The Hero Felt a Profound Sense of Boredom
The hero felt a profound sense of boredom.
"Y-Your Majesty!"
The elves, who had been watching the forest burn in helpless despair, spotted Isabela and cried out. In truth, Isabela herself was just as dazed by the scene unfolding before her. In her centuries-long life, the elves' homeland had never been so devastated. And it wasn't even the result of an enemy's attack. Though it had been somewhat coerced, it was a decision she had consented to—and now guilt gnawed at her fiercely.
The massive trees consumed by flames, the tiny insects and animals fleeing in terror from the heat—all of it seared into Isabela's vision. But as the hero had said, the Demon King's army was undoubtedly suffering the worst of it. Even at a glance, their vanguard—far from insignificant—had been shattered by the colossal blaze.
'Listen well. Don't do anything stupid. The moment you sense the timing, strike without hesitation. If you screw around, I'll really smash the World Tree to pieces this time.'
Recalling how the hero had spoken like some Demon King's general rather than a hero, Isabela knew she had no time to dawdle. She doubted he'd actually destroy the World Tree, but given everything he'd done so far, it didn't seem impossible.
"Everyone, focus solely on eliminating the enemy! The Demon King's forces are in chaos—begin the attack!"
Isabela shouted to the elves staring at her, then nocked an arrow to her bowstring and prepared to fire.
'More wrinkles...'
Isabela furrowed her brow, her mind wandering to an incongruous thought amid the chaos. Her spirits were summoned through her own life force. Even for a long-lived elf, the sensation of it draining away was utterly dreadful. And this time, she was calling a top-tier fire spirit: the Phoenix. This spirit of utter destruction would sap her vitality far faster than any other.
She'd have preferred to summon a Spirit King to end it quickly, but even for her, that was impossible without a legendary dragon's power.
"Haa... I really hate wrinkles."
As Isabela muttered, a crimson glow gathered at the tip of her arrow.
**
"Wh-what the hell?!"
"Didn't I say it might be a fire attack?"
The Demon King's executives raised their voices as they watched their magic beasts collapse in flames. The dark elf leader was panicking in confusion, while Kaulri looked utterly aggrieved. Yet Valram, for some inscrutable reason, watched his subordinates burn with a gleeful expression.
"Valram, order a retreat now!"
"Retreat? A real man charges forward."
"Are you insane? Can't you see our forces melting away?"
"That's what makes it fun, right? When the enemy thrashes like this. Beats being bored."
The dark elf leader decided Valram was beyond reasoning with. They might serve the Demon King, but they couldn't let their entire race perish like this.
"Then we're pulling out."
"Bullshit. If you don't wanna die, throw in your troops now."
Valram drew his axe in a flash and pointed it at the dark elf leader, barking the order. Kaulri felt frustrated watching it all, but there was no solution. Teaming up with the dark elves might let them take down Valram, but infighting would just let the hero and elves shatter their lines.
"We still have the numerical advantage. If the dark elves just pin down the elves, victory's within reach."
"...Kaulri!"
"Think about it. Without the elves, it's just the hero and that Light Sword. Me, Valram, and the beastkin can crush them."
"Ugh..."
With even Kaulri siding with Valram, the dark elf leader groaned. They wanted to flee, but escape wouldn't help. Betraying the Demon King now meant pursuit from both demons and humans.
'Too late to back out now.'
Finally accepting reality, the dark elf leader nodded to Kaulri. Deploying their warriors could indeed tie up the elves, as he'd said.
"Fine. You'd better take responsibility for those words, Kaulri."
**
'What a shame to watch this spectacle alone.'
I thought as I gazed at the blazing elf forest. Centuries-old trees and monsters consumed by gorgeous fire magic, a colossal bird of flame soaring through the woods—it was straight out of legend. I couldn't help but feel a surge of respect for Jena von Darius, who'd devised this plan.
"Hngaaah! Master!"
Of course, Karen Cross's lewd moans slightly disrupted the mood, but not enough to ruin it. At Isabela's command, the elves began finishing off the fire-weakened beasts with their own flames and spirits.
At first glance, the elves seemed dominant, but the Demon King's full strength hadn't emerged yet.
"No reaction yet?"
"Yeah. They should be moving soon."
For some reason, the Light Sword and his disciple—stuck to my side—were chatting. I scowled and turned to the Light Sword.
"Not fighting?"
"Haha, doesn't seem like my moment yet."
He let out a booming laugh. He wasn't wrong, but seeing Jena urging the elves on and Karen massacring beasts made his group look annoyingly idle.
"Fine for you, but her?"
"...I have to escort my master."
His disciple, Lucille, answered my barbed question. As I thought how brazen that was, the Light Sword nudged my arm.
"Don't be like that. I backed you up in front of the elf queen."
"Hmph, do whatever."
I sighed and stepped back. He had supported me, and hadn't demanded anything yet. If this settled it, it was a bargain.
"Marian?"
I tilted my head at Marian, who'd dragged Dalshinyang over. I'd placed her in the rear since she had no role here, so I wondered why she'd come with the catkin.
"Th-this woman says she has something to tell you..."
"H-hero! Release me, nya! I'll convince the beastkin, nya!"
Dalshinyang pleaded desperately. I eyed her in surprise—I hadn't expected her to care about her kin.
"N-no need to kill them all, nya! Just leave it to me—I'll persuade them somehow, nya!"
I nodded to her earnest gaze. No guarantee it'd work, but if it did, great.
"Hero, what if she just runs...?"
"Not a big loss."
I dismissed Marian's worried protest and cut Dalshinyang's bonds. Marian's lip twitched oddly, but I ignored it and turned back to the battlefield.
"Dark elves have some annoying abilities."
The Light Sword remarked, eyes on the field. Elves sniped from afar, but dark elves emerged, stealthily ambushing or disrupting with minor spells, evening the odds.
"Hyaa! I need my reward soon, but these pests again! Die... hngh!"
Of course, the dark elves had a counter: Karen, raining spells from the sky. She embodied a mage's battlefield prowess, matched only by Isabela wielding her top-tier fire spirit.
'This is too easy.'
Karen and Isabela far exceeded expectations, leaving me oddly deflated.