Ch.188188. Objection (2)

“I’m sorry, but… wouldn’t his joining the subjugation unit only hold the unit back?”

The words of the Ianet family head poured cold water on the atmosphere in the barracks.

Perhaps other elves might secretly think the same. I am one of the heroes chosen by the World Tree. To think they would speak about me with such unnecessarily provocative and disrespectful words.

Nevertheless, rather than feeling disgusted by such petty provocations, I wanted to know why this pointy-eared one was behaving this way.

‘…What’s her intention?’

A elder who has lived for decades, no, probably hundreds of years developing wisdom wouldn’t use such violent language without reason.

I recalled what Eunice Kallia had said before entering the barracks.

‘She said they’re cunning and selfish.’

I cooled my head and exchanged glances with the orange-haired elf who was staring at me, refusing to back down.

Meanwhile, Pleta Arielt, who had been freely expressing her opinions, naturally fell silent.

As she looked at Ianet with furrowed brows, her already decadent beauty becoming more intense, the tense atmosphere in the barracks plummeted even deeper.

Two families and the Marquisate of Kallia. At that moment when everyone’s attention in the barracks was focused on Ianet.

Pleta calmly opened her mouth again.

“Elder Aina. What do you mean by those words?”

“I mean exactly what I said—”

The elder who had been quietly looking at me closed her eyes for a moment.

When her eyelids opened, her pupils were directed at Pleta.

“The eastern forest is quite chaotic and treacherous, isn’t it?”

Aina, the head of the Ianet family, began her statement.

“Even if the World Tree’s oracle has designated him as a hero… wouldn’t it be better to think about this theoretically?”

“The expedition path to subjugate the half-human half-demon leads right to the eastern part of the Great Forest. Even we elves, who consider the forest our home, must be somewhat cautious about the eastern forest.”

“The uneven ground with tall weeds binds your ankles. The tangled bushes and trees so dense that sunlight barely penetrates block your vision.”

The eastern part of the Great Forest is nature itself, uncultivated, barely touched even by elven feet.

There are reasons why even they rarely enter that forest.

“Not to mention, from violent beasts to… the forest is now infested with monsters corrupted by Magia that attack regularly. Every elf gathered here should know this well.”

At Aina’s words, the head of Chelnis nodded quietly.

Following the head’s reaction, some members of Chelnis, and even a few knights from the Marquisate of Kallia, began to gradually agree with Aina.

“Naturally, such a harsh and dangerous forest is not particularly suitable for fragile men. While women born with the physique of knights might manage, men… unfortunately have limitations. There are many differences, from physical strength based on Mana capacity to weapon skills.”

It’s a universal truth in this world that men are weaker than women.

The average man in this continent cannot easily endure arduous marches. They also dislike training with spears and swords until their hands develop calluses.

Moreover, even if there are occasional mercenaries who choose to make a living by wielding weapons, unless they are blessed with Mana, compared to women, hunting monsters… no, even hunting violent beasts requires taking considerable risks.

“Given that our purpose is none other than the subjugation of those evil half-human half-demons, even if he is a hero spoken of by the World Tree, including him in the subjugation unit doesn’t seem like a good choice.”

For an ordinary man, Aina’s words would certainly be true.

While her first statement might have been provocative, her subsequent words were definitely worth listening to.

The only problem is—

“Moreover, he’s not even an elven man… but a human, isn’t he? Such a forest would be troublesome for both him… and the subjugation unit.”

Aina’s dignified expression and her indifferent gaze turning back to me.

The fact that I clearly felt her hidden view of humans.

I moved my hand hidden under the round table. To the scabbard holding the coolness of cold iron. I calmed myself by quietly feeling the pattern engraved on the scabbard with my fingertips.

“……”

Then I listened carefully.

Let’s see what more this pointy-eared one has to say.

“Therefore, I think it would be better to place him not in the subjugation unit, but in another unit with lower risk… one that can guarantee safety if he is to be incorporated. For instance… the southern or northern cleanup units would be good. What do you think?”

If Arielt and Chelnis are mostly deployed to the east, Pleta had said it would be good to disperse Ianet’s forces, which are concentrated in the west, to the south and north.

Does she want to keep me tied to the south and north, where her influence can reach, rather than the east where Ianet’s influence is less significant?

Or is there another reason?

Remembering the two words—cunning and selfish—I was about to think deeply to penetrate her true intentions when—

“No—”

Pleta shook her head.

