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“In just 30 minutes, we will merge the environment of the Great Forest not with the physical realm, but with the world of spirits.”

Edelin’s declaration, delivered with an air of intimidation, was nothing short of explosive.

“What…!”

“Th-That means!”

The responses of all the gathered elf nobles were uniformly shocked, their expressions lacking in variety.

Fletta, the daughter of the arch-traitor Airine, and the other elders were all gaping in disbelief.

I also managed a quiet smirk in response, secretly cheering for Edelin’s words.

The only ones who did not grasp the concept of merging with the Spirit World were the people from the Kalia Marquis Family, Shione Shianella, and the knight Diolia from the Count’s House, who were all looking around with puzzled expressions.

Among them, only Shione asked me for an explanation.

“…Ray, what do you mean by merging the Spirit World and this place?”

The idea that the physical realm would become the Spirit World.

“To put it simply, it means that the gaps and restrictions that exist between spirit mages and spirits will vanish completely.”

This also indicated that spirit mages would gain powers more dangerous and potent than any wizard.

“In the Spirit World, spirits face no restrictions. They don’t incur maintenance costs to manifest in the physical realm, and they don’t have to receive mana from their contractors to perform their magic in this world.”

“Ah—”

The small gasp came not from Shione, but from Diolia, who had been quietly listening beside her.

As a high-ranking knight, she had seen the terror of wizards and had witnessed the characteristics of spirit mages firsthand, so it didn’t take her long to grasp the significance of my words.

Though she attended this meeting as a key figure, she was not of high importance, merely standing back like a ghost and reacting as she did.

Merging with the Spirit World could indeed be seen as a divine blessing.

This was for the following reason.

“The spirit magic cast by spirits is inherently faster and more powerful than the magic of any other wizards.”

“Since it can unleash rapid-fire spells, even if it requires less mana than if the contractor were casting, it becomes increasingly difficult to channel mana to realize magic that matches the speed of the spirit.”

“This is the limiting factor that arises when utilizing spirits more aggressively than ever.”

The stark limitations of spirit magic.

“However, things are different in the Spirit World.”

This allows spirit mages to transcend the limits imposed by the world.

“Once a spirit manifests in this world and regains its innate powers, as well as infinite mana that never runs dry, there’s no stopping them.”

Spirits are a natural disaster.

Tania once mentioned that the Spirit World was a chaotic place. The Spirit World is divided by elements, with territories separate from each attribute’s domain, protected by the higher-level spirits to prevent interference from lesser beings. Even those capable of being considered upper-tier spirits can incite disasters beyond human imagination.

“Especially, my spirit will be able to roam freely without any restrictions this time.”

Tania and Elvis, both of whom had undergone many trials and accumulated substantial combat experience, now held a premier position among spirits.

I had full confidence that I could single-handedly change the tide of war in an instant as the reins were loosened for them.

As I quietly shared this, elves who were momentarily surprised by the shocking information began conversing among themselves. Edelin, who still maintained her proud smile, stamped her foot on the ground a few times to regain attention.

“Surely, you don’t think this is all we have up our sleeve?”

What more could she possibly be preparing to be so confident?

It was inevitable that everyone gathered would refocus on her words.

“Long ago, we once fought against demons in a great war.”

This was a fact well-known to all.

It was said that the elves of that era sought to eradicate demons before any other race, whether fueled by a noble sense of justice to save the world or by resentment for the destruction of their World Tree. That fact remained unchangeable.

Edelin spoke of those dark times when the elves had gone on a rampage.

“I feel sorry for the current generation of our families… but it’s clear that none of the elves gathered here possess the strength of the elders of that time. Likely, only Fletta Arielte could even come close.”

The elders’ expressions scrunched at her words.

No one could refute her.

They all knew her statement to be true.

“The elves who won the fierce battles while the world burned were troubled by demons, and even if they were present… we can’t expect too much from them. Given the long period of peace, this is an unavoidable fate. Yet, I have prepared a contingency for that time.”

They chose to indulge in hope rather than argue.

“The warriors wished to protect our World Tree even after death. In the end, even if their bodies turned to dust, I have taken measures to ensure they will awaken when demons inevitably come to the Great Forest, and magic begins to surge.”

Edelin slowly crossed her arms.

“You all know about the many monuments left abandoned in the Southern Forest, right?”

Monuments abandoned in the Southern Forest? This was news to me…

I could see that the other elves were perked up, as if they were aware of something we weren’t.

“They may have returned to dust, but their spirits remained behind in the physical realm, intending to assist future generations against threats. The ancestors have left their arrangements for this very moment.”

“Wow…”

“Could it be that the old legends aren’t merely tales?”

This implies that we have something further to utilize.

“The problem is that location lies beyond the barrier I have constructed.”

That location was in the middle of a tempestuous dark magic storm.

There was a chance that it had already been seized by the enemy.

“Moreover, that arrangement was not only left for us elves.”

“What do you mean…”

Fletta, who had been quietly listening, couldn’t hold back and spoke up, prompting Edelin’s unwavering gaze to turn toward us.

It landed precisely on me, matched with Shione Shianella’s azure eyes.

At that moment, it appeared that Shione read something in Edelin’s crescent-shaped eyes, for she nervously gripped her thigh with her hand.

“Within that place lies not only arrangements made by my dear friend, the progenitor of the Count Shianella family. It’s been left not only for her descendants, but it is something that can only be reclaimed by those of her bloodline.”

“Additionally… I believe I once said that your soul, Ray, resembles those who once traversed the battlelines with me. If my assumptions are correct—”

“You too might be able to obtain that arrangement.”

Clap—!

Edelin suddenly clapped her hands.

“Here lies the problem. To fully acquire the arrangements made by the two, we must venture outside the barrier, and to ensure victory, the two heroes must maintain their peak condition.”

“However… the area outside that barrier is filled with an ominous darkness, and whether we can resolve things as we wish is uncertain. Although we have ample strategies against the magic, we will require those who can protect us from enemies attacking while I obtain the arrangements.”

“So I hereby ask everyone present.”

The atmosphere swiftly cooled.

The weight of Edelin’s words was burdensome, and her unease deepened, creating a palpable pressure around her.

Once everyone sensed the Queen’s displeasure, all the elves buried their heads and stared at their toes, none daring to make eye contact with her.

“While we retrieve the arrangements from the resting place of the monuments, are there any elves present willing to gladly lay down their lives to protect us, even if anything happens?”

Among those elves, one lone figure raised their head.

The crimson-haired elf, who had become the daughter of a traitor and whose family name had descended into disgrace.

Now too busy following Edelin for a reprieve from her family’s shame, she spoke with an apprehensive voice at the meeting.

“We, Airine Ianette and the 30 elves who harbor doubts toward our clan, will fight with our lives to protect the Grand Elder and the two heroes.”

Whether it was for the clan or for her own sake, her eyes seemed to be pleading for a chance at redemption.

 

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