Ball of Nothing

Chapter 555 - Meeting King Sharo

Hearing that Jermine and her family were safe, Zero told Bob to remain with Monoman and assist where it was required. He needed to know a little more about Lycantopia while he tied up loose ends at Altear.

Truen agreed with Zero’s thoughts and they told Torran that they were heading back into the city. This time, they couldn’t leisurely scout for information. Zero was going through the main entrance and the official letter from King Brice was very handy.

As soon as the reply from King Sharo came, they were out of the village and off to see the king.

Altear’s VIP treatment didn’t disappoint but Zero felt slightly uncomfortable with how perfect everything was. There wasn’t anything to be discontented with as esteemed guests from Smargdas but something still seemed to be lacking but Zero didn’t know what it was.

"Welcome to Altear," King Sharo greeted them. "You arrived rather quickly. I assumed you’d both be tired from a rushed journey so I had the servants prepare two rooms to rest."

The Elf King was someone who looked as if he walked out from a painting and even Truen couldn’t help but notice how seemingly flawless the man looked. If there was a role model for royalty, King Sharo would be that person everyone else would learn from. In contrast, King Brice was like a clumsy duckling when compared to the graceful swan-like King Sharo.

King Sharo had porcelain-like skin with not a single blemish. His hair was styled so meticulously that not a single strand was out of place. Zero wondered if it was a wig for a moment because the cuticles didn’t really move even when he was walking. They simply floated behind the man as if they were swaying in the breeze.

From a professional combatant’s point of view, Truen could tell that King Sharo wasn’t just graceful. The aesthetic came with beauty but it also spoke volumes about his control. There was no doubting it, King Sharo was a skilled fighter from the way he moved and carried himself. The muscle proportions were ideal, making him a very all-rounded fighter. Life was sometimes too unfair. How could anyone be blessed with so many good things in life?

Yet, there was something about this perfect elf that Zero didn’t like. He was too perfect and that in itself was a fatal flaw. Flaws were what made an individual unique. For King Sharo to be the ideal kind of high elf, there had to be something that he wasn’t showing and Zero didn’t like someone who put on a front.

"King Sharo, thank you for the hospitality," Zero smiled and bowed. Then he saw the look that the elven king gave him and finally, the doctor understood why he didn’t have a good feeling about everything he was seeing in the palace so far.

King Sharo’s eyes were devoid of any warmth and sincerity. It was cold and calculating, much like a viper looking at prey. The man was looking down on them as if they were vermin and Zero finally understood that it wasn’t hospitality that they were receiving as VIPs but scraps that these high elves could afford. Still, Zero tried to be neutral and put his personal feelings aside to request for an audience with the king for an urgent matter.

King Sharo barely considered it before declining the request in an eloquent manner, enough to make Truen’s blood boil. While it sounded polite enough to make it seem like King Sharo was caring for the envoys in his territory, the words had a double meaning. How Truen heard and interpreted it was exactly how Zero understood it.

"Oh? Is King Sharo saying that an official envoy from Smargdas is not worthy of your time without a prior appointment?"

The disdain in the elven king’s eyes grew and Zero wasn’t fooled. The man might be beautiful and all but in front of the grand creator, he was just another one of Solo’s children. That arrogance wasn’t befitting and formalities would be a waste on this person. He didn’t earn Zero’s respect and didn’t deserve it with his attitude. It didn’t matter how crazy Charo was, Zero didn’t approve of Sharo’s behaviour.

Truen caught onto the look that Zero was giving him before the doctor used the party call function to tell him what he wanted. Before King Sharo could respond, Truen forcefully sent all watching eyes away with a wind spell. The fury on King Sharo’s face made him look ugly and at long last, there was a crack in his perfect mask. Zero was satisfied. This was the true King Sharo and the person they wanted to talk to.

"I believe you have heard about us from your spriggan. I’m here to collect the Moss Giant Orb from him and resolve the Weeping Willow’s request sent to us from Gaia. King Sharo of Great Altear, I suppose as the chosen one from the prophecy, I should have the rights for an audience with the king even without a prior appointment."

Hearing about the sacred spriggan’s name and the Moss Giant Orb, King Sharo’s face paled. All his life, nobody knew about the Moss Giant Orb and only trusted elves knew the name of their spriggan guarding the world tree. Many people knew about the Weeping Willow and had good guesses about where it was located but nobody was bold enough to test the security. Without the king’s permission, nobody can pass through that security. There was only one exception and it was the chosen one from the prophecy.

"How do I know if you’re the real chosen one? You could be spouting nonsense. I will not hand over Altear’s treasure to a woman as vile as you!"

Zero blinked then looked down at himself. That’s right, he forgot that he was now a very charming lady.

King Sharo wasn’t expecting the lady to suddenly transform into a young man on the slightly shorter side with a lab coat and ponytail. He had child-like features but those eyes were the same.

"Is this better?" he asked the stupefied king who didn’t know what to think.

Who was this envoy and what about that lowly wood elf as his, no, her escort? King Sharo stared at Zero, unsure if he was a monster or the one from the prophecy that Alex told him about when he was a young elf.

"Prove it," King Sharo said in a shaky voice, unsure of what to believe in now that the one from his bedtime stories was right before him. The chosen one had always been something like an idol to King Sharo’s lonely childhood. However, the image that he saw from their first meeting disillusioned him so much that King Sharo didn’t know what to think.

According to the stories, the chosen one from the prophecy was able to create life from nothing at all. He was also able to pass through any kinds of barriers, including the one by the world tree and receive no harm because he is loved by creation itself.

Zero tilted his head to the side. "How would you like me to prove it?"

Truen frowned at his friend. "Don’t talk to him, there’s no need to gain his approval. We just need to storm in to find Spriggan Alex and the Weeping Willow if he doesn’t agree."

The level-headed doctor turned to Truen with a sigh. "I won’ have a problem getting past that barrier but what about you? Without his consent, you won’t make it."

At that, Truen looked uneasy. Then, he turned his focus to King Sharo with murderous intent. "Give us access or you die here."

Shocked that Truen would flip to the other side so quickly, he tried to stop him. "Time out!" Zero yelped and blocked Truen’s line of sight. Sureshot was drawn back but Truen held onto the mana arrow. With Zero in the way, he didn’t want to risk hurting him.

King Sharo didn’t know what was going on but this was a good chance for him. Although Zero didn’t have an aura, King Sharo could tell that he was still powerful. On the other hand, Truen was a complete monster. There was no way the elf king could win him and King Sharo was only glad that the wood elf listened to his transforming friend who claimed to be the chosen one.

"Simple," he explained. "According to Spriggan Alex, the chosen one is capable of passing through the barrier erected by the Weeping Willow. They are also capable of creating life from nothing. However, I only believe in what my eyes see so I need you to walk through the barrier to prove your worth."

After hearing King Sharo’s criteria, Truen’s eyes turned cold. If it had been anyone else, this would certainly be a death sentence. However, it was also probably the only way to prove Zero’s legitimacy as the one from the prophecy.

"Deal," Zero accepted King Sharo’s terms and Truen lowered Sureshot. "Take me to the Weeping Willow and tell me more about Spriggan Alex on the way. I have urgent business in Lycantopia and cannot dawdle any further in Altear."

Smirking, King Sharo recomposed himself and called for the servants who were thrown out of his palace to prepare for the entourage to his private villa. Whoever this trickster was, he would die if he was lying. King Sharo had no need for weak and useless human envoys. All those humans are good for was to supply them with tributes as the superior species. That, Zero and his dangerous bodyguard will soon understand.