Chapter 29: Demi-Humans (4)

The elves began to prosper rapidly.

Using bows and arrows that grew on trees to hunt animals in the forest, cultivating various trees and expanding the great forest, they quickly expanded their territory under the shade of Yggdrasil.

In addition, among those coming from outside the great forest, some wanted to newly join the elves, and eventually they were transformed into elves by Yggdrasil and joined.

With the great forest where Yggdrasil was located as their base, the prosperity of the elves took its first step.

However, even for such elves, there were elements of anxiety.

Those who settled around Yggdrasil first and were transformed into elves by me began to make slight distinctions from those who later joined Yggdrasil.

They said they were purer and nobler elves because they had been around the World Tree from the beginning, or something like that.

The beginning of discrimination was for such a first-come-first-served reason, but as time passed, various other reasons began to be added.

They said things like elves changed by me had longer and more beautiful ears than those changed by Yggdrasil, or that they had keener senses and communicated better with spirits.

The reason for such differences came from the difference in magic proficiency between Yggdrasil and me... But that difference should be very small. They seemed to be pushing various reasons just because they wanted to discriminate.

Anyway, it was still a very minor difference... But as time passed, it could cause a big rift within the elven race.

Should I leave this alone? Or should I intervene?

If I were human... I would have intervened without hesitation. Hmm... Is this why Yggdrasil said I show extreme favoritism?

If I leave that alone, we might see those who claim to be noble become High Elves, and those who rebel and run away become Dark Elves... But, well, I guess I can't just leave it alone.

I went to Yggdrasil and said:

"Are you going to leave those children's discord alone?"

「I feel the need to do something... But even if I scold them, it's only for a moment, and they soon start fighting again... How can I make them stop fighting?」

How, you ask. If I say fighting is bad? And try to stop them? They're not little kids, will they stop with that?

Well, at times like this, it might be okay to use a slightly extreme measure.

There was something like this in the mythology of another world. A myth where the sun goddess, tired of tyranny, shut herself in a cave and the world lost its light.

Wouldn't it be good to imitate that roughly?

"How about doing this?"

It would be a bit spicy treatment for them, but it would be an appropriate treatment for those who cause such discord even within the same elven race.

"You scold them and then completely ignore them. Until they realize their own mistakes and reflect."

「What? Ignore those children? But those children are weak children who can't live without my care!」

"That's why it would be a more effective treatment, wouldn't it? If they don't realize their mistakes on their own, it will be a direct threat to their right to survive. However, if this method is used often, it might have the opposite effect, so it should only be used this time."

「Hmm... Alright. I'll trust you, Mom. But what if those children don't realize their mistakes and keep fighting?」

"That's where I'll step in. What they're doing wrong. How you will return. If I pressure and admonish them to realize, won't they reflect?"

Is this also a kind of carrot and stick? No, it feels like both are sticks.

Well, still, I'm the one suggesting the solution.

「Alright. Then I'll leave the children to you.」

"Leave it to me."

So Yggdrasil began to scold the elves.

「How dare you divide yourselves like this! You are all children under my shade! I can't stand it anymore! Until you reflect on your mistakes and swear not to make the same mistake again, I will not listen to your voices!」

Yggdrasil's stern voice was conveyed to the elves, and the elves were greatly bewildered.

Although they had started hunting with bows, they were still in the beginning stages. As they couldn't properly make fire and were eating mostly raw meat... Their staple food was Yggdrasil's fruits.

The elves had the naive thought that surely Yggdrasil wouldn't stop giving them fruits.

But as days passed, the "surely not" became reality and gave them a big shock.

"World Tree! We were wrong! This is all because of those amateur guys!!!"

"What?! You guys ignored us! Yggdrasil said we're elves too! So why are you guys ignoring us!!"

"What? I can't hear the words of those with short ears?"

Wow. Look at that.

No. No, that's not it. This is not the time to be watching.

When Yggdrasil shut itself away and stopped bearing fruits, the elves started fighting, blaming each other.

There were no physical clashes yet... But at this rate, it would be a matter of time.

Here, let me step in.

I jumped down among the elves gathered in the square, and the elves were greatly surprised by my sudden appearance from above.

