Chapter 257


    “How is it?”


    Suddenly, Fores looked back at the Guardians and asked for their impressions.


    “… … .”


    No one answered those words.


    Fores wasn’t really curious about the answer either.


    I knew it even without you opening your mouth to answer.


    “Isn’t it truly beautiful?”


    The Guardians’ party was touring Elvenwood under the guidance of high elves.


    That sentiment flowed out of Suho’s mouth.


    “Honestly… … it’s more than that.”


    “Haha. Those are kind words.”


    A smile appeared on Fores’ lips at Suho’s honest answer.


    A proud smile appeared on the faces of the other high elves walking with him.


    Elvenwood.


    This green city where high elves live is a ce that cannot be described simply as beautiful.


    How can the inside and outside be so different, with a huge transparent barrier between them?


    Outside the barrier, a fierce battle was still taking ce, but inside, a world that seemed like it could only exist in a fairy tale unfolded.


    Fluffy.


    A fresh, greenwn that softly supports their feet with every step.


    Beautiful trees growing neatly on both sides of the road.


    “These trees are the house we live in.”


    As the saying goes, each tree hadrge doors and windows through which high elves came and went.


    Suho asked.


    “Did you build these buildings yourself? With magic?”


    “It’s not something grand like magic. It’s just ‘consideration.''”


    “consideration?”


    When Suho tilted his head at the strange answer, Fores spread out both hands with a knowing smile.


    Then something strange happened.


    Swish.


    Following Forest’s touch, colorful flowers began to bloom and burst out onto the greenwn.


    Even though there was not a single breath of wind, the flower buds swayed from side to side as if waving to him.


    A pleased smile appeared on Fores’ lips as he received that greeting.


    It was as if I could actually see the figure even though I had no eyes.


    “Have you seen? Everything in our vige was created by the consideration of the spirits. As I said, we are nomads who wander without a fixed ce. However, wherever we settle down, the spirits step forward and prepare a ce for us to stay. It is literally consideration.”


    “… … Spiritism?”


    Towering.


    Fores’s words paused for a moment at the one word that suddenly came out of Sirka’s mouth, who had been speaking less since a while ago.


    Fores looked back at Sirka and smiled kindly.


    “Heh heh. Spiritualism… … I also went through such a cumbersome process before bing a high elf. Now, it seems so long ago that it feels new to me.”


    Sirka’s eyes became slightly tearful at the way he spoke to her, as if he was talking to a newborn baby.


    But the timing wasn’t good to discuss it.


    Just then, a small stream appeared in front of them, and Fores stepped into the stream without hesitation.


    Swish.


    Then, under his feet, tree trunks sprouted by themselves and became entangled with each other.


    In an instant, a rainbow-shaped bridge appeared across the stream.


    Fores naturally stepped on the bridge and crossed the stream.


    Sirka’s eyes widened at that sight.


    It wasn’t something like spirit magic!


    During the process of creating the bridge, no flow of mana was felt at all.


    Fores continued speaking as if he were a grandfather telling a story to his granddaughter.


    “Have you seen it? Young elf who follows Shd. To your tribe, who have lived in the snowfields all their lives, the spirits m


    ust have been a ‘bitter cold’ that they had to fight and endure with their lives. However, that is far from the truth.”


    “… … .”


    “Since ancient times, we elves have not been a race that fought against nature, but a race that lived in harmony with nature. And the countless spirits born from Mother Nature were our friends andpatriots.”


    “… … .”


    Sirka couldn’t say anything in response.


    In Fores’ words, I could feel the passage of time and its weight.


    So Sirka eventually nodded and politely asked him for advice.


    “How can I be a high elf?”


    “Uh-huh.”


    Instead of answering, Fores burst intoughter.


    At the same time, the other high elves nearby also burst intoughter.


    “How dare you ask such a question.”


    “Are you trying to run before you can even walk?”


    “Haha. They say that not just anyone can be a high elf if they want to.”


    “There is no special method or trick.”


    As Sirka, who had suddenly be the butt of ridicule, made a pouty expression, a delicious fruit suddenly sprouted from the tip of a branch next to Sirka.


