Ex Hunter Current Queen, All That's Left Is the Actual Battle - Chapter 5

Translator: White Lotus 

“Well then, my part here is done. You know you’ll have to handle the rest on your own, right?”

“Naturally.”

In a pristine office, dust-free and immaculately ordered, Francis was speaking with someone. His office, with its stark white decor, was so meticulously arranged that it seemed like the space of someone with an obsessive attention to detail.

The one imperfection in this office was the person Francis was conversing with. The imposing, tall figure of an Arachron loomed over Francis by at least two heads. This Arachron, Ilian, was a figure who often made appearances at council meetings on state matters.

“I never thought you’d use a human to keep the next queen candidate in check.”

“It’s the most reliable method. This will keep Lylis at bay for some time.”

“But… you know? As we requested, the human queen’s life needs to be safeguarded for the long term. Of course, you’ll benefit from trading with us and gaining various advantages, so I’m sure I don’t need to nag you about that.”

Francis added with a wry smile, “Besides, things don’t always go exactly as planned, do they?” He looked up at Ilian, the Arachron noble. Ilian, with his eight jewel-like eyes, gazed back at the young New Human silently, then nodded.

“I intend to fulfill my duties to the utmost. And thanks to your help identifying the one who killed the former queen, I’ve gained a bit of an advantage myself.”

Just as Calint had suspected, the reformists and Francis were in collusion. Francis had passed information about the human assassin to the reformists, and by making Jackson the next queen, the reformists had laid the groundwork to shift the political landscape in their favor.

“Trade with the Arachron Kingdom would be beneficial for us, too. We’ve wanted this for a long time.”

Francis looked at the leader of the Arachron reformists with a warm smile. His charming expression could certainly win over human allies, but with monsters, it was hard to tell. Unlike Francis, Ilian’s face remained impassive.

“I’ll be in touch later.”

“Understood. I’ll take my leave now.”

With the formality expected of a noble from the palace, Ilian gave a respectful bow and departed from Francis’s office. Once he’d gone, Francis straightened in his chair, tapping a finger on the edge of his desk.

“Looks like we’ll be seeing you on the news soon, Jackson.”

Not as some grubby hunter, but as the new queen.

Francis wondered how the Arachrons would word the official announcement. Nothing he’d said to Jackson had been untrue. A new queen was indeed about to be introduced; it just so happened that the queen would be Jackson himself. The statement that humans ultimately side with their own kind and that someone close to them would be seated on the throne was not a lie either.

“I look forward to your performance.”

His bright, blue eyes held no malice, but neither did they show a trace of mercy.

****

[Aaah! Do you really think this makes any sense?!]

[P-please, calm down, Lady Lylis.]

Since Calint’s announcement that a human would become queen, the palace had been in a continuous state of upheaval. The news of the new queen had filled the royal court with unending chatter.

Lylis, who had been so sure she would become queen, felt as though her throne had been stolen by this sudden human interloper. She had waited so long, holding back and waiting for the perfect moment! And now, some crude, filthy human had waltzed in and snatched her opportunity away!

[That impudent human!]

Lylis could not forgive this. Even after hurling the silver cup of sedative at the wall, she was still quivering with fury.

Lylis Tashint was a striking beauty, even by human standards, who held to an entirely different aesthetic than the Arachron. Her form boasted elegant curves, and her lush, wavy sea-colored hair was a marvel in itself. She was the perfect candidate for queen, yet she’d been stripped of her right to contend without so much as a chance. It was unthinkable.

[I will never… let this go.]

As the slender beauty gnashed her teeth, her face twisted, and her gleaming, razor-sharp fangs—the signature venomous fangs of the Arachron—came into view. She had not yet laid eyes on this so-called human queen, but she was certain they were wholly unfit for the role. Lylis swore she’d make them regret ever trying to claim her place.

****

Meanwhile, Jackson, who had been abducted, was now in the room just two doors down from Lylis, being stripped down while dozens of lavish dresses were held up to his body.

