Chapter 100: Her Majesty the Queen is Not Very Elven

The wait outside the palace wasn’t long, but for Xia Lian, every second stretched into an eternity of torment. She nervously straightened the lapels of her tunic for the tenth time, her hands fidgeting, unsure of where to rest.

“Are we… are we really going to meet the Elf Queen?” Her voice was a thin, reedy thing, trembling with a mixture of awe and terror. “Isn’t this too sudden? I’m not ready at all…”

“Relax, Xia Lian.” Celeste patted her shoulder, offering a comforting half-joke. “Just think of it like turning in a legendary-tier quest to a world boss with a super high-poly model.”

Despite her casual words, Celeste’s own heart was hammering against her ribs.

‘The Elf Queen…’she thought, her mind conjuring images of a regal, otherworldly being.’She sounds like one of those ultimate NPCs: noble, cold, and completely detached from the mortal world. The kind that vaporizes you for looking at her funny.”I have to be on my best behavior. Can’t let my mouth run away with me. One wrong word, one accidental slip-up, and it’s an instant party wipe. Game over.’As she was mentally rehearsing her lines, a sudden flash of inspiration struck her. A forgotten piece of intel surfaced from the depths of her memory.’Wait! I remember now!”According to Eldara, the whole reason relations between humans and elves went south was because that useless human prince got light-fingered a few months ago. He stole the’Enchanted Diary of Her Youthful Indiscretions’or whatever, the one that recorded all of the Queen’s cringey teenage drama, right?”Thinking about it that way… could Her Majesty have been a total wild child back in the day? Maybe she’s actually pretty down-to-earth?’

At this thought, Celeste’s entire mindset performed a complete one-eighty. Her nervousness evaporated, replaced by a subtle, mischievous anticipation. This audience might just be entertaining after all.

Selene, on the other hand, was completely carefree. She was curiously eyeing the two rows of elven guards standing ramrod straight at the palace entrance, whispering to her sister, “Sis, look at their armor. It’s so shiny and pretty, but it looks like parade dress. I bet you could punch right through it. All style, no substance.”

Su Wan maintained her usual impeccable poise, standing quietly to the side like a perfect noble demoiselle. However, the slight, unfocused drift of her gaze, unable to settle on any one point, betrayed the turbulence beneath her calm exterior. This was, after all, the legendary Elf Queen—one of the oldest and most powerful beings in this entire Domain.

After about ten minutes, an elven chamberlain in a crisp silver tunic stepped out from the palace gates. He bowed with practiced elegance.

“Honored guests, Her Majesty requests your presence.”

The four exchanged glances, took a collective breath, and followed the chamberlain into the magnificent palace.

The interior was far more stunning than its exterior had suggested. Beneath their feet, the floor was paved with massive, seamless slabs of Moonstone that pulsed with a soft, internal light. A gentle white luminescence rose from the ground, bathing the entire hall in a glow that felt less like architecture and more like the divine world of a moon goddess.

High above, the domed ceiling was not stone but a swirling confluence of visible magic, a brilliant, slowly flowing galaxy of arcane energy. A silent, ethereal hymn seemed to hang in the air, a cleansing presence that soothed the souls of all who entered.

After passing through a long, vaulted corridor, they arrived before a set of giant doors entwined with living Moonlight Vines. The chamberlain pushed them open, revealing the throne room.

An impossibly vast circular hall opened up before them. At its very end stood a throne, not carved, but grown, formed naturally from the gnarled, ancient roots of a thousand-year-old tree.

Eldara was already there, kneeling on one knee before the throne in a posture of formal report.

And upon that throne sat a figure.

Celeste looked up, and her breath caught in her throat.

Seated there was a woman wearing a crown woven from delicate Mithril branches, a waterfall of pure silver hair cascading over her shoulders and down her back. The exquisite perfection of her features was beyond description; her fair skin seemed almost translucent, like polished jade under the hall’s ethereal radiance. In every classical sense, she was the perfect embodiment of Celeste’s ultimate fantasy of an “Elf Queen.”

But her figure was another story entirely.

This Elf Queen’s physique was not “elven” in the slightest. She wasn’t like the slender, almost fragile elves Celeste had seen on their journey. This was a tall, statuesque woman with stunning curves—a mature, powerful “onee-san” type. Celeste estimated her height at well over 185cm, with a line of broad, proud shoulders that made her waist seem impossibly, enviably slender.

Her magnificent, well-tailored gown, far from concealing her figure, served only to accentuate every stunning contour. She just sat there, perfectly still, yet an aura of absolute authority, of a ruler descending upon her world, filled the entire hall, making everyone subconsciously hold their breath.

‘Holy crap,’Celeste gasped internally.’This Queen is… built different. She is stacked.”This is what a Queen should look like! Those skinny, stick-figure elves that look like a strong gust of wind could snap them in half could never project this kind of room-crushing presence.”No wonder she had a thing with the human king’s ancestor three hundred years ago… The human aesthetic in this world is clearly peak culture. They really go for this powerful, curvy older woman type.’

The Queen on the throne seemed to sense their appraisal and slowly raised her head. Her eyes, when they opened, were the color of deep, rich wine—wise and ancient, like two pools of a vintage that had been cellared for a thousand years.

