Chapter 267
Chapter 267
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Translator: crow
Chapter Title: Cognitive Alteration (2)
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"You want to know more about elves?"
"I've already told you pretty much everything, haven't I?"
"What's left... well, who knows."
"Maybe tell me about their tastes or something?"
"Oh? So you're interested after all?"
"Was this your real goal all along?"
"Found an elf you're into?"
"I mean, it makes sense. Elves are basically all beauties."
"That's why the phrase 'elf-like' became a common idiom among humans for beauty."
"But do you know? Elves view humans like you as... Ah, never mind."
"The conversation veered off track for a moment."
"There's nothing worse than crushing feelings that haven't even bloomed yet, so let's end this here."
"What elves like is simple."
Spirits. Plants. Nature magic. Fresh vegetables and lush grass.
"See how? Can you spot the common thread tying them all together?"
"Right."
Purity.
Elves love purity.
"Why do you think that is?"
The World Tree is that way.
On the flip side, what they hate is the same.
Elves despise anything impure. Yes, despise.
You know how prickly elves can be, right?
That look on your face, heh. Yeah, you know. Look at my face too. I know. Actually, pretty much everyone knows.
Anyway, that prickliness is an extension of the purity elves pursue.
They strive to express themselves as authentically as possible. They see it as a virtue of purity.
So, when elves treat you with pure intent, it's best if you become as pure a person as possible in return.
Elves who've been betrayed in their trust can't be stopped even by a high elf.
What? How do I know?
Hahat.
Arrogant creatures.
Nad'ga Hera described the elven race that way.
She said that if you molded life from the clay of arrogance, the result would be elves.
They pursue purity and reject or scorn anything that contradicts that value.
But they set the standard for purity by their own measure.
Could anything be more arrogant or conceited?
Hera disliked elves.
Yet.
Hera could not scorn elves.
She could not view them with the same contemptuous gaze elves directed at other races.
No matter how much she denigrated them as arrogant and conceited—
The purity and beauty elves possessed were undeniable.
Their ancestors were nature itself, their parent the World Tree.
Their existence, blessed by nature in full, inherently embodied utmost purity.
That presence. That aura.
It wasn't mere fancy that evoked verdant forests.
Elves were beautiful.
It was a self-evident truth, needing no denial of worldly laws or principles.
Even Nad'ga, who claimed to be the incarnation of beauty, could not deny that beauty.
She was not free from it.
Thus, Hera had made contact with the expedition upon hearing the news.
Thus, Hera had felt utter exhilaration upon encountering the elven group.
Those arrogant, conceited beings, blinded by blessing, now praising Nad'ga beauty!
Elves could never be the greatest race.
The Nad'ga, born with innately higher status and power, knew that full well.
But elves could be the most beautiful race.
They could blindly reject and scorn Nad'ga, flaunting that beauty.
Before the influence of the 'Blessing,' that had surely been the case.
But.
Now it was different.
The elves' praise!
It was proof that the 'Blessing' had become an undeniable law of this world.
Evidence that no opponent remained to deny it.
The time was ripe.
At last, the moment had come for Nad'ga to reign as the true rulers of the world.
Elves... beautiful yet pathetic beings... you will serve us...
Thus.
For Nad'ga Hera, who proclaimed herself the incarnation of beauty, the existence of elves—the true race of beauty—held special meaning.
Hera intended to forge deeper bonds with this elven group through this encounter.
Furthermore, to imprint the Nad'ga presence more deeply upon them.
For example.
Nad'ga Hera craved deeper respect and admiration from the elves.
From Hera's perspective, that was why 'that human' had to be eliminated.
His denial of the Blessing would obstruct the relationship with elves she sought.
Thus, Hera decided to remove the human.
It was necessary, and exceedingly simple.
Yes. Simple.
She surely thought so.
'What the hell are these things saying!?'
Hera silently observed the situation.
The elves had only been momentarily flustered.
She assumed they would soon regain composure and raise the issue of that human.
