The Peerless Kobold - Chapter 127
But the Guild Master’s whispered hopes are betrayed, and the situation took a turn for the worse.
The following week, Marcus, an Elven Priest of the Obsidian Elves who had attempted to unite the conservative and reformist factions of the Obsidian Elves by calling out for non-violent resistance, was assassinated.
A single arrow pierced his chest while he preached about the pointlessness of hating each other despite belonging to the same race. The perpetrator was said to have been a conservative extremist who did not like him or an extremist from his own people who were losing their unifying force to the moderate reformists.
However…
“Kuh, aah… D-do not be consumed with anger because of this… I f-forgive, ugh, everything. Someday, a day will come when we can all la-laugh together regardless of the color of our skin…”
“Minister Marcus!?”
“Minister!!”
His last wishes were drowned out with angry shouts, but it caused a new spark amongst the handful who heard it. It would be some time before his words would be engraved onto a stone monument and resonate in the hearts of many Elves.
……………
………
…
As the “Grove of the Village Shrine” met with further chaos, the Philland Republic, which was a nation adjacent to them, also suddenly began to run into a panic.
“…Is that true, Sir Leiard?”
“Yes, this is definitely good news for us.”
The Half-Elf, who was also a relative of Landes, the Chairman of the Republican Council, nodded at his question. Although Landes looks older in appearance, Leiard was a man who had already lived several generations before him.
“For the past few months, we have been exploring the forest along the borders, and only recently did we stumble upon a break in the barrier surrounding the Elven cities.”
At his news, several “oohs” were heard among the cheering council members.
“I have also dispatched the Half-Elves under my command on an intelligence mission so that they could infiltrate the inner barrier at the slightest break in the wards…”
“Good work, Sir Leiard.”
“With this, we could finally extend the life of our World Tree!!”
After the Battle of the Forest Garden, 600 years have passed since the World Tree was acquired in accordance with the post-war treaty.
Ordinarily, the World Tree should be alive and well at this point, but… the World Tree in the Philland Republic had gradually fallen ill due to the overharvesting of its branches and leaves, which were used for various medicines and magic tools in exchange for the importation of food from the time of the great famine.
“But will the Elves be willing to help us?”
The Chairman reigned in the excitement of the Council members and offered his opinion.
“Chairman Landes, once the break in the Elves’ barrier is repaired, then we cannot contact them anymore and we might miss the opportunity if we take our time…”
During the battle 600 years ago, when the World Trees were mere saplings, it was only with the Sage Morozof’s power that they could break through the barriers and successfully cut down the trees, but… If the barriers of the mature World Trees and the Porcelain Elves’ barriers were combined, then the land would be inaccessible to humans.
Thus, it was recorded that the humans were forced to cut down the trees before their lands were taken away from them. After that, the wars that followed were also mainly fought within the forest, but they were unable to invade the Elves’ cities.
However, if the cities around the forest were surrounded, then they would have no choice but to give in. And as a result, a truce would have to be signed.
But it would be impossible without investing a reasonable amount of money and manpower…
“If you think about it in a practical and realistic way, then we would have to resort to tough measures,” the male Half-Elf casually stated.
“You’re a Half-Elf, aren’t you? Aren’t you worried about them?”
“My homeland has always been the Philland Republic, so my country’s interests come first.”
(Besides, I don’t really care about the Elves in the “Grove of the Village Shrine” who abandoned the generation of captive Elves where our parents belonged…)
With a cold look in his eyes, the Half-Elf who was with the Republican Council, replied.
