Chapter 200: Hasn't This Been Enough? (1)
Chapter 200: Hasn't This Been Enough? (1)
Jincheon, his nostrils stuffed with cotton towels to plug a double nosebleed, grimaced and grumbled.
"Dammit. How can a wife throw a punch at her husband’s face? Is this how a 'demure lady' from a prestigious family behaves? Hey, what do you guys think?"
At Jincheon’s question, his junior disciples nodded as if it were the most natural thing in the world.
"You should be able to endure a punch or two, Sahyeong."
"Even if she stabs you with a sword, just take it."
"Even if she feeds you poison, bear with it."
"I don't know the full story, but I'm sure Sahyeong did something to deserve being thrashed... Argh! Why are you hitting me?!"
The Radiant Dragon Hero, Jincheon, showered his "admirable" juniors with a display of warm violence.
"Whose side are you bastards on?! You punks!"
It wasn't the busy-being-beaten disciples who answered Patrick’s—no, Jincheon’s—outcry.
"Ho ho ho. On the daughter-in-law’s side, of course."
"Ah, Master, why are you... uh..."
Jincheon froze the moment he turned his head toward the source of the voice.
A white-haired old man appeared with a hollow, gentle laugh.
Two twin swords were fastened at his waist, and his worn clothing radiated a sense of profound frugality.
It was his Master’s usual appearance.
Yes, just like always...
"Huh? Sahyeong, are you crying?"
"What? You're joking, right?"
"Do tear ducts even exist in that guy?"
"It’s a lie. Demons don't cry."
The disciples were shocked.
And Jincheon himself was just as surprised.
The moment he saw his Master, he couldn't stop the tears that began to flow uncontrollably from his eyes.
"Uh... this is... uh..."
"Ahem, how can the man who is to become the Sect Leader of the Twin Dragon Sect be so weak-hearted?"
"No, Master, it’s not that..."
"Tsk, tsk. How can I entrust the Twin Dragon Sect to you like this? Your discipline is still sorely lacking."
He didn't know.
He didn't know why he was crying, but...
"That... it’s just..."
He simply couldn't stop.
*
Slap!
Elione’s beautiful face whipped to the side.
The one who had struck her was Isabella, who stood before her, huffing in rage.
Isabella spoke through gritted teeth.
"Say that again."
"Lord Patrick... has entered... the World Tree."
"You...!"
Isabella’s hand moved again.
However, this time, her palm did not reach Elione’s face.
"What do you think you’re doing?"
It was her brother, Kilios, who caught Isabella’s wrist to protect Elione.
Kilios spoke with sparks flying in his eyes, but Isabella didn't back down an inch.
"Patrick went inside the World Tree? What is that supposed to mean?"
"......"
"It sounds to me like you have no idea if he’s dead or alive, or what will happen next. Am I wrong?"
"That’s..."
Kilios tried to speak but faltered.
He needed to make an excuse, but he couldn't.
The World Tree absorbing a human?
This was an anomaly that had never occurred even in the legends of the Elves.
He couldn't make any predictions about something so unknown.
With a reddened cheek, Elione answered in a calm voice.
"As this is an unprecedented phenomenon, we cannot guarantee anything. However, I promise you that we will do our absolute best to ensure Lord Patrick returns safely."
"You certainly have a way with words."
"......"
"Mark my words."
"......"
"If my fiancé does not return and dies like this, I will use every means at my disposal to hold the entire Elven race accountable."
At her words, Kilios spoke up, clearly offended.
"You go too far. In the first place, to you—"
Shink.
Kilios cut himself off.
What silenced him was April’s blade, imbued with a chillingly sharp killing intent.
Her sword had reached Kilios’s neck before he knew it, drawing a small bead of blood.
The blood trickled down the blade and fell to the floor in droplets.
In that state, April spoke.
"If the Young Master dies..."
"......"
"You all die too."
The "you all" April referred to was by no means limited to the two siblings.
It could mean the Reformist Elves who entrusted Patrick with the World Tree’s treatment, or perhaps even the entire Elven race.
