Episode 5 Chapter 8S: The Final Stretch of the Plan

I still remember what my father used to tell me when I was a little boy and tagged along with him to the Garden of Noias.

He said the divine power resting in this place is for the peace and happiness of all Shadow Elves and for life itself.

We, those blessed with divine protection under Noias, are extraordinary beings obligated to protect the forest.

And a greater cause that exists to serve everyone, not an individual's petty greed, will strengthen the sanctity of the forest.

The hard work I put in for the people will precede a befitting reward, so I must remember my own principles and stay true to my commitments.

The purpose of my existence will be fulfilled as I reap the benefits of the opportunities I pursue.

He was convinced that prayers for his kin were alike to prayers for my own well-being, and he never lost that conviction.

And even after you were robbed of your life by the treacherous sovran, I still remember the lessons you imparted upon me that day.

...

This must be your first time visiting here.

Yes, it is.

How do you like this place?

It's nice and calm.

Is that all?

...

It seems to be a perfect place to calm your mind and think about the future of this nation.

Right. Since the dawn of time, this place was filled with divine energy under the protection of Noias.

There's no safer place in Erasia than here, and also no better place to replenish and train one's mana.

That is precisely why the island has been kept top secret and off-limits to the public except for those granted access by sovrans.

And you allowed me and the soldiers to enter such a sacred place.

The divine energy of this land will help them with their morale. It took me some time to persuade those conservative elders.

Even I can see how lax our army has become, so I decided that they are in dire need of special training.

And I'm quite concerned whether you have already fallen ill to such indolence.

My apologies. I try my best not to lose my edge.

Haven't I told you enough already? Trying your best doesn't mean anything if you don't have the results to back it up.

...

I have great hopes for the new commander you recommended.

We dismissed the seasoned veteran from his post to make way for someone with a questionable bloodline, so everyone's keeping an eye on the situation.

Now that some time has already passed, I believe she's done adapting to the army. I don't want to face another disappointment.

...The former commander contributed to the lax state of the army as he was only interested in keeping his post safe.

Are you trying to say he was incompetent?

I didn't doubt his capabilities at the beginning since he was a general appointed by none other than Your Majesty. He fulfilled his duty well back then.

However...everything in this world wears down as time passes, and he was no exception.

I simply noticed the need to change the old with the new. The new commander is striving to change the old-fashioned structure of the army to make this country stronger.

It was you who taught me I should let go of my wistful memories and embrace new environments, using them as a foundation for my growth.

No matter the hardships that may come my way, they exist only to guide me toward a better path. I still remember your lessons.

...You've changed quite a bit. I'm just going to go ahead and assume that you finally learned your place and have grown after putting some painful memories behind.

I appreciate your kind words, Your Majesty.

As much as I put my faith in you, I want you to prove your worth along with the commander here so that I won't have to question you ever again.

Understood.

Urk!

How pathetic... We could've set the world record for the fastest death on the battlefield just now.

And you're content with your skills? What a shame.

C-Commander, it's not that...

If not, then perhaps it was on your bucket list to be killed in action and revered as a war hero?

Is that why you couldn't care less about training and would rather sit around and take a nap?

O-Of course not!

Good. Then on your feet, everyone. We have training to finish.

If anyone wants to take a break, you can take one for as long as you want, after defeating me.

U...Ugh...

Why do I feel like I just walked into the exact same scene, only a few hours earlier?

Y-Your Highness!

You came. You feel that way because that's exactly what it is.

Don't tell me you've been doing this for hours without taking a break.

Hmm... Your guess is probably right.

...

P-Please save us, Your Highness... All of us here are going to die even before getting to see how this special training is going to make us into new men...

From the moment we landed on this island, we haven't even been given a single second to take a break. The soldiers are so busy getting scolded by the commander that we don't have time to blink...

...Hmm.

What are you teaching them that you need to push them to their limits?

Are you curious?

Yes, I'd like to get a taste of your famous training that everyone talks about. They say it's brutal, but guarantees improvement.

Your wish is my command, but are you sure about that?

Well, it's not like you're going to try to kill me.

Of course not. But if you exhaust yourself during training, regardless of my intentions, then there's not much I can do.

I see. I certainly don't want you to get punished for something you didn't even intend, so I'll try my best to endure.

Hmm... All right. I'll adjust the intensity so it won't burden you too much.

Hmm, it's my loss.

With all due respect, I don't really find your joke amusing.

What do you mean? I was giving it my all. You're so strong that my struggle appears to have looked like a joke to you, Commander.

How embarrassing as a prince. I could surely benefit from more training with you. But I'd rather have them in private to save myself from further embarrassment. Do you mind?

*sighing* Fine. If that's what you request...

We're taking five now. Be grateful to His Highness for his mercy and thoughtfulness.

Yay! All hail Prince Brieg!

I can't believe they're cheering for my defeat? I'm not thick-skinned enough to accept all their praise. I'm going to go dig a hole and hide.

All right. Now you can tell me.

Tell you what?

You came looking for me during training with absurd excuses. Obviously you had something you wish to tell me in private, no?

What do you mean, "absurd excuses?"

Do you really think I followed you here because I fell for your flawless acting?

...

His Majesty said he had high hopes for the new commander.

Now that you all have the privilege of training together on an exclusive island like this, he hopes you all live up to that expectation.

That's not very surprising. Although we know better than anyone that he's just looking for someone to blame for his failures.

The troops were low on morale even before I came along, but they're going to hold me accountable if I fail to remedy the issue promptly...

That's how it sounds to me. Correct me if I'm being overly harsh.

I can't...really say you're wrong.

That's what brought you here? Because you were worried?

I thought you should be aware of what's being said and expected of you.

Haha, are you afraid? But you already knew what he was up to. The only difference is that he said it to your face this time.

And I'm sure you know too well that the current situation we're in right now worked in our favor and brought me to the position I'm in now.

Hmm...

When there are too many thoughts cluttering your mind, it's important to remove yourself from the situation. Take a stroll in some nice and quiet place and take in fresh air. Follow me.

I can't help but notice the positive change in you.

Hmm? Positive change? How so?

I see a glimpse of liveliness on your face.

When you replied to my letter and we met for the first time, I felt like I was talking to the shell of a man who was ready to jump into the icy ocean and never to surface again.

I see... It was all thanks to you, Commander.

After losing everyone like that, I was only left with relentless pressure from His Majesty and the royal family.

