Chapter 196: All You Have to Do Is Wait (2)
Chapter 196: All You Have to Do Is Wait (2)
The Elven prison.
Built to confine criminals who had committed grave sins against the tribe, this place was the only stone building in the entire Elven village.
With its brick walls and iron-barred doors, anyone who saw it would immediately think, Ah, this building is definitely a prison.
Patrick and his companions were currently locked inside.
As for Patrick…
Zzz… zzz… zzz…
He was fast asleep, resting his head on April’s lap with the most peaceful expression in the world.
April was looking down at him with a warm, satisfied smile, gently stroking his hair with her soft hands.
The feelings of the companions watching this scene were…
“I want to hit him.”
“I want to kill him.”
“I just want to stab him in the neck once with a knife.”
“That’s the same thing as killing him.”
“Whatever. I still want to do it.”
That was the gist of it.
When the companions threw these "warm" words toward Patrick, April raised a finger to her lips and whispered, “Shh.”
“The Young Master is sleeping.”
“Wake him up.”
“But he’s sleeping…”
“I said, wake him up.”
At Isabella’s repeated demand, April had no choice but to whisper into Patrick’s ear.
“Young Master. Young Master. You need to wake up.”
“Mm…? Already?”
Patrick opened his eyes, let out a long yawn, and stretched.
“What? Nothing seems to be happening. Why’d you wake me up?”
Apparently, a princess of a kingdom, the son of the Eastern Region’s greatest merchant, and a next-generation Guardian from the Tower of Truth all glaring at him while wondering ‘How should I kill this bastard?’ didn’t qualify as "something happening" in this madman’s dictionary.
Even Matthew and Isabella, who were fairly immune to Patrick’s antics by now, felt this was going too far.
Matthew frowned and spoke with a serious expression.
“Hey. What exactly are you planning to do?”
“Huh? About what?”
I don’t know anything.
Seeing Patrick’s innocent expression, Matthew felt his irritation spike, but he held it back.
If only he weren’t better at fighting than me…
Well, he was forced to endure it, but the result was the same. Either way, Matthew tried his best to calm down and continued.
“Why did you let yourself get captured and brought here? You must have a plan, right?”
“Of course I have a plan.”
Right. Of course he did.
Because this wicked guy moved in such unconventional ways, it was easy to mistake him for someone who didn't think things through.
But his friend Matthew knew better.
Surprisingly, this guy is a calculating demon… no, human… no, he’s definitely a demon. Anyway, he’s a guy with a plan.
It was just that the process and results of his actions were so absurd. Most of what Patrick did was carried out under a deliberate plan.
Surely, it was the same now.
“Then we should move quickly. Whether we break out or do something else, we need to act.”
To the actively cooperative Matthew, Patrick gave a thin smile.
“Stew.”
“It’s Matthew.”
“Don’t worry. We don’t have to do anything.”
“Huh?”
“To be precise, I’ve already done everything that needs to be done. So…”
Patrick leaned his head back onto April’s lap and lay down. Then, with a wicked smile playing on his lips, he spoke.
“Now, all we have to do is wait.”
“……”
“Hehehe. Just wait a bit. A very fun and happy event is about to begin.”
“……”
“Ehehehe. This is gonna be great!”
Just what kind of plan was this demon hatching?
* * *
The Elves were in an uproar.
The exiled Double Dragon had returned.
However, he had returned under arrest, captured by Elven Knights of the Orthodox Faction.
This news spread through the Elven village like wildfire.
It was almost as if someone were spreading it on purpose.
Upon hearing the news, countless young Elves were filled with rage.
“What is the meaning of this…?”
“He was captured?”
“I heard he’s in the prison right now.”
“No, how did this even happen?”
Many Elves expressed their doubts.
Among them, those with shorter tempers went directly to demand the reason for Patrick’s detention.
The Orthodox Elves tried to be vague at first, but under the persistent questioning, they eventually told the truth.
They claimed they had captured the exiled Patrick because he had broken his promise by remaining inside Evergreen.
They told the honest truth.
In fact, they had even omitted the part about him throwing a drinking party, so one could say they had softened the story. However…
“Does that make any sense? The man who left on his own because he was worried about our tribe splitting up broke his promise? Do they expect us to believe that?”
“And the part about capturing him is suspicious, too. They say the Double Dragon has reached a realm beyond 7-Star. How could Elven Knights who can’t even use spirits capture him?”
“No matter how I look at it, this is full of suspicious points.”
“Are those Orthodox bastards lying to us now?”
“Surely not… They are the Elders, after all.”
“No, it might be true.”
“There are just too many things that don’t make sense.”
“Those filthy bastards! Do they take us for fools?”
This was the reality.
Just because you tell the truth doesn't mean it will be correctly conveyed to people.
Evergreen was already home to a significant number of Elves who were fascinated by Patrick.
