---

Finally, the two armies clashed in intense combat. The demons sought to trample the Great Forest and topple the World Tree, going further to engulf the kingdom beyond. Elves, standing at the crossroads of fate, fought desperately. They poured all their skills into stopping them.

But they couldn’t hold back the enemy from breaching the fortress forever.

“Y-You…! The first defense line has been breached! They’re crawling in!”

“This side too! At this rate, we’re all going to die!”

“Everyone retreat to the second defense line and prepare for the next fight!”

The first defense line, existing beyond Edelin’s barrier, was breached before long. The place suffused with magic was anything but kind to us; it felt like a hostile dimension.

The ferocious attacks from the monstrous beings broke through the barricades, and soon the monsters poured out into the open, leaving no space to continue the fight. It was evident that this would lead to a futile death. Thus, the army of the Great Forest had no choice but to retreat.

“Prepare for the monstrous attacks that are coming fiercely!”

“From now on, we cannot be breached at all!”

The elves, who typically enjoyed sipping tea in their gardens without raising their voices, were now filled with passionate fervor unlike ever before.

Instead of tea cups, they wielded swords and bows, and instead of the scent of tea, they inhaled the metallic smell of blood. The spirit of the elves displayed without a doubt that they were the most superior race on the continent. Even women who appeared inexperienced in battle showcased skills that rivaled those of human knights.

Surely, the elves blessed with talent and time would not easily forgive a second breach of their defenses.

Amidst the ongoing battle.

“Over there…! Corpses are coming!”

Giant monsters stitched together from gathered corpses appeared.

They advanced towards the city, exhibiting resilience that wouldn’t easily bring them down.

“Fire! Use the cannons made by those little ground-dwelling bastards!”

Crafty dwarves had gifted cannons to the earthen folk in the past.

Finally, after long years, the cannons were loaded with gunpowder and ammunition.

Boom─!

With a sound that shook the heavens, a massive projectile soared and struck true against the conglomeration of giant corpses. The cheers erupted within the fortress as the splattered flesh of the enemy fell.

But only for a moment, as soon after, countless monsters and powerful demons began attacking the fortress. The second defense line couldn’t hold against them either.

“Slowly retreat to the third defense line!”

“From now on, all forest guardians draw your swords!”

As the sturdy outer wall of the fortress began to crumble slowly, fighting atop the castle walls became a thing of the past.

They fought against the monsters that had breached the defense line and began to hide behind the third defense line.

When most of the forces had retreated behind the third defense, a significant change began to unfold.

“The barrier…!”

The barrier, established by Edelin to protect the city from the infested magic of the Great Forest, began to crack.

The small fissures grew larger, and the delicate balance of the barrier was threatened, while the earthen folk, completely ignorant of how to repair Edelin’s shield, could only watch as the dire situation unfolded.

Those within the Great Forest could finally feel the malignant force beyond beginning to stir.

“……!”

A chilling sensation ran down their spines.

From beyond, the ominous swirling black mana not only choked their allies but also caused the low-grade demons to rot from the poison seeping into their very being.

The moment a being foreseen to lead the Great Forest to ruin emerged, the urgent news quickly reached the World Tree.

“The Grand Elder has stated that the demon has revealed itself! The demon is currently commanding its minions right in front of the first defense line!”

“Given the state of the barrier, it seems it will soon break through and come here.”

Edelin looked up at the sky.

The barrier she had created was nearly shattered, on the brink of breaking entirely.

“It was a well-crafted barrier. What a pity.”

Clang─!

Just as the barrier was about to break.

Edelin hastily summoned her spirits.

“Can you tell me how far that demon has come from the sky?”

“…Leave it to me.”

Her wind spirit nodded silently and soared upwards.

I quietly and tensely observed Edelin’s actions, then hurriedly drew my mana to face the incoming magic.

“Park Shin-woo, this energy… is that really it?”

“Sis, is that really it…?”

“Who else could be so brazen aside from that brat? Changsik, does your skin not tingle?”

“Well, it does… but I really don’t like it.”

“Your personal dislike has nothing to do with its appearance here.”

Just like in Tania and Changsik’s conversation, the first demon we encountered among the five had finally arrived in the Great Forest.

