Ch.579579. Unhindered Succession (3)

Artena’s gaze fixed on the elf’s retreating figure.

The brilliant golden hair fluttering in the rushing wind. And of course, the long pointed ears that proved her race. In that brief moment, despite unleashing an arrow with such power, she displayed elegant movements without the slightest tremor, allowing Artena to quickly realize her identity.

“A High Elf has come.”

High Elf.

All had sacrificed themselves and disappeared during the great war a thousand years ago, and the last remaining High Elf—who would have burst apart from the limitations of her vessel had she been an ordinary elf—had become a hero by bearing all the deepest affection of the World Tree.

An elf who could fire attacks imbued with the World Tree’s divine power, different from that of the Order—there was only one such person on this continent.

“The priestess of the sacred tree chosen by the World Tree. The only living hero from the era of the Great War on the continent.”

Unlike demons who took on exceptionally beautiful forms to seduce humans, she possessed an even more beautiful and gentle appearance.

Yet the arrow she fired became a disaster that shook the earth, simultaneously annihilating all the undead charging at the vanguard.

‘So this is truly a hero of the Great War.’

Despite the long years that had passed, witnessing such monstrous attacks, Artena understood why the Holy Nation had paid such deep attention to the Great Forest that had maintained silence for a thousand years after the war, detached from worldly affairs.

However, in that momentary respite, when Edelin looked at her, Artena’s brow furrowed.

‘…Is she coughing up blood?’

Indeed, dark red blood was flowing from the corners of Edelin’s mouth.

Just as Artena’s mind quickly began drawing various inferences and conclusions—

Edelin spoke in an utterly cold voice.

“This time’s appointed Saint of War and Law is woefully inadequate.”

“…What do you mean by—”

“While everyone else is dying in battle, intoxicated by holy war, or barely retreating after sacrificing more than half of their allies, the so-called Saint of War has her mind elsewhere.”

“……”

“If that human who was the Saint a thousand years ago were still alive, she would have wanted to kill you. Saying what kind of worthless woman has taken her place.”

Edelin casually wiped the blood from her mouth with her hand.

Her cold gaze, eyes that seemed to read people’s hearts, pierced through Artena and conveyed her meaning.

Don’t be relieved that reinforcements have arrived. As the Saint of War, instead of harboring such pathetic thoughts while carrying her people, she should be agonizing over how to save more allies and how to achieve a greater victory.

‘…What a brutal warning.’

This was a warning.

Do not be curious about why Edelin was coughing blood. And do not try to become more closely entangled with them.

“Stop turning your head and spread your blessing on the battlefield. As I said, we just stopped by briefly.”

Incredibly rude words.

But no one who heard Edelin’s words around her could argue against her insolent speech.

The numerous spirits summoned around Edelin and her aura, heated up before battle, pressed down on everyone, announcing her overwhelming status.

When even the Saint of War could do nothing but silently grip her mace, what could those around her do?

‘……!’

At that moment, Edelin drew her bowstring.

A quick sliding release. By the time the arrow left the briefly drawn string, it carried not only Edelin’s own power but also the natural disasters of the highest-ranking spirits.

‘It hit the target!’

The moment the arrow struck what Edelin had called a fake doll—

A catastrophe that shook the earth occurred around the Demon.

Flames covered the ground, and above them, a gale with sharp physical force through mana tore through the surroundings, while sharp and solid ice pierced through enemies along with the wind.

“Tsk….”

Edelin clicked her tongue, spat blood onto the ground, and slowly approached Artena.

Her body looked incredibly light, but why did her footsteps seem heavier than anyone else’s?

“The Order can handle the remaining stragglers. I’ve helped more than enough. Even the Order shouldn’t lose ground at this point.”

Still speaking in a tone that belittled the Holy Nation’s expeditionary force,

She soon walked past Artena toward the other side.

Artena turned and grabbed Edelin.

“…You who receive the World Tree’s favor, why do you so disregard and belittle us?”

“Do you know anything about the transgression the Order committed a thousand years ago?”

