I feel like I’m going to die.
Harmony’s Elmony.
The High Elf known by that epithet in Elven Road thought.
Elmony’s face was as expressionless as ever, but deep dark circles were visible under his eyes.
It’s agonizing.
Elmony pondered while walking through the vast forest.
This forest now called the Elven Road.
No, it was originally just a forest, but now it should be referred to as the Great Forest.
Recently, despite not intending to leave the forest he had lived in his entire life, the forests of the outside world he explored were not nearly as large.
The Elven Road was at least a hundred times larger than the forests found beyond, a colossal expanse of green.
Such a vast Great Forest was currently facing a shortage of manpower.
This was because, during the last major event outside, many forest keepers who had been companions for decades lost their lives.
168 of them.
That was the number of forest keepers who fulfilled their missions and perished.
Even the emotionless Elmony could not help but feel sorrow as more than half of the Elves who had shared hardships with him passed away.
With the power of Mother El Prigion, the bodies were restored and brought back to Elven Road.
And after the mourning rites…
“…I want to rest…”
Elmony let out a quiet sigh.
The great balance of the Great Forest, maintained barely by over 300 forest keepers, was now greatly shaken since their number had been halved.
In the gaps, the land reverted to the time when there were no Elves, causing Roas to run rampant.
To mediate or pacify those Roas, Elmony traveled from one end of the Great Forest to another daily.
“…If the children are to grow, it will take at least 20 years…”
Though many forest keepers perished, a great number of new lives were growing.
If these children grow up and learn the martial arts of Araya, the situation might improve somewhat.
“But…I’ll die before then.”
◈ ◈ ◈
“Elmony. You’re here?”
After finishing his duty and heading back to the palace, on the way passing by the training yard located inside, Araya greeted him.
Before her lay Palas, lying sprawled out, unconscious.
“…Looks like he lost again.”
Since Araya’s return, this had become a common scene.
Palas challenged Araya repeatedly, with the outcome always the same.
To be honest, out of curiosity, Elmony had once watched them fight—Palas would glare at Araya for what felt like an eternity, only to vanish in an instant, reappearing on the ground sprawled out moments later.
It seemed this time was no different.
Beyond this, Araya appeared to feel a sense of responsibility for the deaths of the forest keepers and was developing new martial arts for the Elves.
As far as he knew, these were skills so advanced that it might take even someone with extraordinary talent centuries to master. Honestly, Elmony worried it might get tedious for her.
Lost in such thoughts, Elmony finally nodded in response to Araya’s greeting.
It had been about ten years since his younger sister returned from her time outside.
Araya had always been a strong-willed child, so Elmony didn’t worry much about her, but still, worry lingered.
Seeing her after a decade brought some relief, but at the same time, because they hadn’t spent much time together in years, he still felt a bit unfamiliar with her.
Demis, on the other hand, showed mixed feelings—relieved that the troublemaker was back and yet anxious about what trouble she might cause now that she was home.
Frankly, these feelings were understandable to Elmony as well.
“Do you seem a little tired? Are you okay?”
Araya soon approached, looking up at him with worried eyes.
In the past, her movements had been beautiful, but now they were almost elusive.
Even the keen eyes of the High Elves could barely follow her anymore, practically impossible to keep up with.
Moreover, a few years ago during one of her outings, she even defeated a giant creature, though she did have the help of Mother and a strange golden lizard.
Still, no matter how extraordinary, to Elmony, Araya was, and always would be, a beloved younger sister.
Unwilling to worry her as an older brother, he naturally smiled while gently patting her soft hair.
“…Elmony? Did I do something wrong? Your expression seems strange.”
But the younger sister was oblivious to her brother’s feelings, speaking harshly as ever.
Slightly hurt, he teased her by pulling her cheeks.
They were soft, supple, and squishy, similar to the hardened resin of a tree that sometimes wept like tears.
“Jeekwo nowi (Let go, Elmo.)”
Though speaking with discontent, knowing full well she could break free easily but choosing not to, made Elmony suspect she didn’t mind all that much.
After teasing her smooth cheeks a little longer, he released her.
Araya, who now had bright red cheeks, sulked as she touched them, blowing out a sigh.
“What’s the matter with you? You’re not usually like this.”
