It's been less than three months since our departure from the Umbryan capital. That's about the same time the Umbryan Patriarch estimated he would need to settle everything on his side before he could officially join the coalition we proposed. Having relayed that estimated timespan to Goblin through his little bird, he gave a similar timeline to the Aurian Matriarch and the Patriarch of the Ferron family. So, when I arrived here a few days ahead of the agreed time, I fully expected the Umbryan to be the last to show, especially considering everything his capital had been through.

When I asked, after he had agreed to this coalition, how long it would take for him to be ready, I braced myself for him to ask for at least a six-month delay. To my surprise, he was fine with just three months—even though I thought that was a bit rushed. That's why seeing him here so soon wasn't just unexpected—it was a very pleasant surprise.

Since everyone had come to join the party, we wasted no time organizing a summit to devise a proper strategy against the one this coalition was created for or to be exact "against".

I was seated at the table where the first talks would be held. In the middle of the forest, a circular table had been arranged with the meticulous care of the Ferron Family Patriarch. Frankly, he could have suggested holding the summit in his flying fortress—or even in ours—but to keep things neutral, he had wisely chosen this location. To my immediate left sat Aquaflora, and to my right sat Blondie. Behind me stood Honey, Goblin, and Bortz. Across from me was the familiar face of the Umbryan Patriarch, who had two of his elders standing by his side, both smiling courteously.

Glancing briefly to my left, I saw an empty seat. It was a spot that, judging by the two Terran elves standing nearby, would normally belong to the Ferron Family Patriarch. However, he was nowhere to be found. At the polar opposite corner of the table, a figure caught my attention.

I couldn’t help but note how distinctly the Aurian Matriarch stood out from her kin. Yes, her kin. Despite her golden hair, a trait common among the Aurian elves, her complexion and the contours of her face bore little resemblance to them. The Matriarch's features diverged significantly from the typical elven visage that characterized the Argyrian and Umbryan families, who shared what I might describe as a more oriental facial structure—a trait faintly present among the Aurian as well. Yet, something about her and only her reminded me more of the indigenous people from the cold Siberian regions of the world I came from, rather than people from oriental in general.

The attire of her kin standing behind her further emphasized this impression. Their outfits, though adapted—or rather, bastardized—to suit the local weather, were clearly designed for a more frigid environment. Thick and fur-lined, they seemed almost out of place against the milder, if not outright tropical, surroundings.

The contrast between the Matriarch and her kin only deepened the dichotomy. With the exception of her golden hair, she looked like she belonged to a different elven family entirely. Her skin was a unique shade I had never seen before in Fiendfell, though it resembled something I had once encountered in my old world. It was a deep, rich tone that seemed to blend Black and Middle Eastern features—an appearance entirely atypical for an elf. This darker complexion created a striking contrast with her golden hair and the bold, golden attire she wore. It made her stand out in an almost magnetic way.

As I studied the unique specimen that was the Aurian Matriarch, I felt a nudge to my left.

"You're staring too much," Aquaflora, seated beside me, scolded in a low voice.

"Staring?"

"Don't pretend with me—you were literally—" Aquaflora started, but her words were cut off by none other than the Aurian Matriarch herself.

"Is there a problem? I couldn’t help but notice you glancing my way," she asked directly, her sharp gaze fixed on us.

"See?" Aquaflora whispered pointedly.

Smiling, I responded, "Oh, here I was thinking I was sly. Forgive me for that, Matriarch, but I couldn’t help myself. You are rather different from the idea I had of you."

"And what do you mean by that, Miss Arianna? Or should I still call you Queen Arianna?"

"Arianna is just fine, but I don't mind either. And Matriarch, what I meant is that I expected you to be a little different. You see, when my little one over there," I said, motioning at Goblin, "when he came back from the Aurian capital, he didn't tell me the Aurian Matriarch was such a sight. When I saw you, I was surprised to see how gorgeously different you look. Take this as a moment of appreciation—you’re unlike anything I’ve ever seen before."

The reaction to that statement was mostly silence, but each silence carried its own meaning. Aquaflora’s silence was one of disapproval, almost scolding. The elf across from me wore a curious expression, one that hinted at amusement. And as for the Matriarch herself, her silence was contemplative, seizing the moment as if weighing my words, before letting out a small chuckle.

"Is that so?" she finally said.

"Yes," I replied. Then, glancing at the Aurian elves standing behind her, I added, "It was very selfish of you to not pass your beauty onto your subjects."

"Selfish, huh?" She chuckled again, this time with a smile. "I would call it something else."

"Oh? And what would that be?"

"...Mercy."

Without knowing much about the Matriarch’s history, it was obvious that she was fundamentally different from the elves now known as Solvan Elves. At the very least, she was once part of an elven family from which she inherited her unique appearance. The common Aurian elves, on the other hand, seemed to reflect traits of another lineage altogether. Her words only confirmed this. For someone like her, who had most likely usurped the monarch who originally created the Aurian elves, choosing not to impose her image upon her subjects spoke volumes. If she had gone down the same route as the Umbryan and Argyrian Patriarchs, ensuring all her subjects resembled her, she would have had to push these elves to extinction to allow her own kin to thrive. Allowing them to be themselves was, as she said, an act of mercy.

