Chapter 366
Chapter 366. Environment and Selection Pressure
Meanwhile, at the Demon Lord Castle.
In the residence area of the Night Elves, the ‘Elders’ Council’ was being held.
Gathered were the elder elves, leaders of various factions, along with the current generation of active Night Elves who were viewed as their aides or successors. Also present was the Night Elf King, Omenissa El Deltraison, the symbolic leader of the Night Elves.
The Night Elves were known for their striking beauty, akin to the Forest Elves, but Omenissa stood out among them, possessing a beauty that was exceptional. Few could maintain their composure when stared at by his melancholic, slanted red eyes.
—It is noteworthy that the Night Elf King has inherited a special secret technique called the “Evil Eye.” This technique grants him magical power comparable to that of Forest Elf sages, as well as exceptional vision and night vision that surpasses regular Night Elves.
Moreover, he retained the traits of his ancestors from the time of the Forest Elves, and though he was nearing the age of 400—the oldest among those gathered—he remained more youthful than the elders.
“—So, does anyone have fresh reports?”
With a languid demeanor, Omenissa opened his mouth.
“…We have a bit of information on the current situation via the Northern Front.”
One of the elders answered in a serious tone.
“It is said that there is a possibility that our intelligence network has leaked information due to some cause. Two of the five puppet organizations in the northern region have been dismantled due to the intervention of the Holy Church and the vegetarians.”
A collective groan resonated among the participants in the conference room. If two had been pinpointed and crushed, it was highly likely that detailed information regarding the intelligence network had leaked, and the remaining three would likely follow suit in a matter of time.
“Surrounding the frontlines, a mandatory holy inspection of all residents has been enforced, and there seems to be an increase in border security by Forest Elves and dog-type beastmen. The intelligence operatives who brought this report attempted to cross the border dispersedly with ten of our compatriots, but none have returned…”
In stark contrast to the grim expressions of the elders, Omenissa maintained his melancholic demeanor, as if to say he had foreseen such a situation from the start…
“Has anyone heard any news about Prince Zilbagias?”
“…………”
At Omenissa’s next inquiry, the elders and the field personnel exchanged glances, but no one had an answer.
“Does no one know?”
“I apologize.”
“No, it’s fine. I was merely asked about that matter by the Demon Lord.”
Letting out a small sigh, Omenissa reclined deeply on his throne.
—In the first place, the reason the intelligence network was in such peril was that it had been caught in the crossfire of the search for Zilbagias.
And why Zilbagias had become a wanted man within the allied territories was—
“Damn that Poison Mother…”
One of the elders muttered with disdain.
‘Poison Mother’—she is now only referred to as that. The name Nephradia has become a cursed word that no one dares to utter.
The former Grand Duchess Nephradia’s madness incident. No matter how much resentment there was for the death of her son, writing about Zilbagias’ exile on flyers and scattering them from the sky was beyond imagination for the Night Elves.
Despite having lost her magical power due to some cause before the incident and having been reduced to a weak demon that was unworthy of the title ‘Grand Duchess,’ Nephradia was executed by the furious Demon Lord, and after her death, she was officially stripped of all titles and ranks.
Yes, all titles and ranks. Even the child of a horned demon was a subordinate knight, while she was left as a complete nobody.
Moreover, the Izanis Tribe also decided to expel Nephradia from their clan. Usually, the Izanis are cremated, and their ashes are sent soaring high with wind magic, but Nephradia’s remains were reportedly taken to a mountain near the ‘Sanctuary’ following ancient expulsion rites, where her horns were broken, and she was left exposed to the elements. Surely, by now, she would have been devoured by wild animals until only bones remained.
“Do you know anything, Sidarl?”
“No, unfortunately, the intelligence networks in both the Eastern and Southern fronts have been cut off…”
The one addressed, Sidarl, a former warden and the leader of the Zilbagias faction, gently shook his head. Today, he was attending the elders’ council as an aide to the elder of the Reijiu faction.
Sidarl appeared to have fallen from grace after the dual punches of Liliana’s disappearance and Zilbagias’ exile, but afterward, due to Nephradia’s blunder, the Izanis faction also suffered greatly, and amid the ongoing hunt for darklings in the allied territories, all active intelligence operatives were being significantly worn down, making Sidarl’s presence increasingly noteworthy.
Those Night Elves who had received personal treatment from Zilbagias had their rights stripped during the period of his exile, causing most of them to return to the forefront.
However, if Zilbagias were to return, many would likely once again take on the role of his private soldiers. Originally pulled out from various factions for treatment, they still maintained a loose bond, held together by their shared gratitude towards Zilbagias.
And it seemed that the only one who could serve as their figurehead was none other than Sidarl.