Shaking his head quietly, Elmony decided there was no need to show weakness before his younger sister, though truthfully, he was quite tired from all the responsibilities.
As he thought this, Araya’s palm gently landed on his chest.
Warmth began to spread from there, rejuvenating his fatigued body slightly.
“You’re pushing yourself a little too hard, aren’t you? Your energy has been overused and slightly damaged.”
“…”
“…The absence of forest keepers is quite a problem, isn’t it?”
“Stop worrying.”
Gently patting Araya’s head, he moved towards the palace.
He could feel her gaze from behind, but disregarded it.
“…Let me think about it later.”
Exhausted, Elmony decided to stop overthinking.
◈ ◈ ◈
“Araya said she would help you.”
While rummaging through piles of paperwork, Demis mentioned offhandedly.
“Honestly, we’re short on hands… And leaving such talent idle would be a waste, wouldn’t it? Use her.”
“…It’s unnecessary. Araya is… my younger sister. I am the older brother. Older brothers don’t take help from younger sisters.”
“If self-respect prevented him from accepting help from his younger sister, Palas should have hanged himself ages ago. And have you forgotten? She was among the most active forest keepers in the pioneering era.”
Elmony looked at Palas lying unconscious, as if trampled by some unseen force.
Help? What help?
Elmony didn’t fully understand, but Demis was rarely wrong.
“I know you’ve been pushing yourself lately. Our Great Forest is even larger than the territory of the humans who control Porhelrunia. With the loss of so many forest keepers, even for us High Elves, managing is impossible. Originally…”
Demis let out a soft sigh.
“…It’s been three years, but we’re doing our best to fill the void. Moreover, there are still many Elves who have fallen into despair after suddenly losing their partners or parents. This manpower gap will likely persist for a long time. The quality of forest keepers has improved but not enough to make up for the gap, and this situation will likely continue until the next generation of Elves mature. A year or two won’t cut it. Unlike animals that reach adulthood in a year or two, we Elves take time. A minimum of 20 to 30 years should be expected.”
“…I’ll endure.”
“Then erase those dark circles under your eyes before you say that.”
Demis chuckled and lightly flicked Elmony’s forehead.
“Don’t push yourself. Also, don’t you remember that thing? The one who was flapping around the sky even though it wasn’t a bird? It’ll significantly reduce your workload.”
“…Hm.”
“I’ve taken too much of your time. Go. How many days will this trip take?”
“Um… around four days if it’s fast?”
“With Araya starting to help, travel more leisurely. If any issue arises at the outskirts of the Great Forest, just leave it to her. She can arrive in no time.”
“…Alright. I understand.”
“She’s probably waiting for you outside. Go ahead.”
◈ ◈ ◈
“…Uh… Elmony. Are you mad?”
“…How did this happen?”
“Look, um… The only people I’ve fought recently have been Terato and Palas, so my power control is… weird. Roas didn’t used to be this squishy…”
“…Araya, did you attack first when you were outside?”
“…No, not exactly.”
“That’s not a good habit.”
“…”
Elmony gazed sharply at Araya, who nervously shifted under his scrutiny.
「Kiikkk! It hurts! It hurts!」
And understandably so, since right before them, a massive snake writhed in agony as one-third of its body had been cleanly sliced off.
The once fierce giant frog that had incessantly quarreled over territory with the snake, rather than celebrating its rival’s demise, looked shocked and carefully gauged the situation.
“…Even so, Roas don’t die this easily, so maybe this served as a good warning?”
“Violence solves nothing. Simple dialogue is enough. Araya has become more violent since going outside. It worries me as a brother.”
“…”
Frankly, Araya might feel somewhat wronged.
Even to Elmony, all she had done was casually wave her hand with minimal strength, but somehow the Roa snake had cleanly broken apart without resistance.
Araya was smart and likely understood that with great power came great responsibility.
Still, she had always been a kind and delicate girl, so she’d adjust quickly.
「Urghhh- My scales.」
“Oh no— Didn’t your scales used to be tougher?”
…She will adjust.
And as Araya had pointed out, it might serve as a good warning to the troublemaking Roas.
…
Sigh.
‘…Twenty years. It might be longer than I thought.’
