After the day when black ravens covered the sky, great turmoil came to the Great Forest.

    The first stirring was due to the spread of rumors. Heroes invited to the Great Forest by the High Elves. What value could these humans possibly have? Speculations and exaggerations about these people, who remained within the Third House and rarely showed themselves, spread as gossip.

    A sword to cut down demons. Descendants of humans who once valiantly slaughtered demons. These stories, perfect to share over the Great Forest’s sweet wine, reached everyone’s ears through drunkards and bards. Opinions about the heroes who came to the Great Forest were divided according to individual beliefs.

    ‘They say they’re humans with power…’

    Shallow expectations.

    ‘Even if they’re inferior to us because they’re human, aren’t they descendants of those who fought alongside us in the past?’

    ‘The Grand Elder announced that she gathered them according to the oracle given by the World Tree.’

    Curiosity.

    ‘…But they’re still just humans. It would be fortunate if they don’t trip over our forest’s rough terrain.’

    And natural dismissal stemming from arrogance and a sense of superiority.

    They exchanged various opinions and inflated rumors, and after the subjugation team returned from the eastern sweep, the story definitely tilted in one direction.

    ‘I have an acquaintance close to a member of the subjugation team, and they say that woman from the kingdom is remarkably good at finding demons.’

    ‘I heard there’s also a man who can control spirits. Have you heard anything?’

    ‘That’s—’

    Stories about two human heroes, Sione and Ray, began to spread among the crowd who had only been wondering.

    Whether it was the work of instigators or just the usual exaggeration of braggarts, these stories grew and spread uncontrollably. Eventually, the heated debates in taverns about the truth or falsehood of these tales were quelled by an official document bearing the seals of Arielt and Chelnis Houses.

    ‘Have you checked the achievements of this subjugation team?’

    ‘My, achievements?’

    ‘It must have been quite a major operation… They posted an official document on the bulletin board in the Grand Plaza announcing the results… If you haven’t seen it, let’s go look together.’

    The weight of the seal was light. The handwritten signatures infused with the Mana of the two elders and the family crests certified the incredible achievements of the two humans as fact. The elves could no longer easily deny this after the recognition from the two houses.

    Before the first stirring had fully subsided, a second one arrived.

    ‘I hear the three houses are preparing to welcome the Grand Elder…’

    ‘Ah, that rumor. Wasn’t it just a pack of lies?’

    ‘No, listen to this.’

    The king of the Great Forest and spokesperson for all elves. The High Elf would reveal her noble face and body in the city, in the vast Grand Plaza, for the first time in decades or centuries, rather than remaining beside the World Tree.

    And the rumor that Arielt was most enthusiastic, followed by Chelnis, and finally Arielt quietly preparing to welcome her spread as another piece of gossip through the rough women in taverns and talkative male elves in the marketplace.

    They were immersed in anticipation, wondering if they would truly be able to behold the Grand Elder.

    Amidst all this, the third and final stirring arrived.

    ‘Have you heard about the Great Trial?’

    ‘Of course, how could I not know about that!’

    ‘Then… what do you think about it?’

    ‘That’s quite a difficult question… Well, since it’s you, I’ll tell you what I think. I—’

    Another official document spread.

    Notices posted not only on the bulletin boards in the Grand Plaza but also on every alley wall were enough to capture the attention of all elves in the Great Forest.

    The Great Trial would be convened. Moreover, it would be held in broad daylight, with a fair judgment rendered by the unfaded insight of the High Elf before all residents of the Great Forest.

    This was stimulating enough for the bored forest dwellers. Even more, the accuser was a human from the kingdom, and the subject of the trial was none other than one of the Great Forest’s three houses, the Ianet House. Naturally, it drew everyone’s attention.

    A mysterious human possessing intense uniqueness versus an elf born with great talent and carrying on a lineage.

    Humans guided by the Grand Elder and the World Tree versus a proud house that had always represented them.

    This confrontation with its provocative title was enough to cause great division among the crowds in the Great Forest, and all elves eagerly awaited only the day when the Great Trial would be held.

    ‘Have you heard the news? Arielt—’

    ‘Come to think of it, even Chelnis, who always insisted on neutrality—’

    Another topic that fanned the flames.

    Arielt and Chelnis announced their support and protection for the two humans.

    As a result, the evenly divided standard of who was good and who was evil finally shifted.

