Chapter 40
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: Wjin
Chapter: 40
Chapter Title: Rubyrid's Decision
-----------------------------------------------------------------
“A... deal?”
“What kind of ridiculous...”
“Does a mere human like you think you're worthy enough to propose a deal to us? You should be releasing our kin sold into slavery right this instant and begging for forgiveness until your head wears through the floor, yet you dare...!”
Feelings of exasperation, absurdity, anger, and outrage filled the conference hall.
Rubyrid slowly calmed the elders, whose reactions were just as she'd expected.
“Please compose yourselves and settle your hearts.”
“Even so, how can we stay calm? I can't for the life of me understand why, Great Elder, you've gathered us over such an insolent human's letter. If it were me, I'd have torn it to shreds and burned it on the spot.”
“Exactly! A filthy human's deal isn't even worth hearing!”
Rubyrid let out a small sigh at the elders' responses.
She could hardly fail to understand their bottomless hatred for humans.
She herself was one of those who trembled with rage at the thought of them.
But that was ultimately a matter of her personal emotions.
As the Great Elder of the elves and their leader, the Rubyrid who hated and despised humans had to be a different person altogether.
“What did Guard Captain Edmuel think? Did that human seem capable enough to negotiate with us?”
“Beyond Scout Nelsa's testimony, if you're asking for my personal opinion, it's hard to say definitively. But there was one peculiar thing.”
“A peculiarity? What was it?”
“When he moved, there was a brief phenomenon—like something that wasn't blue flame blooming like lightning in the shape of a flower. And at the same moment, he vanished. His speed was unimaginable. I was definitely keeping a close eye on him without missing a beat, yet suddenly he was right in front of me... Huh?”
Mid-explanation, Edmuel noticed odd stares and lifted his head to scan the room.
“Wh-what's wrong with everyone?”
As if they'd made a pact, everyone gaped at him slack-jawed. Edmuel felt burdened and stammered.
Then Elder Dunas urgently pressed him.
“D-did you just say a blue lightning bloomed like a flower? That when he moved, blue lightning flowered?”
“Yes? Oh, yes... And then he approached me at an unbelievably fast speed...”
“Summon Scout Nelsa right now! Immediately! Hurry!”
Nelsa, who rushed into the conference hall, was made to testify about the battle she'd witnessed before she could even catch her breath.
“So, throwing knives floated above his head like they were alive, then blue lightning bloomed and they all vanished at once?”
“Yes! It was unbelievably fast and powerful. The human just stood there, but suddenly the slave hunters started dropping dead one by one. It felt so damn good...”
“It seems certain, then.”
“Indeed.”
The elders hardened their expressions solemnly, and Edmuel, clueless about the situation, cautiously asked,
“Do the elders know who he is?”
Rubyrid answered in their stead.
“Does Guard Captain Edmuel know of beings called Avatars?”
“Avatars? What's that?”
“Avatar means the agent of a god, or the god's messenger. They're called that because they can wield the divine power known as Lightning Mana.”
“Lightning Mana... You don't mean...”
She nodded to the startled Edmuel.
“You're right. Based on both testimonies, he is an Avatar... the master of Lightning Mana, the king of elemental mana.”
It couldn't be a lie.
High Elves could discern truth from falsehood.
She could tell there was no lie or exaggeration in Edmuel and Nelsa's words.
And because she said nothing, the elders accepted the pair's story as fact.
“What is he doing now?”
“He's waiting at the spot. My subordinates are keeping watch.”
Edmuel answered one elder's question.
“No disturbances from their side so far, so it seems he's waiting for our response...”
“What are the Avatar's demands, Great Elder?”
The elders, who had been flying into a rage moments ago solely because he was human, completely changed their attitudes upon learning he might be an Avatar.
Rubyrid swallowed a wry smile inwardly and relayed the letter's contents.
“He demands the 'Spirit's Tear' we possess. In exchange, he'll grant one wish within the scope of his power.”
“H-how does he know about the Spirit's Tear...!”
'Spirit's Tear? What's that?'
Edmuel tilted his head inwardly.
It was only natural he didn't know about the Spirit's Tear.
Information on it was the utmost secret.
Even ordinary elves didn't know of it, and elders didn't know when it bloomed or where it was stored.
