I Became My Elf King Character In A Game-Like World
Chapter 86: Visit to the Human City

Chapter 86: Visit to the Human City

The leaders of all the city’s important groups had gathered.

City Lord Alden was present, along with the heads and elders from the Mercenary Guild and the Mage Association, the chiefs of many big mercenary bands, and powerful lone-wolf warriors. Naturally, plenty of high-ranking nobles were there too.

Unlike the noisy crowd below, it was quiet up on the walls. Every single person had a serious look on their face. The approaching Elven army felt like a heavy weight pressing down on them.

Even though they didn’t truly believe this army could capture the city, if the Elves did decide to attack, the city would pay a terrible price.

If a war started, many of the people standing right here on this wall would probably die.

"Why are there suddenly so many Elves in the Forest? Where did they all come from?"

"That’s not the important question right now!"

"He’s right. What matters is why the Elf King brought his army right up to my city gates. What’s his goal? Does he actually think he can start a war with our City and then the Empire?"

"Could it be the mercenaries?"

"Yeah, that sounds likely!"

"Didn’t the mercenaries head into the forest two days back? Haven’t seen them since!"

"It must be them! They must have grabbed some elves and ticked off the Elf King!"

The faces of a few nobles nearby looked uneasy.

Because they were the ones who’d hired the Mercenary Group for that forest trip.

"Maybe we should slip away?" one whispered nervously.

"No need!" another shot back. "Even if the Elf King is feeling brave, he wouldn’t dare attack the city, especially not us nobles! Besides, how would he know it was us? And even if he found out, what could he actually do?"

"Exactly! This is the era of humans now. Even those dragons out west are just seen as fancy trophies for dragon slayers! As for elves? Their time is long gone!"

"Quiet down!" Alden, the Lord of the City, shot the whispering nobles a harsh look.

The Elf King was right outside the gates with an army, and these idiots were still chattering like this. Did they really want to start a war between humans and elves?

Just then...

The elven army stopped moving.

They stood less than 300 meters from the city walls, perfect arrow range for elven archers.

The President of the Mercenary Guild leaned towards Alden. "Lord Alden, I think we need to go out there and talk to the Elf King!"

"He’s right," another advisor agreed quickly. "Whatever is going on, we absolutely cannot have fighting inside the city!"

Lord Alden nodded grimly.

Sure, he’d put on some weight over the years, but he was still a Tenth-Circle Knight deep down. A comfortable life hadn’t completely dulled the courage he possessed.

Right away, a group headed down from the high walls.

....

They pushed through the crowd of onlookers gathered outside the main gate and started walking towards the distant, silent elven army.

Lord Alden led the way, followed closely by the Mercenary Guild Master. Also with them were people from the Ironcrest Merchant Guild, a woman called Lyanna, and Gorren the Mage.

"Master Gorren," Alden murmured as they walked, "any idea what the Elf King really wants?"

"I doubt it’s war," Gorren replied quietly.

"So... he wants the names of the nobles involved?"

"That seems likely," Gorren agreed.

As they got closer, Lord Alden quickly tried to smooth out his fine clothes, suddenly feeling very conscious of himself.

Seeing the impossibly elegant and handsome Elf King, Renjiro, perched atop a magnificent lead unicorn, Alden felt clumsy and awkward about his own appearance and bulk for the first time in ages.

"Your Majesty, the Elf King," Alden called out, stopping a respectful distance away and bowing. "Welcome to our human city!"

"I am Alden, the Lord of this city."

As Alden bowed, everyone behind him, the Guild Master, the Mage, the mercenary leaders, and the few nobles who had dared to come along, quickly followed suit, showing their deepest respect.

Renjiro’s voice was calm and even, carrying easily across the distance. "Lord Alden, I hope my people’s arrival hasn’t caused too much disruption for your city."

He didn’t move from his seat on the unicorn, not even offering the smallest traditional elven gesture of greeting.

A slight nod was all they got.

Lord Alden and his group didn’t look angry or even surprised.

Renjiro was the King of the Elves. Only the absolute ruler of the entire Empire could expect a formal elven greeting in return. Even imperial princes didn’t qualify.

It simply showed his incredibly high status.

More than that, elves were considered one of the older, higher races of the continent.

Humans, dwarves, orcs, they were all seen as lesser races compared to elves. Only dragons were considered their equals.

Lord Alden forced a friendly smile onto his face.

"Your Majesty, your visit is an honor to our city. It’s no trouble at all! And I trust that humans and elves will always remain on friendly terms."

Renjiro gave a tiny, faint smile. "Of course. We are neighbors."

Lord Alden let out a silent breath he hadn’t realized he was holding.

’Okay. As long as the Elf King wasn’t here to start a war, everything else could probably be handled.’

"If I might ask, Your Majesty," Alden continued carefully, "what brings you to our city so suddenly?"

As he spoke...

Alden couldn’t help letting his eyes drift past the Elf King to the massive figures standing silently behind him, the giant golems, each easily towering over twenty meters high.

Even though Alden himself was a powerful Tenth-Circle Knight, just looking at those Ninth-Circle Giant Golems made his stomach clench.

He wasn’t some clueless peasant. He knew exactly how devastating those things could be. Especially those giant golems.

Legend says that on land, only the Orcs’ or the Elves’ own Ancient Treants had any real chance of fighting a Giant Golem.

And on top of that... The Elf King himself was riding a Tenth-Circle unicorn.

Unicorns were practically myths, holy beasts rarely seen in the world anymore, and this was clearly their leader. You didn’t need to be a genius to know such a creature was incredibly powerful.

Combine that with the huge elven army spread out behind them...