Chapter 149: Cosmic Truths Can Wait Until After Dinner

The elven evacuation proceeded with surprising efficiency.

After confirming the mountain’s structure was stable and there was no risk of secondary collapses, Baroque immediately organized the remaining troops to retreat toward the camp they had set out from.

That magnificent carriage belonging to Queen Elaniel, crafted from shimmering Moonlight Wood and Mithril, was far too conspicuous to have been brought to the landslide site. It had been left safely at the previous day’s camp, guarded by a handful of sentries.

This meant they had to walk back.

For the others, this was a minor inconvenience.

For Celeste, it was a fate worse than death.

“I can’t… I hereby declare myself dead on the spot…” Celeste hung limply from her sister’s frame, looking less like a person and more like a puddle of melted slime. “You guys go on without me. Don’t worry, just remember to leave some offerings at my grave. Barbecue, medium-rare, and don’t you dare skimp on the cumin.”

“Get up!” Selene grunted, half-dragging and half-carrying her sister, a mixture of amusement and exasperation warring on her face. “Her Majesty’s carriage is just up ahead at the camp! It’s super luxurious! There’s a soft bed inside! Just hold on a little longer!”

“A bed can’t save me now… unless it grows legs and comes to me…”

Queen Elaniel observed the comical sight of the two sisters, her gaze lingering on Celeste’s bloodless face. She then made a decision that surprised every elf present, yet somehow felt completely natural.

“Miss Celeste, and her companions,” the Queen announced, her voice still a touch weak but carrying an authority that brooked no refusal, “once we return to camp, please join me in my carriage.”

She paused, letting her gaze soften. “You have all just endured a great battle and are exhausted. Especially you, Miss Celeste… You need a quiet and comfortable environment to recover.”

As she spoke, not a single elf found the offer inappropriate. On the contrary, they all looked on as if this was the most obvious thing in the world.

Are you kidding?

This was the woman who had single-handedly smote a demon lord with a meteorite and then physically held back the collapse of an entire mountain!

She wasn’t just worthy of sharing the Queen’s carriage; she had earned it ten times over.

Frankly, they wouldn’t have found it the least bit strange if she decided to use the Queen’s own lap as a pillow.

Selene was the first to cheer, having been eyeing that ridiculously luxurious carriage since she first laid eyes on it.

Though Su Wan and Xia Lian remained silent, the undisguised curiosity flickering in their eyes spoke volumes.

And so, under countless gazes filled with a potent mix of awe, worship, and sheer curiosity, Celeste was practically hauled to the camp by her sister. There, she was personally invited by the Queen herself into the carriage that symbolized the highest authority of the elven race.

The space inside was far larger than it appeared from the outside, a clear proof of the use of spatial magic. A plush velvet carpet covered the floor, the polished wooden walls emitted a faint, calming fragrance, and a circular sofa, large enough to comfortably seat seven or eight people, wrapped around the interior.

The moment Celeste sank into a seat so soft it felt like a cloud, she collapsed with a soft thump and refused to move another inch.

An extreme, bone-deep exhaustion seeped into her, wrapping its tendrils around every nerve. Although the [Embrace of Moonlight] continued to steadily restore her physical and mental stamina, the fatigue that originated from the very depths of her soul couldn’t be dispelled so quickly.

She leaned lazily against the cushions, her eyes vacant, her mind a perfect, blissful blank.

In contrast, Selene, Su Wan, and Xia Lian all seemed rather constrained. Xia Lian, in particular, sat with her back ramrod straight, her hands placed obediently on her knees. She seemed to be consciously trying to slow her breathing, as if afraid of using up too much of the Queen’s air.

Besides the Queen and Celeste’s party of four, only Eldara was present in the carriage. The stoic knight commander sat perfectly upright, her aura restrained, a silent guardian statue dutifully performing her role.

The wheels began to roll, and the carriage moved with exceptional stability, with almost no jolts felt from the road.

Elaniel reclined gracefully on the sofa opposite them, her beautiful, wine-red eyes observing Celeste with a spark of interest.

“What are you thinking about?” the Queen’s voice, tinged with a smile, broke the comfortable silence.

“Thinking about what’s for dinner,” Celeste blurted out, her voice carrying the listless, deadpan tone of a salted fish that had completely given up on life.

“Pfft—”

Selene, sitting nearby, was the first to break. She clapped a hand over her mouth, trying to stifle a choked laugh as her shoulders shook violently.

Su Wan whipped her head away, pretending to be utterly fascinated by the scenery outside the window, but the slight upward curve of her lips betrayed her.

Xia Lian’s face turned beet red, and she ducked her head so low it was nearly buried in her chest. To say such a thing in front of the Queen… it was just so… unbelievably casual!

Even Eldara’s perpetually frozen lips seemed to twitch for a fleeting, almost imperceptible second.

Elaniel herself was stunned for a moment, before a clear, melodious laugh bubbled up from her throat.

“Hahaha… I must admit, I thought a powerhouse of your caliber would be pondering grand concepts like world peace or the fundamental truths of the universe right now,” she teased with a warm smile.

“That’s stuff you think about after you’re full,” Celeste replied weakly. ‘Are you kidding me? My brain feels like scrambled eggs right now, I don’t have the processing power for that high-level crap. Hell, I don’t think about it on a good day!’

“Right now,” she continued aloud, “nothing in the entire world is more important than food. The ideal scenario involves some greasy barbecue—crispy on the outside, juicy on the inside—paired with a chilled, sweet fruit wine… Hiss… no, stop, the more I think about it, the hungrier I get.”

Celeste’s brutally honest answer completely charmed the Queen.

