Chapter 183

Chapter 183: Breaking Point

Breaking Point
Chapter 183. Breaking Point
The place where the High Elf Elder took Ferda and Erica, beneath the World Tree, was a prison with bars woven from roots.
In the closed environment of the elves, prisoners were rare, so it was practically a space solely for them.
— What do you plan to do with us?
Erica asked the Elder.
— What can we do? That human, in the end, caused the incident we were worried about.
The Elder pointed his chin at Ferda.
Seeing him omit honorifics now that he had the upper hand was unpleasant.
— Detaining us without even verifying the truth, isn’t that looking for a confrontation?
— The Great Chief is in critical condition, Tower Master. You know we cannot just sit idly by.
— …….
High Elves are like nobility among all elves, and the Great Chief is the equivalent of an Emperor.
That Emperor had fallen into critical condition without anyone knowing why.
That was why Erica and Ferda had followed them in silence.
— Please wait here quietly until the Great Chief wakes up.
The High Elf Elder turned around and simply walked away.
No special measures were taken.
Even though two mages were imprisoned, one of whom was a skilled member of the expedition that saved the continent, they were not restrained separately.
It was not out of noble courtesy, but because there was no need to do so.
Whenever they tried to emit mana to draw a magic circle, the mana was absorbed somewhere every single time.
The roots forming this prison absorbed it as nutrients.
Erica grabbed the bars with her hand.
She wanted to break these bars and leave, but that would only result in a loss.
— Haa…
Erica let out a sigh.
Then she glanced sideways at Ferda.
Ferda remained seated in silence without saying a word.
— Haa…
— …….
— Haaaaa!!!
— ……You are noisy.
— Hah? Am I not supposed to be noisy right now? In this situation?
Erica crossed her arms and glared at Ferda.
— Now tell me. What happened with the Great Chief?
— …….
The space between Erica’s eyebrows narrowed.
— Regent-nim. I don’t know what happened, but the Great Chief of the High Elves is dying after being with you. To defend you, I need to know what kind of incident it was. Do you understand?
Ferda wondered how he should respond.
For now, he answered in a way that gave as little information as possible.
— The Great Chief was interested in the mana I possess, so he investigated that mana.
— Mana, you say?
— Yes.
— If it’s because of Regent-nim’s mana…—
Erica suddenly realized something.
With a flushed face, she asked cautiously.
— That old man, don’t tell me you brought him to the brink of death during intercourse…—
— ……It’s not that.
Come to think of it, she is like a pubescent girl.
Thinking that it was an exaggeration even for herself, she changed the subject.
— Certainly, there was something different about Regent Ferda’s mana.
— You let out an undignified scream.
— Yes, it was a sudden sensation, so I was startled, and there was absolutely no other intention. The conversation took a strange turn. Shall we focus?
She rambled and then flustered herself.
— Regent Ferda’s mana is strange, but…— that old man couldn’t have been defenseless…— If the World Tree shook to that extent, there is a high probability that he did it of his own free will…—
It was just as Erica said.
Ferda recalled the Great Chief’s eyes.
He had looked at Ferda with a face overwhelmed by fear.
«How is it possible…?»
What did the Elder see to say that?
No, in fact, one could guess what he saw to say such a thing.
His own appearance, filled with anger and hatred.
He simply didn’t want to think that Ferda had seen that appearance of his.
«Did I do something unnecessary?»
The Great Chief brought it upon himself, but Ferda gave him the opportunity.
Impatience always makes humans act out of inertia.
That inertia ultimately produced this result, so it was Ferda’s fault.
— Hey?
— Yes?
— Are you going to answer now? Specifically, what did you do?
Erica, eyes blazing, demanded an answer.
— How much does the Tower Master know about the Demon King?
— A question for another question? I don’t like that very much.
— It’s related.
With a displeased expression, she protested, but answered.
— I don’t know. Only that he appeared suddenly, became Godwin’s descendant, and first attempted to dominate the world in the form of demons…—
— Is that so?
— If we can enter the Far East, a proper investigation might be possible from then on. So what does that have to do with this?
Since she answered honestly, he could answer.
— I cannot answer regarding this matter.
— ……Are you kidding me?
— It is for the good of both of us.
Erica looked at Ferda with displeasure.
Eyes full of resentment glared at Ferda, then she puffed out her cheeks completely.
— Ah, seriously…! You’re getting on my nerves!
— …….
— Why is everyone doing this to me lately!? I am the Master of the Blue Eyes Tower! I am the child who received the favor of Iorga-nim!! Why do I have to suffer this humiliation!!
— …….
— Argh! I really want to cry!
— Do not cry.
— Why? Because it will be troublesome?
— Yes.
Ferda covered his ears.
At that action, Erica’s eyes widened.
— Oh, God, really?! I will just vent all my grievances right here!
— …….
— I’m really going to cry my eyes out! Tears and snot, I’ll let it all drip!
— P-please, do not do that…—
As she squawked, someone interrupted the conversation.
Turning their heads, someone was standing beyond the wooden bars.
It was Rize.
Erica’s reason, which was about to shatter, barely returned to its place.
— Are you alright?
— ……Does this look alright right now?
Erica made an uncomfortable expression and answered bluntly, and Rize bowed her head.
— I apologize. Father was attacked, and with Ferda-ssi being the prime suspect, it could not be helped.
— Forget that, tell me the situation. So how is the atmosphere over there?
— First… the Great Chief is in critical condition, so there is much concern.
— They’re angry at Regent Ferda, huh?
