I Don't Want To Work! - Chapter 79
CHAPTER 79
<Ringo, Ringo.>
Elam glanced around as if trying to recall something.
<…It feels like I’ve heard it somewhere before.>
Elam frowned for a moment, then shook his head.
His face showed frustration at being unable to remember.
<I don’t know. I just need to find this guy named Ringo, right?>
“Yeah, please do!”
<I’ll ask around. But you know, right? Even intermediate spirits are quite numerous.>
The reason Elam said it would be difficult to find Ringo was because of this.
It was obvious in a way, but the water spirit Undine was the most numerous among water spirits.
In other words, it meant it was difficult to find a contractor because there were too many.
“But it’s not entirely impossible if it’s an intermediate spirit like Undine.”
It might take some time, though.
<That’s true.>
Elam nodded lightly as the thought slowly came to him.
<Anyway, I’m going. Take care of yourself as best as you can.>
“Oh, and Elam.”
I grabbed Elam, who was starting to walk away.
“I have one more request.”
<Huh? What now…?>
Elam frowned but then closed his mouth upon seeing my expression.
<You look serious.>
“It’s because it’s something serious.”
I spoke while rubbing my neck.
“Human magic can only confirm kinship to a certain extent, and you, having experienced it, might know better.”
<What are you trying to do?>
Elam raised an eyebrow.
I reached out to Elam.
“Could you figure out what kind of hybrid I am between humans and another race?”
I’ve always found it strange.
A body so weak it’s almost ridiculous, lacking mana and affinity.
There were people with such bodies among humans, so I initially dismissed it.
‘But it’s been strange since then.’
I also ate several roots of Mandragora, known to improve health.
But my health remained the same.
After eating, my stamina was briefly replenished, but that was it.
‘The leaves and fruits of the World Tree were different.’
Even after eating, my stamina remained for a while.
I felt it must be related to the spirit realm.
‘Even if I had prepared in advance, it was a blow that would have knocked me out for months.’
But I only fainted for a few days.
And my stamina didn’t hinder me from dealing with Stella’s matters immediately.
To others, it might seem insignificant, but I moved relatively lightly.
‘Even when I talked to the Emperor.’
Long ago, didn’t the Emperor hesitate for a moment before saying that?
As if not wanting to give the exact date.
And above all, what peaked my suspicion was…
“Mom will do anything to protect you. She’ll use any means necessary.”
The scenes I saw when I collapsed in the spirit realm.
The burning village, people fleeing, my mother with pink eyes.
And the giant tree engulfed in flames.
At first, I didn’t know if it was a memory from before I was 5 that I couldn’t remember or if it was a hallucination, but now it wasn’t.
Didn’t I get confirmation from the Emperor?
‘It’s not just this.’
“About ten years ago. There was a conflict among the High Elves. That’s when I died.”
Elam didn’t say that, did he?
‘I appeared alone at the palace ten years ago.’
The conflict among the High Elves was also around ten years ago.
Although the Emperor didn’t say my mother was an elf.
Still, when coincidences overlap to this extent, there is a need to confirm.
Because there was a possibility that something was hidden.
“I’m asking you. If you don’t know the exact race, at least find out if it’s a mix of races or not.”
<Indeed, your body is too weak to be considered pure human.>
Elam nodded in agreement with my words.
<In the case of half-breeds mixing between races, they can become stronger, but sometimes they become even weaker, right?>
“That’s right. Most of them are born with very weak bodies, prone to miscarriages, and most of them die shortly after birth.”
So, half-breeds with blood from both races were always rare.
I hadn’t even met a few so far.
<Do you have any guesses about the race? Is it also an elf?>
Among half-breeds, Half-Elves were the most numerous.
I nodded.
“I suspect it’s more specifically a Half-High Elf, I…”
<Huh?>
Elam raised a questioning eyebrow.
<Isn’t it possible for other races too, not just Half-Elves?>
Half-High Elves were indeed rare.
It was really difficult for Half-Elves to have children even when they met each other.
And now, to have a child of another race?
Even Elam, who had lived much longer than me, seemed to find it almost impossible.
If it happened in reality, it would be called a miracle.
“So that’s why I didn’t notice until now.”
I hadn’t even met a Half-High Elf before.
Let’s exclude the pursuers from the past.
I wasn’t meeting them; I was being chased.
I thought I was going to die back then.
When would I sit down and confirm the characteristics of my race?
“I want to check. Please.”
I reached out to Elam again.
Since he was the Water Spirit King and had recently made a contract with a Half-Elf.
He would probably understand it best.
<Hmm…>
After a moment of contemplation, Elam sighed lightly and placed his hand on top of mine.
<I’ve been thinking since last time, but you’re making quite a fuss this lifetime. Getting involved with the deities Detmé and Kyres?>
“Huh? How did you know that? Was it Syliron?”
