My Family in the Novel?

Chapter 55: Corrupted Forest 7

The moment we stepped into the Queen's room, the sight that greeted me was nothing short of breathtaking.

'Wow!' was the first thought that came to my mind, and I couldn't help but be struck by the sheer grandeur of the room. The opulence and splendor were beyond anything I had ever expected. Intricate patterns of gold and silver adorned the walls, creating an atmosphere of otherworldly beauty.

The grandeur of the room was truly overwhelming.

The centerpiece, a gigantic bed, exuded an air of majesty that made it impossible to look away. Its intricately carved wooden frame was adorned with elven motifs and patterns, and the silk canopy that draped over it gave it an aura of enchantment.

The sheer size of the room was astonishing, dwarfing even the already spacious dormitory I had back at the academy. Every corner was adorned with exquisite artwork and delicate trinkets, showcasing the elves' love for aesthetics and beauty.

The Queen gracefully proceeded toward a table a few meters away from her bed. With a mere raise of her hand, the wooden floor beneath transformed into chairs. I couldn't help but marvel at her absolute control over this domain.

'She really has full dominion over this entire realm, huh?'

The Queen signaled for me to sit across from her, and Elowyn quickly took her place beside her mother. I found it amusing that she appeared so anxious around me, though I had no malicious intentions wo begin with.

As I settled into my seat, my eyes couldn't help but notice the intricate barriers meticulously woven throughout the room. Every inch and corner were laced with protective spells. It left me wondering just how much protection and precaution the elves had implemented for their queen. Though these magic circles remained invisible to the naked eye, they radiated a palpable aura of security.

"Lord Adrian, regarding Kaksan, what will you do about it?"

'Lord?'

She has certainly changed her tone around me, hasn't huh?

Whenever we make eye contact, I can see her eyes slightly shivering, clearly displaying her fear of me. Though I can understand it to some extent, even though I'm technically of lower status than her. Adding to the fact that, she has a deep-seated dislike for humans, she can't do anything about it, all because she knows how strong I am.

She must feel truly be frustrated by this whole situation, considering she has to be cautious around me, as I essentially come across as a living nightmare in front her eyes. Though it's true that I'm stronger than her, it's disheartening to be respected solely because she views me as a monster. I kind of wish she could just treat me like a normal person.

"I've already informed your subordinates about it, and I'm fairly certain the princess over there has heard my perspective on the matter. I've come here to deal with it" I explained calmly.

The queen's eyes widened at my response, while Elowyn wore a puzzled expression, still trying to catch up with our conversation.

"So, you're not here to wreak havoc upon the forest?" the queen asked, her voice tinged with confusion.

"Why should I? I have no reason to do that, do I? Besides, I might not look like it, but I do appreciate nature, you know? In fact, I was even the president of the botany club back in my college years" I replied with a small smile.

'Haah' those were the days.

I can still recall the time when one of my classmates suddenly sprouted a golden mandrake. The sheer delight that washed over everyone in the club was palpable.

When that little golden green marvel unexpectedly emerged from its pot, our collective joy was so great that it seemed to reverberate through the very air we breathed.

But then, in a moment of pure, innocent curiosity, my friend accidentally pulled the golden mandrake out of its cozy home. The result was ear-piercing, to say the least.

The mandrake's screams were so loud that even my own mother had to intervene, personally tending to my aching, practically shattered eardrums. It wasn't just me; my poor classmates also suffered from the shrieking spectacle.

"Hahaha"

Looking back, we couldn't help but chuckle at the comical chaos that ensued, even though it was quite a pain at the time.

Ah, those truly were the good days. Though, in hindsight, I do wish they had exercised a bit more caution when they embarked on that Gate raid the very next day, I wonder what items they got…..

I looked to the side and saw the queen with eyes wide open.

?????

'Oops I really got lost in thought there'

Even Elowyn looked at me like I somehow became crazy laughing all of a sudden.

The queen's confusion deepened as she struggled to grasp the significance of my words and the sudden change in my actions, I must have looked like an idiot how embarrassing.

The queen's curiosity prompted her to ask, "Why are you going out of your way to personally eliminate it?"

With a wry smile, I replied, "Because he's going to be annoying in the future."

My response seemed to only deepen her confusion

It appeared that the queen had not expected me to personally take on the task of eliminating Kaksan. Perhaps she had initially thought I was somehow in cahoots with Kaksan to try and take over the entire forest just as he did a thousand years ago or I harbored hidden motives regarding the forest.

However, I needed to set the record straight. My plate was already full, trying to re-establish connections with my family, and grappling with the weight of these mysterious missions that the goddess had forcefully bestowed upon me.