From the Reformist Elves who had their lost spirits returned to them, to the Neutral Faction Elves who had received the side-effect-free Aura Blessing for nothing in return…
Patrick enjoyed high support, primarily among the younger Elves.
And now, that very Patrick had been captured by the Orthodox Elves and "unjustly" imprisoned.
The young Elves who had learned Aura Blessing from Patrick were greatly unsettled.
And then came the decisive blow.
“Everyone. This is the tyranny and conspiracy of the Orthodox Faction.”
The person most captivated by Patrick.
Elione, an Elven Knight who was already an object of admiration among the young Elves, moved with purpose.
She gathered the youth of the tribe and denounced the Orthodox Faction for recklessly imprisoning Patrick.
In the process, she even brought out something she valued more than her own life.
“Look at this.”
What she pulled from her robes was an object so precious she wouldn't have handed it over even if her late parents had asked for it.
It was a branch of the World Tree.
The branch was faintly radiating life force, and at its tip, a small flower was in full bloom.
Seeing this, the other Elves stared at the branch with dazed expressions.
“Ah… Ah… That is…”
“It’s my first time seeing it. I’d only heard stories…”
“It was true. A flower really bloomed on a branch of the World Tree.”
Although Elione had let it be known that a flower had bloomed on her branch, she hadn't easily shown it to others.
And for good reason—it was far too precious to her.
It was a branch the World Tree had personally bestowed upon her after she was appointed as an Elven Knight.
That alone made it a treasure more important than her life, but Patrick had made a flower bloom on that very branch.
To her, it had become a treasure so sacred that even speaking of its value felt like a profanation.
The Council of Elders had requested she return the branch for the sake of the tribe, but she had flatly refused.
Naturally, the Council was disappointed.
But on the other hand, they understood.
If they were in Elione’s position, they wouldn't have given it up either.
No matter how powerful the Council was, they couldn't force her to return it.
It was something the World Tree had granted her directly. The ownership belonged entirely to her.
She had now brought out that treasure, which she usually kept hidden away, for the sake of saving Patrick Schneider.
“Patrick Schneider is the hope of our tribe. Only he can save the World Tree and ensure the future of our people. That is why I invited him.”
The other Elves nodded at Elione’s words.
They had also heard the rumors that Patrick might be able to treat the World Tree.
After all, that was the reason Patrick, a human, had been allowed to stay in Evergreen as a guest in the first place.
However, hearing it in words and seeing the possibility with their own eyes were two different things.
Is it really possible?
Can that man truly save the World Tree?
It might be possible. No, if it’s not him, no one can do it.
The trust Patrick had built with the Elves.
The public support of Elione, an active Elven Knight with significant influence among her peers.
And finally, the clear evidence right before their eyes: the flower of the World Tree.
All of this set fire to the minds of the young Elves.
“We must save him.”
The spark had been lit. And that fire began to spread rapidly.
“We must get him out safely before the Orthodox Faction does something foolish.”
“Without him, we cannot stop the death of the World Tree.”
“Everyone, rise up! Let us do what is necessary for the future and justice of our tribe.”
“That’s right. We cannot accept the decisions of an incompetent Council of Elders controlled by the Orthodox Faction.”
“Hear, hear!”
While Elves were generally gentler than humans, the young Elves still possessed confidence and spirit.
And spirit sometimes leads to a runaway train.
In an unstable situation like this, what happens when spirit and dissatisfaction accumulate?
“Warriors of the tribe, take up your arms!”
“Let us save the hope of our tribe!”
“Waaaaaaa!”
It was a rebellion.
Just as the demon snickering inside the prison had planned.
* * *
The Elven warriors who rose against the Council of Elders moved quickly.
Elione’s younger brother, Kyrios, led the young Elves, swiftly ambushing and detaining the Elders individually.
“What is the meaning of this?!”
“Have you lost your minds?! You rascals!”
Naturally, the Elders were horrified.
Not only the Orthodox Elders but even the Neutral and Reformist Elders were greatly shocked.
They knew the youth were dissatisfied, but they never imagined they would go this far.
Looking at the firmly bound Elders, Kyrios spoke.
“Everything is for my sister… ahem, for the future of the tribe. We can no longer stand by and watch this incompetent Council.”
“Does that make any sense? Setting the Council aside, we are the chieftains of our respective clans. Do you not understand what this means?”
“……”
“For warriors of other clans to imprison us? It wouldn't be strange if a war broke out between the clans! Your actions are causing the division of the Elven race!”
The voice that answered the Elder shouting with veins popping in his neck came from another youth appearing from behind Kyrios.
“Rest assured, that will not happen.”
“You… You are…”
The Elder’s eyes widened.
And for good reason…
“Brutus, how could even you…?”
“……”
Because the person appearing there was his own son.
For a moment, Brutus felt a sense of déjà vu, as if he had heard that line somewhere before.
But he quickly brushed it aside and spoke to his father, the representative of the Water Dew Tribe.