“Ugh…”

As the effects of the electric shock faded, Jackson’s consciousness slowly returned. He groaned as he tried to lift his head, only to have his taut neck muscles give way, leaving him with no strength. The throbbing headache pounding through his skull was like a blade splitting it in two, a pain only heightened by his lingering hangover. He could barely keep his eyes open, his body twitching in small, sporadic movements.

His limbs felt heavy and numb, his hands and feet tingling. In the fractured haze of his mind, the kidnapped soon-to-be bride renewed, for what felt like the five-thousandth time, his resolve to finally quit drinking.

[Please, don’t move.]

The attendants, who had been busily holding dresses against him, began murmuring nervously as Jackson stirred. The queen’s delayed arrival had left them in a rush to measure him and find the most fitting gown. Despite the urgency, the sight of them fumbling with the unfamiliar human form made for a rather comical scene.

“Ugh…”

Unfortunately, the attendant’s kind voice only sounded like a monster’s mumbling to Jackson. Irritated by the unsettling noise, he tried to turn over, covering his face as he shifted.

As he moved around carelessly, the attendants exchanged uncertain glances, recalling Duke Ilian’s instructions that it was permissible to administer a sedative if the queen grew irritable or overly sensitive.

[It should be fine, right? Honestly, I’m not even sure if a human will calm down with a sedative.]

[Exactly. Humans are usually such cantankerous and brutal creatures. Even if he is to be queen… look at these arm muscles—they’re hardly different from those of warriors’.]

[Then let’s give him a little extra to be safe.]

Their murmuring continued to grate on Jackson’s ears, finally pushing him to sit up. The fog in his mind was beginning to lift, and flashes of what had happened started resurfacing.

He’d gone out to buy a drink, only to have some thugs tail him. Then there was a scuffle with them. There was no time for lying around like this.

Damn it, what the hell is going on…?

Just as he tried to snap his eyes open, an attendant quietly stuck a needle laced with a diluted venom into his neck. Jackson’s face contorted, and he let out a muffled groan.

“Ngh…!”

The Arachron attendants knew next to nothing about medicine. They merely assumed that humans, known to be “stubborn and resistant,” might need a slightly stronger dose to calm them down.

In reality, the opposite was true. Humans, being smaller than the Arachron, required only a trace amount of diluted venom.

The venom surged through Jackson’s veins, causing a sensation as though his bloodstream had turned to thick, solidifying resin. It wasn’t lethal, but it acted fast. His limbs seized up, and soon, he was rendered motionless, stiff as if lying in a coffin.

[Look at that, the Human Queen has finally calmed down. The sedative must have worked.]

[Thank goodness. I was worried it wouldn’t take effect.]

[Hey, how about this lace?]

[Isn’t it a bit too fancy? Lady Lylis will also be attending the wedding as a guest of honor, and if the Queen looks too beautiful, she might lose her temper.]

One attendant murmured as they placed an intricate lace piece over Jackson’s broad, solid chest. They seemed convinced that before long, Lylis would eliminate the Human Queen and seize the throne for herself.

From then on, whenever Jackson stirred, the attendants administered the sedative at regular intervals. Though the instructions were to use it only if the Queen acted unruly, the attendants—unwilling to serve a human—jabbed the sedative like clockwork, ensuring Jackson remained subdued.

As they continued dressing him in elaborate clothing and draping him with sparkling jewels like a doll, Jackson had no choice but to remain half-conscious. He drifted in and out of sleep, barely aware of his surroundings, let alone able to sit up, as the day of the wedding approached.

His neck became flushed and blotchy from the repeated doses of venom-laced sedative, as if it had been stung by bees. In an attempt to cover up these telltale marks, the attendants concealed them with lace decorations, ensuring their quiet transgression remained undiscovered.

Since a prolonged wedding preparation could fuel discontent among the people, the ceremony was being arranged with blinding speed, as if a thunderbolt had struck. Having successfully transformed the rugged human hunter into an ornate spectacle, the attendants breathed a sigh of relief at their achievement.

And so, less than two days after his abduction to the Arachron Kingdom, Jackson Carter stood in a splendid dress beside King Calint Lakron in the ceremonial hall. The handsome, yet feral man was now on the verge of becoming queen.

