Coup d'État?
The surrounding dark elves echoed back in disbelief, as if they'd misheard me. They looked like they hadn't even grasped the meaning of what I'd said.
'Is "coup" too advanced a concept for elves?'
They'd lived their whole lives blindly following the Elder, so it was only natural they couldn't accept my sudden suggestion to overthrow him. I explained it in simpler terms.
"Let's go back to the elf village and expose the Elder's wicked schemes."
"Hold on—we get what you're trying to say, but hear us out first."
This time, another dark elf cut me off. He was an older one with an especially gentle demeanor, probably their leader.
"We're just as puzzled by the current Elder. Especially after leaving the village—our suspicions have only grown. Why would he hide the truth from us?"
"Then we should go back and confront him..."
"There's only one reason we left the village. Our life forces were draining unnaturally fast, so we fled as a desperate last resort."
"Has that problem been solved, then? I heard that stepping outside the World Tree's blessing actually felt like being freed from oppression."
At my question, the leader raised his eyebrows slightly in surprise. Had he finally realized I wasn't just some clueless outsider and was worth talking to properly? He adjusted his glasses and began explaining again.
"It's true—after leaving the World Tree's blessing, the drain on our life forces has definitely slowed. But so what?"
"Pardon?"
"We're nothing but traitors who turned our backs on the World Tree. Look at my pathetic state. In exchange for our worthless extended lifespans, we've slowly lost our kin's signature skin tone."
Unlike Bellis or Nairak, the dark elf leader clearly didn't welcome his own changes. He'd led the elves out of the forest expecting results, but got none—and now felt guilty for costing them their skin color out of his own ambition?
Glancing around, the other dark elves seemed to share the sentiment. Bellis, who'd been overjoyed at her reunion with Silleia, was now glancing nervously at us, clearly unprepared for the mood. Having been the one to tip us off about their hideout, she must have felt especially uneasy.
The leader drove the final nail in, addressing me directly.
"Even if we went back to the village, nothing would change. The Elder would just see us as thorns in his side for knowing his secrets, and the other kin would brand us traitors."
"..."
"We're truly grateful that you played with our little ones and brought Silleia all this way. But wouldn't it be best if you headed back now? Hurry, and no one will find out you ventured outside the forest."
With that, silence fell over the group. The dark elves, reconfirming their tragic fate, bowed their heads quietly.
Silleia crept up behind me and whispered in my ear.
"Seha, should we head back now?"
Even Silleia was urging me to go to the village. But I couldn't just leave things like this.
'It's not just about clearing Floor 2 anymore.'
Over the past few weeks, I'd spent joyful times with the elves. I'd grown closer than anyone to Silleia and Rune, living under the same roof. I'd realized Ivelin wasn't as cold as his first impression—in fact, he was a tsundere who just struggled to show emotions. Playing with Nairak and Bellis and their wolves had revealed the pure sides of those dark elves.
'If the clear condition for Floor 2 was just heeding the Elder's request, I could've done it ages ago.'
Like he said, hunting forest beasts or dark elves outside would've ended it. Easy Mode meant even basic magic could handle the difficulty. The wolves and dark elves treating me without hostility was proof enough.
'Even setting aside my moral qualms, is this really the best for the elves?'
Winning against the dark elves with my magic wouldn't change the village's situation. That was probably what the Elder wanted—me torching the dark elves who'd figured out his secret, then heading back to reality. Given the dark elves' secretive nature, if they hadn't had Silleia with them, they might've attacked me first. And if I knew nothing, I probably would've fought back.
'Either way, I don't want this story to end like this.'
I wanted to save my precious elf friends and uncover every last one of the Elder's shady schemes.
"Everyone, I have one last thing to say."
I opened my eyes, which I'd closed while pondering, and began to speak, breaking the heavy silence.
"The Elder is a fraud who's stealing the elves' life forces."
Murmurs rippled through the group at my bombshell. Not agreement, but shock at the absurdity.