“Transgression? The Order has made endless efforts and sacrifices for the continent—”

Edelin cut off her words.

“That’s why you people fail. If you really want to know the reason…”

Then, narrowing her eyes, Edelin quietly added:

“Find out what kind of person the first Saint of War was.”

“How could I not know about the first Saint? That’s an insult beyond—”

“I was her friend. What the Order tells you is absolutely not that woman’s true self.”

“……”

Edelin leaned forward, coming right up to Artena’s face.

She whispered in Artena’s ear:

“It’s good to be loyal to the Holy Nation that took you in after you were captured and experimented on by the Empire, but it’s not good to remain so confined.”

“…How did you!”

With those final words, Edelin vanished instantly.

After staring blankly at where she had been for a moment, Artena soon raised her mace high and shouted:

“…The Demon has been gravely wounded! The enemy numbers have also decreased, so if we seize this opportunity, we can not only maintain our line but also deal a great blow to the enemy! Glorify the name of the Celestial God with victory!”

Even as she spread blessings across the battlefield and swept away enemies, Artena couldn’t shake off Edelin’s words.

“…I heard some strange things.”

A small seed of distrust toward the Holy Nation had been planted in her heart.

* * *

“Great Elder, was there a reason you had to speak that way to that young human?”

“Well, those chosen by the one called the Goddess of War and Law all have peculiar traits in common.”

Edelin washed the blood from her mouth with water from the canteen Fleta had given her.

“If the Saint moves according to my predictions, surely—”

She placed both hands over her heart.

Confirming once more the power and time granted to her, she said:

“After my death, it could be of great help to everyone.”

Artena was a woman worth provoking at least once.

And if her provocation could bring about the desired change—

“Of course, if things flow that way, some precious humans in the Holy Nation will have no choice but to weep tears of blood.”

Perhaps a great change might occur in the Holy Nation.

* * *

The operation to completely eliminate the Magia Realm proceeded steadily.

The elimination operation ultimately proceeded without difficulty in the face of our overwhelming power.

After taking abilities from the first Guardian and following the route toward the depths of the Magia Realm, we now stood before the Divine City.

“Is it because what we planted last time was the World Tree? All the surrounding plants have come back to life fragrantly. I never thought we’d smell such fragrant flowers in that gray space.”

“Commander Teia, you’ve been here before. Could you tell us in more detail what the scenery was like then?”

“I’m curious too. I’d really like to hear about it.”

“If even our Magic Commander says so…”

From our Marquisate’s troops who were visiting the Magia Realm for the first time, everyone began to relax.

Of course, we still maintained minimal vigilance, but the fact that we could regain this composure was all thanks to that Divine City.

“Sione, Ray, you can look forward to it. That place inside is our greatest achievement in exploration.”

“Not the exploration base, but that place?”

“Since the World Tree came in, the city started to be restored. There’s no rebuilding of collapsed buildings, but, umm… you’ll understand immediately when you go in.”

The moment I entered the Divine City with the expectations Siabel had raised held tightly in both hands—

“Indeed—”

As if the suppressed energy was just beginning to burst forth now that the terrible Magia had cleared—

[You have entered the domain of the young World Tree.]

[The World Tree’s divine power begins to recover.]

The divine power I received from the World Tree.

For a while, I hadn’t been near the World Tree, so there was no way to receive it, but now the Great Forest’s divine power, which had been depleted, began to flow through my body again, and beyond that—

『Sacred Realm Sanctity Restoration: 23%』

『When the sanctity of the Sacred Realm is restored, all functions of the city will awaken.』

As if it wasn’t just a fortress city built to subjugate demons—

The status window now referred to this place not just as a Divine City but as a Sacred Realm.

『The Sacred Realm transfers authority of all functions to you, its proxy.』

“What…?”

There was nothing here last time I came. Was all this here?

The Sacred Realm had chosen none other than me.

And with—

“Wait! Everyone on guard! Unknown light is shooting up from the central temple of the Divine City!”

—a spectacle brilliant enough to melt everyone’s hearts.