IRE 53

chapter 53

“You already owe me two debts. As the one who absolved those debts, I ask this of you.”

It wasn’t a command. It wasn’t coercion.

It was simply a request—one elf to another.

Atrakhal, the chief elder of the village, was earnestly asking Istain.

“If we truly… want to regain our colors as elves, tainted and rootless from the influence of the False Forest Spirit… then we must change. We need to learn to compromise with other races, learn mutual respect… we must correct this insularity.”

“…You mean an alliance with the beastkin for that purpose?”

Atrakhal didn’t answer.

He simply held his gaze, calmly and firmly.

A heavy silence pressed down on Istain’s shoulders, making his expression grave.

“…Elder Atrakhal, you are right.”

He lowered the fist he had pressed to his chest.

“We must change.”

He…

“It’s not something I can decide alone, but I believe I can persuade others. So I will take this opportunity to speak boldly.”

Facing Atrakhal directly, he said,

“Erlien will also participate in the alliance with the beastkin.”

“By the way… what exactly happened 200 years ago?”

On the way back to Le Ruel, I asked, a sudden curiosity striking me.

My stay in Erlien had been brief, but his appearance had left an enormous impact.

Everyone in Erlien who learned of his identity had reacted dramatically—fear, shock, or complete astonishment.

Could that really be considered an ordinary reaction?

“It seems their reaction was far too extreme to simply be called ‘educational’.”

Come to think of it, hadn’t they been somewhat hostile toward the elder? Well, I guessed it was probably just an incident caused by the elder losing his temper.

“They acted arrogantly toward me, and I merely gave them a bit of mental education.”

“So… how exactly did you conduct this mental education?”

Atrakhal, after briefly stroking his chin, answered,

“I challenged each of those who acted arrogantly toward me to the Trials of the Forest.”

“The Trials of the Forest?”

I tilted my head, and he added,

“By the time I realized it, I had knocked everyone down.”

“….”

Truly, a monstrous man.

“You will go to El Rel immediately.”

“Eh?”

As Le Ruel’s entrance came into view, Atrakhal spoke.

The sudden announcement caught me off guard.

I thought the trip to El Rel might be postponed due to the incident in Erlien, expecting that either Atrakhal or I would handle the surrounding villages first.

“Didn’t I tell you from the start? We’ll handle the surrounding villages ourselves. Bringing you along was simply so you could get a feel for how to persuade El Rel.”

A sort of rehearsal, then.

I was speechless at Atrakhal’s practical teaching method—it was awe-inspiring.

“I never imagined they’d be in such a state,” Atrakhal sighed.

It had been 200 years since they last saw him, but they were still neighboring villages and the same kin.

Witnessing them end in such a miserable state could hardly have been a pleasant sight.

“Seeds, they called them. The ones planted in those elves.”

200 years ago, they had already summoned Atrakhal.

Back then, they wished for Atrakhal to awaken them to their ideals and the traitors among them.

Yet he hadn’t realized it.

He hadn’t been able to save them.

What feelings had Atrakhal harbored while watching them?

“…Truly wretched creatures.”

I flinched at the words.

Hearing such a curse from an elf was rare—though, of course, I was the exception.

It seemed I caught even a hint of his anger.

“This must never happen again.”

“So, Eldmir, go to El Rel swiftly and lead the alliance with the beastkin. After that, head to the temple the beastkin child mentioned.”

“The temple?”

“Yes.”

Atrakhal nodded.

“I know you’ve wanted to leave the forest for some time.”

I frowned unconsciously.

“That doesn’t mean I wish to leave like this. With the forest in crisis, how could I turn my back on it?”

“Who told you to turn away?”

Atrakhal’s hand rested on my shoulder.

It was warm and firm, like receiving a pledge.

“You’ve already contributed much to the forest. And surely, the forest will still need your help.”

“….”

“That is why I’m telling you to go outside. Because the forest still requires your help.”

“I see…”

I was no short elf myself. I was quite tall, but compared to Atrakhal, there was a natural difference in height.

He looked down at me, and I looked up at him.

“Your desire to help the forest is admirable, but you are not obligated to handle all its aftermath. Persuading El Rel alone will already be more than enough. Haven’t you been delaying your promise anyway? There’s no need to delay further. Do what you must.”

“…Elder.”

“I have no doubt that your actions, whether inside or outside the forest, will ultimately benefit it. You have work to do outside, and I cannot hold you back for our sake.”

Atrakhal gently patted my shoulder a few times and released me.