But I wasn't speaking without evidence. I pulled out the books I'd taken from Rune's study and showed them.
"These record how the elf society resolved past crises."
"Yes, they look like materials Rune compiled."
"What caught my eye is right here."
I opened the page detailing an incident from the 15th Elder's time. It depicted the Elder performing a ritual to restore the World Tree's vitality using the elves' life forces.
"I know this event well. It's a proud history of our ancestors uniting to protect the World Tree."
"Exactly. And what it tells us is that the Elder can manipulate the elves' life forces at will."
The book clearly described the Elder sacrificing the elves' life forces to heal the World Tree. Then I presented one more piece of proof.
"Look at the records from the 1st to the 28th Elder. Doesn't something feel off?"
"Hmm, with my limited insight, I can't say."
"Look closely—they all share consistent traits."
The way the brush lifted before a new stroke. The habit of circling the brush tip clockwise at periods before flicking it. Even the way letters slanted upward in longer sentences. Every single record was in the exact same handwriting.
"Is this for real?"
"Let me see."
"Now that you mention it, it does seem..."
The dark elves crowded around, voices rising as soon as I finished. Amid the buzzing, the leader calmly examined the evidence, then asked me in his deep voice.
"Let's say you're entirely right. So what can we do about it?"
"Did you even hear me? We don't know what the Elder might do next by absorbing the elves' life forces!"
"Sorry. I'm just a pathetic elf content with scraping by day to day."
Had I really failed to convince him after all that? Even if Silleia and I went back alone, our options would be limited. The dark elves' very existence proved elves could thrive outside the World Tree's blessing. Bringing them back was the only way to sway the other elves.
Then, the hitherto silent Nairak shouted at the leader.
"Dad! Are you really okay with this? Hiding in the forest forever—can you live with that?"
"..."
So the leader was Nairak's father. Following Nairak, Bellis spoke up.
"I miss Aunt Rune and Uncle Ivelin too. I know it's tough, but can't we go back to the village?"
"..."
The leader pondered Bellis's words intently. Was it still not enough to change his mind?
Woof woof—
"..."
Even Broccoli, who'd been watching us, barked as if endorsing my view. Good boy—worth the bath and feeding.
Despite everyone speaking their piece, the leader remained silent, frowning. We waited for his decision when suddenly he stood and boomed.
"Sorry, I've been too wrapped up in my own thoughts. I dragged you kids out here and felt guilty, so I turned a blind eye to the real issue."
"You mean...?"
"Yes—let's head back to the village!"
Cheers erupted from the elves, tension finally breaking.
'What a rollercoaster, but it worked out.'
Now, my only task left was gathering the village elves and settling things with the Elder.
"Then let's get moving."
The leader seemed the type to deliberate long but act decisively. He urged us to head out immediately.
'Come to think of it, I never got his name.'
Besides being Nairak's dad, I knew nothing. Mustering courage, I asked.
"Sorry, but... may I have your name?"
"I haven't introduced myself yet. I'm Barkan."
I hadn't noticed during their earlier talks, but this elf had a hearty personality. He kept stroking his beard and laughing heartily—almost overwhelming up close.
"Bellis said your name was Seha? Quite the guts on such a little one."
Barkan thumped my back with his massive hand in praise.
'Whoa—almost fell over.'
Did this elf uncle not know his own strength, or had I gotten weaker?
As we set off toward the village with the dark elves, I felt a familiar déjà vu.
"Don't you sense a presence?"
"I was just thinking the same. Everyone, hold position."
No footsteps, but an unidentified mana signature prickled the air. This had happened before—when we first entered Floor 2, sensing a presence led to the elf search party appearing.
'Same this time?'
Suddenly, a tearing wind sound—and an arrow embedded in Barkan's shield. He'd blocked the preemptive strike. Was he happy about it? A smile spread across his face as he bellowed into the air.
"Only one elf has magic finesse like this."
"..."
"Right, Ivelin?"
As if summoned, Ivelin emerged from the dense branches overhead.