Chapter 31 The Princess’s Wish and the Laws of the Forest
Edited by: Kanaa-senpai
I introduced Pharma and Leela to the theater managers. The dancer and songstress were bought at the auction.
Their [Ring of Transformation] changed their look completely. Yet, their beauty still shone through. Only auction attendees knew their real faces. The disguise was a trick to fool anyone searching for them.
Theater patrons did not care about the girls’ background. They just wanted to enjoy the singing and dancing of two beautiful sisters. That was enough.
After the handover, I went to my private room in the theater basement. I needed a quick nap. Sleep loss makes a man’s thinking unclear.
As a commander, I had to stay in top shape. Sleeping when I could was a basic rule of the battlefield.
* * *
I slept like the dead for about five hours. Then Lilia and Mina shook me awake.
At noon, I ate the lunch they brought. Once my mind was clear, I decided to check on the elves. They should be resting with their friends in the underground guest rooms.
When I opened the door to their room, a faint, crisp smell of medicine hit me. I guessed the elves had brought it. Inside, those who had finished treatment were resting quietly.
Princess Lyphia stood up and bowed deeply. “Xenos-dono! I must thank you again for saving us.”
Her platinum-blonde hair shined under the lamp. Her movements showed grace and noble birth. One look told me she was special.
”Please, think nothing of it. I just did what anyone should do. Besides, I have long wanted a friendly tie with the elven people.”
I gave a perfect, clean smile and spoke smoothly. Inside, my mind was cold, thinking of a political alliance. But I made sure none of that showed on my face.
The princess’s emerald eyes lit up with wonder. “My… A human with such noble thoughts. I am surprised.”
Perfect. That was the reaction I wanted.
In the game story I remembered, she deeply connected with Prince Liam’s ideas of peace between races. Even in this reality, her nature was the same. My words hit home.
”When your people finish healing, I will escort you all safely back to the elven forest.”
When I said this, her voice shook with thanks. “Oh, heavens! I… I do not know how to repay you…”
Their medical treatment would not be done until tomorrow. So they would stay one more night. But I had something to do before we left.
”Still, I have one request. Before I take you back, I want to meet the elder of the elven forest. Could you write a letter of introduction for me?”
”My, how careless of me. Then, take this hair ornament…”
Just as she reached for the ornament in her hair, someone cut in.
”Please wait, Your Highness!”
Sylphie, who had been quiet until now, stepped between us. “Xenos-dono, you cannot mean to meet our elder alone? That is too reckless. Please let me go with you as your guide.”
Sylphie stared at me with a sharp, serious look.
…Hmm. She had a point. Humans and elves had been at war for a long time. Going alone would be suicide.
If I just sent the rescued elves home, they would call me a ‘good person.’ I would fail my main goal: a formal alliance with the elves.
I could introduce myself when I took them back later. But that would lower my importance to the elder.
I wanted to meet their leader while I still had an advantage by keeping the rescued elves under my protection.
But if I went alone with only selfish plans, they might refuse to talk. Elves hated and distrusted humans. In the worst case, they might attack me on sight.
I needed Sylphie as a translator and helper. She could explain my true goals and what happened.
”…Very well. Then, Sylphie-dono. I accept your help.”
When I nodded, she gave a firm salute. “Leave it to me!”
And so, with Sylphie, I set off for the elven forest called ‘Sylvain.’
* * *
Of course, I had prepared.
I sent Ashraf ahead. By tracking his Mana, I could teleport into the elven forest, even without ever being there.
”Alright, let’s go. Hold my hand tight.”
”Y-Yes, sir!”
Her face turned red as she reached out. I took her hand and used the Teleportation magic.
Space twisted. My vision blurred. A quick feeling of weightlessness, then a cold thrill in my stomach.
The next moment, the heavy smell of damp soil and thick leaves hit us. We were in the middle of a dense forest.
Sunlight cut through the thick treetops, making bright beams on the ground. Mossy rocks and dark earth were under our feet. Birds chirped far away. Leaves rustled in the wind.
—Wait, what?
Something was wrong. Ashraf, our beacon, was nowhere.
Normally, right after teleporting, he would be there with a sly smile, saying, “Magnificent, my lord.”
Instead, a small group of elves stood in front of us. They all wore green hunting clothes to blend into the woods. Their ears were long, pointed like leaves.