    Fores picked the fruit and handed it to Sirka.


    “Here, eat. This child also thinks you are cute and wants to give you a present.”


    Sirka took the fruit with both hands in a panic.


    The high elves surrounding Sirka began to share theirpliments one by one.


    “This is exactly it.”


    “It’s not something that can be achieved through hard work.”


    “You must be chosen by the spirit.”


    “… … Choice?”


    Fores nodded in response to Sirka’s question.


    “Yes. It’s not something that can be achieved through effort. For an ordinary elf to be a high elf is a gift from the spirits. Here, try it. The gifts from the spirits are sweeter than any fruit.”


    “… … .”


    At those words, just as Sirka was about to put the fruit in her mouth.


    “Don’t eat it.”


    suddenly.


    Suddenly, Cha Hae-in’s hand appeared and snatched the fruit from Sirka’s hand.


    “… …Uh, why?”


    Sirka, who was embarrassed at having her fruit stolen, looked up at Cha Hae-in.


    “You shouldn’t eat food given to you by someone you don’t know.”


    For some reason, Cha Hae-in was looking at Forest with a slightly angry look in his eyes.


    Fores, who could sense the presence even though he couldn’t see it, made an embarrassed expression.


    “Haha. The fruits given by the spirits pose no danger to the elves at all. Rather, they are a tonic that makes them even healt


    hier and more beautiful.”


    “I appreciate your consideration, but it’s up to the parents to decide what to feed their children.”


    “A guardian?”


    At those words, Fores looked as if he had heard something very strange.


    “You are not human. Why would a human im to be the protector of elves?” 1


    “What does race matter? Sirka is like a daughter to me.” 1


    “That’s ridiculous. Even if that child isn’t a high elf, he shouldn’t be able to receive protection from a human.”


    Beyond the green blindfold, Fores’ gaze pierced through Cha Hae-in.


    And then he nced at Sirka again and tilted his head to the side.


    “Come to think of it, I didn’t ask that. Who are you?”


    Fores was now finally curious about Cha Hae-in’s true identity.


    The Child of Shadow, Seongsuho, already knew that he was the blood rtive of the Shadow Lord.


    He also knew that Sirka was a blood rtive of the Lord of the Cold.


    However, Cha Hae-in, who was stuck between the two, was just an ordinary person, so no one paid much attention to him. 1


    But how dare a mere humanmit such an atrocity as stealing the spirits’ gifts from the bloodline of the Lord of the Cold?


    I also couldn’t understand how Sirka could take it for granted even after something like that happened.


    “I am….”


    Just as Cha Hae-in was about to answer.


    “Don’t answer.”


    Chuck, this time Soo-ho’s hand blocked Cha Hae-in’s path.


    “I don’t give out my personal information to just anyone. Especially not to suspicious people like this.”


    Suho, who had been leisurely looking around Elvenwood as if he were a tourist, suddenly began to show hostility in his eyes.


    “… … Suho?”


    Cha Hae-in’s gazended on the back of Su-ho’s head.


    [Well done. If it is revealed that Cha Hae-in is the master’s lover, it will only be dangerous. Of course, it will be revealed eventually, but there is no need for us to say it first.]


    Suddenly, Ber’s small face appeared and whispered in a voice that the men could not hear.


    Then, he red at Fores and the high elves with narrowed eyes and climbed onto Suho’s shoulder.


    Weaeng-


    Then, this time, a fly flew in from somewhere andnded on Suho’s opposite shoulder.


    A bee with yellow and ck stripes.


    “…hmm?”


    But when Fores discovered the bee, his expression suddenly hardened.


    It was natural for there to be a shadow soldier next to the shadow child, but that fly was not a shadow soldier.


    “Why are you reacting like that? Like you’re seeing a bug for the first time?”


    Suho red at Fores and grumbled.


    Contrary to his tone of voice, Soo-ho’s whole body was filled with fighting spirit.


    At that sight, the expressions of the high elves, including Fores, hardened even more. 1


    “Hey, wait a minute. You… … .”