If you didn't discover and remind me of the hole in my heart that I was oblivious to, it's very possible that I wouldn't be standing here now.

Then I did the right thing by sending you that letter. I was worried if you'd consider it a sign of disrespect.

Also, I appreciate that you accepted my request to take over the post of commander, although it's part of our plan to exterminate the deep-rooted corruption in the palace.

Especially when it was a zero-sum situation for you at best.

Soldiers are complaining and whining about the intensity of the training, but I did notice how they secretly tell each other that the commander this time is different from the ones they had before.

That was my goal when I accepted the position.

And I didn't climb all the way up by myself. It was only possible because you were backing me up.

Although it's become an arduous task to recover this tattered army, it's still a highly esteemed position.

Because you reached out to a girl from a humble upbringing with nothing to show, I was given a chance to move forward...

And found a way to cleanse the corruption festering within this nation.

Right. Before getting your letter, I was on the verge of giving up on everything...

I hope I can use this opportunity to put my parents' souls at peace.

...

As you said, quite a number of soldiers feels like they've been abandoned by their own nation and lost all motivation to move forward.

I was surprised to find out there were more disgruntled soldiers than I thought. At this rate, our plan will work out without much issue.

They joined the army out of loyalty to the royal family and to serve the nation. So it's understandable.

But...it's still not enough. The palace is not the only faction we need to keep in check right now.

Are you referring to the new force that's becoming pretty vocal these days?

Yes the faction people are calling the extremists, for antagonizing Humans and advocating for war.

As you already know, they're the ones who ambushed the group from the opposing political group.

Although they fall short of being recognized as an official faction, they've gained influence behind the scenes to a point that they can't be ignored anymore.

And you think they'd agree to take our side if we make an offer?

No one knows. Our mission is about bringing peace to our people and strengthening our nation, so we don't exactly share their view on Humans.

If they refuse to bend their will, then there's a possibility that they'd turn their backs on us.

Such a shame, especially when everyone should be joining together to tackle corruption...

It leaves us with only one choice. We must end it before they gather more support.

However, being impatient won't get us anywhere. We should stay more vigilant at times like this, and keep an eye out for them.

All right...if that's what you believe.

Don't take another step from there, Your Highness.

What is it?

I sense some suspicious people.

Suspicious people... I doubt it would be Humans. Is it one of us?

...

Damn it, I had no idea it would be so heavily guarded here.

I heard that only a select few are allowed to come here, but why do I see so many people?

There are too many soldiers. One wrong move, and that'll be the end of us, let alone the revolution.

But we've come too far to just go back with nothing.

It's too risky. If any of us is caught here, they'll likely be branded traitors and we'll only be losing our forces.

Then it'll be harder for us to make a stand, which may cause unfavorable problems for the revolution, or even worse, force us to give up on our goals entirely.

Isn't it better to retreat now and come up with a new plan? We're already–

You're the ones on wanted lists for attacking your own people. Are you here to turn yourselves in?

Ack!

Th-That's...

So you are the extremists who slaughtered their own people for advocating for Humans.

P-Prince Brieg...

And they're already on wanted lists?

That's right. They're the ambushers I was telling you about just a moment ago. We've been looking for them for a while. I had no idea we'd run into them like this here.

Wh-What should we do? We can't just let everything go to waste like this...

Ah, heck... This leaves us no choice.

What are you waiting for, fellas? Attack!

See? Impatience always leads to bad choices.

Urk...

Agh...

It's too late to run away, if that's what you're considering right now.

We're on an island, which means there are only so many places you can run. Just give up already.

Damn it...

Your Highness, do you remember my suggestion?

What are you talking about all of a sudden?

I said we should keep an eye out for new forces. Now is the time to do so.

What?

Open your ears and listen to what I say now.

It's not that I don't understand how you feel. I'm sure you're frustrated since all you've done was try to build a better future for yourselves.

Are you mocking us right now?

Didn't I just tell you to listen carefully? Or do you want to add one more regret to the list of things you shouldn't have done?

...

My point is that I'm willing to hear you out. Personally, I believe all political resistance happens for a reason.

So let me ask you just one thing. Why did you attack your own people first?

...Because they supported Humans.

Then why do you ostracize Humans? I'm not a great fan of them myself, but I'd like to know if there's any specific reason.

...

...Because they coveted the power from the Tree of Genesis that doesn't belong to them, and then used that power to threaten us.

The inferior species, who've barely been surviving on the good grace of our civilization, now think they can dominate us? How ungrateful.

We need to make them see where their rightful place is. That is the only way to bring peace and stability to our people.

How could anyone in their right mind defend those vile beings? It's insane. They're no different from Humans themselves.

But they're still one of us, of the same roots.

No matter how much they side with Humans, they can't become them. They're Shadow Elves.

But they already...

Their actions are not out of love for the Humans. They simple fear how quickly the Humans have advanced with their newly acquired power and the aftermath of war.

Do you understand my point? It's not like those Shadow Elves welcome their progress with open arms.

...

You said yourself a moment ago that your revolution will become more far-fetched as you lose ground to stand on.

You have a point there. Our most pressing need right now is gathering the national and military power to deal with Humans.

No matter how superior our civilization is to theirs, and even if you manage to double, or even triple your influence...

Do you think you can achieve your goal if you keep instigating internal conflict, which will only weaken our strength?

With internal discord and scattered factions, will we have the strength leftover to voice our opinions? Do you know what will happen down that road?

The only path left is ruin, crushed by the Humans who are getting stronger and more vicious by the day.

So why don't you cool your heads and think more realistically? You'll only get further away from your goals by acting rashly without proper planning.

...

So you're suggesting joining forces?

You catch on quickly.

What we need to do now is root out the decayed foundation of this nation and rebuild it from the ground up.

Your cause, our goals...neither can be accomplished without first cleaning up the corruption within.

Only after we discuss and decide on our goals for the stability of our race can we move forward.

...

So...what is it going to be?

Will you join me and be given a new chance to further your cause, or will you confess your sins and face a severe punishment?

...

...We...

I fear this is a dangerous choice, Commander.

Are you worried about joining hands with wanted traitors?

Yes.

You're a man of principle, so I understand your concerns.

But, Your Highness, we're not so far from being called traitors ourselves.

If the people support us, then our fight is justified, and we'll be called revolutionaries. If not, we'll also be traitors for threatening royal authority.

