It Seems Like I Got Transmigated Into An Eroge - Chapter 16 : Elven Banquet

Lily Blanch, an elven princess known for her heavenly beauty, had a name that echoed throughout the country as “The Enchantress,” owing to her captivating looks. Honestly, that’s a bit too bland for me. I’d rather refer to her as Aphrodite or something more fitting than what people currently call her.

Of course, when I laid eyes on her for the first time, I almost teared up and nearly blurted out my unfiltered thoughts. I stood there frozen, captivated by the game’s ultimate waifu.

This banquet indicates that the incident will likely occur soon – the drunkard who assaulted Princess Lily. However, if she possesses her own spirit, doesn’t that mean she could defend herself at that time? I pondered this thought initially, but who cares. The only thing I need to be excited about is the part where I can save her, following the clichéd princess-saving script. Although I’m uncertain about its success, there’s still a chance.

But before that, I need to closely watch the princess to determine when she’ll head out to the garden. Moreover, I need to figure out the garden’s location… My mission: to rescue the game’s ultimate waifu. The mission starts now.

“Claude!”

“Ye-Yeah?! H-Huh?!”

“What on earth is happening to you? You’ve been in a daze since we entered. Let’s find a table to sit at.”

“O-Oh yeah!”

“Haah… I suppose this is your first time seeing such a variety of species in one place, huh? It’s not surprising since we’re living in a human city.” Master Irene then grabbed my arm and pulled me into a tight embrace. Her bust always smothers my face due to our height difference – I haven’t hit my growth spurt yet, and it’s rather annoying.

Later on, we found our table. Many people began greeting Master Irene as we took our seats. I’m amazed at how many people show her respect. In the midst of this, I sensed some individuals around me casting disdainful glances, possibly due to my lack of mana or because of Master Irene – I’m not sure.

People can conceal their mana to remain unnoticed by others, so I’m not sure why they’re giving me those looks. However, Master Irene can immediately tell that I lack mana, even Clara can. It’s possible that the people here are similar to Master Irene in this regard.

Quintessence cannot be perceived by an average person with mana, as its existence surpasses theirs – I don’t fully comprehend the logic, but that’s the conclusion I’ve reached. When Master Irene recounted some of her encounters with this supposed “friend” of hers, who possesses quintessence like mine, it shed light on the misunderstanding that others have about my mana deficiency.

During the event, I found myself repeatedly glancing over at Lily’s table where her father and brother were seated. While doing so, I was also discreetly searching for the queen or her mother, curious because I couldn’t spot any signs of their presence. She must be as beautiful as her daughter. This prompted me to scan the surroundings for an exceptionally beautiful elf other than Lily. However, it proved to be a challenge since all the female elves present possessed remarkable beauty. This was definitely complicating my task!

“Claude, why don’t you go and greet the princess? Look at the other children, they’re already doing so. I’ll handle the initial entertainment, so go on.”

“Sure thing. What about Clara?”

“I’ll stay with Madam.”

“Got it. Then I’ll proceed.”

“Take care, and remember that if any children attempt to bully you, assert yourself. Don’t worry about the consequences; I’ll manage them.”

“Alright…”

“Young master, Madam speaks the truth. Safeguard your pride and dignity – that’s the Weiss way.”

“Yeah, I understand…”

There was a touch of seriousness in both Master Irene’s and Clara’s eyes, indicating that I should take their advice to heart. And so, I did. There had to be a reason behind their imparted wisdom.

“Very well, enjoy yourselves. I’ll be on my way.” I waved to the two of them.

As I made my way toward Princess Lily’s table, I couldn’t help but notice a barrage of stares fixed upon me. I hoped that this scrutiny would subside, as it was becoming increasingly uncomfortable. Couldn’t they just mind their own business and move along? A single glance should suffice – there’s no need for them to scrutinize my every move.

