Ch.147Chapter 147 – Even the Reformed Must Pay the Price

Having received Shreka’s request, I used my ability on Telio.

As my hammer swung three times toward the head of Telio, who had become a demon, she was enveloped in white light.

I could have hit her somewhere else, but I felt she almost caused me unnecessary trouble, so my emotions were slightly reflected in my choice of target.

When the white light that had enveloped Telio, who had resembled a succubus, disappeared, she returned to her elven form.

I had expected her to return to normal while making painful noises, but…

Her reaction was similar to when I used my ability on other objects…

Honestly, I thought something dramatic would happen to her, but it was surprisingly uneventful.

However, this transformation seemed incredibly surprising to the elves.

“How is this possible… she changed from a demon back to an elf?”

“How could this happen when even the World Tree’s power couldn’t do it…?”

The elves guarding Shreka couldn’t believe that Telio had returned to her elven form.

But since Shreka, who was clearly their superior, remained silent, they wouldn’t dare challenge me.

“Thank you, Count Severio. It seems Telio has returned to her previous state.”

“Can you sense that?”

“Truly… the position of High Elf Grand Elder isn’t just for show.”

Hmm. I honestly couldn’t tell the difference.

But unlike her demon state where she resembled a succubus, Telio as an elf looked like an overworked office employee.

For reference, I came from a field position, so I can’t really relate.

It was always the office workers who threw hysterics at field workers anyway.

“Ugh… where am I?”

Telio, now returned from demon to elf, began regaining consciousness after fainting.

Groaning, she lifted her head and started looking around.

“L-Lady Shreka? And everyone… how did you all get here…?”

Telio seemed confused seeing familiar faces surrounding her.

“Girls.”

And Shreka’s gaze toward Telio had turned ice cold.

If there were someone who enjoyed being scolded, they might think, “Woohoo, getting scolded by a super gorgeous girl, jackpot~☆.”

“Yes, Grand Elder.”

At Shreka’s call, her elven guards approached Telio.

“Step on her.”

“Eh?”

“Huh?”

The words from Shreka’s mouth were… “Step on her.”

Yeah, that. Exactly what we were imagining.

It’s similar to the blanket party soldiers get when discharged, but the difference is that the target is trash-tier.

At Shreka’s words, her guards began slowly walking toward Telio.

“Um… everyone? Why are you suddenly…”

Looking at Telio’s face, her confusion was evident.

She turned her head left and right, searching for someone who might save her, but who would?

After all, who was responsible for making us rush here at full speed after we had been taking our time?

“It’s the Grand Elder’s order, so don’t blame us.”

Shreka’s guards approached Telio with fierce glares, stretching their bodies.

“So, any last words?”

“C-Could you please go easy on me…?”

Those were Telio’s final words as she faced Shreka’s guards emanating a murderous aura.

Shreka’s guards removed their cloaks and wrapped Telio tightly.

Wow, I never thought I’d see a blanket party like the ones from my military days in this world.

Elves performing a blanket party!

What an extraordinary sight.

After tightly wrapping Telio in their cloaks, Shreka’s elven guards gathered in a circle around her.

“Step on her!”

As one elf shouted the command, they all began mercilessly kicking at the cloak-wrapped Telio.

“Look at all the trouble you’ve caused us!”

“…!”

The cloaks must have excellent soundproofing because although Telio seemed to be saying something, no sound came through.

Shreka’s guards were stomping on Telio relentlessly, as if they’d been waiting for this day.

◈◇◈◇◈◇◈◇◈◇◈

After about 10 minutes of enthusiastically stomping on Telio, Shreka’s guards finally unwrapped her.

“Uuuuugh…”

I couldn’t say anything nice about Telio’s appearance after being released from the tight wrapping.

Her face was covered in dark bruises, her eyes swollen shut, her white skin was reddened, and blue bruise marks were visible all over.

She literally looked like someone who had been thoroughly beaten up.

Seeing Telio’s state, Shreka finally smiled with satisfaction.

Ugh, smiling after watching someone get beaten like that.

But I think I might have done the same in her position.

Who would have thought that a close aide to someone with the grave responsibility of guarding the World Tree would be a traitor?

Who could have known?

That’s why Shreka reacted so sensitively.

Plus, Telio had tried to contaminate another root of the World Tree.

In other words, she was caught red-handed.

“But is this the first time a culprit has been caught in the act?”

I asked Shreka about something I was curious about.

It’s true that Shreka rushed here after receiving some kind of danger alert from the World Tree, but was this really the first time?

Moreover, it seems the contamination of the World Tree’s roots didn’t just start recently…

That would mean there were others who attempted this before Telio.

“Count Severio is correct. Telio is the first to be caught in the act.”

“I don’t understand. Why did she act so recklessly?”

“She didn’t know. The World Tree has the ability to detect demonic energy, or magi.”

Ah, that makes sense.

“Then how were the World Tree’s roots contaminated before Telio?”

“We can only assume that a traitor without magi contaminated the World Tree’s roots from within through some method.”

I nodded at Shreka’s words.

The World Tree can detect magi but didn’t detect it?

They must have concealed their magi somehow and entered to cause contamination.

“Lady Shreka, is the ability to detect magi spread throughout the entire root system?”

“No, it’s not. The ability to detect magi only exists in places we can access. The rest of the areas are too hard to reach because the ground is too solid. That’s why the first Grand Elder only granted the ability to detect magi in accessible areas.”

I nodded at Shreka’s explanation.

But I still had questions in my mind.

Is this really the only place where one can access the World Tree’s roots?

“Then, couldn’t someone use spirits? It might be difficult on their own, but with the help of earth spirits, couldn’t they move to areas where the World Tree can’t detect magi and contaminate it?”

“That would require the ability to command at least high-level spirits.”

“So it’s possible, isn’t it?”

I gave up questioning Shreka and approached Telio.

I thought she might know something, having been a demon and then returned to an elf.

As I approached Telio, Shreka’s guards restrained her tightly.

They probably wanted to prevent her from harming me.

I called for Eterna.

“Lady Eterna, do you have an ability that can discern truth?”

“An ability to discern truth… Yes, I do. I can use ‘Scales of Truth,’ one of the holy magic spells.”

“Would you use that ability? I have questions for this elf named Telio.”

“Of course, gladly.”

Eterna happily used the Scales of Truth magic at my request.

“O Sun God, your humble servant wishes to borrow your power to discern truth from falsehood. Grant me your strength. [Scales of Truth]”

As Eterna used the holy magic, scales appeared above her head.

I wonder which way they tilt if she hears the truth…

“If the person speaks the truth, it tilts to the right, and if they lie, it tilts to the left.”

“Thank you.”

Eterna explained how the Scales of Truth work as I stared at her.

Good, now it’s time to properly interrogate Telio.

I transformed my bracelet into a hammer again.

It was even larger than the one I had used earlier when I used my ability on Telio.

“Now, Telio. I have questions for you.”

“W-What is it? What do you want to ask me?”

“Ah, nothing too difficult. Among the demons, is there anyone with the ability to command high-level spirits?”

Telio thought about my question.

And everyone was shocked by the words that came out of her mouth when she looked up.

“Yes, there is. Lord Eldran is such a person.”

“W-What did you say?”

Among those surprised, Shreka was the most shocked.