Essentially, they're no different from us. They've just experienced an early failure due to being rash.

...

I see what you mean.

Oh, my. I didn't expect to see you here.

Mhm, nice try. You know better than anyone that I come to the palace every day.

What a heartless child. You can't just let me win once, can you?

What brings you here?

Well, since I owe you one, I thought the least I can do is to find you and say thank you in person.

No need. It wasn't a big deal. Although I could see how you'd disagree, now that you're given a chance to breathe in fresh air after spending so much time imprisoned.

Ahaha, aren't you full of yourself.

I'm here to ask you how you managed to get a criminal like me out of prison.

Hate to disappoint you, but I really didn't do much. I might have told them a story they wanted to hear.

I simply said although you had committed a great sin, your mana manipulation skills are too precious to waste away, especially since you were nothing but a curious child. So it's better to show some mercy and release you.

I see, so that's why I was suddenly released a day before my execution.

Well, thanks for saving my life, you brat.

Now it's your turn to return the favor. You do know that real adults don't go back on their word, right?

You don't have to tell me twice. I promise to put you on a huge throne with a shiny crown on your head.

Having you on the throne will help me enter the Garden of Noias, so even if you refuse to honor your promise, I'll honor mine.

So make good use of the groundwork I'll lay down for you.

Are you already done with the preparations? I heard Noias kicked your butt so badly you lost a big portion of your magical knowledge.

Meh, it's me, the genius great mage you're talking to right now. I still need some time to recover, but remembering a few spells needed for the plan is easy as pie.

Hmm... I wonder what "spells" you'll be preparing.

I already taught you how to use stealth magic last time... Ah, and I tried hallucination magic with the island's energy just in case, and it worked well.

Here's a new toy I invented. Break this gemstone as you create a barrier. It'll trigger and spread a hallucination.

They're not going to realize that Noias's protection has been obstructed. But mind you, it's fake energy, so it won't last long.

If there's even the slightest gap in time, and the energy is temporarily disrupted, they'll notice and become suspicious, so it has to be done at the same time.

...Incredible. To be honest, I was a bit skeptical when I first heard your suggestion.

Can I ask you something?

Sure.

Why did you approach me about the revolution?

...Well, I thought you'd be on board with my own goals. I saw a glimmer of enormous ambition in your eyes.

Especially when I implied that I could give you the power of the Tree of Genesis, you didn't refuse. I knew at that moment that I had the right person.

You seem to yearn for endless power, which makes you the perfect test subject for something I'm researching right now.

It's a win-win situation for us all. I'll reach the wisdom of the universe through my research, and you'll have all the power you want.

Hmm... I've got to admit, I'm a bit intrigued.

All right. I believe I've held up my end of the bargain. The rest of the deal, as you know, depends on the success of your revolution.

After the genius great mage arranged everything for me? I don't really see how this plan could possibly fail.

So in the meantime, think about what could be the best possible way of showing me around the Garden of Noias... I mean the Tree of Genesis.

First, I would like to thank our distinguished guests for traveling so far to attend today's meeting.

As you have already heard, today's agenda concerns the Tree of Genesis. More specifically, it's about a number of reports we've recently received regarding disturbing activities in the Garden of Noias.

Due to the urgency of the matter, I've asked only key authority figures to convene, so I would appreciate it if you all could keep today's discussion confidential.

...

Your Majesty, if we may ask, what "disturbing activities" are you referring to...?

Ah, I guess you haven't heard, but the report says that lately the energy emanating from the Tree of Genesis has been very weak.

The priests have also mentioned that they hear the voice of Noias less frequently.

Hasn't it always been the case that the Tree temporarily hibernates in response to the environment, then becomes active once its energy is replenished?

And it's not uncommon for Noias to be silent unless he has an important message to deliver, and that's always been the case. I wonder if they're worrying too much...

If it were a simple matter, I would not have summoned you all the way here.

Ever since the Humans touched the Tree of Genesis and evolved into that new race called Vampires, the hibernation periods have been getting longer and longer...

Nowadays, the tree simply fails to return to its full strength each time.

The tree should've already entered its hibernation long ago, but there is no sign of it yet. And its vital signs have become noticeably slower than usual.

I wonder if that's why Noias seemed particularly infuriated when Fumyr trespassed into the garden.

I'm afraid it's going to become inactive altogether.

That would be a real problem...

Is it possible that the flow of mana has been distorted because Humans have tampered with its divine power?

That's right. If the decline in mana is related to the rise of Vampires in some way, it must be due to Humans and their excessive greed.

It may have had an effect, but it'd be a stretch to say that's the direct cause.

Researchers have written in ancient texts that mana is finite, and that a crisis would one day arrive...

And Humans were the ones who hastened that crisis.

How could they became so drunk on a transcendent power that they can barely control, and become fixated on gaining the upper hand with it, when we all should focus on preserving and restoring what is left...

We must snip that misguided desire at its root before it becomes uncontrollable. We no longer share a mutually beneficial relationship with the Humans whom we used to support.

To be honest, it was never mutually beneficial. They've been parasitizing on the aid we've provided out of the goodness of our hearts.

Calm down, everyone.

Your Majesty, it's not that I misunderstand those who harbor antipathy towards Humans, but Humans have also developed their own civilizations.

Also, they no longer depend on us, especially since the advent of the Vampires. They're not some inferior species that "parasitize" on our progress anymore.

Even amongst them, a group of Humans who rebelled against the Vampires have risen up and are waging war against them, pioneering their downfall.

We, on the other hand, heavily depend on the power and mana provided by the Tree of Genesis and Noias's protection...

The more the Tree deteriorates, the less we can fully utilize our power, putting us at a disadvantage.

Right. If we launch an attack without proper preparation, all we'll face are the consequences of war and a ruined nation.

We cannot afford to laud our abundant mana and boast of our strength to inferior races. It's time to be cautious.

And that's exactly how we're probably going to lose the Tree and our territory to Humans.

It's not just a probability. We've already lost land to them once, haven't we?

That's right. They were not content with their land called Sangerat, so they deliberately occupied the Central Forest, and that's how the southern part of our forest was cut off!

Let's be clear. The Humans who entered the forest are part of a third faction that has rebelled against the Vampires.

A group of Humans became Vampires, and now, with the Vampires' strength waning, the Humans became the dominant force.

That's exactly my point. Humans...their existence is the source of all the problems!

