Chapter 213
Chapter 213: The Elven Queen's Compromise
While Cocotte was still standing in a daze, Viktor picked up the handgun Leah had just fired and examined it for a moment.
Before him, a Panel flickered into view.
【New weapon discovered—】
【Please assign a name】
Viktor raised it and studied it carefully, then turned to ask Leah beside him:
"Does this thing have a name?"
Leah put one hand on her hip and spread the other with a helpless look on her face.
"My Lord hasn't said a word—how would I dare name it on my own?"
At that, Viktor raised his arm and aimed the muzzle at the shooting target.
Green natural energy gradually gathered along the gun body. Light drew in from all around, pooling toward the eagle's eyes.
The light on the gun body flickered for a moment, and a faint tremor traveled up his arm.
Bang!
The light-laden bullet tore through the air in an instant, and a fearsome surge of natural energy erupted alongside it, sending a violent shockwave crashing forward.
The terrifying gust around them exploded outward, kicking up a cloud of dust. Viktor could even feel the immense pressure the gun body transferred back into his arm.
Under the ferocious impact, the wooden shooting target shattered completely—blasted into fine splinters, some of which were reduced entirely to black char.
Cocotte watched from the side, mouth hanging wide open, utterly unable to accept what she was seeing.
This thing was even a mass-produced model?!
Once the smoke and dust had settled, the muzzle had turned red, a faint white mist rising from it.
But fortunately the craftsmen at home had done their modifications well, and the gun body itself had not been damaged.
Viktor spoke:
"Let's call it the【Wind Eagle】."
A moment later, a peculiar Panel materialized in the air.
【Weapon type unlocked—Firearm】
【Wind Eagle】
【Effect: Base Damage: 100, Bullets: 6/6, Fire Interval: 0.2 seconds, Effective Attack Range: 200 yards, Fastest Reload Time: 1 second】
【Skill: Arcane Shot—You may consume Magic Power to increase base damage, and may charge your shots by consuming Magic Power at the time of firing, expending up to all remaining bullets. Depending on charge duration, bullet volume increases by 600%—6000%, and attack range extends to 600—6,000 yards.】
【New Class branch unlocked—Gunslinger】
【You may freely gift this weapon. The recipient will gain a new secondary Class—Gunslinger】
The Gunslinger was a brand-new Class that had originally appeared at the start of Chapter 3 of the game.
In the game's Storyline, the 2 Princes died, and the Rether Family—which had backed the First Prince—met with annihilation. The weapons they had secretly developed with the aid of Elves were exposed to the world.
The Imperial family took over this special type of weapon, continued its production, and refined it further. In time, Firearms usable by Players came into existence.
In Chapter 3 of the game, Players could choose to class-change into a Gunslinger as a primary Class, or equip Firearms freely to adopt Gunslinger as a secondary Class.
Compared to a primary Class, a secondary Class could not have its Skills upgraded and could not replace the primary Class's role.
In terms of attributes, it was also subject to considerably more restrictions.
In short, after the Rether Family's complete destruction, it had made a tremendous contribution to the Empire.
And now, Viktor had not anticipated at all that he himself would cause this Class to appear ahead of schedule.
He casually set the Firearm back down and said to Leah:
"That Magic Cannon Helnersen brought back before—is it possible to manufacture one?"
Leah spread both hands.
"We couldn't before. After all, we only had 1 Elf capable of supplying natural energy."
"But now…"
Leah's gaze landed on Cocotte, sizing her up from head to toe as though looking at a treasure trove, eyes gleaming.
Cocotte's body gave a shudder, and she grew even more uneasy.
***
After a little while, the 3 of them left the workshop and walked deeper into the forest.
With Leah leading the way, they arrived at an exceptionally luxurious Courtyard.
Demi-human guards were stationed all around.
The moment Leah arrived, those Demi-human guards saluted her in unison.
She glanced around, but saw no familiar figure, and then turned to the guards and asked:
"Where's Leon? Why hasn't she come out?"
The Demi-human guards exchanged looks with one another, and then one of them explained:
"Miss Leah, Leon has had a quarrel with Resi and is in rather low spirits."
Leah was puzzled by this. Leon, who barely communicated with anyone, had gotten into a quarrel with someone?
And with another Elf, no less.
Cocotte drifted about idly nearby on her cloud.
When she heard Leah mention the name Leon, she blinked:
"Leon? Who's Leon? Your little sister?"
Leah gave a nod:
"More or less."
After that brief reply, she walked on ahead, and Viktor and Cocotte continued following behind her.
"Come on in."
Once the 3 of them entered the Courtyard, flowers bloomed in abundance all around them, and towering trees of lush growth stood firmly upon the ground.
A dense, rich natural energy drifted through the air. The natural comfort of it made all 3 of them feel a wave of ease pass through their bodies.
Leah turned to Cocotte and said:
"Weren't you curious before about where we sent your clanmate Resi?"
