#53
Elf (1)
Today, the entire Daesinjeon was bustling from the morning.
This was because everyone was busy preparing to welcome the delegation from the Elven Kingdom.
“Everyone is busy.”
Except for us who are in charge of security inside.
To Heinrich’s words, which he spat out leisurely, Lyrin, who was guarding the passage leading to the gate with him, nodded coolly in response.
“Because it was something that was decided suddenly. Compared to the scale of the exchange that even the high elves participated in, the time from the decision to the execution was very short. It was inevitable that there would be a lack of preparation.”
As she said, things started to move forward in an instant, not even a few days after the decision was made to cooperate with the Elven Kingdom.
This wasn’t a schedule that could be rushed by just one side.
This is something that can only be done if both parties agree and do it as quickly as possible.
‘Even if the religious order judged that tracking down the descendants of the Immortal King was urgent, what urgent matter was there in the Elven Kingdom?’
In fact, the church only had to prepare to welcome the envoys, but they were the ones who actually had to cross the sea.
Moving across the continent could not have been easy.
But the fact that you’re in such a hurry means that you have some very urgent business…
‘Whatever their purpose, it’s meaningless for me to think about it here.’
Getting the information first gave me time to reinforce the barrier, so that was enough for now.
“But I feel a bit sorry that we are the only ones who have this much free time.”
“There’s nothing we can do. This is our job.”
These people are busy preparing to welcome guests.
Unlike the outer knights who were busy strengthening their guard and patrolling in preparation for any impure incidents, the Gwanghwi Guardians in charge of internal security were carrying out their usual duties without any particular issues.
‘They say that the Inquisition’s Office is checking the infiltration route into the Great Temple.’
Of course, there were more things to worry about than usual, but even taking all that into account, it wasn’t to the extent they are now.
“You can think of our real work as starting after we welcome the delegation. When that happens, we won’t have time to breathe, so don’t be too disappointed.”
“Oh, no… I don’t regret it….”
As they were talking like that, a group of people, including the saint, approached from across the passage.
“I guess it’s about time. From now on, I really have to be vigilant so that I don’t make even the smallest mistake.”
“yep.”
It was when they adjusted their posture and stared straight ahead.
“Hello! Lord Lyrin, Lord Heinrich. Are you two guarding this place today?”
The saint greeted them brightly while lining up people behind her.
“Yes, Your Majesty. Are you going to greet the delegation from the Elven Kingdom?”
“Yes! I got a call from the temple in the east. Now, we just need to pass through two more gates and we’ll be here.”
Of course, since the saint’s actions were not limited to a day or two, everyone here was used to dealing with the saint.
After naturally greeting her and engaging in conversation, Lyrin immediately stepped back and pointed toward the gate.
“Then there really isn’t much time left. Shouldn’t you hurry and go in?”
“Oh! That’s right. I think it’s already happened once by now!”
The saintess nodded as she headed towards the gate, then paused for a moment and turned her head towards Heinrich.
Then he stared blankly at him and began to ponder something.
“······.”
“······?”
A sudden silence followed.
In the embarrassing situation where the eyes of those around him began to turn towards him one by one, Heinrich could not help but smile awkwardly.
‘Why are you doing that? You didn’t say hello, did you?’
When Lyrin greeted me, I bowed along with her. Didn’t you see it?
While he was wondering if he should say hello again now.
“Sir Heinrich, will you come with us?”
The saintess blurted out something out of the blue.
“Ah! We’re here to welcome the delegation from the Elven Kingdom. Is there really no need for two people to guard this place?”
The people around her looked puzzled at her hastily added words.
Surely, as she said, there was no need to guard two passages now.
Because the lineup of those who followed her in now was so splendid.
Even if the saint herself is put aside···.
High-ranking priests, including Archbishop Latius, who led the expedition against the Immortal King, and high-ranking holy knights, including two paladins.
They headed straight for the gate, and there were one or two regular knights, but there was no difference in mana.
“Is there any reason why you want to take him with you?”
But that was that and this was this.
It wasn’t for nothing that the guards were put up in the first place.
If it becomes a habit to move the security personnel based on arbitrary judgment, thinking it is okay now, there is a risk that there will be holes in the security and the system will be shaken later.
As she was still a young saint, it was necessary to clearly inform her about such things.
The saint hesitated and did not respond to Archbishop Latius’s question with a serious expression.
After seeing the atmosphere, he realized that he was wrong.