So the chance he'd learned through enslaved kin was extremely low.
No elder elves had been taken as slaves so far, after all.
“It seems we must meet him in person to learn his true purpose.”
“Nonsense! How can we trust a vile human and invite him to Elraim?”
“He's presumed to be an Avatar, isn't he? Bringing such a dangerous figure here could bring irreversible disaster, Great Elder!”
“Indeed! If anything happened to you, what of the barrier protecting Elraim? We beg you to reconsider!”
Some elders shot to their feet as if on cue, trying to dissuade her from her decision.
They had a point.
Rubyrid was Elraim's administrator and its final bastion.
Thanks to the protective barrier sustained by her power, the place evaded human eyes.
But that was her greatest dilemma.
“I consider it a great honor to protect Elraim with my power, as the elders say, but I always regret that it's not enough to shield the entire forest. The real problem is that even this meager power of mine is gradually weakening. Eventually, even Elraim will fall.”
“What are you saying, Great Elder? That could never...!”
“Hey! How dare you interrupt. Be silent and hear the Great Elder out.”
As Dunas barked, the other elder shut his mouth. Rubyrid nodded slightly to Dunas and continued.
“That's why I've racked my brains every day for a way to end the war with humans before my power fully fades. But no solutions came...”
“Why not request reinforcements from Elven Gloria now?”
She shook her head at one elder's suggestion.
“For Elven Gloria's reinforcements to reach us, they'd have to cross at least three human kingdoms unharmed. Impossible at present. But now... this may be a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.”
“You mean the Avatar?”
“Yes. Even if he's human, if he came with friendly intent, negotiation should be possible. Not all humans are pure evil. And an Avatar's power would surely aid us greatly.”
Elder Dosep reacted negatively.
“You seem to view humans too positively. If he's scheming that far ahead, we'll suffer irreparable damage, Great Elder.”
“Elder Dosep is right. But sitting idle guarantees it will come eventually—just a matter of time. So I have a request for Elders Dunas and Dosep. Would you meet the Avatar in my stead? I'd prefer to go myself, but it's not feasible.”
They knew it was impossible, given how the elders had swarmed like bees earlier, so there was no room for argument.
“We shall uphold the Great Elder's will.”
“I'll follow her will as well.”
Dunas represented the pro-Rubyrid elders, Dosep the opposition.
She believed both representatives meeting him would yield a more objective answer.
“Yaaawn...”
Johann lay sprawled on his side at the agreed spot, yawning lazily.
In a place no different from the front lines, it was an utterly carefree, oblivious display.
Perhaps that's why.
The guard squad surrounding him couldn't help but relax their shoulders bit by bit.
“Even if I tell them to ease up and rest, they probably won't listen. Not that they'd obey if they did... Huh?”
At that moment, a glint flashed in Johann's eyes as he focused on the forest depths.
'They're here.'
“Jeez, kept me waiting long enough. Don't overthink it—keep it simple.”
The two elderly elves emerging from the forest were Dunas and Dosep.
Johann glanced behind them and spoke.
“Just the two of you? No soldiers?”
“We heard a presumed Avatar human wants to negotiate. Why would we need soldiers for that?”
“Smarter than I thought. Easy to talk to.”
If they'd underestimated his strength even slightly or harbored ulterior motives, they'd have brought troops.
And pretended otherwise while hiding them nearby. But no matter how far he extended his senses, no soldier presences lurked.
“We've come because a presumed Avatar human desires negotiation. So, straight to the point: Are you an Avatar?”
“Up we go.”
Johann stood at Dosep's question.
And instead of words, he slowly drew up his energy.
Crackle, crackle...
“Th-that's...!”
“Don't stare so hard. You could go blind.”
Crackle, boom! Rumble! Boom!
The minor sparks dancing on Johann's body erupted wildly in an instant, sending massive currents surging skyward.
It looked as if lightning was relentlessly striking him, so the nearby elves couldn't face it directly.
“St-stop! That's enough! No one doubts your identity now, so rein it in! We'll all get fried at this rate!”
“Whining over this little...”
As Johann gathered his power, the elders and guards could finally look straight at him.
The lingering lightning still coiled serpent-like around his body, discharging. It was a sight impossible for any human.