Ch.129129. Rage

“Are you the friends of Elin?”

They resembled each other.

The thought came unbidden—King Elturas’s appearance resembled Elin’s. Perhaps it was natural for a father and daughter, but beyond mere looks, they shared a distinctive atmosphere.

An expression with faint emotions. Empty eyes. Despite being a High Elf blessed with longevity, his outward appearance was closer to that of an old man.

Seated at the head of the long table, Elturas surveyed the group with indifferent eyes.

“I’ve heard the story from Lord Alvar. Honestly, I was quite surprised that Elin had made friends… and not just one, but several. She was always awkward with people. But seeing it with my own eyes, I have no choice but to believe it.”

“Father.”

Elandir spoke with a stiff face. Humans entering the sacred territory of Albheim—that much could be tolerated with considerable concession. It would be absurd for Elandir to oppose what Elturas had permitted.

“This is in front of humans.”

However, criticism of Elin was a separate matter. Not because she was his sister. Elin was a High Elf—one of only three in the current era with such noble bloodline.

For Elturas, the patriarch of all elves, to belittle Elin in front of outsiders would damage the dignity of the elven race itself.

Though it might be an overly sensitive reaction, Elandir was even more stubborn than his father Elturas in such matters.

“I shouldn’t leave guests standing. Please, everyone be seated.”

Elturas gestured toward the table. The group tactfully approached the seats next to where Alvar was sitting.

“Have you been waiting long?”

“No. We just arrived ourselves.”

When Rex lowered his voice and whispered, Alvar responded with a pleasant laugh.

Elturas sat at the head of the table, while his children Elandir and Elin were seated across from him. Though Alvar had come on the Emperor’s mission, the rest of the group had visited at Elin’s invitation. The one who extended the invitation couldn’t be absent.

‘…Duty.’

An elven princess is born with an inescapable duty. Caordicks didn’t know the specific nature of this duty. What was certain was that a princess who fulfilled her duty would fall into eternal sleep.

There were no exceptions.

Rex clenched his fist with a sunken expression. He hadn’t been able to greet Elin. Since entering the tree, she had been staring blankly at the table with downcast eyes. He wanted to speak to her first, but the situation didn’t allow it.

Did Elin know about the duty imposed on her? If she did, why hadn’t she shown any sign of it until now? Rex couldn’t know what thoughts she had lived with, because he wasn’t Elin.

As for myself—my thoughts—I don’t want to abandon Elin. Hundreds of years ago, Elicis, Kaiserion’s lover and a princess, followed her duty. She fell into eternal sleep, and Kaiserion spent a long time gazing at his lover’s portrait, immersed in sorrow.

‘I…’

I don’t wish for such a future.

From Albheim’s perspective, the group was an unexpected, uninvited guest.

Though Elandir objected, Elturas welcomed them as guests. Thanks to that, the table was now filled with various foods—no meat, only vegetables and fruits.

“Meat is essential for warriors. How do elves maintain their muscles with such a diet?”

Charlotte picked up an unidentifiable fruit with considerable dissatisfaction. But the moment she bit into it, the burst of juice with its perfect blend of sweetness and tartness washed away her complaints.

“Elven tastes tend to avoid meat, so I wasn’t sure if it would suit you humans. Had I been given advance notice, I would have prepared food more accommodating to humans.”

“Hmm. This is my first time tasting this fruit, but I must say it’s the finest I’ve ever had. I’d like to take some seeds back to grow in my territory.”

“I’m glad you like it. Unfortunately, Albheim’s fruits are specially grown with Mother World Tree’s blessing, so even if you took seeds, it would be difficult to cultivate them with the same flavor elsewhere.”

Despite Charlotte’s evaluation, Elturas showed no sign of displeasure. While a king deserves respect, there’s no obligation to be excessively deferential. Charlotte is a marquise loyal to the Emperor. Unlike Alvar who came as an envoy, she has no connection to Elturas—merely an outsider.

‘…Mere human.’

Elandir, full of pride for his race and reverence for his father Elturas, understood this. So he merely frowned, without further criticizing Charlotte’s attitude.

