Chapter 211
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 211
Chapter Title: Elves of the Mother Forest
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Afterward, I called over an elf maid wandering the hallway.
She was a naive elf I'd rescued from Tibel Cascadia's mansion, who had since settled in here.
"You called for me, Young Master?"
"Yeah. I'm heading out to meet some of your kin. Want to come along?"
"My kin? Gasp! No way, Young Master?! You didn't... capture them or anything, did you?!"
"Not me. I freed some folks the slave traders had nabbed, and a high elf happened to be mixed in."
At my explanation, her eyes went wide before she nodded.
I gestured in the air to rip open a rift and stepped through with her. There, I saw the elves facing off with Luna.
"You're here?"
"Yeah. They calm down at all?"
"For now."
At the same time, the elf maid murmured in shock.
"Good heavens... Lady Trigrad?"
"You know her?"
"Well... us regular elves have glimpsed highborn ladies like her from afar."
The three elves were just as stunned by her appearance.
"Kin?! I never imagined there'd be kin here..."
The elf maid quickly reassured them as they eyed her suspiciously, as if wondering if she'd been enslaved too.
"Young Master and the Family Head are my benefactors who rescued me from slavery. I stayed here to repay their kindness."
"Ah..."
Only then did their misunderstandings ease somewhat, and they calmed down.
"I see. Ah, allow me to greet you properly with my spirit. Thank you so much for saving us. I am Triana Bell Trigrad, an elf from the Mother Forest."
At the elf girl's introduction, I narrowed my eyes.
Trigrad?
I'd heard of them.
The Mother Forest, home to the elves. A few elite families ruled the elves there, and Trigrad was one of them.
In human terms, she was the daughter of a high noble house from a major kingdom.
"How does someone like you end up captured by slave traders in that state? Where'd all your escorts go?"
The two male elves beside Triana didn't look particularly strong in combat.
"Well... it's a long story..."
Instinct told me this would be a hassle.
"Got it. Never mind, then. You must be hungry—eat up, and I'll arrange access to Cascadia's mana gate. That work for you?"
I brushed it off quickly. Of course, I'd give the elf maid some time to catch up with her long-lost kin.
My instincts were screaming.
This woman's trouble—bound to drag me into something annoying.
But the elves didn't seem inclined to let me off easy.
"Lord Cascadia Count. Would it be alright if we stayed here a while?"
Melissa narrowed her eyes at the male elf's formal proposal.
"What do you mean by that?"
"Lady Triana is utterly exhausted right now... and given what happened."
"You want to stay here for a bit?"
"Yes. We can pay ample compensation."
"Doesn't look like you have much on you."
"True, not at the moment... but on the honor of House Trigrad, we can provide more than enough."
Of course, Melissa wasn't some bleeding-heart fool. Still, there was no reason to coldly turn away a noble from the elf forest who'd barely escaped slavers.
"I have to say, it's suspicious that all her escorts vanished. Frankly, it raises some red flags."
"That... well."
"But not enough to ignore your request. Rest up for now. We have spare rooms on the second floor. Send word if you need anything."
"Our thanks for your consideration, my lord."
I'd never heard of civil war breaking out in elf territory.
Which meant something more complicated and deep was at play.
I scooped Arsha into my arms and headed out with Melissa and Luna, telling the elf maid,
"You stay here and catch up with your kin."
"Thank you, Young Master."
The elf maid gave me a quiet bow from the waist.
The moment we returned to the mansion, Melissa summoned the slave traders for interrogation.
They naturally tried to clam up, but as I stared them down silently, they broke into cold sweats and spilled.
"T-Truly... we weren't targeting Cascadia or anything..."
"Money troubles?"
"Heh heh heh. You could say that. Yes."
He rolled his eyes, spinning excuses.
Apparently, they'd taken a commission to target and capture her specifically. Once they succeeded and sold her off to the right buyer, the job was done.
But she'd escaped, leading to this mess.
Melissa and I let out short sighs.
Case closed.
The slave trader eyed us nervously, pale-faced.
Whatever the story, they were still illegal slavers.
"Uh... my lord. What about us...?"
"What do you think? Elf trading is strictly illegal under kingdom law. You didn't know?"
