episode_0034

In fact, more frightening than the situation where the Earl of Tenafel and the elven prince who seemed to be an uncle were urging me.

A huge body crouched behind the prince, a fiery spirit with flickering eyes staring at me was even more terrifying.

A giant torso resembling a wingless dragon burning with bright flames.

It must be a high-level spirit that could cause even natural disasters.

Perhaps, if he wished, he could have turned the earl’s territory into a sea of fire in an instant.

So, beads of sweat had formed on my forehead without my realizing it.

Eventually, they rolled down my cheek and fell with a tap on the tip of my chin.

I don’t know how many thoughts flashed through my mind before that drop of sweat fell onto the table.

Clearly, this was the move of the emperor.

The imperial letter must have already reached the elven king, and naturally, the emperor’s intentions would have been conveyed to the Earl of Tenafel as well.

There was absolutely no room for doubt about that.

Yet, why were they acting like this?

To questions for which there seemed to be no answers.

In the end, my mind became as tangled as a jumbled ball of yarn.

One thing was clear, though—there must not be a war at any cost.

“Wait…!”

So, I had no choice but to stop and watch for now.

“Why are you doing this, Your Highness? Surely you’re not trying to refuse the honor of leading the vanguard?”

“You, who haven’t shed a drop of blood, speak so arrogantly. How can you be so haughty?”

“A high status implies heavy responsibility, Your Highness. Leading the nobility at the forefront in battle has been a deeply rooted tradition since the time of the founding emperor. Don’t act so humble; stand proudly at the front and accept death humbly.”

“To think you can’t even muster that much courage, it’s a shame to waste noble blood. It’s unbearable to think that someone like you, a coward, shares the same bloodline.”

The Earl of Tenafel and the elven prince were urging me one after another, like close friends who got along well.

It felt like blood was coming out of my ears.

They didn’t even give me a chance to speak.

Somehow, I felt suffocated.

“I came here to prevent a war…!”

“Ah, surely not. Could His Highness really do such a thing?”

“To think that even with elf blood running through your veins, you would still speak falsehoods. Indeed, it seems that human blood cannot be helped. You are a disgrace to Wiblea and Ribengard.”

It seemed that pursuing me was their only goal, war being put on the back burner.

These authors… for some reason, I can’t shake the feeling that they’re doing this on purpose.

Yes…

Otherwise, it’s an unreasonable situation.

However.

For whatever reason.

Even if they pursue me relentlessly, they cannot go against the will of the Emperor and the Elven King, so ultimately, war will not occur.

And.

Given their high positions, they wouldn’t try to kill me by defying orders from above.

So, it’s up to me.

If they won’t listen and only torment me, then I have no choice but to take action.

Bang!

I rose from my seat, pounding the table like a count.

“Well then, let’s put an end to this nonsense and start the war.”

I spoke to the Elven prince.

“I will take the vanguard. I will stain the earth with the blood of elves.”

After saying this, I locked eyes with the count.

“……”

“……”

After speaking, not only did I feel relieved, but both the count and the Elven prince were left dumbfounded.

***

Eraquus Tenafel, the Viscount of Mersen Empire.

And Aplatus, the twelfth child of the Elven King.

Normally, the two had a close and friendly relationship.

Of course, due to the deep-seated enmity between the two races, they didn’t openly show it, but it was only when they drank together in private.

Contrary to appearances, Aplatus was actually older of the two.

He might look like a twenty-year-old youth, but in reality, he was eighty years old this year.

Nine years older than the mere seventy-year-old viscount.

Their regular exchanges of goods and services were more than enough proof of their special bond between the two races.

– Brother, my grandson has been studying to be the heir lately and his health has suffered a lot. Please give me some sap from the World Tree.

– Have you used up what I gave you last time already?

– Who stuck that little bottle to someone’s nose? It should have been used up long ago.

– Alright, just wait a bit.

– Thank you, sir!

– Instead, bring quite a generous amount of that special brandy, Tenafel, reserved only for the emperor this time.

– What are you saying, between us. Hehehe.

Their relationship began when Wiblea became Empress Mersenne due to the king’s concern for his daughter’s safety.

It was a connection that started when the former Northern Commander, who advocated for human punishment, was demoted and Apflatus took over as his successor.

It was also when peace finally came to the Tenafel Plains, where large and small conflicts had been ongoing.

Although the relationship between humans and elves did not improve, it was a situation no different from a ceasefire agreement between the Empire’s Emperor and the Elven King.

And it became an opportunity to drastically reduce the bloodshed at the border.

Of course, the peace based on the implicit promises of leaders did not last long.

After the Empress’s death, trouble began to escalate again in the previously peaceful southern part of the Empire.

While outwardly condemning Wiblea for betraying the homeland, the elves secretly only wished for her happiness, as she had been their idol.

To them, Wiblea’s death was known to be due to the Emperor’s infidelity.

The fact that such information was publicly disclosed was itself strange, something no one had ever thought of.

The elves, who detested lies and sordid intrigues, played a significant role in not even considering such a possibility, but the main reason was, of course, that the sorrow caused by Wiblea’s death had turned entirely into anger.

Elves were inherently incompatible with humans.

Strictly speaking, it was because they abhorred the weakness of human nature, which habitually engaged in greed, falsehood, and even killed and sold their own kind.

Within that weakness, they never considered the endless potential that occasionally blossomed.