When I mentioned the Syliron I met at the mansion, Elam shook his head.
<Shu… No, the successor told me.>
“Can you communicate with it?”
Didn’t it only have a will last time?
No, anyway.
He seemed to have tried to call it Shu just now.
Before I could say anything else, Elam quickly intercepted.
<It’s not a conversation yet. The successor only shows rare scenes it wants to show.>
“Hmm.”
It seemed more like a unilateral communication.
<Anyway, it’s just about finding out whether it’s a half-breed or not.>
“Yeah, please. It would be great if you could also determine the exact race.”
<There isn’t much difference between Elves and High Elves in terms of blood.>
Elam replied, looking at our intertwined hands.
Whether Elam moved his strength or not, I felt a cold and familiar energy.
And then it disappeared.
<It’s a mix.>
The answer was quick.
Ah, as expected.
Why was this intuition never wrong?
<The Elf side seems right, but I’m not sure if it’s a High Elf or just an Elf.>
“Can’t help it. Thank you for checking.”
I withdrew my hand and nodded.
<Sure.>
With a puzzled look, Elam floated in the air.
<I’ll go, so take care of yourself, uh, well.>
“Yeah.”
I nodded again.
Elam, as if trying to say something, returned to the spirit realm soon after.
“Hah.”
As soon as I confirmed Elam’s disappearance, I just sat down on the grass.
“Half-High Elf.”
Then I muttered quietly.
“How long can I live this lifetime?”
* * *
‘I feel strange.’
Eben narrowed his brow while twirling the glass in his hand.
It had been several days since the ball at the palace, yet the wrinkles engraved on his forehead seemed unwilling to disappear.
It was all because of the incident with Lottie Pandelion.
At first, he felt bad about being rejected for a dance.
He didn’t know that it would be Eben Floyd, of all people, who would be rejected.
Wasn’t it just a few months ago that the princess, who liked him, was there?
The one who used to hide behind the pillars and look only at him was the princess.
But why?
“I know I’ve been rude to you before.”
“You don’t have to worry, there won’t be such incidents in the future, Marquis.”
…Words like that.
It sounded like she didn’t like him anymore.
‘Damn.’
Eben downed his glass.
He didn’t know how many days he had been stuck with the same thoughts.
He almost made a big mistake yesterday because of these thoughts.
Eben grimaced.
‘Suddenly becoming so beautiful.’
If she had appeared like that from the beginning, he would have treated her well without neglecting her!
“Hah.”
“Hey, Floyd.”
A member of the same philosophy reading club plopped down in front of Eben, who was sitting empty-handed.
“I heard that you asked Princess Lottie for a dance at the ball and got turned down?”
“….”
When Eben glared at the man, he burst out laughing.
“I’ve lived long enough to see Eben Floyd getting rejected by a woman! And she’s even a princess.”
“Shut up.”
Eben gritted his teeth as he placed the crystal glass on the table.
“Why, don’t you have a day like this too, huh?”
“Do you enjoy seeing me getting rejected?”
“Of course! Wasn’t it Floyd who always stole away the women I marked first?”
But you know, the man leaned forward as he spoke.
“But seriously, how did you get close to Lady Pandelion, of all people?”
Eben’s teeth ground again.
“Is this it? Love at first sight? Falling head over heels, something like that?”
The man spoke as if teasing, stealing glances at Eben.
His smirk was irritating.
Seeing Eben’s mood worsen, the man didn’t stop.
“Alas, Eben Floyd’s days of swaying the hearts of the ladies are numbered, for here comes the new darling of society, Duke Marcus.”
So far, Eben had been the most sought-after groom among the ladies.
From looks to knowledge, from family to wealth, he lacked nothing.
Invitations to parties came daily, and people lined up to mediate marriage proposals for him.
But for the past few days, he had been as silent as a dead man.
“….”
The invitations, the marriage proposals, and the admiration of many.
Eben knew exactly where they went, and to whom.
Lionel Marcus, that bastard!
What was even more annoying was that Marcus, the young Duke, rejected all that admiration.
Bang!!
Unable to contain his anger, Eben slammed his fist on the table.
Watching him, the man smirked and uttered a word.
“Steal it.”
“What?”
Eben looked at the man. He smirked and continued.
“Make the princess like you again. Wouldn’t that be enjoyable?”
It would have been an unacceptable proposal in the past.
But now, it was different.
Lottie Pandelion, who had become so beautiful that even he was captivated.
And Marcus, who only showed interest in her.
What if he kissed the princess in front of Marcus?
Grin.
Just the thought made him feel good.
“Oh.”
The man whistled as he pointed outside the window.
“She’s passing by?”
Eben immediately turned his head at the sound.
Indeed, Lady Lottie Pandelion was walking down the street.
“Isn’t this fate, or something like that?”
The man chuckled as he spoke.