Ch.20969. For You Who Does Not Die.

Keilan watched the Queen’s back intently while discreetly surveying his surroundings.

Given the layout, this area behind the Queen’s podium was completely hidden from the view of those in the plaza below.

Because of this, it wasn’t uncommon for people to exchange glances or whisper opinions to those seated beside them, as long as they weren’t overly disruptive or inconsiderate.

“Announcing it to the people must mean they intend to confirm and solidify that point.”

“Whether that choice will be a blessing or a disaster…”

…Judging by the context, they seemed to know something.

It was difficult to guess anything from expressions alone, as most people here maintained solemn and stoic faces.

But that too… would soon become clear.

The Queen finished speaking and paused to catch her breath.

-It must be about… the truth that the World Tree has shown us.

Here it comes.

Though not everyone, some among the High Elves already understood what future the World Tree had presented to their race.

And it was not a hopeful tomorrow—rather, it was a cruel reality, impossibly distant from hope.

-The World Tree has told us that our race’s destiny has come to an end.

Those words caused considerable ripples.

Even the thousands of elves gathered in the plaza were visibly disturbed.

‘So they’ve decided to make that choice after all.’

This was one of the anticipated developments.

First, reveal the harsh, cruel reality.

…Then guide the crowd to implement what we want by seemingly forcing them to remember what must be done.

If that’s the case, then the mission given to that human child is….

-And we must not overlook that this is both a cry and a merciful message from the World Tree itself… informing us that its own end is approaching.

Even the High Elves seated in the council section.

And the countless elves in the plaza—our people, our kin, our blood relatives, our comrades.

They all instinctively understood that this flow would not end simply.

-But do not be anxious. Do not fear. This is neither an ominous warning about an approaching disaster and inevitable parting, nor an unstable prophecy.

First, capture attention with shock.

Then provide a solution to dispel anxiety.

It’s an obvious propaganda tactic, but its effectiveness depends on how solemnly the person with authority and dignity presents it.

The Queen deliberately paced her breathing, alternating between silence and speech.

Her skill in drawing attention and intensifying emotions before they could fully erupt or spread from individuals to the crowd was, in a way, an anomalous talent among elves.

As a gentle breeze caressed her body and her blue hair fluttered wildly,

She parted her deep blue lips once more.

-That future will be another gateway we must pass through! To reach better, higher ground! And it will be another opportunity for all of us to survive and enjoy honor.

…Keilan thought.

Those words were meaningless.

Empty, futile wordplay.

-And how we will achieve this, how we must accomplish it… I wish to speak of these methods and possibilities here and now.

‘It’s still too subtle.’

The World Tree’s end and crisis.

Perhaps the anxiety and fear about this had not yet fully spread.

When the Queen finished speaking, everyone would understand and realize.

…That this was no ordinary matter.

If she was merely trying to boost morale or motivate through empty propaganda…

…Her future would be extremely precarious.

All responsibility and blame would fall on her.

That’s what it means when a leader announces the truth.

And this was something that even the wise Queen clearly understood.

So she would surely present a clear solution.

A straightforward answer that everyone could understand and accept immediately.

‘But either way… your choice is destined to be wrong.’

Keilan was prepared to oppose and resist whatever she said.

And based on that, he intended to pull her from the throne and remove her crown.

‘I shouldn’t be the one leading this.’

So there must be another leader.

From the beginning.

Those who cannot accept the World Tree’s end would be present here and elsewhere.

How would they react to her words?

Even if opinions had been aligned and coordinated beforehand.

…There are limits to such things.

‘Entrusting our race’s destiny to that human child… it might mean accepting war if he wants war, or destruction if he wants destruction, but surely that wasn’t all there was to it.’

When it comes to survival and extending life, their race is more cruel and cold-blooded than anyone.

Yet they passed this burden to that child, which means it was the wisest choice according to their thinking.

However, the fact that they proceeded in secret from everyone… is an issue that cannot be overlooked.

And this gathering is the perfect place to expose that….

-Between me… …engagement…

Hmm…?

Lost in thought for a moment, I seem to have missed something important.

“Did I hear that wrong?”

A look of bewilderment crossed the stern face of the friend beside me.

“No. It’s something that’s been mentioned briefly before. Just that no one seriously considered it.”

