NOVPUB[Translator - Peptobismol]
[Proofreader - Demon God]
Chapter 192 – Kirrin’s Black Forest (15)
Noticing Nemara’s gaze, Drebren touched his ear, then flinched in alarm.
"Th-this isn’t my fault! That human woman just did it on her own! I apologize!"
Yanking the flower from his ear as if tearing it out, Drebren didn’t throw it away—instead, he shoved it into his pocket.
"Please forgive me! She said it would suit me and begged me to try it just once!"
Nemara opened his mouth to scold him, but couldn’t.
Because somehow, the sight of Drebren, nervously fumbling the flower into his pocket and desperately making excuses, made him want to laugh.
But, true to his dark elf nature, Nemara managed his expression strictly and spoke in a heavy tone.
"Drebren."
"Y-yes, Father...!"
"That human woman’s movements have been growing dangerously wide of late. If she were to escape, or encounter an unforeseen threat outside the Black Forest, it would cause tremendous trouble. We wouldn’t be able to collect her ransom."
"Shall I put a leash on her to keep her from wandering...?"
"Causing her physical harm is not an option. Therefore, you are to personally monitor her, closely."
"…Huh?"
Drebren widened his eyes and stared at Nemara.
"Personally… monitor her?"
"Exactly. Make sure she cannot run away or pull any tricks. Also, ensure she’s not caught up in any accidents that would diminish her value as a hostage."
"Then, does that mean…?"
Nemara pointed at Drebren’s pocket, where the flower was hidden.
"Just like today, when she tries to pick flowers and crawls out to the edge of the forest—you’re to follow her everywhere she goes, you foolish brat."
"Y-yes, understood!"
Even though he was being called a fool, Drebren looked strangely delighted.
"May I take Sharian and Zakrion along as well?"
Drebren asked cautiously.
"I am still young… in case of an unexpected threat, I may not be able to properly protect the human woman by myself. If my younger siblings assist—"
"Fine. Do so."
"Thank you, Father!"
"Now get out of my sight."
Nemara spoke coldly, turning his back on him.
"But, Father."
Just as he was about to leave, Drebren turned and asked.
"How did you know the human woman had gone to the forest’s edge to pick flowers?"
"Is there any other place nearby where flowers bloom?"
As he said this, Nemara shifted slightly to block Drebren’s view of the side table where the bouquet sat.
"I’m busy. Get out."
After Drebren left, Nemara stood silently, lost in thought.
It seemed he would have to hide the bouquet somewhere even more out of sight.
Just as he reached for the bouquet, Nemara froze, his eyes widening.
Just moments ago, the flowers had been fresh and fragrant.
But now, what he held in his hand was a dried, withered bouquet—
The same one that had sat in the corner of his side table for over ten years.
Reality rushed back to him.
Nemara gazed down at the bouquet in his hands and murmured quietly.
"Marian... I don't know... if I'm doing the right thing...."
Nemara was a dark elf.
A race distant from emotions like affection, kindness, love, consideration, or worry—
Emotions humans deem essential for relationships.
From birth, dark elves lacked such feelings, and thought nothing of it.
Emotion had no place in assassination.
Even the concept of family among dark elves amounted to nothing more than tools for exerting influence within the clan.
Parents issued orders; children obeyed without question.
Among dark elves, Nemara’s disposition was particularly extreme.
Which was why he could not be certain—
Whether he was handling Kirrin’s situation properly.
But there was no one left to ask.
Marian was already gone.
"Marian...."
# # # # #
Meanwhile, outside Nemara’s residence—
A single dark elf was lurking in hiding, listening closely.
He was a full-blooded sibling of the one Drebren had killed earlier.
Hearing Nemara’s muttered words, he quickly turned and sprinted off.
The place he arrived at was one of the dwellings of Nemara’s wives.
Specifically, it belonged to Nishira, Nemara’s second wife, who currently ranked first among the wives and held the largest number of children within the clan.
Although she had lost a son today to Drebren, she still had six children left under her care.
"Come in."