    “Ah, yes. It may be the first time you’ve seen it. Up until now, I haven’t seen a single bug in Elvenwood. It’s really strange.


    Not a single bug living in a ce full of flowers and trees like this.”


    Why, why, why-


    Even as he spoke, countless bees began to gather on Suho’s shoulder.


    The bees that had gathered together like that began to gradually transform into the shape of a beautiful woman.


    … … !


    “Hey, you’re the Lord of gues?!”


    “How is the king of bugs here!”


    [Ah, that’s a good point. It’s destined to happen sooner orter.]


    At their tantly bewildered reaction, ‘Queen Bee Arsha’ responded with an ecstatic smile.


    Then he looked back at Suho and pointed to the beautiful maple trees surrounding him.


    Those numerous wooden buildings that are said to be the homes of high elves.


    [As expected, there were humans trapped in the basement of those buildings.]


    Towering.


    As soon as he finished speaking, the expressions on the faces of the high elves, who had been smiling kindly from the begi


    nning, disappeared without a trace.


    Like a soulless puppet.


    “Ah, this is it. So this is what it ends up being.”


    Among them, Fores muttered in an embarrassed voice.


    Wheeing-


    Cool silence.


    The warm and cozy wind that had been blowing through Elvenwood had suddenly stopped.


    The green leaves quickly dried up and became deste.


    It only took a moment for what had been a paradise on earth to turn into a barren wilderness.


    “… … If we had just quietly passed by, it would have been better for both of us.”


    “Really? I had a feeling it would be like this.”


    Chomp chomp chomp!


    Kamish’s wrath appeared in Suho’s hands.


    Two daggers cut through a wooden building, creating ck trails.


    Damn it!


    Then the appearance revealed within it was… … .


    “S, save me… … .”


    “Ugh… … .”


    The ce was filled with the cries of people dying, wrapped around tree roots.


    “Three, my goodness.”


    Sirka’s eyes widened at the shocking sight.


    On the other hand, Cha Hae-in, who had not let his guard down for even a moment since he entered this ce, was now holding Baran’s longsword in his hand.


    Suho, who had already sent Arsha to scout the surrounding area, was already in a battle stance.


    “They say that high elves are a gathering of losers who failed to be rulers. What on earth are they doing all these gatherings here?”


    “Failure? That’s an interesting expression, Shadow Child.”


    “A failure? How dare you say such a thing to us?”


    “A failure? You are the one who will never be able to be a monarch unless your father dies?” 2


    “What? Why are you all so angry all of a sudden? Did you get scratched?”


    Swaaaah!


    A murderous aura burst out from the bodies of the high elves whose expressions had suddenly disappeared, filling Elvenwood.


    As if to counter him, the shadow that spread out from under Suho’s feet also filled the ground of Elvenwood.


    [Use ‘Skill: Monarch’s Realm’.]


    In a situation that could explode at any moment.


    “…ah.”


    Finally, Sirka realized.


    What Sd said beforeing here.


    What it means to fail to be a monarch.


    Somehow, from the beginning, I felt intimidated as soon as I saw the high elves.


    “You guys have already been eaten. By the spirits.”


    The moment I heard those words.


    For the first time, the true expressions on the faces of the high elves were revealed.


    “You got eaten?”


    “I ate it.”


    See youter-


    A cruel smile that seems to whet your appetite.


    Their faces at that moment.


    Crackle! Crackle!


    The bodies of the once slender and beautiful high elves began to be covered with dry tree bark.


    “Us, you.”


    Thud.


    The blindfolds that had been wrapped around their faces were ripped off, revealing their eyes that had been hidden behind them.


    There is a star fragment ced there instead of a useless eyeball.


    Two highly refined stones were stuck in.


    “Even if he is the blood of the Shadow Lord, he is still a mere human.”


    “Not the Shadow Lord himself.”


    “I regreting to Elvenwood on my own two feet.”


    Shwaak-!


    At that moment, all the flowers and trees of Elvenwood, which was a paradise on earth, attacked the guardian party from all sides.


    “Your father, even the Shadow Lord, will never know what happened in here.”