140. Reason (3)

“That word… Can you say it one more time?”

Each syllable, each syllable, is a sweet voice that contains calmness.

Ainel Cianella’s cool voice resonates clearly.

Friel Arielt quietly rolled her eyes.

Her turquoise eyes captured Ainel’s rapidly changing mood.

A state in which trust and courtesy are slowly fading away, and doubts and vigilance are rising.

It wasn’t a very good response.

However, even so, Friel Arielt looked straight at Ainel, with her modest attitude intact, without any distraction.

“Please send Lady Sione Cianella, the second daughter of Countess Cianella, and her exclusive servant, Ray, to the Great Forest.”

At that imposing request, Ainel had no choice but to wrinkle his forehead.

‘Why on earth?’

That was an absurd statement.

As they say, the tree keepers of the Great Forest are by no means weak.

Each individual is proficient in spirit magic, and the agile movements unique to elves allow them to move in and out of the forest as if they were in their own home.

Their average strength is among the highest among all races, and if the stage becomes a forest, their strength doubles.

‘I don’t understand.’

Not only monsters, but also demons, if they are only intermediate level, the ability to easily decapitate them should be enough.

Even if you need support….

If your opponent is only that small, you don’t have to go all the way to Countess Cianella’s house to ask for support. Wouldn’t it be better to ask for support from the proficient soldier’s family, the Marquis of Calia, and the subjects of the mighty Empire that exist right near the Great Forest?

Ainel couldn’t understand why they had to go all the way to the easternmost point of the kingdom to make such a ridiculous request after being attacked by monsters and demons.

‘Besides, there’s a reason why you bothered to pick Shione and Ray.’

What’s even more concerning is that Friel Arielt clearly mentions Sione and Ray by name, and wants to take them to the Great Forest.

Even the elf in front of me had the same intentions as the Blue Elder. He even revealed that it was the will of the high elf, the head of the elves.

I couldn’t help but be suspicious and concerned.

“… ….”

“… ….”

In silence, our gazes met.

Friel’s neat eyes saw through Ainel’s intentions.

“You are suspicious.”

“Let’s send Shione and Ray to the Great Forest…. Is this really the meaning of the great forest elder?”

“That’s right. Because the elder said that the help of those two is absolutely necessary for the clan and the world tree to continue from generation to generation.”

On Friel’s lap, the two hands overlapped.

She raised her right hand and placed it lightly on her chest, giving a small smile.

“This is the truth without a hint of lies. Of course, you can swear by the World Tree and the spirits.”

“Um… ….”

Ainel deepened her thoughts.

To them, the world tree is both a god and a religion. As much as the elf is the meaning and source of existence for my race.

The oaths that elves swear to the world tree and the spirits are of extraordinary weight.

In particular, Friel is the daughter of the Arielt family, who directly protects and manages the World Tree along with the High Elves. The weight of the oath was inevitably greater than that of most elves.

So Ainel began to calmly ask her questions.

“The tree keepers of the great forest should be able to catch even the middle level demons. But why do you insist on sending Cianella’s second daughter and her servant, Ray? Moreover-“

Ainel’s eyes narrowed.

“It is not the Countess who is far away from Daesilim who is seeking reinforcements, but the nearby Marquis of Calia or the subjects of the Empire. They should be enough to condemn the cultists and subdue monsters and demons.”

At her words, Friel closed his eyes for a moment.

“Okay.”

The atmosphere in Friel has changed completely.

She then lifted her car which was placed in front of her own. She enjoyed the scent of tea with the tip of her nose for a moment, then took a sip of Friel.

Ainel quietly covered her face and waited for her words to follow.

Soon after, the elf’s moist red lips opened and gave an answer.

“Certainly, with their arms backed up, we would be able to wipe out the enemies more easily. In fact, the recent soldiers of the Marquis of Calia and the nearby imperial troops have a lot of practical experience and are well-equipped with discipline.”

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Friel Arielt lowered her stance, tapped her lower lip with her index finger and continued her words.

“However, compared to kingdoms, empires lack faith and fidelity… Unlike the Empire, the cultists have already managed to infiltrate the depths of society. We can’t trust them easily. It’s to the point where I don’t want to go near the World Tree at all.”

“… Are you saying that demon worshipers have already stained the empire to that extent?”

“Kaju, the empire is quietly but surely losing its energy. A star that slowly fades… Jeongdo is probably the best word for the current empire. Sooner or later, the star that has lost its light will be covered in darkness and disappear. But-“

The index finger that had been placed on Friel’s lips swept up the corner of her mouth.

She put her hand on her lap again, and sat neatly with her back straight.