This hatred towards humans was constantly boiling.

That was why.

After the death of Wiblair.

The elves could not help but explode with the anger they had been holding back.

They constantly clashed with the Tenafel Viscountcy, which bordered the Elven Kingdom of Rivengard.

Their anger was so intense that even their commander, Aplatus, could not justify their hatred.

But no matter how much they killed each other, their rage, already at its peak, did not subside.

So it had been for several years.

The soldiers of the Viscountcy had been relentlessly waging local battles without respite.

Of course, as they had shared information with the Tenafel Viscount beforehand, there were not many significant casualties.

The focus was not on killing, but on unleashing an uncontrollable rage felt towards each other.

As time passed, the soldiers on both sides realized the nature of the conflict.

Through implicit agreement, the blood-spattering local battles deteriorated into a kind of competition.

While there were still people dying, the number of casualties had drastically decreased compared to before.

However, the current standoff was more serious than ever before.

A massive slave caravan crossing the Tenafel Plains was intercepted on the scene, carrying numerous young elves.

Not even ten years old, every single young elf was bound by enslavement necklaces, and signs of abuse were easily found.

Although they loved flowers, trees, and peace, the elves could be far more cruel than monsters in the face of a crumbling nature and dying kin.

Many enraged elves collectively slew the slavers on the spot.

Without exception, they unanimously insisted on marching immediately.

As the anger was mutual, even Commander Aplatus found himself in a position where he couldn’t just dismiss it.

So, even if it meant pretending to fight, he had no choice but to lead the army out of the forest.

However, in the empire, there was his dearly beloved sister’s son, whom he had cherished so much.

Despite committing countless atrocities and ultimately being stripped of his prince status, he was still the precious nephew he had longed to see.

So, for the safety of that lad, war should never happen.

But a few days ago, I received an order from the king.

It was to use my nephew to overcome the crisis of war.

But how…

At first, I felt a bit bewildered.

If the Imperial Prince Eos comes and explains, and apologizes, could the situation change?

With the anger of the elves piercing the sky right now, such a miracle didn’t seem possible.

Just then, I heard that even Count Tenafel had received an order from the Emperor that no matter what he offered, there must not be a war.

What the Emperor wanted was for the prince to gain a reputation for preventing the war, thereby erasing some of his infamous reputation.

I understand what he wants, but handling agitated elves is by no means an easy task.

Even if the commander’s orders are disregarded, can the anger of the elves be appeased just because he is the son of Weblia?

It would be fortunate not to turn into a hedgehog after being hit by arrows filled with all sorts of magic.

But if my nephew could only prevent the war.

Certainly, he could become a hero to humans.

Then, I must help him in any way I can.

My own nephew.

If he still defends the rights of the elves, who are instinctively ignored by the people of the Empire, and continues to curse the human scum who hunt the elves.

Wouldn’t it somewhat soften the deep-seated emotions between the two races accumulated over the years?

That’s why I met with the virtually brotherly Count Tenafel and exchanged words.

“Let’s make Eos a hero.”

“Yes, sir! But shouldn’t we make a person first before that?”

“A person! No matter what anyone says, he’s an elf!”

“No, why are you suddenly getting angry? I mean his character. It’s about fixing that outrageous character of his.”

“Character? How so?”

“Well, wouldn’t he improve a bit if we trampled on his pride first?”

That’s why, as a result, upon seeing Eos, I did my best along with Count Tenafel.

I was so glad to see my nephew for the first time.

I wanted to hug that lad who resembled my younger sister right away.

But with the determination to somehow make him a good elf, I endured and endured.

In order to symbolize the harmony between humans and elves, he had forced contemptuous glares and harsh words to shatter even their pride for that reason.

But still.

The notorious reputation known even among the elves was by no means a groundless rumor.

“I will stand at the forefront. I will moisten the earth with elven blood.”

Naturally, he thought he would somehow persuade them by lowering his posture.

But the reactions, expressions, and attitudes that turned back were so arrogant and absurd.

What? Moistening the earth with elven blood?

Even if you’re a few years older.

Even if you’re my sister’s brother!

He dared to declare that he would kill himself.

Aphlatos’ anger surged to the tip of his head.

“Even if I have to beat this guy to a pulp, I will definitely give him proper treatment-”

But Lord Tenafel, who glanced at him, was shaking his head.

It seemed like it was an indication to use a different approach.

So, inevitably, he sat down with the lord.

Then, as nonchalantly as possible, he asked.

“So, you want to prevent a war?”

“For now, please sit down, Your Highness. Isn’t it better to have a sufficient conversation first?”

The lord also raised his eyebrows in annoyance.

The prince leaned back slightly in his chair, crossing his legs.

With his arms folded and a haughty expression, it made me feel somehow irritated.

It was then that someone’s desperate cry was heard.

“It’s an attack!”

“The humans are attacking!”

Aphlatos’ head shot up as if sensing something ominous approaching from afar.

The lord and the prince also turned their heads following his gaze.

Far above the lord’s command.

From there, something like a huge meteor was emitting intense flames and rapidly approaching this place.

There were large and small fireballs scattered around, as numerous as the stars.

It was undoubtedly an assault.

Moreover, it was a destructive attack unleashed by countless sorcerers with the intention of annihilating everything.

If those things fell, not only the plains but also the lord’s command and the forest would all be engulfed in flames and reduced to ruins in an instant.