After the chaos of war had passed, the Northern Region remained tumultuous.
The land that had been covered by the mass of flesh and monster was significantly devastated. With more than half of the vast Coniferous Forest gone, those who called it home had no choice but to face difficulties.
The Coniferous Forest was a treasure trove of life in the North.
It was a place not only for firewood but also for rare moss and herbs. Many villagers depended on it for their livelihoods.
Even with dangers like Monsters and Elves lurking about, the same was true.
In fact, the presence of Monsters attracted the attention of Monster Hunters. Certain villages acted almost like outposts for the Monster Hunters.
Thus, the Coniferous Forest was one of the foundations of the Northern economy.
That place had been tragically destroyed.
Moreover, the Elves living there were experiencing severe turmoil. With their hiding trees gone, they too had no choice but to take action in some form.
Such potential threats naturally led to tension and rigidity among the people.
Under the strong leadership of the Yuridina Clan, they had somehow managed to unite, but the public sentiment in the North was nothing short of grim.
Of course, it was not something I needed to worry about.
In fact, the more turbulent the public sentiment in the North, the better it was for me. This way, there was a higher chance that the Imperial Court would intervene.
I trusted Senior Delphine’s leadership.
I believed she could restore the authority of the Imperial Court at an appropriate level while rebuilding the devastated industry in the North.
My real concern lay elsewhere.
“Abiyang, are you going to stay here?”
“Yes, that’s the plan.”
It was the answer I had expected.
Abiyang had been staying around the Academy due to a mission. His role was that of a scout, gathering information on human society.
Now that his usefulness was at an end, it was natural for him to return.
To be precise, it was more accurate to say that it had become meaningless.
The war between Humanity and Elves had ended.
There was no one to declare victory.
As a result of driving the Elves to the cold North, Humanity residents there had lost their homes.
And as for the Elves, there was no need to gauge the extent of their losses.
In such circumstances, there was no reason for Abiyang to remain as a scout.
He would likely have yet another role to bear.
“Still, Elves don’t know human society well. It will take a long time for them to adapt. But since I’ve spent a long time in human society…”
“And you’re one of the least hostile among Elves.”
At my words, Abiyang hesitated for a moment but then managed a wry smile.
I too ended up smiling, reminiscent of our first encounter.
The brat who once called Humanity inferior was now taking on the role of a bridge between Humans and Elves.
It was a change that occurred in just a few months.
It seemed unbelievable, but the evidence stood before me.
“…Yes, that’s right.”
That single word contained the will that Humanity was no longer detestable or that I would make an effort not to hate them in the future.
That alone was enough.
I felt that my days spent running around to save Abiyang were not in vain.
Suddenly, I heard a disgruntled mumbling from somewhere, but I made an effort to ignore it.
The atmosphere was warm.
The conversation naturally flowed to checking on each other.
“By the way, how’s your younger sister?”
“Fortunately, she’s getting help from the Heavenly Deity Sect. Especially thanks to the Lady Virgin Saint… that, Ian introduced her.”
“More than me, you should be grateful to the Lady Virgin Saint. She took the time to look after Betty even amidst her busy schedule.”
To Abiyang, who was glancing at me nervously, I spoke playfully.
“And aren’t we in the same boat? If your younger sister is like my younger sister…”
“Who’s your younger sister?!”
That was the moment a loud noise erupted that could no longer be ignored.
I let out a sigh and turned my head.
There, clinging to my arm and growling was a girl.
My younger sister, Ria Percus.
She had just come to find me a few minutes ago.
I was hoping to enjoy a quiet meeting with Abiyang for the first time in a long while, but Ria was already in an excited state.
In other words, it meant that communication was impossible with words.
I could use force, but well…
Ria had awakened her physical abilities since the recent attack by the Corpse Giant, and it was no small feat.
Even I could easily find myself caught off guard if I wasn’t careful.
To subdue Ria properly, I would have to use magic.
But how could I use such strength against my cute little sister?
In the end, I had no choice but to accept Ria’s clinginess.
“There is only one younger sister for my brother! How can that Elf be a younger sister?!”
“Okay, okay.”
I patted Ria’s head as a sign that I understood.
Nevertheless, Ria’s excitement did not subside at all. After firmly pressing her head down, I barely managed to prevent Ria from shouting in rage.
In this comical situation, Abiyang had to wear an awkward smile.
“Um, is that… your younger sister?”
“Yes!”
Ria answered, bouncing up again.
If she had a tail, it would have been standing straight up toward the sky.
Her face was filled with alertness.
In any case, she was a possessive younger sister.
“So you’re the Elf who was with my brother? I heard how much trouble you caused him… Do you know how hopeless I felt when I heard that?!”
