Chapter 77
Even though the World Tree had changed its location to the Empire.
Since the Great Forest itself hadn’t disappeared, most of the Elves decided to remain in the Great Forest rather than move to the Empire.
It was true that the World Tree had changed locations, but it hadn’t moved because of a dangerous situation.
And with the news that the Great Forest would soon become part of the Empire, the Elves judged that there was no reason to go out of their way to change their home.
Of course, the fact that the World Tree was no longer by their side did bring about a certain degree of psychological anxiety.
But considering it was now located in what could be felt as the safest place at this point in time, the relief coming from that was enough to cover their anxiety.
Anyway, the Elves were still still remained in the Great Forest.
But recently, that dynamic changed a little.
“…How dare an Inferior Race think of living openly in the Great Forest.”
“I even heard that later on, some humans are going to come and start with medicinal herbs… and run a separate farm in the Great Forest?”
“No matter if the High Elves gave their permission, isn’t this too much? It’s like we’re sharing the Great Forest with Humans.”
“To be exact, it’s not all Humans but humans from the Empire, and even then only those who received permission. But still, this is truly an unprecedented event.”
It was because Humans had started living in the Great Forest.
Even if they were Humans, there were only a little over ten of them, but the problem lay in the martial prowess of those ten.
Actually, they had been heavily ignored at first.
Because the armor emblazoned with the Blue Flame Emblem looked incredibly ridiculous to the Elves' aesthetic senses.
In fact,
“Hahaha! What is that armor? Why are you walking around with blue flames emblazoned on your armor like that?”
When they first saw them, they openly mocked them openly while looking at their armor.
But right after that, things changed.
”The emblem on this armor is the symbol of the Blue Flame Knight Order, originating from the past. This must be your first time seeing it, Elves. If it wouldn’t be an imposition, may I show you the blue flame of the Blue Flame Knight Order?'
“Pfft, snort, bwahaha! Do it! Do it! I mean, if a flame is great, just how…”
Fwoooosh!
“…Great… it… is…”
As soon as the Blue Flame Knight Order smiled peacefully and unleashed blue flames, the Elves' attitudes completely changed.
“They’re crazy humans, we shouldn’t make them angry.”
To think they were humans who, after saying they would show them a flame, created one larger and more intense than the Giant trees nearby.
“Absolutely… absolutely do not make them angry. They seem to tolerate being called an Inferior Race… but if you insult the flame, they seem to glare at you… so we have to watch our words in front of them.”
“Why do we have to watch our words around an Inferior Race? The Great Forest is our land! In this situation, you’re telling us to walk on eggshells around a mere ten inferior beings?”
“…Don’t say this to me, go and say it to them. That’ll do it. Go and mock them… say the flame looks stupid, the color is weird, and their aesthetic sense is terrible, then.”
“E-Elves… are told not to use their strength unless it’s truly a time to fight.”
They weren’t normal. The Elves still couldn’t forget the flame they saw that day.
No, to be exact, the expression of the man who created the flame wouldn’t leave their minds.
'Isn’t it magnificent? Haha! His Royal Highness the Crown Prince recently praised my blue flame. I was truly delighted. If I had my way, I would have loved to show you my blue flame melting away countless enemies in a single breath, as I feel I could have received even more intense praise and favor then… It is truly a shame. Recently, because of a little kid called Staff #1, a Loyalty Competition has been sparked. His Highness recognizes the hard work of his Knights better than anyone, so you could say I want to look good for him.'
'…'
That bastard who conjured a blue flame in the middle of the forest smiled brightly and poured out his words like rapid fire.
The bigger problem happened right after. The Knights behind that bastard also suddenly conjured their flames and started showing off.
Were all Imperial Knights nothing but crazy bastards?
What was so boast-worthy about lighting a fire inside the Great Forest?
“…But except for that peculiar part, they are extremely sensible inferior beings, so it’s best to just avoid talking to them if possible.”
“Right, I fully agree with that part too.”
But except for those things, they were incredibly normal, polite, and gentlemanly.
The Elves concluded that they should compromise appropriately and coexist.
They absolutely weren’t scared of the Knights who laughed robustly in the middle of the Great Forest while spewing blue flames.
And in this situation.
“We have brought a World Tree Sapling. We do not know how to plant it ourselves… could you help us?”
“H-Humans brought a World Tree Sapling!”
“W-What?!”
When the Blue Flame Knight Order suddenly brought a World Tree Sapling, the Elves went into an uproar.
“It’s real?”
“It’s a sapling… but also not a sapling, it definitely has the World Tree’s Aura, but… what should I call it?”
“A sapling usually feels like a second generation that Lord World Tree creates when in danger, but this just seems like a small clone.”
“Is it to maintain the Great Forest?”
The Elves, having interpreted the deep intentions of the World Tree, quickly planted the sapling in the spot where the original World Tree had been.
And as soon as they saw it being planted, everyone in the Blue Flame Knight Order except the Commander immediately knelt down.
