Chapter 47
Chapter 47
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: Ebonarch
Chapter: 47
Chapter Title: The Elves' Resolve
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Elves were never a numerous race to begin with, but this incident had claimed the lives of nearly half their people.
With the Divine Tree Wigdrasil completely burned to ashes, the ancient elven kingdom of Arborness could be considered effectively destroyed.
Yet thanks to Elder Eloise's calm demeanor, the elves gradually regained their composure, and by the time the sun rose, they began placing their hopes on me.
Once the elves extinguished the flames that had spread from the Divine Tree to the grassy fields, bringing the crisis to a temporary close, Eloise approached me with a single request.
"Young human, your name is Alvis, correct?"
"Yes."
"Might you show us that sword of light again?"
"Not a problem at all."
I borrowed one of the elves' iron swords to replace the one I'd shattered into pieces and activated Light Saber.
My mana was running low, but maintaining it without swinging was still possible.
As soon as I drew the Light Saber, the surviving elves—Elder Eloise included, especially those who looked the oldest—let out gasps of admiration.
"Oh... Ooh...!"
"This... there's no mistaking it!"
"That warm, enveloping energy of light... This is undoubtedly the power of Lady Lunia!"
While the elder elves spoke like this, the younger ones, including Elfin, tilted their heads in confusion.
Elfin in particular, who had traveled with me for months, immediately rejected the idea.
"Lady Lunia's power? The only one who possesses that is the Holy Warrior, right? I traveled with Alvis for months, but I never sensed any divine energy from him..."
Elder Eloise turned to his granddaughter with a wrinkled smile and explained.
"That's because you're still too young, dear. We elves become more attuned to the goddess's power as we age. Elves like me and these elders, who've lived nearly a thousand years, can discern just by looking whether a light is a mere magical fake or the true power of the goddess. That's one reason an elven elder always attends the Holy Warrior's investiture ceremony. I was too ill to attend this time and sent someone in my place, but humans don't understand the significance of an elven elder's presence, so it didn't matter."
"Th-then... are you saying Brayden isn't the Holy Warrior?"
"That's right."
"...!"
Elfin's eyes trembled violently at the elder elf's firm declaration, backed by nearly a millennium of life. The other young elves, along with Ravi and Lenis, were equally stunned.
"No way..."
"I haven't seen Brayden wield his power firsthand, but seeing this sword of light from young Alvis here has convinced me. This blade radiates the goddess's energy without a doubt. There's only one being in this world who can wield her power. In other words, Alvis is the true Holy Warrior. They said the holy sword didn't glow during his investiture... so that's why."
"We were so focused on discussing responses with the nations because the sword didn't shine, we never considered Brayden might not be the Holy Warrior at all... So the real one is... this guy? Alvis? Why? Sure, he's strong, I'll give him that..."
"He is undoubtedly the Holy Warrior. As for why... even I don't know. This is a first for me in my lifetime. What could the goddess be thinking, granting her power not to the officially appointed Holy Warrior but to some outsider? No matter how much we pray, she remains silent even to her priests, so in the end, it's all speculation."
Having heard her grandfather's words, Elfin scanned me up and down. I teased her lightly.
"What's with that look on your face? It's like you're saying, 'A loser like you can't possibly be the Holy Warrior!'"
"Wh-when did I say that?! I don't think that at all!"
In the past, she would've launched into a tirade starting with "Of course!" and listing all the ways I was a scumbag and a human dreg. But unbeknownst to her, her attitude toward me had softened considerably.
I turned my gaze to Elder Eloise and bowed my head slightly.
"Thank you for telling me, Elder. However, I suspect there might be some misunderstanding about me being the Holy Warrior. My faith in the goddess isn't particularly deep. And if I were her Holy Warrior, bearing her power, I should be able to hear her voice, but I've never experienced that. Above all, shouldn't the goddess's Holy Warrior be someone of upright character, proficient in both letters and arms, noble and pure? But me... well, you didn't see me at the academy, but I'm definitely not that kind of person."
Elfin's face flushed crimson as she recalled the incident where I'd accidentally stripped her down to her panties in front of everyone, and she averted her eyes from me.
She repeatedly glanced at me with a terribly conflicted expression before looking away again.
