Chapter 72: The Aftermath(3)
Chapter 72: The Aftermath(3)
If one were to name the most perfect race in this world, anyone would choose the "Elves."
From an appearance that words like "beautiful" fail to fully describe, to an innately superior physique, and even the magical ability to cast spells as naturally as breathing thanks to a divine blessing.
With lifespans significantly longer than other races, every individual possesses remarkable intellectual capacity. Because they value "tradition" and "history" more than any other race, they are naturally brimming with knowledge.
However, no matter how close to perfection the Elves may be, they harbor significant flaws in many respects. To value tradition and history is, in other words, to loathe change.
Furthermore, since each individual lives well over five hundred years, their personal stubbornness tends to be stronger than most. The reason is simple.
They have lived this way until now, and there have been no problems. Being Elves, and not some other race, this calcified way of thinking was an inevitable result.
[The race that best suits "Pride." Yet, paradoxically, they possess the abilities that most justify that pride.]
[They praise themselves as descendants of the gods, but in the end, they are merely mortals.]
[One day, that arrogance will become a blade that pierces their own throats.]
For these reasons, Elves do not receive particularly high marks from other races. Among them, humans give Elves the harshest evaluations, and the relationship between the two is notoriously poor.
Many might assume that Dwarves hate Elves the most, but surprisingly, that isn't the case.
Dwarves treat Elves like talkative old fogies, and Elves view Dwarves as a noisy race, but they at least consider each other "equals."
But not humans. Other races also view humans as a race with no particular strengths. Yet, Elves are uniquely prone to looking down on them.
If Beastkin hate humans, Elves treat humans like monkeys. As near-perfect beings, Elves feel no need to regard humans—who have almost nothing going for them—as equals.
However, just as the world predicted that their arrogance would eventually bind them, the Elves realized too late after the "Race War" broke out that they were wrong.
[Humans can never understand Elves, and Elves will never understand humans. This is because the two races are complete opposites.]
[Humans, having nothing, crave progress. Elves, having everything from the start, settle for reality. How can two races running on such parallel lines coexist in the same world?]
As the evaluation above suggests, when a major crisis erupted during the Race War, the Elves suffered severe internal divisions. In contrast, humans united internally and achieved dazzling growth.
Of course, there was plenty of political controversy on the human side as well, but at the very least, it didn't reach the level of self-destruction seen among the Elves.
In fact, every blunder committed by the Elves resulted in devastating damage. It started with losing strategic strongpoints because they grew complacent, thinking they didn't need to use their full strength.
Furthermore, even when they suspected a trap, they would charge in, overconfident in their own power, and suffer heavy losses. Or they would engage in unnecessary battles simply because the opponent was human and they refused to back down.
They even went so far as to imprison a warrior who had achieved brilliant feats during the war, simply because he had committed an act that violated their "laws." Naturally, the humans launched a fierce assault the moment that warrior was gone.
Thanks to this, humans stood in an advantageous position even at the end of the war, while the Elves were the exact opposite. The news that they had been defeated by the humans they usually looked down upon was enough to throw them into utter chaos.
Fortunately, they recognized their own faults. And once a fault is recognized, change must naturally follow.
—Old laws are no longer needed. The world has changed.
—We must create our own laws, not follow laws dictated by the gods.
After the Race War, the first thing the Elves did was completely overhaul their leadership. It was a generational shift.
Albenheim had been ruled by the "Senate," a political body composed of elders elected from each tribe. However, after the generational shift, the system changed.
They placed a "King," a supreme commander, above them.
However, to ensure the King wouldn't make the same blunders as the Senate in moments of crisis, many restrictions were put in place. They amended the laws but specified that the King could not reign above the law.
So, did the Senate that had ruled Albenheim for so long simply vanish? Not at all.
Though they had come to the brink of defeat in the Race War, it was an undeniable fact that Albenheim existed today because of them. Moreover, since many of their generation still held positions of power, there was immense backlash.
The division became so severe it nearly escalated into a major incident, but fortunately, it was smoothed over. The decision was made to establish a monarchy while maintaining the Senate.
As a result, Albenheim began to be ruled by the Senate and the King, who acted as checks on one another. The problem was that while the King reigning over Albenheim was open-minded, the Senate still clung to outdated laws.
Therefore, it is no exaggeration to say that Albenheim currently represents the ultimate generational gap. It is a stark contrast to humans, whose short lifespans lead to frequent generational shifts.
A long life might seem like a blessing, but it carries the heavy disadvantage of allowing "stagnant water" to turn into fossils—or even oil—as it has with the Elves.
Fortunately, the Senate also realized their past mistakes, so while there has been friction, they haven't caused any major problems so far. Even when Albenheim began actively interacting with other nations after the Race War, they didn't refuse, even if they were displeased.
