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A flash erupted. The ground shook. Anyone standing on this land, anyone witnessing the world with their own eyes, could feel it.

An arrow was shot, and it connected. A fierce explosion occurred. It was a threat so potent that it could swallow the World Tree whole if not careful. This explosion was undeniably a testament to the most intense battle since the kingdom was established after the war with the demons.

“Ugh!”

Thanks to Edelin quickly preventing me from getting swept away by the shockwave caused by the explosion, I was able to withstand it.

The spirits that had been gathered around the bow and arrows were now all committed to controlling the shockwaves. Before long, the explosion subsided, allowing me to finally see the result with my own eyes.

The creature’s lower half and torso had vanished without a trace. All that remained was the gruesome head of that vile beast.

“…Even on the brink of death, it continues to torment us.”

The creature’s eyes clearly contained its own reflection.

Beyond those glistening eyes, even though they were small, I could certainly feel the emotions it was experiencing.

That damned demon wasn’t resenting its impending death. Instead, it seemed to quietly engrave its existence into my memory, as if waiting for another opportunity.

Thus, I stared at the severed head, as if entranced by the demon.

Fwoosh!!

“Ah—”

The sacred flames of the spirits began to engulf the demon’s head.

At the same time, one elf carrying Ray and Edelin approached.

“Ugh… It’s not good to stare into the eyes of a demon for too long.”

Cough!

Edelin coughed, crimson blood oozing from her lips.

“If that’s the kind of monster it is… The demon’s gaze might devour the Hero.”

Edelin’s complexion was pale.

Not only had the demon’s elite guard breached the defense line, but dealing with this poisoned creature required displaying layers of divine will to harness the spirits of the Great Forest.

Even though she was superior to other races, the divine will she showed was far too high for mere mortals to wield.

She was in a condition where it would be no surprise if she collapsed at any moment.

“Edelin, are you alright?”

“I’ve experienced spitting blood like this many times before, so it’s manageable. As long as I’m treated properly, I should be able to walk again without issue,” she said, carrying a shadow within her pallor.

She merely suggested that she could once again walk. She didn’t mention anything about regaining the ability to cast powerful spells like before.

But we couldn’t continue the conversation for long.

“More importantly… We need to hurry. If we don’t start the treatment quickly, it will get pretty dangerous.”

“Ah, Ray…!”

“Wait a moment.”

Edelin tried to rush toward Ray to carry him, but I stopped her.

“His wounds are deep, so it wouldn’t be wise to agitate them unnecessarily. For now, it’s best to leave him in the hands of that friend over there.”

“…From a distance, it didn’t seem like he sustained any significant attacks. Is his condition really that severe?”

“Of course. While it was Princess Shione who delivered the finishing blow… he created the most crucial opportunity while placed in the most dangerous area.”

“……”

“The power that a High Elf who has lived for thousands of years possesses is beyond what the Hero can imagine. And yet… receiving a demon’s attack with an incomplete human body is tantamount to a suicidal act.”

“Ah.”

“Initially—”

Edelin examined Ray for a moment.

Ray lay still, breathing weakly.

“The mere fact that he is alive is nothing short of a miracle. There’s so much to discuss, but we should hurry and change locations.”

“Understood.”

They quietly moved closer to the World Tree.

Silence lingered. Even though the most important demon had perished, monsters were still howling.

Noticing this, Shione asked, “Even with the leader dead, the monsters are still rampaging.”

“It’s unavoidable. Thanks to the two Heroes, we suffered significantly less damage than anticipated… we managed to save the Great Forest. However, the breach in our last defense line remains a fact.”

“Indeed…”

Although the leader was dead, the breach was not sealed, and there were still monsters unwilling to stand idle.

Even though we managed to prevent the World Tree from withering away for now, the war was far from over.

“And—”

However, Edelin looked as if that wasn’t the only problem. Her expression hardened.

“…There is something even more troublesome left in this Great Forest. While we’ve quelled the demons’ momentum, I believe they are still far from fleeing.”