While it was known among the Night Elf King and some elders that Zilbagias had mastered the magic of transformation, if he received assistance from the legendary operative Virosa and the mobility of the White Dragon’s daughter, his chances of surviving his year of exile were considerably high.
Above all, Sidarl, who had the right to directly negotiate with Zilbagias—whom the Demon Lord personally cared about—could not be treated lightly given the current situation. While he had behaved arrogantly, leveraging his relationship with Zilbagias to make enemies, it was significant that the Izanis faction absorbed all that hatred for him…
“I’m particularly interested in the last report from the Southern front. It seems the vegetarians are making some kind of move regarding the intelligence network…”
One of the elders stroked his beard, muttering to himself.
“The puppet organization in the south has been crushed with terrifying precision. If the vegetarians had some influence over that… could it be that the ‘dogs’ have escaped the allied territories?”
If information did leak, then there was no other possibility—everyone exchanged significant looks.
“If that’s the case, it would be a serious situation.”
“After all, there’s no sign of finding any ‘dogs’ within the Demon Lord’s territory.”
“If no corpses are turning up, it’s reasonable to think they might have managed to escape.”
The other elders nodded, exchanging worried glances as they murmured.
By the way, about Liliana, who went missing during the fight between Emelgias and Zilbagias, while the scale of the search was somewhat reduced, it was still ongoing.
However, since no damage had occurred within the country and no corpses were found, it was difficult to imagine Liliana was merely hiding, leading to the strong likelihood that she had already crossed the border.
With the information she likely absorbed regarding the Demon Lord Kingdom while under Zilbagias’ care—as a souvenir—she moved towards the Holy Great Tree Alliance.
“Damn it, this is a real hassle thanks to the demons’ quarrels…!”
A young Night Elf aide couldn’t help but mutter in frustration.
This sentiment could well be representative of everyone present. If either Emelgias or Zilbagias weren’t involved, this catastrophic situation might not have occurred. Yet, since the two of them clashed, a plethora of brave and capable Night Elves were on the brink of untimely deaths due to the ensuing complications.
Moreover, the very cause of it all, Zilbagias, might possibly return unscathed, making the deaths of the Night Elves feel all the more senseless.
“…………”
Sidarl appeared to be silently saying that it was Emelgias who struck first. His mastery of facial muscle control indicated that he purposely displayed this expression as a statement of his position and protest.
“…………”
The elder and aide of the Izanis faction in attendance wore expressions that seemed to convey a desire to simply fade away in embarrassment. This was a tacit statement of their stance and an apology.
“There have been reports that the border of the Tritus Principality is under extremely strict security. Presumably, the intelligence network related to the Cortera Trading Company in that area is…”
“The situation in the Eastern front is such that our liaison cannot return from the region…”
“The Southern front is also facing a dire situation, and there have been requests for aerial support from dragons…”
At the elder’s request, for the first time, Omenissa’s melancholic expression shifted—becoming one of deep frustration.
“Let’s at least consult the Demon Lord. He will likely not dismiss our request, but how the Dragon King reacts is another matter…”
He remembered the arrogant, malevolent visage of the Dark Dragon King Orphen. How could he be inclined to lend aid, especially to the lower-status Night Elves, when he barely tolerated the presence of demons?
After all, they seemed to look down upon all living beings as inferior species; their arrogance rivaled that of the Forest Elves…
“…We were so close to grasping the throats of those detestable vegetarians…”
Omenissa’s hand clenched tightly as if crushing something.
“How often have I dreamt of burning the Holy Great Tree to firewood with my own hands…!”
What burned in his eyes was—unfathomable hatred against the Forest Elves fitting for the king of the Night Elves, and an obsessive desire bordering on madness.
The extermination of Forest Elves was the Night Elves’ ultimate aspiration, and it was the Night Elf royal family that continued to inherit and spread this fervor the most…
“However… if all the frontlines are heavily blocked, …the situation on the ground must be dire.”
With a resigned sigh, Omenissa returned to his melancholic expression.
Everyone silently nodded. Indeed, the situation was extremely dire. The frontline intelligence operatives, who never voiced complaints, were cornered enough to request even dragon assistance.
“If it’s difficult to escape to the Demon Lord Kingdom, we’ll have no choice but to escape deeper into the allied territories…”
Sidarl furrowed his brow as he mentally spread out a rough map of the continent.
“In regions where the Holy Church and the country have difficulty cooperating, and where the political situation is unstable, perhaps we could continue to hide… territories like the Hamilton Principality or the Nosh-Ugo Alliance.”
“If they are our exceptional intelligence operatives, they will surely do so. Moreover, they might incite political instability to create even more comfortable lands.”
As he said this, Omenissa smiled. When the others followed suit and shared a light laugh, he quickly tightened his expression.
