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The elder floated in the sky, bound by telekinesis, occasionally dripping blood. Below, a High Elf arrogantly glared at the crowd. Her voice was low yet clear; there wasn’t a single soul in the grand plaza who missed her intention.

For centuries, the prestigious Ianette family had maintained its top position. Yet, the revelation of their betrayal and collusion with demons came to light, and despite even the High Elf showing judgment before them, the throngs gathered in the square could only hold their breath in silence.

The reason was simple.

“They are practically exuding their last breaths. The elf clans who venerate High Elves as divine figures like the World Tree couldn’t possibly speak.”

Indeed, Edelin did not wish for the mouths of the multitude to open.

With the elder rendered utterly speechless and reduced to nothing more than a wretch, she still acted as if her work wasn’t finished.

She walked gracefully and stood before another Ianette.

“Airine Ianette.”

What she sought was Airine Ianette, the only daughter and sole heir of the Ianette family, one of the few elves who ultimately attempted to deny the treachery of the Ianette family.

“As you are indeed the eldest daughter of the Ianette family, from this moment, all privileges bestowed upon your surname will be stripped away.”

“…I will humbly accept.”

“Moreover, while you may not bear as much weight as my mother, given your past and circumstances, you must be held accountable…”

Airine’s long hair covered her eyes lightly. Edelin lifted her bangs with her own hand to meet her gaze.

“Even though your family might fall through this trial, I find your effort to expose the truth alongside Arielte commendable, so I shall grant you a small chance.”

A small chance. Perhaps it was the only opportunity for Airine Ianette to redeem herself or the foundation for the rebirth of her family.

As the word “chance” emerged, vitality began to gradually return to her once clouded pupils, obscured by dark clouds and fog.

“Swear absolute obedience under my command, and strive to accumulate enough merit to lessen your sin through the sacrifices and efforts you make. The appropriate punishment shall come afterward.”

As Edelin finished speaking and let her bangs fall back, Airine simply bowed her head, feeling overwhelmed.

With that, Edelin turned her body and slowly ascended back to her elevated seat. After settling into the plush chair, she crossed her legs and surveyed the Royal Guards that surrounded her, before addressing the elf guarding her side.

“Royal Guards.”

The woman snapped to attention, her posture rigid as she listened intently.

“From now on, seize the elves of Ianette, starting with the retainers.”

“We shall comply.”

As soon as the command was given, the Royal Guards sprang into rapid action.

I observed their seamless coordination and thought to myself, “Be it Arielte or Ianette, the forest guardians seem somewhat lacking.”

Living alongside the troops during the hunting missions, I observed firsthand the guardians of the three families. They certainly were excellent hunters and knights but fell short of the elite squads I knew of from the elves.

The true elites of the elven warriors would change the terrain and weather to annihilate their foes at the moment they wished to unleash violence. Clearly, these did not fit that description.

Yet now, witnessing Edelin’s troops, I felt.

“The real elites were those elves.”

The elves that Edelin commanded were indeed individuals that the Great Forest could proudly present to the world.

The fiery-tempered elves couldn’t suppress their irritation at the Royal Guards trying to bind them with magic, more enraged that they had momentarily forgotten the Grand Elder’s presence when they started to riot. Still, the Royal Guards easily quelled their resistance.

With magical abilities and close-combat skills that far surpassed ordinary elves, they knocked down countless Ianette elves, leaving the crowd helplessly watching their idealized family member, covered in dirt and disgrace.

“…I believed Ianette to be a proud family of the Great Forest.”

“Did they truly make a deal with demons…?”

Public opinion began to solidify.

The masses started to designate Ianette as evil and us as their absolute good. Soon after, the vilification of Ianette and praise for us began to spread widely among the people.

Once ignited, the spark seemed to have waited for this moment, spreading out to become an overwhelming blaze, enveloping the grand plaza, and this heat showed no sign of cooling down.

It was a victory. A valuable victory won from those unruly elves.

At this point, it felt like I could finally ease the tension. I turned to Shione, who was nearby, catching her breath.

“Finally, we can take a breather. Thank you for your hard work.”

“Ray, you did well too.”

She smiled weakly, looking exhausted. Then suddenly, she became restless and asked,

“But… I didn’t tremble earlier, did I…?”

