#53
Elves (1)
From morning onward, the entire Great Temple was astir.
Everyone was busy preparing to receive the delegation from the Elven Kingdom.
“Everyone’s busy, aren’t they?”
Except for us, who were in charge of security inside.
At Heinrich’s idle remark, Lairin, who was standing guard with him in the passage leading to the gate, nodded readily and answered.
“It was decided so suddenly, after all. Considering the scale of an exchange involving even a High Elf, the time between the decision and the execution was extremely short. They can’t help but be underprepared.”
Just as she said, only a few days had passed since cooperation with the Elven Kingdom had been decided, yet everything had proceeded in the blink of an eye.
This was not a schedule one side could rush through on its own.
It was something that could only happen if both sides agreed and hurried as much as possible.
‘Even if the Church judged that tracking the Immortal King’s heir was urgent, does the Elven Kingdom have some urgent matter of its own?’
In truth, the Church only had to prepare to receive the envoys, but they were the ones actually crossing the sea.
There was no way moving across the continent could be easy.
And yet, for them to hurry like this meant they had business of considerable urgency…
‘Whatever their purpose is, there’s no point in me thinking about it here.’
Thanks to having obtained the information in advance, he had secured time to reinforce the barrier. For now, that was enough.
“Still, it makes me feel a little bad that we’re the only ones this relaxed.”
“It can’t be helped. This is our job.”
Those who were absorbed in preparing to receive the guests.
Unlike the outer knights, who were busy strengthening their vigilance and patrolling in preparation for any possible disturbance, the Radiant Guard in charge of internal security was simply continuing their usual duties without anything particularly different.
‘They said the Inquisitors are checking the infiltration routes into the Great Temple.’
Of course, there were more things to pay attention to than usual, but even taking all of that into account, they were not as busy as those people.
“Our real work begins after we receive the delegation. Once that time comes, we truly won’t have a moment to breathe, so don’t feel too regretful.”
“Ah, no… I wasn’t regretful…”
As they were having that conversation, a group led by the saintess approached from the far end of the passage.
“It seems the time has almost come. From now on, we must be truly tense so that we do not make even the smallest mistake.”
“Yes, ma’am.”
It was just as they were straightening their posture and looking ahead.
“Hello! Sir Lairin, Sir Heinrich. Are the two of you in charge of guarding this place today?”
With people trailing behind her in a line, the saintess greeted them brightly.
“That is correct, Saintess. Are you on your way to receive the delegation from the Elven Kingdom?”
“Yes! We received word from the temple in the east. They only need to pass through two more gates before they arrive here.”
Of course, since the saintess had not been acting like this for only a day or two, everyone here was accustomed to dealing with her.
After naturally receiving her greeting and exchanging a few words, Lairin immediately stepped slightly aside and gestured toward the gate.
“Then there really isn’t much time left. Shouldn’t you hurry inside?”
“Ah! That’s right. By now, they must have already passed through one!”
The saintess nodded and headed toward the gate, only to pause for a moment and turn her head toward Heinrich.
Then, staring intently at him, she began to ponder something.
“…”
“…?”
A sudden silence followed.
In the awkward situation where the gazes around him began to gather on him one by one, Heinrich had no choice but to smile stiffly.
‘Why is she doing that? Surely it’s not because I didn’t greet her?’
He had bowed his head together with Lairin when she greeted her. Had she not seen it?
As he was wondering whether he should offer another greeting even now—
“Sir Heinrich, why don’t you come with us?”
The saintess suddenly said something out of the blue.
“Ah! To receive the delegation from the Elven Kingdom, I mean. There’s no need for two people to guard this place, is there?”
At her hastily added words, the people around them looked puzzled.
It was true that, as she said, there was no particular need for two people to guard the passage right now.
The lineup of those accompanying her inside was just that impressive.
Leaving aside the saintess herself…
There were high-ranking priests including Archbishop Latius, who had led the expedition against the Immortal King, as well as high-ranking holy knights including two paladins.
With them personally heading to the gate, the presence or absence of one or two ordinary holy knights made little difference.
“Is there a particular reason you wish to take him with you?”
But that was that, and this was this.
They had not posted guards here for nothing in the first place.
If it became a habit to move guards based on arbitrary judgment simply because things seemed fine at the moment, there was a risk that holes would appear in security later and the system would be shaken.
Since she was still a young saintess, there was a need to make such matters clear to her.
At Archbishop Latius’s serious question, the saintess fidgeted in a way unlike her usual self.
Seeing the atmosphere, she had realized she had done something wrong.
“Well… I wanted to let Sir Heinrich gain many experiences in advance.”
