Chapter 617 The Unseelie Court
"What are we going to do?" Isolde whispered into Ren's ear.
"Let's look around and see if we can find anything of value," Ren replied in a hushed voice. Since the fey in the room seemed to be ignoring them, they decided to take advantage of the opportunity to search for loot.
During their 10-minute search, they discovered rare ingredients and precious spices, amounting to a total worth of 45,000 gil. It seemed like a successful endeavor until suddenly, a group of unseelie fey appeared through a portal, catching them by surprise.
The battle erupted, and the previously non-combatant NPCs scattered in fear.
Ren and the others sprang into action, their movements swift and precise as they engaged the unseelie fey.
Isolde's rattling gun roared, sending explosive projectiles tearing through the enemy ranks.
Elena's magic crackled, freezing some of the attackers in their tracks.
Prince Zeroth wielded his blade with deadly grace, striking down foes with each swing.
Meanwhile, Ren conjured a barrage of fiery spells, engulfing several enemies in flames.
Within moments, the last of the unseelie fey fell, their bodies dissolving into ethereal mist. The room fell silent once more, with only the crackling of Isolde's barrier and the echo of their own breaths filling the air.
"Whew. There were so many of them," Isolde remarked, lowering her gun.
Elena explained, "The court has numerous defenses too. The Queen fused the demiplane that imprisoned her with the fey realm, but she kept a few pockets of it slightly separate. The Queen kept four minion groups in reserve in these pockets. They emerge into any area within the court, surprising us as they pop out of nowhere."
Isolde nodded, but her expression showed that she didn't fully grasp the details.
"Let's proceed cautiously," the Prince warned. "The Queen is preoccupied with her battle with Queen Titania, so infiltrating her lair might be easier."
"And we have the Exile Blade," added Elena. "At least, we have some kind of weapon against her."
Ren felt a bead of sweat on the side of his face as he remembered the Queen of Air and Darkness's strength. The only way to defeat her was with the [Exile Blade], stopping her from casting any spells and simultaneously lowering her HP.
"Prince Zeroth will wield the Exile Blade," Ren announced.
The Prince was surprised. "M-me?"
"No one else in our group can wield it," Ren explained. "And among us, you're the most likely to hit the Queen with it."
". . ." Prince Zeroth was silent for a moment before he accepted the sword. "Don't worry. I will not miss."
"I hope so," Ren said, knowing that their lives depended on it. With the Exile Blade in their possession and their determination to confront the Queen, the group pressed forward, bracing themselves for the challenges that lay ahead.
"Let's go then," Ren said, and the group continued their journey through the Queen's lair.
As they proceeded onwards, they encountered a peculiar aspect of the Queen's defenses. Each door they opened had a 25 percent chance of revealing a solid wall behind it instead of leading to its expected destination. The door might work again later, but for now, the wall remained for at least one minute.
The next area they found themselves in was The Kitchen, which was likely the most ornate kitchen any of them had ever seen. The countertops were filled with an abundance of knives, utensils, pots, pans, and anything one could ever need to cook literally anything. It was a grand and impressive sight, but the party couldn't stay long, knowing that they were on a critical mission.
As they explored the kitchen, they encountered the staff of twenty Unseelie fey who worked there. However, these fey were not trained in combat and quickly fled from the party.
Ren's eyes gleamed with excitement as he spotted a rack of fine wines cradling a dozen bottles of impeccable quality, worth a total of 60,000 gil. He happily collected everything valuable in the area.
Moving on to the Serving Area, they found a mouth-watering display of dishes. From perfectly seared steak to fresh and vibrant fruit, the sight was tantalizing. Servants came and went, picking up dishes to carry elsewhere.
Upon closer inspection, they noticed that all the food here provided immunity to cold, ice, and darkness damage, along with cures for curses. Ren wasted no time and collected everything that could be of use in their upcoming battles.
As they continued their journey, they encountered occasional resistance from unseelie feys, corrupted beasts, and soldiers. However, facing them was a breeze for Elena and the Prince. They easily defeated these foes with their formidable abilities.
Ren couldn't help but reflect on how fortunate he was to have Elena and Prince Zeroth by his side. They were both powerful in their own right, and their presence made a significant difference in their quest. Ren realized that he had initially underestimated the challenges of the game, thinking he could handle it alone with Pii. But now, he was grateful for the companionship and strength of his allies.
Their next area was the Library, a serene and inviting place filled with shelves of books. Servants offered food and wine to those who relaxed in the cozy room. Comfortable cushions scattered around, with half of them typically occupied by fey nobles. However, these nobles were even more arrogant than usual, causing Princess Elena to deal with them swiftly.
Though the battles were not particularly difficult, Ren had to remain vigilant about everyone's health and MP. Enemies kept appearing through the pocket dimension every few seconds, and if he wasn't careful, Elena and the Prince could easily run out of HP and MP.
Moving on, they found themselves in the Queen's Workshop, accessible via magic teleportation. The group had no way of knowing about its presence until they accidentally stumbled upon it.
The room had no doors or windows, filled to the brim with forge equipment, laboratory devices, and books. It was the Queen's planning hub, where she devised her schemes. Ren and the others explored the area, gaining valuable knowledge about her next two plans and the targets of her army.