Ch.220220. Retreat and Report (2)

The branches covering the sky. Perhaps it’s because the embrace of the tree reaching the heavens is right before us. Fortunately, the cultists still seemed reluctant to come this far. Our return to the city was unhindered.

Despite maintaining heightened vigilance, all we encountered were cute flying squirrels and wild rabbits, not those damned demon worshippers.

Neither the other elves’ reconnaissance nor Elvis’s scouting detected any enemies, so we could finally relax and continue the remaining journey.

And if there was a small gain among all this.

‘Dad, that orange-haired lady finally managed to create her own faction.’

While Ianette had been firmly establishing opposing sides between Airine personally and everyone else led by Chenya, somehow upon reaching their sanctuary near the World Tree, it seems some elves had begun to side with Airine.

As I was mulling over Elvis’s words with extra caution, unfamiliar figures approached from the front of the group.

“You all are…”

Several fully armed elves. They were scouts responsible for patrolling this area not far from the city.

As they appeared, Friel and Airine naturally stepped forward to face them. Sione followed, positioning herself a few steps behind between them.

From the way these three representatives of our subjugation force stood before them, and from their attire and deeply sunken expressions, it didn’t seem like they were bringing entirely good news.

“Judging by your appearance, you seem to be forest guardians from the reconnaissance team.”

The scouts carefully saluted and listened attentively to Friel, who spoke before Airine could.

“If it’s not too presumptuous, could you relay our unit’s message to our sanctuary? As you can see, all our unit members—”

As Friel glanced back, the scouts’ gazes followed toward our rear.

Elves all showing signs of exhaustion. Among them were those with minor and major injuries, and some so severely wounded they could barely move.

As Friel Arielt said, the condition of the elves forming the unit could hardly be called normal, to put it bluntly.

“Are quite exhausted, you see.”

“Of course, we’ll hurry to relay the message and call for assistance. What would you like us to convey…”

“I’ll tell you just the most important points briefly.”

Friel took a deep breath.

As cold air filled her lungs, her brow furrowed involuntarily from the dull pain above the long wound on her chest.

Unintentionally, Friel delivered her message with a cynical smile.

“We succeeded in burning the lives of two of the three Demonkin operating in the eastern forest. We also managed to thwart their rituals multiple times, buying time against their sinister plans.”

Where there are achievements, there are inevitable losses that accompany them.

“However, I’m ashamed to say we failed to achieve our original goal of taking all three heads. Due to numerous battles fought until capturing the last Demonkin, all our forest guardians are either seriously injured or extremely exhausted.”

We suffered many wounds from numerous battles and internal affairs.

“Please quickly prepare people to transport the severely injured and those who will handle treatment—”

Friel Arielt, one of the severely injured who, like me, lost consciousness and was bedridden for days.

It seems her claim of falling ill wasn’t an exaggeration after all.

“Please relay exactly what I’ve said.”

She sneered while touching around the wound inflicted by the cultist.

* * *

The unit that departed for the eastern forest to track and subjugate the Demonkin finally returned to the World Tree.

Laborers, healers, and even some military forces—the previously quiet city was now bustling. Naturally, in a small town, news spreads quickly. The news of their return couldn’t help but spread rapidly.

Observing the non-elven residents lining up around our procession, Sione remarked:

“Quite a crowd has gathered.”

“Indeed. I never expected so many elves would be standing along our path already.”

“They must be curious. They know the situation in the great forest isn’t good.”

“I suppose that’s true.”

“But the problem is, sigh…”

Sione let out a heavy sigh.

“This procession is quite different from a victory parade.”

Her words were exactly right.

Among our procession, not a single forest guardian was smiling with a sense of achievement after killing two Demonkin and returning alive.

Everyone was only deeply concerned about the Demonkin we failed to kill at the end, the real demons, and the extensive damage suffered so far.

The procession could hardly be seen as a victory parade or a welcoming ceremony for a hardworking unit.

Rather, the forest guardians might be feeling even greater pressure and responsibility from the elves who were quietly watching and whispering about us. However, as members of the Count’s family, we didn’t need to worry about that too deeply.

We simply recalled the objective fact that the mission had failed—we had failed to completely prevent the demon summoning ritual from taking place.

‘Friel and Airine will be quite busy from now on.’

They’ll need to explain how the battle unfolded, what losses were sustained, how they responded, and now they’ll have to devise and implement new strategies. It’s obvious they’ll be running around frantically, starting today or at the latest in two days.

Moreover, since Sione and I played significant roles in the unit, we’ll likely be called to various places. It would be good to think again about what happened during the past days while waiting.

With these thoughts in mind, I followed their guidance back to the Arielt family mansion and arrived at my room door.

“Then I hope you can rest well, at least for today.”

The elf who had been guiding Sione and me handed us potions in glass bottles with engraved patterns and brilliantly glowing red contents that screamed premium quality and expensive.

“The Grand Elder has already given instructions regarding Ray and Sione’s treatment… Please use these potions for any urgent wounds…”

Sione was surprised by the elf’s words.

“The Grand Elder spoke about our treatment?”

“Yes, she said she would like to treat the heroes under the blessing of the World Tree, conversing as before, if possible.”

The High Elf, Edelin.