Excuse me. That territorial dispute has already ended in a truce.

And since we've already lost our land once, we should be even more cautious.

There's no good in turning a force that has grown so powerful into an enemy. It's important for us to promote peace!

If that's the case, why don't we join hands with the Vampires to keep Humans in check?

Are you out of your mind? Are you even listening to yourself? How can anyone with their right mind suggest joining hands with such a...

There shouldn't be a war in the first place.

Have you all forgotten how much power we've lost after this long war?

Right, what you're arguing now is that we need to wage even larger wars and suffer more losses to regain the power we lost.

Are you accusing us of threatening the safety of our nation?

Hmmm... Either way, shouldn't we focus on strengthening our nation the most?

It's not time to fight over who's right or who's wrong between each other.

...

...

Even if we reach out to them for peace, the Humans who have already established an independent force themselves have no reason to reciprocate.

If we suggest reconciliation without planning ahead, they're just going to look down on us or even worse, launch an attack and occupy more of our land.

We need to become a strong nation before trying to negotiate, whether it's in the name of reconciliation or in preparation for failure.

And if all things go south and a war becomes inevitable, what we'll need the most will be a trained army, ready and prepared for battle.

First things first, there's something we need to sort out immediately.

...Do you have a brilliant idea, Commander?

A moment ago, you said that we, who were born from the Tree of Genesis and built our civilization on its power, are in danger as its mana recedes.

It is true that this innate source of magic has allowed us to rule Erasia and dominate Humans for a long while.

We were able to harness that power and adapt it to combat, and at one point boasted military superiority that surpassed that of Humans.

Of course, you can enhance their combat skills with repeated training, but there are clear limits.

With such physical exertion, there's no way they could surpass the Human army, which means there's no guarantee of victory or defeat in war.

So, you want to actively utilize magic?

But the flow of mana is weakening because the Tree is becoming unstable... So what can we...

Why do we need to conserve such tenuous energy?

...What?

Let's say the Humans agree to join hands with us and we make peace, that's great. But what if they don't?

Are you still going to be debating whether or not to utilize mana then? And do you think they'll just be waiting for us to make up our minds?

And here's the thing you all seem to be overlooking. While mana is finite, the Tree of Genesis is an immortal being.

Nor is it necessary for the vessel of mana to be the Tree, as the birth of our race has already proven.

We're in a situation where the Tree of Genesis is at stake, and you wish to gamble using its power?

It is not a gamble, Your Majesty, but preparation.

No, it's a gamble. The "preparation" you speak of, does it guarantee victory?

The odds of success and victory would be far greater than they are now.

There are many who would covet that power, even if it were not us. It would be better to rely on Noias than to risk losing it to them.

...Noias will not grant permission so easily. No, I cannot allow this.

The more we tamper with divine power, the more harm will come to us. Just like how the Vampires have collapsed or the punishment Fumyr received.

The greater the scale, the greater the calamity.

...

Commander, I understand your eagerness to succeed, but I would caution you against making rash judgments.

I'll keep that in mind, Your Majesty.

Tch, I knew it would end like this.

Doesn't His Majesty realize the gravity of the situation? Why would he insist on conserving strength at a time like this?

Why, you ask? Only by preserving its divine power will his position remain secure.

I did say peace should come before anything...but I didn't expect him to be so unresponsive.

It may be too late for us to use all our power to persuade the Humans to work with us...

I'm afraid there's nothing we can do but sit here and watch as our forest burns to ground...

...

So the meeting ended with nothing to show for it.

Well... Not exactly.

What do you mean?

I'm convinced that we must follow through with our plan more than ever.

Now that you mention it...

What happened to those people I told you about?

You mean the extremists you tried to bring over? Well, I was informed that they agreed to join our side just before I came to the meeting.

Should I try other elders as well?

No, don't bother.

The meeting's already ruined, and their minions will probably convince the senile to take up their cause anyway.

Just find out what those old geezers say later. Once I know they've all turned, I'll execute the plan immediately.

So you're not going to ask for their help?

I don't need help from those who will soon turn to dust. In fact, I'm not going to even give them a chance to change their minds.

Even if I allow them to join in on our plan, those ungrateful loons will keep greedily trying to stuff their pockets with more than they can handle.

In that case...I'll go ahead and finish up the rest of the preparations.

Haha, all right. I can't wait for the day of promise to arrive.

...You look troubled, Your Majesty. Is it because of the meeting?

I can't say it wasn't part of it, but there's more.

Then...is it about His Highness the Prince?

I can't seem to hide anything from you.

It's only because you spend every day worrying about him. Anyone would've noticed.

...To be precise, it's the way Brieg has been acting since he brought in his new commander.

That's a little unexpected. I thought you'd be pleased more than anyone else.

Pleased?

Yes, when he lost all motivation and became withdrawn for a while, we were all very worried that something might happen to him.

But since he started socializing with the new commander, not only has he regained his spirit, but he's also restarted his successor training. He also stopped going out and getting into trouble.

I heard he's gained the trust of many of his men, so I assumed you were putting your hopes back in him.

You're right. I was glad to see him finally coming around and showing more commitment to his duties for a while.

But I'm not too sure if he's on the right track.

What do you mean?

He seems to be obeying my orders, but at the same time, he seems to have a different agenda.

No, he rarely talks about himself, so I have no idea what he's up to.

I know he's been struggling with my discipline for a while now, but...from a certain point, he's stopped communicating with me altogether except during the successor training.

It's probably because I was the one who executed his father.

Do you regret making that decision?

No, I have no regrets. Philemon directly went against my will. It was an inevitable choice to strengthen royal authority and the position of the prince.

I'm just worried that prince will fail to see his place and end up just like his father.

...The fact that he's so intent on his successor training shows that he has accepted your will.

If you're still concerned, I'll arrange a time to speak with him tomorrow.

It's getting late, Your Majesty. You should rest now and gather your strength for the next meeting.

All right.

...All preparations are complete, Commander. The barrier and the hallucination spell have been successfully activated.

And His Highness?

He went in first to distract the soldiers as planned.

Good. Let's get started. Be careful not to get caught.

Didn't you hear something just now?

I think so, but it was so faint I can't make out what it was.

The sound of a sword?

Who's there?!

...

*gasping* Y-Your Highness?

What are you doing here at this hour?

...I apologize if I startled you, but I have something urgent to say to His Majesty.