And so, about 300 years passed since the Race War. It was a very long time for humans, and even for Elves, it seemed the wounds from the war were finally healing.
[The Xenon Biography, causing a stir with every release. This time, a romance between an Elf Queen and a human?]
[It's an impossible story, but since it's a novel, I'm curious. But that hiatus notice...]
[Breaking News! The manuscript of Xenon Biography has been stolen! Investigation reveals Elves and Beastkin as suspects...]
That is, until a certain work appeared and began to create another crack within Albenheim.
Yggdrasil.
The city where "civilization" was first established and the capital of Albenheim, where all the knowledge in the world resides.
It is a city every scholar must visit at least once before they die, containing resources of immense historical and cultural value.
In particular, the "World Tree," the divine tree said to have been managed by the gods themselves, could be called the very crystallization of history. "World Tree" and "Yggdrasil" share the same meaning, but different terms are used to distinguish them.
Regardless, the World Tree was the driving force that allowed the first civilization to begin, and according to myth, the gods personally educated the Elves. Following that myth, the Elves established higher education institutions within Yggdrasil to nurture talent.
Additionally, the World Tree serves as a temple. Given the records in mythology, this is a perfectly natural phenomenon.
So, where is the political institution located? Out of the belief that politics should not be conducted inside the World Tree, which was raised by the gods, it sits directly in front of it.
The name of this institution, established to rule Albenheim, is "Elodia."
If the World Tree is the most beautiful place in Albenheim spiritually, Elodia is the filthiest place politically.
"Your Majesty. Please, reconsider. We can no longer endure such insults."
An Elf bowed politely, pleading earnestly with someone. Though Elves age more slowly than other races, the deep wrinkles and the raspy, aged voice made it clear that this was a very old Elf.
Beside him stood two other Elves, a man and a woman of similar age, though they were on the younger side compared to the elderly one. Unlike the near-ancient Elf, they looked to be in their middle years, their inherent beauty not yet faded.
The only thing they all had in common was their expressions, which were filled with dissatisfaction. That dissatisfaction was directed entirely at one person.
"I have said that I am fine. I do not understand why you are saying these things to me."
A voice that was clear yet imbued with benevolence echoed through the space. At that voice, the elderly Elf slowly raised his bowed head.
An Elf sitting on a high throne looked down with noble poise.
Her silver-gray hair, which reached her shoulders, and her matching silver-gray eyes exuded an air of mystery. Her features looked kind, yet possessed a firm core.
Furthermore, her porcelain skin and youthful appearance gave her the look of a young girl.
Possessing a beauty that stood out even among other Elves, her name was Arwen Elidya.
She was the Queen of the Elves who had ruled Albenheim for the past 100 years, and she was currently at odds with the "Senate."
"But Your Majesty. This is an insult not just to you, but to all Elves. Why must we endure such mockery?"
The elderly Elf, presumably the leader, protested fiercely once more. As if in support, the Elves standing on either side of him chimed in.
"We feel the same. Not only did he designate a top executive of the Devil's subordinates as an Elf, but he also bestowed upon us the insult of 'Pride.'"
"No matter if it is just a novel, as long as this book is spreading across the world, we cannot stand idly by. Above all, he even dared to involve you, Your Majesty. A romance between a human and our Queen? I can never accept such a thing."
The subject of their protest to Arwen was the novel that had taken the world by storm: Xenon Biography. Since Xenon Biography was widely distributed across the globe, the Elves had naturally encountered it as well.
At first, they simply enjoyed it, finding it entertaining. However, after the appearance of the "Seven Deadly Sins," the atmosphere turned strange, and the latest volume had sparked a massive controversy.
Strictly speaking, it was the older generation, including the Senate, who reacted violently; others didn't care much. In fact, the younger generation, who had studied history thoroughly, watched with interest from various perspectives.
They felt a certain bitterness at Elves being given the title of "Pride," but they viewed the romance between the Elf Queen and the human with a mix of anticipation and anxiety.
But not the Senate. They expressed their fury at a level bordering on rage, claiming the race of Elves itself was being desecrated.
"Sigh..."
When Arwen let out a deep sigh, even the protesting Senate members shut their mouths. Having watched Arwen for hundreds of years, they had no choice but to fall silent.
Because for Arwen to sigh in front of everyone meant she was truly angry. Indeed, her fine brow was slightly furrowed, betraying her displeasure.
Arwen then scanned the Senate members one by one with her silver-gray eyes. Their faces were still full of discontent.
"...Is this truly something to get so angry about over a mere book?"
Arwen replied to the Senate in a voice that carried a hint of chill. Her benevolence had vanished, replaced only by coldness.
