Ch.20868. I Simply Can’t Face Them. (3)

“This situation. It’s not something we should simply accept.”

“Then what do you suggest we do?”

Three High Elf councilors continued their meeting in a dark room.

“We agreed to hand over full authority to him not because we were intimidated by the elders and the senior council.”

“…Even so, are you suggesting we change our position now?”

“Is there a need to change it?”

“…Ha! So that’s the direction you want to take after all.”

They were deliberately omitting the subject in their conversation.

“The reason we lost hegemony to humans and numerous other races. It’s because we lacked the same ambition they had.”

“…Ambition, you say.”

“Because of that, how many barbaric and cruel atrocities have these numerous races committed? Just because we’ve fallen behind, do you truly believe we need to follow their barbaric ways?”

“For peace and security, we must not neglect sharpening our arrows.”

“But…”

“We were once the rulers of the continent. But what about now? For some reason, we’re treated like foolish beings who merely put on airs from the periphery. This is wrong, fundamentally wrong.”

“……”

One councilor spoke in a meaningful tone, almost whispering.

“We should use this opportunity to declare to the world our continental expansion and activities, the gathering and unification of our scattered kin. All of this together. When we reveal our true intentions, the world will see how easily it can be trampled under our feet.”

And this councilor who uttered those words, along with the queen and another councilor,

was one of those who had closely examined the memories of Kariel from another world—the one Kariel had glimpsed through the Divine Tree.

That supreme victor who was called the great war god, the hegemon, and even the dark lord.

The dark madness that briefly flashed in his eyes swept through the hearts of those present with its ominous aura.

“We can become greater than we are now. Not doing what we are capable of is laziness, negligence, and a complete sin.”

In the name of the Divine Tree and our ancestors.

“Let’s show them what we, who have always revered peace, can become when we prepare for war.”

His voice carried an inexplicable resonance.

A resonance that stimulated desire, filled emptiness, and forcibly stitched together fractured deficiencies—fierce yet profound.

“The uprising will be in 4 days. Based on their insulting sacrilege, we shall rise up.”

And so, as the sun and moon rose and fell several times…

…that day arrived.

====

Ardisus, despite its vast area of forests, groves, and the World Tree, had residential zones that occupied only a tiny fraction of the entire forest.

Above all, the castles and palaces with distinct purposes were mostly functional, without unnecessary expansions or increases in size.

Nevertheless, their massive scale could be attributed to the accumulation of time and the strength that preserved them.

And this place, which had been a grand plaza, occasionally a central training ground, and a public banquet hall during festivals even thousands of years ago, was surrounded on three sides by three buildings—the Divine Tree’s temple, the Elder Palace, and the Royal Palace—all with their backs to the World Tree.

Even so, given the considerable distance between buildings on opposite or diagonal sides, while the central entrance facing the temple was easily accessible despite the open central area, the Elder Palace and Royal Palace on either side were relatively heavily guarded.

And on this day, the security was particularly stringent.

While elves preferred light armor, that didn’t mean they never used heavy armor.

In forest battles, light armor was generally more advantageous unless one excelled in close combat or melee fighting.

Moreover, the elves’ agility allowed them to climb and move through trees, shooting and sniping organically, a fighting style that, combined with their collective and individual characteristics, posed a massive threat to intruders.

Additionally, when the trees themselves moved to repel intruders, and sometimes even tree spirits rose up and began to interfere, the battlefield essentially transformed into a living enemy and hostile weapon, meaning a normal battle could not be established.

Even Kariel from the other world, who was called the war god, chose not to invade but instead adopted a strategy of burning the forest from all directions in a prolonged battle, and for good reason.

Even he found that ordinary arson operations were ineffective due to weather manipulation techniques.

“Quite a turnout.”

The temple hill, which overlooked the plaza and its entrance paths, was situated on high ground that could only be reached by climbing 333 steps.

While usually open to anyone, on days like this, only those with proper qualifications were allowed to ascend.

Sitting on one of these steps to catch his breath while looking down, he felt a sense of deep emotion.

“Since the festival and gathering were announced ten days in advance, if the news reached them, all our kin in Ardisus would have gathered.”

From one side, Remira, wearing silver plate armor and a helmet with wing-like horns, casually informed Kariel.

“A festival, huh? The preparations seem rather modest for that, don’t they?”

“There are different kinds of festivals.”

“Is that so?”

They hadn’t officially announced what would happen.

It seemed they had used the festival as a pretext to increase participation, aiming to spread the news to the citizens by raising their voices.

Come to think of it, I’ve been here for quite a while now.

I’ve been called to several so-called festivals, but they weren’t as consumptive or hedonistically stimulating as human ones.

It was more like… creating an occasion to regularly share news and circumstances with each other.

Or times when they combined labor to handle big tasks.

“Everyone seemed tense. We’re always on edge because we don’t know the situation and need to be prepared, but…”

“Something’s going to happen. It can’t be helped… but make allowances.”

“Allowances?”

Remira exhaled.

“So you don’t grow your hair because of the helmet after all.”

“How did you know?”