I apologize, Your Highness, but he's already gone to bed...

By the way, sir, please come this way. I heard a strange noise, and it sounds like someone has broken in.

Ah... That was me.

Huh?

I bumped into the wall on my way here, and the ornament on my armor made a sound.

Ah...

Phew... That scared me.

If His Majesty is already asleep, I'll have to come back another time. But this place is so complicated that I have no idea how to get around here.

It's also very dark inside.

If you're lost, I can show you the way.

I appreciate that. Thank you.

Sure thing. Hope you have a safe trip home, Your Highness.

He's been quiet for a while, why is he suddenly acting up? I hope he's not up to somethin...

Ack... *choking*

No one's here now. You may come.

Hmm, so there are some people who still fall for that act.

U-Ugh... Y-Your Majesty...

Are you out of your mind? How dare you point your sword at me!

Whoa, took you a while to realize such an obvious fact, Your Majesty. I guess you took me for a fool, huh?

How insolent! Have you forgotten who I am?

Of course, not. I know exactly who you are. I've heard many things about you before I even came to the palace.

They say you're a tyrant who's so obsessed with power that you oppress the voices of the people and turn a blind eye to external pressures.

Wh-What?

Not only did you steal the son from the most prominent priest by adopting him, and usurp the priest's authority...

But you also murdered him for disagreeing with you, only because you wanted to keep the power all to yourself...

How dare you...running your mouth like that...!

Is anyone there! Arrest this unscrupulous traitor right now!

...Pfft...

You still don't get it, do you? There's no one out there, except for those who already rebel against you, Your Majesty.

Otherwise, how could I stride in here and put a sword to your throat right now?

You...

You fools! Even without our intervention, Humans would have destroyed themselves due to their own internal strife anyway!

The more evolved races will fall early, and the remaining Humans will never escape their inherent inferiority!

Why couldn't you just trust your sovran and wait? I was just trying to avert a disaster caused by covetous gree...

That's too long for last words, Your Majesty. Were you not listening to the concerns of your advisors?

Humans have already advanced so much, whereas we're desperately seeking divine power more than ever.

The disaster, brought on by your fear, has already arrived.

M-My fear...?

You did nothing but pass your responsibilities to your successor and bury your head in the sand during political conflicts, hoping they'd be resolved in time...

I'm speaking of your sheer incompetence.

N-No... You don't understand...how hard I've tried...for my people...and my prince...!

But you've failed to win the people's hearts, and now your efforts will be in vain.

You've got no choice but to step down from your throne.

...B-Brieg! My son! Are you out there?

...

Do you not see your father? Come and protect me!

What are you doing? Say something, Prince!

...

Compared to the time and effort put into our preparation, the revolution ended without much issue.

As a forceful change of royalty occurred right in the middle of the royal estate, which was believed to be one of the safest places...

People started to question the safety of the island, leading to its shutdown.

The protection and divine energy of Noias bestowed upon the island was then used solely to train soldiers.

The elders tried to offer me the crown in accordance to the order of precedence, but I refused, telling them I could not bear to take up a position that did not suit me...

Thus, Harsetti, who had done the most for the revolution, was crowned the new sovran. Under the new regime, our forest changed little by little.

The conservatives who supported the previous sovran and revered the divine were wiped out, leaving only the conflict towards Humans to resolve between the reformers led by Harsetti and the extremists.

Harsetti's ascension to the throne gave the reformers a boost, turning public opinion in the forest anew in favor of Humans...

Disappointed with the outcome, the extremists began to cause problems outside the forest, both small and large.

And as the gap between the two factions grew larger and wider, the Tree of Genesis finally fell into a deep sleep.

The revolution only left a deep chasm of political strife gnawing through our forest, and so another long period of turmoil passed.

Ugh...! C-Commander. Wait...

"Wait?" Do you think your enemy would comply and wait for you to catch your breath on the battlefield?

*gasping*

Come on, now, put down your swords. It's break time. For you too, Commander.

If you keep pushing them like this, you'll only end up with less soldiers before we even reach the battlefield. You don't want your cause of death to be overwork or get scolded by Her Majesty, do you?

We must not neglect our training, for we do not know when or how war might knock on our doors.

I can't guarantee that there won't be any internal disputes again, let alone clashes against Humans.

You have to keep in mind that we're still in the midst of continuous conflicts, all because we haven't achieved true harmony amongst ourselves.

Yes, yes. I know what you're talking about, and I haven't forgotten. I understand your resolve, but...

Your statement would sound a lot more convincing if your leg wasn't all scratched up and bleeding so much.

...

You fail to see your small mistakes because you push yourself too hard. That's how workaholics meet their end.

All your hard work will be for nothing if you die of something silly. Do you understand? So let's go get some rest.

All right, your commander will take five from now on, so you're on your own. Train a bit more or get some rest, it's up to you now.

...

...Did I look that worn-out?

The only people who say otherwise are blind.

I see... I'm sorry if I made you worry.

Right you should. But the one you should apologize to is not me, it's yourself.

...

It's obvious that something has been bothering you lately. The troops are worried about you, too.

When the leader falters, the rest of the pack falters with them, and that's how the group falls apart.

Yeah, you're right. I should get my act together.

If you can't figure it out on your own, you can at least talk to me.

You think Noias would take pity on you and solve your problems if you just suffer all alone?

...

Solve... I wonder if he can.

What problem can't be solved?

If I don't know what the problem is, how can I solve it?

You're saying that being unable to figure out the problem, is what's wrong? In what way?

Something seems to have changed since the coup, but I don't know what.

That, I can tell you.

The coward sovran who feared the divine power went down along with his followers, leaving only those who covet it.

Now there's a tense conflict over how to utilize that power and what to do with the Humans.

I mean, I don't know what went wrong.

I thought that once I overthrew the previous regime, peace would follow...

Instead, the Tree of Genesis has fallen asleep and ceased to move, and the conflict has only deepened and worsened.

Hmm... Didn't Her Majesty promise to stop the extremists from running amok?

Wouldn't that mean she's with the reformers who wish to negotiate with Humans?

...Well, I don't really know what's she's up to these days. She doesn't really speak her mind.

What is certain is that she's not really considering any external conflicts, so it's hard to assume that she's going to support the reformers.

...

I'm not sure if now is the right time to come clean, but I've actually been following Her Majesty recently.

What? Why did you do that?

