Harem System In A fantasy World - Chapter 310: ’Old Friends’
The space was Immense and far larger than anything Elion had imagined when he set foot in here.
The ceiling arched high above, supported by multiple, towering white pillars that stretched upward like the trunks of ancient trees, their surfaces carved with intricate patterns and faintly glowing runic lines that pulsed with a quiet, steady light.
Sunlight streamed in through massive stained-glass windows lining the upper walls, casting shards of colour across the polished marble floor below. They danced across the room like living things.
A long crimson carpet ran straight down the centre, beginning at the doors and extending all the way to the far end of the hall where an iron throne stood, raised upon a series of wide steps.
Many figures lined both sides of the hall, all dressed in elaborate attire, their presence filling the space with a heavy, suffocating weight.
Every single one of them turned to look at Alexander, and then at Elion, and quiet murmurs started almost immediately.
That must be him…
The fourth summoned hero…
He looks… young.
Elion ignored them as his gaze had already drifted forward toward the throne, settling on the figure seated upon it. The King.
He shivered involuntarily when their gazes met across the room.
’What the hell.’
Even from this distance, he could feel the invisible pressure rolling off the man. It wasn’t great enough to be overwhelming, but it was undeniably there, like a presence that seemed to passively weigh on the very air itself.
Elion’s eyes narrowed slightly.
’So this man is one of the people at the very top.’
He slowly studied the man’s features. The first thing he noticed was the uncanny resemblance. He looked a lot like Alexander. They had the same sharp jawline, the same refined facial structure, and the same piercing eyes that seemed to look straight through you rather than at you.
But where Alexander carried a polished, almost pristine kind of beauty, Melroy’s features were rougher and a bit wilder than what you would see from the prince.
His hair, for one, lacked that bright, golden sheen of the prince’s. Instead, it was a darker, dirtier blonde that was no less beautiful, and messier too. It was long enough to brush past his shoulders, though not in any carefully styled way. It fell naturally, slightly unkempt in its appearance.
His body was visibly well-built. The kind of physique that didn’t just come from training, but from years of use.
His royal attire, though elaborate, didn’t sit on him like decoration. It looked more secondary, like it was there because it had to be, not because he cared for it.
Even seated in a relaxed, almost slouched manner on the throne, his presence dominated the room, but not because of the throne he was sitting on; even the throne felt like a backdrop.
Honestly, to put it plainly, to Elion, this man looked more like a beast pretending to be civilised than an actual king who governed over millions of humans.
He stopped a few steps away from the throne along with Alexander, though the pressure seemed to have multiplied from up close.
The King leaned forward slowly with a stern expression on his face. His sharp gaze flicked between Alexander and Elion. Suddenly, his face lit up out of nowhere.
“HAH!”
The sudden laugh boomed through the throne room, echoing off the marble walls and nearly making a few nobles and some servants who were lurking about flinch.
“THIS is him!?”
Before anyone could react, King Melroy Starheaven shot up from his throne. He practically launched himself forward in a blur of motion.
“COME HERE, YOU LITTLE MONSTER!”
“El…!” Alexander shot back toward Elion with a grave look on his face, reaching out as if he was trying to save his life, but he was too late, or simply too slow to do much of anything.
Elion’s eyes widened slightly as he tried to track the blur of motion charging at him, but he failed to do so, just like Alexander.
WHAM!
Two massive arms wrapped around him in a crushing bear hug.
“HAHAHAHA!”
The King laughed like a man who had just found a sacred treasure.
“Look at you! You’re tiny! How the hell did you bully my army into thinking you’re some kind of war god!?”
Elion’s feet lifted off the ground as the powerful king picked him up. He was certain he heard ribs creak.
’…What the fuck is happening!?’
To say he was bewildered was an understatement. Was this the same man who was sitting on the throne, acting all overbearing just now!
The entire throne room froze.
The nobles stared with their mouths slightly open, and servants paused mid-step, watching the scene. Even the guards looked like they were trying very hard not to react to this hearty greeting.
It seemed like they had all expected something like this to happen.
“Father…” Alexander said slowly, pinching the bridge of his nose, “You are crushing him.”
“Nonsense!” Melroy tightened his grip around his body, and Elion felt something in his back pop.
“See? He’s fine! Look at him! Unlike you, he is solid and sturdy!”
’I am going to die here, from a hug.’ Elion realised, though he didn’t even struggle. He just… endured.
