Chapter 91

I always feel that the boundary between humans and other races is thinner than one might think.

We are really similar people. I used to think that elves were detached and indifferent to worldly affairs, almost like inanimate beings, but whether Rowena is unique or elves are just like that, I strongly felt that they are not so different from humans.

Then again, it’s something anyone would fear, regardless of whether they’re human or elf.

But is it because she’s an elf? Rowena seemed especially more afraid. She was trembling so much she could barely keep her composure.

“Summarizing what we know so far, the Citadel Republic has already reached the brink of ruin. Now, no one… not even the Three Divine Gods could save it.”

The Demon King didn’t even show himself, just sent a single bird to accomplish all of this.

Thinking about it, it’s truly terrifying. Everyone knew Grimudo could easily destroy a nation, but no one feared him because they believed he wouldn’t move unless provoked.

That belief is now gone.

What happened once can happen again. If he could bring down the Citadel Republic, and do so effortlessly, what’s to stop him from doing the same to another country?

“If he truly has moved, his next target would probably be…”

“The Empire?”

“No… it would be Elvenheim.”

If this was indeed a deliberate attack, I thought the Demon King’s next target would naturally be the Empire, but Rowena shook her head. She continued with a trembling voice.

“Grimudo has always had his eyes on our Elvenheim. As if we elves were beings who should have died long ago, he has tried time and time again to burn Elvenheim to the ground. Even though there’s nothing to gain from it.”

It wasn’t something you could call a fight. It wasn’t even meant to be a fight.

As if struck by a chill, the elf woman before me trembled violently.

“Everything we know… archery, spirit magic… it was all meaningless. Do you know what it feels like to shoot an arrow into the sea? No matter what we did, we couldn’t slow his advance even a little. The only reason we survived was because he couldn’t break through the Barrier of the World Tree. That was the only thing.”

“Are you saying Grimudo has already attacked Elvenheim before?”

“Yes. That’s how I know. There’s no hope of defeating him.”

It was like recalling a memory you’d rather forget. Like reliving a nightmare that remains vivid even after waking. The name of this dream, more terrifying than any nightmare, is reality.

To be more precise, it’s the past. The woman before me turned pale as she recalled the past.

“That’s why I’m always anxious. With such a formidable being eyeing us, we elves just hide in our shells like turtles, repeating like a mantra that we’re safe.”

The World Tree is a tree left by the Ancient God. Under its protection, elves are absolutely safe within it, Rowena said.

But the Ancient God who bestowed that protection no longer answers the prayers of the elves. The god who gave the World Tree to the elves has already fulfilled his role as a god and returned to pure law.

“In other words, the interior of Elvenheim is a safe zone created by the protection of the Ancient God.”

Then it’s already a dead law. It’s no different from the Curse of the Sun that burned vampires.

Unlike people, rules are dead, and thus, there are ways to bypass them.

Even though I borrowed the power of the Lord, I was able to exploit a loophole in the Curse of the Sun to save the vampires.

If the curse itself were alive or if the Ancient God who cast it still had his consciousness intact, he could simply cast the curse again on the newly reconstituted vampires. A living law cannot be defied, but a dead law can be circumvented somehow.

Of course, that’s easier said than done.

But this is Grimudo. The opponent is the Primal Demon King. No one knows the extent of what he can do, so we couldn’t guarantee Elvenheim’s safety.

“Rowena, you think that safe zone might no longer be safe.”

“Do you know what the Chancellor of the Citadel Republic gave to Grimudo? The Fruit of the World Tree. Who knows if he might find a way to breach the World Tree’s defenses by studying it.”

Sigh. The woman let out a deep sigh, her ears drooping.

“Of course, we can’t blame just that Adolf McLaren or whatever his name is. It was our own kin who picked the fruit and sold it to humans. They might not have known it would end up in Grimudo’s hands, but even if they did, the high elves wouldn’t have cared.”

“They’re always like that. Having lived too long, they’ve lost all sense of crisis and don’t know fear. They just believe the World Tree will take care of everything. Can you believe it? Being complacent against Grimudo is something only our kind would do.”

Ah, that’s not true. I know people who underestimated him too.

Yurinel. Parnell. Lucia. And me. We only realized the rumors were understated after meeting him, but by then it was too late. The continent had underestimated the Demon King.

But then again, what difference would it make if we properly assessed him?

The unknown would just become the inevitable. In that case, it might have been better to just think of him as a legendary figure and remain ignorant.

“Priest. As the ambassador of Elvenheim, I humbly request you to come to Elvenheim. The World Tree… might not be able to protect us in the next attack.”

“I’m sorry, but there’s somewhere I must go first.”

“…I see. No one would help just because we had a brief conversation.”

Rowena glared at me. A very human-like reaction.

The village elders told me when I was young that elves were a race closer to fairies, but now I know they’ve never seen an elf.

“Even someone like you, Priest, can’t help but fear death, right?”

“…?”

“I understand. Grimudo is terrifying. Who would stand against the Demon King for someone they’ve only exchanged a few words with? It’s natural to refuse. I won’t hold it against you. I just… thought someone like you, a priest of the Ancient God, would be different.”

“I’m not afraid of death or the Demon King.”

I just smiled.

It seems there’s a misunderstanding.

“The place I must go is beyond the teleportation gate, to the Citadel Republic.”

The lowest place. Where the suffering people are. Where those who cry for help reside.

That’s where I must go. The Lord has once again awakened me.

The Emperor treated me well, and the Prince came to recruit me, but pride began to grow in my heart. The Lord commanded me to look around.

Yes, I still have one chance left to use the Milky Way Blooming Night. Technically, two, but if I use both, I can no longer remain on earth, so effectively, it’s just one.

If I can save people, even if it means hastening my ascension.

I could gladly accept this deal. I was almost certain of it.

“The Citadel Republic? What can you do there, Priest? Even with your divine powers, in the face of a volcanic eruption… it would be meaningless.”

“Didn’t you say it yourself? If we can just defeat the King of Monsters, the eruption won’t happen. Even if it does, it will be much later.”

A miracle is a miracle because it has a place to be used.

A miracle that isn’t used, that doesn’t shine, is no different from one that never existed. The Lord only grants me the miracles I need.

“Ambassador. Let’s make a deal.”

Surely, the Milky Way Blooming Night came to me because it has a place to be used.

That’s why the Lord granted it to me. Then what I must do is clear.

“A deal? Suddenly, what…”

“Help me cross the gate. In return, I promise to head to Elvenheim once this is over.”

I must go beyond, to the most dangerous place.

It’s natural for ordinary people to flee from danger, and you can’t blame them for that. But someone who is to be a priest of the Lord cannot do that.

I couldn’t do that.

And I didn’t want to.

“First, I need to go to that gate.”

The first thing to do isn’t to rush in blindly, but to listen to the stories of those coming from there. To understand the situation.

Only then will my path become clear.