However, Hera's expectations missed the mark.
"This is weird! Why are we only realizing now that Rishir isn't human?"
"Confused, are you, Watcher Ratsil?"
"No way, Lady Lunadien! If anything, it's a relief! It's like a thorn in my throat has finally been pulled out!"
"A thorn pulled from your throat... Quite an apt expression."
"Lady Karoer!? Right!? Right, right!? See, I wasn't the only one thinking that!"
Far from raising the issue—
They were sharing joy as if the problem had been resolved.
"Everyone!"
Hera couldn't hold back and shouted.
"Did all of you know he wasn't human?"
"...No. We don't know why now of all times, but we truly believed Rishir was human."
Karoer answered.
Hera raised her voice triumphantly.
"Then, is this really okay!?"
It was the moment Nad'ga's position—having once more usurped the dragon's prestige—shone brightly.
Even as Hera poured cold water on the mood, the elves calmly listened to the outsider.
"You've formed close ties with him. You accepted him as one of your own, even bringing him on this expedition! All of this was possible because you embraced 'human' Rishir with trust and faith. Isn't that right!? But his true nature isn't human at all!"
Hera's indirect yet blatant rhetoric highlighted Rishir's 'impurity.'
The very element elves could never tolerate!
"Hera. I clearly understand what you mean to say. And your kind concern as well."
Guardian Karoer stepped forward and spoke.
With her characteristic serene expression, she pondered for a moment before addressing Hera.
"I hope this answer eases your worries."
Hera inwardly rejoiced.
This was advice from Nad'ga.
She took it as natural to listen closely and respond with full sincerity.
She believed the high elf's words would deliver the answer she desired.
"Rishir. Whatever his true identity, you can trust him. We elves vouch for it."
Hera had dismissed 'that human' as baseborn scum.
She assumed the method he used to gain elven trust was equally worthless.
"..."
Yet now.
The Nad'ga recalling him froze in place, speechless.
'Elves... trusting a human? No, an outsider of unknown origin this much...?'
It exceeded the bounds of comprehension.
Hera couldn't even fathom how that human had swayed the elves.
"Is that... all you have to say?"
Karoer exchanged glances with the other elves before speaking.
She seemed ready to dismiss them if answered 'yes.'
'Don't screw with me!!!'
Hera screamed inwardly.
She had even used the relic's power just to eliminate one baseborn.
All to ensure no disruptions in her plans involving the elves.
And yet.
The result of wielding the relic's power was this?
"W-Wait a moment...!"
She absolutely could not accept it.
Hera raised her hand to halt the elves as she devised a new plan.
Nad'ga was a guest visiting the Ilraddin expedition.
More precisely, a sudden intruder.
For such an outsider to summon the group separately and monopolize their time?
Normally, it would never be allowed.
"You must have another issue. We'll wait here, so collect your thoughts calmly and speak."
Yet Guardian Karoer said as much.
She was Nad'ga.
The great race that had sacrificed all to protect the world's harmony and balance.
She deserved respect.
"..."
The sight of countless elves directing total respect and trust toward her!
Hera felt her heated mind cool somewhat.
Hera bowed politely to the elves with a gentle smile.
She calmly savored their reactions to her bow.
It was then, as Nad'ga unwittingly lost focus.
"Lady Karoer!"
The atmosphere shifted abruptly.
The tent flap opened, and a new figure appeared.
Rishir.
The human male entered, accompanied by the dragonkin girl Allenza.
'Damn...!'
Hera belatedly cursed her foolishness.
This was no time to bask leisurely in elven admiration.
"G-Guards! What are you doing!?"
Hera shouted toward the tent entrance.
The guards at the entrance rushed in.
"W-What's the matter, Lady Hera!?"
"We were in the midst of discussing a grave matter! How could you let an outsider in so recklessly!?"
"Ah, Hera. Please calm down."
It was Garden Star Lunadien who soothed her.
