Chapter 40: It Would Be A Shame, If The Academy Didn’t Have This

“…So, you’re saying you’ll stay at the academy for a while and then travel around the empire to deal with monsters?”

“Yes, Elenia. What do you think?”

I expected a positive response.

It seemed reasonable enough.

However, Elenia’s expression was far from what I had anticipated. I

t was clear she was worried, and anyone could see she was against the idea.

“Elenia?”

“There’s a saying among humans, Tyreal. If you keep showing them kindness, they’ll start to take it for granted. At first, they’ll welcome you, but as time goes on, they’ll start to expect it as if it’s their right.”

“…”

“Why do you think our kind hasn’t shown such great favor to humans? Even a few years, which are but a fleeting moment to elves, are enough time for them to develop misconceptions. That’s why.”

At first, all the humans would praise and thank me for my actions.

But as time passes, that gratitude will fade.

They might even start making demands.

If something goes wrong during that process, they might even turn on me.

Just as elves have their flaws, humans have theirs too.

When you see that firsthand, you might end up deeply disappointed in them.

This was the reason Elenia was so adamantly against my plan as soon as she heard it.

“…”

I didn’t expect Elenia to oppose me so seriously.

She’s always been the one advocating for improving relations with humans.

Even after being half-exiled from the village for it, she still held onto that belief.

If even Elenia is this opposed, it’s hard to dismiss it as mere paranoia.

“I’m sorry, Elenia. But I’m going to do it anyway.”

However, I had already made up my mind and was fully prepared to carry it out.

I didn’t come here to seek permission.

I only wanted to inform her of my plans and seek her advice.

I was confident that this was the right and better way to go about it.

“As I’ve told our other kin, this isn’t an act of charity for the empire or humans. Of course, I’ll frame it that way, but in reality, it’s a test to see how far we elves have come.”

“If that’s the case, why not hold a competition among our own kin?”

That’s a valid point.

In fact, elves within the same village, and even between villages, have always competed.

Who has better magical skills?

Who has a stronger affinity with spirits?

“Elenia, do you know why elves are so resistant to change and have become so rigid?”

“Hmm, there are many reasons, but I doubt it’s the answer you’re looking for.”

“The reason I believe is that there’s no immediate opportunity to test and confirm our true capabilities. At best, it’s only when we draw the bow of the Mother Forest. After that, there’s nothing.”

“That’s…”

“You mentioned competitions, right? But who would truly go all out in those? It’s not about simply overpowering the opponent, but about confirming our own limits, even if it means seriously injuring or even killing someone.”

Someone once said that elves love peace and despise violence.

But if that were truly the case, shouldn’t we be living harmoniously with our neighbors for hundreds of years?

Shouldn’t we be living as one village rather than competing with each other?

This isn’t just because of the elves’ inherent nature.

It’s because there’s no proper outlet for the pent-up frustrations that have been building up over time.

That’s why it’s manifesting in the wrong ways, leading to our characteristic arrogance and self-righteousness.

I need a place where I can coldly evaluate myself and learn more about my limits.

Even if that space involves a bit of violence.

In fact, rational beings tend to learn humility when they realize their own limitations for the sake of survival.

“To make the elves great again. I will do my best for that. I want humans to look at us not with fear or distance, but with a desire to engage and experience our culture. To do that, we must first eliminate the deep-seated fear and the things that keep us apart.”

“It won’t be easy. The relationship between elves and humans has been strained for a very long time.”

“That’s why I’m not choosing a method that only involves elves and humans.”

Just as the academy was established between the Great Forest and the empire.

What if we use monsters as a bridge to bring elves and humans closer?

It would be less intimidating than just approaching each other directly.

“…The master did have some connections with the imperial military, albeit briefly.”

“At the same time, we recently saved an imperial noble who was nearly killed by a monster.”

“It’s likely that the empire will view this positively rather than with concern.”

But first, we need to take the academy more seriously. Right?

