Ch.108Armin Kerukishi (2)

# Deep Forest. Arminkerukesi.

A land where the pulse of life was stronger than anywhere else, yet also the quietest.

Only the noblest among the elves were permitted entry, preserving the continent’s purity.

“…To think you were alive. How surprising.”

Asha, the Elven Grand Chieftain, couldn’t hide her emotions upon seeing the girl before her. Her eyes trembled.

“I thought you had died in the demon realm.”

“I nearly did.”

Eliya. The child beloved by the World Tree. Once renowned as a member of the hero party destined to save the world. The memory of that day she left the forest—when Asha had been certain their reunion would mark the greatest day in the world—was now tarnished.

“Somehow, I managed to survive.”

“I would hope it was a life won through overcoming adversity… but I see that is not the case.”

Asha’s expression grew solemn. Belying Eliya’s title as humanity’s guardian, an undead soldier stood behind her. Not the crude necromancy of the human realm, but a pure soul bound to armor—high-dimensional sorcery that only a demon could wield.

“Then you are an envoy of demons.”

“I am also the final mercy shown by the Great Demon.”

“Indeed. The situation is too urgent for expressions of sorrow. Come, speak. Storyteller of demons.”

Asha was the leader of the elves. She had to endure the conflicting emotions—joy at the survival of her most cherished child and sorrow over corrupted hope. She steadied her voice as the ruler who must navigate her race’s destiny.

“What do you want?”

“Open the path for us.”

“After penetrating the heart of the forest, how much more do you intend to devour?”

“The ruins left by Mother World Tree. That is our legion’s objective.”

Ruins. A rare area depicting the thousand-year history and the primordial continent.

Asha pondered briefly. The demon’s goal was quite different from what she had expected. Those who invaded the human realm, willing to wage war against the Holy Army, wouldn’t be satisfied with such modest resources. It would make more sense for them to consume the Eastern Continent and channel all available resources into the war.

To face the celestial realm, they would need to harness the power of not just the South but likely all other continents to stand a fighting chance.

Yet they sought the ruins. Not the World Tree itself, but the ruins scattered around it.

Was there a treasure there that demons would covet?

“No. No, that’s not what matters.”

“You prioritize the safety of the elves, as expected.”

“That is my mission. Though it may be cowardly, I must make my request.”

Despite her words, Asha looked straight ahead. There was no shame or embarrassment. She asked with dignity:

“Will you guarantee the safety of the elves?”

“You should discuss that directly with the commander. From my mouth, you’ll hear nothing but demands to open the path.”

Eliya stepped back. Her firmly closed lips would not open again. Asha would have to go to the meeting place, to face a dangerous being who could burn the forest to ashes. She rose with a heavy heart.

“…It was good to see you, Eliya.”

A small fragment of emotion escaped. The elven ruler reminisced about those days.

Eliya, faced with these fragments of memory, couldn’t meet her gaze—such was the depth of their affection.

“Let us meet again later.”

But that was the last time.

Asha passed by Eliya without looking back. She always prioritized her race.

Even if it meant walking toward her death.

Such was the fate of a ruler.

“……”

Eliya, who had survived, kept her head bowed toward the ground for a long while.

#

A meeting place composed of hundreds of lives.

The elves, who had abandoned all talk of fighting to the death in the forest, stood obediently before the demon.

“I am Grand Chieftain Asha.”

“Durin, Regent of the Demon Realm.”

The two leaders faced each other in the deep forest. Neither would back down. One who must seize the future and one who desperately wanted to survive—both possessed intense desires, making their confrontation fierce.

“I hear you wish to obtain a path to the heart of the forest.”

Asha began the dialogue. She guided the conversation in the gentlest direction possible, careful not to disturb the demon’s temperament.

“Is it the Mother World Tree you desire?”

This wasn’t subservience. The elven ruler asked directly, without flowery language. Her intent was to quickly identify the core issue and achieve what both parties wanted. This was also the approach Durin preferred.

“I have no need for the ancient tree.”

“I don’t understand why you would lead an army here if you don’t need the most noble tree in the Eastern Continent, which is nothing but trees.”

“I want to obtain the inscriptions from the era when the tree grew. That’s all.”

