Ch.187187. Objection (1)

“He’s cunning and selfish in some ways.”

Eunice Kallia’s expression wasn’t particularly pleasant, as if she had experienced this before.

She skillfully erased her emotions and overlaid a bland impression on her face before slowly moving into the tent.

‘Ianet keeps coming up in conversation since last time.’

When Friel asked her to work with her family.

Even then, there was talk about the Ianet family.

She had told her that unlike her own welcoming family, they were quite negative toward humans. According to her, they weren’t particularly pleased about our visit to the Great Forest.

‘And now, considering what Eunice is saying…’

Unlike Arielt or Chelnis, who—whether for appearances or other reasons—outwardly showed relatively neutral or kind faces despite their unknown true feelings.

The people of the Ianet family seemed to embody the typical elven demeanor I knew.

‘She said that if I got involved with Ianet’s affairs, I’d have trouble.’

Well, they’ve all lived for over a hundred years.

They’re all experienced elves. If they take control of the conversation, it could be somewhat annoying.

‘I should definitely be careful.’

After mulling over Eunice Kallia’s advice, I finally stepped into the tent.

Many people were gathered in clusters inside the large tent.

I could also spot a familiar woman inside.

‘…So Pleta is here too.’

I hadn’t heard that the head of the family would come here personally.

A woman resembling Friel Arielt. However, unlike Friel, this more decadent woman was watching us with murky green eyes.

Friel and Sione were also heading toward Pleta. It seemed we should stand near her as well.

‘Eunice also said that people from both families had arrived and were waiting for Arielt.’

Wondering which side was Chelnis and which was Ianet, I followed Sione ahead of me.

A large round table with a map of the Great Forest spread across it. I stopped walking when I reached the right side where Pleta was standing.

A woman who had been quietly watching us from the northernmost part of the tent slowly opened her mouth.

“…So you are the ones designated by the World Tree’s oracle. Well, I heard that you and the outsider met the Grand Elder yesterday.”

The one who naturally responded to the woman’s words was none other than Pleta, who nodded at her words.

“That’s right. These two are the young lady from the County of Sianella and the spirit mage who came all the way from the westernmost part of the kingdom. Chelnis.”

“Hmm.”

“And this is my first time seeing the elders of Ianet.”

When she called Chelnis’s name, Pleta’s gaze shifted to the elf at the northern end. From what I gathered, the woman who spoke first was apparently the elder of the Chelnis family.

The Chelnis elder slowly took in the sight of Sione and me, nodding slightly.

If that’s the case… among the elves positioned at the western side of the round table, the one showing her face at the very front as a representative must be the head of the Ianet family… the elder of the Great Forest.

“Oh? So these two are—”

An elf with bright crimson hair flowing down to her waist.

“The people the Grand Elder has been looking for?”

She had her left eye narrowed slightly while crossing her arms.

When our eyes met after she briefly looked at Sione and then at me, I could clearly realize something.

That elf was sizing up our level while inwardly dismissing us. Elves are monstrous experts at deceiving others and hiding their emotions.

No matter how good my intuition is, the fact that I could be so certain from that fleeting glance meant that she wasn’t deeply concealing her disdain for us.

‘Sione… seems to have noticed it too.’

My master must have vaguely sensed the subtle atmosphere emanating from that orange-haired elf. I could see her usually innocent expression subtly shifting.

‘But I’ve already discussed Ianet with Sione separately before.’

About the family that might not welcome us very much, as I had heard from Friel Arielt.

We had talked about this once when I first contracted with Cottontail and brought her before Sione, and again just before entering the Great Forest.

She should be able to quickly compose herself and face those elves.

Tap tap.

And indeed, when I secretly tapped Sione’s hand and firmly held her pinky finger, she glanced at me briefly before composing her expression.

During this brief encounter, the Chelnis elder opened her mouth.

“…It’s good to show interest in the heroes of the oracle, but the most important matter of the half-human half-demon has been delayed. Let’s discuss this after we finish dealing with this issue first. What do you think?”

