Chapter 120: Chapter 42: Choose One of Two Elf Queens? I Want Them All

’Seven-thirty, moon-gazing at the Holy Sparrow Platform?’ Su Xuan committed the Elf Queen’s scheduled arrival point to memory. 𝑓𝘳𝑒𝑒𝓌𝘦𝘣𝘯ℴ𝑣𝘦𝑙.𝘤𝑜𝑚

Just then, Alina’s cheerful voice rang out, "I’m finished!"

Hearing this, Su Xuan quickly got dressed and walked over, gently placing the handkerchief in his hand on the tea table along the way.

"Let me see," he said, picking up a cup of black tea and moving behind Alina.

Just as he was about to take a sip to quench his thirst, Alina’s painting caught his eye, making him hold his breath.

The him in the painting was so lifelike it was as if he were looking in a mirror. Every muscle line was clearly visible, and even the Holy Sword, which had been covered by the handkerchief, was perfectly outlined. The level of detail was incredible!

His eyes widened in amazement. ’Is Alina a human camera?’

But while Su Xuan was lost in awe of Alina’s painting, a fire of rage ignited on Alina’s face.

Because Su Xuan hadn’t noticed that the teacup in his hand had tilted. The tea just so happened to drip down, soaking the top of her head and her entire upper body.

"You wretched man! You got me all wet!"

"Ahem! My bad, my bad." Su Xuan apologized hastily and quickly grabbed the handkerchief from the table, handing it to Alina.

Alina tried her best to suppress her anger, using the handkerchief to wipe the tea stains from her cheek. However, halfway through wiping, she suddenly realized something was wrong...

"Ah! You bastard! Bug! Filthy pig!"

’Time to bolt!’

...

「That evening, at seven-thirty.」

Su Xuan arrived punctually at the Holy Sparrow Platform next to the Elf Palace.

The Holy Sparrow Platform was a vast, open area. Its floor was paved with white marble inlaid with emerald-green jade, which shimmered under the moonlight like a river of stars had fallen to earth.

According to the historical records of the Elf Race, this was an area where the Elves performed sacrificial rites. They held Faith in the Goddess of Nature and the Elemental Goddess.

However, it wasn’t a forbidden area, so Su Xuan was able to enter with ease.

’Where is the Elf Queen?’

Su Xuan scanned his surroundings, trying to find any sign of the Elf Queen.

Just then, a fairy-like figure descended from the sky, landing gently in the center of the Holy Sparrow Platform.

’She’s here!’

Su Xuan’s gaze instantly grew serious as he stared intently at the distant Elf Queen. Her Holiness made everything around her seem dim in comparison. Even the moonlight itself seemed to brighten, serving only to accentuate her transcendent aura.

Hiding in the shadows, Su Xuan couldn’t help but be moved.

The feeling was like encountering a Shiny Pokémon, making him desperate to capture her with the Pokeball in his hand!

Just then, the Elf Queen’s voice, as ethereal as a whisper in a secluded valley, reached his ears. "Since you’ve arrived, why are you hiding?"

Hearing this, Su Xuan stepped out from the darkness.

"So it’s you, little one."

The moment the Elf Queen saw Su Xuan, a friendly smile appeared on her face, like the warm sun in winter, filling one’s heart with warmth.

"Esteemed Elf Queen, there are some things I wish to ask you."

Su Xuan walked up to the Elf Queen and spoke in a calm tone.

"I know why you’ve come."

The Elf Queen smiled lightly and continued, "You’ve already made a promise to the other me, haven’t you?"

"Yes."

Su Xuan nodded.

"Although this matter doesn’t directly concern you, I sincerely hope you can lend a hand and make a just ruling on this affair."

[New Quest: The Elf Queen’s Request (2/2)]

[Quest Description: In order to suppress the evil thoughts within her heart, the Elf Queen has split her soul in two. Please help her make the right decision!]

[Quest Reward: ?]

Su Xuan looked at the quest description and made a guess. ’Is it about judging which Elf Queen is the one formed from evil thoughts?’

At that moment, the Elf Queen’s voice sounded again.

"Thousands of years ago, because of a certain event, a trace of evil thought was born in my heart." The Elf Queen revealed a secret she had hidden deep inside. "I originally thought it was a trivial matter, but after millennia of accumulation, that wisp of evil thought is gradually eroding my soul."

"To that end, I devised a method: I separated a portion of my soul. I hoped to use this separated soul to suppress the evil thought. Initially, this method seemed effective. But as time went on, the evil thought grew stronger. I found that even this was not enough to completely suppress it. It even led to me needing to enter a deep slumber every hundred years to restore my Power and balance."

Hearing this, a thousand thoughts raced through Su Xuan’s mind.

’This doesn’t seem to be what I imagined. Are they both the real Elf Queen?’

"Therefore, I have decided to permanently seal a part of my soul, along with that wisp of evil thought, within the Elf Mother Tree," the Elf Queen continued. "By borrowing the Power of the Elf Mother Tree, the evil thought can be purified."

