Ex Hunter Current Queen, All That’s Left Is the Actual Battle

Translator: White Lotus 

I won’t be fooled.

Jackson had clearly observed how Calint’s tone dropped and turned cold when speaking to a woman he disliked earlier. He deduced that it must be Calint’s real demeanor. With suspicion in his eyes, he looked up at Calint. However, since Calint’s eyes were completely different in appearance from those of a human, it was impossible to discern his true intentions just by looking at them.

[Be careful on your way back, Your Majesty.]

[You should head back soon as well.]

As Calint prepared to leave, Lylis, who had been standing like a backdrop, spoke up. Calint offered a polite farewell before swiftly escorting Jackson and Quill away. Once he was out of sight, Lylis let out a frustrated sound, pulling out a small handkerchief from her sleeve.

[That wretched human…! I don’t know how he managed to win over His Majesty, but I will make sure to……]

Left alone in the garden under the midday sun, the noblewoman ground her teeth, her fangs bared in frustration. However, her anger echoed into the empty air, failing to reach Jackson.

*****

Quill, who had been buried in Jackson’s arms for quite a while, finally wriggled free with a puffing sound. Perhaps Jackson had forgotten about the small Phantom Moth clinging to his chest, as he continued to hold Quill all the way until they reached their room.

As a result, Jackson’s chest, collarbones, and even Calint’s coat draped over him were now covered in shimmering moth powder. Seeing the glittery mess adorning himself, Jackson insisted that he needed to wash immediately, but Calint suggested he eat first, remarking that the sparkle oddly suited him.

[So, Lylis didn’t do anything harmful to the Queen, did she?]

[No harm was done…… though she did address His Majesty the Queen with quite an intimidating tone.]

[I see. I’ll make sure to address that properly.]

While Jackson ate, Calint instructed Quill to report exactly what had transpired earlier. Fortunately, it had only escalated to the point of rude remarks, but Calint still resolved to set Lylis straight.

Not much time had passed since he ascended from crown prince to king, and now he had even taken a human as his queen. The political situation was so chaotic that it was beyond words.

But even so, he held no regrets. Whether it was the priest or the conservative faction, if he had given in to their whims, he would have found himself pulled in every direction without a choice, unable to lead. It was better to trim their excessive demands as needed and gradually bring them under control.

While Calint was lost in serious thoughts, Jackson enjoyed his delicious meal to the fullest. Sitting alone on a hastily prepared makeshift chair, eating without anyone hovering over him, was something he could truly appreciate.

After all, the memory of last night—being cradled and spoon-fed like a child—was still fresh and unbearably embarrassing.

The dining table, crafted to fit the Arachron’s enormous proportions, was far too large for Jackson, and the sheer variety of dishes made eating slightly inconvenient. Aside from that, it was an excellent meal. Just as Jackson was about to pop a piece of smoked salmon into his mouth, Calint quietly approached and spoke to him.

“Jackson, as it happens, the priests have requested your presence at the temple. How about taking a stroll there? You can bathe as well while we’re there.”

“Hmm? You can bathe at the temple? What, is the god they serve the deity of cleanliness?”

Jackson Carter was a staunch atheist. He firmly believed that if a god did exist, they would have to be an extreme sadist to create a world as messed up as this one. Utterly unaware that his remark might be considered blasphemous, the human queen asked his outlandish question. Calint shook his head in response.

“No, not quite. Though the deity does govern all things, so your guess isn’t entirely off….. But it’s part of the prescribed ritual. The queen must bathe in the sacred spring to purify both body and mind.”

“Ha! The moment I set foot in that spring, I’ll probably get struck down for sacrilege.”

“That won’t happen. In fact, you might even find it to your liking.”

Calint let out a soft chuckle as he watched the queen recline lazily, cracking a dry joke. Jackson found himself thinking how strange the monster prince was. He hadn’t thought much of it when they first met, but Calint had no eyelids. Of course, it made sense. Though his face was strikingly beautiful, the eyes set within his chitinous exoskeleton were undoubtedly those of a spider.

Was that why he laughed aloud or smiled so openly whenever he wanted to convey emotion? The stark reminders that Calint wasn’t human always crept up when Jackson least expected them. Feeling unsettled, Jackson unconsciously shook his head.

[Quill, you’re dismissed for today. From now on, the queen will accompany me.]

[Understood, Your Majesty.]

Watching Quill leave the room as quickly as he had entered, Jackson couldn’t help but think the little creature seemed particularly eager to clock out. Strictly speaking, Quill always moved with that quick, fluttering energy, but to Jackson, it felt as if the attendant was unusually relieved to be dismissed.

“Well, you know, that guy startled me this morning. Woke up to him chattering away. I think I deserve an explanation for that.”

