76. Council of Races (2)
76. Council of Races (2)
Brigitte opened the door to the reception room.
Inside the reception room, there was a single elf.
Pure white skin.
And green eyes that seemed to capture the calm of a deep forest within them.
Pointed ears, though not so markedly long as to be easily distinguished from a human's.
Distinct features, a face as small as a fist.
By human standards, it was a face that could only be perceived as beautiful.
"Greetings. Your Imperial Majesty, Emperor Brigitte."
The elf spoke in a clear, melodious voice.
Elves had genders as well. The being before them was unmistakably a female elf.
Yuma looked at the elf with his <Searching Eye>.
[Lv.96] Isera
Race: Elf
Realm: Expert Advanced
Judging by her simple leather attire, she didn't even seem to be part of the elves' combat personnel, yet her level exceeded 90.
'As expected of the most superior race aside from dragons.'
Her alignment also stood out. Neutral. This world might be a little different, but the elves in [Loof Blood] were also mostly neutral. It was because they only moved for the safety of their own kind and the elven forest.
The elf, Isera, slowly rose to her feet. And then she bowed her head.
"I behold the pinnacle of the great Astes Empire. I am Isera, an elf of Alfheim."
Regardless of race, she was the emperor of a nation.
A being to whom even an elf had no choice but to show formal courtesy.
Isera drew a genial eye-smile.
Had it been other men, they might have been thoroughly bewitched by that smile, but Yuma possessed the trait of holding himself in the highest regard.
Brigitte slowly nodded her head.
It was exactly as that elf had just said. Brigitte was the emperor of this land.
"Well met. Isera."
Thus, she could not bend to anything.
"May I inquire as to who you might be?"
Isera moved her head, silver hair swaying with the motion. And the gaze that came to rest was fixed upon Yuma.
"He is the Grand Duke of the Astes Empire, Yuma."
Isera's green eyes widened into circles.
"Aaaah...!"
Isera let out a wide-mouthed exclamation before continuing.
"I behold the Dragon Slayer...!"
Isera's voice was trembling subtly.
A dragon.
To the elves, a dragon was a being whose mere existence reigned as terror itself.
Long ago.
It was because there was a time when dragons did not confine themselves to their own world, <Yuger>, as they do now, and freely roamed the Middle Realm, driving the elven kingdom, <Alfheim>, to the brink of ruin.
And also, when the ancient dragon-class black dragon, [Elkham-Akreon], awakened from its long slumber near County of Rubelt in the Astes Empire.
Though no one in County of Rubelt knew, the high-ranking officials of the far-off <Alfheim> had already perceived that an ancient black dragon had awakened.
The World Tree.
It was because the World Tree, which told the stories of this entire continental landmass in the language of the forest, stood at the center of <Alfheim>.
The World Tree could only read the air currents of all the earth and the heavenly qi of the sky, but that alone was sufficient to detect most of the dangers that would befall this world.
For every dark cloud had its harbinger.
That was how the high-ranking officials of Alfheim became aware of the black dragon's existence faster than anyone else.
However, just because they were aware did not mean they could step forward.
An ancient dragon.
For the fear that carelessly confronting a fully matured black dragon would subject them again to the nightmare of three thousand years ago was deeply engraved in the genes of the elves.
When that ancient black dragon raised its body from the lair it had temporarily constructed, the high-ranking officials of Alfheim shuddered once more at the calamity that was about to befall the continent.
But then, in a single instant, the whole world turned blazing red—
And the black dragon was annihilated without a trace.
And the fact that it had been done by a human.
And that it had been done single-handedly—when they learned this, they simply could not believe it.
However, there was an elven witness who saw the scene.
One of the high-ranking officials, the high elf and spirit mage of <Alfheim>, Maccaine, had been hiding and observing the scene through the wind spirit Sylph.
The reason Alfheim sought to include the Astes Empire in this <Species Council> was partly out of curiosity about the newly ascended Emperor Brigitte, but the greatest reason was curiosity about the Dragon Slayer.
As if Yuma were the only thing in the world she could see, Isera did not move her gaze fixed upon him even a little.
Yuma spoke in a low voice.
"Your business."
Only then did Isera blink and purse her lips.
"Pardon...?"
"State your business for coming. Elf, Isera."
Isera was flustered for a moment, and then she looked at Emperor Brigitte.
"Aaah... I was so entranced by meeting the Dragon Slayer, Lord Yuma, that I lost myself. I shall now explain my purpose for coming to this distant land of Astes."
Brigitte nodded.
"After the World Tree read the heavenly qi, it conveyed this to the high elves of our homeland. The rift in space is slowly breaking apart. In three or four months, the sky will tear open. Some calamity will descend... Given that enemies will invade from the sky, our homeland speculates that it is likely an invasion from the Demon Realm. Or else, an invasion of dragons."
As expected.
The World Tree seemed to possess power befitting a World Tree.
'Come to think of it, opening a passage from the Demon Realm to the Middle Realm couldn't possibly be done all at once.'
Even now, beyond the Demon Realm, there was a high probability that countless magic-related demons were combining their powers to open a path for the invasion or carrying out incantations.
"Thus, judging that it is best for the races that can unite to do so in the face of this crisis looming over the great continent, Alfheim has begun to move. Please, participate in the Species Council."
Isera bowed her head once more toward Brigitte and Yuma.
Brigitte's fine lips slowly parted.