I saw her wandering around downtown in secret, so I got curious.

How dare you step on the shadow of!

Does it matter that I dared to disrespect Her Majesty, or that her behavior seemed pretty suspicious?

Do you know where she went, unescorted? She went to meet Birgitta, the information broker.

So I've tried wandering around the area from time to time, and for a while, instead of Her Majesty, a Shadow Elf woman and a Human man brought a child with them.

Huh...?

I've seen some Shadow Elves favorable to Humans occasionally accompany them in secret, so I didn't think much of it, but...

One day, after Her Majesty paid a brief visit to Birgitta, I heard the news that the Shadow Elf family was executed by the extremists.

...So what? Are you trying to say Her Majesty ordered the extremists to kill the family?

She has no reason to do such a thing, so it's probably just a coincidence.

What I find suspicious is that it happened again and again.

It happened again?

Do you remember Fumyr's Mana Ore I found?

Ever since Her Majesty took an interest in it, the extremists who had been dormant for a while, suddenly turned the human villages around it upside down.

Isn't the timing too convenient to call it just a coincidence?

...Are you accusing her of something?

Calm down and hear me out. It only gets weirder. I said the Shadow Elf captured by the extremists had a child, right?

I found this "coincidence" too suspicious, so I did a little digging into the execution and found that the child had gone missing.

And then, a new recruit, Fenris felt very familiar, like I'd seen him somewhere.

So I asked Birgitta, and she confirmed that he was the boy who went missing.

Apparently, he lived with Fumyr near the village that had been ravaged by the extremists, after being separated from his parents.

Ah, by the way, I paid for the information with the money you gave me to search the area around the northern fortress of the Slayers. I'm sorry for not telling you sooner.

But I did finish the investigation. I just sent some people to do the job.

...

I hear Fumyr absolutely adores him.

But wasn't it Her Majesty's order to assign him under you? Did she ever tell you why?

Was it because she felt sorry for the kid who wandered around alone? Or is it because Fumyr asked her to? She's supposed to be the one making the country's most important decisions, but she seems to be easily swayed by petty reasons.

...

Do you think she is sincere in everything she says and does? Do you think she has nothing to hide?

Am I mistaken in thinking you know everything and are just pretending not to?

...

Why did you go around investigating without telling me?

...If I had asked you if I could, you'd have just gotten mad at me for daring to doubt Her Majesty.

...And you weren't going to listen to me anyways.

Ehem, that's all I wanted to say.

All right. Thank you for sharing with me.

Yeah, thank you for listening. I'm sure my words are nothing more than silly suspicions and complaints, but...

I want you to secretly investigate Fumyr.

...Eh? Fumyr?

She seems to be the one connecting the dots between Fenris and Harsetti, so it would be quicker to start with her.

And we need to keep a close eye on Fenris to make sure he doesn't fall into the hands of Fumyr or Harsetti.

...

Hmm, they're probably staying in the southern forest right now. Should I go there?

No, for now, gather as much information as you can in the north. I'll go to the southern forest.

It would be easier for me to go there and investigate them myself.

Harsetti has just ordered local training in the southern forest, to keep the southern fortress of the Humans in check.

I will meet Fumyr there and check on the status of the "key" she so desperately seeks. That's the real order given to me.

The key? What's that?

Fumyr recently told Harsetti that she entrusted Fenris with a key to the Tree of Genesis, but for some reason, he refuses to give it back to her.

If she could get ahold of the key, she would attempt to fully awaken the Tree, restoring it to its former divine glory...

Now that we have confirmed the Tree's recent activity, we have a chance to revive the former glory of Skuggiheim, end the war, and restore peace.

That's what Harsetti asked me to do.

Whoa, yeah. I don't believe a word she's said.

If Fenris moves as Harsetti intends, he will surely head north. I'll give you a signal, you tail them from then on.

Understood.

I will continue to follow orders as I have been doing, and find out what Harsetti's hidden agenda is.

I need to reaffirm...that she meant what she said in that letter...that we are working towards the same dream.

You don't look too well.

Wouldn't it be weirder for me to smile in a situation like this?

True, but try to look on the bright side. You'll be fulfilling a goal your mother never achieved.

Are you sure? Or are we going to recover your magical knowledge that was forcibly erased as punishment from Noias for the great sin you committed?

Uhm... I guess that's true too, but what's wrong with me taking back the own spells that I created?

And it was your mom who hid the information, anyway.

...

Come to think of it, you said Mom hid your stuff here and there to protect me, saying her son was the only key.

You're planning to find them first, right?

That's correct.

But I don't know anything about them, or where or how she hid them.

So how does that make me the key? How are you going to find your things?

That's easy. I just need to look for traces of Senika's mana.

She must have sealed every single shard herself, and you're the only one who knows how to break the seal, right?

I'm sure you've learned a few other things besides the spell you unraveled at your home. Senika had quite a knack for barrier magic.

Sometimes she'd surprise me with a completely unexpected answer. I know there's more than one way to seal something.

So you're the key.

...Then where are the others? In the Garden of Noias?

Nope, they're on the big island next to it.

The big island? You mean the Cradle of Shadows?

Mhm.

But we're heading for the Garden of Noias right now.

Yes, I know. I'm going this way on purpose.

Why?

Sometime we need to change courses for smooth sailing. It seems like now is a good time.

Hold on tight. It's going to be a bumpy ride.

...Huh? Ahhh!

Ragnvald! The ship is suddenly swerving!

Eh? Why? Did they find an iceberg or something?

No, there's nothing up ahead, but... Oh, no, the ship is tilting!

If they suddenly swerve like that, they're going to capsize. Are they out of their mind?

...Tch, she's doing that on purpose.

On purpose? Why would they...

Ragnvald, the ship is at its max speed!

What? They managed to swerve without capsizing!

Did you forget who's controlling the ship? She used magic to balance it, so she made a sharp turn on purpose.

You mean to tell me she saw us following her?

Yep. Well, now we lost them.

What do we do?

What do you mean? We need to catch up. Come on, turn the ship.

Y-Yes, sir!

Tch, that weasel. It's no fun stalling for time like this.

Mmm, this unpleasantly divine air. Ha, it's been a long time.

...

You seem a bit fidgety. I guess you've never been here before?

...I've never crossed the oceans before, not even on my adventures with Ladiki.

Then you'll have to follow me closely, if you don't want to get lost.