    ‘I still side with the warriors of the oracle…’

    The humans who came all the way from the County and fought desperately for the Great Forest, sacrificing their bodies, were cast as the heroes.

    The Ianet House, which should have been more innocent and loyal to the Great Forest than anyone else, began to be widely rumored to have made some kind of contract with demons, casting them as the villains.

    Once the roles were assigned to the actors, the curtain of the play rose shortly thereafter.

    A few days later, when a new sun rose to its zenith. The heads of the three houses and their subordinate houses, as well as elderly elders and numerous elves, gathered in the Grand Plaza, creating a sea of people.

    Soon, an elf softly but with Mana in her voice, recited so that it would clearly reach everyone’s ears.

    “Silence, everyone.”

    At once, countless gazes fell upon her. But she calmly accepted the weight they conveyed and continued.

    “The great Queen of the Great Forest will now arrive at this noble court—”

    She surveyed the crowd with her head held high and warned:

    “Everyone bow your heads to welcome the Queen.”

    No sooner had the elf finished speaking than numerous forest guardians rushed toward the path leading to the court. They forcibly pushed aside the elves blocking the way to create a path.

    As soon as a sufficiently wide path was made, they unsheathed their swords from their waists, planted them in the ground, and bowed their heads.

    An elf walked confidently down the path they had created, as if such treatment were only natural.

    “Hmm…”

    The one who softly hummed was Edelin.

    She was not wearing the noble priestly robes she wore beside the World Tree, but was dressed as a queen, in an expensive dress, wearing a crown and sword symbolizing authority.

    With her face looking down at others haughtily, and those distinctive ash-gray eyes emitting a brilliance no less dazzling than the sun, even young elves who had not yet matured bowed their heads in silence before her, showing respect.

    She sat on the prepared seat on the highest platform in the Grand Plaza and crossed her legs.

    “…”

    After surveying the elders and elves gathered here, she soon declared with a stale, so-called rotten smile:

    “Let the trial begin.”

    * * *

    “Hmm…”

    Click, click.

    “Hmmmm…”

    Click, click, click, click.

    …Annoyingly.

    Sione, dressed formally even down to her shoes, was so nervous before entering the courtroom that she couldn’t stay still and paced back and forth.

    I understand her nervousness, given that she has to stand as a main character before thousands or tens of thousands of people. But if she can’t compose herself until now, how will our County’s reputation fare if she embarrasses herself in front of all those pointy-eared folks?

    I adjusted my own attire and said to Sione:

    “How about taking some deep breaths?”

    “Hoo…haa…. Hoooo…haaaa—”

    “Please relax a bit. If you’re this jittery, you might trip over your own feet.”

    “…It’s not that bad.”

    “For someone claiming that, even turning your head—”

    “I said it’s not!”

    Sione, her cheeks bright red, shook her head defiantly.

    Then, seeing her hair disheveled despite having carefully arranged it, she wore a dejected expression.

    “Ah.”

    Oh dear, what is she doing now?

    “Come here. I’ll fix your hair one last time.”

    “…”

    “I can’t fix it if you don’t come over.”

    “…You’re being mean.”

    Just as I was finishing arranging her slightly disheveled hair, an elf hurriedly approached us and spoke:

    “Lady Sione, Sir Ray, it’s time for you to enter.”

    Finally, our entrance time had arrived.

    The curtain was rising on the stage that Arielt’s Fleta and Friel had put so much effort into, and it was time for the actors assigned the most important roles in the play to take the stage.

    I smiled slightly and patted Sione’s back.

    “Shall we go?”

    At my words, Sione let out a deep sigh and began to walk limply.

    For a noble person… I remember how nobles at the royal palace would try their best not to appear intimidated, but why is our lady acting like this?

    With my gaze fixed straight ahead, I moved beside Sione and tapped her arm, saying:

    “Keep your back straight and eyes forward. Walk proudly as if you were the Emperor of the Empire.”

    On this long-awaited day of the trial. What good would it do to attend with a gloomy face?

    “This is a trial we will win. It’s good not to be careless, but there’s absolutely no need to be overwhelmed with worry.”

    Today.

    “The oracle’s warrior Lady Sione and Sir Ray from the County of Sianella are entering!”

    Today, Ianet’s cursed tumor will be removed by our hands.


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