Is That Really Barkan?
“Is that really Barkan in that state?”
“Ten years, eh, Ivelin? To us elves, ten years is but a fleeting moment.”
“You dare call yourself an elf in that form!”
I knew this was coming.
In the end, we ran into Ivelin's search party on our way back to the village. The search party that protected the village from outside intruders. The dark elves, known for losing their reason and turning ferocious. It was only natural that chaos would erupt when these two met.
But the part that deviated a bit from my expectations?
Ivelin's reaction upon seeing us was far more intense than I'd imagined.
“Don't even think of stepping into the sacred sanctuary of the World Tree with that defiled body of yours!”
“Calm down and hear me out for a moment.”
“I have no words to exchange with a grotesquely twisted dark elf. Breath of the World Tree, awaken once more at my fingertips!”
Ivelin glanced at us—more precisely, at me and Silleia—before chanting his incantation. As he activated his magic, a fierce wind surged up around us. Just the sound of it grazing my ears felt like it would tear them apart.
So this is the full power of an elf's magic!
Before I knew it, a vortex of mana had formed on the bow Ivelin had drawn. I was stunned by its sheer intensity for a moment, but then Barkan stepped forward, shield as big as his massive frame in hand, placing himself in front of us.
“Yeah, it's been ages since we last clashed like this—ever since we came of age, huh? Let's settle it once and for all right here!”
“Silence! Don't mimic my old friend with that rotten tongue of yours! Every word from your mouth is a vile insult to me.”
Now I get what's going on.
Ivelin was the one who'd emphasized the danger of dark elves more than anyone. He'd even told me to prioritize survival above all else if I ever left the forest. He must think the dark elves kidnapped me and Silleia.
We'd vanished without a word, only to reappear surrounded by dark elves in the forest—it was an easy mistake to make. Especially since he seemed to cherish both me and Silleia.
I can clear this up just by stepping in and explaining.
Just as I was about to move forward with that thought, Nairak cut in front of me.
“Dad, I'll help too!”
“Stay back, Nairak—it's dangerous.”
As the tense standoff between the two elves dragged on, Nairak, who'd been watching from behind, suddenly jumped in.
Barkan spotted his son and hurriedly lowered his shield, rushing over to him.
Ivelin's hand is trembling.
Was it the devoted fatherly love from what he'd believed to be monsters? Ivelin couldn't release his draw, murmuring quietly instead, almost like he was talking to himself.
“Is that really Barkan...?”
“Yeah, can't even recognize me just 'cause my skin's a bit darker? What, eyes gone bad in the meantime?”
At that moment, Silleia, who'd been peeking from behind, chimed in. Unlike her usual self, where she couldn't utter a word in front of Ivelin,
she shouted with more confidence than ever.
“Even if they've become dark elves, the elves inside are still the same! Uncle, Bellis, Nairak—they're all the elves we know!”
“...”
“Probably...”
Trailing off like that—she's regretting it a bit?
She'd blurted it out caught up in the moment, then noticed the mood and felt second thoughts. It wasn't the first time that'd happened.
Luckily, things were resolving without me needing to step in.
Ivelin slowly lowered the bow he'd hesitated to fire until now. He approached us cautiously, speaking as he did.
“Forgive me. My blinded eyes led me to a grave error. This sin would take a thousand deaths to atone for.”
“A real man's bound to slip up sometimes.”
Barkan clapped him roughly on the back as he spoke.
Even Ivelin can't handle that uncle's touch easily.
His body rocked back and forth with each pat.
Not just me—even Ivelin had to yield before that overwhelming strength.
The thick tension between us naturally dissipated.
I explained everything that had happened so far to Ivelin and his search party.
“In short, we've been played by the Elder this whole time.”
“Is that so? I merely followed the Elder's will blindly. The dark elves' corruption, the World Tree's crisis—all lies?”
Ivelin's expression darkened more than I'd ever seen. It was unimaginable for the man who always acted tsundere and high-handed.
Among all the elves I've met, Ivelin seemed to revere the Elder the most.
His dejected look made perfect sense to me.
“Alright, time to head out!”
Barkan bellowed in my stead, since my voice was too small.
I actually tried shouting first, but no one heard.
Back in the day, I could make a whole karaoke room ring. Now, even yelling my lungs out just came out as a shrill squeak. Moments like this made me lament my loli body.
Counting the elves who gathered at Barkan's voice, there were about twenty-five. Adding Ivelin's search party to the existing dark elves made it about the size of an army platoon.
Walking through the forest with them, the village entrance soon came into view. The elf guarding the main gate was Ivelin to begin with, so we entered without issue.