“Apostle of the Sword, Charlotte. Though this is our first meeting, I know who you are. An unparalleled genius born once in hundreds of years. The inheritor of Kaiserion’s sword. Indeed, the evaluations were not exaggerated.”

“I’m also honored to meet the Elven King I’ve only heard about in rumors. Elves enjoy lifespans incomparably longer than humans. You, who have lived for over a thousand years, could truly be called living history itself. Humans call themselves sages after living mere decades—they must seem quite ridiculous to your eyes.”

“Well. I hadn’t thought of it that way. So that’s how humans view elves.”

An ambiguous answer, neither confirming nor denying. Charlotte swallowed the fruit in her mouth and added in a nonchalant tone.

“Isn’t that right? You were already the king of elves during the famous Great War era, weren’t you? Perhaps you’ve lived even longer than this tree we’re in now.”

“The Great War… Of course I remember it. How could I forget? Though it may be ancient history to you, it was very real to me.”

Elturas tapped the table with his finger as he spoke.

“The Great War left indelible scars on everyone in the continent. By the one you praise so highly—Kaiserion. Albheim suffered relatively less damage than other regions, but that too was only thanks to Kaiserion’s mercy.”

“Father! Mercy? That’s going too far. It was clearly a contract established based on mutual interests. An agreement not to interfere with each other…”

When Elandir shouted with a distorted expression, Elturas stared at him with an indifferent face.

“No. It is true that we have been able to exist until now because of Kaiserion’s mercy. Kaiserion was an invincible absolute being, and he had the power to annihilate Albheim. Yet even the fearsome Kaiserion eventually faded with the passage of time, remembered only as a hero of a bygone era.”

“…He became a god. The Apostle of the Sword here is proof of Kaiserion’s existence.”

“That too is incorrect. You’ve also stepped into the realm of apostlehood, so you should know. A human who becomes a god acquires a separate self from their mortal life. Therefore, the human Kaiserion is dead.”

Charlotte nodded silently.

It wasn’t particularly secret information. Emperor Kaiserion and Sword God Kaiserion began from the same root, but their ends were different. What the difference was, she didn’t know. What was clear was that in the canon passed down through the Order of the Sword, the Sword God was treated as a special entity.

It was the first time she’d heard about having a separate self, but thinking about it, it wasn’t implausible.

“Kaiserion was undoubtedly the strongest, but ultimately, he is already dead. That is the difference between him and us. He couldn’t overcome the lifespan limit given to his race, but we are still living in this world. Be proud of that.”

“…I wish for Kaiserion’s return. To settle the unfinished business… to return the humiliation he gave me.”

Elandir muttered, grinding his teeth. Charlotte asked with a puzzled expression.

“Humiliation?”

“Like me, Elandir was active during the Great War era. Unlike me who remained in Albheim, Elandir stood at the forefront, commanding the battlefield. In the process, he had several conflicts with Kaiserion.”

“Five hundred years have passed.”

Elandir stared into the distant void.

“Back then, I was… immature and lacking in many ways to call myself the guardian of Albheim. Indeed, as my father said, I had to seek Kaiserion’s mercy then. But still! If we were to face each other again, the result would be different. I’ve grown strong enough to defeat Kaiserion now.”

“I know the effort you’ve built up. If a situation arises where your strength is needed, Albheim will rely on you. Though it would be best if such a situation never comes. Anyway, we’ve strayed from the topic.”

Elturas turned to look at Elin. She was still staring at the table with a rigid face.

“Rather than the musty past, let’s talk about the present. Elin. How long will you keep your mouth shut? Aren’t the people gathered here your friends?”

“…Father.”

“Honestly, when I first heard you brought humans to Albheim, I was perplexed. Not anymore. I think it’s for the best now. I suspect they are the lingering attachment you hold. Am I right?”

Elin slowly raised her head. She saw Chloe blinking with a puzzled expression and Charlotte with a strange look.

“Elin! Father asked you a question. Answer him!”

“…I…”

At Elandir’s rebuke, Elin shrank her shoulders and shifted her gaze. Then, her eyes met Rex’s, who was sitting next to the group.