“I agree.”

“Hmm, heroes… Well, anyway, discussing the demons should be our priority now.”

With Pleta’s clean agreement and Ianet’s somewhat verbose consent.

From there, Chelnis’s explanation began.

I wasn’t sure exactly what was happening or why this had become such an important meeting that even the elders had gathered…

The fundamental reason for today’s military meeting was about demons. Specifically, about hunting down half-human half-demons, who were the biggest troublemakers and potential sources of chaos, both currently and potentially.

The head of Chelnis stood close to the map.

“With the help of the Chelnis family and the knights from the Kallia Marquisate who came to assist us, we were able to track several half-human half-demons. After one major tracking and elimination operation, the western part of the Great Forest was under Ianet’s care, so there was nothing to worry about.”

Her hand pointed to two large areas on the map.

They were the northern and southern regions, centered around the city.

“The north and south remained unresolved, so the knights of Chelnis and the Marquisate focused on eliminating the cultists traveling between north and south. But the problem is… while we succeeded in cutting off a few heads of the small fry, the most problematic half-human half-demons among the cultists not only escaped elimination but eventually hid in the eastern labyrinth.”

The head’s hand moved to the eastern part of the map.

“Harboring evil intentions with the vile demons.”

I looked down at the map.

The map depicting the Great Forest, especially the eastern part, was remarkably simple.

Forest. A map marked with so many trees that it was hard to find a single blank space in the vast area.

The western and southern forests through which we had entered the Great Forest. The scene, which appeared to be twice as dense as what we had seen, could rightfully be called a sea of trees.

It seemed the half-human half-demons had hidden themselves in this maze-like forest.

“Hasn’t the Grand Elder been telling us elders all along? That if we don’t stop those with horns, a greater calamity will come.”

As a result, it had become quite a troublesome situation.

Even though for elves, forests are like their playground or backyard.

With such a wide range and maze-like structure of the forest, the search would inevitably take a considerable amount of time.

“We must take their heads.”

Moreover, even if the search succeeded and they were tracked, there was no guarantee that the elimination would be successful.

In that sense, the Great Forest was facing quite a difficult situation.

That’s why we, or more precisely, Sione’s abilities were needed.

If only they could borrow the power of Sione’s authority.

Through the power of that sense that not only uses human’s five senses but also the sixth sense, the instinct to track to the end the moment Magia is felt.

They wouldn’t have to tire themselves out by searching the entire area for traces of the cultists. And in the process, the chances of the cultist remnants noticing and fleeing would be significantly reduced.

Pleta Arielt, who had been quietly listening to Chelnis’s words, casually spoke.

“The forest keepers of the Arielt family… along with the young lady and the spirit mage, wish to participate in the elimination of the half-human half-demons.”

“Oh?”

Chelnis’s short exclamation.

Pleta, who pushed up the glasses she was wearing, continued.

“Everyone here probably knows what ability flows in the blood of the County of Sianella. The young lady will be of great help to us in tracking and eliminating demons in this rather complex forest.”

Pleta’s passionate speech began.

The main point of her speech was about the results that Sione and the forest keepers centered around her could achieve. And also about how to deploy the knights of the Kallia Marquisate and the forest keepers of the Chelnis family around this.

As her opinions on how to act across the northern and eastern regions poured out.

‘Hmm?’

I felt a gaze piercing my skin.

Drawn by the stinging gaze, I turned my head to see the orange-haired… that is, the head of the Ianet family, staring at me intently.

“But… I have a question. I have no doubt that the young lady of the County will fulfill a great role according to the power flowing in her blood… but I’m not so sure about the man who isn’t the young lady.”

Still with her arms crossed.

She expressed her opinion calmly with a haughty expression.

“Elder Pleta seems to be thinking of incorporating not only the young lady but also him into the elimination squad—”

She was clearly showing doubt, or rather, distrust and displeasure.

“I’m sorry, but… wouldn’t his inclusion in the elimination squad only hold the squad back?”