"If it’s just a matter of separating a portion of your soul, the choice doesn’t seem that difficult, does it?" Su Xuan was a bit confused. After all, control over the soul should lie with the main body.

’How could a separated soul resist the will of the original?’

The Elf Queen explained, "Because the evil thought has been growing stronger, the portion of the soul I separated has grown to nearly half of the whole. Moreover, our consciousness, experiences, and emotions are completely identical, so there’s no distinction between a main body and a clone. But now, one of us must be willing to pay the price of several hundred, or even several thousand years, to be sealed within the Elf Mother Tree to purify the evil thought in her heart. Do you understand what I mean?"

Su Xuan nodded. "I understand. So, you want me to make the choice for you, to decide which one is more suited to rule the Elf Race now?"

"Mm."

The Elf Queen smiled and nodded, speaking gently, "You don’t need to feel any pressure. We have already reached an agreement between ourselves. Besides, being sealed within the Elf Mother Tree is merely like falling into a deep slumber. The long years are but a fleeting moment in my eyes, so you don’t need to worry about the one who is sealed."

After hearing this, Su Xuan was lost in thought for a long time.

For the Elf Queen, slumbering for hundreds or thousands of years might only be a brief moment in her life.

But for other Elves or humans, that span of time could see the rise and fall of civilizations, no different from death.

He also finally understood why it had to be a choice between the two of them. Clearly, one Elf Queen had to be willing to sacrifice everything to seal away the evil thought that had taken root in her heart.

Su Xuan suddenly recalled the four possible endings mentioned in the quest description.

However, the Elf Queen had only presented him with two outcomes, which left him confused.

’Where are the other two endings?’

After some deep thought, he had an epiphany.

’Obviously, my involvement has become an unknown variable, expanding the original two endings into four!’

"Do I need to make a decision immediately?" Su Xuan asked.

"No, you have a month to interact with us." The Elf Queen shook her head. "We will take turns appearing in your dreams. Due to the influence of the evil thought, there will be subtle differences between us. When the time comes, I hope you can use these details to identify and seal the Queen who leans more toward the evil thought. Of course, you can also use your own methods to make a decision."

"I understand," Su Xuan nodded, then asked, "May I ask why you chose me?"

"I cannot let the Elves make this decision for me, as that would be no different from forcing them to make a most painful choice," the Elf Queen replied immediately. "Besides, for some reason, I feel a great sense of familiarity with you."

"Familiarity?"

"Mm, it’s as if we’ve known each other for a very long time." The Elf Queen nodded lightly, a gentle and bright light flashing in her beautiful eyes.

"..."

Su Xuan narrowed his eyes slightly, pondering inwardly. ’Could it be because of the [Mother-in-Law Slayer] trait? After all, that trait gives me an extra boost with units that have high age and Charm Value. The effect is even doubled for "mother-in-law" type units, and it can be stacked infinitely.’

’On second thought, it seems the Elf Queen’s buffs are all maxed out.’

’No wonder I was able to get so much information about her. So this is the reason.’

"Since the Queen trusts me so much, I will naturally do my utmost to deliver a satisfactory answer for you!" Su Xuan replied with a smile.

"That would be for the best."

The Elf Queen gave a dazzling smile, then gracefully extended her hand. A faint light glimmered in her palm. A moment later, a pale pink pearl appeared in her hand as if from a Dream, crystal clear and emitting a captivating glow.

"Consider this a gift from me, little one," the Elf Queen’s voice was soft and warm, making one feel incredibly at ease.

Su Xuan looked curiously at the pale pink pearl in the Elf Queen’s hand and immediately received a piece of information.

[Elf Queen’s Pearl (Epic): A unique pearl containing the Elf Queen’s protective Power. (Single-use)]

’A single-use item?’

"Thank you."

Su Xuan took the pale pink pearl from the Elf Queen’s hand. He felt its smooth and delicate texture, which seemed to have a calming and tranquilizing effect. It also gave off a refreshing fragrance that put his mind at ease.

"It’s about time. I must go." The Elf Queen glanced up at the bright moon hanging in the branches and spoke gently, offering her final farewell.

"Wait! One last question!" Su Xuan asked hurriedly. "What will the version of you affected by the evil thought be like?"

"That..."

Hearing this, the Elf Queen hesitated for a moment, then revealed a gentle smile. "Who knows?"

The moment her words faded, the Elf Queen seemed to melt into the vast moonlight, vanishing elegantly and mysteriously. Su Xuan was left standing alone, gazing up at the bright moonlight that bathed the land, his heart a turbulent sea of intertwined emotions.

After a long while, he finally came back to his senses, activated the Teleportation Array, and vanished in a flash of light, returning to the Guild.

Back at the Guild, Su Xuan sat in his chair, his eyes glazed over. He was clearly still mulling over his conversation with the Elf Queen, especially those four inscrutable endings.

’Let one of them become Fallen?’

’Give up on them both?’

’Or maybe... I’ll take them all!’