When she saw the hint of worry in those vivid blue eyes. When she saw his usually clear smiling face hardened, his pupils trembling anxiously.

‘It’s okay.’

The anxiety that had been troubling her mind disappeared. Her throbbing head cleared. Rex was anxious because she had shown an uneasy appearance.

Elin…

She liked Rex’s smile. She wanted to see that smile forever. If she couldn’t see it, she hoped he would live smiling even where she couldn’t see.

‘That’s my lingering attachment.’

Elin said with a bitter smile.

“Yes. My friends are my lingering attachment. Don’t worry. I brought them to Albheim… to let go of that attachment. What you’re concerned about, Father, won’t happen.”

“You brought them at an appropriate time. Yes. Rather than harboring attachments during the ritual, it’s better to completely sever them by showing your final moments. You haven’t forgotten your duty and have made a choice for it. I respect your decision.”

Elturas smiled, stroking his chin. At those words, Rex widened his eyes. Duty. No matter how dense one might be, it was easy to notice that the word from those lips was identical to the “duty” Caordicks had mentioned.

While Rex had a general understanding of Elin’s circumstances, Charlotte and Chloe knew nothing. Still, Elturas’s words were enough to raise questions.

“What do you mean by severing attachments?”

Charlotte narrowed her eyes as she joined the conversation.

“And showing final moments? From what I hear, it sounds like Elin won’t be able to leave Albheim anymore, but I haven’t heard anything about that.”

“It seems Elin hasn’t properly explained to you.”

Elturas stared at Elin with an expressionless face.

“That’s right. This will be the last time you see Elin. To be precise, there’s still some time until the ritual, but preparations will be completed in about three days, so not much time remains. It’s essentially the last time.”

“This is absurd.”

Charlotte sneered with a twisted smile. Elturas continued in a gruff voice.

“I understand your confusion. After all, you’re suddenly having to part with Elin, whom you’ve been with all this time. Separately, this is an issue you cannot interfere with.”

“You expect us to accept with just that kind of talk?”

“Of course not. Despite appearances, I’m showing goodwill to you as Elin’s friends. The very fact that I’m allowing you to stay in Albheim and explaining all this is my personal goodwill.”

“The duty…”

Though he had resolved to wait patiently for the right moment, the words spilled out against his will. Rex gritted his teeth as he looked at Elturas.

“What is the duty?”

“You… seem to have a special relationship with Elin. I sympathize with your sadness. It’s regrettable.”

Despite claiming regret, Elturas’s expression showed no trace of sorrow.

“If she fulfills her duty, will Lady Elin never leave Albheim again? Falling asleep in the World Tree, never to open her eyes again, in a state neither dead nor alive…”

“Hmm. I thought Elin hadn’t given you any explanation, but how did you know that? Surprising. Given Elin’s personality, I wouldn’t have expected her to reveal her duty, even for Albheim’s sake. Was your relationship with Elin deeper than I anticipated?”

Elturas muttered with an interested voice, tilting his head.

“I’ll tell you if you’re curious. Yes. Elin will soon be guided to the World Tree to perform the ritual. For the sake of the entire elven race, she will merge with the World Tree and spend long years in a dark dream. Originally, it would have taken thirty years for the ritual preparations to be completed, but we had to drastically shorten that period. The reason… you can guess without me saying it, right?”

Lingering attachment.

If an elven princess has impurities like lingering attachments, performing the ritual becomes impossible.

The ‘world’ was Elin’s attachment. From birth, Elin had always lived within Albheim. Though she was strictly educated for the ritual, as she grew, Elin developed curiosity about the world.

What is it like outside the forest?

What exists in the world?

As time passed, her curiosity grew. Concerned that Elin’s purity might be tainted, Elturas had suppressed her forcefully. But it exceeded the range he could suppress. So he allowed Elin to travel with a limit of thirty years—the time remaining until the ritual.

He wasn’t worried.

Elves receive the forest’s love. Elves also love the forest. All elves must live in the forest. Though Elin was curious about the world she hadn’t experienced, Elturas knew the world wasn’t as beautiful as imagined.