“Excuse me? Something more troublesome than that monster?”

“The worst demon that deals with corpses. It’s fortunate that it seems uninterested in this matter, but it’s best to prepare thoroughly. Before delving into deeper discussions—”

With a serious gaze, Edelin exchanged glances with Shione.

“We’ve only stopped the worst, and the war is not yet over.”

“……”

“For the time being, let’s focus on reclaiming the second defense line before Hero Ray awakens.”

*

Restoring a defense line that had already been breached was extremely difficult. Countless elves threw themselves into the effort, sacrificing sleep and fatigue to continue their assault. Slowly, everyone began to feel the situation improving.

Building a new barricade with the piles of corpses that had amassed. Even though the stench was overwhelming, the elves never lost hope.

After the demon that threatened the sacred World Tree was slain, it was not a vague possibility. The determination of those who finally saw a clear chance was desperate, and that desperation enabled them to endure the battle against the demons.

“We have succeeded in reclaiming the third defense line!”

After driving away the demons and monsters, they finally began to formally restore the defense line.

The cannons stationed at the third defense line were repaired, and warriors, having taken sufficient rest in the expanded area, were filled with renewed hostility toward the enemies.

The warriors who gained momentum were ferocious. Average monsters couldn’t even approach, becoming mere chunks of flesh as they fell to the ground, and the demoralized demons kept retreating in fear.

The victors devoted themselves to swiftly restoring the fortress.

“This side! Start repairs from here!”

“They’re attacking again! Where have the defenders gone!”

The elegant elves, who once engaged in casual chatter and enjoyed tea, could no longer be found anywhere.

The war had forged them into brave warriors, more beneficial to discuss tactics for defending their homeland than to sip tea and gossip.

Among them, the only gossip worth mentioning was the topic surrounding,

“What happened to the man who pierced that demon?”

“…He’s just a mere human, isn’t he? I’ve already given up on expecting anything.”

“Looks like this elf has finally lost their mind. Have you forgotten what the Grand Elder stated? The World Tree itself is watching over that human.”

“So what? Just because the divine power is poured into a dead human doesn’t mean he can come back to life.”

It was a matter of Ray’s life or death, the man who had thrust a spear at that demon. Their rumors swelled and spread throughout the Great Forest.

“Finally! We’ve reclaimed the last defense line!”

Until we could hear about his current condition, we couldn’t celebrate reclaiming the last defense line.

On the day when all the elves of the Great Forest restored the defense line, they spoke in reverence of him.

Ray, who had willingly dedicated his life for the hard-fought victory built on blood, was honored.

*

My whole body ached. After regaining consciousness, it was hard to find a single spot that didn’t hurt.

Despite my struggles, it felt like an eternity had passed; even lifting my heavy eyelids seemed incredibly tiring.

‘…But still.’

I think, feeling the pain echoing through my body.

I wondered if Shione somehow managed to heal me enough for me to be alive. Honestly, it was a situation where it wouldn’t have been unusual if I had died. I had half given up already, so it was surprising I was still here.

Once I can move my hands, maybe I’ll pet my head until all my hair falls out. That might be nice.

‘Should I try to move a bit?’

Since it seems like there’s no one around.

Lying here without moving for a lifetime wouldn’t be pleasant either.

I began to circulate the meager amounts of mana left in my body, trying to invigorate myself as best as I could.

“Ahhh.”

My body, really.

As I rose and scanned my surroundings, an extraordinary sight met my eyes—a building reminiscent of a cathedral, something I had never encountered in the Great Forest before. Captivated by the stunning beauty of the white stone structure and the elegance of the plants growing all around it, I briefly lost focus.

Clack clack.

Someone approached.

“Huh?”

An elf stared at me in surprise.

“Is it… really?”

How can that haughty elf look so overjoyed upon seeing a human?

With her eyes sparkling as if she were gazing upon a revered hero, she exclaimed, “Y-You’re awake!!”

Wait, what kind of situation is this right after waking up?

 

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