Chapter 276: The Reason I Knelt Was... (10)[R-18]
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 276: The Reason I Knelt Was... (10)[R-18]
[....]
Thud— Thud—
Before the Master of the Storm, the Wild Hunters fell to their knees.
It wasn't that they had given up on resisting.
The very option of resistance had vanished.
Every gust of wind and every single raindrop weighed down on them, forcing their submission.
Ssh—
The Wild Hunters weren't the only ones kneeling before the advent of the two Spirit Kings.
"...It’s a miracle."
"Indeed... Elder Lee."
The moment they witnessed the miracle Ian had performed through the crystal ball, Elder Lee and Elder Sa felt something within them crumble.
"...This, this is preposterous...!!"
Elder Sa’s face contorted in shock.
"It cannot be! It’s impossible!! How...!! How can a human form a contract with a Spirit King!!"
Even Elfriede, born with the 'Blession of the World Tree,' could only manage a contract with a single Spirit King.
And yet, a mere human had contracted with two Spirit Kings simultaneously?
...No, before even considering his race, Ian was a 'Mage.'
There was no mistaking it.
During his stay in Elvenheim, they had seen him use magic several times!
A Mage cannot command spirits, and a Spirit Mage cannot use magic.
Just as spring follows winter and day follows night, this was one of the Fundamental Laws of the World that could not be overcome by talent or effort.
So how on earth...
"...Ha!"
Elfriede, her face still wet with tears, burst into laughter.
'My luck in picking a husband is just insane...!!'
She knew Ian had a unique constitution where his talent itself grew—something unheard of.
But even so, she never imagined she would witness the miracle of a Mage contracting with a Spirit King.
"This can't be... this can't be happening..!! After coming all this way!! The, the glory of the Elves... our grand cause!!"
"Glory, my ass. Fuck off, ptui! Phew... But Elder Sam, you know what?"
Still in her kneeling position, Elfriede pressed both hands against the ground.
"The reason I knelt..."
She shifted her weight onto the balls of her feet, contracting her leg muscles to their absolute limit.
And then...
"Was to gain momentum!! You son of a bitch!!!!!"
Becoming a literal arrow, Elfriede tore through the air.
"Dieeeeeeee!!!"
CRACK—!!!
Elfriede’s fire-enhanced punch buried itself accurately into Elder Sam’s solar plexus.
"──────!!!!"
A silent scream erupted from Elder Sam’s mouth as his eyes rolled back.
Snap!
The sound of Elder Sam’s 900-year-old convictions and his ribs shattering simultaneously echoed through the heart of the World Tree.
Thud! Thud! Thud!
Elder Sam’s body skipped across the ground like a stone over water several times before finally slumping against the far wall.
"Tch— Hah, fuck. That felt great!! You stay right there. I’m not done with you yet. You’ve met your match today, you bastard."
Whoosh!
As Elder Sam lost consciousness, the presence of Ifrit—which had been forcibly severed by the Crown—began to be felt once more.
[Can you hear me, Elfriede?]
"Yo, Ifrit. Welcome back."
[Something unbelievable has happened... Ian has formed contracts with the Spirit Kings of Water and Wind.]
"I know. I saw it. Honestly, I don't get how it's possible, but..."
Shift—
Elfriede’s gaze turned toward the 'Essence of the World Tree,' which was scattering golden mana.
"For now... let’s do what needs to be done."
[...Very well, let us do so.]
Step— Step—
Elfriede stopped in her tracks at the sound coming from where Elder Sam had been thrown.
"Cough... hack... cough!... El... friede...!!"
Turning her head, she saw Elder Sam glaring at her while spitting up blood.
His body was a wreck, but his eyes still flickered with madness.
"Wow... you're persistent. You survived that? Actually... that’s better."
Whoosh—
Ifrit’s flames coiled around Elfriede’s hand once again.
"Since you're awake, watch closely! And tell everyone! Elder Sam!!!"
"Haa... hugh... wha... what are you planning to do, Elfriede!!"
"...."
Instead of answering, Elfriede simply gave a broad smile.
At that pure smile, Elder Sam felt an indescribable terror.
"...A-Answer me!! I asked what you are planning to do!!!"
"I... told you before, didn't I? If you pulled this shit one more time, I’d make the World Tree go up in flames."
Fwoosh—!!
The flames wrapped around Elfriede’s hand grew brighter and brighter, turning a blinding green...
Conversely, the temperature of the surrounding space dropped until it felt chillingly cold.
It was proof that Elfriede was controlling the flames so perfectly that despite their immense heat, not a single bit of thermal energy was leaking out.
"D-Don't do anything foolish!! D-Do you have any idea how great a blessing the World Tree is to us Elves! If the World Tree disappears, the Elves will...!! Just kill me! Kill me instead!! The World Tree is... what are you doing!! E-Elder Lee! Elder Sa! Stop her! Stop her now!!"
Elder Sam crawled along the ground like an insect, screaming at the other elders, but...
"...Elder Sam... stop now. It seems we were wrong..."
"...We knew we were wrong from the beginning, didn't we? We just didn't want to admit it. But it is time to end this as well."
Having already witnessed the 'miracle,' Elder Lee and Elder Sa simply shook their heads.
"You... useless fools..!! S-Stop!! Elfriede! I said stop!! Losing the World Tree means the destruction of the Elves!!"
"Enough!! Elder Sam!! Repeat after me right now!!!"