“But still, how could a human…”

“He’s of the Radiant bloodline. Plus, he has strong connections with high bloodlines and powers across the continent.”

“…That doesn’t matter, but everyone who should know is aware that he was chosen by the World Tree, aren’t they?”

Something, something is wrong.

No, it’s a decision that could be reasonably considered, but…

The problem was that the Queen had officially announced her engagement to a human.

And what followed… was something I could never have imagined.

-Rejoice and mourn, for the day has come when our god, who has emerged from the chrysalis of the World Tree, finally returns to heaven!

…What blasphemy.

Hasn’t the World Tree prophesied and sentenced us to extinction?

And isn’t that what we learned for certain through that human child?

That the Tree itself had given up on extending its life.

And that it had been indirectly declaring this fact to us!

Wasn’t it that human child who made us aware of this!

‘The prophecy, the interpretation of the vision was wrong? Were we deceived? Or were we mistaken?’

That can’t be.

How long have the far-seers agonized over this issue, wandering through thorny paths of confusion and distress?

And now what? Return to heaven?

Trying to beautify death and destruction like that…

‘No. That’s not it.’

She said she would tell the truth, but is this it?

‘Deception! She intends to deceive everyone here!’

Keilan fumed inwardly.

Then, taking a deep breath, he calmly whispered to his friends on either side.

“It must be a lie.”

“What?”

“What do you mean?”

“…This is procedurally correct.”

If we were to shock everyone with the harsh truth from the beginning.

If we were to ignite the fire so hastily, we would certainly have to do or attempt something.

And we would have to do it now.

But by igniting a slow burn like this, we can plan for the long term.

In fact, this is for that purpose… now.

‘But.’

This gives us no answer.

In the meantime, the Queen will likely use this pretext to steadily expand her authority.

She could certainly secure a position to give legitimate orders to the guardians of the four directions.

And by then, that human child’s influence and authority would have noticeably grown as well.

-And as the one to escort Him on His return to heaven, the World Tree has chosen him.

As the Queen extended her hand toward Kariel, he ascended the podium and took his place to the Queen’s left.

‘It’s not just once. How many times have they deceived? And whom?’

That human child even mentioned the elves’ hidden prohibition on alcohol and revealed specific war plans.

How they intended to deal with the continent.

How important speed and decisiveness were.

That human child convinced everyone with those contents.

But now, isn’t this completely contrary to that approach?

And for reasons I don’t understand, the councilors, elders, and even the Queen have shown an unfounded belief that if it’s that human child, he won’t just leave things at the planning stage, but will surely put them into practice and achieve them.

There’s something there.

But very few know what it is.

…Perhaps that unfounded belief was something that needed to be handled more secretly than the World Tree’s mention of extinction.

Or is it just another means to cover up yet another fact that must be concealed?

My head is getting complicated.

‘There’s no point in thinking further here.’

They have already completed their preparations and are pushing forward with their own plans and schemes.

If we’re not going to give up, then we should also slowly…

-Therefore, I wish to give the representative who carries the will of the World Tree an opportunity to express his feelings and opinions as he hopes.

As the Queen stepped back a few paces, the human child naturally appeared to stand alone at the front of the podium.

…

He, the human child.

With a composed face, he kept his gaze lowered, calmly regulating his breathing.

His jet-black hair swayed gently in the light breeze.

As his closed eyes opened like blooming flower buds, a pair of golden orbs revealed themselves.

The radiance cast a clear light that transcended the vast distance.

Like.

Like the unique sun that, despite being just a small dot in the center of the sky,

Easily bathes the entire world in bright light.

-Greetings. Those who know me already know, but nevertheless, I would like to properly introduce myself.

I am Kariel Brendiar.

The firstborn son of Rueld Brendiar, whom you call the Chief of the Nine Heroes, also known locally as the Great Hero, and externally as the only Knight of Radiance, and Ermina Brendiar, one of the Nine Heroes and another Great Hero, known throughout the continent as the Great Saint and called the Holy Mother by the Irenis Order, whose fame is noble and illustrious.