”Wh-Who goes there?!” the front elf barked, sharp and defensive. “Where did you come from?! Appearing out of thin air!”
A tense silence filled the forest.
”A-A human? …No, wait. Look next to him… Isn’t that Sylphie?!”
I had dropped us in front of a five-man elven scout party heading to the edge of the forest. They processed the scene fast. In one move, they took bows off their backs and notched arrows.
A sharp click sounded.
Five deadly arrowheads pointed right at my heart.
—
Summary:
Xenos introduces his newly acquired performers wearing transformation rings before taking a vital strategic rest. Upon waking, he leverages his rescue of the elven captives to gain an introduction to their leadership under the guise of pure benevolence. His plans go awry when a teleportation maneuver places him directly in front of a hostile elven scouting party with their bows drawn.
—
Trivia:
The transformation rings worn by Pharma and Leela fully disguise them from anyone who saw them at the auction.
Xenos is operating entirely on cold political calculation to secure an alliance while projecting an image of selfless heroism.
Princess Lyphia’s core personality in this world perfectly matches her game counterpart who values interspecies peace.
The unexpected absence of Ashraf at the coordinates leaves Xenos completely vulnerable to the elven patrol.
—
Translation Notes:
Notes:
• Pharma – A black-haired dancer, purchased at auction, fiercely protects her younger sister, Leela. To maintain her safety and identity, she wears a transformation ring that conceals her true appearance from those around her.
• Leela – A talented silver-haired songstress from the desert kingdom of Zahara, she is a fragile soul deeply protected by her older sister, Pharma. After being sold at auction, she now relies on a transformation ring to conceal her true appearance and identity from the world.
• de – A particle used in the aristocratic name of the Margrave Albion de Blanchefort.
• Lilia – A voluptuous, mature former slave, this devoted maid serves Xenos with absolute loyalty and sycophantic affection at his underground facility. Bearing a chest tattoo and nullified abdominal crest, she exudes a sweet fragrance while tenderly caring for his needs, from daily tasks like waking him from his naps to donning requested outfits. She remains sensitive to his mana, maintaining an intimate bond.
• Mina – Kai’s younger sister, separated from him by slavery, is an innocent maid serving Xenos at the Grimlock estate. Known for her soft brown hair, anxious eyes, and white rabbit kigurumi, she works in the underground facility and wakes Xenos from his naps alongside Lilia. Though she wears a dancer’s outfit at his request, her childlike demeanor masks a deep loyalty despite her fear of strangers.
• Lyphia – Princess Lyphia Elfheim is an elegant elven princess with platinum-blonde hair and emerald eyes. Rescued from the Blanchefort dungeon, she endures hardship with noble grace and an iron will. Committed to interspecies harmony, she offers herself as Xenos’s political bride to secure a vital alliance, blending her dignified identity with a selfless dedication to peace between their peoples.
• Xenos – Reincarnated as the “Zero-Mana” heir of House Grimlock, he hides his immense power—including teleportation and monster command—behind an incompetent facade. Using deep knowledge of the game’s script, this calculating strategist manipulates the underworld, forms political alliances, and rescues the marginalized while ruthlessly dismantling enemies and orchestrating an annulment with his fiancée.
• Liam – As the influential, idealistic First Prince, he advocates for harmony between humans and demi-humans while opposing the Grimlock family’s warmongering. His role is complicated by Xenos, his engagement to Princess Elisabeth, and his secret love for Cecilia. A calm, detached leader, he rallies his academy allies to maintain peace while balancing complex political duties against his personal desires.
• Sylphie – A green-haired elven princess and former squad leader whose plea sparked her own rescue. Despite enduring long captivity, she remains hopeful, serving as a vital guide for Xenos. She actively mediates between humans and elves, tirelessly advocating for peace despite ongoing internal conflicts with her own people.
• Ashraf – As Xenos’s powerful demon butler, Ashraf carries the family name and serves with elite decorum and absolute obedience. Clad in a formal uniform with pitch-black sclera and golden pupils, this teleportation expert acts as a silent, independent anchor. Though he masks his pleasure-seeking nature and dark, experimental past behind perfect grace, he remains a loyal, shadow-bound servant to the household.
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Edited by Kanaa-senpai.
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