"Indeed," I said simply.

"Speaking of intriguing," she continued, "you too intrigue me. I’ve heard about you, but you’re not quite what I imagined."

"What about me isn’t as you imagined?"

"It’s not so much what has been said about you, but rather what hasn’t been said." Pointing at me, the Matriarch asked, "How exactly did you get that title?"

Without her naming it, I knew exactly which title she was referring to. There was only one that might concern a monarch like her: Demon Slaughterer. At first glance, it might appear to be just another title, but scrolling further into my stats would reveal the chilling ability tied to it—a clear indication that I had once killed a Monarch.

"Which Archduke of Hell did you manage to kill?" she pressed. "I haven’t heard news of a demonic monarch’s death. You?" She turned to the Umbryan Patriarch seeking for confirmation.

The Umbryan Patriarch shook his head.

The Aurian Matriarch’s gaze returned to me, expectant, just as an elf dressed in an eccentric outfit interrupted the discussion. His appearance strongly reminded me of French aristocrats, minus the wig. Though, given his excentricity, a wig would’ve been no less out of place than the long, rust-colored ponytail he had wrapped around his throat like a scarf.

Unlawfully taken from Royal Road, this story should be reported if seen on Amazon.

"Death of a monarch? Did you all start plotting the demise of a fellow monarch without me?" he quipped as he took his seat—the chair belonging to Farmi, the Monarch of all Terran Elves and Patriarch of the Ferron Family.

"You’re late," the Aurian Matriarch pointed out, clearly annoyed.

"I hope you’ll find it in your heart to forgive me. So... what were we discussing?"

Since no one offered an answer, the Aurian Patriarch, still eager for a response, stepped forward to explain. "We were asking Arianna over here where she got her Demon Slaughterer title."

"Oh?" Farmi mused, slowly turning to exchange his first glance with me. Smiling, he asked, "Madame Arianna, may I?"

May he what? The answer was obvious. He wanted to do what the other two Patriarchs had already done without asking—appraise me.

"Since you're courteous enough to ask," I said with a smile, "go ahead."

"Well, forgive me for the intrusion," he said, wasting no time. After a quick inspection, he mused, "Those are some impressive stats you've got there, Ma---."

"Her stats are not the point," the Aurian Matriarch cut in sharply. "The point is her Demon Slaughterer title and the ability it gave. You, who are closest to the demon border, have you heard of the death of one of their monarchs?"

"Nope, not at all," the Ferron Patriarch replied with such speed that his answer sounded more like a question than a statement.

The Aurian Matriarch didn’t bother to hide her mistrust of his answer, though the Ferron Patriarch pretended not to notice. Turning her attention back to me, she seemed ready to ask directly which demon monarch I had killed, but then something seemed to dawn on her.

"You two know each other," she said, narrowing her eyes.

I exchanged a look with the Ferron Patriarch and nodded, confirming that we did indeed know each other.

"Madame Arianna was, for a short time, a neighbor and a very faithful client of mine," the Ferron Patriarch explained.

"Client?"

"For artifacts and such," I clarified, glancing upward where his flying fortress was stationed.

Being an elven monarch who acquired his ancestral tree through the artistic main affinity, the Ferron Patriarch and, by extension, his subjects were the absolute authority when it came to obtaining interesting artifacts. Metallurgy, Alchemy, Rune Weaving, Engraving—these were all sub-affinities of the artistic main affinity, the very foundation of his power and influence as a monarch.

"She was a very pleasant neighbor and a generous client," he continued, "one of the few I received from such a faraway corner of the world."

At these words, the Aurian Matriarch glared at the Ferron Patriarch. "Aren’t you literally confirming to my face that you know which demon monarch she took down and that you were involved in it?"

"No," he denied, "Come on, you know me, you know what I do. Perhaps, as you claim, I know who it was that she took down. But my trade is my craftsmanship and selling said craftsmanship. Though, I’m more of a craftsman than a seller, but I have enough pride as a seller to say that I’d never betray a customer’s trust unless their secret was no longer a secret to them." He glanced at me with a sorry expression, and I shook my head slightly in response.

"See? My hands, feet, and most importantly my mouth are tied," he said with a theatrical sigh. "But let me make this clear: while I may have sold a few artifacts, I had no direct involvement in the slaying of any Archdemons. I would never involve myself in something like the killing of another monarch."

This declaration drew the gazes of everyone at the table, a table built explicitly for us to plot the demise of exactly what he just claimed he would never involve himself in.

"This is a different scenario," he defended himself immediately. "This is, in fact, a case of force majeure. I’m only here because I have no other choice. I can’t imagine my capital going through what Patriarch Linh’s capital endured."

That last statement visibly annoyed the Umbryan Patriarch, who had been mostly silent until now. So much so that he finally interjected. "Can we finally start discussing what we’re here for? I would like to be done with this."

Though the Aurian Matriarch didn’t seem to appreciate the glare he sent her way, she made no fuss about it, allowing us to transition to what should have been the main focus of the discussion from the beginning: taking down the crazed Argyrian Patriarch.

