Chapter 190. Aileen (2)
In the council chamber of Aileen...
A tense atmosphere loomed over the council chamber as an unexpected guest arrived.
"...Release him," the High Elder ordered.
"But, High Elder! This man used the village elder of Nenya as a human shield!" Renda shouted.
"I said release him. He is not our enemy," the High Elder repeated.
Baltho, the High Elder and leader of the elves of the Eastern Great Forest, pressed his fingers to his temple as he spoke.
At the center of the chamber stood a massive round table, encircling a young World Tree sapling. Seated around it were five council members, each watching the guest with unwavering gazes.
"Oh, come on, I already told you I'm innocent," the guest complained. "Why is it so hard to take my word for it?"
"My mistake," Baltho said. "Caron Leston. I did not explain the situation to the guards in detail."
"Why not?" Caron asked.
"You already know the answer to that," Baltho said, then studied the young human before him with a complicated expression.
This was the youngest grandson of the prestigious Ducal Family of Leston. Even in the distant Eastern Great Forest, far from the empire, rumors of this man had spread.
He was also a hero who had thwarted the Demon King's schemes in the Southern Great Forest.
Mother's power lingers within him, Baltho noticed.
There was no mistaking it. Caron carried traces of the World Tree's blessing. The energy had faded, but some telltale signs remained.
He must have consumed the World Tree's dew, Baltho thought.
That meant even the elves of the South—famously proud and stubborn elves—had acknowledged Caron as well.
"You are dismissed," Baltho said, gesturing toward the guards who had escorted Caron inside.
"This human could be dangerous," the guard captain protested.
"Dangerous?" Caron scoffed.
Crack.
With effortless strength, Caron snapped the enchanted cuffs around his wrists. Then, as if it were nothing, he tossed the broken remains onto the floor and smirked.
"Who could possibly be safer than me? But hey, thanks for the free escort. Made things a lot easier," he said.
The guards exchanged uneasy glances. A man who could break a magical restraint like a child's toy—there was no way they could contain him if he truly wanted to resist.
The captain let out a deep sigh before bowing respectfully to the High Elder. Without another word, he swiftly exited the chamber.
"You must understand," Baltho continued. "A village elder at the border siding with the dark elves... In times like these, that is a perilous rumor to spread."
Caron immediately grasped the deeper meaning behind those words. He said, "It would break morale."
"Precisely," Baltho replied.
"Have you been controlling the flow of information?" Caron asked.
"It is a necessary measure. Consider it a kind of martial law. Aileen is like a candle flickering in the wind right now."
Even after just a few exchanges of words, Caron could already gauge the city's situation.
It's bad, he thought.
The elves of Aileen had no real understanding of what was happening outside the city. They only knew that the dark elves were coming.
Caron frowned as he surveyed the room.
There were six elves in total, including the High Elder, occupying the vast chamber. At the center of the round table, there was a small but powerful sapling radiating mana. There was no doubt that it was the World Tree's sapling.
"My name is Caron Leston," Caron said, offering a polite nod toward them. "I've come here to fulfill a request from the World Tree."
"A request from Mother..." Baltho mused. "And who are those behind you?"
At his question, Leo and Adina stepped forward in turn.
"My name is Leo Leston," Leo said.
"I am Adina, daughter of Chieftain Tauga of the tiger clan," Adina added.
Unlike Caron, who had worn an openly displeased expression ever since arriving in Aileen, the two of them bowed their heads with awkward smiles.
When Caron saw them, he let out an exasperated sigh. He asked, "What's wrong with you two? Did you commit a crime or something?"
Leo leaned in and whispered in his ear, "Are you insane? Think about it the other way around. A so-called guest shows up using an elderly elf as a shield. Is that not a crime to you?"
"He deserved it," Caron replied. "And besides, the bastard's still alive, isn't he?"
It was always the worst kinds of people who had the longest lifespans. Surprisingly, Rakaon, the elf who had taken the arrows for them, was still breathing.
Baltho, who had been listening quietly, let out a deep sigh. He said, "According to elven law, Elder Rakaon will stand trial and be sentenced to death for his crimes. Now, have a seat, all of you."
"Would you happen to have any water?" Caron asked. "I'm a little thirsty."
Whoosh.
With a simple flick of Baltho's fingers, a glass bottle filled with water and three cups appeared on the round table.
Caron's eyes gleamed. He said, "Liquor would also be good. I still think about that apple cider I had in the Southern Great Forest."
