Ch.140140. Reason (3)

“Would you care to repeat that statement once more?”

Each syllable, each word was delivered with carefully controlled composure.

Ainel Sianella’s chilling voice resonated clearly.

Friel Arielt quietly shifted her gaze.

Her teal eyes caught Ainel’s rapidly changing demeanor.

Trust and courtesy were gradually fading, while suspicion and wariness were blooming.

Not a particularly good reaction.

Nevertheless, Friel Arielt maintained her modest posture, looking directly at Ainel without the slightest falter.

“Please send Lady Sione Sianella, the second daughter of the County of Sianella, and her personal attendant Ray to the Great Forest.”

This bold request couldn’t help but furrow Ainel’s brow.

‘Why on earth?’

It was an absurd request.

As she said, the forest keepers of the Great Forest were by no means weak.

Each individual was proficient in spirit arts, and the elves’ characteristic agility allowed them to move through the forest as if it were their own home.

Their average combat ability ranked among the highest of all races, and when the battlefield was the forest, their strength doubled.

‘I don’t understand.’

They were more than capable of easily cutting the throats of not only magical beasts but also demons of intermediate level.

Even if they needed support…

If they were only facing enemies of that caliber, there was no need to travel all the way to the County of Sianella to request aid. Couldn’t they simply ask for support from the Marquisate of Kallia, a house of skilled soldiers near the Great Forest, or from the capable imperial citizens?

Ainel couldn’t understand why they would come all the way to the easternmost part of the kingdom for such a ridiculous request when they were merely dealing with magical beasts and demons.

‘Moreover, I’m concerned about why they specifically named Sione and Ray.’

What was even more troubling was that Friel Arielt had explicitly mentioned Sione and Ray by name, stating that she wanted to take them to the Great Forest.

Furthermore, the elf before her had even declared that this request was the will of the Grand Elder—the will of the High Elf, the leader of the elves.

She couldn’t help but feel suspicious and concerned.

“……”

“……”

Their gazes met in the silence.

Friel’s clear eyes penetrated Ainel’s thoughts.

“You’re suspicious.”

“Sending Sione and Ray to the Great Forest… is this truly the will of the Grand Elder of the Great Forest?”

“Indeed it is. The Grand Elder said that the help of those two is essential for our clan and the World Tree to continue their lineage.”

Friel’s hands, which had been folded on her knees, moved.

She gently placed her right hand over her chest and offered a small smile.

“This is the truth without a trace of falsehood. I can even swear by the World Tree and the spirits if you wish.”

“Hmm……”

Ainel fell into deep thought.

For them, the World Tree was both a deity and a faith, the very foundation and source of their existence as elves.

An elf’s oath made to the World Tree and spirits carried exceptional weight.

Especially since Friel was a daughter of the Arielt family, who directly protected and managed the World Tree alongside the High Elves. The weight of her oath would be even greater than that of ordinary elves.

So Ainel began to calmly ask her questions.

“The forest keepers of the Great Forest should be capable of handling intermediate-level demons. So why specifically request the second daughter of our Sianella bloodline and her attendant Ray? Moreover—”

Ainel’s eyes narrowed slightly.

“If you need reinforcements, wouldn’t it make more sense to ask the nearby Marquisate of Kallia or the imperial citizens, rather than a county far from the Great Forest? They should be sufficient for condemning heretics and exterminating magical beasts and demons.”

At her words, Friel briefly closed her eyes.

“Well…”

Friel’s demeanor suddenly changed.

She then picked up the tea placed before her. After briefly enjoying the aroma with her nose, Friel took a sip.

Ainel quietly watched her face, waiting for her next words.

Soon after, the elf’s moistened red lips parted to provide an answer.

“Certainly, with their military backing, we could eliminate enemies more efficiently. Indeed, the soldiers of the Marquisate of Kallia and the nearby imperial troops are rich in practical experience and well-disciplined.”

Friel Arielt continued speaking while maintaining her lowered posture, tapping her lower lip with her index finger.

“However, the Empire lacks the loyalty and integrity of the Kingdom… and unlike the Kingdom, cultists have already successfully infiltrated deep into the Empire’s society. We cannot easily trust them. We would hardly want to let them anywhere near the World Tree.”

“…Are you saying demon worshippers have already corrupted the Empire to such an extent?”

“Count, the Empire is quietly but surely declining in vigor. A star gradually growing dim… that would be the most fitting description for the current Empire. Before long, the star that has lost its light will be engulfed by pitch-black darkness and disappear. However—”

The index finger that had been on Friel’s lips gently brushed up the corner of her mouth.

She once again sat properly with her hands modestly placed on her knees and her back straight.

