I Became My Elf King Character In A Game-Like World
Chapter 38: Mind-Reading…??

Chapter 38: Mind-Reading...??

"That is not for me to decide," she said calmly. "You would need His Majesty’s permission." At that, Lyra immediately turned her gaze toward the throne.

At that, Lyra immediately turned her gaze toward the throne. There sat Renjiro, the Elf King. The moment she laid eyes on him, her heart skipped a beat.

The golden crown atop his head, the flawless, almost ethereal beauty of his face, the otherworldly grace he carried, it was enough to make her momentarily lose her breath.

She could swear, there was not a single nobleman in her City who could compare to him.

NO ONE.

Renjiro possessed an undeniable aura of majesty, an unparalleled elegance that made every human noble look dull and unimpressive in comparison.

’He’s too perfect...’ she thought dreamily.

But the hall’s tense silence was soon shattered. Theron was the one who broke it.

"This so-called compensation fee has no legitimate basis," the knight commander stated coldly. His tone was firm, his words filled with unwavering defiance.

"Neither the Ironcrest Trading Company, nor our esteemed lord, would ever agree to such an outrageous demand." He lifted his gaze, his eyes narrowing as he looked directly at Renjiro.

"Your Majesty," he continued, "I hope you understand something. In The City, without our lord’s permission, no merchant caravan would dare enter the Forest." His expression hardened, his voice carrying a subtle edge of threat.

"Unless, of course, they wish to be crushed beneath the hooves of the Knights." A dangerous glint flickered in Renjiro’s eyes. He leaned forward slightly, his golden gaze cold and sharp.

"Tell me, human knight," he said softly, "was that a threat?" Theron’s hand remained steady on the hilt of his greatsword.

"It was a friendly reminder," he answered without hesitation. He did not back down. He did not avert his gaze.

For several long, heavy seconds, the hall fell into dead silence. Then, Renjiro stood up. The movement alone was enough to shift the entire atmosphere.

A terrifying pressure spread through the hall, so subtle yet so absolute that it made the very air feel heavier.

"You overestimate yourself, knight." His words were calm. But underneath them was an unmistakable warning.

"You do not have the right to remind me of anything." The golden light of the Elunarian Spring reflected in his eyes, making them shimmer like molten gold. "And neither does your lord."

"Your Majesty!" Gorren suddenly stepped forward, his voice urgent. He could feel the situation spiraling toward disaster. Theron’s grip tightened around his sword, preparing for the worst.

But his focus was not on Renjiro, he was watching Elaria. The circle nine Elven Mage was the only true threat to him in this hall.

If battle broke out, she would be the first to strike. Gorren clenched his fists, trying to regain control of the conversation.

"Your Majesty, I believe there is still room for negotiation," he said carefully. He needed to de-escalate this conflict, fast.

"The Ironcrest Trading Company and the elves have always had a strong partnership. There is no need for us to become enemies now." There was a brief pause. Then, Gorren gritted his teeth and continued.

"As for the two million gold coin compensation, I will need to discuss it with the lord before giving you a final answer." His only goal now was to get out of this place alive.

The sudden shift in Renjiro’s demeanor, the thousands of elven warriors who had appeared seemingly out of nowhere, the sheer weight of the power they were facing, it all sent chills down his spine.

One thing was clear. They could not afford to start a war here, at least not when they were outnumbered. Renjiro slowly descended the steps of his throne.

His every movement was calm and measured, yet there was an undeniable authority behind each step.

"You wish to return empty-handed?" Gorren flinched. Renjiro’s voice was quiet, but it carried a weight that pressed down on his very soul.

"After traveling all this way... after coming to my land... you truly believe you can simply leave without fulfilling your true purpose?" Gorren’s heart pounded. Something about Renjiro’s choice of words sent an uneasy feeling crawling down his spine.

"The transaction can be postponed," he said hastily. "That is not a problem."

Renjiro smirked. "I was not referring to the trade," he said. Gorren felt a sudden sense of dread creep up his throat. Renjiro’s gaze turned to Theron.

Then, his next words shook them to their core. "I was talking about the unicorn."

"WHAT?!" Both Gorren and Theron froze in absolute shock. Their faces paled as they stared at Renjiro in horrified disbelief.

They had never mentioned anything about a unicorn. Yet, somehow... Renjiro already knew.

Renjiro’s lips curled into a faint smile, but his eyes carried a piercing sharpness.

"The Ironcrest Trading Company sent so many high-ranking knights and mages into the Forest... Was it not to capture the unicorn that rightfully belongs to my people?" A low hum filled the air.

The pressure in the hall intensified as two distinct magical auras surged forth. It was Elaria and Lorien. Their delicate hands gripped their magical staves, and the runes etched into them flared with energy.

Their normally serene and graceful expressions twisted into something cold and merciless.

For them, this was no trivial matter. Unicorns were sacred mounts to the elves.

Even though neither Elaria nor Lorien knew exactly when a unicorn had appeared in the Forest, one thing was certain, anyone who dared to hunt or capture such a being was an enemy of the elves.

Even if that enemy was the Dragon Clan ruling over the seas, the elves would never back down. Gorren took a deep breath, forcing himself to remain calm.

His mind was racing. "How do they know?" He had assumed the unicorn’s existence was still a secret. And yet, Renjiro had exposed their objective with chilling precision.

No. It was impossible. There was no way the elves could have obtained such information so quickly. This was a bluff. Yes. That had to be it. The elves were simply guessing, hoping to provoke a reaction.