Ch.225225. Final Discourse (1)

“Wait just a little longer. Now that the heavy talk is mostly over, how about we continue our conversation over some tea?”

After enjoying her tea for a moment, Pleta looked at her daughter.

Their gazes crossed as her daughter lifted the teacup to her lips to enjoy the tea like the head of the family, while Pleta rested her chin on her hand.

Friel ended up sitting there, unable to drink her tea, just exchanging glances.

Finally, she removed the cup from her lips and let out a small sigh.

“Huu……”

Clatter!

As Friel set down her teacup, Pleta spoke as if she had been waiting for this moment.

“Friel, please go deliver a message to the person waiting at the entrance.”

Friel tilted her head as if wondering what this was about.

“Tell them to bring what I ordered to be prepared. They’ll know what to do.”

“I understand.”

Scrape.

While Friel pulled back her chair and went outside to speak with the attendant, a conversation between Pleta and us began.

The topic wasn’t particularly special. Questions about the County, or perhaps the promises the Arielt family had made with the County in the past. We passed the time with clear conversation that strengthened our relationship without any unpleasant aspects.

Finally, Friel and an elf returned to Pleta’s office, carrying what I had been wondering about.

“I’ve brought it, Mother.”

“Excuse me.”

In Friel’s and the other woman’s hands was a rather large black case. It seemed to be made of valuable ebony, exuding an antique feeling, and was adorned with the Arielt family’s unique emblem combining wood and sword.

‘Could it contain weapons?’

A reasonable suspicion.

A case that size would likely contain useful equipment, if not weapons.

“Place it here.”

Following Pleta’s order, Friel and the elf carefully placed the case in front of her.

Having completed her task, the elf bowed her head and left the office, while Friel returned to her seat.

“Now that the prepared gift has arrived, I won’t keep you busy people for too long. Let me show you right away.”

Pleta, rising from her seat opposite to Friel, adjusted her glasses and looked down at the case.

She first touched the case on the right.

She unfastened the latch securing the case and finally revealed what was sleeping inside.

I had to struggle to keep the corners of my mouth from naturally rising.

Because—

‘…A bow made from the World Tree’s branches.’

That bow was clearly made by weaving branches from the World Tree.

Although the one I’m currently using is also undoubtedly made from the World Tree’s branches… this bow is even more special.

Unlike my bow, which has lost much of the divine power that once resided in the wood, that bow embodies the essence of the Great Forest’s advanced bow-crafting abilities.

As both a spirit mage and an archer, I couldn’t help but covet it. It was such a remarkable item that I should consider myself fortunate not to be drooling with my eyes rolling back.

I focused on Pleta’s words with growing anticipation.

“This… is a bow I prepared for Ray on your side.”

As expected.

Such a bow would suit me, a spirit mage, better than Sione.

“I don’t know exactly what connection you have, but I saw that you carry one of our bows. However, it has lost its mystical properties from age. This weapon will greatly help improve your skills.”

Pleta pushed the open case toward me.

“Will you accept it?”

“Thank you. I will never forget your kindness.”

“I’m glad you seem pleased.”

A new bow always brings excitement.

With such a well-crafted bow, commanding the battlefield with spectacular spirit magic might not be such a distant future.

While I was looking down at the bow with happiness, Pleta unfastened the latch of the other case, which presumably contained Sione’s bow.

“And this is a gift for the young lady. Unlike your hero who handles spirit magic, I prepared a different type of bow that would suit her better.”

As the latch was unfastened, another new bow appeared.

It was a masterpiece no less impressive than mine.

“Those shorties—even though our relationship with the dwarves is terrible, I once had a chance to examine their bows. This is one I acquired then.”

I wondered what material it was made from.

The bow limbs were crafted from an unknown metal, boasting a clear silver-white body. Just looking at it revealed its unbreakable sturdiness.

“Even though it’s been hundreds of years since I received it, those shorties were quite meticulous in their craftsmanship. I guarantee it will still serve the young lady perfectly well.”

“…Are you giving me such a precious item as a gift?”

“Of course. After all, dwarven bows are merely ordinary, low-value bows to us elves. To us who handle spirit magic, their bows are just bows that don’t break.”

“Still……”

“Moreover, we have several more such bows in our family’s storage. Giving one to the hero of the Great Forest is no problem at all. Isn’t that right, Friel?”

“Of course. If we can deepen our connection with the heroes through such a bow, nothing could be better.”

A dwarven bow.

A masterpiece among masterpieces, made by natural-born blacksmiths, showing perfect compatibility with beastkin and humans.

A bow that sometimes has various magical properties depending on the craftsman’s skill, in addition to excellent mana conductivity.

Pleta pushed the case containing such a bow toward Sione without hesitation.

“It’s yours from now on. Seeking a new bow after your old one breaks is a foolish action. I believe you understand this well.”

Seeking a new bow after your old one breaks is foolish.

Because excellent bows are difficult to break in and adapt to your preferences. Especially bows made with monster materials or special mana refinement.

Nothing is more important to an archer, who relies on the feel of drawing the string and aiming.