And… was it seven or eight? At that age, on behalf of my close friend, Imperial Princess Elhermina Berk Enzul, I personally became a hostage to petition the Emperor to contribute to continental peace, and was the first to head to the Kingdom of Dabas where I endured severe hardships, but eventually became blood brothers with the Wolf Prince who was reborn as that country’s crown prince…

I resolved the 130-year blood feud between families in the Kingdom of Banus through the Trial of the Twin Kings, preventing an inevitable territorial war and earning their respect. I became a confidant of King Metran, advising him to secure his royal authority and use it to purge corrupt ministers, reducing their influence and spreading it to the citizens, so that in the future, His Majesty would rightfully be praised and honored by his people… Besides these, it seems I’ve exchanged friendship and favors with many people on my way here. And that process continues unchanged even now.

And you know, those who have conversed with me personally already know this, but those who don’t shouldn’t feel too disappointed.

If I were to tell you my entire story from the beginning, it would become too grand, so let’s save that for next time.

…

……

At first, with a gravity beyond his years.

But as he continued speaking, his perfect and meticulous gestures and etiquette gradually transformed into those of a storyteller or minstrel.

Like singing, yet within the bounds of propriety and etiquette, he concisely presented his achievements.

Yet it never felt boastful or showy, and an atmosphere that made everything seem rightful and natural dominated his entire being.

And that dominance was transmitted without fail to everyone influenced by his eloquence, oratory, and lyrics.

Yet it was neither overwhelming nor heavy, nor sharp.

Rather, by the end, it had passed over them like a gentle breeze, naturally drawing everyone’s attention to his subtly permeating eloquence.

-As Her Majesty the Queen has said, perhaps I set foot on this glorious land guided by fate’s arrangement.

And I have spoken with the World Tree beyond just hearing its voice, seen the bleak and miserable future it showed, and conveyed some of this to Her Majesty the Queen, the 14 councilors, the elders, and the seniors.

This fact was so shocking that they were greatly affected, and I believe many people agonized and struggled with the spread of this information.

So I will take this opportunity to tell you. The World Tree and its will, which has presented and arranged the future for your race, will soon enter into rest.

But! This rest does not mean a miserable and wretched end. As Her Majesty said, this means returning to heaven.

In other words, the Tree is moving from the position of Earth Mother who embraced everyone warmly, to a position where it can embrace and caress the entire world.

Therefore, it will no longer provide arrangements and considerations exclusively for you.

Its grace, consideration, mercy, and love… will now embrace everything beyond our continental sanctuary, including the vast sky and the expansive sea.

…

Even as he continued his performance, Kariel.

Even as he calmly acted his part.

He couldn’t help but sigh inwardly.

Yes.

…This is.

Clearly a grand lie.

But.

Dreaming that this lie would be filled only with goodwill and good deeds.

If only it could be made so.

Would such a lie remain a lie when eyes close?

This was, in a way, both a question and an answer I sought from my life.

I am not my father.

I don’t have his courage, his passion, nor can I inspire others with strength and hope.

I am not my mother.

I cannot comfort everyone like her, nor love them, nor care for them. Much less forgive their sins.

-In that sense, I wish to confess a new truth without concealment to everyone gathered here.

At that moment.

A sound—subtle yet weighty and low, yet strangely captivating to the eardrum—began to spread throughout the area.

As everyone was about to feel a sense of wonder at this,

Kariel began to recite in a calm tone, with a completely different atmosphere than before, as if pronouncing or declaring:

-Our new and renewed Mother has descended and stayed for a thousand years, ten thousand years, and more.

And now, here, She has finally returned to heaven and ascended.

We pray that She will look down with love and mercy upon all of us beneath this land.

―

――

And with that―――

Thus, light.

A magnificent light that seemed to contain gold and white night.

Through the branches and leaves of the World Tree that seemed to cover the entire sky.

Below the sky, below the ground.

Right here.

There, onto the ground where the human child stood.

A sacred halo of light descended brilliantly, radiantly.

Through the ears of the multitude who had involuntarily closed their eyes, that profound and somehow sacred melody, which stirred the heartstrings and pierced the heart just by hearing it, moistened and elevated their dry hearts as well.

To the point where they unconsciously folded their hands, knelt, bowed their heads, or embraced themselves with both arms.

-Today, the end has reached the beginning again. Be glorified. Be eternal. Here, the king of the ancient world has visited.