Shione too, perhaps sensing the danger of the demon, wore a face full of anxiety.

“Are you worried?”

“…Of course I am.”

“Have you not already triumphed against a demon in war, Princess Shione?”

Shione shook her head vigorously.

“This situation is different. There were no monsters like this back then.”

With those words, she, who had been maintaining a serious expression in silent contemplation, finally showed a hint of fear rather than hatred towards the demon.

“…Can we kill it?”

If she’s asking whether we can kill it, then honestly, I’m not so sure.

“Will we survive?”

But if she’s asking whether we can survive, I can confidently reply.

“Of course. Have I not told you that I asked Diolia to secure a retreat route?”

“…Ray, this isn’t the time for jokes.”

“Do my words truly sound like a joke?”

Forget about the Great Forest or anything else.

If Shione dies, the fate of this continent will be in ruins.

The demons, no matter how much they regroup in the future, Shione must not die.

“We have already arranged a way for both of us to survive.”

Not only did I ask Diolia while we were being dragged around by Edelin, but I also requested Eunice to prepare a retreat route.

Once the spirit realm arrives, we would surely have enough strength to escape. Besides, I even volunteered to help miracle the World Tree this time.

“However, after all this trouble, is it too much to ask for at least one arrow to be shot at it?”

“…Can I do it?”

“Even if two shots might be difficult, you can certainly land at least one safely.”

Saying this, I gazed at the hundreds of spirits controlled by Edelin.

“Every spirit of the Great Forest will pour all its strength for you, Princess Shione, at that moment.”

Those ancient spirits carried immense power. Even before the spirit realm manifested, they had divided the sea of monsters.

“They are by no means weak.”

An arrow could definitely strike true at the demon’s heart.

Rather than being scared, it’s time for us to repay the debt for everything that has happened until now with at least one shot.

“Princess Shione, you are in no way weak. Just a few days ago, you emerged from amidst countless enemies as an outstanding knight.”

“……”

“Trust in yourself a bit more. You are more than capable.”

“…I understand.”

After confirming that Shione nodded with a resolute expression, I let out a soft sigh, hoping she wouldn’t notice.

Alright, I’ve finished taking care of my master’s state of mind adequately.

Now, I need to focus on the most critical event.

When I turned my head to look at Edelin, she was glancing back at Shione.

“…Huh.”

After taking a moment to breathe, Edelin nodded, and I followed suit.

Finally, what Edelin had been diligently preparing for this moment began to manifest in the world.

─Wah!

─Refreshing breeze!!

A flowerbed stretched before the World Tree, where the young spirits hiding within revealed themselves once again.

The natural energy felt by the spirit mages and spirits grew ever stronger. When the peak that could be reached in the material world was surpassed, the transformation began.

‘…A real monster.’

I firmly felt it now. No matter how many elves and high elves I see, there would never be a single earthen folk comparable to Edelin.

That elf was performing a rite to bring the spirit realm to descend with the magic circle only she could create.

The World Tree bore most of the pressure in manifesting the spirit realm, yet the remaining burden had to be shared among the hundreds and thousands of earthen folk participating in the rite.

Before long, Edelin’s magic circle, now devoid of a single black hair, radiated brilliant light.

Boom!!

The branches of the World Tree spread wildly, wrapping around the fortress. The blackened skies were veiled, and a bright horizon reappeared in the range that the World Tree influenced. Countless spirits then emerged to cry out in resentment toward the demons.

“Grand Elder!”

The elf standing beside her supported a swaying Edelin.

Edelin, struggling to rise with her shared strength, gulped down the prepared potion in one go.

It was a potion brewed with special care for mana restoration. Even after exhausting all her undetermined mana, she would soon be able to recover again.

Despite Edelin’s exhausted expression, she smiled slightly, her lips curling up.

“Now, sweep away all the damned demons.”

Her words ignited a spark within me as well.

As one bound by the pact with spirits, I could feel that this place had finally become an environment entirely akin to the spirit realm.

“Tania, Elvis, Orna.”

Even my spirits could only smile confidently.

“Prepare for battle.”

Finally, one of the constraints that had plagued my pathetic body was completely lifted.

 

---