Chapter 207
Chapter 207
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 207
Chapter Title: Chapter 5-1. These People Here Are Gifts Prepared for You.
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Until now, he had conversed with various elves, but this was the first time he felt no hostility from these elders. He had thought they were frowning because they disliked humans, but it seemed to be just the wrinkles from age and their characteristic gaze.
'Was I mistaken just judging by appearances?'
Upon second thought, there was no sense of incongruity in their voices, actions, or expressions. Especially since the soldiers around them looked surprised by the elders' words and behavior, it confirmed his mistake.
"Elders, what brings you here to see me?"
"Hmm, we have two things to discuss."
Two things?
The elders chuckled at Yuda's instinctive frown. Their cheekbones lifted, raising their bushy beards.
"Hohoho! We've heard the Eye of Truth is useless on you, but it seems we can still read your expressions without it. Don't worry. We're not here to nag or interrogate. We just wanted to express our gratitude."
"Gratitude... you say?"
"Viah told us. If not for you, we elves would have suffered a great calamity even before the war began. We've incurred a huge debt."
"It was nothing."
"Nothing? Is that all? We've been calling it the Guardian since some point, but we're also grateful that you took the Lord's Fragment yet didn't take it away. If the Guardian knelt to you, it must mean its master has appeared."
Excessive praise can be poison. Yuda silently watched the elder gilding his face. His mouth smiled, but his eyes were sharply open.
"You're gilding my face so much that I don't know what to do, but your thanks are more than enough now, so please stop."
"Hmm—"
"And one more thing. I don't like beating around the bush, and I especially hate riddles, so if possible, please get straight to the point without hiding anything."
"...We mean it. The gratitude."
Yuda briefly bowed his head and lifted it. For elders of their stature to respect and praise a human like Yuda in front of so many elves would surely influence many to change their perceptions. However, if there was any ulterior motive, he wanted no part of it.
"The second question is simple. Do you still intend to help us elves?"
"Of course. I make an effort to keep my promises. Moreover, my fellow priest is here. For me to cleanly take the Fragment, it's better if the elves win."
The elder listened to Yuda, then slammed his staff down. As the ornate, large staff's tip struck the brick, magic activated. A translucent gray barrier enveloped the elder, Yuda, and Viah.
'What kind of magic is this?'
It activated suddenly, but it had no particular effect on his body. Looking around with a puzzled face, he immediately noticed something odd. No sound came from beyond the dome-shaped barrier.
"Ah."
Testing with his voice, it came out fine. This confirmed it. The magic simply blocked external sounds.
"I'll ask frankly. Do you think elves can win this war? If so, can you tell us why?"
"You're asking frankly, so may I speak my feelings and thoughts frankly as well?"
"Of course."
The elders nodded.
"You're screwed."
"!"
"At least Viah over there thought she could win. She was determined to win no matter what. But you think you'll lose."
"...We won't deny it."
"Do you know this? If you lose this war, the elven race is finished. This isn't the time to ponder if you can win or not. You, who represent many elves and support the Queen as elders, must step forward and make victory the only option in this war."
The elder, with not just a white beard but also long white eyebrows, gazed at Yuda with narrowed eyes.
"We only need to defend. How are we supposed to drive them off and achieve victory?"
"Elves haven't faced a major war in centuries. That's because you were rulers in the forest, and until the monsters invaded, it was a land filled only with peace. The last time humans came in such numbers and with such planning was a hundred years ago, so I understand your ignorance of war."
"......"
"I'm no strategist, so I'm lacking in many ways and my knowledge to impart is shallow. But one thing I'm certain of is that victory isn't only about annihilating the enemy."
The elders looked confused. They had lived for centuries and possessed much knowledge, but not about war.
This wasn't a world with something like the internet to share vast information, nor had anyone gone to the human world to learn about it.
They viewed venturing outside negatively and isolated themselves, so even if they were sages in magic or hailed as Sword Saints for reaching the pinnacle of swordsmanship, they couldn't claim knowledge of things they hadn't experienced.
"I told Viah this too, but you don't need to worry about the enemy not attacking. Just enduring is victory in this war. Does that vast human army have overflowing food here? Will there be places left to plunder in winter? Spring comes, summer comes, autumn comes, winter comes. Do you think they can hold out here day and night through all four seasons?"