Sione seemed to understand Pleta’s words, quietly nodding.

“Then… I gratefully accept.”

“Mm.”

Pleta smiled slightly as she watched Sione pick up the bow.

“It suits you well.”

Her words were right.

Although the bow Ainel had given her as a gift was nice, it was inferior in quality to this one. With a proper high-quality bow in hand, Sione was finally starting to look a bit more stylish.

Pleta then extended her hand to Sione.

“I look forward to our continued relationship.”

Sione took her hand.

“I look forward to it as well.”

Now only one thing remained.

Meeting the Grand Elder, Edelin.

The journey to remove obstacles was nearly complete.

* * *

With our conversation with Friel finished and our business with Pleta concluded, all that remained was to wait for Edelin to invite us separately.

While idly waiting in Sione’s room for her summons, Sione carefully picked up the bow she had been using until now and quietly looked down at it.

“I’ve used this bow for so long. Despite carrying it through such rough places and handling it roughly, it has nothing but scratches—”

Sione’s expression was wistful.

She looked like someone gazing into a past that would never return.

“Mother gave me such a good bow.”

Sione raised her head and looked at me.

She was smiling.

“Don’t you think so, Ray?”

I could only quietly agree.

“Yes. Ainel had excellent taste, and it’s a sturdy bow.”

“I thought you’d say something like that.”

Saying this, Sione placed the case she had received from Pleta on the table.

After taking out the dwarven bow and emptying the case, Sione held up her original bow against it to check if it would fit.

“But now I’m going to let this bow rest a bit.”

Confirming that the size matched, she placed the bow inside without hesitation.

“It’s the only bow my mother gave me. I can’t let it break.”

After closing the case and securing the latch, Sione sighed.

“Huu—”

That breath carried more weight than expected.

As if expressing Sione’s feelings.

“I want to go back to the County. I wonder if we can return safely—”

It was a quiet murmur.

But having gone through so much in this distant land, it was probably half, if not more, sincere.

However, if we don’t fight and survive here, in the future, there won’t be a home to return to—it will all become a sea of flames and a demon realm. What can we do?

Like it or not, we must stay and fight here. And ultimately, we must cut off the heads of those damned demons.

I quietly answered Sione’s words.

“We will be able to return.”

“……?”

“Since we’ve missed the timing to deal with the half-human half-demons, we’ll have to give up on that. Now the demons will come to attack this place.”

“……”

“But we will win, and you and I will return to the County.”

“Well……”

Sione, who had been deeply downcast, shook her head and eventually showed a faint smile.

“Why are you so confident?”

“In all the battles you and I have experienced, haven’t we ultimately won them all?”

“……”

“The battle on the carriage road, in the mountains, at the royal palace, on the castle walls. We’ll win this time too.”

“But we lost in this subjugation.”

“That wasn’t us losing……”

I gestured to Sione.

Come over here.

As Sione approached me with a puzzled look, I pretended to look around mischievously, then suddenly whispered in her ear.

“We lost because the forest keepers in this neighborhood weren’t as good as expected. We did everything we could, didn’t we?”

Sione stared at me blankly with round eyes, seemingly surprised by my sudden remark.

Soon after, she bowed her head at just the right angle for a pat.

As I gently stroked her head, I continued.

“Don’t worry. Even if we lose here for the first time, I’ll just grab Sione and run away. We can escape to the County if needed.”

“……”

As I was saying this, Sione, for whatever reason, grabbed my wrist that was stroking her head. She lifted her head abruptly and smiled.

“Really—”

Her left hand rose.

“Ray, after receiving such a nice bow… you’re being so irresponsible.”

Whoosh!

Smack!

Sione’s palm struck my shoulder.

Feeling the strong pain, I stared at her with a dumbfounded expression as the slap knocked the wind out of me.

“But you just said all that to help me relax, right?”

She was now wearing a clear, beautiful smile.

“Thank you, hero.”

First she hits me, then she thanks me.

She was such an unpredictable master.

“If you’re grateful, you should take a hit too, Sione.”

“What? You want to hit the other side too?”

Thanks to this, we were able to pass the remaining time quickly.

Time flew by, and finally it arrived.

Grand Elder Edelin’s invitation.

* * *

“This place is beautiful even on a second visit.”

“I agree.”

Right beside the World Tree that supports the Great Forest.

This place managed by Edelin alone was indeed beautiful even on a return visit.

A pure white arched stone building. It was probably once a temple enshrining the World Tree. But that sacred temple’s appearance was gone. Only the main pillars and sturdy parts remained, and the ruins were filled with life-filled sprouts and colorful flowers.

Crossing through those ruins to the place where we first met Edelin.

A small white temple with ivy diligently climbing toward the sky. As we approached it, we finally met the most important person in our plan.

“Oh my. I’ve been waiting for you, heroes.”

We were able to meet Edelin, the Grand Elder of the Great Forest.

“I’d like to have today’s conversation with proper hospitality… how about inside this temple instead of in the garden?”

The tiresome discourse was finally entering its final negotiation.

“We gratefully accept your kindness, Lady Edelin.”

The groundwork for holding the trial had finally begun.