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“That line… Could you say it one more time?”

A youthful voice, calm yet steady syllable by syllable, rings out clearly.

Ainel Shianella’s cool tone echoes through the air.

Friel Arielte quietly rolls her eyes.

Her turquoise gaze swiftly notices Ainel’s changed demeanor.

Trust and courtesy are slowly fading, replaced by suspicion and wariness.

Not the best response, to say the least.

Yet even so, Friel Arielte maintains her composed posture, unwaveringly meeting Ainel’s gaze.

“Please send the second daughter of the Shianella Count’s House, Young Lady Shione Shianella, and her servant Ray to the Great Forest.”

At that bold demand, a slight furrow appeared on Ainel’s brow.

‘What on earth could be the reason?’

It was a ridiculous statement.

As stated, the guardians of the Great Forest are anything but weak.

Each and every one is proficient in Spirit Magic, their elven agility allowing them to traverse the woods like it’s their own home.

Their average combat prowess ranks among the highest of all races, and if the stage is set in the forest, their strength multiplies.

‘This doesn’t make any sense.’

If the monsters and demons are only of average rank, they could easily be dispatched without needing to send for assistance from the Shianella Count’s House.

Simply requesting support from the skilled Kalia Marquis House nearby or the powerful citizens of the Empire would suffice.

Ainel could not comprehend why they would ask such an absurd favor, having been defeated by mere monsters and demons to the extent of journeying to the kingdom’s southeastern edge.

‘Moreover, the insistence on sending Shione and Ray specifically is suspect.’

What’s more troubling is that Friel Arielte clearly mentions Shione and Ray’s names, intending to take them to the Great Forest.

Moreover, the elf before her declares that this request aligns with the Grand Elder’s will—the will of the elven leader, the High Elf.

Doubt and concern are unavoidable.

“……”

“……”

In the silence, their gazes lock, each penetrating the thoughts of the other.

Friel’s delicate eyes discern Ainel’s inner turmoil.

“You’re suspicious, aren’t you?”

“Is sending Shione and Ray to the Great Forest truly the Grand Elder’s intention?”

“Indeed. The Grand Elder stated that for the clan and the World Tree to continue, we need the assistance of those two.”

Friel gently raised her right hand, placing it softly over her heart, offering a small smile.

“This is an undeniable truth, even a promise I could swear on the World Tree and the spirits.”

“Hmm…”

Ainel delves into deep thought.

To them, the World Tree is a deity, a faith, and the cornerstone of their existence as elves.

An oath made upon the World Tree and the spirits carries exceptional weight.

Especially since Friel, as a daughter of the Arielte family, directly protects and manages the World Tree, her vow bears even greater significance than most elves.

Thus, Ainel begins to ask her questions calmly.

“If the guardians of the Great Forest can easily handle mid-level demons, why request our Shianella bloodline’s second daughter and her servant Ray? Furthermore—”

Ainel’s eyes narrow slightly.

“There are soldiers from the nearby Kalia Marquis House and the Empire who could assist, right? Eliminating the cultists and defeating monsters and demons would be more than enough with their help.”

At her words, Friel closes her eyes for a moment.

“Well…”

Friel’s demeanor shifts unexpectedly.

She lifts the tea cup in front of her, savoring its aroma before taking a sip.

Ainel silently captures her expression in her vision, waiting for what’s next.

Then, Friel’s moist, red lips part as she shares her reply.

“Certainly, if their combat abilities were leveraged, it would ease the process of taking down the enemy. After all, the soldiers from the Kalia Marquis House and the Empire nearby are rich in battle experience and well-disciplined.”

Friel continues, tapping her index finger against her lower lip as though deep in thought.

“However, the Empire lacks the integrity and loyalty found in the kingdom… Unlike the kingdom, the cultists have already succeeded in infiltrating deep within the Empire’s society. We can’t trust them easily—not to mention, we wouldn’t want them anywhere near the World Tree.”

“…Are you saying that demon worshippers have already contaminated the Empire to such an extent?”

“Head of the Family, the Empire is quietly but surely deteriorating. The phrase ‘a star slowly dimming’ may be the most fitting description for the current state of the Empire. Soon, that lightless star will vanish, enveloped in impenetrable darkness. But—”

Friel’s finger glides up to the corner of her mouth, a wry smile forming as she straightens her posture, placing her hands on her knees.

The delicate smile on Friel Arielte’s face, as sketched by her slender fingers, is both subtle and beautiful.

