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Chapter 61
“Nonetheless, those two elders seem quite old. Not elderly, perhaps, but middle-aged at least.”
I wondered just how old they truly were.
What would it feel like to live for over a thousand years? For me, it was an unimaginable span of time.
“Could you keep it down, Third Elder? Since when have I ever asked for a warm greeting or some pleasant words? I wish, just once, that you’d shut that hideous mouth of yours.”
From what I had sensed earlier, Agarat seemed to have a temper that matched anyone’s.
Sharp, deadly words flowed from his mouth without restraint.
“That elf, Irail or something earlier… is this just typical Elrel elf behavior?” I thought.
“That’s for me to say. To welcome traitors into the village and still behave so brazenly—your forest’s sense of propriety is suspect. When have I ever asked much of you? Just common decency. Yet not once have you shown behavior worthy of even that modest expectation. I assure you, your stubborn, lone-wolf nature will cause you trouble one day.”
By now, it was clear that this wouldn’t end with just an argument.
Emotions were escalating, and I thought it might soon require someone to mediate.
“Enough.”
One elder, appearing slightly older than the others, addressed Agarat first.
His voice was soft, yet it echoed clearly in everyone’s ears, as if carried deliberately through the air itself.
He used wind elemental magic to project his voice—a subtle yet impressive technique.
“Clearly, you’ve contracted a top-tier wind elemental,” I noted inwardly. Handling this level of elemental magic implied not only a powerful spirit bound to him but also a strong bond with it.
I couldn’t help but admire his skill, or rather, his natural mastery.
“Why are you constantly ready to devour one another? If you have such grievances, haven’t I told you countless times to settle them through the trials of the forest? Do not cause a ruckus in front of the Sacred World Tree—go and undergo the trial instead.”
…That wasn’t mediation.
If anything, the atmosphere grew even tenser.
Agarat spoke first.
“Fine. Rather than wait for that mouth to close, I might as well stitch it shut myself this time.”
The Third Elder did not back down.
“You talk too much. How many trials have you and I endured together? You cannot defeat me.”
“And you think you can beat me? Anyone listening would assume they’re on your side. Didn’t we end in a stalemate multiple times? Doesn’t it strike you as ridiculous to be so proud?”
“I’m just stating facts. Have you ever won even once? Don’t you realize that such words make you look ridiculous rather than intimidating?”
The tension thickened like fire.
Both stared daggers at each other, ready as if to begin the trials of the forest then and there.
I debated silently whether I should remain completely silent amid the brewing storm.
“Starting again?”
A sudden voice cut through.
Instinctively, I tensed every muscle, raising my alertness.
“I hadn’t sensed you at all.”
I hadn’t noticed this presence until it was right there, and until the voice itself revealed it.
Yet Agarat greeted the newcomer with calm composure. Even without sensing the presence beforehand, he seemed unfazed, as if this were routine.
“Highest Elder, you’ve arrived,” he said.
This must be the Highest Elder—the one who asked me to wait.
I studied him carefully. While his age couldn’t be judged by appearance alone, the wrinkles on his face suggested he had lived longer than any other High Elf here.
Still, he wasn’t extremely aged; he looked younger than the elder Isritrin.
His white hair, thick and full, retained a lustrous shine, giving him a dignified beauty despite the years.
“You’re still spirited, Agarat.”
“I’ve now lived over a thousand years. Such expressions feel a bit… excessive,” Agarat replied.
“Ha! A mere thousand years. If you wish to be respected for your age, you’ll need to live at least twice that.”
…Twice?
“Wait—does that mean this elf is at least two thousand years old?”
For reference, the average elf lifespan is 500 years, and a High Elf of noble blood averages 1,500 years.
Two thousand?
Even as I struggled to process this, their conversation continued.
“That’s only possible for someone like the Highest Elder,” Agarat said in disbelief.
The wrinkled Highest Elder scowled.
“Then stay quiet if you can’t manage it. Why do I need to explain twice that you should sit down instead of standing there?”
“…Yes.”
Even Agarat, who had been fierce moments ago, now behaved like a meek lamb before the Highest Elder.
He glanced at me, nodded subtly, and walked to his seat at the far end among the six elders.
The remaining central seat, the largest, would clearly belong to the Highest Elder.
Yet he didn’t go to his own seat immediately; he came toward me and examined my face closely.
His gaze was so intense I had to meet it.
I froze, overwhelmed by the depth and wisdom in his eyes, as if being consumed by the centuries of his existence.
“Ah, you must be Eldmir of Le Ruel,” he finally spoke.
“Yes,” I answered hastily.
“Le Ruel… that reminds me of a familiar name. Is Atrakal still alive?”