"When is it scheduled to be held? This Species Council?"
"In 10 days. The location is the 3rd Sanctuary of Alfheim, at the center of the continent."
The elves never doubted that they were the protagonists of this continent, the Geherhen continent. They were a race filled with that much self-consciousness. Though other races had no choice but to acknowledge it, as they were innately gifted with such ability.
In any case, filled with that abundant self-consciousness, they had established their sanctuaries all across the continent.
They were effectively occupying territory under the pretext of protecting the continent's ecosystem.
"I departed from that 3rd Sanctuary. If we travel by horse, we should arrive in 9 days."
Brigitte opened her mouth again.
"Which races have agreed to gather?"
"We have received positive responses from the Dwarves and the Lycanthropes. Ah, we have also already escorted representatives of the Cat Tribe, those who form a powerful military clan, to the forest sanctuary."
The Dwarves, the Lycanthropes. And the Cat Tribe.
Brigitte narrowed her brow at the implication that, including the elf before her eyes and herself, a meeting of five races in total was being convened.
'A Grand Council.'
It was a moment when so many races were gathering that it would not be an exaggeration to call it a Grand Council.
Brigitte glanced sideways at Yuma.
"Do as you please."
At Yuma's words, Brigitte immediately opened her mouth.
"Understood. Would departing tomorrow be acceptable?"
Yuma knew well that Brigitte was not of a character to avoid such matters.
"Yes, thank you for answering our elven call favorably. Your Imperial Majesty, Emperor Brigitte."
Isera gave a bright smile.
And then she looked at Yuma.
"I would be most grateful if the God of War would also attend."
"I already intend to."
Setting aside preparations against the Demon Realm Army, it was not an event to be missed—the spectacle of the five races existing on this continent gathering in one place.
Isera was not the only elf within the imperial palace. There were eight elves who had accompanied her to protect Isera, who could be called a diplomat in human terms.
They were conversing in the guest quarters of the annex.
"Humans truly seem to be beings we must lead."
"Whether it be magitech engineering or whatever else, their persistent acts that violate nature also require guidance."
The elves watched the empire's laborers busily moving beyond the window and thought.
Kkiiik—
The door to the guest quarters opened.
Among the elves who had been commenting on humans, the large-framed elf who had kept silent opened his mouth.
"Have you returned, wise Isera?"
Isera nodded.
"Yes, Mullius of the Unyielding Spirit. I have come back after successfully completing the task."
"What was Emperor Brigitte like?"
Isera calmly recalled Brigitte, who had spoken before her.
"She seemed every bit the rightful emperor of the empire."
"And the Dragon Slayer, Grand Duke Yuma?"
"That person was a little different. Definitely."
On the way to these guest quarters, there had not been a single noble or knight she encountered who did not flinch upon seeing her.
Their hearts had raced merely at the sight of her superficial shell—her face and body.
But the Dragon Slayer, Yuma, was different.
As if he possessed an immovable mind, he showed no reaction whatsoever.
'Rather.'
He had shown a gaze that seemed to look down upon her, an elf.
"In any case, it was decided that we will depart immediately tomorrow."
***
The Imperial Library.
In a corner, a blonde woman was engrossed in reading a book. It was the empire's former saint, Ermel.
Thud, thud!
Someone approached Ermel.
The face of Ermel, the mage on the verge of reaching the 3rd Circle, brightened.
"Lady Hestia!"
"Mhm-mhm, Ermel."
Whenever she had time, Hestia would come to Ermel and chat with her.
Since not long after the god, Inkrinew, had died.
Perhaps it was because she felt a little sympathy for Ermel, who had devoted herself to the empire as the Oracle Saintess and lost all her holy power when the god she served, Inkrinew, died.
In any case, Hestia liked Ermel as the person Ermel was. Because she listened well to what she said and chatted with her softly and amiably.
And it was the same for Ermel.
Hestia told her about the moment Yuma killed the Leviathan.
"He... parted the sea, you say?"
"Yep, he strode around in the sea. Smashed the Leviathan's head clean off and then blew the sea away! You could see the very ocean floor, I tell you. And then he annihilated the Leviathan's minions that were inside the sea."
Very passionately.
"Wow..."
Ermel believed Hestia's words as she waved her hands in the air, fervently describing Yuma's achievements.
For a man who had killed a god, parting the sea was hardly impossible.
"At this rate, YumaYuma, isn't he really going to become a god someday?"
When Hestia asked, twitching her scarlet cat ears, Ermel smiled softly.
"Though I cannot find any case of a human obtaining divinity... If it's Lord Yuma, perhaps it might happen someday."
"Oooh, when that day comes, I shall claim the first spot as a believer...!"
Ermel continued to smile, watching Hestia's green eyes sparkle.
"Becoming the first believer is still possible even now, isn't it? For faith begins with steadfast belief, after all. You, Lady Hestia, believe in Lord Yuma."
"Ah, that's right!"
Hestia leaned her body against Ermel's shoulder.
"Then Ermel, you can be YumaYuma's second believer."
"Hehe, shall I?"
Hestia placed her hand atop the back of Ermel's right hand.
"Now, together! YumaYuma! Hurrah!"
Both of their hands rose simultaneously.
"Yu-YumaYuma, hurrah!"
Ermel awkwardly followed Hestia's words.
It was the day the former saint decided to become the second believer of the man who had erased the god she once worshipped from this world.