Choi Kangjoong returned home, washed up, and lay down on his bed.
Even though he hadn’t eaten anything with his mouth, he felt full, and sleep came easily.
Kai mentioned having some useful news, but Kangjoong decided to sleep on it first.
After sleeping deeply for twelve hours, he woke up so hungry that his stomach felt like it was sticking to his back.
Unable to wait for delivery, he headed down to the kitchen and tore open five bags of ramen.
One of the best things about becoming an Outer Mind was being able to eat as much delicious food as he wanted.
No matter how much he ate, he never felt bloated or gained weight.
‘I should try Shrink Magic, too.’
Choi Kangjoong summoned Lutal.
The massive form of the Chitin Gauntlet filled the living room.
In contrast to how it ruthlessly sliced through demons, it moved its Abyssal Claw and tail carefully to avoid breaking any furniture.
Choi Kangjoong used what he had named Shrink Magic.
Lutal’s size rapidly decreased until it was only 40cm tall. It observed its suddenly enlarged surroundings, then realized what had happened through Choi Kangjoong’s knowledge.
Its reaction wasn’t wonder or interest; instead, it deemed it an inefficient act.
Grrrrk.
“A technique of unclear purpose that only weakens your strength? I know. I’m just doing this for fun.”
Grrrrk.
Lutal understood the word “fun” intellectually but could not comprehend it. Such emotional elements were simply absent from its genetic makeup.
“Come here.”
Lutal hopped up and landed on the dining table. Seeing the pot full of bright red broth, it showed interest in eating. Choi Kangjoong served some ramen into a bowl for it.
Lutal buried its face in the bowl and slurped up the noodles and broth. Watching it lift its head, Choi Kangjoong thought it looked like a greedy puppy.
“Want more?”
Grrrrk.
Choi Kangjoong cooked even more ramen and gave it to Lutal. With the digestive power befitting a Special Entity, Lutal easily finished five bags of ramen and five eggs.
“Now that I think about it, Kai said he had something to tell me.”
Kieek.
Kai, who roamed Eleanor’s mansion as if it were his own home, relayed what he had seen and heard.
“So Eleanor’s father, Duke Royal, is going to make an issue of Iselin’s private expedition?”
Kieek!
“And they’re going to hold a hearing at the Elf Great Council.”
Kieek.
“I wonder if this will be a problem.”
It was true that Duke Royal had provoked Dielka to trigger chaos in the first place. Dielka’s motivations were also largely personal. In a way, it could be seen as wasting Marsala’s resources by falling for a demon’s trap.
However, in the end, it was a grand victory where over 50,000 demons and four million magic beasts were killed, while fewer than fifty elves perished.
‘If I play keyboard warrior with this, I’ll definitely win.’
If Dielka’s revenge was the issue, he could label them as unfilial for telling someone not to avenge their murdered parents. If the battle itself was criticized, he could just spam that they were demon spies ten times.
“Elves might be different, so I should ask.”
Choi Kangjoong sent a message to Iselin. She called him immediately.
—Eleanor is trying to pull something?
“They said they’re holding a hearing.”
—A hearing?
Iselin’s voice rose sharply at the end. She sounded more baffled and amused than worried.
—That sounds interesting. I can make Eleanor regret this properly.
“Are parents a taboo topic for elves too?”
—Of course. Once the full details of this battle are known, everyone will applaud.
“Then I’ll just wait and see.”
—You’ll see something fun soon.
After hanging up, Choi Kangjoong called his parents. Talking about Dielka’s situation made him want to hear their voices. When Dielka had spoken with her mother, Choi Kangjoong had been far away, but since a Central Command Warrior was nearby, he had heard everything.
—Kangjoong, what’s the occasion?
“I just wanted to hear your voice.”
—I’d rather see my son’s face. Want to have dinner together this weekend?
“Should I call Yunseo, too?”
—Yunseo seems busy playing these days.
“If her brother calls, she has to come.”
—It’s good to see you so confident lately, Kangjoong.
In the past, Choi Kangjoong had been busy avoiding his younger sister. He would never have been the first to suggest calling Choi Yunseo.
“Where should we eat? Yunseo knows a lot of good restaurants. Should we go to one of those?”
—Why eat out? Just come home.
“It’s hard on you, Mother.”
—Hard? What are you talking about? Seeing you all eat gives me more energy. And thanks to the Healing Stick, I’m in top condition lately.
“Really?”
—Just come home. Got it? And don’t buy any gifts. I still have plenty of Healing Sticks. The coat is very comfortable, too.
“I will.”
Choi Kangjoong also called his father and sent a message to Choi Yunseo.
[Choi Kangjoong: Saturday]
[Choi Kangjoong: House]
[Choi Kangjoong: Dinner]
[Choi Yunseo: I’m seeing friends. Bye.]
[Choi Kangjoong: Then I’m not taking you to Marsala.]
[Choi Yunseo: — —]
A long while later, Choi Yunseo messaged back saying she had canceled her plans.
Dielka held a funeral for her mother.
In Dielka’s family, the Nahrromel, a Funeral at Sea was the tradition. They would release the body into the distant Dimensional Sea so the deceased could continue to enjoy adventures even in death.
However, Dielka decided to bury her mother. It was because of her mother’s deep yearning to return to Marsala. For now, she was buried near the mansion Iselin had leased, with plans to move her under a Spirit Tree once one was established. This was also a burial method used by elf families who possessed a Spirit Tree.
Only five Dark Elves were present at the funeral. This was because elf funerals were traditionally small affairs for family or very close relations. It was Dielka, Sierra, and the Dark Elves who had been with them for a long time.
She thought that was everyone, but Iselin arrived. Dielka was incredibly surprised.
