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After the lengthy meal, Ainel came looking for Shione, claiming she had something to say. The words that came out of her mouth were nothing short of a series of shocks.

The prophecy received by the High Elf, the rampage of those damned Demon Worshippers, and the existential crisis of the vast Great Forest linked to the World Tree caused by the Earthen folk.

Perhaps because Ainel summarized only the significant points, a storm of words within a short time left me in a daze.

And amidst all that, a Quest popped up.

‘Well, look at this. I’m the one who has to make the choices, yet all of it boils down to the fact that if I don’t stop it, everything goes to ruin. What’s the difference then?’

The penalty of failure if I couldn’t protect the Great Forest felt like a heavy blow.

With the extinction of the Earthen folk, the annihilation of the World Tree, and the strengthening of cultist forces, everything was tilting toward the inevitably negative side for me.

‘And to top it off, my Spirit Magic is weakening.’

My Spirit Magic was even weakening.

In this world, there’s no World Tree or Great Forest; it’s just one of the abilities granted through my awakening as a Hunter.

‘They said this world’s World Tree bestows the blessing of spirits upon Elves.’

One of the representative families that received that blessing was our greedy Earthen folk, the Arielte family… Consequently, it seems the World Tree in this world can involve itself with Spirit Magic.

Unlike my regained Spirit Magic, which is not entirely my own, it seemed closely tied to the Great Forest and, moreover, the World Tree.

I couldn’t help but think that if the World Tree took a significant hit, my Spirit Magic would likely weaken as well.

I cautiously speculated that the absence of my spirits might relate to the rather unfavorable state of the World Tree, which Ainel mentioned.

As I sorted my thoughts, I couldn’t help but frown slightly.

‘Tch… After all the trouble I went through to cultivate my Spirit Magic.’

The fact that neglecting it could diminish the strength I painstakingly built up was incredibly irritating.

I remembered all the hardships I endured to gain this ability. I could vividly recall the times I squeezed every last drop of mana to slay the thugs targeting Shione, only to collapse from mana exhaustion in the process.

“The extinction of the Elves… Did the daughter of the Arielte family really say that?”

“She even claimed she would swear an oath to the World Tree and spirits. Moreover… Her steady breathing and posture did not suggest she was lying.”

“…That’s troubling.”

As Shione began to deepen her understanding of the above topics through questions, I too listened to Ainel’s responses while sorting my thoughts.

‘The extinction of the Elves…’

The end of arrogant, hidden darkness.

Even if I dislike my neighbors, when it comes to their extinction, my stance shifts.

‘If the Earthen folk are willing to go to the extent of extermination, this is not something to take lightly.’

The Earthen folk, on average, are stronger than any other race.

Each one of them is a magician adept at handling spirits and elemental magic, their nimble bodies allowing for precise and intricate swordsmanship.

Additionally, they live in close proximity to the mana-rich World Tree, making their affinity for mana superior to other races.

Moreover, ordinary Elves live for hundreds of years, accumulating experience and skills; they are not beings easily deemed weak.

And what about the High Elves? They spend thousands of years under the World Tree’s absolute blessing. It would be even more unusual if they weren’t strong.

Yet the extermination of such Elves…

Is it the case that the Elves are weakening during their folly, or are the cultists achieving success by throwing themselves into the fray?

I couldn’t easily assess the levels of both sides.

‘…What on earth are those Cultists doing?’

Just how provocative might the plans of the cultists be?

And after the Great Forest collapses, where will their remaining forces head?

The moment I thought about the future, like when I lost my stance during a spar and got hit by Siabel, I could feel the dizziness creeping in.

Just as Ainel finished explaining the current situation of the Great Forest and its future…

She briefly fell silent.

Then, she locked eyes with me after Shione.

Her blue eyes appeared to be somewhat clouded today, possibly due to her mood.

“And… as support for this—”

Ainel’s right hand softly moved to the hilt of her sword at her waist.

It was merely an act to fiddle with the hilt. As expected, there was no intent to unsheathe it suddenly, unlike before.

“I’ve been asked to send Shione and Ray to the Great Forest.”

“Eh…?”

“……?”

I had guessed the general meaning when the Quest appeared, but hearing it directly was quite a shocking revelation.

Shione is the second daughter of a Count, not from a Duke or Baron family. Rather, she hails from a strong Count family with prospects for elevation.

She is a noble with esteemed bloodline in the kingdom, possessing exceptional value simply due to the blood flowing through her veins, despite the years of striving in futility.

Recent evaluations of her have started turning around to see her in a more favorable light, yet they ask to send her, that precious Shione, to a place prophesied by the World Tree to become a battlefield.

Asking to send her instead of support from renowned knights like Diolia of the Count’s House is an unreasonable request.

“W-What do you mean by that?”

Caught off guard by her suddenly being named, Shione stumbled over her words.

“They say the Grand Elder received a prophecy. The World Tree spoke that the only ones who can change their fate on this continent are the two of you from the kingdom, not the Empire. Therefore, they came all the way from the distant Great Forest to here.”

