Chapter 38
Chapter 38
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: penny
Chapter: 38
Chapter Title: Elf Empire (3)
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Among us, Bine, who was born and raised here in the Elf Empire, would know the most about it.
That was why we pulled the sullen Bine out and began our strategy meeting.
I felt sorry for Bine, who was moping despite having done nothing wrong, but I questioned her anyway.
“Was the Elf Emperor always like this?”
“No… Mother was always kind to me…”
Thinking back to the reaction the Emperor had shown earlier made it hard to imagine a kind Emperor.
However, there was no reason for Bine to lie, so it was probably true.
When I considered why the Elf Empire had changed like this, the only conclusion was the demon race. It seemed like I needed to consult an expert in this field.
I had disguised myself as a human for now, but I pulled out Nania, whom I had hidden in the luggage.
“Phew…”
She must have felt stifled inside the luggage, but Nania’s expression didn’t look bad.
Amazed once again by her adaptability, I asked,
“Did you hear the conversation outside?”
“Yes, I was listening with interest.”
“By any chance, did you sense any demonic energy?”
Rainy could sense demonic energy sensitively too, but it wouldn’t compare to Nania, who was a demon herself.
Nania shook her head firmly.
“I’m sure. There was no demonic energy.”
Bine’s expression darkened.
“If it’s not demons, then there’s no way the plants blessed by the World Tree could be withering like that…”
I pondered while munching on the crunchy herb cookies the elves had given me as snacks.
If it wasn’t the demons’ doing, then what reason could there be for the plants to die…?
Was the World Tree unable to exert its power…?
Rainy spoke up abruptly.
“We should see the World Tree first. Even if it’s not demonic energy, I can heal it with my holy power.”
The elves weren’t fools; they had to know their World Tree’s condition wasn’t normal.
No matter how wary they were of us for unknown reasons, there was no reason to refuse when a former saintess offered to heal it.
“Alright, let’s ask right away.”
The chamberlain hadn’t forbidden our actions; he had only demanded reports.
If we boldly said we wanted to go to the World Tree, they’d have no grounds to refuse since he’d already reported as requested.
Without wasting time, we stepped out of the building where we were essentially confined.
“What do you need?”
The elves approached immediately.
As Yumi had said, when I spread out my energy, I could faintly sense presences from the rooftops of nearby buildings.
My senses had been honed to the extreme from handling holy and magical power, so I barely detected them. If I hadn’t trained, I wouldn’t have noticed even if I sensed something there—impressive camouflage.
“Guide us to the World Tree.”
It would be more persuasive if Bine, who was still a princess of sorts, requested it rather than me, an outsider.
Bine stepped forward in my place and made the request.
“Hmm…”
The elf furrowed his brows in thought, wrote something on a leaf, and sent it floating into the air.
For some reason, the leaf defied gravity and vanished.
“I’ve reported to the higher-ups, so please wait a moment.”
I considered ignoring them and heading to the World Tree anyway, but elves armed with weapons had gathered, making it impossible to force our way.
A tense standoff continued until a reply came, at which point Bine couldn’t hold back her frustration and stepped forward.
“All elves have the right to see the World Tree. You can’t block that as guard captain, can you? Let us through right now.”
Apparently, the elf blocking our path was the guard captain.
I was surprised at the appearance of someone more important than expected.
I hoped the guard captain would soften a bit with the princess stepping up like this, but his response was unexpectedly cold.
“It’s true that elves have the right to see the World Tree at any time. However, Princess, you have been excommunicated from the elf race.”
I was startled by the guard captain’s words.
Bine had been excommunicated from the elf race? This was news to me.
She still seemed to have a strong sense of identity as an elf…
“That was just a formality!”
“You’re right. The elves are bound by a fateful contract to protect the World Tree, so it was a formal excommunication to free you from that.”
“…”
Hearing the guard captain’s explanation made the situation clear.
It seemed the elves were bound by a coercive contract to protect the World Tree.
But the elf leadership had used a loophole, excommunicating her formally to release her from the contract.
“Even if it was formal, the fact remains that you were excommunicated, Princess. You no longer have the right as a member of the elf race to see the World Tree.”
“…”
For words directed at a princess, the guard captain’s tone was far too harsh.
“Guard captain! How can you say something so heartless!”
“…”
As the atmosphere grew icy, a leaf returned.
The guard captain picked it up, read it without changing expression, and showed it to us.
[Denied]
“…”
Those two words on the leaf conveyed an absolute resolve not to let us meet the World Tree.
As Bine’s expression turned grave, the guard captain stared at her silently before speaking.
“Princess, I say this from the bottom of my heart. Give up this futile endeavor now and return to Baron Devin’s household.”
“No.”
“…That’s unfortunate.”
The guard captain feigned composure despite Bine’s firm refusal, but he couldn’t fully hide his agitation.
He seemed genuinely troubled by her refusal to leave.
I couldn’t understand why they were trying so hard to drive the princess away.
“If you change your mind, please let me know anytime. If you say you’re returning to Baron Devin’s territory, I will assist you fully.”
“…I came here to fight to protect the elves. I won’t go back until I drive out the demons and confirm the elves’ safety.”
“Why defy His Majesty the Emperor’s will?”
“I’ve decided to live doing what I want from now on. I want to protect the elves, so I’m acting on it.”
“…”
The guard captain stared intently at Bine, and she met his gaze without flinching.
Seeing her resolve, the guard captain nodded.
“You’ve grown a lot, Princess.”
“Thank you.”
“Even so, with His Majesty’s refusal, you cannot go to the World Tree.”
“…”
“One hour until dinner. I’ll visit then. Please rest.”
The guard captain began subtly pushing us back inside with the surrounding elves, as if he wouldn’t entertain objections.
I was complying, thinking now wasn’t the time, when—
Whoosh.
Countless leaves began flying in simultaneously.
“Huh?”
The guard captain, who had been pushing us back, stopped and caught the leaves, reading their contents.
Whatever was written made his face grow paler with each line.
‘What is it?’
‘Yeah.’
As Rainy and I exchanged glances, the guard captain carefully tore up the leaves and urgently summoned his guards.
The elves secretly watching us and even those casually doing chores all responded to his call without exception.
In an instant, dozens of elves lined up before him, and with a serious expression, he turned to us.
“Something urgent has come up, so I must leave. Please rest comfortably inside until then.”
He bowed his head politely and led the elves away hastily somewhere.
The more you’re told not to do something, the more you want to.
The more you’re told not to follow, the more you want to.
With the guard captain and elves completely gone, we exchanged looks.
“We’re following, right?”
“Of course.”
I looked at Bine.
“Do you know where the elves are heading?”
“Hmm… If it’s an important place in that direction, it has to be the World Tree.”
“Then we can head that way to check on the World Tree’s condition as well.”
With our destination set, there was no need to delay further.
We hurriedly prepared and dashed toward the World Tree.
A hero party’s job is to seek out incidents and accidents, after all.
I felt a slight thrill at finally doing something hero-like.