“I didn’t think the Princess would come.”
“Are you joking even at a time like this?”
“I’m serious.”
“What do you take me for?”
Dielka’s surprise grew even more when Choi Kangjoong appeared.
“How did you get here? I didn’t tell you the time or location.”
“I asked Iselin.”
“Do you know that elf funerals are only for those with close relationships?”
“I know.”
“Did the Princess tell you that?”
“Yeah.”
Dielka’s nose began to sting. Unlike when she was on the deck of the Divine Arrow, she couldn’t hold back her tears.
At 5:00 PM on Saturday, Choi Kangjoong went to his parents’ house. He opened a Gate and arrived at the apartment entrance just as Choi Yunseo was passing by.
“Hey.”
“Whoa! When did you get here?”
“Just now.”
“Ah, but why today? I was going to watch something fun with my friends.”
“Is that more important, or are your parents more important?”
“That’s not what I meant.”
Choi Kangjoong and Choi Yunseo took the elevator up. When they opened the front door, Choi Jooyoung welcomed them.
“You’re coming in together. Did you meet downstairs?”
“I was about to enter the apartment when Brother suddenly appeared.”
“Kangjoong must have missed Yunseo.”
“I didn’t miss her that much.”
“Go wash up quickly. Let’s eat.”
“Already?”
“Your father skipped lunch because he wanted to eat a lot of dinner.”
“He should have eaten something. He might collapse again.”
“Thanks to the Healing Stick, skipping one meal is nothing now.”
Choi Kangjoong and Choi Yunseo washed their hands and sat down. The table was full of dishes usually reserved for special occasions, like japchae, marinated crab, and braised short ribs.
“Mom, what is all this? Is it someone’s birthday?”
“Your mother and I have plenty of energy to spare these days. We prepared this together since morning.”
“Eat up and take some home. Yunseo, you take some for Junghwa, too.”
“Junghwa eats well enough on her own.”
“It’s nice to have these side dishes in the fridge when you’re craving a home-cooked meal.”
“I guess.”
Choi Yunseo sucked on a piece of soy-marinated crab.
“It’s delicious. Mom’s cooking is definitely better than that Laellena Restaurant in Marsala.”
“Marsala? When did you go there?”
“Brother, Junghwa, and I were supposed to eat together, and we decided to go somewhere far since we were at it. We went to Marsala.”
“Really? How was it?”
Yoo Haein took off her plastic gloves and sat across from Choi Yunseo.
Marsala was where another race lived, making it more exotic than anywhere on Earth.
Since the aesthetic sense of elves was generally superior, it was beautiful everywhere.
As a result, if people listed the top ten overseas cities they wanted to visit, the list was usually entirely elf cities.
Even if the list was expanded to the top fifty, only about five were on Earth; the rest were in Marsala.
“It was fantastic. Everywhere you looked was pretty. But do you know what was even more amazing? When we first appeared, the elf police asked if we had passports and visas.”
“And then?”
“Brother pulled out a necklace, and they suddenly started kneeling and making a fuss.”
“That must be the necklace you got from the Princess!”
“Exactly! Then the police called someone, and a limousine arrived. The seats were so good, it felt like we were floating through the sky.”
“Did you take that to the restaurant?”
“Yeah. But do you know who was there? Guess.”
“Fritche Benneron?”
Fritche Benneron was a famous elf chef.
“No.”
“Then who?”
“Princess Iselin!”
“Oh my! Oh my!”
“She had cleared out the whole restaurant and was waiting right in the middle.”
“Goodness.”
Choi Kangjoong kept his chopsticks moving, treating Choi Yunseo’s words like a Ditube video one might watch during a meal. When there was plenty to eat, an Outer Mind’s stomach was a blessing.
Choi Yunseo didn’t stop explaining everything from Iselin’s accessories and outfit to the restaurant’s silverware, decorations, and food. Even Choi Kangjoong, who had the memory of an Outer Mind, couldn’t figure out when she had memorized all those details.
Still, listening to her made him feel good. He could see why people tried to get close to celebrities. He understood the invitations piling up in his mailbox and the random texts he received.
‘I wonder if other people talk like that when they meet me. Joo Eun-jong definitely would.’
If it were Joo Eun-jong, he would surely chatter even more enthusiastically with added exaggeration.
After finishing the meal, they sat in the living room. Choi Jooyoung suggested watching a movie, but Choi Yunseo changed the channel, saying there was something more interesting.
“Elf Public Broadcasting?”
“This is what I was going to watch with my friends today.”
“What is it?”
“A public hearing at the Elf Great Council. The Princess is appearing.”
“Is the Princess holding it?”
“No. She’s the one being questioned.”
“Why the Princess?”
“They mentioned something about the private use of public authority.”
“What’s going on?”
A male elf appeared on the screen. His name was Nazina Golins. He was the head of a vassal family under Eleanor’s house, Ardecon. His relationship with Eleanor was similar to the one between Iselin and Dielka. Instead of Eleanor questioning Iselin directly, she had ordered him to do it.
He was quite pleased with Eleanor’s proposal. Since Derrael was a rival house to Ardecon, successfully pressuring them now would elevate his standing. In particular, if he could get Iselin punished, his contribution would be even greater. Although she had stood before hearings several times, she had never once been punished.
In the hearing hall, there were twenty other Special Hearing Committee Members who shared similar thoughts. In contrast to their confident expressions, Choi Kangjoong felt a sense of anticipation. Since Iselin herself had said it would be fun, he wasn’t worried.
Iselin appeared in the hearing hall. Normally, the subject of the hearing would be seated first, and the committee members would follow, but today the order was reversed. Even with twenty-one enemies facing her, she showed no sign of being shaken as she walked down the long hall and took her seat. —