The World Tree certainly has a knack for placing prophecies. How expertly it chooses people.

Shione couldn’t easily respond to Ainel’s words.

The combination of what was in the prophecy of the World Tree and the notion that only she could twist her fate was dizzying her mind.

“Uh…”

With a bewildered expression, Shione opened her eyes wide in disbelief, periodically mumbling incoherently.

Ainel unsheathed the sword she had been carrying.

“And with that, she asked me to give you this sword.”

…A familiar energy-laden sword.

The alluring sword exuded an unusual presence from its very scabbard, as if infused with the artisan’s soul through the harmonious blend of geometric relief and intaglio.

Swish—

As she drew the vivid blade, I could distinctly feel the energy swirling within it.

‘This is… a spirit?’

I felt a strangely familiar energy, a spectral essence emanating from the drawn sword’s blade.

Moreover, on that blade—

Were engraved the insignia of the Count’s house and the name Shianella.

Seeing Shione captivated by the sword right before Ainel, she was so entranced that she seemed to lose her awareness.

“A sword gifted by the first head of the family to the forest guardians who were his comrades. As descendants of that man, we Elves must grant the requests of those who return this sword to the Count’s House.”

“…Is that a must?”

“Yes, many high spirits were present as witnesses when the covenant was made back then, and thus, if the pact is broken…”

…A covenant made with high spirits as witnesses.

As a Spirit Mage, I well understand this. It isn’t a pact made with weak or intermediate spirits, but with high-ranking spirits or higher. The consequences of breaking such a promise are certainly severe.

“The beings that possess the wind will bring forth a powerful gale that shakes the northern seas.”

The wind spirits will summon fierce gales, overturning the dominion and wreaking havoc throughout the region.

“The beings that possess the fire will surely cover the world in black ash, retaliating against the breach of promise.”

The fire spirits will soar on gales to devour everything in their territory until their rage is soothed.

“And the being that possesses the water will pour endless waters to quench the fire. This too will herald the descent of a calamity.”

The water spirits will unleash floods to drown the land, merely vanishing afterwards.

The wrath of spirits equates to natural disasters, and it is hardly possible to appease their anger. You must either fend them off by cutting them down—or soothe them.

Yet, attempting to cut them down could invoke further chaos, so it’s usually wiser to soothe them.

However, soothing also takes considerable time. Ignoring a covenant made with high-ranking spirits would lead to a second calamity, one that cannot be opposed by the Count’s House, freshly emerged from war.

“Ray, you can also wield Spirit Magic. Is it possible to erase a contract where a spirit is the witness?”

I shook my head gently.

“Erasing is impossible.”

It is an unavoidable conclusion.

“However, it is possible to mitigate the damage.”

But I knew how to lessen any damage that might occur upon the breaking of the covenant.

Elves would engage as they typically do, empathizing and adjusting to appease the spirits’ anger.

But as a human, my methods differ. Constant pressure, the spirit affinity I possess, and the abilities I wield. I would use everything to constrain and compel them.

Still, I have experience contracting with spirits of high rank, so while it would be difficult now, if I could find a way to open up a bit more of my true power through Shione and Siabel, I might be able to forcefully quell the spirits’ anger.

“But that’s all there is to it.”

I possessed sufficient skills but remained physically unripe.

Regrettably, a covenant without costs cannot simply dissolve.

“The arrival of the gale and flame, followed by water, is inevitable, and even if I try to reduce the damage, the Count’s House will still endure deep wounds.”

Even if I restrain their rage a little, as long as I don’t completely subdue them, their fury will continue to burn.

One or two might suffice, but I don’t have the strength to bend multiple high spirits to my will yet.

“…The wrath of high-ranking spirits is akin to natural disasters, so for the Count’s House, it would be advisable to grant their requests as much as possible.”

This matter was a complete checkmate by the Earthen folk.

*

As the sun set and moonlight descended, shrouding the Great Forest in darkness.

A woman dressed in black sat on a wooden chair in the depths of a small cave.

Before her, a man slowly approached and knelt.

“I have finished preparing the offerings…”

“The condition of the offerings is, of course, at its best.”

“Yes, I have just captured the Empire soldiers who invaded the Great Forest, so they should be the finest offerings.”

His words reached a hooded face cloaked in shadows.

A slight smile curled the edge of her lips now slightly revealed beneath the hood.

“Good… let the ritual begin. I shall take part personally. How many did you capture?”

“A total of twelve.”

“Twelve, huh—”

She stood slightly, removing her hood that had concealed her face.

“Perfect for warming up.”

With skin white as snow, blood-red eyes, and small horns adorning her otherwise dark hair like those of a mountain goat.

She whispered with heated breath.

“I’m done gauging the level of the Elves, so I can be more proactive now… the World Tree’s demise is drawing near.”

A woman exuding enchanting magic that entices devotees of the cult.

She was a Half-Demon steeped in the blood of demons.

 

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