Elf Elder Council
The group's faces stiffened momentarily at those piercing words.
The name Elaine was unfamiliar, but they knew exactly who she meant.
But.
"……If you truly believed that, you wouldn't have let us into Elvenheim in the first place. In truth, aren't you unable to make a proper judgment yourselves?"
Tiny's response came swiftly, as if prepared in advance.
— Elves are pure but utterly rational; they despise acting on emotional impulses. The notion that the entire race is inherently good doesn't hold because they won't act wrongly once they recognize it as such.
— That's why elves dislike dwarves who value intuition or emotional orcs. Humans too... well, hmm.
— So never act out of anger. That's what Jay warned us about before coming here.
— Don't judge all our kin by looking at me.
— Elf rangers who often meet guardians, performers, or outsiders tend to be more flexible, but most elves in Elvenheim aren't like that.
Estina's words from his previous life overlapped in his mind, allowing him to respond calmly.
And on top of that.
"Exactly. Well said, Sir Tiny. We can overlook what other races say, but we can't ignore the high priest of the central temple. Isn't that right, Lady Ludel?"
As Garen chimed in, Ludel's expression hardened slightly.
The brief silence that followed was broken only after the sweet, grassy scent of elven tea filled the space around the three.
"……We don't treat the temple specially. We simply couldn't ignore it because matters of magi touch on our race's sacred duty. That's why there are quite a few who don't welcome you."
Ludel sipped her tea calmly, but those watching couldn't help but smile bitterly.
'No matter how cautiously they act, an elf is still an elf.'
Pretending composure now was too late after that prolonged silence; her forced expression felt awkward.
Sensing her mistake, Ludel hardened her face and continued immediately.
"We allowed you into Elvenheim because you bear a token of friendship, but if your purpose is something other than meeting Haruel, you must undergo our trial."
"Hm?"
"We've heard you have the ability to detect hidden magi. And that you're using it to hunt demon worshippers."
"Ha?"
"If you pass our trial, we'll provide every convenience for your goal."
'What makes you think you know my goal?'
The clumsy proposal and the unexpected turn of events made him chuckle involuntarily.
"Great. That's exactly what I wanted."
"What?"
"I was just worrying if there might be demon worshippers among the elf leadership."
Ludel's face flushed red in an instant.
"Hah, do you know what happens if you fail to prove that ability?"
Even in her evident anger, she pressed on.
But Tiny knew her threat wasn't excessive.
Elves hated irrational judgments or actions driven by emotion, but if they deemed their anger justified...
— We elves can be crueler than anyone in the world.
Estina's image—ripping a high demon apart alive, covered in its corrupted blood, laughing—still lingered vividly and chillingly in his mind.
However.
"Of course I'll take full responsibility. But if I pass the trial, will you grant my request?"
"For the record, our trial isn't to identify demon worshippers among us. There are none, absolutely."
"I hope that's true. Anyway, I'll take that as a promise to grant any request."
"Hm, if it's within my power."
Her face still flushed, yet not fully swept by emotion—it was quintessentially elven.
"It won't be a difficult request."
Then, a branch guardian should be enough for a fragment of the World Tree's branch.
Recalling the beaming little... no, dwarf's face, Tiny smiled naturally.
"……We'll see how long that confident face lasts."
With cold eyes on her flushed cheeks, Ludel turned in a paradoxical elven expression.
"Ah, by the way, will Lady Estina be present for the trial?"
Tiny's follow-up made her footsteps halt.
"That's none of your concern."
The curt reply was expected.
"No, I just noticed she's not here right now."
"How would you know?"
Turning in surprise, Tiny recalled his old comrade again.
"I didn't see Calum on the highest branch."
— Calum liked sitting on Elvenheim's highest branch on rest days, overlooking the Great Forest.
— I hope those days return. It will happen, right?
Great Spirit Calum. Estina's spirit, and the name passed down through generations to the World Tree's guardians.
Upon entering Elvenheim, the first thing Tiny sought was that massive eagle spirit.
Not finding it had left him disconcerted.
"You know quite a lot about us."
More than that.
"But she's not here now. Is your request to meet her?"
