The Peerless Kobold - Chapter 131
“Listy, your report please…”
From behind Eliza, a Priestess of the World Tree who had the role of assisting the Queen emerged.
“…The recent disruption in the energy supply of the World Tree was probably caused by a life and death condition which affected Lady Aristia, and it is presumed that an enormous amount of life force was consumed from the World Tree to keep Her Majesty alive.”
“Then, the Queen is probably…”
“Yes, she is alive.”
Theodore was interrupted mid-sentence with Listy’s declaration.
“Nnngh…”
Theodore pondered the situation for a while with a difficult expression on his face.
Queen Aristia might be an inconvenience to him as she is also pushing for reform, but she is currently the only one with the thickest concentration of High Elf blood in this generation. And so, Theodore, who values the principle of Porcelain Elves as the more dominant species, cannot make light of the Queen’s existence in relation to his beliefs.
“Very well, let us send out a search party around the Northern Woodlands where the Queen seems to be hiding.”
“Yes, that would be a good idea indeed, father.”
Currently, the moderate conservatives are already searching, but since it would be better to have more people join the search, Eliza nodded and showed support for her father as he made arrangements to dispatch the squires and knights who are under house arrest.
“… There is more to the report, Your Excellency. May I continue?”
“Ah, yes, please continue.”
“We have been prioritizing the maintenance of the city facilities to bring the recent chaos under control. And because the World Trees in other cities also get life energy through the same veins of the earth, fluctuations in the barriers around each city have also been observed.”
The current situation had been predicted from the very start, but… With the current state of affairs in the Royal Capital, if further confusion is imposed by the concerned parties on the citizens, then various outbursts are bound to occur. And for that reason, it is important to prioritize the maintenance of the city’s facilities first.
“How long would it take the World Tree to return to its previous state?”
“The earliest could take a month, and the latest would be about half a year…”
“I hope nothing happens during that time.”
“It would be ideal if we could at least stay on high alert during this period…”
Just as Eliza sighed while playing with her curly, silver-blonde hair, her attendant entered the audience room and whispered something in her ear.
“Father, I apologize, but it seems I have a visitor so if you’ll please excuse me.”
After excusing herself, Eliza quickly left the room.
After all, she also had a lot of things to do…
When she returned to her private chambers, she found two Elven men — one with pale skin and one with dark skin — waiting for her.
“Thank you for coming, Lord Ziebel.”
“Yes, well, we are just as distressed as you are about the current situation.”
The man named Ziebel responded. The man was also a reform moderate who is currently trying to unite all the other reform moderates who belong to the Obsidian Elf clan. He is also one of the people who would carry on the will of the Minister Marcus, who called for nonviolent disobedience.
“Thank you for also coming over, Lord Sheyard.”
“Well, I’m still in a neutral stance over this situation though.”
This man was called Sheyard, the Guild Master of the Craft Guild that unites the Bronze Elves living in the Royal Capital.
Taking advantage of his position and having access to the Royal Castle, he hid Ziebel in the carriage with mixed deliveries and brought him to Eliza in secret.
“I know it’s on short notice, but you coming here means… you are going to help us, aren’t you?”
“Yes, if it’s just us, then we would not be able to stop those radicals from inciting the people after all.”
Originally, the moderate conservative faction which Eliza belonged to merely feared that sudden reforms would cause chaos, but it was not like they rejected all kinds of reforms.
“We will do everything we can to help, and together we will work for the abolition of extremism.”
Smiling, Eliza held out her hand and Ziebel shook it.
“It would be reassuring if the Bronze Elves cooperated with us too.”
Cunningly tilting her head in a cute way, she also glanced in Sheyard’s direction, but…
“I’m terribly sorry, but I cannot make the Bronze Elves make a move on my own. The least I can do is to make sure that weapons don’t get into the hands of the reform extremists, but… If I do more than that, then we would not be considered neutral anymore.”
Sheyard replied with a shrug.
That day, the reform conservatives and moderates joined forces to contain the growth of the reform extremists led by Gregor, and to bring the chaos he caused under control.