No answer.
"They can't. They don't have surplus food to feed that many troops or money to maintain them. Moreover, human society has far more entangled interests than it appears, so just them wasting time here is a gain for us. I don't intend to make you understand. The main reason is I lack confidence in convincing you. But what you can do now is protect this wall for the World Tree and the elves, right? That's why you're here. You don't need to value the opinion or thoughts of a mere human like me. Just focus on keeping humans from crossing Roengrim's walls."
By now, Yuda didn't even know what he was saying. He was just rambling. Yet it seemed persuasive, as the elders were nodding.
"If the Thunder Lord drops lightning from the sky, block it with magic. If they try to climb using another path or making one instead of the uphill road, use the Sword Owners and archers to stop them. Giving up is foolish."
"...You're right. Your words are correct. We've shown a shameful sight. To think of giving up in fear without even trying."
Having realized something from Yuda's words, the elder slammed his staff again, dispelling the surrounding magic. He then gave Yuda a bright smile, bowing his already hunched back even deeper in thanks.
"May the World Tree's blessing be upon you. To you, who is resolved to fight for us despite being human, I offer my respect and admiration. Yuda Arsher, if I survive until the war ends, I want to share more stories with you."
"If there's fruit wine, I'd be glad."
"We'll prepare something to your liking. Thank you for the invaluable advice. We'll take our leave now."
Yuda bid farewell to the departing elders and waved to Viah as well.
+ + +
The one who signaled the start of the war was the Thunder Lord.
Freely circling high in the clear sky without a single cloud, the Thunder Lord spread its wings wide.
Kwarrr rumble!
Sparks accompanied the thunderclap, and soon a spear of lightning formed.
Crackle, crackle!
With mesmerizing flashes drawing the eye, the spear fell. The blinding white beam zigzagged toward Lusen Ardahan, who guarded the uphill path like a gatekeeper, exploding in a massive boom and kicking up thick dust.
That marked the beginning, and Silan's 210,000-strong army moved in unison. Silan's heavy infantry from the central main force advanced in perfect rows, shields to the fore.
Right foot, left foot.
Right foot, left foot.
Each left footfall shook the ground like an earthquake, booming. Behind them rolled ballistae loaded with arrows the size of an adult man's torso, catapults, and other siege weapons on wheels.
On the left flank, Changseong and his subordinates led 30,000 mixed troops of mercenaries, adventurers, magic engineers, and Silan Kingdom soldiers toward a relatively low cliff. Yet that low point was still 4 meters high.
They had devised ways to climb the cliff over several days. For Changseong and his men, scaling it wasn't hard, but not for all 30,000. Some might manage, but most couldn't climb like Changseong.
So they built earthen ramparts. With the prepared magic engineers' spells, the ground rose in pillar-like formations. Pillars of gradually decreasing height formed steps. Seeing this, one mercenary cheered, and others—mercenaries and adventurers—roared at the top of their lungs, charging bravely. Unlike the central main force's orderly formation, it was a freewheeling, uncontrolled advance.
The right flank, led by Cheriu of the combat clan Cheriu from Calypso's Ranggritsa Magic Tower, advanced slowly compared to the left and center. Their role wasn't to assault the castle or capture elves, but to lure and destroy the Lord's Fragment, the one the elves called the Guardian, Lusen Ardahan.
The Thunder Lord descended near the ground and spread its wings wide. At a glance blue, but up close, white sparks formed a spherical orb in the air, flying toward the still-dusty spot.
Boom!
From the white dust cloud came the sound of stomping feet, shaking the earth greatly. Then a massive fist burst through the dust, swatting away all the incoming lightning orbs. Explosions erupted on contact, but Lusen Ardahan charged undeterred toward the Thunder Lord. Emerging from the dust wasn't just Lusen Ardahan. Twenty-four Akans—2-3 meter small giants, akin to Lusen Ardahan's subordinates—also broke through, charging to meet the advancing enemy main camp.
========== Author's Note ==========
The reason I've been uploading early yesterday and today is because I have to go to Seoul on Saturday, so I'm setting scheduled posts right after finishing a chapter. If I go somewhere without writing in advance, I can't update on time. Sigh.