Whether that was actually possible or not was a secondary concern.
This woman... she’s serious.
Kilios was certain that April would follow through.
Compared to Isabella, who had been the most vocal and aggressive toward Elione, April had seemed calm and composed. But that wasn't the case.
Right now, April was no different from a powder keg on the verge of exploding.
If Isabella hadn't vented her anger first, April would have already drawn her sword and drawn blood.
Riman, witnessing the fierce fury of the two women, shook his head in amazement.
"This is no joke. I expected it from that woman April, but I didn't know Princess Isabella could get this worked up."
Hearing Riman’s comment, Matthew spoke with a nonchalant expression.
"They are engaged, after all."
"I only say it because they didn't seem particularly affectionate. Logically speaking, it’s more of a political marriage—"
"That doesn't matter."
Matthew uncharacteristically cut Riman off and stepped forward to speak to Elione.
"Is your cheek alright?"
"...I am fine."
"I see. You should apply something cold to it."
He handed her a handkerchief.
It was a gesture perfectly suited to the chivalry of protecting the weak and a lady.
Up until that point, at least.
"I don't know if you're aware, but I am the successor to the Elvador Merchant Group."
"Yes, I am aware."
To Elione, who looked as if she were wondering what that had to do with anything, Matthew spoke calmly.
"Our merchant group has a vast distribution network. This makes it very easy for us to carry information. For example..."
"......"
"That the Elves of Evergreen can no longer use Spirit Magic. That their military power is not even a third of what it was in its prime. It wouldn't take even a month to spread that information across the entire continent."
Elione’s eyes widened in shock.
Behind her, Kilios glared and shouted.
"Is that a threat?"
"Yes, it is a threat."
"......"
The calm affirmation left Kilios speechless.
Regardless, Matthew continued his one-sided declaration.
"The Princess is merely angry. She likely doesn't know exactly what to do yet."
"......"
"April will go on a rampage. Elves will die in droves. But there are limits to what an individual can do."
"Hey, you—"
"But as for me..."
Matthew turned a cold gaze toward Kilios and said, "I am a man who can do the thing you hate the most."
"......"
Kilios couldn't say a word.
If the fact that the Elven race had lost its power spread to the world, slave traders from across the continent would swarm Evergreen.
Perhaps even national-level military forces would invade.
And the current Elves did not have the strength to stop them.
Kilios felt a fresh wave of shivers.
He hadn't realized that this man, who usually just grumbled in the background and lacked any real presence, had such a side to him.
"It seems you understand the situation."
Matthew spoke to Kilios in a chilling voice.
"Keep this in mind. If my friend dies..."
"......"
"You are all finished."
And as if he had nothing more to say, Matthew turned and walked away.
Kilios was left standing there, staring blankly with a hollow expression.
*
The Elven prison.
In the very place where Patrick and his companions had once been held, the elders of the Orthodox Faction were now imprisoned.
They wore shackles on their wrists and ankles, and a runic seal that completely suppressed Spirit Power was etched onto their foreheads.
It was a rune developed to restrain Elven criminals, though such cases were rare.
Once this rune was engraved, an Elf could not use Spirit Power.
Naturally, they couldn't summon spirits either.
Before the completely restrained Kantaros, someone silently appeared.
"A pathetic sight, Kantaros."
"......"
"Tsk. I trusted you with this task, and you botched it like this. You are far more incompetent than I anticipated."
To the words of the man covered from head to toe in black clothing, Kantaros replied in a weak voice.
"If I am so incompetent and useless..."
"......"
"Why have you appeared before such a failure?"
"......"
"You came because I still have some use, did you not?"
The stranger chuckled at Kantaros, who had a faint, mocking smile on his lips.
"You’re quick on the uptake."
He knelt down and approached the fallen Kantaros.
"It is time to use the final method. You know what I mean, don't you?"
"......"
"Perhaps it turned out for the best. It’s merely moving up the schedule for what had to be done anyway."
"Heh... hehehe..."