“The kingdom is different. It is filled with honor and loyalty, and it has not forgotten the spirit of exterminating evil. The kingdom remains a trustworthy ally for us elves, while the Kalia Marquis House is also a neighbor that can be relied upon in its own right.”

“……”

“However, the downside is… the Kalia Marquis House lacks someone who can twist our fates. They might assist in exterminating the demons and monsters, but they cannot save us from destruction.”

“You mean—”

“Head of the Family, the Grand Elder has received a prophecy from the World Tree.”

The prophecy of the World Tree.

A gnarled, ancient tree, rooted deeply in the earth, nurtured by the mana ingrained in the planet’s soil.

Having traversed a time of great magnitude, this ancient tree has gained wisdom, and after countless eons, it has acquired divine abilities.

The divine tree can foretell the future for its followers and entrust its will to them.

For an elf, particularly a High Elf who has lived for an exceedingly long time and has amassed significant honor and spiritual gravitas, receiving a prophecy from the World Tree is no trivial matter.

Friel steers the conversation forward, elevating the value and depth of their exchange.

“I hear that a greater evil than has ever dawned before is approaching both the Great Forest and the Empire. The World Tree indicated that, according to destiny, the Empire and the Great Forest are both set to meet a predestined demise, though with differing timelines.”

“……”

“It’s a sorrowful tale. However, the World Tree revealed one way to the Grand Elder.”

“Then that means…”

At Ainel’s whisper, Friel’s smile deepens.

“If the Empire is a dimming star, then the kingdom is indeed a star that has just begun to rise. The very first light to shine upon the Aisiliah Kingdom came from none other than the Shianella Count’s House after their victory against the demons.”

“The Count protected the kingdom from the dark forces lurking within the Demonic Realm. And… coincidentally, the World Tree stated that the only one who possesses the power to safeguard our Great Forest is none other than the Shianella Count’s House.”

“Head of the Family, we have come seeking the assistance of two individuals who can twist our clan’s fate into a radiant light of salvation.”

Turquoise and wall-eyed gazes intertwined.

In that fleeting moment, time seemed to stretch infinitely as their conversation returned to its focal point.

“Our clan of the Great Forest needs the help of Miss Shione Shianella, the second daughter of the Shianella Count’s House, and her servant, Ray.”

Ainel found herself at a loss for words.

Just as she began to sink into deep reflection, Friel stood up from her seat.

With a soft rustle, she carefully drew her sword from its sheath and presented it to Ainel Shianella.

“Head of the Family, take this.”

“This is a sword, isn’t it?”

“Yes, please draw it from the sheath.”

“Excuse me for a moment…”

Swish!

The sound of the blade sliding free from its scabbard revealed a gleaming white blade to the world.

Its weight, balance, and sharpness were undeniably that of a masterfully crafted sword; ultimately, Ainel felt a strange pull emanating from it.

And the moment her eyes fell upon the blade—

“What is this…?”

Ainel’s body stiffened.

The etching on the blade depicted the shape of a sword cutting through the horns of demons, the emblem of the Shianella Count’s House, with the name of a woman inscribed below it. That name belonged to the first head of the family.

“The Grand Elder’s long-departed friend, the first head of the Count’s House, expressed this to us.”

─I have given you many things, and I now offer you one of my treasured swords. The day you return this sword to my descendants, the one who follows the Count’s line will gladly grant you one of your requests.

Ainel stared at the sword in her grip before looking back at Friel.

She was smiling cheerfully, just as she had when she first offered Ainel tea from the Great Forest.

“Head of the Family, it looks like the conversation may get longer. Do you have time to spare?”

The visit of the elves to the Count’s House contained even weightier matters than she initially thought.

*

“Ray, why are you standing there in a daze all of a sudden?”

“No, it’s just…”

After wrapping up my duel with Siabel, I headed straight to the shooting range to join Shione in practicing archery.

I carefully released the arrow from the bowstring, shrugging slightly.

“For some reason, I feel a bit chill. Even though spring has arrived, it seems the weather hasn’t completely warmed up. It feels like there’s still a bit of a cold breeze.”

“Hmm… Did the wind blow? I didn’t feel anything… Ray, they say it chills you to the bone if a ghost sits on your shoulder. Is that why you feel that way?”

Really, what a childish joke.

“Princess Shione.”

“Hmm?”

“When you sleep, be careful of what’s under the bed.”

“Oh.”

Shione tilted her head as if caught off guard, then broke into a big smile.

Well, if there was no wind, it was probably just my imagination.

I shook off the strange feeling that had washed over me in an instant and started shooting with clarity in mind.

Everything was perfect today, except for the uninvited elf who came to the Count’s House.

 

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