The flamboyant red-haired elf gently grasped Nad'ga's arm and said,
"He's not some outsider. He's truly our comrade and member."
"Exactly! Lady Hera! Since it's come to this, why not share your worries with Rishir!? I don't know what you're concerned about, but he might be able to solve it!"
These fools.
What nonsense are they spouting!?
Hera glared at them unwittingly.
'How can they suggest consulting him after hearing all that just now!?'
Elves' faith in Nad'ga.
Elves' faith in Rishir.
The result of those intertwined.
The elves couldn't even begin to gauge the stance between Nad'ga and Rishir now.
"Lady Karoer!"
Rishir didn't miss Hera's flustered moment.
He swiftly seized the initiative she had briefly lost.
"Wait, we have urgent matters to discuss among ourselves! Please order that Nad'ga to leave!"
"Karoer! Surely you're not really going to throw me out!?"
"Y-You two— what happened...!?"
Ratsil's reaction spoke for the elves' bewilderment.
Seeing what looked like animosity between Rishir and Nad'ga, they panicked, at a loss.
Rishir and Hera were equally flustered.
They stared at each other in shock.
The moment their thoughts aligned.
Rishir couldn't believe the elves trusted Nad'ga as much as him.
Hera couldn't believe the elves trusted the human as much as her.
'...Ah!'
Then.
Rishir recalled what the dragonkin girl Allenza had said.
Nad'ga.
They had stolen the dragons' prestige.
Rishir felt awkward.
At the same time, he understood the elves' reactions.
'So this situation now... it's essentially that?'
The race's benefactor at odds with the continent's guardian.
That's how the current scene would appear in the elves' eyes.
"Rishir... Why not calm down first and talk it out? Whatever misunderstanding there is between you two, a calm conversation might resolve it, right?"
As if to prove it, Ratsil took a stance soothing both Rishir and Hera.
'Damn. Of course they can't take sides rashly... So what now?'
Rishir, just in case, gripped Ratsil's arm firmly.
"R-Rishir!?"
Further, hoping to dispel her 'curse,' he poured his energy into her with all his might.
"How is it, Ratsil!?"
"H-How is what—!?"
"What does this girl look like to you!?"
Rishir pointed to the dragonkin girl Allenza beside him.
"What she looks like—"
Ratsil trailed off.
Rishir didn't miss the faint disgust clouding her expression.
'Damn, so this way won't work either? Then I need to find and destroy the curse's source... But do I even know where it is!?'
It was then, as Rishir turned his gaze to Hera.
"Everyone, snap out of it!"
"Allenza!?"
The dragonkin girl shouted in frustration.
"That monster is deceiving you all! Don't you get it yet!?"
Having felt others' goodwill for the first time in ages bolstered the dragonkin girl's confidence.
She appealed to the elves with sincerity.
With the belief that perhaps they might believe her!
"...!"
And that belief was betrayed instantly.
Allenza gasped raggedly and stepped back.
The moment she called Nad'ga a monster, some elves showed clear hostility.
Even Ratsil, Karoer, and Lunadien could only barely manage their expressions while glancing at Rishir.
"Ah, ah..."
The curse that had toppled the guardians of harmony and balance was that absolute.
"..."
At that moment.
Hera, who had been lost in thought like Rishir, curled one corner of her mouth.
Elves' disgust toward dragons.
The Blessing's dominance.
Even the man could do nothing about it.
Having observed the sequence, Nad'ga gained confidence.
"Everyone!"
Shaking off all delusions, she raised her voice.
"Now you all see it too, don't you? What I was worried about."
Nad'ga pointed at the dragon and human with one hand and cried out.
"Behold! His misdeeds! He brought a dragon claiming to heal my slave, then schemed with that hideous monster to slander me!"
"Nad'ga! Please calm down... There must be some mistake—"
Guardian Karoer urgently tried to restrain Hera.
"..."
Hera felt utter exasperation.
Even in this state, that high elf sought to mediate between the great Nad'ga and the human.
