Ch.232232. The Great Trial (4)

“You all, I shall bestow upon Ianet a fitting punishment and restrictions.”

I couldn’t help but inwardly cheer.

This was all a rigged game anyway. I had informed her, the High Elf, about the most important facts even before the trial began. She would have certainly conducted a thorough investigation of Ianet through her close associates who were loyal only to High Elves, in order to grasp the truth.

After confirming the authenticity of our Changshik’s magic containing Chenya’s voice, a woman who still appeared so vigorous wouldn’t have just stood by watching the seeds of suspicion sprout, especially when the Great Forest was already in such turmoil.

A trial with a predetermined outcome. The actors merely took the stage, heightening their arguments and showing conflicts of opinion and twists to make the drama more dramatic.

Now all that remained was to watch the judgment of the one who would most splendidly adorn the play and bring down the curtain.

‘Truly, every single High Elf is nothing but a monster.’

All the High Elves I’ve seen so far were like that. Just look at Edelin right in front of me.

Just seeing those properly angered eyes makes my skin tingle. It’s impossible to easily gauge just how much of a monster she truly is.

But one thing was certain.

Click— Click—

The moment she descended from the platform and approached Aina and Ianet. Just seeing a glimpse of the ability she displayed, it was no exaggeration to call her the very embodiment of the Great Forest’s might.

“Among the many Ianets, Chenya and Aina, who stand first in the courtroom, shall be the first examples of punishment.”

Space wailed around her. A distortion created by the manifestation of her remarkably high Mana and the resulting pressure.

As expected of a High Elf who is not only a spirit master but also knows how to easily handle magic without the power of spirits. As an archer, I could find no flaws in her mastery of Mana condensation, control, and magical manifestation.

“Chenya, your crime is especially grave as you not only knew of the clan head’s betrayal but failed to stop it as an elf, and even defended it. Furthermore, you engaged in useless antics in the subjugation team I specifically ordered you to organize carefully, encouraging casualties among our allies.”

“Such actions cannot be forgiven when the fate of our race hangs in the balance.”

Properly suppressed by the High Elf’s complete killing intent and pressure, Chenya couldn’t show any movement even as Edelin slowly approached, reciting her crimes.

It couldn’t be helped.

This is the difference between High Elves and ordinary elves.

High Elves are born rulers, beings created to reign, and even the arrogant elves are merely workers who serve the commands of such High Elves. The genetically ingrained positions of predator and prey are not easily overturned.

Sweating profusely and holding her breath, Chenya stared at Edelin like a cornered mouse. The moment Edelin’s delicate hand gently touched over Chenya’s heart—

“Your first punishment is the extinction of the Mana residing in your heart.”

“Kuhek…!”

Dozens of magic circles appeared around her body, and magic was simultaneously manifested. The magic must have thoroughly disturbed her insides, as Chenya collapsed weakly in place.

After rolling several times, when Chenya tried to raise herself by placing both hands on the ground, she buried her head in the ground and vomited blood.

“As your second punishment, to prevent you from continuing the dignity of a Forest Guardian, I shall take away your swift feet and flexible arms.”

Magic circles then appeared on her ankles and wrists. As they activated, it seemed the muscle strength supporting her wrists and ankles was impaired. Chenya tried to get up somehow, but ultimately couldn’t maintain her balance and collapsed.

“Keuuk…!”

Her posture was exactly like she was worshipping Edelin, with her forehead pressed against the stone floor of the grand plaza.

“…!”

Edelin leisurely placed her right foot on Chenya’s head, stepping on it, and ordered her royal guards.

“Imprison this one.”

Thud.

When Edelin gently pushed Chenya aside, she rolled helplessly on the floor again, as if it were natural.

As the royal guards picked her up and raised her body—

The punishment for Aina continued.

“Especially you, Aina Ianet. Your crimes are particularly heavy. I wonder what punishment would be fitting.”

“Your Majes—”

“How insolent. Have I not finished speaking yet?”

Magic manifested once again.

Aina also gathered Mana to resist her magic, but—

Thump.

In the end, she too was forced to kneel before Edelin.

“I have told the elders so many times until now. How evil the demons were thousands of years ago. That the large wound on my back was inflicted by them, and how much blood we elves shed then.”

“And how much effort I put into saving a branch of the once-dead World Tree to nurture it into the World Tree of this Great Forest. You, as a young elf of the Three Houses, and now as clan head and elder, have heard this until your ears were covered in scabs.”