The King finally pulled back from the hug, grabbing Elion by the shoulders and looking him up and down like a prized horse.
“Hm!”
He nodded.
“Good eyes. Strong arms. No fear in his eyes. I like him!”
He suddenly leaned in to whisper something into Elion’s ear; however, despite his efforts, he failed miserably at concealing his voice.
“You got a woman?”
“…What?”
“Don’t answer that, I don’t want to know, I’ll have to judge you anyway before thinking about letting you have her.”
“Father!” Elion thought he heard a female voice protest, but he was too preoccupied to even think of locating the voice.
’What the hell is this man even talking about!?’
Alexander let out a long sigh.
“I told you he was a bit… unique.” It seemed like the young prince was looking for the least offensive word so as not to offend his father.
“That’s putting it lightly,” Elion muttered under his breath.
“I HEARD THAT!”
Melroy snapped his fingers, pointing at Alexander, who looked off to the side innocently..
“Good! I like honesty! We don’t get enough of that here!”
A noble in the back quietly coughed. Melroy spun toward him.
“YOU… stop coughing like a dying goat, you’re embarrassing my kingdom in front of a great hero!”
“You are doing more of that than I am, your Ma…. ”
“What! Did you say something!?”
The man straightened immediately.
“I… No, Your Majesty…”
“Good. Now, sit down and behave like the rest of you!” He turned right back to Elion as if nothing had happened.
’Why the fuck is this guy treating me like a long lost friend!?’
He was very lost and confused right now.
“So!”
Melroy clapped his hands loudly, finally letting go of Elion, “Let’s talk about how you embarrassed my enemies, scared my mage and allies, and made my son look like he’s been slacking in his noble duties!”
Alexander frowned.
“I have not…”
“QUIET, BOY, THIS ISN’T ABOUT YOU RIGHT NOW!”
He sighed audibly, “…Yes, Father.”
Melroy slung an arm around Elion’s shoulders again. To Elion’s relief, it wasn’t as crushing this time, but still very close. He began pacing around on the carpet with Elion in tow.
“You,” he said, grinning, “I have a feeling that having you around is going to be very exciting.”
’I could say the direct opposite about you!’
Elion stared at him for a second and sighed.
“Imagine how bored I have been with a war going on, but I’m not allowed to go out there and support my men!” He looked very offended, punching a fist into the air, “How the fuck am I supposed to help by sitting on my throne all day?” He snorted in derision.
“My ass is sore!” He complained comically.
“Ehem…” An elderly, heavily dressed nobleman wearing a monocle stepped forward, “Language, your majesty.”
“Yes, yes, Henry.” He waved him off casually, “You have convinced me to stay cooped up in here, the least you can do is let me run my mouth and complain about it!”
“I already explained this, my king; there is a reason both sides don’t just send a saint mage to annihilate either side’s army, that would be a war crime.”
Melroy glared at the monocled old man, his expression briefly turning serious, “You think the demons care about laws of warfare and etiquette? The only reason that bastard has not dared to do so is that he knows that he is woefully outnumbered.”
Henry didn’t seem to have a comment for this particular jab from the king, so he lowered his head and stepped back into the rest of the entourage of nobles and whoever else deserved to be here.
Melroy went straight back to assaulting Elion, the poor guy.
“Where was I?” Elion didn’t know whether that was a legitimate question or not, but he chose to finally say something anyway. Who knows when he will ever get the opportunity?
“I don’t know whatever the hell this is… But I already regret coming here.”
Elion didn’t mind being a bit snarky; this king seemed like a laid-back character. If he decided to punish Elion because of a simple jab, he would have terribly misjudged his character.
Melroy burst into laughter again. He grabbed hold of Elion’s shoulder again, and he tightened his arm around it, like they were old friends who had just reunited after years apart, his grip firm and suffocating in equal measure.
“I knew you would be a bit more interesting than my boring old court.”
“Now,” he said loudly, dragging Elion half a step forward like he was presenting him to an audience, “tell me something important.”
Elion blinked, wondering what this boisterous king wanted with him now.
“…What?”
Melroy leaned in, his eyes gleaming with curiosity, “Did you defeat a very powerful demon recently?”
“Uhm…Yes.”
“HAH! I KNEW IT!”
The King’s laughter boomed through the hall as he slapped Elion’s back.
BAM!