"W-What...!"
"The World Tree is just a big tree!!"
"...That's preposterous!! N-No!!!"
"────YES!!!!"
The green flames coiled around Elfriede’s hand swallowed the 'Essence of the World Tree.'
A few days later, at the Elvenheim Courthouse.
"Senior... are you really not going to tell me?"
"Tell you what?"
"What do you mean 'what'!! You're a Mage, Senior. How did a Mage contract with spirits?"
"I told you. I don't really know either... Maybe a miracle just happened?"
"Hmph! Senior! Are you really going to keep secrets between us?! That’s so mean!"
Elfriede turned her head away, puffing out her cheeks in a pout.
"...."
Actually, Ian had a hunch.
『Thou, do as thou wilt.』
Just like when he had heard those words from the Goddess Ellis, the moment he heard the Spirit King’s voice...
He felt a sensation of something within him being carved away as the Fundamental Laws of the World were forcibly twisted.
'The problem is...'
Rumble—! Step— Step—
Just then, the doors of the courthouse opened, and an Elf with deep green hair entered with an expressionless face.
It was the First Elder, who had been imprisoned in the dungeon for opposing the other elders until the very end.
"Long time no see, old hag."
"...You brat. Who are you calling an old hag?"
"...I know. Why do you think I came to the courthouse?"
Elfriede, seemingly annoyed by the First Elder’s reaction—which was much calmer than expected—continued.
"Hmph, don't take it so badly. Didn't you say Elves are the most superior race? Then you'll do just fine even without a contract tied to the World Tree."
Though she said it to provoke her, the First Elder replied calmly once again.
"...Yes, you are right."
"What...?"
"I said you are right. Since we are no longer bound to the World Tree, we might actually develop like the other races."
"Hmph... But hag, what are you going to do now that the other elders are gone?"
That day, Elder Sam had gone mad from the shock of seeing the 'Essence of the World Tree' burn before his eyes.
Of course, Elfriede had no intention of forgiving him just because he lost his mind!
In fact, with the words, 'Did you think you wouldn't get beaten just because you're crazy?' she ensured Elder Sam would never be able to move his body on his own again.
Honestly, she had considered killing him...
But she felt that would be too peaceful an end, so she let him live to suffer until the day he died.
Elder Lee and Elder Sa confessed to all their crimes and voluntarily stepped down from their positions.
Of course, they weren't spared from a beating just because they confessed!
They were hit less than Elder Sam, but it was certain their entire bodies would ache whenever it rained.
"Ha, it is actually for the better. Now that I am alone, I can finally change Elvenheim’s units of measurement to the continental standard. ...The opposition from the other elders was so fierce until now."
"What? What's gotten into you? When I suggested changing it, you ignored me, talking about 'traaaadition~'."
"...Because the time has come for everything to change. More importantly, Elfriede. The time has come."
—Dong —Dong —Dong
With the ringing of the bell, the atmosphere around the First Elder, now seated in the judge's chair, shifted.
"Elfriede Karleia, the great sinner, listen. Originally, your crime would warrant the death penalty according to Article 6, Paragraph 9 of the World Tree Management Act... however, taking into account your past achievements and the circumstances—specifically that the elders' rampage could not have been stopped without you—and...."
After a long list of mitigating factors, the First Elder delivered the sentence.
"I hereby sentence Elfriede Karleia to permanent exile from Elvenheim."
Gavel thud!
Usually, in an Elvenheim trial, the sentence is followed by an invitation to appeal if there are objections, but this time, there was none.
In other words, Elfriede’s exile was finalized.
"Elfriede Karleia. You must leave Elvenheim within 12 hours from this moment, and you may never return. Should you violate this and illegally enter Elvenheim..."
"Yeah, yeah! Fine. Stop talking. I wasn't planning on coming back even if you begged me!"
"...Yes. I suppose so."
"Hmph! Well, I'm off then. Live well, hag. Let's go, Senior!"
Turning around, Elfriede gave a casual wave and prepared to leave the courthouse.
'...If I knew she’d be this fine, I should have just left.'
She already knew through an Elf sent by the First Elder that she would receive 'permanent exile' instead of the 'death penalty.'
Even so, the reason Elfriede stayed until the trial date to hear the result was...
Just in case the other elders had done something to the First Elder.
Just a little...
Just a tiny bit worried, she simply wanted to see her face one last time.
"...Wait a moment."
"Ugh, what is it now, hag?"
Shift—
As Elfriede asked irritably, the First Elder stepped down from the judge's seat and opened her arms wide.
"Come, give me a hug."
"...What’s this? So cringy. Were we ever on those kinds of terms?"
"Do you think I want to do this? But... since it is the last time, I am doing this much."
"Hmph, hag. If you don't want to, then don't. It's not like anyone asked..."
Poke—
At that moment, Ian gave her a light poke in the side, causing Elfriede to pout as she spoke.
"...Sigh. Fine. Since it's the last time."
Squeeze—
As if she truly had no choice, Elfriede leaned into the First Elder’s embrace.
'...It’s the same.'
She could smell the scent of the First Elder, the same one who used to visit her in the middle of the night to apply medicine.
"...."
"...."
After a brief silence, the First Elder gently stroked Elfriede’s hair and spoke.
"...Be happy, Elfriede."
"......Yeah."
Buried in the First Elder’s chest, Elfriede’s voice trembled ever so slightly.