“Ah, I would’ve warned you before you woke, but you were sleeping so soundly I didn’t dare disturb you. Still, he’s quite a reliable attendant.”

“I don’t know about that, but he sure cries a lot.”

“Perhaps he’s just a bit softhearted. Treat him kindly. You’ll find he’ll become an invaluable ally to you someday.”

At Calint’s advice, Jackson momentarily froze. The memory of snapping at Quill first thing in the morning came flooding back. He wanted to brush it off as generic advice, but for some reason, a sense of discomfort lingered in the corner of his heart.

“Well, shall we head to the temple now?”

“What, do I have to get carried again? I’m dressed fine today. Don’t tell me you’re really treating me like a cripple?”

Jackson scowled, stomping his prosthetic leg against the ground for emphasis. The hard, artificial limb struck the floor with a sharp clack—creating a sound like a rhythmic interjection. Calint quickly added a soft apology, as though to reassure him that he’d meant no offense.

“No, not at all. I simply wanted to hold you.”

“Bullshit.”

Jackson wondered why he wasn’t trying to treat his low blood pressure today*. But as always, the moment the other man made a nerve-striking remark, Jackson reflexively cursed and strode toward the door.

(T/N: *The phrase “treat his low blood pressure today” is a figurative way of saying that Jackson was expecting to get irritated or frustrated. In Korean, “저혈압 치료를 시도하다” is sometimes used humorously to refer to dealing with something or someone that raises one’s blood pressure (i.e., something annoying or frustrating).)

“I’m serious, Jackson. Do you even know where the temple is?”

At Calint’s question, Jackson stopped abruptly in front of the door, turning slightly with a disgruntled expression. Then he answered in a grumpy voice.

“…I’d rather not attract attention. What, do you enjoy making your queen look powerless?”

“Not at all. But if other people’s eyes bother you, there is always a shortcut we could take.”

Of course, it’s broad daylight, so there’s hardly anyone roaming the palace right now. The young Arachron’s reassurance made Jackson pause. After a moment, he hesitated, then stepped back toward Calint, his voice low and tinged with curiosity.

“A secret passage only the kings know about?”

“Well… strictly speaking, it’s not exclusive to the king. The queen and royal family members all have access to it. But as things stand now, I’m the only one in the palace who knows it.”

You’ve never used it, and we don’t have children, after all. If Calint had said that aloud, Jackson would have exploded on the spot. But Calint was clever. The moment he saw the queen’s curiosity spark, he deftly shifted the conversation, emphasizing the passage’s mysterious nature instead.

“It’s a passage that’s been around for centuries, but it remains secret for a reason. You’ll have to watch out for traps.”

“Hm….. that part does make it sound more interesting.”

Exactly. It’s always good to know your way around a secret passage.

It was valuable information, the kind Jackson hadn’t been able to get out of Quill no matter how much he’d asked. The fact that Calint was so freely offering such a precious secret left Jackson wondering. Was he foolish, or was the secret passage simply unsuitable for any real escape? Most likely the latter. Even so, knowing the passage’s location wouldn’t hurt. With that thought, Jackson stepped closer to Calint and extended a hand.

“All right, let’s go. I’ll allow you to carry me, but we’re taking that passage. Got it?”

“Understood. Please come here.”

Just as he had the previous day, Calint scooped Jackson up effortlessly and stepped out of the room with light, confident strides. However, the peaceful mood was shattered within minutes.

No sooner had they started moving quickly than Jackson, who had been sitting quietly in Calint’s arms, seized him by the neck as though attempting an assassination.

“Stop—don’t run! I said, slow down!”

“Are you scared?”

“Are you going to keep saying foolish things? Your clothes are made of a fabric that slips right off—what do you think will happen if you keep running like that?”

Being carried wasn’t the problem. But yesterday, Jackson had been wearing a dress with a wide, full skirt that covered everything below the waist. Today’s outfit, on the other hand, featured a loose, flowing coat that draped precariously.

The moment Calint lifted him, his legs were raised, and his hips dipped into an awkward position, leaving the lower half of his body suddenly—completely uncovered—exposed to the air.

Even though he knew there wouldn’t be anyone around while they traveled through the secret passage, the thought of his bare legs hanging out in the open was enough to drive him insane.

With one hand, Jackson clung to Calint’s neck, and with the other, he frantically tried to secure his flapping clothes between his legs to cover himself.

Arachrons typically didn’t wear anything on their lower halves. Unaware of why Jackson was so flustered, Calint slowed his pace and asked,

“What happens when I run?”

“You seriously don’t know?”

“I’m asking because I don’t know. Jackson, please remember, while I may speak your language, I know very little about humans.”