“It is true that Sir Heinrich Landguard is a promising talent, but the support the Church is currently giving him is by no means insignificant. There is no need for you to be concerned to this extent…”
No matter how much Heinrich had shown unrivaled growth and proven his worth, excessive favoritism could draw the dissatisfaction of others.
Of course, since this was the deeply devout Church of the Supreme God, if the other party possessed strong divine power, they would understand and accept it.
In fact, Heinrich, a newcomer, having been recognized by everyone without much friction until now was likely greatly influenced by that.
But a person’s heart was not controlled solely by reason.
There might even be someone who felt a sense of inferiority and developed an illness of the heart.
“Well…! I can’t really explain it well… but for some reason, I keep worrying about him. I’m interested in him, and I want to take care of him somehow…”
The saintess spoke in a flustered manner, as though making excuses.
At her words, everyone’s gazes moved back and forth between the saintess and Heinrich.
“Hmm… What you mean is…”
The archbishop, who had been thinking about something, slowly nodded.
“If that is the issue, then it cannot be helped. Let us do so, then.”
Of course, there was not a trace of ulterior motive in their eyes.
Archbishop Latius and the others accepted it with infinitely serious expressions.
“That is how things have turned out, so it seems you will have to guard this place alone for a while. Will that be all right, Sir Lairin Setri?”
“Yes! There will be no problem. Please leave it to me.”
These were the words of the saintess, the being closest to the Supreme God.
In other words, she was inevitably the one most influenced by the Supreme God’s will, even unconsciously.
“Oh? I had heard he was a talent the Supreme God had shown interest in, enough to bless him during his holy knight investiture. Now this makes me want him. Hey, do you have any interest in cracking open the skulls of heretics?”
A fierce-looking man with short black hair grinned and spoke to Heinrich.
He was one of the two paladins, the captain of the Black New Moon Holy Knights, who devoted all their strength solely to hunting black magicians and demon worshippers.
“Sir Heinrich seems to have no interest in joining a knight order. Still, if you ever change your mind later, don’t forget that our Silver Wings come first.”
Even Paladin Sir Tuskin, standing beside him, casually cut in.
Heinrich found himself deeply troubled by the sudden attention of such prominent figures.
It did not feel bad to receive the favor of high-ranking people, but…
‘More importantly, was the saintess being especially friendly toward me because she was influenced by the Supreme God?’
It was true that the Supreme God had taken an interest in him.
And it was also true that he had shown enough interest to bestow a blessing.
Most likely, that fact and the saintess’s tendency to feel goodwill toward those with strong divine power had worked together.
In any case, it was not a bad thing for him.
It was even helpful right now.
“Hmm… If we delay any longer, we will be late. It would be best to hurry now.”
The group, now including Heinrich, hurried toward the place where the gate was located.
Fortunately, the disaster of the delegation arriving before them did not occur.
“The gate will activate shortly.”
Less than a minute after they arrived in the gate room, the words of the high priest managing it rang out.
“Phew~ We almost ended up late! Still, fortunately, we arrived right on time! Ahaha…”
The saintess laughed carefully while watching the reactions of those around her.
Perhaps because she knew she had been in the wrong, she had an embarrassed expression.
Wooooong—
Just then, a blue vortex began to whirl and vibrate at the center of the gate.
A moment later.
Figures emerged from the vortex one by one.
The nearly twenty people formed ranks immediately upon stepping out of the gate.
…They were elves, the first he had ever seen in his life.
Soon, led by the person standing at the front, they approached us, who had been waiting on one side.
“Welcome, members of the delegation from the Elven Kingdom. I welcome you to the Great Temple of Rosellia. I am the saintess of the Church of the Supreme God, Riestta Saint Hatianus.”
When they had come close enough, the saintess stepped forward and offered words of welcome with a gentle smile.
Perhaps because this was a formal occasion, she looked serious and dignified, unlike her usual self.
“Thank you for your warm welcome. I am Lafori Granwood, a High Elf of the Elven Kingdom.”
The handsome man with sky-blue hair standing at the front placed one hand on his chest and bowed his head.
At the same time, the members of the delegation behind him took the same posture.
And so, the elven delegation set foot in the Great Temple of Rosellia.
***
At the elves’ urgent request, a meeting was quickly arranged.
The Church of the Supreme God had readily accepted their request for understanding, in which they asked whether they might receive help first due to their own circumstances.
Thanks to the saintess’s consideration, Heinrich was able to attend the discussion with the elves.
Standing behind the saintess, Archbishop Latius, and the two paladins, in the position of attending them.
From the Elven Kingdom’s side, aside from the High Elf Lafori, one man and one woman attended.
Those three were likely the leadership of the delegation.
‘But this really is fascinating.’
Standing behind the saintess, Heinrich stole sidelong glances at them.