"Well? Are you prepared?"
At the stranger’s question, Kantaros nodded and said, "I will see this through to the end."
The stranger nodded in satisfaction and pulled something from his robe. It was a small, wriggling insect.
The moment he brought the insect to Kantaros’s forehead...
Crunch!
The insect bit into Kantaros’s forehead with its pincer-like mouth. It then began to burrow into his skin, gnawing away at the flesh.
"AAAAAAAAAAAGH!"
Kantaros screamed in agonizing pain.
The insect bored through the bone of his forehead and into his brain. The moment it settled inside, a foreign and ferocious power erupted from it, spreading throughout his entire body. And then...
Sssssss.
Kantaros’s fair skin began to be dyed a deep, dark brown.
Watching his skin turn brown and his eyes turn red, the Black-Masked Man spoke, his own red eyes gleaming.
"Welcome to the fold, kinsman."
*
The Council of Elders.
Rather, the Great Hall where the council used to be held was now packed with young Elves from every tribe.
It wasn't just one representative per tribe; participation had been opened to everyone, and as a result, over a thousand Elves were crowded inside.
There were even those waiting outside, unable to fit.
Amidst this massive gathering, Elione first explained the situation.
She detailed everything as much as possible, including Patrick’s attempt to heal the World Tree and how he had ended up inside it. As a result...
"Wait, the World Tree absorbed a human? Has such a thing ever happened?"
"Not as far as I know."
"Then what do we do?"
"Shouldn't we first find a way to rescue Lord Patrick?"
"No, establishing a new system comes first. Things are too disorganized right now."
"We also need to decide what to do with the existing elders."
"Shouldn't we treat the Orthodox and Reformist elders differently?"
"But if we do that, it won't be much different from the old Council of Elders."
"No, we have to save Lord Patrick first! Do you think we’d even be standing here if it weren't for him?"
"But there is no known way!"
"Let’s start with what we can do."
It was a chaotic mess of conflicting opinions.
Elione looked up at the ceiling and let out a long sigh.
Uniting the tribes is no easy task.
The nature of the Elven race was passive.
They followed well if someone led them and showed them the way, but they were clumsy at stepping forward to lead others.
That was why there were no problems when the World Tree led them.
Even during the World Tree’s absence, as long as the Council of Elders existed, there were no outward issues.
Even if dissatisfaction and conflict were festering and rotting on the inside.
But now that even the Council of Elders was gone, the weakness of the Elven race was exposed without mercy.
The reason why they, despite each individual being far superior to a human, had never claimed hegemony over the continent.
They were a race that, by nature, could only unite when a leader existed.
Without a leader, the Elves were nothing more than a disorganized rabble.
"First of all..."
Just as Elione was about to try and organize the opinions...
She, along with every other Elf, bolted upright.
They all stared in one direction with grim expressions.
"That way is..."
"The direction of the prison?"
"No, more importantly, this ominous energy... could it be?"
Elione shouted urgently.
"Everyone, assume combat positions and head to the prison! Evacuate all children who cannot fight!"
Having shouted the command, she took the lead and ran faster than anyone else.
Toward the source of that ominous energy.
And as she ran, she prayed fervently.
Please, let it not be...
Let it not be the worst-case scenario she was imagining.
*
"Magnificent. It’s almost enchanting."
"I agree."
"If I had known it would be like this, I would have accepted it long ago..."
"Hehe... Hahahaha!"
When Elione arrived at the scene, what met her eyes was the absolute worst-case scenario.
The prison had been destroyed, and the floor was littered with the corpses of the imprisoned Orthodox Elves.
And standing atop those corpses were the fallen ones, looking at the blood of their kin on their hands with ecstasy.
It was Kantaros, along with several other Orthodox elders and Elven Knights.
What was most striking was their appearance.
Hair that had turned snow-white.
Deep brown skin.
Crimson eyes.
And above all, the demonic energy overflowing from their entire bodies.
She knew exactly what this was.
"Dark Elves... How dare you show your faces here?"