“Ha! What do you think happens? Obviously, my dick and ass will be out for everyone to see, bouncing around like some ridiculous spectacle!”

Unable to hold back his frustration, the human queen snapped, veins bulging in his neck as he shouted. Jackson fired off his words so quickly he barely stopped for breath, leaving Calint with an expression of genuine confusion. He asked again, still baffled,

“Why? Are you saying your genitals are visible right now? Could it be that you are aroused…?”

Calint had no idea that, unlike Arachrons, humans’ genitals were constantly exposed outside their bodies. To Arachrons, the sight of visible genitals meant arousal. Even so, he found the situation perplexing. Looking back on everything that had happened so far, there didn’t seem to be anything that might have caused arousal.

“You’ve got to be kidding me! I’m not aroused!”

Jackson’s face turned crimson as he fumed. In his agitation, he let go of Calint’s neck and used both hands to shield his exposed areas, trying desperately to cover himself. Though he managed to obscure the critical parts, he couldn’t do much about his backside, which he could still feel being chilled by the breeze flowing up his waist and hips.

“Shh. Keep your voice down. Someone might hear you.”

Even though, realistically, no one else would have access to this passage.

If the attendants truly woke up, it would undoubtedly cause a commotion. When Calint lightly pressed a finger to Jackson’s lips, signaling him to lower his voice, the human queen glared at him, his expression barely masking the rage simmering beneath the surface.

“Goddamn it, I’ve had enough. Put me down right now, or I swear I’ll kick your damn jaw off.”

“There’s no need to feel embarrassed. It’s my duty to please the queen—”

“I told you to shut the fuck up, didn’t I? Stick that thing near me again, and I’ll cut it off.”

Interrupting Calint’s smooth words with an unyielding tone, Jackson grabbed the Arachron’s long, graceful fingers and pulled them away from his lips with a firm hand.

This lunatic—always up to something.

Jackson growled through gritted teeth, clearly reaching his limit. At last, Calint relented and set him down on the ground. The queen, now standing on his own two feet, immediately busied himself with smoothing his robe and ensuring that his lower half was properly covered. He’d gotten so used to wandering the palace freely that he’d forgotten the fact he was essentially wearing nothing more than a bathrobe.

“Humans seem overly sensitive about exposing their bodies,” Calint observed.

“Well, obviously. Try walking around naked yourself. You’d end up in prison for public indecency.”

Jackson himself, who said that, usually slept without any clothes on. But that didn’t stop him from snapping at Calint, feigning indignation to disguise his own carelessness.

The barbaric spider king, meanwhile, wore nothing but a single silk robe draped loosely over his frame, along with necklaces and jewel-encrusted ornaments hanging from his neck and waist. The delicate clinking sounds they made with each movement were oddly melodic—and highly irritating.

Definitely a perverted bastard.

It was the equivalent of a human wearing only a shirt paired with bracelets and necklaces—a disgraceful sight. Instead of attempting to understand the culture of the Arachron, Jackson preferred to judge them silently.

“Hm, I see. Understood.”

Calint slowly nodded as though something had just occurred to him, then stepped behind Jackson to guide him toward the temple.

The so-called “secret passage” was surprisingly spacious. However, it was clear that this was not a well-trodden route—dust and signs of wear and tear were evident throughout. It was a stark contrast to the pristine hallway outside Jackson’s bedchamber, which looked as though it had just been freshly constructed. Jackson carefully surveyed his surroundings, mentally noting the less-traveled areas.

One day, this knowledge would be invaluable when an opportunity to escape finally presented itself.

Whether Calint was aware of Jackson’s intention to study the passage for a potential escape route was unclear. The Arachron king simply and silently guided him through the palace’s hidden shortcut.

“Hey, isn’t this supposed to be bedtime for you lot? If we go to the temple at this time, won’t everyone be gone already?”

“That’s true….. but the priests usually rise early. Their schedule is to wake up in the afternoon and rest during the early morning.”

The day had already drifted into late afternoon. Calint, who hadn’t slept a wink today, answered Jackson’s question kindly, showing no signs of fatigue. It couldn’t be helped, considering that humans were diurnal. Besides, staying awake through the day was something he’d grown used to over time.

“Is that so? Then what about you? You seem like you’re always awake.”

“Yes, I am. But I often work through the afternoons when I’m busy, so it’s not an issue.”

“You brat, if you don’t sleep properly, you’re bound to get cranky. Staying up all night like that messes with your head and stirs up all sorts of perverted urges. Got it?”

“Haha….. That couldn’t be true. I only wish for you to sleep well and wake up feeling rested.”

Jackson, who had been striding ahead, suddenly spun around at Calint’s remark and snapped,

“Why do you keep acting so creepy? There’s no one else around—you can be honest, can’t you?”

