Trash Prince and Ice Queen 10th Re - Life-Chapter 141: In Front of The Dwarf King

Before departing on the airship Black Wings, Kresus wrote a secret letter to King Vogir and commanded one of his soldiers to deliver it to the king without being seen by anyone—especially Idor, the king’s right-hand man. After Kresus’s messenger left, Kresus, Lesnar, and three of their soldiers boarded the Black Wings along with Ard, Eva, Hardim, Thorena, Geoffrey, and all of Ard and Eva’s other friends. The giants, with their massive size, sat on the deck, and even then, they were still as tall as Ard, Eva, and the others.

Seeing Kresus, Lesnar, and their three soldiers—clad in armor reminiscent of ancient Egyptian war gear—sitting on the deck, Adeline and Beatrice observed them with serious expressions, scanning them from head to toe and back again. Suddenly, Lesnar turned to look at them and smiled, causing both of them to flinch. Then, Lesnar’s eyes drifted to Pyria standing beside them, and he narrowed his gaze.

"You... an elf?" Lesnar asked.

"That’s right. The giants aren’t enemies with the elves, are they?" Pyria asked to be sure, not wanting to create another awkward situation like when she first met the dwarves.

"Actually, this is the first time I’ve ever seen an elf. It’s a pleasure to meet you," Lesnar answered.

Then Lesnar turned toward Irina, who immediately recoiled in shock and hid behind Irwin. Lesnar simply smiled.

"And you’re a demon?" Lesnar asked, pointing at Irina.

"Y... yes, that’s right," Irina answered from behind Irwin.

"No need to be afraid. This is also the first time I’ve seen a demon. In our kingdom, your kind are legends, just like humans," Lesnar explained, sensing Irina’s fear and knowing he could see her even though she tried to disappear the moment their eyes met.

"Why does he have four arms, but you only have two?" Adeline asked innocently, pointing at Kresus beside Lesnar until Kresus turned to look at Adeline and smiled.

"Hush... Princess Adeline," Rosalind scolded.

"It’s no problem. The reason is because Lord Kresus comes from the nobility and I am a commoner," Lesnar replied.

"True, there are two types of giants: those with four arms and those with two. It’s just how things are, but noble or not, it’s all the same. There are also four-armed giants among the common people; social status is not determined by our physical bodies," Kresus explained in more detail.

"Oh... I see," Adeline replied, while Beatrice listened intently.

"Forgive us, Sir Giants, we only asked because this is the first time we’ve ever seen your kind," Rosalind said with a bow, supported by Alicia, Milia, Claudia, Mirea, and Ainsley, who all bowed as well, fearing the two powerful-looking giants might take offense.

"Haha... relax. We’re actually glad to meet humans, elves, and demons—the races of legend—because all this time we’ve only ever seen ugly, stubborn dwarves," Kresus said, glancing at Hardim.

"Hey... watch your mouth, giant," Hardim snapped, annoyed.

"That’s enough, don’t keep this going. We’re currently under a ceasefire moving toward peace," Ard said, stepping in to mediate and glancing at his friends, especially Adeline and Beatrice, with a look that seemed to say, "please don’t make a mess of things," even though he was smiling.

After that, everyone fell silent once more. The airship continued to fly at high speed, and in just a few hours, they had arrived back at the border city, Dhubrim. The aircraft entered and then landed in the field directly in front of the command building, where King Murmic was located. When they disembarked, many dwarves were shocked to see five giants stepping off the ship and immediately stood ready to attack; however, Hardim and Thindor intervened, ensuring that not a single dwarf opened fire.

Then they invited Kresus and Lesnar into the building. Naturally, Kresus and Lesnar had to duck as they entered, only standing tall once they reached the command room, which featured a ceiling higher than themselves. The moment Murmic and the three generals with him saw Hardim and Thorena enter alongside Kresus, Lesnar, Geoffrey, Ard, and Eva, they immediately stood up from their chairs. Their faces were etched with shock as they stared at Kresus and Lesnar, who stood tall and imposing before them.

Murmic instantly turned to look at Hardim walking toward him, Thorena standing with Geoffrey, and Ard alongside Eva.

"Hey... what is the meaning of this!" Murmic shouted, his face turning red.

"Let me explain, brother," Hardim said.

Without delay, Hardim explained everything that had happened. He also clarified to Murmic that Thorena had something she needed to tell him. Ard and Eva joined in to help convince the king, and his face—which was initially red and full of rage—began to soften bit by bit until he finally calmed down. Afterward, Murmic sat back down in his chair, followed by his three generals. He also motioned for Kresus and Lesnar to sit; they immediately sat on the floor, as the dwarf chairs were far too small for them. Once everyone was settled, Murmic turned to look at Thorena.