“Ria, please…”
I gave up and covered my face with my hands.
Of course, Ria wouldn’t stop just because of that.
“As long as I see my brother’s face, I’ll hold back, but if I hear you cause trouble for my brother again, I’ll use all means at my disposal to bring about your ruin…!”
“I’ve lived for over a hundred years.”
That was an unexpected confession.
Ria had no choice but to pause at Abiyang’s single statement.
It would be hard to believe that a girl who looked to be in her late teens had lived over a hundred years.
She likely knew it intellectually.
Elves were a race that lived for over 500 years. Their sense of age wouldn’t match that of Humans.
However, hearing it directly from someone was a different matter.
The concept of “a hundred years” that she had understood hypothetically had now materialized before her eyes.
While Ria quieted down, Abiyang smiled brightly and asked,
“But how can I become your younger sister? And also, it seems Humans are very close with their elders, you spoke informally right from the start.”
“No, um… well…”
Ria’s golden eyes began to show signs of distress.
The other party was a being who had lived for over a hundred years. Of course, she was an elder, but that was only according to Elf standards.
Thinking from a Human perspective, Abiyang was still a youngster.
After all, she hadn’t lived even half of an average human lifespan.
Yet, to dismiss it so simply did not feel right given that a hundred years was a very long time.
Ria’s grandparents probably wouldn’t even reach that age.
The confusion in her heart bred hesitance.
Ria, who had been utterly excited, started to spin her eyes. Such a rare reaction for the clever Ria.
I thought about intervening at this point, but then thought better of it.
Ria’s fluster was cute, and I was genuinely glad to see the growth of the once childlike Abiyang.
The past few weeks had helped Abiyang step up as a true adult.
In the old days, I would have probably grabbed her by the hair first.
It was a truly touching sight.
“I’m not just staying for myself. I’m not foolish enough to forget the kindness Ian has shown me. I suspect that the Elves in the Coniferous Forest are hiding a lot of information.”
“Information?”
“Information gained by Leorick and his group in collaboration with the Dark Cult.”
As soon as I heard that, I pondered for a moment.
Indeed, Leorick had left me a warning when he died.
Archbishop Einadel.
To my recollection, he was a figure from the Holy Kingdom.
I’d have to hear the detailed circumstances from the Lady Virgin Saint, but there was no way an organization that had reached out to the five noble families of the Empire would leave the Holy Kingdom alone.
There must be some kind of connection.
Somehow, I felt that I would hear that name frequently from now on.
“I never thought I’d benefit from having an Elven spy.”
“You’ve already taken advantage of me plenty…”
Abiyang muttered as memories of past hardships came to mind.
Of course, it wasn’t meant as a genuine complaint.
It was perhaps a struggle to reminisce about the memories we shared.
I willingly decided to play along with that.
“Well, you’ve made me work hard too. Hunting snow leopards, hauling wood…”
“That was voluntary labor.”
It was a very pointed statement.
I had no right to speak out, as I was the one who had knocked out two of Abiyang’s molars at one point.
“…Fine, we’ll let that slide.”
With that, a warm atmosphere developed between Abiyang and me.
It was not something Ria could quietly tolerate.
With both hands clenched, she was trembling in frustration.
She seemed very mad.
However, I sensed something odd at this point.
No matter how excited Ria got, she was not someone who would lose control of her emotions to this extent.
If she were just that type of person, she wouldn’t have been a suitable candidate to lead a company in the first place.
But why was she acting like this today?
Just as I was immersed in my puzzlement, she suddenly said,
“Anyway, the story is over. Brother, let’s hurry back to the Academy.”
As Ria bulldozed her way through, Abiyang began to wear a faintly displeased expression.
She too must not have felt good about being interrupted while having a cozy conversation with me.
Yet, Abiyang seemed to show maximum patience as she cleared her throat and gathered her composure.
Then, in a soft voice, she continued,
“Um, your younger sister? I’m sorry, but I need to have a serious discussion with Ian separately…”
“Elder, you’re out of this.”
Now it was Abiyang’s turn to be dismissed.
At the mention of “Elder,” Abiyang froze.
It was a self-inflicted wound.
However, it felt harsh, so I tried to gently reprimand Ria.
That was before Ria threw out the main point.
“Selin Onee-chan has gone missing.”
I let out a strange sound as I leaned back against the chair’s backrest.
What is she talking about now?
My mind slowly processed Ria’s message, word by word.
After a few seconds of trying to grasp the implications, my body immediately shot up like a spring.
“Why are you telling me this now?!”
That was the reason Ria came all the way to the North.
It was the moment it became clear.
A new crisis was approaching.