Durin answered indifferently. What he sought was the whereabouts of sacred relics. His priority was to gather clues by exploring ruins that preserved a thousand years of history. He wanted war with the Holy Army, not unnecessary skirmishes with natives.

“If that’s the case, we elves have ancient books in our possession.”

“Then I shall take those as well. Understand that my demands remain consistent.”

When Asha showed slight discomfort, Durin cut her off mercilessly. His aura grew slightly sharper. The monstrous infantry waiting behind the Regent growled. The elven soldiers looked fearfully toward Asha.

If this delicate balancing act failed, everyone present would die. Asha reminded herself of this fact once more.

“Are you truly only interested in examining the ruins?”

“I will make a covenant if necessary. A demon’s contract—that dreadful promise you’ve only heard about in the human realm. I’ll make it in whatever form disadvantages me. Come, extend your hand.”

The demon extended a tempting hand. A human might have been flustered. A devout church person would have refused immediately, offering their life instead. But Asha did not discriminate. When opportunity presented itself, she seized it firmly. Without hesitation, she clasped his hand.

“The safety of the elves, and furthermore, the preservation of the forest. If you fulfill the condition of not violating Mother World Tree, I can open any path for you.”

“I accept. In return, there must be no resistance from the elves. You will accept our presence without protest and provide unconditional cooperation in exploring the ruins.”

“Within reasonable limits. As long as you don’t exploit us, we shall comply.”

“Good. If you affirm this, we have a contract.”

Black demonic energy entwined around both their arms. Red fighting spirit emanating from the gauntlet mixed with the Grand Chieftain’s life force. A covenant staked on their lives. Whoever broke it would forfeit their life.

“Don’t do anything foolish in the name of sacrifice.”

Durin left a final warning. His red eyes looked down at the elf. Asha did not yield. She summoned her meager strength against this enormous being.

“I shall not. For the sake of my race.”

#

“Don’t they seem to be yielding too easily?”

With things proceeding so smoothly, even the demon side grew suspicious. Yoannina came to Durin as a representative of the legion.

“Despite the difference in power, we only have three thousand. With most of our resources gone to raid human villages around the Eastern Continent, we effectively have only a thousand troops we can properly deploy.”

“They are the elite of the West. A force capable of facing any enemy.”

“That’s fine against elves. But we can’t guarantee victory against the next enemy.”

Yoannina pointed at the map. Her finger precisely indicated the West, close to the Central Continent.

“The real threat in the Eastern Continent isn’t the elves, but these human forces.”

“Being geographically close to the Center, they’re well within the Papal influence.”

“If the elves change their minds and contact the Center, they could bring part of the Holy Army here.”

“That would reduce the pressure on the South.”

“But it would make things very difficult for us.”

Her concern was simple.

“If the Eastern Continent becomes engulfed in war before we properly find and seize the sacred relic, we could end up in an impossible situation.”

Though there might not be a significant qualitative difference, the scale showed a gap of more than double. The human realm was where the celestial forces could exert their full power. The moment they projected their strength, the legion would have to defend with everything they had.

“We need to consider all possibilities: additional support from the celestial realm, the rise of human crusaders, the stagnant growth of our order.”

Despite repeated victories, the situation was far from comfortable. If pressure increased from even one direction, they could break.

Ludmilla barely holding out against the Holy Army.

The possibility of having to search through the ruins scattered across the great forest to find the sacred relic.

The elves, currently submissive, potentially turning to communicate with the Center, spreading the flames of war.

Considering everything, not a single situation smiled upon Durin. It was purely a moment created by fate.

Opportunity—the driving force that made them cling to this thread of hope.

“Worry only holds back our steps. I will act first.”

Durin shook off the anxiety. It was an impious thought that the legion had subtly harbored, not himself.

“I will shoulder everything. You need only think of victory. I will face the adversities dealt by fate.”

The Regent did not waver. He rose as always.

His steadfast heart gave no room for worry to seep in.

Having shouldered the duty of protection, he welcomed the pain.

“…It’s not an easy path, Durin.”

Yoannina comforted him. It was all she could do.

Durin shouldered even that.

For the sake of the future.