Have you been here before?

Many times. I've been here with your mom too. That's exactly why she hid my shards of the Philosopher's Seed here.

How are you so sure they're here?

Ever since I was cast out of the Garden of Noias, there's no place on the continent of Erasia that I haven't set foot on.

I've been studying and experimenting with countless ways to respond to the energy of the Tree of Genesis by extracting and absorbing it...

But there was no reaction, except for the energy I stashed away, and your house, where Senika hid her things.

My research was successful, by the way, so it should react to certain energies. It's weird, right?

Then I realized she hid it somewhere else. Ever since we had our disagreement, she's been thinking about hiding it this way so I couldn't find it easily.

Backtracking her journey and the gap in time, there's no way she could have left Erasia to hide them.

That leaves only the Cradle of Shadows and the Garden of Noias.

And you think it's here, instead of the garden?

This must have been a pretty good place, in Senika's mind.

It's not easily accessible to Humans, and only a few of the noblest among the Shadow Elves can visit.

And we fought on this island too.

...

This place wouldn't be your first guess, compared to the Garden of Noias. Plus, it would've been hard for her to get past all the priests there, don't you think?

True.

All right. Let's get going then. Let's follow your mother's footsteps.

I think it was this way.

What is?

Where your mom and I fought.

Ah...

From then on, the whole journey to the garden was quite uncomfortable.

Then why did you accompany her? I wouldn't be surprised if you just cut her out of your life.

Whoa, that's harsh. How vicious do you think I am?

Very.

...Well, I know I'm not exactly the emotional sort.

I went along with Senika, despite our frequent arguments and discomfort because I needed a guide.

So after our big fight, I thought about ditching her.

That means you couldn't.

It was easier said than done. I needed a backup plan, and she was the only one with me.

She was worried about me the whole time. I've always had a soft spot for those little things.

...

Such distrusting eyes. Fine, you don't have to believe me. Even if I tell you only the truth, it's up to you to believe it or not.

Anyway, as expected, the crisis came to a head, and so your mom became my contingency plan to stash my mana.

Little did I think that she'd scatter it all around the place.

She probably did that because she didn't trust you, not because she was worried about you.

I'm sure that's partially true.

The fact that she was worried about the future and objected to harvesting the power of the Tree of Genesis shows that she didn't trust my plan would succeed.

But you know, she was a sweet girl, and she'd always been indecisive.

She wanted to talk me out of it because of the possible side effects from my plan, but at the same time, it'd have been hard to go against my last, desperate request.

And I'm sure she wondered about the end of our adventures together because she'd followed me every step of the way despite the hardships.

So she kept the barrier spell we were making together a secret, but not far enough away from where I could have easily inferred it.

So I pleaded with Senika that I had no one else to trust but her, and she did as I expected. She took the items from me and hid them.

What do you think? Seems like a pretty reasonable deduction, don't you think?

...It seems a little far-fetched.

Hmph, okay. Maybe it's just me wanting to believe that.

The point is, your mother kept the power hidden, instead of getting rid of it, because she was waiting for you to take up her mantle.

Teaching you the knowledge of the Tree of Genesis behind closed doors.

...

Come here. I'm sensing a faint hint of mana from this side.

Your mother has always been one to overthink and giving meaning to things. It looks like she intentionally hid it in a place where we fought.

I'm guessing she wants me to notice it on my own and follow her trail. Let's follow that.

See? It's here.

There's a barrier spell drawn on the rock, but it's half erased.

It must have been done on purpose. As you can tell, it's been artificially rubbed off, although a bit more has been erased over the course of time.

Do you recognize this spell?

...Yep.

Let's get started, then.

She hid only some shards this time too.

Good job. You're smarter than you look, huh?

Did I look that dumb to you?

Not dumb...more like naive and gullible.

Hmph.

You're just like your mom, both in intelligence and personality too.

Stop fussing and just follow me, kiddo.

...

There were more not too far away.

How many more do we have to find?

Hmm... Let me put the shards we've found together and organize the spell...

As you can see, there are not many missing parts. Maybe we just need to find one or two more spots?

...

Just out of curiosity...

Hmm?

Why did you travel with my mom?

I told you, I needed a guide.

I mean...why her, and not someone else?

Because she showed up at the right time when I was lost.

That can't be the whole reason.

What do you want me to say?

Because if you really needed a guide, then I don't think you'd have stayed with her all the way, taught her magic or entrusted her with your knowledge.

Hmm, it seems like it was just yesterday you were following me around with a runny nose, and now you've become so insightful? I must have done a good job raising you.

You don't trust anyone, and you don't like anyone but yourself. So why did you do that?

How horrid! I've always had a soft spot for Senika, in my own way.

She worried too much, but she never gave up. She did what she was told, and I trusted her to not get in my way.

How was it...traveling with my mom?

It was pretty fun, although sometimes it was annoying.

Why was it annoying?

Because her unnecessary worries were delaying my dream.

And what's your dream?

To unlock all the wisdom of the universe, I suppose?

That's still your dream?

Yes. Why do you suddenly keep asking me such trivial questions?

...

Fumyr... What do you think of me?

Hmm...

You're the one thing I cherish most in this world...like a key.

...

Are you done asking questions? Then, let's get moving again.

I'm sure we're near... Why is the mana becoming so hard to read...?

...

What are you doing there, standing still? Come on, hurry. We don't have time to dawdle.

...

Fenris? What are you doing?

...In the end, nothing matters to you besides your goal and purpose?

What?

Your answers made it clear. You used me and my mom...as a means to an ends.

Our dreams were trampled on by your indifference and ambition.

What kind of nonsense are you spitting out? Have you forgotten what I said in Skuggiheim?

My journey in the past was accomplished with your mom, and now you're here with me, instead of her.

You're living her dreams right now.

No. I'm not.

You said my questions were trivial. Well, I managed to discover something from all those questions.

You didn't care about my mom's dreams. You still don't, and you certainly don't care about the reason I'm curious either.

How did I figure it out? Because the reason you liked her and enjoyed traveling with her just showed how much you failed to understand my mom.

...

You're just using her to further your own ambitions, and that's what you've been trying to get me to do.

That's what I've been thinking since the moment I followed you from Skuggiheim. I knew you were only interested in yourself.

I followed you anyways because I thought it would be the safest way to find atonement.

Because no matter what I do, you wouldn't be able to get rid of me.