Friel At the corner of Arielt’s mouth was a small but beautiful smile, just as her slender fingers had drawn.

“The kingdom is different. There is trust and loyalty, and the spirit of extinction has not been forgotten and has been steadily inherited. The kingdom is like a close friend we elves can trust… The Marquis of Calia, who knows the truth, can also be said to be a reliable neighbor in its own way.”

“… ….”

“If there is anything I regret… The point is that there is no one in the Marquis of Calia who can twist our destiny. They may be able to help wipe out demons and monsters, but they cannot save us from destruction.”

“That means—”

“The family head, the elder, received an oracle from the World Tree.”

The Oracle of the World Tree.

An old tree that takes root in the world and feeds on the mana that permeates the earth of the planet.

An old tree that has spent more than a hundred years has a personality, and an old tree that has spent eons of time has a great power along with a god.

A tree with divine power can predict the future and entrust its will to those who follow it.

Among the elves, it is not unusual for a high elf, who lives for a long time to build up the dignity and power of their existence, to receive the oracle of the World Tree.

Friel caught the flow of her story and increased the value of her conversation with her.

“The Great Forest and the Empire are said to be incomparably evil soon. According to the World Tree, if the fate of the Empire and the Great Forest is met, only with a time difference will they meet their predestined destruction.”

“… ….”

“It is a sad story. But even so, the World Tree told the elder one way.”

“If you do it….”

Friel’s smile deepens at Ainel’s whisper.

“If the Empire is a star that is fading, then the Kingdom is a star that is just beginning to rise. Countess Cianella, who won the battle against the devil, was the first to shine on the kingdom of Isilia.”

“The count family defended the kingdom from the demons that lurked in the demon realm. And… Coincidentally, the World Tree said. They said that only Countess Cianella exists who has the power to protect our great forest.”

“Patriarch, we have come to seek help from two people who will twist the fate of the clan and become the brilliant light of salvation.”

Green eyes and walls met.

The story has finally returned to its original point in the illusion that an instant of time is elongated like an eternity of time.

“We, the Great Forest, are the second daughter of Countess Cianella, Sione Cianella, who has the ability to twist fate, and her servants. I need Ray’s help.”

Ainel couldn’t open her mouth easily and let her voice out.

As she sank into her deep anguish, Friel rose from her seat.

Slowly.

She carefully drew the sword from her belt and held it out to her child, Nel Cianella.

“Gaju, this.”

“Isn’t this a sword?”

“Yes, let’s pull the sword out of the scabbard.”

“Excuse me for a minute.”

Sureureung!

The unexpected sword scratches its scabbard and presents its pure white blade to the world.

In terms of weight, balance, and sharp blue blade, it’s not enough to say it’s a great sword. In the end, Ainel even felt something drawn to this sword.

And the next moment when I saw the black surface.

“This is…….”

Ainel’s body stiffened.

The intaglio engraved on the face of the sword was the shape of a sword cutting the horns of the devil, the symbol of Countess Cianella.

A woman’s name was written underneath it. The owner of that name belonged to the first family head.

“The elder informed me that an old friend whom I can no longer meet, the first head of the count family, said this.”

─I have received many things from you, so I dedicate one of my treasured swords to you. On the day I returned the sword I gave to my descendants, the heir to the count’s family will gladly listen to your request.

Ainel stared at the sword in her hand, then turned to Friel again.

She was smiling as brightly as when she first handed her Great Forest Tea to her.

“Gajoo, the story seems to be getting longer. Can you afford it?”

The reason why the elf came to the count’s house had a deeper story than I thought.

* *

“Ray, why are you standing blankly all of a sudden?”

“No, just… ….”

After the sparring with Siabelle, she immediately went to the shooting range and joined Shione in shooting the bow.

I shrugged my shoulders as I carefully unhooked the arrow from the string.

“For some reason, it was a little creepy. Even though spring has arrived, it seems that all the days have not yet been solved. It seems a little bit of a cold wind is still blowing.”

“Ummm… Was it windy… ? I don’t think it burned…. Ray, when her ghost lands on her shoulder, it sends chills down her spine. Isn’t that because of the ghost?”

Oh, I’m not even a kid, what kind of joke are you doing?

“Shione.”

“Huh?”

“When you sleep, be careful under the bed.”

“Ah.”

Shione tilted her head and smiled as if she had been attacked.

Well, if the wind didn’t blow, it must be because of my mood.

I lightly shook off the strong sensation I felt in an instant and started shooting the bow and arrow.

It was a very bright day, everything was perfect except for the elf, an uninvited guest, who came to the count’s residence.