The main subject of his observation was the High Elf with soft, sky-blue hair that reached his shoulders, Lafori Granwood.
Pale white skin, a slender build, and pointed ears were exactly as he had imagined.
The green pattern on his forehead, which seemed to take the shape of a tree, was unusual, but not so astonishing.
What drew his gaze the most right now were his eyes, which shone like stars.
…That was not a metaphor. They truly were shining like stars.
‘Wow, his pupils are star-shaped. And gold, too.’
His deep blue irises and golden, star-shaped pupils sparkled like the morning star shining in the middle of a dawn sky.
‘Seeing as the other elves’ eyes are normal, it doesn’t seem to be a racial trait. A symbol of High Elves? Would it be rude to ask?’
Just as he was stealing glances at him and thinking about something else—
“It seems you find my eyes fascinating.”
At Lafori’s sudden words, Heinrich flinched for an instant.
If the other party took it as rudeness, it could become a problem.
But his words were not directed at Heinrich.
“Ahem… I apologize if I made you uncomfortable. Your eyes are very beautiful. They are like stars shining in the sky, and before I knew it, my gaze was drawn to them.”
The saintess cleared her throat and offered an apology, trying hard to remain composed.
…Apparently, she too had been just as captivated by Lafori’s eyes as he had.
“It is all right. It happens to be something I needed to explain anyway. These eyes are the mark of a High Elf.”
‘As I thought!’
With his curiosity resolved, Heinrich listened attentively to his words with a lightened heart.
“I too was an ordinary elf at first. I was chosen by the World Tree, my eyes were opened, and I came to be called a High Elf.”
A High Elf was a kind of priest.
A bridge connecting the elves and the World Tree, the object of their faith.
“To us, High Elves are extremely precious. There are not many who possess the suitability to become a High Elf. At most, only two or three are born in a generation.”
Of course, a generation by the standards of long-lived elves was vastly different from that of humans.
And not all of them became High Elves, either.
“When an elf born with the aptitude grows and fulfills certain conditions, they are chosen by the World Tree and earn the right to become a High Elf.”
It was said that if one received the guidance of the World Tree and reached the place where it stood, they would eat the fruit bestowed by the World Tree and awaken as a High Elf.
“At present, fewer than ten High Elves remain. Even among them, most are advanced in age, so the birth of a new High Elf is something we desperately need.”
Judging by her demeanor, it seemed the number fell far short of ten.
No matter how much they trusted the Order of the Chief God, it would have been unreasonable to lay bare every detail.
“Then, not long ago, we were able to receive a revelation from the World Tree. A child qualified to become a High Elf had been born here on the Ion Continent.”
Long ago, most of the other races had migrated to the Enamel Continent, but there were still quite a few who had remained on the Ion Continent.
It seemed one of their descendants had gained the qualifications.
However, it appeared they were in no position to reach the World Tree by their own power.
“…They passed through the hands of slave hunters and were sold as a sacrifice to a black mage. It has not been long since they fell into their hands, but the more time we lose, the greater the danger. We need to search as quickly as possible.”
There was a limit to the information that could be learned through the World Tree’s revelation.
That was why they needed the Order’s intelligence network, which spanned the entire continent.
“We need information as detailed as possible. The more precise the likely location and the target’s appearance are, the better. A detailed description of the surrounding scenery would also be helpful.”
Archbishop Latius, who had been sitting beside the Saintess and quietly listening, opened his mouth in a low voice.
“…We have confirmed that the slave hunters took them somewhere into the Northern Mountains. After they were handed over to the black mages, however, we could no longer determine the exact location, perhaps due to some trick those bastards used.”
“The Northern Mountains are vast. In truth, most of the northern part of the Ion Continent can be considered part of the Northern Mountains. Is there no other information?”
“As for appearance, they have not yet awakened, so they are no different from an ordinary elf. Outwardly, they appear to be in their mid-teens by human standards, with light green hair and orange eyes.”
‘Hm?’
“Very well. For now, we will mobilize the Order’s intelligence network as much as possible. Ah, may I ask what their name is?”
“It is Cecily. Please, as quickly as you can. We do not know when disaster may strike. If there is anything we can do to help, we will do all we—”
‘Huh? This is…’
They began discussing what would come next, but by then, such matters had become rather unimportant.
***
“Hahahahat—! Now this is a pickle!”
Hali laughed heartily as he scratched the back of his head—more precisely, the black panther pelt covering it.
“Well then, little lady. What’s your name?”
He asked gently, wearing the most harmless smile he could manage.
Of course, with his face splattered all over with blood, it only made him look savage.
“Ce… Cecily… My name is Cecily.”
An elven girl with light green hair and orange eyes.
It seemed Hali had found her first.