Chapter 46 - Heading to the Elf Territory
Chapter 46 - Heading to the Elf Territory
『Elf』
A race of forest-dwelling fairies with big ears that appear in every fantasy story known to man.
In this world, elves weren't exactly the mystical group often seen in fantasy novels; they felt more like slightly closed-off, long-lived 'foreigners'.
They didn't live forever like in some works, but their lifespans were about three times longer than humans. However, their reproductive rate was only about 30%, so their population remained constant.
The only thing better about them than humans was that they barely aged after reaching a certain age, maybe?
Anyway, they originally lived in their own separate Elf country, but 500 years ago, during the Dead King's descent incident, they were incorporated into the Empire when they joined forces to protect the world.
Elves were indifferent to power or money compared to humans, but they possessed a fanatical thirst for knowledge regarding the study of 'magic'.
And the Empire needed that magical ability of the elves.
Thus, the symbiotic relationship between the Empire and the elves began.
The Empire supplied the elves with food and the experimental materials they desired.
The elves provided advanced magical knowledge, mages, and rare magical materials from the Elf Forest through the Magic Tower.
This symbiotic relationship was actually mutually beneficial, which is why the Elf Territory had been satisfied living as part of the Empire for 500 years without seeking independence.
However, an item that shook this peaceful symbiotic relationship recently appeared. It was the [Laurel Leaf].
This material, whose usage was recently discovered, was the core ingredient of the 'Mahat Potion'.
This potion was like insulin in modern medicine; it was a lifeline for patients with pancreatic issues.
The problem was that these leaves only grew in the Elheim Forest, the holy land of the elves.
Only the laurel leaves grown in the Elf Forest could create the potion's effect, so the Potion Guild unleashed countless herbalists into the Elf Territory to secure the leaves.
The problem was that as humans indiscriminately harvested the leaves, the Elf Forest began to die.
The leaves were supposed to become fertilizer for the forest, but since humans swept them all away, it was only natural.
The issue was that for the elves, the Elheim Forest wasn't just a place of residence; it was a sanctuary for their souls and a holy site.
The conflict between the elves trying to protect the forest and the humans tearing it apart under the pretext of needing medicine. This was the essence of this incident.
'Considering the war that might happen in the future, the cooperation of Elf mages is essential. If a civil war breaks out here, the Empire is finished.'
They say a sage does not start a war. But they also say one must always prepare for war.
My existence has changed history a lot, but only God knows if that will lead to a future without war.
For me to enjoy a happy Imperial life as the Prince's aide, the peace of the Empire was essential, and for that, an Elf civil war must never happen.
I prepared thoroughly to solve this problem and shared the data with the Princess immediately.
Bang—!
"Edric, th... this is?"
"It is a document summarizing the problems of the Elheim Territory and the solutions for them. Please check it."
On Princess Camilla's office desk, a mountain of documents I had organized overnight was piled up.
Camilla bit her lip, slowly flipping through the documents from the first page to the last as if she couldn't believe it.
"Edric, in this short time... you've grasped everything from the distribution structure of the potion to the circumstances of the Potion Guild's back-alley dealings?"
"Yes, Princess-nim."
"How... I thought it would take at least a week even if we mobilized Shadow Warriors..."
"I've always been interested in the distribution of magical resources, so the basic data I had prepared in advance was helpful. Camilla-nim."
Actually, because of my memories from the original work, I had been investigating this issue on and off using the merchant group belonging to my family after becoming the head of the house.
But it would be dangerous to say that, so I just showed a smile of a 'hardworking aide', implying it was because I was competent.
"Beyond this, documents have their limits. I think we need to go to the site, discuss it directly with the Magic Tower Master-nim, and check the actual state of the forest."
The Princess nodded, but she had a somewhat dazed expression.
The reason Camilla's expression looked dazed was because of her plan.
Her plan was like this:
'My plan to pretend I was sleepy while racking my brain with Edric all night under the excuse that the data research was insufficient, and then lean on his shoulder or... pretend it was a mistake and hug him to check his heartbeat...'
That's right.
She had intended to hug Edric and feel his heartbeat at a suitable opportunity while investigating this matter.
But that perfect plan of hers had gone up in smoke in an instant.
All thanks to Edric's very diligent data research.
Camilla muttered in a voice filled with deep despondency.
"......Perfect. Truly, it couldn't be better."
"Camilla-nim...? Is there something I missed? Your complexion doesn't look good."
"No. There is no problem with the data or me at all."
It's not, you're clearly showing that there's a fucking big problem...
What did I do wrong?
"As for the rest, as Edric said, it seems we need to go to the site and check. Let's end the audience for today."