“……”

The problem was, they had administered so many sedatives that, in a short time, Jackson had developed a resistance. As a hunter, he had long soaked himself in alcohol and chain-smoked on a near-daily basis. Compared to that, the sedatives were mild, so his body quickly adapted.

In the end, the robust mercenary opened his eyes in the middle of the ceremony. Since the solemn rite was underway, the attendants couldn’t risk giving him another dose.

As soon as the human bride regained his senses—and even tore the back of his dress—the attendants turned pale with dread. The guests laughed, finding it amusing, but the attendants feared they might lose their heads if the unruly queen ruined the ceremony.

They remembered Duke Ilian’s order to ensure the wedding went through no matter what.

Although they hadn’t spoken directly with the queen yet, Jackson’s imposing appearance was intimidating. His dark brows were furrowed, his brow creased deeply, and even the Arachron, unfamiliar with human language, could tell from his expressions and gestures that he was cursing them out, and thoroughly at that.

Jackson was a man brimming with fierce energy, now standing beside the king in a tight, elegant dress and adorned in jewelry. It was an absurd scene, a veritable farce.

“Ugh…! Mmmph!”

Now fully awake from the sedative, Jackson struggled to assess his situation. The dress cinched tightly around his waist and arms to the point of restricting his breathing, while a creature kept prodding the inside of his mouth with its slimy tongue.

He thought he had been sentenced to certain death for taking the head off their queen, but now, what on earth was all this? Jackson couldn’t begin to understand the situation he’d found himself in.

One moment, he’d been waiting impatiently, eyes glued to the TV screen for the announcement of the next queen, and now… what exactly had happened?

Deciding that this situation was utterly out of control, Jackson steeled himself, intending to bite down on the Spider King’s tongue. Fortunately, since the ceremony was still in progress, Calint knew not to prolong the kiss, breaking away at just the right moment. As a result, Jackson’s attempt to attack ended in failure. However, his overwhelming desire to sink his teeth into the disgusting creature’s tongue was so fierce that he found himself pitching forward.

“What?”

Not expecting Calint to break off so suddenly, Jackson stumbled, flailing as he tried to catch his balance. His prosthetic leg caught awkwardly on the fabric lining, making him lurch forward before falling headlong.

Fortunately, since he was facing Calint, at least he was spared the embarrassment of landing face-first on the ground. Instead, he ended up with his face buried in his newly-wed husband’s chest.

[Oh my goodness!]

A delighted “Wow” sounded from the guest seats, and the officiating high priest looked away, embarrassed. For Jackson, this was an absurd blunder, but for the Arachron tribe, pressing one’s torso against another’s or hugging while facing each other was considered highly suggestive.

Even Calint, who usually kept his composure, couldn’t help but chuckle softly at the Queen’s bold move. He wrapped an arm gently around Jackson’s back, as if to reassure him.

Yet his comforting gesture seemed to have little effect. Feeling the subtle tremors of Calint’s chest under his face, Jackson scowled, then barked up at him.

“Hey, aren’t you going to let go or what?”

Mortified that his face was planted squarely against Calint’s chest—and annoyed to death that Calint was laughing—Jackson was sure he was being mocked. Yet his curt words were muffled, his voice coming out as a grumble buried against Calint’s well-defined muscles.

“Just stay like this for a moment.”

Hearing Calint’s response, Jackson briefly considered biting into his chest but decided to bide his time, seeing as he had neither gun nor blade. A quick glance around revealed that the wretched ceremony hall was packed with Arachron spiders on all sides.

He recalled Francis’s advice to avoid confronting the creatures head-on. He couldn’t speak for the other spiders, but the one standing directly before him radiated a different, powerful aura. His instincts as a hunter told him enough: this one was no pushover, undoubtedly a formidable predator. No one could have a physique this solid and finely tuned otherwise.

[Thi-this concludes the ceremony!]

