Chapter 51: Elves and Gatekeeping (1)
by AfuhfuihgsElves and Gatekeeping (1)
The dietary habits of elves were, of course, the natural result of adapting to their circumstances and environment over a long period of time. Since it wasn’t something that someone decided on at a specific moment, it was impossible to get an answer if you asked why they ate this way.
Even Elder Elnar, the oldest among them, didn’t really know why elves’ eating habits had become fixed in this way since ancient times.
The loss of much history and records also contributed to this. It was simply because they had seen and learned it from previous generations, and because they had repeated it for a very long time, that it had become solidified as tradition and custom.
‘Right, I guess that’s how all traditions and customs are in the first place.’
Isilia, fuming with anger, bit her lip and squeezed her eyes shut.
Somewhere in that vast history, which even the elves themselves didn’t know, there must have been a reason why they started eating only vegetables.
“Is this for sure? The high elves who remained in ancient times ate like this? Not people on diets, but ordinary people, three meals a day?”
“According to the remaining records, but whether it’s accurate…”
The elves looked at Isilia nervously. It was a moment when one of their preconceptions about high elves was being shattered.
Isilia didn’t eat raw food. She wasn’t a vegetarian who only ate grass either. Rather, she looked at the elves who had maintained tradition and custom with eyes that couldn’t understand them.
“Who on earth says elves are herbivores? Does your body reject meat and make you sick if you eat it? Mine doesn’t.”
She let out a bitter laugh as she looked at the bewildered elves. She had resolved not to interfere with their culture and civilization that had developed independently over a long time, unrelated to her, but this was crossing the line.
‘Well, that’s not exactly it…’
‘Meat does taste good.’
Some elves rolled their eyes at Isilia’s words. In fact, it wasn’t that elves were biologically unable to eat meat, they just ate vegetarian due to manners and tradition.
Even now, many elves had been secretly eating meat. They just couldn’t openly show it because if they were caught, they would be labeled as uncivilized and barbaric.
“High Elf, are you saying that we elves can eat meat as well?”
One of those elves was the warrior Arisa. When tired and fatigued from training and practice, eating meat helped recover faster.
Arisa, who was relatively closer to Isilia, took the lead and expanded on the topic. If Isilia said something different from existing tradition, the impact would be significant.
‘She’s our origin in the first place!’
Only then did some of the elves realize how significant it was that a real high elf had visited their village.
Perhaps every word Isilia said could completely change everything they had taken for granted until now.
“…Eat. You can eat it. There might be situations where it doesn’t fit, or you might have innate problems that prevent you from eating it. But don’t force yourself not to eat it.”
Isilia, who had been keeping her mouth shut knowing this well, finally couldn’t stand it anymore.
In the end, the statement permitting elves to eat meat came out of her mouth, which had been biting her lips.
“Ah, no, Isilia! The meat prohibition is a tradition we’ve kept for ages!”
“Why on earth is that important?”
“As time passes, we need to unite more firmly. To face the greater enemies in the outside world. We can’t shake the customs that will be at the center of that…!”
There were those who opposed. They were the older elves, including Elder Elnar, who were in the elder class.
They were elders as well as politicians leading elf society. They didn’t see this situation simply as a matter of eating meat or not.
“I understand what you’re saying, but aren’t you trying to take it too easy?”
Realizing this, Isilia smirked. It was a sneer implying that there were other ways to lead the elves.
“You need to know how to change and adapt. And you clearly said it yourself. That you’d listen to your elders.”
“But…”
“Is that really all? Are the rules of modern elves so flimsy that they’ll crumble over something as trivial as eating meat?”
Elnar couldn’t properly refute Isilia’s logic, which carried the same authority that the elders had been asserting all this time.
What they had suppressed in the name of tradition and custom whenever young elves raised complaints, they were now experiencing themselves from an ancestor who had traveled back 10,000 years.
‘The issue has already blown up. I should have just endured it and eaten the salad.’
Even Isilia herself flinched at the chaotic atmosphere around her. For a moment, she thought she should have just chewed on grass, but she decided to go all in since she had already drawn her sword.
“If you’re thinking of serving me, remake it entirely. This is a misguided tradition.”
Isilia pushed away the bowl in front of her and folded her arms stubbornly.
As a result, her companions, who had been eating just fine beside her, also had to return their bowls while watching the situation carefully.
In the end, they got to have a proper meal only after the elves hurriedly prepared a meal with fish and meat.
‘It’s utterly incompetent.’
Isilia forced herself to eat them. There was no way those who had been eating in secret could cook it well.
For Isilia, who had been eating lavish feasts developed by humans who spared no expense on luxury after extorting money from Ethan, these dishes made without even proper seasoning were things she wouldn’t eat even if given for free.
* * *
“I never thought something like this would happen. What’s the big deal about not eating meat…”
“Hey! Didn’t you see what they gave me!? They just threw me unprocessed vegetables in the name of tradition!”
In the lodging provided by the elves, I glared at Patrick who mentioned the ruined mood of the banquet. Feeling guilty about eating proper food while I only received salad, he avoided my gaze.
“I didn’t know it would be that bad.”
“I can understand why they mainly eat vegetables. There were people who considered eating meat a luxury. But they should do it in moderation.”
I believed that right and wrong weren’t fixed but changed according to the situation. Therefore, there might have been a time when eating like that was the right answer.
But at least not now. The splendid cities and advanced civilization were different from the hard times they reminisced about.
Above all, the intention to use such naturally developed traditions and customs for political purposes was too aggravating.
In fact, almost all those with power would do so, but in this place where I’m treated like a living fossil, I could also exert influence, so I wanted to poke at it a bit.
In fact, I wasn’t happy with their insistence on isolationism either.
Elnar and the other elders argued for scattered elves to unite tightly and resist the outside world while maintaining their identity and traditions, but it was too arrogant an argument no matter how I thought about it.
I know because I’ve lived outside. Elves can never resist the outside. Yet they’re holding out like this because not everyone outside is bad.
There are those who are hostile to elves and want to do evil things, but they certainly don’t rule the whole world.
“Still, we should stop them from gatekeeping…”
“Gatekeeping?”
“It’s a thing.”
When Lina tilted her head, I mumbled my words. Of course, I still had no intention of directly interfering with modern elf society myself.
I just hoped that the current leaders would expand their thinking a bit because of me.
However, if they can’t do that until the end, then I can’t just stand by either. I’ll have to give them a stronger shock and force them to wake up.
“Everyone get some good rest. We’re not doing anything tomorrow and going straight to the erosion site.”
I told my companions to rest and sent them to their rooms. Although there have been big and small issues since we arrived at the elf village, our purpose from start to finish is to stop the erosion that occurred near here.
According to the elves’ testimony, it’s difficult even to approach the place, but for now, nothing is happening. However, I was certain that a battle would break out, so I prepared my companions.
“Why are you taking that out?”
“I’m thinking of stimulating them to develop further, since the traditions and customs they believed to be absolute aren’t actually absolute. And it’s easier to communicate with spirits, so it’s suitable as battle gear.”
Lina, who had also changed into pajamas, was puzzled by what I took out of my luggage, but I had already made up my mind.
Since I’ve already revealed my appearance and identity, I intend to make the most of it.
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