He needed to meet her, of course.
"Not exactly a request. I heard Lady Estina doesn't discriminate against people. If she's here, it shouldn't be hard to see her."
So that can't substitute for the World Tree's branch.
Ludel's expression shifted oddly at his assertion.
"Have you met Lady Estina before?"
It felt like she was hoping, but Tiny couldn't fulfill it now.
"……No."
At least not in this life.
"That's why I want to meet her even more."
Her face cooling again, Ludel shook her head firmly.
"Hm, unfortunate. As you guessed, she's away. The elders will oversee your trial—remember that."
"You don't even know when Lady Estina will return?"
"It's elf business. Guardian business. Think we'd tell an outsider easily?"
Swallowing his regret at her icy demeanor, Tiny stepped back.
Then soon.
"I'll say it once more: Prepare for failure to prove your ability."
With those lingering words, Ludel vanished beneath the tree.
'This is tricky. I need to at least know when Estina returns...'
Garen, from where Ludel left, eyed Tiny curiously.
"Do you need to meet the World Tree guardian?"
"Ah, Sir Garen. Yes, well... I thought warning her about the demon worshippers was best."
"My friend might know about that."
"……That Haruel elf?"
"Yes. Don't most elves serving the World Tree end up there?"
"……The Ma-yeok Battle Squad."
The unit blocking monsters birthed in magi-filled Ma-yeok from surging into the Great Forest.
If elf rangers scouted and handled intruders from outside, these were Elven Knights—the elite guarding the frontlines deep in the Great Forest.
"Right, they become the guardian's combat unit. I'll ask him about her whereabouts."
"I'd appreciate that."
Connections are everywhere, it seems.
Garen's words offered some comfort.
But just an hour later.
"……He's not here?"
"Haruel is on mission too. Sorry, but you can't meet him now."
Garen could only slump at the elf guide's words.
But Tiny sensed something off in the elf's expression.
"Then, is there any Elven Knight still in Elvenheim?"
"Pardon?"
"Don't Elven Knights rotate to Ma-yeok? Some must remain. I'd like to meet them."
"Ah…… I can't say."
None left.
Garen and Tiny's eyes met.
Lying was evil. Thus, ordinary elves showed it clearly when lying.
This guide was no exception.
Which meant.
'All Elven Knights deployed to Ma-yeok?'
Elvenheim was in emergency.
"Monster wave season, damn it."
After the guide left, Tiny sighed deeply.
Monsters poured from Ma-yeok periodically or irregularly.
During those times, Elvenheim entered full combat readiness, dispatching most rangers to Ma-yeok.
"We saw unusually many monsters crossing the Great Forest—bad timing on our part."
Garen looked apologetic and downcast.
"It's fine. Monster waves last at most a month, so waiting here should work."
Tiny meant to console him, but.
"A whole month!?"
It backfired.
"……How long did you expect? Didn't the duke tell you?"
"Nothing! I focused only on getting you into Elvenheim. I didn't hear it'd be this long-term!"
"……My condolences."
"This isn't a joking matter!"
As Garen grimaced.
Knock. Knock.
A knock echoed at their door.
And soon.
"……Follow me. It's time for the trial."
Ludel called Tiny with a cold smile.
"I heard elves are slow... "
Garen grumbled behind, but.
'Better this way.'
Tiny followed her with a light heart.
After over two hours, they entered Elvenheim's largest tree interior.
Woooong.
'The World Tree's nearby, huh?'
The overflowing mana upon entry brought a smile.
In the massive tree's grand chamber—like a human palace throne room—a knotty hollow housed elderly elves perched high on protruding grain walls, watching him.
Their pale skin highlighted bluish veins—proof of potent supernatural power.
Elves were famed for archery and spirits, but their true might stemmed from elsewhere.
All powerful sorcerers. Elders indeed.
Bloodline magic from ancient fairy lineage.
As the eldest-looking elf at the front pointed his staff at Tiny amid the elders' gaze.
"Human called the blocker of calamity, hunter of magi. And killer of our kin. Now prove your ability."
Mana surged from all sides, pressing him, but.
"……This is the trial?"
Tiny smirked calmly in response.