Just when Jackson thought Calint might release him for the sake of saving face, the King only tightened his embrace. Startled, the high priest raised his voice to declare the ceremony’s end. Even with that announcement, the guests remained seated, eager to watch the new bride and groom.

The anxious attendants waiting nervously in the corner contrasted sharply with the nobles, whose eyes sparkled with intrigue, as if they found this far more fascinating than any scandalous rumor. Calint held Jackson even tighter as he slowly surveyed the crowd, observing their expressions one by one.

How many of those present here would truly remain on my side?

Calint wasn’t worried about rumors or scandal. Far better to have ridiculous gossip than an unchecked spread of negative opinions about the human queen’s appearance or other disparaging talk. So, visibility mattered. This was because public perception couldn’t be ignored.

He intended to make even those who expected Lylis to become queen pay attention to Jackson. Good or bad, as long as talk about the human queen kept circulating, Jackson would inevitably be acknowledged and remembered as the Queen. Right now, it was the most critical step to make everyone recognize that it was none other than Jackson Carter who was the queen.

Rather than letting Jackson go, Calint clasped his hand, leading him down from the dais. Jackson, still awkward in his dress, could only follow along, limping as he went.

“Apologies if I startled you. Would you like to have a meal? Or perhaps…?”

“Who the hell are you, anyway?”

As Calint calmly offered various suggestions, Jackson cut him off.

“As I introduced myself, I am Calint Lakron, King of Arachron.”

“…And you think you owe me an explanation for why I’m being dragged into this ridiculous charade of playing house?”

“Well, that’s because you’re my Queen. In other words, I am now your husband.”

What nonsense was this? Jackson, whose status had suddenly changed to that of a married man overnight, groaned as he clenched his fists. This was certainly not the answer he was looking for.

“So tell me why! Why the hell do I have to play the role of your husband?”

As Jackson raised his voice, guests who were on their way out turned their heads in unison, watching with keen interest. Just five minutes ago, the two had been wrapped in a steamy and suggestive embrace, and now, suddenly, they were starting a marital spat? Many of the nobles thought the price of admission might just pay itself off. They couldn’t understand Jackson’s human language, but his anger was plain as day. The sight of him bickering with Calint had them itching with curiosity about what sweet nothings or spats they might exchange in that mysterious human tongue.

Among them, only Ilian could understand human language. Listening to Jackson’s outburst, he stood expressionless, observing the situation. Casting a cold glance at the pair, he soon turned on his heel and became the first to leave the hall.

“That would be because you killed the previous queen, Terencia Lakron.”

“And what of it?”

The veteran hunter, still unable to see any connection between killing Terencia and being crowned Queen himself, scowled as he demanded an explanation from his newly minted “husband.” It looked like the taste of their marital quarrel had ended. Calint lowered his voice, leaning in to murmur to Jackson.

“Our system is one of succession by purge. Surely you weren’t unaware?”

“What…? What do you…?”

Jackson’s face twisted as he finally grasped the truth.

Francis had certainly mentioned that the position of queen would not remain vacant for long and that a new queen would soon be chosen—but was this what he had meant?

He had been thoroughly deceived. As Jackson’s body trembled with barely-contained anger, unable to express his rage, Calint carefully wrapped an arm around his waist and spoke gently.

“Let’s head to the bedchamber. There are too many eyes watching; this isn’t a suitable place for a conversation. Please remember that you are now the queen. We’ll discuss everything once we’re inside.”

“Hah…”

Hearing himself called ‘queen’ over and over was enough to drive Jackson to the edge. It was a wonder he hadn’t collapsed from high blood pressure. Calint kept a firm hold on Jackson, ensuring he wouldn’t actually fall, and then turned to instruct a attendant in the language of Arachron.

[Prepare the bathwater. We’ll proceed with the next part of the schedule.]

The guests, rooted to the spot by the unbelievable scene unfolding before them, stirred restlessly at Calint’s words. After the wedding, the next item on the agenda was traditionally the couple’s first night together. The noble guests, accustomed to seeing only the most mundane dramas, could hardly keep up with the startling turn of events—a couple agreeing to share a bed after a three-minute argument.