“I’m simply behaving as I always do. Is there something wrong with that?”

“Cut the act. All that nice-guy stuff is just for show. I heard the way you were talking to that woman earlier—so damn rude.”

“Did I really? More importantly, acting, you say? It pains me to hear that my sincerity didn’t come across.”

Feigning disappointment, Calint slumped his shoulders slightly as though reflecting on his earlier words. However, he truly couldn’t understand why the queen was so upset; as far as he recalled, he’d treated Lylis the way he always did.

“‘Sincerity,’ my ass. Let’s see how long you can keep up the act.”

I’d bet it won’t even last a few days.

Jackson muttered indifferently, deliberately widening his stride to put more distance between them. Every time Calint acted overly friendly, it felt like being pricked by tiny, invisible thorns all over his body. He couldn’t bear it.

It was obvious—once he was no longer useful, Calint would discard him without hesitation. For now, it seemed he was holding back, masking his true colors. Even that bastard Francis had pretended to be innocent for over ten days. Jackson figured he might as well wait and see what happened.

Without exchanging further words, the two walked in silence until they finally arrived at the temple. By the time they stepped outside the palace building, the sun was already dipping low on the horizon, casting long shadows as it slowly descended toward the edge of the sky.

The blazing crimson hues of the setting sun painted the crystals at the temple’s entrance in a fiery red. The sunlight poured over the crystals, refracting off their surfaces without blending into the underlying blue hues. Instead, the light scattered along the crystalline lines, shimmering with an exquisite, almost otherworldly brilliance.

The white structure of the temple was adorned with various shades of blue gemstones and crystals, exuding an air of both grandeur and solemnity. Overwhelmed by the sheer scale and dazzling decorations of the temple, Jackson couldn’t help but think to himself:

What a disgusting display of extravagance. Nothing but a monument to corruption, built from the sweat and blood of their citizens.

No matter how skillfully crafted the building was, the fact that it had been created by these wretched spiders made it difficult for him to see it as anything other than grotesque. Try as he might, Jackson found himself unable to warm to the monstrous world of the Arachron.

[Your Majesty! We weren’t informed of your visit. To what do we owe this honor……]

[I believe I mentioned during the last council meeting that I’d be visiting the temple with the queen soon.]

[Ah, so this is His Majesty the Queen. It is an honor to meet you, Your Majesty. I am High Priest Heilman.]

The high priest, upon noticing Jackson standing beside Calint, bowed deeply in a gesture of respect. Jackson, unsure of how to respond to the priest’s formalities, hesitated briefly before awkwardly nodding and extending his hand for a handshake. However, unfamiliar with the customs of humans, the high priest simply ignored the gesture and instead motioned toward the temple interior.

[The sanctification prayer for His Majesty the Queen is still being prepared. However, the purification rite can be conducted immediately.]

“Fantastic. What in the world is he saying? I can’t understand a single word.”

Feeling a touch insulted by what he interpreted as the priest snubbing his handshake, Jackson grumbled under his breath. Calint, unperturbed, translated the priest’s words in a calm and measured tone.

“Don’t be too impatient. You’ll learn the language in due time. The high priest said that while the sanctification prayer for you is still being prepared, the purification rite is ready to proceed.”

The high priest, witnessing the king personally translating into the human language, was inwardly astonished but refrained from showing it. He had long known that Calint had an interest in humans since his days as the crown prince, but he had never imagined that his proficiency in their language would be this advanced.

He wasn’t sure if it was simply the nature of the human language, but compared to the way Calint spoke in the Arachron language, his tone now seemed much softer, more measured—so much so that it was almost unrecognizable as belonging to the cold-hearted king he had heard rumors about.

“Well, that’s all fine and good….. But didn’t he just ignore my handshake? If you’re expecting me to play queen, shouldn’t you at least tell me what I’m supposed to do first?”

“It has not even been a full day since you became queen. There’s no need to rush. Quill, the palace attendants, and I will teach you everything in due time.”

Calint offered Jackson a gentle smile, as if pacifying a disgruntled child. He understood the human’s frustration all too well and made a mental note to instruct Quill to begin Jackson’s lessons as early as the next morning.

There was no one in the palace who could stop the ever-diligent king once he had set his mind to something. Unfortunately, this decision took no account of the fact that Jackson was a middle-aged man who had never studied a day in his life.

Completely unaware of what awaited him in the near future, Jackson busied himself by scanning the temple’s interior. Meanwhile, the high priest, having led him to the purification chamber, gestured toward something before speaking.

[This way, please. Before entering the purification spring, you must first cleanse your hands.]

The object the high priest pointed was a stone basin, shaped almost like a small fountain. Crystal-clear water gushed continuously from its center, filling the bowl-like structure beneath it.