At Elenia’s words, I nodded in agreement.

As she said, we first need to build up a lot of goodwill here at the academy.

“Do you have any good ideas? Just being a student doesn’t seem like it will be enough.”

“No, Elenia. Actually, being a student is enough. But it can’t just be about attending lectures diligently.”

The academy, despite its grand name, is essentially a combination of high school and university.

The students here aren’t seasoned politicians, but just teenagers and young adults in their 20s.

“Elenia, do you know one of the best things about being born an elf?”

“Hmm, I doubt it’s being skilled in magic and spirit arts.”

“I’ve told you several times, I’m terrible at those.”

“Then… I don’t know. Tell me, what’s one of the best things about being an elf?”

“It’s the fact that we love fruit so much that we’ve become experts at making all sorts of things with it.”

Perhaps because we don’t eat meat, elves have a strange preference for sweet foods.

Add fruit to that, and it’s like drowning in a sea of sweetness.

And sweet foods are like magic—they work everywhere.

‘Not to mention, the face value of an elf far surpasses that of the highest human nobility. That’s the cherry on top.’

Thinking that, I skimmed through the documents I needed to submit to the academy.

[Great Forest Academic Club]

*

Maria had been having a hectic time lately.

When she first heard she got into the academy, she was worried about how she would adapt.

Then she collided with some young lady from a baronet’s family, and she thought it was a disaster.

Coming from a mere baronet family, she had to keep a low profile.

But then she ended up clashing with someone connected to a count’s family, which was beyond exhausting.

This is a disaster.

A real disaster.

What should I do?

What should I say if I run into her again?

Before the entrance ceremony, she was so worried she even had nightmares about it.

But then…

“Maria! New students have to choose a club. What are you going to do?”

“Of course, you’ll join our classical music club, right?”

“What are you talking about? Obviously, she’ll join the tea ceremony club.”

In that moment, a student life completely different from what she had imagined began.

People she had never met before, those she wouldn’t have dared to speak to as a mere Barone’s daughter, approached her and started conversations.

It wasn’t just her.

Her brother Rick was in a similar situation.

As if by some unspoken agreement, the two siblings became the center of attention among the academy’s seniors.

‘…Is this because of that?’

Yes, it must be.

There’s no other explanation for their behavior.

Elves.

The forest folk.

A race blessed by the gods.

The masters of the Great Forest.

Despite their beauty and greatness, their inherent arrogance has kept them distant from humans.

But recently, they’ve been approaching the empire in a completely new way.

‘According to the seniors, the elves have been officially entering the empire through our Baron. That means our Baron Heiner is the first to welcome them.’

They’re not coming in as individuals, acting recklessly and causing trouble.

They’re coming to atone for past mistakes, and the empire can’t ignore that.

Naturally, the Baron Heiner’s importance and attention have increased.

“Maria, Junior? So, what are you going to do?”

“I, I…”

No matter what, this is too difficult a choice, seniors.

If I choose one, the others will be disappointed.

What am I supposed to do?

“…?”

Then, Maria’s eyes fell on a club name she had never seen before.

“I, I think I’ll join this one!”

“Where? …Oh, the Great Forest Academic Club?”

“Yeah, I heard it’s a new club this year.”

“It’s a bit disappointing, but if Maria doesn’t join, it would look strange.”

Just a while ago, they were unwelcome guests who kept showing up at our territory.

Now, there’s even a club at the academy to study them.

‘But what exactly does this club do? Do the elves teach their own history? Or is it a place to spread their culture and traditions?’

With these thoughts in mind, Maria entered the newly established club room…

“Tyreal?”

“Ah, we meet again, Maria.”

“What… is all this?”

“This? It’s fruit jam.”

Even though it looks simple, it’s not made the human way.

This is jam made the elven way!

Go ahead, try it!

Caught off guard by the insistence, Maria forgot even the most basic question she wanted to ask.

Like why Tyreal, who wasn’t a student, was at the academy in the first place.