Friel Arielt’s lips bore a small but beautiful smile, just as her delicate finger had traced.

“The Kingdom is different. It possesses loyalty and devotion, and still consistently upholds the spirit of demon extermination. The Kingdom is like a trustworthy friend to us elves… and the Marquisate of Kallia, which understands loyalty, can also be considered a somewhat reliable neighbor.”

“……”

“However, the unfortunate thing is… there is no one in the Marquisate of Kallia who can twist our fate. They might be able to help eliminate demons and magical beasts, but they cannot save us from destruction.”

“You mean—”

“Count, the Grand Elder received a divine revelation from the World Tree.”

The divine revelation of the World Tree.

An ancient tree that has taken root in the world, growing by absorbing the Mana deeply permeated in the planet’s soil.

An ancient tree that has spent over a hundred years develops a personality, and one that has spent eons acquires divine status along with great power.

A tree with divine status can not only predict the future for its followers but also entrust them with its will.

It was no ordinary matter that a High Elf, who lives an especially long life among elves and builds up their status and mystical power, had received a divine revelation from the World Tree.

Friel captured the flow of the conversation and increased the value of their dialogue.

“Soon, an evil incomparable to anything before will arrive in the Great Forest and the Empire. The World Tree said that according to fate, both the Empire and the Great Forest will face their predetermined doom, though at different times.”

“……”

“It’s a sad story. But even so, the World Tree told the Grand Elder of one method.”

“Then that is….”

At Ainel’s whisper, Friel’s smile deepened.

“If the Empire is a dimming star, then the Kingdom is indeed a rising star. The first to bring light to the Kingdom of Aicilia was none other than the County of Sianella, which triumphed in the battle against demons.”

“The County protected the Kingdom from the demons lurking in the magical realm. And… coincidentally, the World Tree said that the only ones with the power to protect our Great Forest are also from the County of Sianella.”

“Count, we have come seeking the help of two people who can twist our clan’s fate and become a brilliant light of salvation.”

Green eyes met blue eyes.

In a moment that felt like an eternity, the conversation finally returned to its starting point.

“Our clan in the Great Forest needs the help of Lady Sione Sianella, the second daughter of the County of Sianella who possesses the ability to twist fate, and her attendant, Ray.”

Ainel couldn’t easily open her mouth to speak.

As she fell into deep contemplation, Friel rose from her seat.

With a smooth motion, she carefully drew the sword from her waist and presented it to Ainel Sianella.

“Count, this.”

“This is a sword, is it not?”

“Yes, please try drawing it from its scabbard.”

“Excuse me for a moment.”

With a swift sound, the blade scraped against the scabbard as the white blade was revealed to the world.

Its weight, balance, and sharp edge were nothing short of a masterpiece, and ultimately, Ainel even felt drawn to this sword.

And then, the moment she took in the surface of the blade.

“This is……”

Ainel’s body stiffened.

The engraving on the blade’s surface was the symbol of the County of Sianella—a sword cutting through a demon’s horns.

And below it was inscribed a woman’s name—the name of the first Count.

“The Grand Elder told me that the first Count, a long-lost friend whom we can no longer meet, said this.”

—I have received much from you, so I offer you one of my treasured swords. On the day you return this sword to my descendants, the one who carries on the County’s lineage will gladly grant one of your requests.

Ainel quietly looked at the sword in her hand and then turned back to Friel.

She was smiling as freshly as when she had first offered the forest tea.

“Count, it seems our conversation will grow even longer. I hope you have the time.”

The reason for the elf’s visit to the County carried a heavier story than expected.

* * *

“Ray, why are you standing there in a daze?”

“No, it’s just……”

After finishing my sparring session with Siabel, I immediately went to the shooting range to join Sione and started shooting arrows.

I carefully removed the arrow I had nocked and shrugged my shoulders.

“Somehow I just felt a chill. Even though spring has arrived, it seems the weather hasn’t fully warmed up yet. I think there’s still a bit of cold wind blowing.”

“Hmm… was there wind…? I don’t think there was…. Ray, they say when a ghost sits on your shoulder, you feel a chill down your spine. Maybe it’s because of a ghost?”

Really, she’s not a child anymore, yet she still plays such pranks.

“Lady Sione.”

“Yes?”

“Be careful under your bed when you sleep.”

“Ah.”

Sione tilted her head as if she’d been caught, and smiled broadly.

Well, if there wasn’t any wind, it must have been my imagination.

I brushed off the brief uneasy feeling and began shooting arrows with a clear mind.

The day was so bright—apart from the uninvited elf visitor to the county manor, it was a perfect day.