As if her face was saying, "I absolutely refuse to accept a guy like you as the Holy Warrior! But... thanks for saving us!"
However, Elder Eloise simply looked at me for a moment before quietly asking,
"Do you truly believe that?"
"Pardon?"
"My granddaughter noticed the anomaly here and sent you all a letter saying she'd end her journey. Judging by the timing, you came straight here upon receiving it. And knowing full well what happens when swallowed by that mist, you stepped inside of your own accord to save those still clinging to life."
That was only because the fragment I'd absorbed earlier granted near-immunity to the mist's curse and bleeding... but I didn't mention it.
"You rebuked our kin for refusing an outsider's help and told them to save lives first and foremost. You secured a safe haven within the mist for our survival, left behind those who could heal without regard for your own body, then plunged back into the fog to rescue even more people—which is how my granddaughter survived. Without you, how many of us would have made it...? We might have faced total extinction."
At those words, all the elves turned to me, bowing their heads silently in gratitude.
"Your actions—prioritizing others over yourself, exerting every effort to save lives without a thought for your own safety—that is true nobility. Poor conduct at the academy? I didn't witness it myself, but everyone makes mistakes in youth. What matters is that the current you possesses unwavering nobility worthy of enacting the goddess's will, and it seems she has chosen you as her apostle for it."
I silently mulled over Elder Eloise's words.
Until now, I'd dismissed reports of my abilities as the goddess's power as nonsense, but I couldn't ignore it anymore.
A wise and renowned elven elder had declared it definitively, and after my battle with Vector, I'd sensed my own powers weren't mere illusory lights.
I'd never thought they could be the goddess's power, but with elves—one of the races closest to her—stating it so certainly, it must be true.
But why me of all people? Looking at it objectively, Brayden fits the Holy Warrior mold far better. He's the protagonist—handsome, virtuous—while I'm a total wreck.
But no amount of pondering would yield answers from someone like me who couldn't even hear the goddess's voice.
For now, the elves seemed to believe their elder and viewed me as the true Holy Warrior, which would at least make guiding them forward easier.
I addressed the thousands of surviving elves.
No need to berate them harshly like before, so I reverted to polite speech.
"Elves of Arborness. Though the Divine Tree has burned to the ground, Arborness has not fallen. Arborness is not a place. Each and every one of you is proof that it endures. Open the doors of your closed hearts, lower your guards, and integrate into human society. Yes, there are plenty of scum among humans, but you all possess more than enough strength and skill to protect yourselves."
At the realization that they truly had to mingle with human society now, many elves let out sighs.
"Your knowledge, skills, and experience... Sharing even a fraction would have human societies welcoming you with open arms everywhere. Don't fixate on what's lost—look to what's left and face the days ahead. Arborness hasn't perished. If you successfully blend into human society, you can even spread and influence Arborness's culture."
Seeing the elves still wore dazed expressions, I added one more thing.
"If anyone truly can't bear to live among humans, you can reclaim and cultivate the empty forest anew. Wherever you are becomes Arborness itself."
At my words, the elves wept bitterly, but their eyes filled with resolute determination.
"Arborness is not a place... I think I get it."
"Yeah, Lady Elfin lived outside for three years without issue—in fact, she came back stronger after her education."
"We can't let Arborness's lineage end. I'll... take my family to the city."
"I could never live in a human city. I'll clear the empty forest and build a new home. But... I'll definitely pursue exchanges. We'll welcome human or bunnyfolk cultures into our new elven homeland."
"I'll go to a human city. I've never left the Divine Tree before, so since it's come to this, I'll try a new life. And I'll spread the word that we haven't fallen."
"That is enough."
Resolve proved contagious as well.
From dozens to hundreds, then thousands, each elf's determination spread. They ceased their wailing, gathered for a silent tribute to the charred ruins of the Divine Tree, and set off on their chosen paths—vowing to stay in touch and exchange news.
Those who would live in the forest headed west, while those bound for the cities joined our group toward Aldebaran.
After days of marching with this massive entourage, we finally arrived at Aldebaran in the Kingdom of Pratea.
"......What the hell is this?"
What we saw was a city reduced to complete ruins.