Chapter 76
Four days had already passed, which I had wasted just staring blankly at the World Tree.
Eiloren had regained his senses right before Bellon went into the underground to resolve Pavan’s Covenant.
Up until now, the Covenant was resolved and the Blue Flame Knight Order was dispatched to the Great Forest.
“…Hah.”
He had been spending his time staring endlessly at the World Tree.
“To think I actually adored a Human I had never even met, and considered sending the World Tree to her.”
“Indeed, I knew something was strange… but I never dreamed it would be the wicked Sorcery of a Human.”
Only the phrasing of the questions differed; the words coming out of Eiloren’s mouth were all similar.
Similar questions and similar answers.
This was already the hundredth time, but Eiloren continued to ask questions, wanting to hear the same answers.
“I cannot believe it: that I… that I tried to offer the World Tree… to a Human.”
It wasn’t that he hated humans. He merely viewed them as inferior.
Just as a dog is naturally inferior to a Human, Eiloren thought of humans with a similar logic.
To be toyed with by such a Human.
“And as if that wasn’t enough, I was even saved by a Human.”
“…Eiloren, since you, the most outstanding among the High Elves, went on a rampage, it is natural in a way. Besides, aren’t we a Race unaccustomed to combat?”
“We have distanced ourselves too much from combat. I know our distant ancestors were plenty strong.”
What was the definition of strength?
Strictly speaking, the current Elves were likely much stronger than their distant ancestors.
But if the distant ancestors and the current Elves were to fight, the current Elves would be miserably slaughtered a hundred times out of a hundred.
Because during the era when the world was in chaos, the cruelty and killing intent of the Elves were beyond imagination.
“…Were we too complacent? Did we live in the arrogance that no one could touch us, trusting only in the past?”
Eiloren bowed his head deeply.
Even if he was manipulated, he had almost ruined the Elf Race itself with his own hands.
He simply could not forgive himself.
If he had his way, he would have wanted to atone to everyone with his death, but he couldn’t do that.
Because he had to repay the grace of being saved.
“Have you been well, Eiloren?”
At the voice of his Benefactor coming from behind while he was lost in such thoughts, he paused.
“…I greet the Little Sun of the Empire.”
Eiloren turned his body and offered a greeting to the Crown Prince in accordance with the Empire’s etiquette.
“You don’t have to do this. From what I hear, someone of your standing among the High Elves holds a position equal to mine.”
“Even if our positions are equal, how could I treat my Benefactor with disrespect?”
“Don’t you consider humans to be an Inferior Race?”
“The fact that I was saved remains unchanged, so my past values will not alter that truth.”
“Good.”
After learning he was brainwashed by a Human.
An immense sense of disgust toward humans washed over him, but he couldn’t exactly show that to the Crown Prince.
The High Elf is a Noble Race.
Being Noble didn’t mean holding one’s head stiffly high anytime and anywhere.
It meant acting with prudence, dignity, and worth in one’s words and deeds.
Even if humans were disgusting, Eiloren resolved to show his utmost respect to the Crown Prince.
“With an attitude like this, you must have already read the letter I sent.”
“Dispatch Imperial Troops to the original Great Forest, and I am to wait there as well and report immediately when Mirne appears. Is my understanding correct?”
“You read it properly.”
Dispatching the Knight Order for War Deterrence was merely a superficial reason.
Naturally, the reason the Blue Flame Knight Order settled in the Great Forest was to monitor Mirne.
From now on, the Imperial Knights would preemptively occupy areas where Mirne was likely to pull her tricks.
They planned to turn those places into Imperial Territory and wait for her.
Thus, the first locations where the Imperial Garrison would be dispatched were near kingdoms presumed to have other races.
“Will it be possible?”
“…I wanted to meet her in the first place anyway. I was curious about what kind of woman she is to have made me like this.”
“Even if you get brainwashed again the moment you meet her?”
“If that happens, couldn’t you just save me again? I ask this of you.”
Eiloren chuckled while answering Bellon’s words, as if he found himself ridiculous.
“Seeing as you say that, getting brainwashed again must be a Foregone Conclusion.”
“It can’t be helped. You are wired to feel affection for her.”
“Is that so.”
“Aren’t you going to ask why?”
“I plan to meet Mirne in my right mind first… and figure it out after that. If I hear it now and start hesitating for no reason, wouldn’t that be troublesome for you?”
And at Eiloren’s subsequent answer, Bellon nodded, seemingly very satisfied.
“Right, absolutely… As expected, you’re the best fit for First Gardener.”
“Did you say Gardener?”
“Yeah, you know? The World Tree…”
“…”
Eiloren, who had been calm until he heard the story about Mirne.
He bowed his head, as if he didn’t want to hear the cold truth that was about to follow.
“…Your Highness, please, please protect the pride of our Race. Do you truly think that makes sense? No matter how… No, even if it does make sense… I do not wish to know the details.”