Her Nad'ga pride could tolerate it no longer.
"No, it's no mistake."
Hera reached into her bosom.
In her hand was now something shaped like a platinum egg.
The Nad'ga relic, 'Shell.'
"...!"
Rishir's eyes flashed open.
Instinct's signal.
He charged at Nad'ga instantly to seize the Shell.
"Where do you think you're going!"
"Ugh...!"
It happened in a flash.
As Nad'ga swung her arm fiercely, the overwhelming power of that superior being took form and sent the human flying.
"You saw it, everyone!!! How that one eyed our sacred Nad'ga relic!!!"
At this point, Hera corrected her assessment of Rishir.
A persistent pest.
That baseborn was more dangerous than she had thought.
A hazardous element worth eliminating by any means—
Thus, Nad'ga sought to borrow the Shell's power once more.
"You all must open your eyes!!! That thing is an evil being deluding you all!!!"
Crack.
A larger fissure than before appeared on the Shell.
"...!"
Urk!
Blood poured from Hera's mouth and nose with a cough.
The exercise of immense authority.
The price would surely damage Hera's very being.
Perhaps to the point where she couldn't even handle that single 'Garden Star' alone.
The moment things went awry, she would face an unavoidable crisis.
But it was fine.
Things wouldn't go awry.
A more certain and powerful cognitive alteration than before.
It wouldn't merely create openings—it would surely drive the human to utter ruin.
"Watch closely, everyone. I'll reveal its true nature with my power... Its identity is—"
The thoughts of elves in the vicinity altered.
Rishir.
He was a demon.
"Do you see it! Its true identity!!!"
Nad'ga's face was already flushed with pleasure and anticipation.
The outcome to follow was as clear as fire.
Demon!
The elves would slay that evil being without a second thought.
Hera calmly awaited the elves' actions.
"Kyaaak...!!!"
A scream escaped Nad'ga's lips.
Vines suddenly erupted from the ground, binding her limbs.
An intangible force struck her.
Watcher Ratsil and the other elves drew weapons and advanced on Hera.
"Nad'ga!!! You fool, daring to attack him!!!"
Guardian Karoer.
That serene elf rarely bellowed in fury.
Hera shouted in panic.
"Everyone!!! What is this... That one is a demon, a demon!!! Why attack me, who isn't—"
She couldn't understand.
Could the relic's power have failed to activate properly?
There was no other explanation.
The great Nad'ga.
The impure demon.
To side with the demon over her.
"That doesn't matter!"
"...What?"
No.
The relic's power had undoubtedly altered their thoughts.
No room for doubt.
In the elves' minds, Rishir had become a complete demon.
Yet the elves declared,
"No one! Shall harm him!"
It carried unwavering faith, vowing to obey even if the target were a demon.
Nad'ga's expression twisted in shock and terror.
She gazed at the human flung outside the tent by her attack.
Nad'ga were immune to cognitive alteration.
So why.
"Y-You bastard, what have you done to the elves...!!!"
That gaze seemed directed at a transcendent, evil demon.
What must one do to make elves follow even a demon!?
"I-Is that so...!!! You!!! You really are a demon!!! Using mental interference on the elves—"
Nad'ga's ravings were no longer permitted.
Hera lost consciousness under the elves' onslaught.
"Rishir, are you okay!?"
"Ugh—"
Following that.
Rishir rose with Ratsil's support.
The first thing to enter his eyes upon standing was the terror-stricken dragonkin girl.
"It's fine now—"
"Eek...!"
"?"
Allenza flinched and backed away from him.
With wide eyes, she cautiously asked,
"A-Are you really a demon...?"
"...Did you fall under that power too?"
"N-No— not that—"
"Then why..."
"D-Did you really not use mental interference magic on the elves? Then how in the world—"
Rishir told the bewildered dragonkin girl the truth.
"...So, the elves believe you're the World Tree's master? Through mental interference?"
"No—"
The dragonkin girl couldn't comprehend.