"We do not drink apple cider here," Baltho said. "We drink wine instead."
"Wine works too," Caron said.
The sheer audacity of a guest asking for liquor so brazenly left the others speechless. But to everyone's surprise, Baltho indulged the request.
Whoosh.
A pulse of mana flickered through the air, and soon, a beautifully ornate bottle filled with a rosy liquid materialized atop the table.
"This wine is quite strong," Baltho warned. "You should drink it slow—"
"Ah, I appreciate it," Caron interrupted.
Before Baltho could even finish his sentence, Caron had already uncorked the bottle and tipped it back. In less than ten seconds, the elves' prized wine completely vanished.
"Mmm." Caron let out a satisfied hum, wiping his mouth with his sleeve. "That was excellent wine."
"You must have been very thirsty," Baltho observed dryly.
Summoning another bottle, the High Elder took a seat. Caron and his group followed suit, settling into their chairs.
"You mentioned coming here on Mother's request," Baltho said. "Can you tell us more about it?"
All eyes turned toward Caron. With war against the dark elves looming on the horizon, the arrival of a human, especially at such a critical time, was an extraordinary event.
"It's not complicated," Caron said. "Besides, I'll need your help to accomplish it anyway."
He leaned back in his chair, scanning the elves seated around him before continuing, "But before we start, let me clarify something. Everyone here has the authority to make decisions, correct?"
It was an abrupt question, and its intent was difficult to decipher.
Still, Baltho nodded and said, "All major matters of the Great Forest are decided in this council. You may speak freely."
Baltho's mind worked quickly. He thought, Caron Leston brought a woman from the tiger clan with him. That means he has already formed ties with the beastfolk.
He wondered if the beastfolk could be offering their support in the war as well. If the beastfolk joined their cause, on top of the backing of the Ducal Family of Leston, victory could come far more easily than expected.
The elves had heard countless stories of Caron Leston, a hero whose feats had even reached their ears. For such a man to personally come to them was enough to spark hope.
But the words that left Caron's mouth next shattered any expectations Baltho might have had.
"The dark elves are backed by the Demon King of Sloth," Caron said. "That cunning bastard has likely already spread his influence throughout Aileen."
"The Demon King himself?" Baltho asked, his voice heavy with skepticism. "Are you certain?"
"Yes. I confirmed it myself. I'd stake my family's honor on it," Caron replied.
It was shocking news, but not unbelievable.
The dark elves had expanded their forces at an alarming rate. They had once been nothing more than small raiding parties, yet now, they had their sights set on the entire forest. Something like that couldn't have happened without a powerful benefactor.
And if that benefactor was the Demon King of Sloth...
Then it all makes sense, Baltho thought.
The dark elves' unnatural growth no longer seemed like an enigma.
Baltho let out a quiet sigh, then turned to Caron and began, "Thank you for bringing us this informa—"
"I'm not finished yet," Caron interrupted. He shot the High Elder a sharp glance before continuing in a deceptively casual tone.
"Demon Kings can absorb souls," Caron said. "Once a siege begins, their power will only continue to grow."
War always brought death.
And Demon Kings... They thrived on it. They were predators, gluttonous creatures that devoured the souls of mortals.
"The Demon King of Sloth plans to use the power he gains from this war to corrupt the World Tree's sapling," Caron said. "The same thing almost happened in the Southern Great Forest. The Demon King of Massacre attempted an invasion there."
Perhaps the details were different, but the objective was the same.
The regent of the Southern Great Forest had warned Caron of what would happen if the World Tree's sapling ever fell to corruption. It had already spread its roots throughout the forest. If it were to be tainted, the entire Great Forest would be consumed by dark mana in an instant.
If things reached that point, there would be no saving the place. The Eastern Great Forest would become the Demon King of Sloth's domain. Death would spread from the heart of the forest in all directions.
"And what's your point?" Baltho asked bluntly.
Caron smiled and said, "It's simple. We should uproot the sapling."
The room erupted.
"That's absurd!"
"High Elder! This human is clearly insane!"
"Do you hear the madness coming out of his mouth?!"
The council members shot to their feet, their voices raised in outrage, but Caron remained unfazed.
If anything, he leaned in further, locking eyes with Baltho. He said, "High Elder, if you would permit me to say one more thing."
Baltho hesitated for a moment, then nodded. He was curious to see just how far Caron would take this.