“You’re right,” Elaniel said, nodding with a smile, her gaze growing a little more intimate. “Those are indeed questions to be considered only after one is full.”

She found Celeste to be a truly fascinating individual. She had met countless powerful people in her long life; they were either aloof and arrogant, spouted endless platitudes about benevolence and morality, or were so deeply inscrutable that their true thoughts were impossible to read.

But she had never met anyone like Celeste—one moment, she was a demigod calling down divine punishment and dominating a battlefield; the next, she had switched modes to a lazy salted fish who only wanted to eat. The contrast was so real, so down-to-earth, it was an entirely novel experience.

“As it happens, the royal chefs of Silvermoon City excel at preparing various mushrooms and fresh vegetables. Their light flavors are best for physical recovery.” Elaniel paused, a thoughtful glint in her eye. “However, since you have a fondness for stronger flavors, I don’t mind instructing them to prepare some barbecue as well. While we elves do not eat it often, venison roasted over branches of the Sunflare Fruit tree has a truly superb flavor.”

“For real?!” Celeste’s eyes lit up, and a sliver of her strength seemed to return. ‘Damn, the royal treatment is nice! Not only is she treating us, but I can even put in a custom order!’

“But just mushrooms?” she mused aloud. “Hope they’re not the kind that make you see little green men.”

Hearing the magic word “barbecue,” Selene forgot all about trying to stifle her laughter and scooted closer. “Your Majesty, Your Majesty, could you please prepare a lot more of that Sunflare Fruit roasted venison? My sister… she can easily eat three whole platters by herself!”

“Selene!” Celeste shot her a glare.

“No problem at all,” Elaniel laughed, the sound even more joyful than before. “There will be plenty for everyone.”

With the critical topic of “what’s for dinner” settled, the atmosphere in the carriage instantly lightened. Su Wan and Xia Lian visibly relaxed as well.

“Celeste, are you really okay?” Su Wan was still a bit uneasy, her worried gaze fixed on Celeste’s pale face.

“I’m fine, just completely drained. I’ll be good as new after a nap,” Celeste said, waving a dismissive hand.

She did a quick internal scan of her condition. Though she was exhausted, the newly acquired [Immortal Family Breathing Technique] had already begun to circulate on its own. A weak but steady stream of aura was slowly nourishing her depleted blood, qi, and spirit.

The feeling was strange, like a phone on its last legs being plugged into a power bank that charged slowly but would never, ever run out.

‘Zhongli’s brand is quality guaranteed!’Celeste thought happily.’This technique is practically tailor-made for a lazy bum like me! Fully automated, AFK-friendly cultivation—this is the gospel for slackers!’

The convoy traveled south, leaving the icy northern peaks behind and re-entering the vast, verdant forest. Leaning against the plush cushions, Celeste felt her consciousness grow hazy as sleep began to claim her.

Watching her defenseless state, Elaniel waved her hand slightly. A soft, thin blanket woven with patterns of moonlight materialized from thin air and was gently draped over Celeste’s sleeping form.

Eldara glanced over but said nothing, silently reaching over to pull the window curtain halfway down, blocking the harsh afternoon sunlight.

Seeing this, Selene also carefully helped her sister adjust her posture, allowing her to lie down more comfortably.

After an unknown amount of time, Celeste was woken by a slight jolt.

She opened her eyes to find that the convoy had stopped.

“We have arrived at Dawn Harbor,” Elaniel’s voice came from across the carriage.

Celeste sat up and rubbed her eyes, feeling significantly better. “So fast?”

“We’ve been traveling for over half a day, Sis,” Selene chirped. “You were sleeping like a log.”

Celeste nodded, her mind clearing. Dawn Harbor. This was the port where Eldara had previously arranged to meet Prince Alex to return the magic books.

Calculating the time, that prince who had been granted the [Sacred Blessing] should have returned to the human capital long ago.

She just wondered how the Human King would react.

‘A king picking a fight with the entire elven race just because of some ancient ‘dark history’between his ancestors and the Elf Queen? That doesn’t add up,’ she mused.’A politician’s thought process shouldn’t be that simple, unless… unless that ‘dark history’happens to directly contradict some of the’glorious deeds’ recorded in their own royal chronicles?’

“What about the human diplomatic mission?” she asked. “Have they arrived at the harbor?”

“Miss Celeste,” Eldara answered, her voice as cold as ever but patient. “According to my estimations, the mission will arrive tomorrow at the earliest.”

“Ah? Oh!” Celeste realized she had overestimated the speed of carriages in this world.

The convoy started up again, heading toward the city’s Teleportation Array.

Celeste glanced at the composed Elaniel, her mind as clear as a mirror. This Queen was no soft-hearted pushover. The reason she was so calm was because she had everything under control.

If the Human Kingdom was sensible and returned the items voluntarily, everyone could save face and go about their business.

If they insisted on playing games…

Celeste had no doubt that Her Majesty had a hundred different ways to make that Human King regret his decision. A trade embargo, for instance. Or perhaps just taking the Silent Watch Knights for a “stroll” along the border.

If it came to that, the elves probably wouldn’t even have to lift a finger; the great nobles and powerful merchants within the Human Kingdom would likely tie up their own king and deliver him to the elves themselves.

‘Ugh, dealing with politicians is exhausting. Too many schemes and backstabbing.’

Celeste sighed and decided to stop thinking about such annoying matters.

Right now, she just wanted to get back to Silvermoon City as quickly as possible, have a fantastic barbecue feast, and then get a wonderfully long sleep.

As for restoring ancient covenants or whatever…

She’d deal with it after she’d recharged her batteries.

[Elysian’s Note:

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