'How I wish to ignore them seriously!'

But I couldn't afford to disregard them just yet, as I couldn't be sure whether ignoring them might lead to my own demise.

Moreover, the story had taken an unexpected turn.

While I had read up to the sixth volume of the novels, anything beyond that was uncharted territory for me.

I had a general understanding of the upcoming events in the story for the next few semesters, but what lay beyond was shrouded in uncertainty.

Leaving Kaksan unattended would undoubtedly bring trouble in this already altered narrative, especially since I had roused the creature earlier than it happened in the original novel.

Given all the unknowns that could come my way in the future, I needed to ensure that Tristan was as strong as, if not stronger than, he had been in the novels. I had no idea what kinds of adversaries I would face down the line, but having a dependable ally in Tristan's strength would prove invaluable.

My life had taken already a whirlwind of events and turns with my sudden transmigration, the enigmatic missions from the goddess, the strained broken with my family, and the uncertain future looming ahead. My mind was already brimming with myriad thoughts and concerns that demanded my attention.

"Look, I understand you're confused, but I'm genuinely here to eliminate the beast as soon as possible. You can trust me on that, at least," I reassured the queen.

Though her trust in me was far from complete, her subtle nod indicated a willingness to give me a chance.

"With that said and done, although I mentioned that I will take care of Kaksan, there's no guarantee that I'll actually win"

'Well, at least not if I don't go all out, though I don't really like using that form as my emotions takes over and drives my body'

"Your Majesty, I may need your help in that regard," I continued, seeking her support.

"My help?" The queen's confusion was evident, given the display of power she had witnessed when I fought two of the forest's guardians.

"Well, not exactly your help, Your Majesty, but your subordinates, to be exact. Let me borrow them," I explained.

"Why?" The queen was understandably curious about my intentions.

I pressed on "How much do you know about Kaksan, Your Majesty?"

"Quite frankly, a bit small, but based on the passed-down memories of the previous queens, I know that he's an ever-evolving monster that quickly adapts to any given situation," the queen replied.

"Correct," I affirmed, "and because of that annoying trait of his, I need to land an attack powerful enough to completely erase the beast from existence. Charging it requires some time."

The queen instantly grasped the implications of my request.

"So, you're saying you want to use my subordinates as bait to distract Kaksan while you charge up your attack?"

She wore an expression of disbelief as she contemplated the gravity of the situation. It was clear that she was torn between supporting my plan, which offered the prospect of quietly eliminating Kaksan but at the cost of some elven lives she had sworn to protect, and the unknown consequences of denying my request, considering my vague responses regarding Kaksan's elimination.

She must have realized that she couldn't defeat Kaksan on her own, and her only option was to assist me. If she allowed the beast to roam free, there was nothing in the forest that could stop it except for me. While she possessed great strength and the elves had considerable firepower due to their high spiritual resonance and magic resonance, Kaksan would undoubtedly adapt to any attack they launched unless it had the power to disintegrate its entire body. Considering Kaksan's formidable defensive capabilities, it was doubtful that they possessed such an attack.

As the queen grappled with her decision, Elowyn's loud and impatient voice suddenly cut through our conversation.

"Can you guys let me in on the conversation now?" Elowyn demanded, her angry expression demanding attention.

It dawned on me that Elowyn was still in the dark about our conversation, having been excluded from our hushed exchange.

As both the queen and I were about to fill her in on the situation, a sudden disturbance disrupted the room. A surge of mana interrupted my thoughts, and my heightened senses detected a sinister black mana signature entwining with mine.

Kaksan? Why was he reaching out to me now?

My eyes flicked towards the queen as my mind raced.

"Shit!"

Kaksan had sent me specific mana signals, small enough to evade detection by those without a heightened magical sensitivity. However, within the queen's chamber, where she could sense nearly everything, this intrusion was impossible to overlook.

Fear gripped her eyes, her body trembling, and her mana fluctuating erratically as if she were experiencing a sudden panic attack. It was entirely understandable, considering the murky and malevolent mana that had infiltrated her sanctuary.

The queen looked at me and gasped, taking a step back away from me as she stood up, her breathing heavy and labored.

"Mother? What's wrong?" Elowyn, not comprehending the gravity of the situation, rushed to assist the queen.

BOOOM!

"MOTHER??"

A deafening explosion rocked the entire room, and I found myself hurtled backward, breaking through seven walls before coming to a stop. Coughing up blood, I gazed at the transformed wooden floor, now resembling a spear that had impaled and pinned me to the wall.

'That was so fast!'

My gaze shifted back to the queen, who was gathering her mana, preparing for something dire.

'Fuck you Kaksan! you made her misunderstand'