Lying languidly on a cushion-filled sofa, dressed only scantily, Nishira smiled.
"How is Nemara?"
"He’s seeing hallucinations of that human woman again. There’s been talk that his mind’s been deteriorating lately—seems it’s true. He’s losing it."
"How dare you call the clan’s leader senile,"
Nishira chided lightly, though the smile remained on her lips.
"Frankly, he must have been mad from the moment he took a human as a concubine."
"Exactly. When that woman first arrived in the Black Forest, I thought I was seeing things."
Other women, lounging on nearby sofas, chimed in.
They were all Nemara’s wives—those who sided with Nishira, the current top-ranked wife.
"So, what happened to the human Drebren brought?"
"She’s been moved to the human quarters. Talks about a marriage alliance involving the half-breed were underway."
The women murmured among themselves upon hearing this.
"Is he seriously trying to marry off his child to a human, just like he did with himself?"
"Mixed blood on top of mixed blood—that’s no dark elf anymore."
Gently stroking her chin with a finger, Nishira fell into thought.
A political marriage, much like those humans of noble bloodline arranged.
This Dian, from what she had heard, was the Chief Combat Professor at the Academy owned by the Second Princess, and held her highest favor.
Was Nemara planning to abandon the Emperor and side with the Second Princess now?
Well, it made sense.
All the power in the Empire was tilting toward the Second Princess.
The aging Emperor and his useless sons were losing ground day by day.
As expected of Nemara.
He foresaw the Demon King’s defeat and betrayed them, siding with the human alliance despite widespread opposition.
His political foresight and survival instincts were unmatched.
He had cleverly made the Emperor indebted to him, using that leverage to have the half-breed girl installed as the Academy’s Headmaster—and now he was ready to stick a knife in the Emperor’s back.
A model for all dark elves to follow.
If this marriage alliance succeeded, it would certainly strengthen Drebren’s position.
After all, Kirrin, the half-breed, was in Drebren’s faction.
Hmph...
Forming a direct connection to the Second Princess while having the clan leader’s trust—
It did not sit well with her.
If Drebren, who had always been hostile to Nishira’s faction, became clan leader, it would be a death sentence for her.
That big, muscle-headed brute might just bash in the skulls of Nishira, her children, and all who supported her.
It was a bloodbath that always accompanied a change of leadership.
Even Nemara had slaughtered all siblings who stood in his way when he took the throne.
An extremely inefficient way of life—
But that was simply the way of their race.
At any rate, Drebren had to be removed.
And the son Nishira backed must take the throne.
But even if she used Carsal to kill Drebren, would Nemara accept it?
After the war, Nemara had changed.
When he betrayed the Demon King’s army, claiming it was for the good of the clan, she could understand that.
But after sending Kirrin off to live among humans—
After seating her as an Academy Headmaster—
It went beyond mere survival.
Now, Nemara behaved as if he could see the ghost of that long-dead human woman.
Just like the report she received from her son earlier—calling out Marian’s name, reaching into thin air.
Nemara was no longer the pitiless, cold leader he once was.
Ever since that human woman came, everything had fallen apart.
Given the tangled ties between Nemara, the human woman, Kirrin, and Drebren—
Even if they reshuffled the succession order properly, Nemara would never accept it.
Simply removing Drebren wouldn’t change a thing.
Nemara must be eliminated as well.
There was a risk that their relationship with the Emperor might suffer—
But she wasn’t too concerned.
Nishira, too, knew well where the real power now lay.
From the Second Princess’s perspective, Nemara—who once allied with her enemy the Emperor—would be a thorn.
If Nemara were killed and Nishira’s son installed as clan leader, with the entire tribe swearing loyalty to the Second Princess, she would surely welcome it.
After all, their tribe was the only group of dark elves with a standing relationship with the Empire.
Besides, Nishira had long been preparing for this.
"How soon is Baltar returning?"
"Brother will be back sometime after midnight tonight."
Perfect timing.
Their chosen successor would soon return to the Black Forest.
[Translator - Peptobismol]
[Proofreader - Demon God]