A place full of discomfort, impurity, and ugliness.

He assumed Elin would quickly realize the filth of the world and return. An Elin who had abandoned even the slightest attachment would be more suitable for the ritual.

That’s what he thought. But he was wrong. Elin formed bonds. She made friends. She even harbored affection—something a princess should never have.

At this rate, the princess’s purity might be shattered. That must be avoided at all costs. Elturas sent a delegation to order Elin’s return earlier than scheduled, and so she returned.

With deeper and more numerous attachments.

Elturas didn’t explain all these circumstances. Instead, he gazed steadily at Rex, who was glaring at him.

“Isn’t Elin your daughter? Then why—”

“As I said, it’s for the sake of the race. You seem quite agitated… calm down. I can’t understand why you’re so indignant. As you said, Elin will merely sleep. She won’t die.”

“What…! What does Lady Elin’s sacrifice have to do with the elves?”

Family.

A daughter connected by blood.

Yet Elturas calmly spoke of Elin’s sacrifice.

Rex couldn’t understand Elturas’s emotions at all.

When the duty is fulfilled, Elin falls into eternal sleep. Not death? Elturas’s words were sophistry. If being unable to move or even think isn’t death, then what is? No. It’s even more terrible because she can neither live nor die.

“Do you wish to condemn me?”

Elturas chuckled as he rose from his seat.

“You ask what my daughter’s sacrifice has to do with the elves? Let me tell you directly. If Elin doesn’t perform the ritual, all elves in Albheim will die.”

Rex stared blankly at Elturas. Chloe, Charlotte, even Alvar—all forgot to breathe, looking at Elturas with surprised eyes.

“You must have seen the giant tree at the center of the forest when entering Albheim. The World Tree. The incarnation of the Life God. The mother of elves… She has been dying for a long time.”

Elandir’s expression crumpled. But he didn’t interrupt his father’s words.

“Elves can enjoy near-immortal lifespans thanks to the World Tree’s blessing. If the World Tree dies, the blessing given to elves will disappear. Then, what happens to the remaining elves?”

They die.

The backlash from the extended lifespan granted by the Life God’s blessing comes. Regardless of gender or age, all equally die.

Thus returning to nothingness.

“Do you think I want to confine my daughter to the World Tree forever? Only a High Elf princess can serve as the ritual’s sacrifice. Only one with a soul closest to the Life God Artela can extend the World Tree’s life. I, as the leader of the elven race, made an unavoidable decision.”

Thud. Elturas approached Rex. With an indifferent face, he asked Rex.

“What do you know about us? Can you understand the past I’ve experienced, my choices? Even knowing everything, would you still condemn me as you did earlier?”

Rex couldn’t say anything. As the silence lengthened, Elturas smiled faintly and blurted out.

“Having lived for so long, I’m sensitive to others’ emotions. You want to save Elin. But saving Elin means condemning all elves to death, and simultaneously making all of Albheim, including myself, your enemy.”

“…I…”

“Just as I respected Elin’s choice, I will respect yours. So, I hope you too would respect Elin, who chose sacrifice for her race.”

Elturas patted Rex’s shoulder lightly and slowly walked outside. Elandir, who had been watching silently, sighed heavily and followed Elturas.

Rex…

Sat in his place with a blank face, looking at Elin.

“…It’s okay.”

Elin said with a faint smile.

“I didn’t expect it to end so suddenly, but… I’m okay. Don’t worry. Rex will live Rex’s life, and I will fulfill my duty. Even if our paths diverge, that’s just how life is, isn’t it?”

Until now, Elin had rarely spoken at such length. Even though her voice trembled and stumbled, she continued to the end. Then she rose from her seat and slowly walked outside.

Rex ultimately couldn’t answer Elin’s words. Even Charlotte, who would normally have given a blunt rebuke, was now watching Rex’s reaction along with Chloe.

‘I…’

His fingernails dug into his tightly clenched palm. Blood oozed out with a stinging pain crawling across his skin. His hand was soon covered in blood, but Rex paid no attention to it.

—I hope you too would respect Elin.

Elturas’s voice echoed in his mind.