“Not at all. You delivered your lines perfectly, so no need for concern.”

“Really?”

“Yes, rather than trembling, your tone was quite serious.”

“Phew… then that’s a relief─”

Just then, in that moment when Shione was about to sigh in relief.

For some reason, she tightly shut her small mouth.

When the once radiant light of her silver hair was briefly shadowed by cloud cover, I could see her previously confident blue eyes turn gradually cold.

No, it wasn’t just that.

“…Princess Shione?”

“……….”

Coldness. Not simply coldness, deep within her pupils lingered emotions I hadn’t seen in a long time, feelings that had all but vanished from her lately.

“…It’s dangerous.”

Now pale and ghostly, Shione was terrified.

In an instant, it wasn’t just Shione who felt something.

“It’s so annoying.”

The High Elf, Edelin.

The moment she unleashed her fury upon the world, I began to experience a peculiar phenomenon.

“Warning.”

“Quest Failed.”

“Reconfiguration.”

“External presence is interfering.”

“Content Modification.”

It was then.

A fierce wind began to rush in.

Rustle─

The leaves of the forest began to scream. The leaves swept away by the wind, coincidentally possessed as much dark magic as the Half-Demon that had previously crushed my leg.

“This damn it.”

I knew all too well who was unleashing this disturbing, oppressive magical energy crushing down on my skin.

“Why now of all times?”

I hadn’t even relished the victory of the trial yet.

What was I to do now, with the fifth demon showing up already?

Frustration surged. Surely, this was a cursed ground for the unruly elves. Must it always be riddled with misfortunes?

It was then.

“…We need to get away.”

Shione took my hand.

Perhaps instinctively sensing that lingering here with this magic would yield no good. Shione grasped my hand and began to pull me away from the source of the wind.

However, we were thwarted within just a few steps.

“Heroes, please do not worry, but remain calm.”

Edelin appeared before us, her warm smile shining as she gazed towards the source of the incoming wind, whispering softly toward the edge of the eastern forest.

“I wasn’t simply watching from the side of the World Tree. First, take this.”

“This is… Moonlight Grass?”

“Yes, they carry the strongest fragrance, and inhaling it will help soothe your nerves.”

Edelin handed us two Moonlight Grasses, confident as she turned her back to us.

“Just a moment. Allow me to block this repugnant smell of the wind.”

With that, Edelin began to unleash her previously concealed power.

Bang─!

She raised her right foot and stomped it mightily down.

Crack─!

With her right foot serving as the epicenter, cracks spread across the finely paved stones of the grand plaza.

Her mana, thick enough to raise a mirage, began to rise around the cracks as she unleashed her overwhelming power.

Heaven and Earth, she began to radiate the presence of someone who could command the continent as a High Elf.

“You heroes need not worry.”

As her hair began to lift, beams of white light emerged from the spires and watchtowers along the outskirts of the city, piercing the sky.

I understood this kind of magic. It is the kind of protective barrier typically formed by skilled mages gathering around a designated point, inscribing grand and intricate spells in an effort to shield strongholds.

However, this magic was on a different scale altogether.

“Huh─”

This insane elf was attempting to conjure a spell capable of perfectly insulating the entire city.

“You monster.”

As I praised her fluency in the Korean language, I couldn’t help but wonder how she could successfully complete this spell.

“Already feeling exhausted… I suppose I’ve truly aged a lot.”

Contrary to her words, she grinned, letting her shimmering pupils scatter light.

“O World Tree─”

Afterwards, Edelin began to chant some incomprehensible incantation.

─!

A powerful presence emanated from the World Tree, and countless leaves began to flutter down from above the city.

With that, Edelin’s magic reached its peak. I felt it physically, witnessing firsthand how formidable that elf truly was.

Edelin. She was a beast possessing a level of superiority that far exceeded any High Elf I had ever witnessed.

As the geometric-patterned transparent veil enveloped the city and the leaves of the World Tree settled upon my shoulders, a new quest emerged.

『@, *─』

Unknown characters I had never seen before formed into words I could finally understand.

『Quest generated due to the intervention of the World Tree, Eriantina.』

『Protective War ─ Struggle』

At last, an ominous cloud hung over the Great Forest, signaling the advent of the unavoidable conflict.

 

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