"Stop."

I spoke in a low voice, then used magic to slightly increase the gravity in the square to bind the elves so they couldn't move.

"You're fighting even though you were told not to fight. You foolish ones."

The elves, crushed by the suddenly increased gravity and unable to move properly, were shocked by my sudden appearance.

Even the elves who were confident in their keen senses... They didn't notice my presence at all.

Is this how it feels to see something that shouldn't exist?

"You are..."

The elves I had personally changed seemed to remember me, as they couldn't easily speak.

If they remember the scene of me shooting an arrow and shattering a rock, that would be why.

But.

"An outsider...?!"

The elves who don't know me don't seem to be like that.

Well, that's understandable. Those who newly joined the elves wouldn't know me. Yggdrasil would have changed them directly.

"Outsiders stay out! This is an issue for elves..."

"You fool! Do you know who this person is!!"

"What?! You called me a fool?!"

Oh my. Now they're fighting among themselves again. Even though their bodies must be heavy due to gravity, they're still scuffling, trying to throw punches.

"Be quiet."

I raised the gravity in the square a bit more, and the elves could no longer endure and lay flat on the ground.

"Yggdrasil started ignoring you because it was sick of you fighting like this, and yet you're trying to fight again. You are truly fools."

"Ugh..."

"Grrrgh..."

The elves groaning, flattened on the ground like bugs. It's a somewhat pathetic sight.

"I came to you with a way to solve this problem... But like this, you won't be able to use that method. How sad, how sad indeed. To think this is the end of the elven race."

I let out a small sigh and released the gravity magic crushing the elves. The elves slowly caught their breath and raised their bodies.

"You... Can you solve this problem?"

"Of course. Don't you know how to solve this problem yourselves?"

The problem itself isn't difficult. If you just make up your mind, it's a problem that can be solved quickly.

But, they don't have the will to solve that problem.

"That's..."

"I don't know who you are, but this is an internal issue for elves. It's a problem that arises because they don't treat us as the same elves."

The voice of one who doesn't know me. Certainly, they discriminated first.

"You're all elves living under the shade of the World Tree, can't you live together in harmony?"

They had no answer.

What pitiful fellows.

"You need to understand each other's feelings first."

If you put yourself in each other's situation, wouldn't you be able to understand a little?

I used magic. I swap the races of those divided on both sides as if taking sides.

The elves changed by me become like those changed by Yggdrasil.

The elves changed by Yggdrasil become like those changed by me.

The difference is very subtle, but they should definitely feel it.

"This?!"

"Huk..."

The feeling must be intense, but the reverse feeling must be intense too.

"How does it feel to be in each other's position?"

"It's very... frustrating..."

"To think there was this much difference..."

Good. It seems they're starting to understand each other's feelings.

"Will you swear not to fight anymore?"

"Yes! We swear!"

"Um... Could you change all of us like this...?"

Eh.

Well, it's not difficult, but. Then what about the new elves that come?

You want me to change everyone? Won't Yggdrasil get upset if it hears that?

"Yggdrasil personally changed you. Are you dissatisfied with that?"

"No, that's not it..."

Yggdrasil must be in an absolute position for the elves. I wonder what would happen if they were dissatisfied with what Yggdrasil did.

It would be quite interesting, wouldn't it?

"We understand. We won't fight with them anymore either."

"'Them'? Aren't you all elves? Get along well. Get along."

Anyway, after mediating the elves' fight in that way, I returned the elves to their original state.

The elves whose sharpened senses had returned to their original dullness seemed a bit disappointed.

"Now that you've reconciled, I'll tell you how to appease Yggdrasil."

I called together the spirits circling around.

Fire spirits. Water spirits. Wind spirits. Earth spirits. And tree spirits.

There seem to be fewer light spirits and dark spirits.

I distribute magic to such spirits and materialize their forms.

"This...!"

"You can communicate with spirits, but you've never seen their forms directly, have you?"

If I give them magic, they can be materialized like this... But there were no creatures on the ground now that could do that.

Ah, dragons can do it.

"I'll teach you how to borrow the power of these spirits."

After all, elves mean spirit magic! Indeed!