“Take the sisters with you. If you leave the forest directly after El Rel, it will be easier. I’ll assign a Sentinel from the remaining forest. You haven’t been to El Rel before, right?”

I nodded.

I realized once again that I was just a newly-grown adult elf.

“Remember, Eldmir. The forest is your home and needs your help, but it is not so fragile as to crumble without you. You have already done more than enough.”

After a pause, he added,

“I am proud of you.”

A chill ran down my neck, spreading electricity through my body.

Every hair on my body stood on end.

Recognition from Atrakhal—the greatest elder of Le Ruel, the idol of all the village members—was overwhelming.

He was the most respected elder I had ever known, and the third person I most respected.

“I will remember.”

“Good.”

I felt truly gratified.

“Ah… but one task remains.”

“What is it?”

“I must receive the bow from Elder Ashira.”

The bow I had entrusted with him, along with my hair.

It was time to reclaim it.

“You came just in time.”

Ashira handed me the bow.

The bow itself hadn’t changed.

Since only the string had been altered, it was natural, yet it felt slightly unfamiliar.

The string now emanated a subtle yet vivid red glow.

“I felt the spirit energy from your hair. It’s like the spirit stone became your hair. Quite an interesting experiment,” Ashira said, smiling contentedly.

“Each arrow you fire will be imbued with heat without consuming your own spirit power. Not enough to ignite flames, but enough to make them searing-hot—sufficient to increase lethality. The downside is overuse may lower the temperature, but it will recover over time.”

Yet that wasn’t the most important thing.

Ashira pointed to the bowstring.

“It’s extremely tough.”

“Really?”

Curious, I drew the string. It held perfectly.

Previously, I couldn’t pull fully due to tension, and often had to replace the string. Now, it felt perfectly stable.

“Impressive, isn’t it?”

Before, the tension had been burdensome despite my ability to see the status. Now, the bow could finally shine.

“Right?” Ashira laughed, patting my shoulder.

“It was difficult to make, given your antics. I thought it would be fun to craft something unique, but who knew it would become my finest work? While you’re going to El Rel, try swapping the bowstock for one made from a branch of the World Tree.”

A bow from the World Tree was a rare item, even among high elves.

“Will they give that so easily? And honestly, this bow is already excellent.”

The World Tree’s bow—a legendary item I’d never even seen in a game.

Its rarity alone made it highly coveted.

“But this bow is already a masterpiece. Do I really need to change it?”

Ashira grinned.

“You don’t understand. The World Tree is the source of the world, brimming with life. The bow it provides is a blessing. Even the finest archer would never look at another bow after wielding one from the World Tree.”

“Sounds like you’ve used it yourself.”

“Oh, of course.”

Ashira gazed into the distance with a nostalgic look.

“I’ll never forget its sleek form, slung over Atrakhal’s shoulder when he returned from El Rel. Had I not been allowed to try it, I might have ended up in a life-or-death duel with him.”

“…Not exactly a nostalgic memory.”

Ashira laughed heartily.

“So, you—like Atrakhal—should seize the chance to wield it, even if it means using the Trials of the Forest to pull some heads along. You have a bowstring strong enough to withstand even bull-like beasts—use it properly.”

My hair, that’s why it’s so good? I was skeptical but slightly uneasy.

To dispel distractions, I cleared my throat.

“Can we really use the Trials of the Forest so freely?”

“Hah, it’s just a trial. The one affected is the only difference. If someone displeases you, you simply impose the trial. And even without the bow, I guarantee you’ll have your hands full there.”

I frowned at what sounded like a curse, and Ashira chuckled.

“Some of the traitors went to El Rel. Knowing their temperament, they’ll get angry the moment they see you.”

“They’re elves of El Rel, guardians of the World Tree. Surely they won’t start fighting immediately…”

“Have you not heard a word of what Atrakhal said? They’re aggressive. Do you think they’ll forgive a traitor? Ha! I can already see your future—your first encounter there will be your clash with El Rel.”

Ashira laughed ominously.

Despite the warning, the World Tree bow alone made it worth trying as a Sentinel.

“Every elf covets the World Tree bow. Your modesty comes from ignorance. Try it once, and you’ll see I’m right.”

“…I’ll think about it.”

“Yes. And if anyone asks who made the bowstring, tell them it was a dignified elder in our village. Never say my name; let them stew in curiosity.”

With that, Ashira slumped.

“Ah, using all my energy for this has tired me out.”

Despite his fatigue, a satisfied smile remained on his face, proud of his creation.