The Hero Occupies the Great Forest
“W-what in the world is this?!”
As we headed toward the home of the elves, Isabela spotted me and shouted in a sharp voice. It was hardly surprising. The elves, who had been resting after the battle, were now surrounded by fully armed imperial knights with swords drawn.
Naturally, it was a situation that would make Isabela feel betrayed. But that was her problem. I'd already given her one chance, so I felt no remorse whatsoever.
“What do you mean, 'what'? It means the Empire is lending its strength to protect the elves who can't defend the Great Forest on their own.”
At that moment, Capella von Darius emerged from among the knights and spoke those words to Isabela. Having landed a solid blow on the elf queen, the duke turned to me with a friendly wave and a grin.
“Ah, Father?”
Even Jena von Darius hadn't expected her father to barge in like this, but I had. After all, he was the one who'd proposed the plan to me in the first place, and I'd had Karen Cross fire the signal flare to match his timing.
Of course, the Darius territory's forces had occupied the elf village so swiftly largely thanks to Jena, who'd burned a straight path through the intervening forest.
What a terrifying talent when you think about it.
I gave a wry smile as I watched Jena stare at her father in bewilderment. She'd once been one of my biggest headaches, but depending on how you used her, she could unleash unimaginable power.
“You've arrived.”
“Yeah. Thanks to you, it was a breeze. Burning down the elves' forest? You've got some real scale to you.”
“That was your daughter's doing.”
“Huh? Jena's?”
Capella eyed his daughter with wonder at the revelation, but his gaze was filled with pride. Confirming once again that father and daughter shared the same blood, I slowly approached Isabela.
“Not looking too good, Queen.”
“Hero... was this your plan?”
I tossed out the casual remark, and she fired back in kind. But she was much older than me and of higher status besides—her dropping formalities didn't bother me at all. I smirked and beckoned her forward with a teasing crook of my index finger.
“Nah, not mine. My plan was for the elves, dark elves, and beastkin to defend the Great Forest together from the start. You were the one who refused.”
“Tch. You shove impossible terms down my throat and now blame me?”
I wasn't really blaming her, but if that's how she saw it, I had nothing to say.
“Anyway, as you heard, the Empire will protect the Great Forest from now on. Including the dark elves and beastkin, of course.”
“Nonsense...”
“Ah, if you hate it that much, should we start by burning the World Tree?”
Isabela's mouth snapped shut at my words. The elves, already under the knights' swordpoints, grew even more murderous in their tension. They looked ready to die protecting the World Tree at any cost—but they'd picked the wrong opponents.
“If even one of you rebels, we'll rain fire magic on the World Tree immediately. Go ahead, try it.”
I sneered at the elves radiating hostility. They'd seen with their own eyes the devastation Karen had wrought in today's battle. Sacred or not, the World Tree was still just a tree.
“Okay. Looks like no one has anything more to say? It's late—everyone, get some rest.”
I addressed the elves glaring daggers at me. Capella's quick-witted subordinates began dividing them into groups for surveillance. Without their weapons, a successful revolt seemed unlikely barring some miracle.
“...Hero, wasn't this off-script?”
“Light Sword!”
Frank, who had been silently observing, spoke up. Capella noticed him then and called his name with clear discomfort.
Even with an imperial duke before him, Frank ignored the man entirely. His eyes were fixed on me, demanding an explanation.
“As you know, I wanted the dark elves and beastkin to live in the Great Forest. But the queen refused. I had no choice.”
“But this is too...”
“Overkill, yeah. I know. But the Empire gains nothing from this.”
I replied to the Light Sword's dissatisfied tone. He wasn't stepping up out of fondness for the elves. But as a high-ranking figure in his own kingdom, he couldn't help feeling uneasy about the Empire growing stronger. That was why I'd said it—to ease his worries. He stared at me thoughtfully.
“...Can you take responsibility for that?”
Of course, words alone changed little. And right now, even he had no options. Strong as he was, taking on me, my companions, Capella, and his knights was impossible.
“Yes. And I'll repay this debt separately.”
I meant I'd help his kingdom if trouble arose someday. But Frank was more hot-tempered than I'd thought.
“Repay it now.”
“Pardon?”
“My disciple. I'd like her to travel with you. What do you say?”
I turned to Lucille in surprise at his words. Whether the deal was already done or she just didn't show emotion, she met my gaze with her usual stoic expression.
My decision was instant. She had top-tier swordsmanship and a flawless figure. And I'd been wanting to sample her someday anyway—there was no reason to refuse.
“I was going to ask you myself.”
“Ahem.”
I answered Frank, and he smirked, extending his hand. As we shook, Capella's discomfort was plain. He sidled up and whispered,
“Still, Jena's your principal wife, right?”
His unexpected words drew only an awkward laugh from me.
**
We'd occupied the elf village without spilling a single drop of blood, and the commotion died down quickly. Capella quietly searched the village for the elf who'd enchanted him, but for some reason, she was nowhere to be found. Not particularly interested in his love life, I headed back to my tent.
“Um... Hero?”
“Hm? Marian. What's up?”
I turned to Marian Delarossi, who grabbed my arm. I wasn't an idiot—I knew exactly why. But I'd already given her one shot, and with Frank here—not to mention an imperial noble like Capella—taking her now could spell headaches.
Well, judging by his principal-wife remark over Lucille, maybe not. Still, no need to risk it. A saintess had to watch even the smallest rumors.
Besides, watching Marian squirm like she'd dropped her favorite candy was entertaining enough.
“Ah, n-nothing.”
Under my stare, she bowed her head. Dalshinyang watched with a pathetic shake of her head.
“You're all tired from the battle. Rest up tonight.”
I told my group that and entered my tent. But humans—or any intelligent beings—rarely heed others' words, and politics thrives more in shadows than light.
With Capella's involvement, power in the Great Forest had tilted fully my way. And the first to seek me out was none other than Dalshinyang.
“Hero, I have something to say, nya.”