“What the heck? Dark elves?”
“Why's Barkan, who left the village, with them...?”
“What's going on right now?!”
“And with Lord Ivelin, no less.”
As expected, the murmurs around us grew louder. In the peaceful elf village, even a crowd like this was rare.
Familiar faces returning as dark elves alongside the search party? It was a once-in-a-generation event for the elf village.
This time, I need to take the lead.
When Barkan and Ivelin clashed, I'd just watched until it ended.
I wasn't some protagonist with a hero complex or princess syndrome, but as the de facto leader of this group, I had to show some action.
“Everyone, listen up!”
My voice drew all the elves' attention. I didn't even need to raise it like before— their focus was already on us.
I paused to gather my words, then continued.
“Can you see the dark elves behind me? We've gathered to overthrow the El—”
This time, my words didn't make it to the end. The moment “Elder” left my lips, jeers poured down on me.
If Barkan hadn't been standing stoically behind me, the elves might've charged at me right then.
Was the Elder's existence even more sacred to them than I'd thought?
This pressure's new—my throat's locking up tight.
Back in the rest village, only people who saw me positively were watching. Opening my mouth under gazes dripping with hostility was tougher than I'd imagined. Not even a pitcher dragged to the interview zone after a cold-game loss would feel this way. My throat burned with tension.
Rune's here too!
In the crowd, I spotted little Rune's face. She said nothing, just watched me.
Having spent so much time with her, I understood the meaning all too well.
She's believing in me right now.
Playing with Silleia, standing out in Rune's magic lessons, diligently joining Ivelin's training—everything I'd shown so far was her basis.
Yeah, Rune trusted me.
Our eyes met, and the tension finally eased. Using the small smile she gave me as fuel,
I bounced on my toes, stood on tiptoes for confidence, and opened my mouth again.
“The Elder’s been deceiving us all! The world outside the World Tree’s blessing isn’t defiled by demonic energy at all—the dark elves have been living just fine out there.”
“How are we supposed to believe that?!”
The rebuttal came immediately, but I didn’t need to answer it myself.
“The proof is me. Haven’t I returned perfectly fine?”
Barkan spoke curtly from behind, where he'd been silently watching over me.
Having brought the dark elves into the village, I held the justification. Their very existence proved the Elder's words wrong.
As I'd predicted, the surroundings plunged into uncontrollable chaos. Half-skeptical of me, a human, but faced with actual dark elves, they suffered cognitive dissonance.
Taking advantage of the uproar, I held a quick strategy meeting with the elves who'd followed me.
“Now we just head to the Elder’s place, right?”
“Yeah, if we’ve drawn our blades, we might as well cut down the grass.”
“But do not underestimate the Elder. He has always brought unforeseen solutions.”
Fortunate amid misfortune—we didn’t need to go to him.
The clustered elves parted left and right, slowly opening a path. Through it, the Elder leisurely revealed himself.
“The sun’s still high in the sky—why all this fuss so early?”
Not someone to be trifled with, as expected.
One sharp remark silenced everyone instantly. Having successfully drawn all eyes, he cleared his throat briefly.
“Very well, you must have many questions for me. If I say all this commotion was arranged for the World Tree’s well-being, will you believe me?”
What’s this Elder suddenly spouting?
He’d let the World Tree wither to the brink of collapse. And now he claimed siphoning the elves’ life force was for the tree?
“That’s nonsense. No way!”
“Whether my words are lies, see for yourselves with those eyes of yours.”
The Elder smirked at me. A wooden staff had appeared in his hand. He raised it to the sky and chanted.
Wait, I have to stop that magic!
A chilling instinct screamed down my spine. If I didn’t interrupt that spell now, everyone was in danger.
I gripped my staff tightly and unleashed my magic at max output, but
“Too bad—you’re a step late. The ritual is already complete.”
The Elder’s magic began spreading from the distant World Tree as its origin.
Ugh, my head’s splitting.
Dizziness slammed into my skull, and I lost my balance, collapsing. I unintentionally landed on Barkan, who’d been guarding my back, avoiding bruises, but that wasn’t the point.
“What the...?”
About half the elves surrounding us had dropped to the ground. Why only half, their eyes losing focus as they fell? It wasn’t some movie finger-snap.
Still dazed and unable to grasp the situation,
Clear Condition: ⬛⬛ ⬛⬛⬛ ⬛⬛⬛⬛⬛
“What’s this now?”
The clear condition, hidden in noise until now, began to clear up gradually.
Clear Condition: Kill the dark elves.
“Huh?”
I couldn’t help but be flustered by the abruptly revealed clear condition.