...

You said I was the only way to fulfill your ambitions. Then you're the one at a disadvantage, not me.

Using others is not something only you're capable of. Don't assume things will always go your way.

*sighing* Senika. Are you listening to all this?

What are you talking about?

Look at this. Look how well I've raised your son. He's not a naive young boy anymore. He's grown up to be extremely clever.

Perhaps...I've raised him so well that now he's going to interrupt my trip in the most fabulous way.

...

I'd better teach him some manners before that happens. I'm sure you'll understand that sometimes kids need a bit of tough love.

Damn, did I provoke her too much? I was going to act a little tough to let her know that I'm not a little kid anymore...

Tsk...!

You do know that we're on a remote island, right? There aren't many places you can run away to.

Eh? That familiar face!

Stop! Stop!

*gasping* W-What are you doing here...?!

Where are you running off to? What kind of urgent business could be happening on this secluded island?

Speaking of which, why are you alone? Where's Fumyr? Weren't you traveling with her?

Stop wasting my time and get out of the way! The one you're asking about is coming after me right now!

...She is? You two have drifted apart, have you?

You think this is a joke?

Of course not. If you're in such a dire situation, I'm more than happy to help you out, like the nice big brother I am.

Who made you my big brother? I'm an only child!

As your big brother, I can let that snarky comment by. So stop arguing and follow me.

This way, we can hide for a moment.

So, what happened?

I provoked Fumyr a little, telling her that things were not going to go her way so easily.

Tsk, tsk... This is what happens when you wake a sleeping lion without proper preparation.

...

It worked out in my favor though, because I was looking for you anyway.

...Why are you helping me?

I have no ill will toward you, just a sense of camaraderie. Plus, there's something I want to ask you, personally.

You said you were going to unravel Noias's barrier. What turned Mr. I-Don't-Care into this brave adventurer?

...Because I think this is the only way to end this endless torture.

Endless torture?

The way my loved ones leave or abandon me, or how I make them all suffer. I feel like it's all because I didn't act fast enough.

What are you going to do when you succeed in dispelling the barrier? Who are you going to hand it over to?

I'm not planning on handing it over to anyone.

Then?

...My mom believed that excessive desire led to anger, and she wanted to reject the transcendent power that was the source of desire.

She regretted her own curiosity in the past and even chastised my innocent curiosity as a child.

I wondered why she was so afraid of it, and what terrible consequences might await me at the end... But, I get it now.

So I'm going to trap that power in the barrier, using everything I learned from my mom.

How will you do that? This isn't something you can handle on your own.

I know, but it's not completely impossible either.

No, actually, it's probably impossible, but I won't know that until I try.

And that's the bravest act of defiance I can come up with for now.

...

Why don't you seek help from Lord Brieg?

What? Why would I?

And how? I'm a traitor who betrayed our people.

On the surface, yes, but you have a chance to make up for that.

Frankly, Lord Brieg and I are not in the position to give you an opportunity. It's more like we're asking for your cooperation.

For the record, he isn't interested in keeping the power to himself. He just wants to stop anyone before they're able to get their hands on it.

...Brieg tried to execute my friends.

We were only following protocol. Officially, the Shadow Elves of Natalon are traitors who left after creating unrest among their own kind.

And Lord Brieg has no intention of harming you, as long as you don't fall to the others and promise to cooperate to restore peace.

...Cooperate to restore peace?

They said they were here to find a way to work things out with their own people, for the peace of Natalon, and the world.

And I was able to mend the scars in my heart, thanks to their comfort and advice.

Their father left Erasia in the first place to save another continent from crisis, to promote peace.

But your arrogant values and closed-minded superiority turned Ledan into a sinner for leaving his homeland.

And then you tried to harm my friends and Humans, only to lure me to the Tree of Genesis, which you claim is necessary for this damned peace.

I don't want to be a part of your pointless contradiction.

Hmm...

Well, you've got a point there.

...Hmm?

I agree with you, because I too have found Lord Brieg's twisted cause and uptight personality very frustrating.

That's what I've been scolding him about so often.

...Who's scolding who? You?

He does listen to me. You know how I'm like.

So, if you feel like you can't trust Lord Brieg, why don't you put your faith in me?

...

Oh, by the way, you said you were running away from Fumyr, right? Then we should get off this island first.

Let's get to our ship. We'll get you home safely, honored guest.

People say it'll always be in the last place you think of looking. Who would've thought you'd be hiding so close?

...

Man, despite having a rotted personality, you have fantastic intuition.

You followed me, didn't you? I signaled to you not to follow me.

I thought you were just telling me I was "it." By the way, I was pretty impressed with how well you run.

You have quite the audacity speaking to me that way, being that stubborn fool's errand boy.

But I have no business with or interest in you.

Ouch, that's hurtful because I do.

Aw, thanks. But leave me out of it, will you? And...

Get your hands off my kid right now, or I'll kill you.

...Tch, I've heard the rumors about her, so I had some vague ideas...

But she's just on another level. How did Lord Brieg deal with a monster like her?

Did you use up all your tricks? I expected a little more from the inflexible, training-obsessed bookworm's right-hand man...

Well, let's stop wasting time, shall we? I've had enough already.

Arghhh!

When did you...

S-Sir Ragnvald...

You idiot! Who told you to stand in the way? I said wait for me on the ship!

Leave it to us here...and just go...!

Leave what to who? You can't even take me on, so what makes you think you can stand up against her?!

I got this, so just go back! Somebody help him up!

Ohh... I thought you were just an errand boy for the dumb commander, but I guess you have a talent for taming animals, huh?

You little...!

...

...Are you going to get in the way again, trying to save your friend?

I'm sorry, but I'm not going to fall for your little trick twice... And don't think you're getting away that easil...

You still haven't found your Mana Ore or my mom's spell.

...

You don't need my help anymore, do you? So should I just disappear from your life, like my mom did?

If that's what you want, then kill me along with him, right here.

I'm not going to fall for your tricks again either. So make up your mind now. What's it going to be?

...Ha...! You cheeky little brat. Where did you even learn how to bluff like this?

From you, duh.

...

...Run to your ship now.

What? What about you...?

I still have some more work to do here. And I can't leave until I find all my mom's belongings anyways.

So go to the Garden of Noias first. That's where we're headed after.

And tell Brieg that if he needs me, he'll have to let go of that old, closed-off mindset.

...Okay.