77. Council of Races (3)
77. Council of Races (3)
Yuma had selected the people he would take to the <Species Council>.
First, the representatives—Emperor Brigitte and himself—had already been decided.
'Might as well bring everyone I've been dragging around anyway.'
Bel and Cloné were a given.
Yuma considered the experience he would give these two to be the most important thing, after all.
Tisha, royalty of the Mulren, didn't seem likely to avoid facing many different species.
Yuma asked Tisha and Hestia directly.
As expected, affirmative answers came back from both.
Hestia's low-murmured answer was particularly memorable.
"I'll get to see some of my own kind after a long while."
And he decided to bring one Sword Master from the White Night Clan other than Bel.
The party wasn't just Yuma's. Brigitte's 30 direct Imperial Guards were personnel who absolutely had to accompany her whenever she moved as Emperor. All were Expert Advanced. And Michael, who commanded them, was a Sword Master.
From the perspective of the advisors assisting Brigitte, even this felt unsettling, but the moment Grand Duke Yuma was said to be accompanying them, those worries vanished completely.
Thus, the departure roster was fully settled.
The next day, Yuma summoned his comrades to the rear gate of the Imperial Palace.
And beside them stood nine elves in a neat row.
"We behold the pinnacle of the great Astes. His Imperial Majesty, Emperor Brigitte."
The elves, including Isera who had already finished her greetings the day before, bowed their bodies to Brigitte. The elf escort captain, Mullius, and the guards showed courtesy toward Yuma.
"We behold His Excellency, Grand Duke Yuma."
The eyes of the elves looking at Yuma were filled with goodwill and curiosity.
And they gave bright-faced greetings to the rest of the party.
The elves' expressions were clearly full of welcome.
Cloné, too, bowed her head and received the greeting.
'Ah, Hestia unni did say not to trust the kindness of elves easily...?'
Cloné recalled the elf mask theory that Hestia, who rarely grew serious, had spoken of with a very grave face.
"Yes, pleased to meet you."
"Pleased to meet you."
Tisha and Hestia also received the elves' greetings suitably.
The gaze of escort captain Mullius, which had been directed at Tisha and Hestia, turned toward Brigitte.
"You have a Fishmen Tribe member and a Cat Tribe member in your party as well? That is surprising."
Brigitte nodded.
"They are all those with whom I share ties."
The ambiguous gazes of the elves could be felt. But Tisha and Hestia paid it no particular mind. Because they knew all too well that elves were not a species as friendly to other races as their outward appearance suggested.
Hestia sorted out her thoughts internally.
'For starters, the lot of us gathered around Yuma right now are a peculiar bunch anyway.'
It was not easy for species that originally had no interaction to become close.
Elves, among them, were merely beings infamous for their poor temperament.
She thought as long as no problems arose between them, that was enough.
"Shall we depart?"
At Isera's words, all personnel nodded.
The party thus headed for Alfheim's 3rd Sanctuary.
The elves were all riding pure white horses. Yuma was riding Hector, the black warhorse he had formed a bond with since the war against Pyneton.
The party advanced without obstruction.
Parting through grass and forest.
And so, nine days passed.
Crossing the plains, they reached a thicket where the forest grew dense.
The day was swiftly growing dark.
What lay before their eyes was a massive circular terrain.
Countless tents were arrayed within the circular terrain.
Everyone in Yuma's party observed the different species inside the circle with clear eyes.
The cat ears they had only seen on Hestia were now everywhere. Cat Tribe members with cat ears of every variety and color were visible.
Dageudak... Dageudak
Horses that had slowed to a crawl entered the circular terrain.
Next, what came into view were <Lycanthropes>, whose overall form resembled wolves but possessed solid abdomens reminiscent of humans and leg skeletal structures that allowed them to stride upright upon the earth.
Grrrrng...
The Lycanthropes ground their teeth as they watched the entrance of this group composed half of humans and half of elves.
Yuma, atop his warhorse, swept his gaze over the other species with his head held high.
Harmony.
At the very least, the atmosphere blooming upon this circular land seemed far removed from that hopeful word.
Darkness had settled completely.
The eyes of the wolf packs and cat packs pierced through the night, shining brilliantly.
On the verge of explosion.
Far from harmony, a frigid air flowed across the round land.
Nor was it only the eyes of those two species that shone brilliantly.
Elves.
Their eyes were not bright only in the daytime. Even at night, they could see the forest clearly. Elves emitted a thick green gleam from their eyes.
Jjaak—!
Isera, responsible for the success of these talks, clapped her hands.
"Tonight has grown too deep, so the honored guests from the Astes Empire who have just arrived at the sanctuary should rest deeply from their fatigue and then begin the Species Council tomorrow, shouldn't we? As scheduled."
