Great Harmony (1)

Ellua, daughter of Elnar. As the daughter of an Elder and a kind of noble class, she was undoubtedly a perfect elf without a single flaw.

As the Elder’s daughter, she always thought she should set an example and lived up to that thought by taking the initiative. Therefore, to other elves, she was a beautiful and intelligent future leader to emulate.

“Father…”

However, change and trials came even to such an Ellua. While rushing to help her father Elnar, she was attacked by dark elves who assaulted the city and fell victim to a curse.

[Throw off your constraints]

The curse of corruption, which she had only heard about, immediately shook her mind and began to taint her body and soul. That intense and coercive force was different from simple hypnosis or brainwashing.

It was a kind of calamity with a concept completely opposite to the miracles they worshipped, shaking the mind so much that it could not be refused, making one corrupt themselves.

‘No!’

Even Ellua herself, who had fallen to the curse, could tell. At this rate, she would lose herself and become a corrupted monster that would go berserk and harm those around her.

All she could do was endure, but even with her mental strength, she couldn’t last even a few minutes.

“Open your eyes.”

But at some point, the curse that was consuming her slowly began to be purified. A refreshing and clear power she had never felt before settled in her body, driving out the curse while holding onto her mind.

‘Ah…’

Ellua unconsciously marveled at the blurry silhouette she saw. She saw the face of a girl that couldn’t be more beautiful.

Brilliant silver hair sparkled, and a mysterious light enveloped them.

Seeing this sight, Ellua barely escaped the curse but became enchanted by something else.

The appearance of Isilia the High Elf, which had seemed so unfamiliar and awkward when they first met, had now completely taken her heart.

‘This is it. This is the path I, we should take.’

Ellua, whose thoughts up until now had been completely shaken, agonized and struggled for days. Certain that simply doing things as she had done so far was by no means the answer.

“This is the result? Stripping naked and wearing such lewd clothes?”

And Isilia slumped down after hearing this story. She couldn’t believe that her message had been interpreted in this way.

* * *

“What on earth did you hear from what I said? I wore those clothes solely for communing with spirits.”

“Spirits. I thought that was the answer. The elves of this era have lost their qualifications. It’s a great sin. I thought that to atone for that and regain our former glory, we needed to meet the spirits again.”

I let out a hollow laugh at Ellua’s words. On the other hand, Ellua confidently expressed her thoughts in an outfit that left nowhere to look.

“…”

I couldn’t bring myself to tell her that the earth spirit beside her was spinning its hand around its head. Her desire to meet the spirits again was very admirable, but it couldn’t be achieved in this way.

It’s like how a lover wearing sexy lingerie for you would be lovely, but if a stranger appeared in such attire, you’d naturally report them.

“Why not? Of course, I lack the qualifications. But if we don’t first create an environment where they can approach us…”

“Spirits don’t even pay attention to those who aren’t their chosen partners. It’s meaningless to try to win their favor. So your hypothesis is in the wrong order. Strip naked after you’ve communicated with a spirit first.”

I gestured to Lina, who was looking at me, to bring Ellua her dress back.

I admit that body which could become a world-class model if taken back 10,000 years is nice to look at, but I’m someone who can distinguish between public and private matters.

“I asked the spirits, and they said the elves of this era have their senses blocked from communicating with spirits from the start. Unless this is opened first, it seems difficult to meet the spirits.”

“Then, does that mean we can never meet the spirits ever again?”

When I told her this painful truth, Ellua despaired and slumped down, placing her hands on the ground.

This story seemed to be a critical hit to the other elves as well, as the faces of Elnar and others hardened.

After all, regaining communication with the lost spirits was not simply an opportunity to become stronger.

“That’s something no one knows. One thing for sure is that you won’t gain anything by doing nothing. Your direction was wrong, but I think that spirit of trying to do something is right.”

I smiled bitterly and turned to look at Laila. Even Laila, a human, was born with an ‘aura that spirits like’.

Spirits are always open. If elves can somehow communicate with them again, they will surely return.

“Is the situation over? Then let’s get ready to go.”

I waved my hand, looking around at the awkward atmosphere. Even Ellua, who had caused the commotion, seemed to have given up after hearing my words and was in the process of putting her clothes back on.

“How’s Ellua?”

“She finished preparations quickly. We should be able to leave right away.”

When I returned to my room, Arisa nodded with a sigh.

“It seems she still hasn’t given up on her dream of becoming a spirit mage.”

“Well, that doesn’t matter. You can gain something if you try anything.”

“Then, if she really becomes a spirit mage…”

When I shrugged nonchalantly, Arisa stammered with fearful eyes.

“Does she really have to strip? It seems Ellua intends to do so if she becomes a spirit mage.”

“If you really hate it, it can’t be helped, but it is true that it helps…”

If the spirits who left long ago really return to the elves, I, who became the starting point, might have spread poison into elven society again.

Should I be glad that at least all elves are extremely beautiful and have good figures? At least it’s fortunate that there can be no male spirit mages.

“We’ll think about that later. For now, we need to focus on the mission. It’s a very important mission. The fate of the entire elf race depends on it.”

“Y-Yes, that’s right!”

When I shook my head and changed the subject, Arisa flinched and nodded hastily with a face full of tension.

Representative Ellua and Deputy Arisa, these two will embark on the first diplomatic activity of the newly formed Elf Confederation as envoys.

“What if they refuse to provide the holy water?”

Arisa, who seemed extremely anxious, showed an uncharacteristically dependent attitude towards me. I couldn’t blame her, as even I would feel like vomiting from the pressure.

‘The likelihood of the Order of Light, which values harmony, coldly rejecting the elves who approached first like this seems low, but if they really do that, there’s nothing we can do.’

The authority of High Elves might not work in the outside world, but there was something else used as a common language. I was planning to use that.

“Surely you’re not thinking of using force?”

“…I’ll use money. Good timing. You write a letter too. To your father.”

I hit Laila on the head as she jumped to conclusions and made a fuss, and I was planning to have Patrick send word to Ethan’s informant.

‘This is why I raised such an organization.’

Ethan and his organization, which keep expanding with my support, were an information source and money bag that could be used at any time.

It seemed there would be no harm in preparing them just in case.

“The city is in sight.”

“The first gateway.”

Although we had made grand plans, the first mountain we had to cross was none other than the nearest city.

Ellua and Arisa, along with about ten other elves who openly revealed themselves, arrived in a carriage pulled by reindeer to the place where I had been going in and out as an adventurer with my companions.

“W-What’s going on!”

Disguised as an adventurer moving with them, I smirked under my hood as I heard the sound transmitted by the wind spirit.

The city guards seemed to panic and fluster when the elves appeared so openly, and with such a splendid carriage and entourage.

“Calm down! I am the adventurer Patrick! I have escorted these people here, so please guide us to the administrator quickly!”

As we had agreed beforehand, Patrick stepped forward as the representative to explain the situation to them. Now we had become adventurers in charge of guiding the elven delegation.

Ellua and Arisa also maintained a dignified attitude without a hint of hesitation, as we had discussed earlier. They are now representatives of a faction.

They must not be overwhelmed by pressure. Of course, they would do this well even without me telling them.

“The world is going to be greatly surprised by this.”

Patrick muttered softly as he watched the bustling guards.

Surely, what’s happening here now will be the starting point of changes that haven’t happened before.