“I want to give Sir Heinrich a lot of experience in advance.”
“It is true that Sir Heinrich Landgard is a promising talent, but the support the church is currently providing is by no means light. There is no need to worry about it this much···.”
No matter how much Heinrich proved his worth by showing unparalleled growth, excessive favoritism could have caused discontent in others.
Of course, as they are a religious group with strong faith, they will understand and accept if it is an opponent with strong divine power.
In fact, the fact that Heinrich, a newcomer, has been accepted by everyone without much friction up until now may have been due to that influence.
But isn’t it true that the human mind isn’t controlled solely by reason?
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Some people may feel inferior and become mentally ill.
“That···! I can’t explain it well···. I just feel anxious. I’m interested, and I want to take care of it···.”
The saintess spoke in a flustered manner, as if making excuses.
At her words, everyone’s eyes moved back and forth between the saint and Heinrich.
“Hmm… That means….”
The archbishop, who had been thinking about something, slowly nodded his head.
“If that’s the case, then there’s nothing we can do. Then let’s do that.”
Of course, there was absolutely no selfishness in their eyes.
Archbishop Latius and his party nodded with extremely serious expressions.
“So, I guess I’ll have to guard this place alone for a while. Is that okay, Lord Lyrin Setri?”
“Yes! No problem. Leave it to me.”
These are the words of the saint, the closest being to God.
That means, she couldn’t help but be unconsciously influenced by the will of the Lord.
“Oh~ I heard that you are a talented person who is worthy of receiving blessings at the Knighthood Inauguration Ceremony. Aren’t you greedy? Are you not interested in destroying the skulls of heretics?”
A fierce-looking man with short black hair smiled and spoke to Heinrich.
One of two paladins, he was the commander of the Blackmoon Knights, who devoted their energies solely to hunting down warlocks and demon worshippers.
“It seems that Lord Heinrich has no interest in the Knights Templar. But if he changes his mind later, don’t forget that our Silver Wings come first.”
Even Paladin Tuskin, who sneaks in from the side.
I was very embarrassed by the sudden interest from big names.
It didn’t feel bad to be treated favorably by high-ranking officials, but…
‘Was it because of the influence of the Lord that the saint was so friendly to me?’
It was clear that the Lord was interested in him.
It is also true that he shows interest to the point of giving blessings.
It seems likely that this aspect and the saint’s personality of being kind to those with strong divine powers were combined to create a complex effect.
Anyway, there was nothing bad about this.
It helped me right away.
“Hmm… If we delay any longer, we’ll be late. We’d better hurry now.”
The group, including Heinrich, hurried to the gate.
Fortunately, the disaster did not occur because the delegation arrived before they did.
“The gate will be open soon.”
Less than a minute after arriving at the gate room, the words of the high priest in charge of the place were heard.
“Phew~ I almost made it late! But luckily I got here just in time! Ahahaha···.”
The saint smiled cautiously, looking around.
He had an embarrassed expression, as if he knew he had done something wrong.
Woohoo—
Just then, a blue vortex began to swirl and vibrate in the center of the gate.
After a while.
People coming out of the whirlpool one by one.
The group of about twenty people lined up as soon as they exited the gate.
···They were the first elves I had ever seen since I was born.
They soon came towards us, who were waiting on one side, with the one in the lead.
“Welcome, delegates of the Elven Kingdom. Welcome to the Grand Shrine of Roselia. I am the saint of the main cult, Riesta Saint Hattianus.”
When they were close enough, the saint stepped forward and offered a gentle smile and words of welcome.
Perhaps because it was a public setting, his appearance was more serious and dignified than usual.
“Thank you for your hospitality. I am Laforie Grandwood, a high elf from the Elven Kingdom.”
The handsome man with blue hair at the front bowed his head and placed one hand on his chest.
At the same time, the members of the delegation took the same stance.
So the elf delegation set foot in the Great Temple of Roselia.
***
A seat was quickly prepared at the elf’s urgent request.
The church readily accepted the request for understanding, asking if they could receive help first due to their circumstances.
Thanks to the saint’s consideration, Heinrich was able to attend the conversation with the elves.
Standing behind the Saint and Archbishop Latius, the two Paladins, and accompanying them.
From the Elven Kingdom side, two people, a man and a woman, attended, excluding the high elf Lafori.
The three of them will be the leaders of the delegation.
‘But it’s really amazing.’
Heinrich stood behind the saint and glanced at them from time to time.