"Yes... I understand."
I left the office feeling uneasy, not knowing what on earth I had done wrong.
What on earth did I do wrong?
From the moment I left the office until I got home, I couldn't figure out the reason.
4 days later, having finished all preparations, I departed for the Elheim Territory with the Princess.
Outside the window, the dense trees unique to the west flashed by.
I carefully spoke to the Princess, who was sitting opposite me and still in a bad mood.
"Your Highness, what kind of person is the Magic Tower Master, Lunas Tia-nim, whom we will be meeting?"
As soon as she heard that name, Camilla's brow furrowed noticeably for a moment.
Then, sighing as if recalling memories of the past, she said:
"Her ability as a mage is top-tier. She is my teacher, after all. But... she is a weirdo among weirdos even among elves. Or should I say she's close to a madwoman?"
"A madwoman?"
"Yes, so you should brace yourself when you meet her for the first time. She does things you would never expect."
"I see... I understand well."
The Elf Magic Tower Master, whose help was absolutely necessary to solve this Elf Territory problem, was a person who was portrayed as quite the eccentric in the original work as well.
I was inwardly relieved that she didn't look much different from the original setting.
In the original work, she had shown enough that she was a weirdo.
If she was such a weirdo, I just had to prepare accordingly.
But suddenly, Camilla narrowed her eyes and glared at me.
"But Edric, why are you interested in the Magic Tower Master-nim?"
"Ah, that is... to solve this problem, the cooperation of the Magic Tower Master is essential, and I thought it was common sense to grasp her tendencies in advance to restore the relationship with the elves."
In the original work, this problem gives everyone a headache.
Solving this problem happens in the distant future, but I am trying to solve it using the memories of a possessor as a weapon.
However, no matter how much I had the weapon of information, the Magic Tower Master's cooperation was essential to execute it.
But since I couldn't say that, I spoke logically, and Camilla looked at me steadily after seeing my expression.
"Is that really all?"
"Yes, that is all."
"Really?"
"Yes, really."
Camilla stared into my eyes even more intently.
She twisted her pink hair with one hand and said.
"It's not that you're trying to add the Magic Tower Master-nim to your 'connection' list, along with Lady Nataliya and the Saintess Azelia, is it?"
"Ca... Camilla-nim! I have absolutely never had such disrespectful thoughts! I swear it is just official curiosity!"
I desperately made excuses without realizing it.
I didn't even understand why I had to prove my innocence to the Princess, but her gaze was too sharp.
Camilla turned her head away bluntly.
"Hmph, fine. I'll take your word for it."
Sigh... I was happy that my relationship with the Princess had improved... but it became difficult in a different way.
Time passed quickly, and the carriage arrived at 'Helfen', the gateway city of the Elf Territory.
But what greeted us was not welcoming flower petals, but sharp shouts and picket signs.
"Humans who kill the forest, get out!"
"Do not defile the holy land! You greedy humans!"
Dozens of elves were standing on the roadside, protesting against human herbalists and soldiers.
Watching that scene, I gave a bitter smile as the protest scenes from my past life came to mind.
'People living, it's all similar even if the race is different.'
Unlike me, who was thinking that, Camilla said in a tense voice.
"The situation is more serious than I thought."
"Yes... it seems so."
When the carriage stopped in front of the lord's mansion, a young noble bowed politely and greeted us.
It was the Lord of Helfen, Baron Austin Helfen.
He looked to be around my age, but he had sharp eyes and an impression full of ambition.
"I greet the Moon that illuminates the Empire, Princess Camilla. Thank you for your hard work in coming to such a humble territory in the west. While Your Highness is staying, I, Austin, will assist you like a shadow."
"Baron Austin, thank you for the welcome. However, I have come to see my teacher at the Magic Tower, so you don't need to worry too much."
Camilla drew a line at Baron Austin's words, but Austin did not back down.
He acted with a worried expression and pleaded earnestly.
"I am just sorry to show such an unsightly scene to a noble person. Please, accept the escort of my family."
As expected, he seemed to be trying to attach surveillance to us under the pretext of an escort.
My goodness, this world of sinister conspiracies, it was exactly the look of the romance fantasy noble political fights I had seen in the original work.
To that, Camilla answered elegantly, as befitting a princess.
"It is fine. Baron Austin, when governing a territory, there are bound to be various growing pains. I hope it gets resolved well, and I will just accept your heart."
Austin, who tried to attach surveillance under the pretext of an escort, and Camilla, who seemed to understand his words and countered them.
Listening to the conversation between the two, I felt that the Elf civil war incident had already begun.