I recalled the tales of Atrakal wreaking havoc in El Rel through the forest trials. I forced myself to answer calmly.
“Yes.”
“Ah, the little one is still alive? At his age, he should have passed on, yet he survives.”
Calling Atrakal “the little one”—coming from a High Elf likely over two thousand years old—was a surreal experience.
Then the Highest Elder lifted my chin and examined me like a discerning buyer scrutinizing a product.
“Strange,” he murmured. “I feel no contracted elemental presence, yet the strength of your spirit is immense… and the red hair and gaze… hmm, remarkable, indeed.”
His brows furrowed, adding to the sense of weight in the room.
Even I was drawn into reflection, overwhelmed by just his mere glance.
‘If the strength in his gaze alone can intimidate me… this is insane.’
I had assumed that, with my stats unlocked, I would easily handle most one-on-one encounters, only considering named NPCs or boss-level monsters as true threats.
Yet here, every elder, including Agarat, seemed on par with me, and the Highest Elder clearly surpassed me.
‘Elves are truly formidable.’
I realized the five other elders were also immensely powerful, none weaker than me. One of them, the Highest Elder, was overwhelmingly stronger.
I had expected some elite High Elves to be strong, but never on this level.
‘Even if the others were like the eight war hammers I’ve faced, I’ve grown stronger now… yet here is another wall to overcome.’
This world, this “game,” never lets a player become complacent.
‘But there’s no need to worry. My level is just 1, and I’ll continue to grow stronger.’
As I shook off my thoughts, the Highest Elder released my chin.
“Well, that’s enough. After all, this meeting is to observe, not examine further,” he muttered, walking to his seat.
I finally exhaled deeply, realizing how much tension I had held.
The strength of the Highest Elder was extraordinary.
‘The Highest Elder is a Named NPC.’
A Named—a being regarded as a one-person army, a living calamity, a force capable of unparalleled destruction.
I had never encountered a High Elf Named before. The difference between the game and reality was striking.
I felt a chill run over my skin.
‘Perhaps all Named NPCs possess such strength.’
If so, this world could be far more dangerous than I imagined.
I had to remain calm. My level was still just 1. I could continue to grow stronger.
“Very well.”
The Highest Elder finally sat in his seat and addressed everyone.
“My loyal and tiresome comrades, thank you for gathering again, despite living and dying day by day. To witness the morning sun at our age is thanks to El Reldarel’s care.”
“Ah, Elder, you boast at length about living long without dying,” said the First Elder.
“Quiet, you old fool. Aren’t you over 1,400 years? Perhaps it’s time to return your feeble body to nature.”
“Heh, no matter how old I am, I’ll outlive you. Don’t worry.”
It seemed the First Elder. I was impressed by how calmly he conversed with such a formidable presence.
“Well, enough small talk,” the Highest Elder said, turning his gaze toward me.
From left to right, there were the First, Second, Third, Fourth, and Fifth Elders, with the Highest Elder directly facing me.
“The reason for this sudden meeting is because of the child Eldmir before us, correct? Am I right?”
“Yes, but… Igras, stop rambling. Even if it’s bothersome, duties must be done. Will you keep this up?”
Igras, the Highest Elder, looked annoyed, brushing off dust with a gust of wind from his fingers.
I stared in disbelief.
‘This is a High Elf over two thousand years old, and this is the attitude of El Rel’s Highest Elder?’
The contrast between the imposing, overwhelming figure and his casual annoyance was staggering.
“Try reaching my age. Everything seems bothersome, and all I want is to return to El Reldarel. Honestly, at our age, we should retire and live quietly. Old gears must be replaced with new ones to keep machinery functioning smoothly. You and I, we should step aside. The others are still active, but us? It’s time.”
‘Wait… you were the one who asked me to wait.’
I forced myself to remain silent despite my frustration.
The First Elder sighed deeply.
“Enough with that. We need a meeting, not your lamenting. You’ve held onto the position of Highest Elder because no worthy successor existed. How long will you continue whining like this?”
I observed the other elders quietly tolerating the conversation, while the Third Elder stared at me with a predatory look.
‘Elves really run in a peculiar fashion.’
This was the reality of El Rel: a leadership constantly bickering, with aged elders eager for release.
I closed my eyes, pondering.
‘Is this why elves were the first to perish as a race?’
I didn’t want to believe it was truly for such a pathetic reason.
I recalled Agarat’s words.
“Lately, you never know what they’ll do next, and you lament not understanding their intentions.”
Perhaps this was what he meant. Yet it seemed less like caprice and more like a form of madness.
“Ugh, enough! Igras, nothing will progress if you’re involved. If you don’t want to do anything, then stay quiet and watch. We’ll handle the meeting ourselves!”