In the corner of the conference grounds, beside a giant tree, dwarves were turning their heads this way and that, gauging the mood.
A giant Lycanthrope, sitting in a chair with his legs crossed as if he were in his own living room, opened his mouth.
"That is how it shall be. We cannot have the venue created for harmony twisted awry before it even begins."
A ferocious presence flowed from the Lycanthrope's body.
It wasn't killing intent. It was a display of presence. That was the creature's aim.
Yuma cast <Searching Eye> and stared at that Lycanthrope.
[Lv.217] Berkan
Species: Lycanthrope
Realm: Grand Master
Characteristic: King's Blood
'Oho.'
Yuma was inwardly impressed.
Excluding the king of the Giant God Tribe, Ades, the black dragon, and existences outside the standard like Leviathan who were born as demigod-level beings, this was the first existence he had seen that had transcended level 200.
The Lycanthrope's muscles writhed beneath gray fur. His eyes were those of a wild beast.
Berkan's golden eyes, sharpened to a degree that could only be described as such, stared piercingly at Yuma.
"Ash-gray hair and wall-blue eyes... Should I say it is an honor to meet you, God of War."
'This bastard knows me too.'
Berkan continued speaking.
"The king of our nation, Baugalark, King Berkuos, is in poor health, so I, Berkan, the legitimate heir apparent, have decided to participate in the talks. I look forward to working with you."
Yuma thought.
'What's with this little shit.'
The gruff and weighty pitch made Berkan's voice sound considerably threatening, but ironically, it contained an extremely courteous explanation of why he had come to participate in these talks.
"Yeah, looking forward to it."
Yuma said that. And he gestured with his chin toward his party.
"Quickly designate where the Empire's party will be staying."
At those words, Isera nodded her head deeply.
"Of course. Your Excellency, Grand Duke Yuma."
Guided by Isera, Yuma's party entered a tent that was furnished quite decently. Inside the massive tent were various beds.
In this situation where other species were watching and monitoring each other, there was likely no one who would thoughtlessly commit a sudden rash act, but Yuma, while inwardly considering that possibility, nonetheless got into the sleeping bag.
-Ooooh, seeing so many species gathered like this, it's been a very long time. About 800 years ago, was it?
This was because Balmung, a reliable night watch, was beside Yuma.
And a day passed.
The sun rose.
Jeobeok.
Yuma stretched and leisurely walked out of the tent.
And beside him, Hestia popped out and stretched alongside him.
"Yuma, doesn't it feel like something's gonna blow up today?"
Why is this kid saying such unlucky things first thing in the morning?
"Nothing's going to happen."
Saying that, Yuma donned his black coat and strode forward.
After eating the bread and fruit prepared by the elves, everyone gathered toward the central round table.
Yuma sat in a chair placed at the round table.
All gazes at the round table instantly turned toward Yuma.
There were currently not that many people seated at the round table.
Only figures representing each species had stepped forward.
Those representing humans: Yuma and Brigitte.
Those representing the elves: Isera, in her role as diplomat, and High Elf Ruineleaf.
[Lv.236] Ruineleaf
High Elf Spirit Mage.
And Berkan, who could be called the crown prince of the Lycanthrope Kingdom.
Grand Warrior Garalkulan, representing the dwarves.
[Lv.192] Garalkulan
Grand Master.
And Elfer, the chieftain of the Twilight Tribe, currently the largest among the scattered Cat Tribe clans.
[Lv.181] Elfer
Grand Sword Master.
And Tisha, who had suddenly ended up seated here as the representative of the Fishmen, the Mulren Tribe.
Yuma confirmed that the maximum level had been updated yet again.
Yuma faced the protagonist of that update, Ruineleaf, who was staring intently at him.
"You are a fascinating person in many ways. Your Excellency, the Grand Duke."
Ruineleaf smiled brightly at Yuma.
He was an elf whose eyes and hair were both green. And unlike Isera and the other escorts, the elongated ears seemed like proof of a High Elf.
Berkan rapped on the round table.
Tak-tak—
"Let us cease the idle chatter and proceed with the Species Council."
Isera nodded with a smile at Berkan's words.
"First of all, the elves sent to all of you should have already explained, but the World Tree has read the heavenly qi. It bestowed upon us information that something will pierce the sky and invade the Middle Realm. And as a result of the investigation by High Elf Ruineleaf-nim beside me."
Ruineleaf, who was beside her, took over Isera's words.
"What pierces the sky and invades is probably a dragon, or demons."
Ruineleaf swept his gaze over the beings at the round table.
"We have gathered you all in order to minimize the damage that will fall upon the continent, whatever the invader may be."
The Species Council had begun.