At Leah's words, Cocotte paused, looking a little bewildered.
Leah led her around a corner and stretched out a hand to point ahead.
"See for yourself."
The Elf was lying in a rocking chair, dressed in light attire, gently swaying, basking in the sunlight that filtered down through the dense canopy.
Before her stretched a clear and tranquil pool, and several Maidservants nearby were giving her a massage.
Utterly comfortable.
Cocotte stared at the scene before her and froze.
She pointed at Resi, then slowly turned her head, staring at Viktor with a look of utter disbelief:
"She…I???"
Leah even stepped forward on her own initiative to say hello.
"Hey there, Resi."
Resi raised her head, lifted that delicate face of hers, and looked at the approaching Leah with a pair of bright, lively eyes. A guileless smile spread across her face.
"Miss Leah!"
The surrounding Maidservants also gave Leah a slight bow.
Leah gave them a light nod, signaling them to step aside for now.
The Maidservants fell into a neat line and gradually withdrew.
Resi hopped up from the rocking chair. Her slight frame radiated the enchanting charm unique to Elves.
"How are you feeling?"
"So happy here, I don't even miss home!"
Yeah!
The 2 of them gave each other a high five. Cocotte stood to the side, staring in complete bewilderment.
"This is… what exactly?"
"The Rether Family's energy extraction method."
"Keep an Elf comfortable and content, and the natural energy she produces can be used as a power source."
Viktor explained from beside them in a flat tone.
"Though you don't need that."
"Huh?"
Because Cocotte was already powerful enough that she didn't need to rely on emotional states to produce natural energy. Whenever she wished, she could draw upon nature directly.
Hearing Viktor's words, Cocotte felt her heart sink by half.
She had clearly been here first—so how had she ended up with so much worse treatment than someone who came later?
And the later arrival was even her own clanmate.
They were both Elves—how could there be such a gap between them?
She was the Elven Queen, for goodness' sake. She was the most exalted one!
Resi noticed Cocotte as well and waved cheerfully in her direction:
"Your Majesty the Queen!"
"……"
Cocotte was silent.
Right now, she didn't want to say a single word.
"What's wrong with her?"
Resi looked puzzled and turned to Leah with the question.
But Leah simply smiled in reply:
"Nothing's wrong. Oh, by the way—today's quota, has it been produced?"
Resi's face flushed immediately. She replied with a slightly flustered air:
"Miss Leah, please… wait a moment."
She then turned and ducked back into her room.
Cocotte was also somewhat puzzled—what exactly was Resi's method for producing natural energy?
Shortly after, Resi walked back out, her attire slightly disheveled, her cheeks tinged with a rosy flush, a transparent bottle in her hand.
The bottle held a small amount of liquid that gave off a faint, refreshing fragrance—utterly invigorating.
"This is today's… energy."
She held out the bottle with a bashful air and passed it to Leah.
Leah reached out to take it, then said with a wide smile:
"Very good. Well done."
"You go ahead and rest. If I need anything, I'll come find you."
Resi smoothed her clothes, gave a shy nod, and turned to head back inside.
After that, Leah held the bottle up and gave it a little shake in front of Cocotte.
"That's how it works. Can you produce something even more concentrated than this?"
Cocotte: "……"
This was exhausting. Maybe she ought to just go back and be Queen after all.
Leah put the bottle away and continued:
"Of course, I won't force you. It's just that we really have very few Elves here."
Leah spoke as though hinting at something, and deliberately let out a sigh:
"Ahh—if only we had more Elves, we wouldn't have to ask our esteemed Elven Queen to work."
Cocotte sat on her cloud with her legs crossed, eyes closed:
"I understand. But there is something I cannot do."
"I cannot lure my clanmates into contact with humans."
Leah looked at her calmly, a trace of a smile on her face.
Cocotte opened her eyes and said with solemn sincerity:
"And besides, I haven't returned to the Elven Forest in a very long time. My standing there has diminished—they won't listen to me."
Hearing Cocotte's words, Leah was not at all discouraged. On the contrary, an expression full of playful amusement crept across her face:
"Mm-hmm? Then if they want to seek contact with us on their own, I take it you wouldn't stop them."
Cocotte looked at Leah and said plainly:
"Elves are the freest race from the moment they are born. Whatever they wish to do—not even a Queen has the right to interfere."
"Good. That's all I needed to hear."
Leah continued, smiling cheerfully at Cocotte.
Before Cocotte could even begin to understand what exactly Leah intended to do, a broad, steady hand had already come to rest on her shoulder.
Cocotte turned her head to look.
In that moment, her eyes met Viktor's gaze.
Within his eyes, Cocotte felt those 3 distinct, richly concentrated streams of energy—each one unlike the others.
His calm, unhurried voice reached her ears, carrying with it a certain pressure and authority—one that made her instinctively want to trust him.
"I will let you remain your Elven Queen."
"In another way—one you are willing to accept."