End Process (3)

“Elder. It seems the guests are arriving.”

“That’s fast. Well, it’s natural given how significant this matter is.”

In the elf village, when Isilia and her group had temporarily left for a nearby city, Elnar prepared to welcome guests along with the elves.

Since it was an event he had initiated while directly speaking to Isilia, Elnar paid special attention. Thanks to this, a magic circle that hadn’t been properly activated for decades began to operate inside the city.

This magic circle, which the elves manage strictly in their most important places though not used frequently, was a kind of relic passed down from ancient times that functioned similarly to spatial jump points.

Although not as fast and convenient as the spatial jump points that countless magicians of the current era had rushed to improve, the elves could also communicate with their scattered kin across the continent through this.

“The device…!”

Soon, as the magic circle activated, a strong light burst forth. It was an incomparable light to when they usually only sent letters with news.

And as human figures began to appear within it, even those who already knew couldn’t help but watch tensely.

“Arno!”

Elnar recognized the tallest man who appeared inside and called out. He was an elderly elf who was the elder of another clan and could be called Elnar’s friend.

“So you came in person after all.”

“Of course, it’s news that I couldn’t help but come and confirm in person. Every single bit of it.”

Elnar smirked, knowing it was no light matter for a heavy-bottomed elder to come in person. On the other hand, Arno didn’t smile.

There was no way they would have sent such news as a joke, so he had no choice but to take it very seriously.

“So where is the High Elf now? Is this place really safe?”

“You’ve lived long enough to know not to be hasty. She will return soon. Above all, the other clans haven’t arrived yet.”

Elnar had to try hard to suppress his laughter as he recalled his own behavior when he first saw Isilia, seeing Arno’s impatient demeanor as if he couldn’t believe it.

“More importantly, did you really bring it?”

“I managed to bring it despite many opposing. Can you believe it? That the High Elf herself must come. If the legend is true, she’s the only one who can germinate this seed anyway.”

Arno, leaving the room under Elnar’s guidance, took out a fist-sized seed from a wooden box that the elves he brought with him were carefully holding.

The seed, which had passed through an incredibly long time, certainly looked dead, but the elves still believed there was possibility remaining.

That someday this seed would sprout again, rebuilding the legacy of the great elves and nurturing them.

‘This is the seed of the World Tree that Arno’s clan, who cared for the last World Tree, had been keeping.’

Elnar swallowed dryly as he looked at it with trembling eyes. He was seeing directly for the first time something he had only heard rumors about, through this opportunity.

“Elder! The device is activating again!”

Meanwhile, other elves began to arrive one by one through the jump points. It was the moment when all the remaining clans on the continent were gathering in one place.

“Really? They’ve all arrived?”

“Yes. So I think you should head over soon now.”

“I was planning to go anyway, so it doesn’t matter.”

While the elves of the continent were gathering in one place for the first time in a long while, Isilia, who had been playing in the city, picked up her luggage as if she had no choice upon hearing Arisa’s words.

She had already met Ethan and finished everything she needed to do in the city anyway.

“Yeah, let’s go quickly. Please.”

Patrick urged the group. He had good reason to do so, namely because of the companions surrounding him.

Lina, Laila, and Arisa were all strikingly beautiful. Moreover, Arisa was an elf.

Although Isilia and Arisa were wearing hoods to cover their faces, Patrick was about to go crazy and jump around, unable to bear the gazes fixed on him as the only man so far.

“That’s unexpected. I thought you’d enjoy it.”

“It’s foolish to go around boasting about being involved with women. That kind of attention is only poison.”

Isilia chuckled, and he grimaced. It was sincere advice born from experience, given all he had seen and heard. Considering that adventurers who always risk their lives tend to focus on something more primal, Patrick’s personality was a bit special.

“Alright then. Let’s set off again.”

As Isilia said while laughing, they left the city and moved into the forest. Like when they first went there, they entered deep into the woods to meet the elves, arriving at the city late at night after the sun had set.

“All the other elves have come too?”

“Yes. They are all waiting for you, Isilia.”

And Isilia’s eyes sparkled upon hearing the news from the elf warriors who came to greet them.

Unless Elnar had summoned them using her name and identity, there would have been no reason for the elf elders to gather in one place like this.

“I guess everyone’s heard a lot?”

Because the chatty wind spirits had already whispered everything, she knew who was where, so without showing any particular tension, she abruptly opened the door to the conference hall where the elders had gathered and entered.

It was in contrast to the elders who were extremely tense, waiting silently while looking at each other.

“H-High Elf…!”

A heavy silence pervaded the conference hall. It was a place where the elders, holding the highest rank in their clans, were quietly waiting for the ‘true elder’ with the highest seat left empty.

However, the person who appeared openly amidst the commotion was a young girl who didn’t quite match the elder they had imagined.

Flowing silver hair sparkled, and red eyes glinted. She felt out of place wearing human clothing. The aura she exuded felt more free-spirited, fitting her appearance, rather than that of an authoritative elder.

‘Didn’t I tell them? Tsk.’

Elnar had already explained about Isilia, but he was certain that they wouldn’t fully believe his words anyway.

Because they were all as stubborn as himself, his prediction that it wouldn’t be effective unless they saw it with their own eyes proved exactly right.

“There’s no need to explain everything like before, right? Elnar must have explained it all.”

“Of course. I’ve already told them everything.”

While the elf elders were shocked, she smirked as if she had expected this, walked unhesitatingly to the highest seat, plopped down, and glanced at Elnar.

Elnar nodded and reminded his dazed kin that he had already told them everything.

‘There are more elves, spread more widely than I thought? If I play this right, things could get even easier.’

Whether she knew the elders’ feelings or not, Isilia was now contemplating how to unite and utilize the elf forces that seemed stronger than expected.

Already, not a few had become her subordinates working in such a way. The elves couldn’t escape that radar either. Moreover, this wasn’t something being done just for her sake, but was directly related to the elves’ own lives.

“I’ve confirmed that the entire continent is in crisis. The clan living here must have felt to the bone how fatal it is. Although it’s not my place to say this as someone who suddenly appeared, doesn’t it seem like a time when everyone needs to join forces?”

“The erosion and curse that will destroy the world. If that’s true…”

“At least, it seems difficult with the way things have been done so far.”

As the elves started to look around nervously, she explicitly insisted that they should change the current system.

She was saying that the elves, as members of this world, should no longer remain isolated in remote places but should all cooperate and lend their strength.

Naturally, there were those who felt instinctive antipathy, just as Elnar had at first. To them, the outside world was a dangerous hell, and all races other than elves were axes of evil that should be opposed.

‘That doesn’t seem good. I should get rid of this tendency to unconditionally antagonize the outside.’

Isilia noticed these feelings and smiled bitterly. If nothing else, she wanted to somehow change this mindset of the elves.

Just like Elnar, who now listened to everything Isilia said after experiencing a major incident.

“That seems to require a lot more discussion. More importantly, High Elf, please look at this. This is the last seed left by the World Tree.”

It was then that Arno took out the World Tree seed. All the other elves were surprised and stirred.

‘Not yet. It’s not too late yet. We just need to check first.’

Arno was in a state of desperation to see Isilia’s power directly, putting everything else aside.

If Isilia really showed immense authority like the legendary High Elves, there would be no reason not to follow her words.