“It is an imperial command. The Maselin Kingdom is scheduled to arrive here soon, so we have been ordered to strengthen our alert posture in preparation for their arrival.”
“Eh?”
At the Blue Flame Knight Commander’s words, the Elves tilted their heads, but they didn’t show any signs of refusal.
Because the Knights' expressions were too serious and heavy for them to simply ask what that meant or say they didn’t want to.
“He said the time would come, so he earnestly asks this of you.”
“…”
If someone fully armed themselves and then asked for a favor, who could honestly interpret that as a favor?
In truth, even if they called them an “Inferior Race” and other such names, the Elves intended to take a cooperative stance when it came to the Empire.
“…Understood.”
They nodded for now.
But at the same time, questions sprouted up rapidly.
A specific Kingdom was coming to the Great Forest, but was there a need to take an alert posture?
The Elves had lived a life far removed from combat for a long time.
It wasn’t even the Empire, but just a single Human Kingdom. Wasn’t an alert posture too excessive?
Those thoughts only lasted a moment.
“The one who brainwashed Lord Eiloren is coming.”
At the Knight’s belatedly added remark.
“From now until those bastards arrive, coat your arrows in poison!!!”
The Elves' faces crumpled fiercely.
++++++
Strictly speaking, the Verdantia Kingdom did not manage the Great Forest.
It just felt like a Kingdom located in front of the Great Forest.
So when comparing things clearly one by one, there was no need to specifically stop by the Verdantia Kingdom to enter the Great Forest.
The Great Forest was a ridiculously massive forest to begin with, so there was no way that forest would only have one entrance.
But despite that, whenever any Kingdom tried to enter the Great Forest, it reported to the Verdantia Kingdom.
A report, not a request for permission.
They didn’t have the authority to allow or deny entry, but they had the national power to at least Check who was going into the Great Forest.
The Verdantia Kingdom had that level of power.
Besides, it didn’t matter if they only received reports.
Because even if they reported it, it didn’t mean they could actually enter the Great Forest anyway.
But recently, the situation has completely changed.
“Excuse me? What… did you say?”
“Did you not hear me properly? Pay attention.”
“A-No… it’s not that.”
“I said that since the Verdantia Kingdom has transferred all authority regarding the Great Forest to the Empire, any matters concerning the Great Forest must now be discussed with the Empire.”
In a situation where she needed to obtain the World Tree as quickly as possible, why was the Empire’s name coming up?
The Maselin Kingdom’s Delegation Representative, Mirne, hid her flustered expression and continued speaking.
“Are you saying the Great Forest has completely fallen under the Empire? There should be Elves there too…”
“Would you get any proper answers by asking me? Everything must be discussed with the Empire.”
At those words, the King of the Verdantia Kingdom, Chamdar Verdantia, calmly began his reply.
“To add a few words, given the affection we’ve shared so far, the Empire is planning to extensively overhaul the Great Forest… so there is a high chance they won’t permit entry even if you visit them directly.”
“…Then that means we might not be able to enter the Great Forest for the time being.”
“No one knows when that will be, but it was basically a forbidden place to begin with, wasn’t it? Rather, there’s a possibility that entry will become freer after the Empire’s reorganization, so it might be a good thing.”
“Thank you for letting me know.”
After Mirne politely paid her respects and stepped down from her seat.
She entered her pre-assigned Guest Room and was engulfed in agony.
“Is the Crown Prince really a Transmigrator? These are moves that only a Transmigrator could make.”
Even as a coincidence, this was now at an excessive level.
She had to see this as him moving with clear intentions.
To swallow up the Great Forest, how could he do that?
If the Verdantia Kingdom is saying this, does that mean the Elves cooperated with the Empire?
How could that be?
Various questions popped into Mirne’s head.
But despite that, no anxiety arose.
Because.
'Eiloren.'
A Conquerable Male Lead was in the Great Forest.
“…It is a shame that we cannot enter the Great Forest, but building a good relationship with the Verdantia Kingdom is also one of the reasons we came here, so we will proceed with the rest of the schedule excluding the Great Forest itinerary.”
“Yes!”
If she couldn’t go with the Delegation, couldn’t she just sneak in alone?
She couldn’t return right away anyway. They had to take time to reorganize here before moving.
“Everyone will be tired and sleeping today anyway, so I can just sneak out then.”
She would aim for that opening in order to go to the Great Forest, to meet Eiloren, to conquer him, and to move the World Tree to Maselin.
Mirne waited for nightfall to execute this plan.
And at the same time
“From now on, if any Unauthorized Personnel are discovered within the Great Forest, kill them on sight.”
“Yes, sir!”
The Crown Prince, Bellon, waited for Mirne in The Center of the Great Forest.
“I wonder how she”ll make it all the way here.'
A battle will inevitably occur.
It would be nice if I could snatch another Spirit this time too.
The thought of snatching a Spirit was just a bonus.