“So what is all this commotion about now?”

Aina kept her mouth shut.

It wasn’t because she had no excuse.

Despite being an elder with power equal to the mighty Fleta Arielt, before the High Elf Edelin, there was no path but submission. Edelin simply did not permit Aina’s mouth to open.

“When I first heard that you might have betrayed us, I doubted my ears, but perhaps my insight hasn’t faded yet. When I looked into the few remaining celestial secrets left by the World Tree, I finally saw it in the depths.”

“It is grievous. But more than that, it makes my anger boil for the first time in a very long time.”

“Let us begin by completely sealing your Mana.”

Thwack!

Edelin kicked Aina.

Aina fell back helplessly, and Edelin unhesitatingly trampled the spot where she had been.

Click—!

The moment the sound of her heel echoed—

A massive magic circle spread across the grand plaza. At the center of the circle was Aina Ianet. Only she existed there.

The magical knowledge accumulated by the ancient being began to shine.

Wonder and terror descended upon the grand plaza. The overwhelmingly dense Mana was dizzyingly intoxicating, and through this, the elves clearly felt that their queen was still strong and healthy through their skin and through the nature guardians that resonated with her Mana and emotions.

The humans from the County and Marquisate could only look at her with gazes mixed with admiration and fear, wondering if such a monster had been their neighbor all along.

‘…This could get messy if I’m not careful.’

What kind of magic was she trying to use?

Right in front of Edelin, near Sione and me, it could be described as being in the midst of Mana turbulence. Insanely condensed and compressed Mana rapidly swept past us. It would be quite troublesome for someone with a constitution sensitive to Mana.

‘What about Sione?’

Although our Sione is more sensitive to Magia than Mana… well, Magia could be described as similar to primitive, completely unrefined Mana, or maybe not.

Not knowing how she might be affected, I checked her complexion.

“Ugh…”

I was right to check.

Sione was grimacing, apparently finding the sudden Mana turbulence quite burdensome.

I tapped her hand.

“Ah, ah, ah!”

She must have been quite startled by my sudden tap.

After making a slightly loud sound, she continued in a small voice, looking embarrassed as she noticed the gazes around her.

As I just watched her quietly as usual, Sione brought back the hair she had tucked behind her ear to neatly show it, and covered her reddened ears.

Regardless, I quietly spoke to her.

“Take deep breaths.”

“…Deep breaths?”

“Yes, when intense Mana swirls around, there’s nothing better than breathing while circulating your own Mana.”

“Really? Then…”

Following my words, Sione slowly began to take deep breaths.

“Ah.”

“How is it? Better, isn’t it?”

“Much better than before. Thank you.”

Sione smiled gently.

After confirming that my master’s complexion had improved, I turned my attention back to Edelin. The magic was finally complete and was now enveloping Aina.

“As your crimes are heavier than anyone else’s, from now on, I shall limit Aina Ianet’s Mana, blessings, and all other abilities to below a certain level—”

Aina collapsed, vomiting blood with an even more violent reaction than Chenya had shown.

“I revoke your position as elder and status as the head of House Ianet, and until the complete truth of the situation is revealed without a single blemish, I judge that House Ianet lacks the status and ability befitting a member of the Three Houses representing the Great Forest.”

She not only stripped Aina of her personal abilities—

“I hereby announce your expulsion from the glorious Three Houses, and all benefits shall be reclaimed.”

She also took away the status and wealth Aina had accumulated through her life’s work.

“I shall personally fill the vacancy of the Third House during this time.”

Edelin swept her gaze over the gathered crowd of elves.

“Listen, elves gathered here who have witnessed the end of the traitor who joined hands with demons.”

Aina’s pitiful form was lifted into the air by Mana telekinesis.

Her noble dignity lost, her appearance stained with blood. The pain, too difficult even for an elder to bear, had struck her, leaving tear marks that made her look even more wretched.

The High Elf showed this unfiltered image of Aina Ianet to the crowd and, as if it were natural, declared arrogantly with her arms crossed:

“After hundreds of years, I have finally emerged from beside the World Tree, so prepare for the great war and transformation.”

“Thus, those who defect like Ianet will receive fitting punishment.”

“Those who achieve outstanding merits will enjoy long-lasting glory, just as Arielt and Chelnis did in the past, and as Ianet, whose position has now been revoked, once did.”

If she’s not senile from living too long, she’s basically saying: don’t make unnecessary trouble like Ianet, just prepare for war and try to survive somehow.