When her gaze landed on Celeste, an indescribable warmth washed over her. It was like being watched by a gentle, all-knowing elder; there was no pressure, yet she felt seen, understood from the inside out. Deep within Celeste’s soul, the [Blessing of the Pink Fairy Lady] began to shimmer with a faint, imperceptible light.

[Effect 4: Pink Charm]

[Effect Description: A pink girl naturally possesses pink charm! Initial friendship from all non-enemy females is increased to “Friendly”.]

“Eldara, you may rise.”

The Queen’s voice echoed through the hall. It was cool and clear, yet carried a magnetic undertone that made every word land with perfect clarity.

“Yes, Your Majesty.” Eldara stood and respectfully retreated to the side.

The Queen’s gaze swept over the four of them, finally settling on Celeste’s conspicuously pink hair. A very subtle ripple, a flicker of something unreadable, passed through her normally placid eyes.

“You are the helpers from another world that Eldara has repeatedly mentioned?”

“Yes, Your Majesty,” Celeste answered on behalf of the team, fighting to keep her voice from sounding as timid as she felt.

“There is no need for such restraint.” The corners of the Queen’s lips turned up in a smile so faint it was like a watermark under the moonlight. She even made a small, graceful “please” gesture, indicating they could be more at ease. “I agreed to this meeting. Eldara has informed me of all that transpired in the Silent Forest. Your timely assistance prevented the Silent Watch Knights from suffering heavy casualties. In the name of Silvermoon, I thank you.”

“We only did what was necessary,” Celeste said, defaulting to a polite, humble script.

“In her report, Eldara mentioned several… very novel abilities.” The Queen leaned forward slightly, a genuine spark of interest lighting her wine-red eyes. “A pink Healing Spell that can purify the undead, a Cleansing Spell that can completely decompose the flesh of Abominations, and…”

Her gaze paused on Celeste for two long seconds.

“…a type of ‘Outfit-Changing Magic’ that allows you to alter your attire and perform unheard-of methods of attack.”

“Yes, Your Majesty. Those are some of my personal, special abilities,” Celeste admitted, bracing herself. It wasn’t like she could just say she was running on a system cheat. ‘Damn it, Eldara, did you have to be so thorough?'”Is it that the Holy Light of your world possesses such… colorful characteristics?” the Elf Queen asked, the last vestiges of coldness in her tone melting away, replaced by pure, academic curiosity.’No! It’s the damn Blessing of the Pink Fairy Lady!’ Celeste screamed in her head, while her mouth carefully weighed its words. “Not exactly. It’s due to some unique personal encounters I’ve had, which caused my abilities to undergo a small, benign mutation.”

“I see.” The Queen’s gaze swept over the four of them once more, a knowing look in her eyes that seemed to say, ‘I understand. Who didn’t have a few little secrets when they were young?’

“Eldara’s final comment on you was—’Their style of action is… unconstrained and imaginative, but they are pure of heart and are trustworthy allies.'”

When the Queen uttered the words “unconstrained and imaginative,” her tone took on a distinct hint of playfulness, and that almost invisible smile deepened by a fraction. It was clear she was recalling Eldara’s bizarre, secondhand descriptions of the “Battlefield Concert” and the “Sky-Piercing AK-47.”

Celeste’s cheeks grew warm.

‘Eldara, you absolute snitch! A report is a report, why’d you have to add your own commentary?! What do you mean ‘unconstrained’? It’s called tactical innovation! It’s called thinking outside the box, you boomer!’

The corners of the Queen’s eyes crinkled for a split second. The arc of her amusement was so fleeting that Celeste almost thought she had imagined it.

“Therefore, you need not feel uneasy about your identities,” the Queen concluded, withdrawing her scrutinizing gaze. “In Silvermoon City, so long as you abide by our laws, you are our guests. You are our friends.”

The words were a powerful, obvious reassurance.

“Thank you for your understanding, Your Majesty.” Celeste and the others bowed solemnly.

“Enough with the pleasantries.” The Queen’s demeanor shifted in an instant. She sat up straight again, and her entire aura became sharp and serious. The playful curiosity was gone, replaced by the focused intensity of a monarch. “Eldara said you claim to have a matter of great importance that you must confirm with me in person.”

Her gaze became piercing, cutting through all pretense.

“Now, you may speak.”

This was it. The main event had finally arrived.

Celeste immediately centered herself, pushing all other thoughts from her mind.

“Yes, Your Majesty. We came here to find something—or rather, an ‘existence’.” Celeste quickly organized her thoughts, striving to explain their situation in terms this world’s inhabitants could comprehend.

“Its existence is the fundamental reason why we, the ‘visitors from beyond,’ are able to descend into your world.”

“It is causing this world and our own to undergo an abnormal ‘fusion’.”

She paused, letting the weight of her words sink in, then spoke with absolute clarity.

“For both of our worlds, this is a catastrophe.”

“We call it… the Secret Realm Core.”

[Elysian’s Note:

Having a good time with the story?

Every single bit helps immensely:

Thanks a ton for making this journey possible!]