A long line of people was waiting to greet Lily at her table, so I took my place towards the back of the line. As expected, those ahead of me didn’t appear pleased upon seeing me. The discrimination against individuals without mana was a significant issue, as they were treated as pests in this world. It was my first encounter with this kind of bias, likely due to my infrequent ventures outside. Nevertheless, this sensation was all too familiar – a reminder of the discrimination the real Claude once endured.

Each person looked at me as if I were beneath them, as if I didn’t belong in this world. Instead of allowing their attitudes to affect me, I chose to disregard their behavior and carry on. Regardless of the species, their eyes all conveyed the same message.

“Hey.”

I felt a touch on my shoulders, prompting me to glance behind me. The person who had placed their hand on my shoulder wore a condescending expression. With brown, curly hair, brown eyes, and a skinny frame, he appeared older than me. At that moment, I knew where this was headed. Behind him stood a beastman male and a human male, both wearing the same expression. And behind them, there were beautiful elven girls. Yep, they were clearly trying to impress them.

I mentally prepared myself for the situation to worsen. However, reality seemed determined to toy with me, as the next event left me baffled.

“Miss, could you remove the mask? You see, I made a bet with those beautiful ladies over there. Pretty please? We’re just curious about the sole disciple of the famous Sword Saint.”

Excuse me, what? Oh, come on! I had a feeling this was coming. It seemed my hair was the root cause of my problems. Anyway, what was wrong with these people? I swear, nothing he said made much sense. I had anticipated a deluge of cliches from the start, but what happened next was completely unexpected.

“Yes, pretty please? We’re hoping to catch the attention of some Elven beauties, Miss.”

“Please, it’s our graduation at stake!”

The first to speak was the beastman, followed by the human beside him. Their eyes pleaded with me as if their lives depended on it, and I was their only hope.

I understood exactly what they were going through!

However, I was still inexperienced, and my pride wouldn’t allow it. I was sorry, comrades, but I couldn’t let them graduate before I did. I apologize for my selfishness, but as someone inexperienced, I just couldn’t comply.

“I’m sorry, my master instructed me never to remove my mask.”

“Huh? Could you just do it quickly? Please, I’m desperate. Help me out!”

“I’m sorry.”

Suddenly, he became aggressive and attempted to yank off my mask. As his hands reached for my mask, I effortlessly stepped back, evading his grasp. The situation escalated rapidly, and his expression shifted from confusion to disbelief.

After a while, he lunged again, this time with his left hand extended and his right foot forward to close the distance. Once again, I easily sidestepped, evading him. This seemed to fuel his frustration; he grew even more aggressive and faster.

What a desperate person…

He continued lunging, attempting to unmask me. I either blocked his attempts with my backhands or sidestepped them. With each passing second, his expression grew darker. Clearly agitated, he even started incorporating kicks into his attempts.

Surprisingly, no one intervened to stop us. I took a quick glance around; everyone was watching our skirmish with amusement. Rather than trying to halt us, they were observing as if we were some sort of animal in a zoo. Then my gaze landed on the princess’s table, only to realize she was gone. She must have headed to the garden—I needed to go there!

In a swift motion, I caught his outstretched right hand, adjusted my footing, and executed a sweeping kick to his ankle, causing him to tumble to the ground. Paying him no attention as he fell, I dashed outside immediately. My heart raced, as I had no idea where she might have gone.

With my speed, I exited the place like lightning due to my quintessence. I sprinted through the expansive castle, taking a few minutes to realize I could gain a better view from a higher vantage point. This way, I could spot her more easily in the outdoor garden with the towering tree.

I leaped onto the crenellation, squinting as I scanned the surroundings for anything resembling a garden. It didn’t take long before I spotted a sturdy, colossal tree, its leaves stretching towards the sky. It stood at the center of a neatly manicured field of grass, surrounded by various flowers, shrubs, stone pillars, and a small picket fence. This picturesque scene offered a glimpse of its pristine beauty.

“Bingo.”

I crouched at the merlon of the castle’s crenellation, a bright smile on my face. However, before I jumped off the merlon, my gaze caught the sight of the magnificent starry night.