His primary subject of observation was Laforie Grandwood, a high elf with soft, sky-blue hair that reached her shoulders.
The pure white skin, slender figure, and pointed ears were just as I had imagined.
The green pattern on the forehead that seemed to symbolize a tree was unusual, but not surprising.
What caught my eye the most now were his eyes that shone like stars.
···It was not a metaphor, it was really shining like a star.
‘Wow, the pupils are star-shaped. And they’re gold.’
The deep blue irises and golden star-shaped pupils twinkled like the morning star in the middle of the dawn sky.
‘I don’t think it’s a racial trait since the eyes of other elves are ordinary. A symbol of high elves? Would it be rude to ask?’
It was while I was glancing at him like that and thinking of something else.
“You seem to find my eyes fascinating.”
I flinched for a moment at Lapori’s words that I suddenly heard.
Because it could have been a problem if the other person took it rudely.
But his words were not directed at Heinrich.
“Ahem… I’m sorry if it made you uncomfortable. Your eyes are truly beautiful. They’re like stars shining in the sky, and I couldn’t help but look at them.”
The saintess coughed in vain and tried to remain calm as she offered her apology.
···It seems that she, too, was fascinated by Laforie’s eyes.
“It’s okay. This was a story I needed to tell. These eyes are the mark of a high elf.”
‘also!’
Heinrich, his curiosity satisfied and his mind at ease, listened to what he had to say.
“I was also an ordinary elf at first. I was chosen by the World Tree to have my eyes opened, and I became known as a high elf.”
High elves were a type of priesthood.
A bridge connecting the elves and the World Tree, the object of their faith.
“High elves are very precious to us. There are not many who are fit to become high elves. Maybe two or three are born in a generation.”
Of course, one generation was very different from that of humans by the standards of long-lived elves.
Not all of them became high elves either.
“When an elf with natural talent grows up and meets certain conditions, he or she will be chosen by the World Tree and become qualified to become a High Elf.”
It is said that if you are guided by the World Tree and reach its location, you will eat the fruit it gives you and become a high elf.
“There are less than ten High Elves left now. Most of them are elderly, so the need for new High Elves is dire.”
Judging by the number of people, it seemed like there were far fewer than ten.
Even if you believe in the Lord’s Church, it would have been difficult to open up everything.
“But not long ago, I was able to receive a revelation from the World Tree. A child with the qualifications of a High Elf was born here on the Continent of Ion.”
In the past, most of the different races migrated to the Enamel Continent, but there were quite a few who remained on the Ion Continent.
It looks like one of their descendants may qualify.
However, it seemed that it was impossible to get to the World Tree by one’s own strength.
“···They were sold as sacrifices to warlocks through slave hunters. It hasn’t been long since they fell into their hands, but the longer we delay, the more dangerous it becomes, so we need to search for them as quickly as possible.”
There was a limit to the information that could be obtained through the revelation of the World Tree.
That’s why we need a network of religious information that spans the entire continent.
“I need as much detailed information as possible. The more accurate the likely location and the subject’s appearance, the better. I would also like to see as detailed a description of the surroundings as possible.”
Archbishop Latius, who had been sitting next to the saint and listening quietly, opened his mouth quietly.
“···We have figured out that they were led by slave hunters to somewhere in the northern mountains. After they were handed over to the warlocks, we have no way of knowing what they did or where exactly they were.”
“The Northern Mountains are wide. In fact, most of the northern part of the Ion Continent can be considered to be included in the Northern Mountains. Is there any other information?”
“As for appearance, since the eyes haven’t been opened yet, it’s no different from a normal elf. It looks like a human in its mid-teens, with light green hair and orange eyes.”
‘huh?’
“Well, first of all, I’ll try to mobilize the religious community’s information network as much as possible. Oh, and by any chance, what is his name?”
“This is Cecily. Please, as soon as possible. There’s no telling when you’ll need it. If there’s anything we can do to help, we’ll do our best…”
‘Huh? This···.’
They began to discuss what to do next, but now it was of little importance.
***
“Hahahaha—! This is getting tricky!”
Harley laughed heartily and scratched the back of her head, or more accurately, the black panther’s scalp.
“Yes, little miss. What’s your name?”
He asked softly, smiling as harmlessly as possible.
Of course, with his face covered in blood, he only looked vicious.
“Cecily… It’s Cecily.”
An elf girl with lime green hair and orange eyes.
It seemed like Harley found it first.