“Your circumstances have quite a history. Even in ancient times, there were many examples of completely shaving or adopting certain hairstyles because of helmets and hair management issues. Even today, many warriors shave their heads and wear helmets tightly during battle.”

“True. Knights in your country would be particularly sensitive about that.”

“You can wear a helmet with long hair, but it’s really bothersome. It sways, gets sweaty, and causes problems. And if your hair blocks your vision? The already narrow helmet holes get completely blocked!”

“Is that so?”

“It’s not like yours where the face, mouth, eyes, and nose areas are generously open.”

That’s why, even with a helmet on, anyone with a keen eye could quickly identify who was who.

“Oof!”

Kariel rose from the steps, lifting his leg high to step up from where he had been sitting.

“Let’s be careful.”

“…When you say something like that, I guess something really is going to happen today.”

“It’s been set up that way. What’s truly inevitable is inevitable.”

Kariel tapped his brow.

“They say they’ll save everyone, but monsters aren’t included in that.”

“Monsters?”

Kariel muttered something strange like “Yes, that’s the seed of my vice!” while rubbing his neck and observing the High Elves who were beginning to appear in their splendid… yet somehow suffocating attire and outfits, and stuck out his tongue.

“I do not recall wishing for my own birth.”

“Huh?”

Remira looked puzzled.

What is he suddenly talking about…

“Did I beg? To be pulled up from this abyss. Did I plead? To be molded from sand and soil. To be created.”

“Hey, why are you suddenly saying such things…”

Kariel didn’t stop speaking.

He even twirled around while standing.

“You shall stand there eternally. Only eternity was born before you.”

It wasn’t a song.

In some sense, it seemed like he was reciting verses, poetry.

In a manner and feeling completely different from how he usually recited scriptures and holy texts.

He spread his arms and forged strange words.

“Those who pass through me shall find the thread of salvation.”

Then.

Bringing his hands together, he murmured softly.

“Take all living hope, you who are placed within my design.”

“……”

Following him and staring blankly, Remira asked with half-open eyes.

“What are you thinking, doing that?”

“Just. Wanting to give a small gift of comfort to those with good ears.”

“???”

“Eternal joy to those who pass through me. Those who pass through me shall now finally, at last, inevitably enter the city of jubilation.”

“……”

Remira shook her head.

Sometimes, or rather quite often…

“I wonder if human children of that age develop more sensitivity? Imagination?”

“We call that romanticism. The dreams, hopes, and expectations of childhood are filled with romanticism.”

And ultimately.

“As they shed that, their lives keep falling to the bottom.”

That burden they considered heavy.

In fact, it was the foundation of who I am.

When it’s all shed, what remains in the end?

“Becoming smart is never about moving away from foolishness.”

“……”

“That’s the biggest affliction your kin currently harbors.”

The moment one believes that success, challenge, attempt, and achievement are impossible.

The more intelligent one becomes, the more knowledge accumulates, with each addition…

They tend to settle, hiding behind the shield of wisdom.

“They might distance themselves from failure and missteps.”

Because they don’t try in the first place. No recklessness.

“That’s why they have to be backed against a cliff. Neither gods, the World Tree… nor other transcendents or anyone else.”

“Kariel?”

“What they desire isn’t mere believers. What they’ve wanted from ancient times are helpers, understanders, or companions.”

Or.

Something even more than that.

But knowing and understanding that doesn’t solve anything.

That’s why I…

‘I have no choice but to prove things in a way different from others.’

I don’t know myself.

I don’t know what I truly want to do, what I stand for, or what I pursue.

Not what the world has assigned or instilled in me.

Not emotions, motivations, or anything else born from experiences accumulated throughout life, pushing and prodding me.

Truly, sincerely, what I seek.

What I, and only I, want to do in this life.

Something only I can achieve.

Ding-a-ling—

A long, faint, delicate sound spread softly yet widely, caressing everyone’s ears like a gentle breeze.

Its resonance continued for a long time.

After tens of seconds passed, once more. And again.

By now, almost all of the hundred or so seats that had been prepared were filled.

The queen, dressed in a gown of pure white with silver mesh, was walking gracefully from the upper temple building towards our direction.

A pristine white floor.

Following the stone path where gold and silver patterns and designs continued like an unfolding fairy tale.

As she approached the podium, everyone who had been seated rose as if it were a predetermined procedure.

Kariel was already waiting near the base of the podium to greet her.

Upon reaching the podium, before passing by, she glanced at Kariel and asked.

“Have you waited long?”

“It was but a moment.”

Kariel placed his hand on his chest and bowed.

“Very well.”

As soon as the queen ascended the podium, High Elves kneeling on one knee near the podium began to unfold spirit magic.

The space rippled, wind blew, and a blue light shimmered.

-In the name of the Divine Tree and our ancestors, by the will and respect of the God of Abundance, the Guardian of the Forest, and the Executor of Trees. Carrying on their legacy and honor, representing their precious intentions, I, Diana’kis, Queen of the Blue Ash Tree, wish to declare to all of you today one clear, unprecedented fact.

Though her voice was small, it was transformed into a clear, resonant sound that reached the ears of everyone present.

Having amplified her impact through silence and pause, the queen parted her blue lips once more.

-And that is…