“…”
Bellon was swept up in complex emotions as he looked at the bowed Eiloren.
[He shouldn’t have bowed his head.]
If he had turned his back instead, he wouldn’t have known the details.
“Ah.”
What entered the bowed Eiloren’s field of vision was the World Tree Root wrapped around Bellon’s ankle.
It wasn’t just simply wrapped around it; anyone could see it was clinging to him, so to speak.
Even this would have been shocking enough, Bellon kicked away the wrapped root indifferently.
Quiver.
The convulsing World Tree Root entered Eiloren’s sight.
The cruel truth he had wanted to turn away from until the very end embedded itself into Eiloren’s mind.
“Your Royal Highness, the World Tree is the symbol of our Race and an irreplaceable existence… known to be the most Noble…”
“I understand. I understand, so you don’t have to continue.”
“…You must respect the Elves. We Elves specialize in spirits and Magic, can live for a long time, and… through our knowledge of nature…”
“…”
Unlike Eiloren, the World Tree shook its roots wildly and satisfyingly before.
Plop.
It spat out a single seed from the end of its root with a plop.
A seed meant to replace the role of the World Tree that had disappeared from the Great Forest.
Eiloren, who carefully picked it up, maintained a bitter expression.
“I will definitely… definitely complete the mission successfully.”
He placed the seed on his palm, looking at it preciously.
+++++
“Phew… Still, I have some breathing room now.”
It had been an incredibly busy daily routine.
Sending peace proposals to locations where the Imperial Garrison was likely to be stationed.
Asking the kingdoms for their understanding so they could stay comfortably.
Conducting the Status Assessment of Pavan and checking the progress of the Academy Construction and the Magic Stone Train.
After completing a full sweep of the tasks I had to do, I felt like I could finally breathe a little.
Of course, there were still two Covenants left to resolve immediately.
And even now, it felt less like I had free time and more like a Waiting Period for Mirne to appear in the Great Forest.
Still, times like this didn’t come often, so it was incredibly precious.
[In Roomta’s case, it seems the story will only progress once Pavan wakes up, and Gilbart is busy right now… As for the remaining Executioner, I haven’t even had a conversation with him or her.]
As for the Covenants, they were progressing step by step, so there was absolutely no reason to act hastily.
It wasn’t like I was putting them off entirely just because I had five years left.
I felt that resolving them one by one at exactly this pace would be perfect.
Crack.
I stretched refreshingly.
“In the past, only Arveda was in my room, but now you look quite natural here too.”
I looked at the Saintess, Rowena, who was drinking tea in my Private Quarters while looking stiff as a board.
The Dragon Princess was rolling around on the bed, and the Saintess had outright laid out a spot to enjoy Tea Time.
I didn’t know when the Crown Prince’s room had become such an Unconventional place.
“If you are uncomfortable… I will leave.”
“No. Resting like this isn’t bad, so it doesn’t matter.”
That didn’t mean this was uncomfortable.
Rather, I should say it was nice because it felt more Human.
In the first place, the Crown Prince’s room itself was incredibly spacious.
It took two or three people like this to make it feel somewhat filled.
“Your Highness, I, your Servant… can also, ahem, pray for Your Highness.”
“Suddenly?”
“That is correct…!”
Arveda spoke while looking at me, but she kept glancing at Rowena, who was awkwardly drinking her tea.
Why on earth she was so conscious of her was something I couldn’t understand.
“Your Highness, still, a Saintess’s prayer is the best. If it is alright with Your Highness, I would like to visit your Private Quarters every morning… and bestow a blessing upon Your Highness every day…”
“…Wouldn’t you be tired?”
“I am fine.”
Her awkward demeanor was nowhere to be found.
Rowena looked straight at me, expressing her firm intention that she absolutely wanted to do so.
And the moment she saw that.
“Your Highness, I will just stay by Your Highness’s side! I will bring This Humble Woman’s bed! I will stick right next to Your Highness! A 24-hour Close Escort!!!”
Arveda suddenly raised her voice.
“Wait, wait, if that’s the conversation, then I, Your Highness’s First Aide, cannot be left out! I have watched quietly until now, but if this is a Loyalty Competition… it makes no sense for me, Teo, to be left out!”
Even Teo, who had been silently observing the situation, joined this dizzying conversation.
Wasn’t this the kind of peace one could have in an Empire that had a roughly 20% chance of being destroyed in five years?
At that moment, I continued that thought and considered taking a nap.
-“Your Highness! Blue Flame Knight Commander, reporting! The Delegation from the Maselin Kingdom has just arrived in the Verdantia Kingdom.”
The information I had been waiting for arrived through the Artifact Teo had made.
[You’re late, Mirne.]
I have already preempted the World Tree, and what awaits you will not be the World Tree, but furious elves.