“It is for the future of the entire Elven race, Father.”
“You foolish boy… Do you even realize what you are doing?”
“Father, while the future of our tribe is on the verge of being buried, the Council remains incompetently silent, wasting time with meaningless debates.”
“What does a youngster like you know about politics to say such things?”
“I may not know what politics is, but I know that the current Council is doing wrong.”
“What?!”
“What agenda has been passed by the Council in the last few years?”
“……”
“As far as I remember, the last decision was four years ago, to pull up and move an old tree that was blocking the western entrance.”
“Ugh…”
The Elder bit his lip at his son’s point.
Though he felt indignant and wronged, it was true that the Council had failed to function properly.
Of course, as a member, he had many excuses, but an excuse is just an excuse.
It cannot fix a failed result.
Looking around, he could see that not only his son but many young Elves from the same tribe had risen up.
Was it really this bad? Had we failed this much?
As he let out a sigh, his son spoke.
“I do not wish to commit any further rudeness. Please, cooperate quietly.”
“…I understand.”
After imprisoning another Elder, Kyrios asked the Elf beside him.
“How many Elders have we subdued so far?”
“Fifty-two. Among them, thirty are from the Orthodox Faction, twenty are Neutral, and two are from the Reformist Faction.”
“Imprison them all, regardless of faction. We must subdue the Council first.”
“Yes, sir!”
“Good. Let’s move fast!”
The youth of the tribe quickly rounded up the Elders.
It was a swift coup, but there was one problem.
There were 300 Elders in total.
“What? A rebellion?”
“Are they crazy? Have the Reformist youngsters finally lost it?”
“They’ve been completely tainted by the humans. Those fools!”
It was practically impossible to subdue 300 people scattered all over the place at once.
If the rebels truly wanted to capture all the Elders, they should have chosen a day when the Council was in session, made thorough preparations, and struck all at once.
But as they say, experience counts…
The Elves were ignorant when it came to rebellion.
It couldn't be helped.
In the long history of the Elves, this was the very first rebellion.
By nature, the species was too gentle.
Unless a remarkably wicked, despicable, and cunning being was subtly coaxing and cleverly driving a wedge between them, the Elves would never have rebelled.
* * *
“Achoo!”
“Do you have a cold, Young Master?”
“No, I just feel like someone’s talking behind my back…”
* * *
“Block them!”
“Yes, sir!”
Unlike the Elders who were caught off guard and subdued, those who heard the news of the rebellion quickly gathered their warriors to face the rebels. However…
“Step aside! I do not wish to harm my own kin!”
Kyrios shouted valiantly as he stepped forward.
The opposition flinched at his momentum, but…
“What are you doing? Stop the enemy!”
“Yes, sir!”
When the order came from behind, they fired their arrows all at once. Orders came first.
“Foolish…”
Kyrios clicked his tongue and charged forward.
Dozens of arrows flew toward him, but there was no need to retreat.
Elven archery only showed its true power when combined with spirit magic.
In a situation where that wasn't possible, they were just slightly fast and accurate arrows.
Any human called a master marksman could do as much. Naturally…
T-t-t-ting!
They were no threat to Kyrios, who had pioneered the 4-Star realm and was eyeing the 5-Star.
He swung his spear like a windmill, blocking all the incoming arrows, and continued his charge.
A few more arrows flew at him as he closed the distance, but Kyrios dodged them by zigzagging his steps.
And the moment he completely closed the gap…
“Hah!”
Kyrios’s spear thrust out rapidly in all directions.
Thud! Crack!
“Gah…”
“Ugh… argh…”
All five Elven archers collapsed.
Fortunately, Kyrios had struck them with the blunt end of his spear.
He had no intention of killing them from the start.
However, having been struck in the solar plexus and vital points of the neck, they collapsed, completely incapacitated.
“Tsk, getting hurt for nothing…”
“Kyrios, you brat!”
“This is all on my sister’s orders, so don’t feel too wronged, Elder.”
“……”
The Orthodox Elder glared at Kyrios as he walked toward him, his fists trembling with rage.
In truth, if he set his mind to it, the Elder was more than capable of fighting Kyrios.
That is, if he could use spirit magic.
He was a high-ranking elementalist capable of summoning high-level spirits, but in the current situation where spirit magic was forbidden due to the strain on the World Tree, he was no match for Kyrios.
“Do you really intend to go through with this? You are shaking the very hierarchy of the Elven race.”
“History will prove what was right. For now, please submit to custody quietly.”
“Urgh…”
“If you resist, I will be forced to be rude.”
The Orthodox Elder bit his lip.
To suffer such humiliation from a youngster who was barely the age of his grandson… he couldn't bear it…
“Enemy!”
“Attack from the rear… The Elven Knights are here!”
It was then.
A group with an intimidating presence appeared from the rear of the rebel forces.
It was the Orthodox Elders and the Elven Knights who followed them.