"And what did you learn from history? Did you not suffer humiliation in the Race War because of your arrogance? To try and deny history even now... it is truly an amusing display."
As she dropped that heavy fact bomb, the Senate members' expressions crumpled. To them, the Race War was more than just a humiliation.
In other words, Arwen hadn't used profanity to their faces, but she might as well have said something far worse. From the Senate's perspective, they had no grounds to argue, even if they were furious.
But the Senate was not easily deterred. They knew well that getting angry here would only give her more ammunition.
"...That is true. However, Your Majesty. Please consider the influence Xenon Biography currently wields over the world. The fact that it changed the perception of demons alone is something that cannot be ignored. If this continues, the way the world looks at us Elves might change as well."
"I agree. No one knows what will happen the moment the author portrays us in a negative light."
And so, they calmly and methodically presented their case. They phrased it that way, but the essence was simple:
Give us official permission to find the author of Xenon Biography. Then, we will handle it ourselves.
"... ..."
Arwen looked at the Senate with her brow slightly narrowed. Their intentions were so transparent that she went past anger into sheer disbelief.
Anyone could guess what would happen if they found the author. They would threaten him to ensure no negative depictions of Elves appeared, or commit even worse injustices.
Though all Elves took pride in being the chosen race of the gods, the Senate was particularly extreme. Supremacy was fundamentally ingrained in them.
Normally, this kind of constant pressure would be enough to cause a breakdown, but not for Arwen. There was a reason she had been able to hold the throne for over a hundred years.
"Ho. Are you all truly afraid of a mere book? How fascinating. To take pride in being the race chosen by the gods, yet be afraid of a book written by a lowly human. It is quite laughable."
"... ..."
"If you are so afraid, why not write a book yourselves? I do not understand why you are protesting to me when you could simply write a book more entertaining than Xenon Biography."
It was because she was exceptionally skilled at rebutting her opponents' arguments. While previous Kings of Albenheim had been unable to withstand the Senate's pressure, Arwen was a different story.
She possessed the political talent to lightly deflect attacks from the seasoned Senate and even launch counterattacks. She had the mental fortitude to stand firm against relentless pressure.
Naturally, from the Senate's perspective, Arwen was more than just troublesome; she was an eyesore. They tried everything to find a weakness, but no opportunity ever presented itself.
"First, I understand your thoughts well. However, I hope you realize that the timing is poor. The author is currently on hiatus; if we go looking for him now, the public's perception of us will only worsen."
"Since when do we have to care about such perceptions? We are the Elves, chosen by the gods."
"Indeed. Although we made a great blunder during the Race War, that was our mistake; it was by no means because humans were superior."
The Senate had no intention of backing down. Hearing their pleas, Arwen couldn't help but scowl.
These people believed they had simply made mistakes during the Race War; they never acknowledged that humans were superior to them.
Of course, it was true that the humans gained an advantage because the Elves self-destructed, but that was no reason to devalue humans entirely.
Arwen suppressed another sigh at the Senate's behavior, which was the very definition of "old fogeyism." Engaging in this war of attrition was not good for her.
"Enough! How long do you intend to waste precious time on such a book? Surely you all have much work to do?"
"But..."
"That is enough. You may leave. I, too, have much to think about."
When the Queen's roar erupted, the Senate finally had no choice but to withdraw. Pushing further now might cause a backlash.
The elderly Elf, acting as their representative, bowed politely in farewell.
"...Understood. We pray you will lend an ear to our words."
"You need not worry about that. It is not as if I have been ignoring the matter."
"Thank you. Then, we shall take our leave."
The long, drawn-out battle ended, and the Senate moved out of the audience chamber. They didn't forget to shoot sharp glares at Arwen until the very moment they exited.
"Sigh..."
Arwen let out the sigh she had been holding back once the Senate had all left. Then, after confirming with magic that no one was around, she grumbled quietly.
"Fucking old geezers."
Those were absolutely not words that should come out of a Queen's mouth. Rather, it was a coarse curse that would better suit a street thug.
Furthermore, her relatively youthful appearance created an undeniable sense of cognitive dissonance. If the Senate saw this, wouldn't they be horrified?
Regardless, Arwen rested her chin on her hand and grumbled like a child.
"Why are they throwing such a fit? I don't get it."
Snap!
With a casual snap of her fingers, a book materialized in mid-air. It was spatial movement magic, a feat said to be achievable only by those who had reached the level of a human Archmage.
Since she was an Elf who could use magic as naturally as breathing, she could perform it without even an incantation.
Arwen then carefully grasped the book that had appeared in the air with both hands. The title Xenon Biography was clearly printed on the cover.
"It's just fun, that's all."