"Aw, come on, don't be like that. At least take this humble—"
He reached into his pocket to offer Melissa something, but she slapped his hand away coldly.
"Adding bribery to the charges."
"W-Wait!"
"Seize them all and ship them to the capital."
"Yes, ma'am!"
The knights moved in at her command.
In the esteemed House Trigrad of the Mother Forest, Lady Triana gazed bitterly at the dark night sky and sighed.
"My lady. Why aren't you asleep?"
"I can't sleep thinking about what's ahead. How are your injuries?"
"Fine, honestly. That woman's healing was nothing short of miraculous. And you, my lady?"
"Same here. The wounds are completely gone. It's like being captured by slavers was all a dream..."
"My lady, forgive me. I failed to protect you properly."
"No, it was my incompetence that burdened you all."
"It'll all work out. I'll reach out to everyone I can for help."
"That's true, but... if we drag this out, the World Tree..."
The male elf mirrored her grim expression.
"My lady."
"Ah... sorry. I shouldn't say such things out loud..."
With that, she swept her gaze over the forest beyond the terrace.
Then, something caught her eye.
"Is that... Young Master Leon Cascadia?"
"Seems so. Wonder where he's off to at this hour..."
What drew their eyes was Leon's back, heading somewhere with Luna.
With light steps and a soft hum, he vanished into the woods. The high elf girl Triana hopped lightly off the terrace and followed, muffling her footsteps.
"My lady..."
"I have something to say to him."
"Something to say?"
"Yes. I didn't get the chance earlier amid the chaos... but did you see his sword when the pursuers came?"
Her escort's eyes widened.
"Of course. That strange blade..."
Leaving one guard behind, the two trailed Leon silently.
Leon and Luna showed no sign of noticing them, paying them no mind as they ventured deeper into the forest.
And then.
Once they'd reached a certain distance, an unexpected sight unfolded.
Leon snapped his fingers.
"This is a real mess."
Snap!!!
Whoosh!!!
The ordinary forest had looked utterly normal moments ago.
But the instant Leon snapped, a massive hidden tree revealed itself.
It towered over 100 meters.
Sure, 100-meter trees existed here and there.
But this one was different.
Its kind normally grew to just a few meters, maybe ten at most.
And because it had grown impossibly large, the surrounding vegetation looked visibly withered at a glance.
"It used to make the area lusher before. Now the balance is shot in just one day."
"Once the fallen flower's power faded, it started siphoning vitality from its surroundings to sustain itself. Only something like a World Tree could avoid that."
What special power could a mere giant tree possibly have?
Leon reached into empty space. Reality cracked at his fingertips, fragments spilling as he drew something out.
It was the claymore wielding that bizarre power Triana had witnessed.
"[Bloom profusely.]"
⟨ Sword Command ⟩
A chilling voice echoed from Leon's lips. At once, the claymore in his grip sang out and began to transform.
Green whip-like vines erupted from the ground in all directions, coiling around the massive tree.
The unnaturally enormous tree started withering and twisting.
"A tree that's grown beyond its control might as well serve as fertilizer."
In moments, the giant became a dead, shriveled husk, utterly drained of life.
At the same time, fresh sprouts burst from the parched earth around it.
The concentrated vitality dispersed evenly, spreading outward.
Leon finished tidying the tree in a flash and sheathed his sword.
"Enjoy night walks?"
He asked without turning, but the two elves instinctively knew he meant them.
In the end, they cautiously revealed themselves and approached.
"What... was that tree?"
"One I ended up growing by accident."
"That... power of the sword?"
She asked timidly.
Her eyes burned with longing.
"Mm... Complicated stories are better indoors. Good timing—I'm staying in the mountain lodge basement tonight."
Triana nodded carefully at Leon's words.
Leon’s mountain lodge looked rundown from outside, but inside it was cozy and tidy.
The perfect spot for a relaxing getaway.
The two elves sat on the sofa by the fireplace like they were on eggshells, silently staring at the warm coffee and snacks Leon offered.
In the corner, Luna clutched an artifact, eyes closed in quiet meditation on the rocking chair.
As if the elves were beneath her notice.