She will personally take care of my and Sione’s treatment—

Sione doesn’t have many serious wounds so there’s not much to worry about. But being the leader of those arrogant elves, a High Elf, she’ll probably show healing magic powerful enough to rehabilitate my still creaky body that doesn’t respond quickly to my commands.

Edelin must also be curious about what happened in the forest, so she’ll probably call for Sione and me before long. For now, it wouldn’t be bad to drink these expensive-looking potions while waiting.

“Ray, are you sure you don’t need proper treatment right away?”

“Yes, I’m fine.”

The concern is appreciated.

I heard that while I was asleep, Sione drove out the Magia and generously poured potions into my mouth.

Thanks to that, my condition isn’t as serious as when I was bitten by the Arachne’s jaws before.

I responded to Sione’s question with a faint smile.

“The only issue is that the leg that was attacked moves somewhat sluggishly, but there’s no major problem. I can live normally… and with this precious potion, it’s more than enough.”

“That’s a relief then…”

As Sione looked at me with a worried expression.

Diolia, who had been quietly standing beside us, subtly interjected.

“Sione, aren’t you worried about me?”

“Ah, if it’s the knight.”

Sione coldly countered her sly smile.

“Weren’t you healthy enough to try to fight with Ray and me in the middle of everything?”

“Ah… that was…”

As Diolia surrendered, completely overwhelmed by Sione’s eloquence.

The elf who had been quietly listening to our conversation—seemingly finding the flow of conversation amusing but maintaining a poker face while only the tips of her ears moved up and down expressing her amusement—withdrew.

“Then I shall take my leave first.”

Following the elf’s departure.

“I should go meet the other knights as well.”

“I also need to have a conversation with my spirits, so I’ll go in first.”

“Then let’s all meet again in the evening. Is that alright?”

“Of course, I’ll be there on time.”

I also nodded in agreement, and everyone parted ways to their rooms.

A room too spacious and luxurious for one person.

“Haah…”

I threw myself onto the bed with a deep sigh.

It wouldn’t be bad to rest like this for a while… but considering the amount of information I gathered separately in the eastern forest, it might not be a bad idea to organize it roughly before resting.

Just as I was about to organize my thoughts while looking up at the ceiling.

A change occurred in my field of vision.

「Eliminate the Danger」

「Eliminate the enemies hiding in the eastern forest. They are demons and many descendants… in various places… *※#… @@…」

「Reward: @**, *※**#’s…─, ■■」

「Strong interference is beginning to distort the quest…!」

「Resisting.」

「Resisti─」

「Resist.」

『Resist』

『Resistance failed』

『Content modified.』

The quest that appeared arbitrarily due to third-party interference is being interfered with again.

「Eliminate the Danger」

「The ritual at the first altar has succeeded after all. Somehow to prevent walking the worst path… *@#@…@#@@…」

「Reward: ■■」

“What is this…”

…Status window’s resistance and resistance failure?

What on earth has been happening to me with all this interference?

As I frowned deeply and glared at the quest, I could feel an instinctive chill.

“…”

It was a familiar sensation.

The primal revulsion I felt through my skin every day when conquering this dungeon. The goosebumps and chills that occur when receiving waves of intense Magia—I got up from my seat.

“What’s going on.”

Such dense Magia in a place full of elves, with the World Tree and High Elf sitting right here.

I hurriedly got up, flung open the window, and took in the outside world.

“…”

It looked no different from the city just moments ago.

The sky was high and blue, with the brilliant sun shining at its center—weather full of warm life that anyone would recognize as poison to demons.

But if there was one peculiarity in that sky.

“This is maddening.”

All the birds in the eastern forest, instinctively sensing danger from the recent Magia, had taken to the sky and were fleeing westward.

Ominously enough.

Seven out of ten of them were ravens wildly traversing the sky.

* * *

“Ah—”

A man’s exclamation echoed through a room where only a thin beam of light penetrated between the curtains.

In response, a knight who had been quietly meditating in the corner of the room with closed eyes slowly opened them to look at him.

Regardless, the man, Allen Kallia, just stared blankly into space, letting out exclamations.

“Aah…”

Allen Kallia, now wearing an ecstatic expression, gradually rose from his armchair.

“Chloe, finally, He has conveyed His message to me.”

Chloe Anette, the captain of the First Knight Order of the Kallia Marquis family.

Hearing her name, she carefully began walking toward him.

“If He has conveyed a message.”

“Finally, the real work has begun, so we too should not be idle but devote ourselves to the great cause. That’s what He is saying.”

“Finally, They have responded to your efforts, Lord Allen. Congratulations.”

“Good, good…”

Allen’s mouth corners stretched up into a smile with no sign of coming down.

He then got up from the armchair and flung the curtains wide open.

Not satisfied with just that, he beamed with a bright smile, looked up at the blue sky for a moment.

Then suddenly turned to face Chloe.

“Chloe, everything is prepared, I presume?”

“Of course. However.”

“However?”

“Recently, Count Abel has been busy poking around our business. If we don’t move discreetly, we might really be discovered.”

“Hmm. Abel, is it. What should we do—”

Allen began to ponder deeply.

But only briefly. He shook his head as if bored and spoke in a glib voice.

“It’s annoying to worry about this—”

Now, a low voice filled with clear madness filled the room.

“Perhaps I should employ an assassin.”

He was nothing more than a beast who had abandoned human morality.