Standing from my seat, I said, "Since I was the one who proposed forming this coalition, I hope no one has any objections to me taking the lead here at this... summit."

***

The summit was organized to figure out a plan to effectively deal with the rogue Patriarch. That was exactly what we attempted to do next—or at least, that was the ideal outcome. Naturally, it was not the one we achieved.

I can’t say I was expecting anything different. While everyone agreed that the Argyrian Patriarch had to go, each had their own ideal way of achieving it. These ideas, while essentially similar, were fundamentally different in execution, as each party sought to take on the task that required the least effort on their part. This led to a complete lack of agreement among the coalition members.

From what has been gathered, taking down the Argyrian Patriarch requires more than just defeating him. We also need to eliminate the Stampede that constantly surrounds him. It sounds simple, but the reality is far more complicated. The Umbryan Patriarch, who once fought against him, explained it clearly: when facing the Argyrian Patriarch, you’re not battling two separate entities—the Patriarch and the Stampede—but rather him and his Stampede as a single, unified entity.

How does that make sense? It doesn’t—not conventionally. It only makes sense because the Argyrian is a monarch. Somehow, he has the ability to use the monsters under his control the same way a typical monarch can draw energy from their subjects. In other words, he uses them as a battery. This was the Umbryan Patriarch’s biggest mistake when going against the Argyrian Patriarch.

He believed that, like himself, the maddened Patriarch’s reserves would be drawn from the people of his capital. Since the distance between the Argyrian and his supposed source of energy was so great, the Umbryan Patriarch assumed the Argyrian Patriarch would be at a disadvantage. Instead, the reality was the opposite. Not only was the Argyrian Patriarch’s reserve much larger, but the distance had no discernible impact on the energy he could draw, as he was drawing it from the monster around him.

To take down the Argyrian Patriarch, we need to ensure both he and his Stampede are defeated completely. Otherwise, he will always recover by fully exploiting his ability to draw energy from his monsters. That’s where the true disagreement among the Patriarchs and Matriarch lies: deciding who will handle what.

While we must view the Patriarch and his Stampede as a single problem, it’s clear that handling it requires splitting the task into two halves—one team to handle the Patriarch and another to deal with the Stampede simultaneously.

"Ladies, gentlemen," the Ferron Patriarch continued, "you know what I am, what my Cinnabar Tree is good for, and it’s not offense. How about I handle the Stampede along with Madame Arianna, while Patriarch Linh and Matriarch Jay, the two spearheads of our coalition—"

Sneers of contempt echoed from both Patriarch Linh and Matriarch Jay.

"Are you taking me for a fool?"

"I would never entrust my life to someone who just admitted to being inept. We’ll be long dead before you’re finished with the Stampede."

"Come on, I—"

"Shut up. There’s no way I’m going with that," the Umbryan Patriarch snapped.

"Neither am I," the Aurian Matriarch agreed curtly.

"But someone has to fight the Patriarch," the Ferron Patriarch protested.

"Why don’t you see for yourself?" Jay countered coldly.

"I’ve just explained why I’d be a terrible choice, Matriarch. The most useful I’d be is against the Stampede’s monsters."

"Then who’s going to face the Argyrian Patriarch? Because while none of us want to take on that task, someone has to," the Matriarch demanded.

Under normal circumstances, neither of the two elven monarchs would shy away from confronting the Argyrian Patriarch, whom they both likely still considered their equal in strength. However, the situation was uniquely different here.

One of them knew she’d be overpowered, while the other had learned from his own mistakes that the outcome would not be in their favor. Despite knowing that together they might stand a chance, there were two key reasons why neither wanted to take on the role. The first was the necessity of simultaneously defeating the Stampede, as explained earlier. The second reason was far simpler: they were too far away from their own subjects to fight effectively.

The elven sigil known as the Ancestral Tree grants monarchs a high rate of energy flow from their subjects when drawing ressource such SP, MP and HP. However, this flow diminishes with distance, making elven monarchs most effective when their subjects are nearby. This proximity also makes their subjects vulnerable, as a smart opponent would quickly realize that eliminating the monarch’s subjects is the easiest path to victory.

Each of the elven monarchs had chosen to leave their subjects in safety, far away from the conflict. This decision, though wise, came at a cost: they were now significantly weakened when it comes to available ressource, making a direct confrontation with the Argyrian Patriarch a near-impossible battle of attrition. With this understanding, it’s no wonder they hesitated.

Done watching this summit go nowhere, I spoke up. "How about I do it?"

At my words, all eyes turned to me—even Aquaflora, who had been thoroughly silent throughout the summit. She nudged me, urging me to retract my words, perhaps thinking I’d spoken out of frustration. But I didn’t. I had made up my mind.

"What do you mean?"

"Let me handle the Argyrian Patriarch while the three of you deal with his monsters. Anyone against that?"

The three elven monarchs exchanged looks before coming to a collective understanding, which they expressed with a nod.

"Now then, since no one objects to this suggestion, I have terms I need to discuss with you," I added with a sigh.