...So, I actually wrote the speech and sent it to the queen. We're still in contact because of that connection."

"Hehe."

"Amazing, truly amazing."

As he finished explaining about the speech, Father's reaction went beyond astonishment to bewilderment, while Mother's response was filled with unease. To be honest, such reactions were natural.

The collaborator I mentioned was none other than the queen of Alveneim, and she kneeled down and apologized to me. Moreover, using that as an excuse, we've been maintaining our connection until now.

Without any context, it might sound like nonsense, but considering the incident of Rain's high-level theft, they have no choice but to believe it.

"I heard from the queen that the elves who came to the publishing house were the closest aides of the Council of Elders. As you know, unlike the queen, the Council of Elders rejects other races besides the pureblood ideology. During the racial war, they also made the worst mistakes."

"Whether they disappear or not doesn't matter. But Isaac, if the Council of Elders were to vanish, Alveneim would be in great social turmoil. And there are forces supporting the Council, so they won't easily fall apart. They might even instigate a coup through various means."

"Well, Father, my thoughts are different."

I smirked after hearing my father's concerns. Just as he looked at me with a puzzled expression, I confidently spoke while showing my right hand.

"If news spreads that my right hand was shattered, won't it cause a commotion in Alvenheim?"

*****

"But Isaac, why did your hair suddenly grow so long?"

"Well, this is... there's a reason for it."

"It suits you very well. Keep it that way from now on, okay?"

"...Sure."

Translators note:

2/3