"So... what is it you want to tell me? Why have you remained silent all this time?" Murmic asked.

"Because you are stubborn and refuse to listen to your own children, brother," Hardim answered sharply.

"Shut up. I am asking Thorena. Just tell me everything, Thorena—what happened to Elmer and Lurgena," Murmic snapped back, then turned his gaze toward Thorena.

Without further delay, Thorena recounted what had happened fifty years ago when she was still a child and unable to travel anywhere—from the moment they received the letter until Lurgena’s departure across the continent in hopes that Elmer was there with Princess Grethia. Then, Ard put forward his theory, and Kresus described what had occurred in his own kingdom fifty years prior, aided by Lesnar, who happened to be an eyewitness to the events as he had been present there.

Murmic fell silent, and this time he truly listened to his daughter’s words, the explanations from Kresus and Lesnar, and the theories from Ard and Eva regarding the goddess working behind all this chaos: Ophelia. The more he listened to it all, the redder Murmic’s face became; his breathing grew heavy and his eyes bulged as if they were about to pop out of their sockets.

The reason wasn’t just because he was thinking about the fate of his two children—he also felt like he had been played for a fool over the last 50 years—but he looked at Kresus and Lesnar with a different gaze now that he understood the root of the problem. Hardim and the three generals tried to calm Murmic, who was hyperventilating and visibly overwhelmed with emotion. After a few moments, as Murmic began to regain his composure,

"This is absolutely outrageous. I apologize for executing your king’s envoys; at the time, I thought you were mocking me and that you had stolen our kingdom’s sacred treasures. I know that a mere apology cannot erase our hostility, but this time is different. I will help however I can, because I too am worried about the fate of my children," Murmic said to Kresus and Lesnar, though his tone remained loud and angry.

"Fine, for the time being, we understand. However, the final decision still rests with our king; I have already sent a letter to him to explain the situation," Kresus stated.

"Hmm, very well then. I will wait for word, and for the time being, as the King of the Dwarves, I declare a temporary ceasefire until this matter is clarified and resolved," Murmic stated.

"I will relay this to King Vogir. Thank you, King Murmic," Kresus replied respectfully.

After that, they discussed the next steps they should take; Murmic reviewed his strategies with Kresus and Lesnar. But suddenly, Ard raised his hand, causing Eva and the others, including Thorena, to turn and look at him.

"What if we are the ones who go to the giant kingdom of Tartagia, along with Lord Kresus and Lesnar, of course," Ard said.

The room suddenly fell silent. Aside from Eva, who understood Ard’s intention, the others—including King Murmic, Hardim, Kresus, and Lesnar—stared at Ard as if he had grown two heads.

"Wait a minute, you’re the ones going?" Murmic asked.

"That’s right. From what we’ve seen, the giants aren’t hostile toward humans, elves, or demons. It would be easier for us to slip in there than for you to send an official envoy. Besides, if mine and Eva’s theory is correct and the goddess Ophelia is involved, Eva and I can identify the problem and settle it directly," Ard answered, shrugging his shoulders casually.

"Hmm... that makes sense. Fine, I’ll go along to accompany you as a representative of the dwarves. You don’t have an objection to that, do you, brother?" Hardim asked, turning to look at Murmic.

"I don’t object. Lord Ard is right; this might be the best way. But I just feel uneasy burdening you all with my kingdom’s affairs," Murmic replied.

"That is why I am going too, Papa."

Everyone immediately turned to look at Thorena, including Kresus and Lesnar, as if this time it were Thorena who had grown two heads. Naturally, Murmic’s face turned red again.

"What? Don’t you dare. I’ve already lost two children, and there is no way I’m letting my third child go. Stay out of this," Murmic shouted, pointing at Thorena.

"Fine. In that case, I’ll just run away, like sister Lurgena," Thorena said, clutching the arm of Geoffrey, who could feel that she was actually trembling.

"Grrr... you really are something," Murmic yelled, overcome with emotion.

"Brother, let her go. I’ll be with her. And don’t underestimate the strength of Lord Ard, Lady Eva, or their friends. Have faith in us," Hardim snapped back at Murmic.

Murmic glared at Hardim with fury, then turned to look at Ard and Eva, who both nodded. He looked at Kresus and Lesnar, whose expressions seemed to say, "For the sake of the ceasefire, we are willing to guard the princess." Finally, he turned back to Thorena.

"Hmph... fine. But you must come back," Murmic replied, sitting back down.

"Thank you, Papa," Thorena replied, smiling with visible relief.

In the end, it was decided. Ard, Eva, Thorena, Geoffrey, Hardim, and all of Ard’s other friends would travel to the kingdom of Tartagia with Kresus and Lesnar to investigate the situation there.