Caron raised a hand and pointed at the World Tree's sapling. And then, ever so slightly, the corners of his lips curled upward.
"It feels as if someone has already been feeding dark mana into it," Caron declared.
Baltho's expression twisted, and he turned sharply to look at the council members.
The meaning behind Caron's words was clear.
"...Are you saying we have a traitor among us?" Baltho asked.
"I'll leave that for you to decide," Caron replied.
"High Elder! Surely you're not going to take this human's word seriously?"
"A man who suggests destroying the World Tree's sapling doesn't even deserve to be heard—"
Before the room could descend into chaos, Baltho raised a hand. Silence fell immediately.
"Caron Leston," Baltho said. "I cannot take your words at face value."
"I understand," Caron replied.
Trust between them had yet to be established. It was only natural that Baltho wouldn't blindly believe a claim of treachery.
But that wasn't the point. Caron had already accomplished what he came here for. Baltho's thoughtful expression told him everything he needed to know.
Perhaps the High Elder had already been suspicious of the council before Caron had even arrived.
"I will arrange lodging for you," Baltho finally said. "You must be weary from your journey. We will speak again... at a later time."
It was a polite dismissal.
Caron grinned and stood from his seat, then said, "Then I'll take you up on that offer."
"Rest well," Baltho replied.
The council members glared at Caron as though they wanted to kill him.
But Caron merely smiled, unfazed. He thought, The fire has been lit.
There was undoubtedly a traitor within Aileen. Now that the spark had been set, someone was bound to react.
"Well then, take care. Leo? Adina? Let's go get some rest," Caron said.
"Oh? Ah, right," Leo reacted.
With that, Caron and his group stepped out of the council chamber.
As far as first impressions went, this had been a resounding success.
***
The High Elder provided Caron and his group with a luxurious residence near the council chamber. Thanks to that, they were able to enjoy a comfortable rest for the first time in a long while.
"Caron, I have a question," Leo said while lying in bed.
From the bed next to him, Caron responded in a drowsy voice, "Go ahead."
"If we uproot the World Tree's sapling, what happens to the elves here? You said the elves of the Eastern Great Forest have built their lives around it," Leo said.
"They won't be able to live here anymore," Caron said. "The sapling is what allows them to survive in this forest."
The World Tree shared its mana with the elves. It was the anchor that maintained their people's identity, and if that anchor disappeared, the Eastern Great Forest would no longer belong to the elves.
Without the sapling, they would gradually wither away. The elves had always relied on the World Tree for too much.
"Then what's the plan for the elves here? We're not just going to abandon them, are we?" Leo asked.
"Come on, I'm not that heartless," Caron replied. "I've already spoken with the elves of the south about that. By now, they've probably... Oh well, don't worry about it. That's not the most important thing right now."
"Then what is?" Leo asked.
"Getting enough rest," Caron said with a grin. "We're going to be very busy tonight."
That sly voice Caron used, and the gleam of madness in his eye, told Leo something. He knew immediately that Caron was planning something insane. That kind of look only appeared when he was about to do something truly reckless.
With a nervous swallow, Leo asked, "...What are you thinking?"
"Leo, from what I've seen, the elves will never give up on the World Tree's sapling," Caron explained.
"Yeah... Judging by how those council members reacted earlier, I can see that," Leo agreed.
"In situations like this, actions speak louder than words. Don't you agree?" Caron asked.
A bad feeling settled in Leo's gut. He stared at Caron, his expression tense. A worst-case scenario formed in his mind.
No, it couldn't be, Leo thought.
Caron was a lunatic, but even he wouldn't go that far.
"Caron," Leo said cautiously.
"Hmm?" Caron responded.
"No. Absolutely not," Leo said firmly.
"I haven't even said anything yet," Caron said.
"You lunatic. You're about to suggest sneaking into the council chamber tonight and pulling the sapling out, aren't you?" Leo asked.
Caron's face lit up in admiration as he nodded and said, "Oh, that's correct."
"Don't 'oh' me, you bastard!" Leo shouted.
"Hmm... Correct?" Caron replied.
It was clear now. Caron had never intended to persuade the elves with words.
"A surprise attack only works if it happens when no one expects it," Caron said. "Do I really have to spell that out for you?"
"But why does the sapling have to be the target...?" Leo groaned.
"Leo," Caron called out.
"What?!" Leo replied.
"Follow orders. Unless you want to die," Caron said firmly.
No one was able to stop a mad dog.
Time passed, and night fell upon Aileen.