“Though we, as proud Night Elves, only pray to the gods for the front-line fighters, that would be rather lacking in artistry. Cunning is our honor. Let’s do everything in our power to help the frontline, even in the slightest…”
As Omenissa looked around the gathered members, he continued speaking.
“Regarding the earlier request for support to the lizards—likely, they won’t accept something so direct as going to help the Night Elves. However, I believe they will nod along for sabotaging support like distributing flyers. After all, it’s one of the causes of this current incident; they cannot refuse.”
The flyers about Zilbagias’ exile must have had a significant impact on the allied territories. Therefore, if something else were to be scattered again, the allied territories could not afford to ignore it.
While the details could be considered later, if they could spread deceptive information that would disrupt the unity of the alliance, the intelligence operatives could at least catch their breath.
“Perhaps we should petition the Demon Lord to increase pressure on the relatively slow-moving Northern front. In that case, we should consider deploying our reserve forces as well.”
As the pressure from the Demon Lord’s army intensified, the allies would be forced to allocate resources to respond, thus reducing the scrutiny on the Night Elves as well. It might be a small difference, but at times, it could mean the difference between life and death…
To aid the Night Elves on the frontline, it might require the ones in the rear to shed blood—but that is necessary. The current status of the Night Elves is due to their efforts, shedding sweat and blood in service to the Demon Lord’s army.
“I ask you all for your wisdom. For now, let’s set aside faction disputes. Right now, we are at a pivotal moment that tests our pride as Night Elves. This is no time to be squabbling amongst ourselves!”
At Omenissa’s earnest gaze, everyone present tightened their expressions and responded with a powerful, “Yes!”
The previously tense atmosphere was completely wiped away. An unprecedented sense of unity. Surely this fervor would be conveyed to each faction member when they returned, enhancing their sense of solidarity…
The elder and their aides, having completed their salute, immediately began fervently discussing how they could shake the alliance.
(Frontline warriors…)
Watching that with a melancholic gaze, Omenissa muttered in his heart.
…Earlier, he did say it lacked artistry.
(May the dark gods grant you their protection. May the alliance be cursed. May the vegetarians perish!)
Wishing for the safety of his brethren, he also cursed his detested enemies.
†††
A sound like sizzling iron being plunged into water echoed.
“Eekkkkkkkkkkkkkk!”
“Gwaaaaaaaaaaaah!”
“Hotttttttttttttttttttt!!”
Before my eyes, the Night Elves crumpled into charred chunks of meat and collapsed.
“Phew… I was surprised, didn’t expect there to be three of them.”
“We did it!!”
Wiping the sweat from my forehead, Leila beamed at me with her fists clenched tightly.
Apparently, this is Brave Hero Alexander, come to hunt the Night Elves. I’d heard there was only one operative in this town, but when I crashed into that guy’s house, two unfamiliar ones showed up as a bonus, and I was shocked.
“Well, for now, I guess it’s time for a break?”
As I stood over the twitching Night Elves and finished them off with a thud from Adamas, I began to scan the surroundings for any other presence.
…None of them are hiding, right? If it’s like last time with that face-skin mask hunter, and there are hidden rooms in the attic or under the floor, that would be annoying.
‘Well, I’ll check just in case. 【Stealth is forbidden】’
A wave of Antendeixis’s magical energy spread out, enveloping the cozy little house.
Suddenly, sounds started clattering from below the floor!!
“There you are!!”
I stabbed Adamas through the floorboards and unleashed a full-powered holy silver spell through the blade.
Sounds echoing like sizzling flesh on a hot plate, followed by a scream so fierce it felt like the end of the world arrived.
By the way, I had already reserved a restaurant famous for grilled fish from the lake for dinner. I’m looking forward to it.
“All right! Is that it?”
Don’t tell me there are still some hiding in the attic?
‘There don’t seem to be any other responses.’
Since Antendeixis said that, and I didn’t feel any bad vibes, I guess it’s safe.
“Eradication complete.”
“I’m glad!”
Leila sighed in relief.
Well then, let’s leave the scene investigation to the guard and the Holy Church, and we can take a break for now…no, let’s return to the inn and just finish gathering the souls’ testimonies. I’d hate to ruin the post-meal mood if we leave it for after dinner.
“I can’t wait for the restaurant! I heard the grilled shrimp is super delicious!”
“Sounds great! Let’s eat and drink a lot, and temporarily forget all the bad stuff♪”
Leila cheerfully said with a smile, but temporarily forget…forget…hmmm. With that forbidden magic…well, I’ll do my best! Let’s set that aside! Just for now!!
Leave the relaxing to me~! I’m gonna take a nice big break!
—And so, Leila and I happily linked arms, leaving the spy hideout with high spirits.
