97. The Elves Have Changed!
The Imperial Academy has several groups created by students in addition to the student clubs.
Among them is what is commonly known as the 'Cobalt Whistling.'
This group was formed by the Heigens exchange students. Its purpose was to help each other and receive help while studying abroad in a foreign country for a while.
Of course, this is only one of the reasons for their communication. The bigger reason was that they wanted to stick together among themselves and not mix too much with the Empire's humans, to hang out with each other.
No matter how much the Empire has grown, even if the elves have changed along with it, they couldn't abandon their pride as elves. That was the cause.
“We don’t reject the Empire’s useful things. We acknowledge their superiority.”
“But elves are definitely a great race. There’s no doubt that we are greater than humans.”
“So, we accept the Empire’s technology and achievements, but let’s not lose our identity as elves.”
Clearly, even though they came to study at the Imperial Academy, despite having fought the same enemy and being allies.
In reality, the exchange students preferred to stick together among themselves and create another small elf society rather than getting closer to the people of the Empire or their society.
Perhaps it was an expected outcome. Most of the elf exchange students came from promising families in their society.
From their perspective, it was only natural to accept the Empire's influence just enough so as not to harm their own families' greatness.
Of course, there were also elves who opposed this. They said this wouldn't do.
“What reason did we come to study abroad for! It’s not just to follow the Empire. It’s to stand side by side with them one day, or even ahead of them. We want to be the first step!”
“This way only hinders that step. Narrow perspectives and narrow-minded thinking only trip you up. We must get more involved with the Empire, mix more with them, and accept new things!”
It was correct reasoning. It was right. But their claims didn't have much influence.
Almost all of those who made the claims were lower-ranking warriors. Because in the elf society, they didn't hold any significant power.
So, the elf exchange students at the academy had become closed off despite their 'exchange student' status.
It was different from the Lasquer or Abillesti exchange students who mixed relatively with the Empire students.
At the forefront, as expected, was the 'Cobalt Whistling' group.
But then, a change began to blow through the Cobalt Whistling.
More precisely, it was after a certain woman entered this group.
The elves were at a loss for words when they saw the text plastered on the group bulletin board.
They were speechless. When had cutting ears become a 'slight stimulation'?
Especially that very day, some exchange students who had opposed Eloise had actually had their ear flesh sliced away?
“How many friends have you made?”
“Not even one yet.”
“I’ve at least started talking to one.”
As I said earlier, most elf exchange students who came to the academy were from high-ranking families. In the Empire's terms, they were nobles.
People from such backgrounds could have resisted or refused to obey, yet they were following Eloise's board proposal with all their might.
More precisely, they had first contacted their homeland. Specifically, their own families.
A new woman had gone mad and was rampaging, threatening to cut ears if they didn't follow her orders. Some had even had their ear tips sliced.
“If you don't follow my words, I'll cut all your ears and salt them!! Don't even think about using a sword or whatever!”
It seemed like the words of an elf, the same race as themselves. So they had relayed Eloise's words exactly as they were to their families.
“What nonsense is this!”
“We can't ignore this! Absolutely!”
“Lohengrin? I'll file an official complaint with that family!!”
This was the reaction the exchange students had expected. They had believed it would happen.
But the reply that came back completely shattered their expectations.
“…It's a pity to hear that. But I understand.”
“It must be uncomfortable. What can you do? Since it's not wrong, follow it for now.”
They had suspected their own ears. Maybe their ears really had been cut.
But the replies they heard were exactly right. Each family expressed regret but showed no intention of escalating the matter further.
Some incident had occurred. There were other matters in the homeland, so they couldn't spare attention for this side.
The exchange students realized this and would soon receive news from their homeland and families.
The suppressed resentment of the elf warriors began to erupt. More precisely, it was because they had been influenced by the Empire.
The Empire had a more rigid class system than the elf society. Yet the soldiers who had fought still received respect from the noble classes, even if they were commoners. They at least gave minimal respect.
The proof was the welfare provided for war survivors. Recently, with the creation of a massive pension foundation, they took full responsibility and cared for them.
And a person who was a soldier had received the Medal of Honor twice!
In contrast, what about the elves? Even though they were lower-ranking warriors who fought the Luzens, the credit went to their families.
At the very least, they didn't have better treatment or social recognition than the Empire for war survivors. Instead, they even grumbled that they were comrades who had shed blood in battle!
With the situation like this, the Heigens side could no longer ignore their voices.
If they ignored them and one arrow came back in reverse, it could be a big problem. It could become the spark for the Luzens, which had just been eliminated, to revive.
Just then, in the upper echelons of Heigens leadership, warriors who were not from noble families began to appear.
Because there had been war, the military faction that had grown from that war was only natural.
And they began to accept the opinions of the lower-ranking warriors and restrain the power of the noble families.
It was a shocking situation for the nobles, but they lacked grounds to suppress them.
During the war, the warriors had spilled the most blood. And one more thing: the Empire had more contact with the military leadership than with themselves.
Thanks to these reasons, the nobles remained silent even toward Eloise's 'slight stimulation.'
They had sent them to study abroad after all, and if the soldiers saw them sticking together and acting like elves were superior, the atmosphere would become even more tense.
“And as a side note, absolutely do not do anything that would upset the Empire's sensibilities.”
“I am giving you a strict warning. Do not cause any incident that could lead to friction with the Empire.”
“Why? It's obvious. Currently, the Empire and the Bright Light Church's friendship has reached its peak. In this situation, if we get on the wrong side of the Empire, we will lose not only in strength but also in justification.”
In other words, they didn't want to watch their backs because the homeland situation was unstable and they didn't want to upset the Empire's sensibilities, so just behave well on your own.
Therefore, the exchange students who could no longer rely on their families' backing had become as meek as a single dog.
Overstating a bit, if Eloise says bark, they bark, if she says wag tail, they wag.
Too much? Yes, it is. But the family's power is far away, while Eloise's violence is right in front of them. Of course they have to obey.
At least they didn't want to be the elf who had ears cut.
'Making human friends. It's a tough assignment…'
'Five is doable. And giving such a challenging task means if they can't do it, they won't let them off the hook!'
It was around the time the Cobalt Whistling students were seriously considering how to make 'new friends'!
Crash!―
“Kyaaah!”
“Huh?!”
The door slammed open violently, and Eloise strode in. Anyone could see the aura radiating off her like 'I'm really angry right now. If you touch me, I'll peel off a piece of flesh one by one.'
“…”
“…”
The exchange students who had been strutting around just moments ago as if they were from noble families were now only rolling their eyes like dogs looking at their master.
Because law is far, fists are close. And fists are close, but swords are even closer.
“Ah, it's getting more and more irritating.”
Eloise's inner monologue sounded even more sinister today.
The elf exchange students were on high alert, waiting obediently for Eloise's next words.
“Lasquer's fifth princess. Same first year as me.”
Lasquer? The human country called the Kingdom of Knights? Why the fifth princess suddenly?
Is it that the fifth princess is part of the new exchange students from the kingdom this time?
“Anyway, it doesn't sit well with the exchange students.”
The subject is unclear, but the elves screamed 'Kyaaah!' and bowed their heads in front of Eloise.
“Sorry, Eloise!”
“I’ll try harder! I’ll definitely make five friends!”
“I won’t cause any friction with the Empire! So, just the ears!”
“…What are these saying…?”