“I don’t think so.”

Saying that, Pleta casually removed her glasses.

Simultaneously, her sleepy eyes, seemingly uninterested in everything, transformed the moment her glasses left. Her murky green pupils began to exude a chilling atmosphere like a sharply honed blade.

“Rather, I think he has more than enough skill to accompany our forest guardians.”

At Pleta’s words, the head of Chelnis began to show interest.

“I’ve vaguely heard news about the County that reached the Great Forest, but I’ve also heard things from my daughter.”

“Elder Pleta, could you tell us more details?”

“Of course.”

Pleta folded one arm of her glasses.

Tap.

She placed her glasses on the map on the round table.

Pleta pointed her index finger at the remaining arm of the glasses pointing skyward.

“First, he has a record of killing a lesser Demon with just one arrow from atop the castle wall.”

Thud.

Her index finger struck the arm of the glasses.

The arm fell powerlessly, like a Demon whose upper body had disappeared from my arrow and collapsed.

Then Pleta raised her head from looking at the glasses and swept her sharp gaze across the audience as she continued.

“Second, and perhaps one of the biggest reasons, is that he already has a record of single-handedly slaughtering a half-human half-demon who fully controlled Magia.”

Pleta half-turned to look behind her.

Her pupils captured everyone from the County, including Friel.

“Besides that, he has many other achievements… could you briefly tell us?”

The one who answered was Diolia, who had been observing the situation without making a sound.

After giving Pleta a slight bow, she stepped forward and began speaking in a clear pronunciation.

“Recently, the County has fought a war against cultists and Demons. During that war, the number of monsters that Ray, the proud knight of Sianella, single-handedly slaughtered from atop the castle wall exceeds hundreds…”

Everyone’s attention was focused solely on my achievements being recited from Diolia’s lips.

The number of Demonkin I killed. The number of Demons. And the number of soldiers, knights, and territory residents I saved.

The path I had trodden with sword and bow was making it impossible not to recognize me as an exceptional warrior.

Not only the elves but also those from the Marquisate of Kallia were looking at me with shining eyes.

“…Impressive.”

The one who answered the small exclamation from the Chelnis head was, of course, Pleta.

“Indeed impressive. But that’s not all there is to him.”

With her glasses back on, she said with a slight smirk.

“He has formed a contract with a highest-grade spirit.”

“What…?”

Finally, Aina’s composure broke.

“Away from the World Tree, it will transform into a high-grade form. But you can easily recognize it as highest-grade by the energy the spirit holds. Well… seeing it once is far better than explaining it a hundred times. Could you show us?”

I nodded readily to Pleta’s words.

“Of course.”

I awaken my dormant heart and take a moment to breathe, focusing my mind to summon Tania.

Away from the Sacred Tree, Tania’s grade summoned here would not be highest but high-grade. However, even summoning a high-grade is quite burdensome, so I need to minimize Mana loss as much as possible.

I began to control the flow of Mana that pulsates in sync with my heartbeat.

Whoosh—

A faint heat spreads from me.

“Ohhh…”

“Hmm…”

The contrasting reactions from Chelnis and Ianet.

They were smelling the scent. The fragrance of the spirit emanating from me.

Flare!

A small flame was born.

The small flame grew in size and ignited beautifully. The occasional sparks became beautiful shooting stars as they fell, and at some point, the intense heat began to concentrate at one point.

Compression, condensation. The fireball gathered to its limit explodes, emitting a pure white light.

“Wow…”

I heard Sione’s small exclamation.

—Meow…?

The cotton ball that had been napping peacefully on my head also woke up from the commotion.

“Really…”

I can see Diolia shaking her head, wondering when I acquired such an ability.

As the scattered flames from the explosion flutter beautifully before turning to dust and disappearing.

At this moment, as I’m internally shaking my head at the completely drained Mana and stamina.

‘Huh?’

[…@**, *※**# is interfering……]

「Qualification Verification」

「Prove your abilities to the elves in the barracks, including the Ianet family. If you possess the appropriate qualifications, the elves…you…*※※…#**……」

「Reward: Mana efficiency improvement, Mana total increase, temporary…정*#……」

‘…What is this?’

Along with the status window… no, quest that suddenly appears like crazy.

Whoosh!!!

Even though the Mana supply has ended, in the midst of the flames that begin to swirl around the center of the round table.

“Park Shinwoo, I’m here!”

…For some reason, Tania appeared in her highest-grade form.