Erica emphasizing the word ‘Ferda’.
Rize nodded silently.
— But fortunately, the Great Chief has regained consciousness, if only for a moment.
— Then the misunderstanding is resolved.
Erica thinking that everything was over.
But Rize shook her head.
— No. Father did not inform anyone of his situation and left a message for me.
— What message?
Rize’s eyes were unusual.
She spoke in a barely audible voice.
— He ordered me to get the two of you out in secret.
Erica frowned at those words.
— Wait. That means becoming fugitives, doesn’t it?
— It seems… so.
— The descendant of Iorga fled from the elves. Do you intend to humiliate us even in that way?
Rize put on a worried expression and persuaded her.
— Please. He strongly requested that this matter be handled in secret.
— That request is not necessary. I asked you to bring the High Elves’ journal here and translate it. I cannot leave without such gains.
— As expected, the Great Chief said you would say that…—
Rize slightly opened the bag she was carrying.
Inside, bundles of paper were piled up haphazardly.
— I also received a message to hand this over to you once you leave the World Tree.
— That old man…….
The behavior of playing with my head is unpleasant.
— Is the content secure?
— I haven’t read it, so I don’t know either…….
— It doesn’t even have content, what if we’re being tricked?
Erica, full of spite, had a deep-seated stubbornness not to act as the Great Chief wished.
In the end, Ferda took Rize’s side.
— The situation is not conducive to complaining calmly, how about we leave?
— Isn’t all of this your fault?
— Yes. That’s right. But we can obtain what we need and avoid unnecessary conflict, can’t we?
Ferda believed that the Great Chief did not say that without reason.
Erica, who had her arms crossed, bit her lip hard and then messed up her hair.
— Kyaaaa! Fine! If we can find out everything we need anyway! I’ll try to believe!
— T-thank you! I will open the door.
Rize inserted a wooden key and opened the prison door.
Only after opening the door did a question arise.
Ferda asked her just in case.
— But Secretary Rize, aren’t you a High Elf?
— Yes, that’s right.
— Then, isn’t this situation known to everyone?
High Elves are a race that shares their minds.
The one who imprisoned us here is the High Elf Elder, so, even if Rize sneaks us out like this now, it means we are already discovered.
— I am a High Elf, but…….
She scratched her cheek and answered.
— I have a constitution that prevents me from connecting minds like the others.
The interior of the World Tree had a shape similar to a Magic Tower.
Since Magic Towers were originally modeled after the World Tree, it could not be helped.
The World Tree was the most ideal form in terms of efficiency and transfer of all magic.
Highly condensed mana turned into white light that served as a light source, and green moss and vines, born from that light, settled on the walls.
The tree trunks became stairs and floors, creating space to step inside.
They climbed those stairs carefully.
The waterfall flowing from the top of the World Tree was not torrential, but strangely silent.
— It is quiet.
Ferda said deliberately.
— Right.
Erica also replied deliberately.
— This deep part originally has no visitors, that’s why it is like this.
Rize saying that there was nothing to worry about.
Ferda and Erica exchanged glances.
No matter how much they thought about it, that claim was suspicious.
— I have a question.
— Yes!
— How did you get down here?
Erica, unable to shake her suspicion, asked her.
— I read the surrounding presence and went down as carefully as possible.
— You went down relying on your own intuition?
— Yes! I might look like this, but I have confidence in hiding things!
…….
Suspicion turned into conviction.
Erica stopped stooping ungracefully and looked up, shouting.
— Don’t hide, come out!
At her words, the interior, quiet as death, was instantly filled with presences.
They were Wood Elves wearing elven-crafted armor.
Hundreds of Wood Elves surrounded them in an instant, eliminating blind spots.
Rize could not hide her bewilderment.
— Uh, uh…… how…….
— What do you mean how, you fool?
A familiar voice was heard.
The High Elf Elder showed himself among the Wood Elves.
His eyes were deep with disgust.
They could not be called eyes looking at his own kin.
— Did you think you could evade the eyes of elves who have lived their entire lives for this World Tree, no matter how secretly you moved?
A secret escape was an impossible tale.
It was nothing more than a situation that automatically caused a sigh.
— What is in that bag?
At the Elder’s question, Rize reflexively hugged her bag.
Whatever was inside, it was surely important.
— As an Elder, I order you. Bring that object here immediately.
— T-this is an item that must be delivered to Regent Ferda and Tower Master Erica. The Great Chief ordered it directly.
— The Great Chief has fallen into a coma. We cannot hear anything through our connected minds, so how did you hear that story?
— He spoke to me directly.
— Don’t talk nonsense!
The High Elf Elder shouted.
— The reason we rule over the elves is because our minds become one! Do you think it makes sense that he took the trouble to speak to you, who cannot even connect minds!?
Rize trembled, seemingly frightened.
However, her mouth did not stop.
— As you say, I cannot connect minds. But I am only stating facts, Elder-nim.
— I don’t believe it.
The Elder pointed at Rize and indicated the ground before him.
— If you want to prove your loyalty to me, bring that object here right now!
— You keep overstepping your bounds, Elder-nim.
The one who said that was not Ferda, but Erica.
— I have said multiple times that it is none of your business. The Secretary is moving according to the Great Chief’s message. If you ignore the Great Chief’s message, how is that any different from ignoring tradition and authority?
— You do not know us, that is why you say such comfortable things, Tower Master.
— ……Comfortable?
— Return to the prison right now! Go back quietly right now and mercy will be shown to you, Leader Iorga.
Crack—!
A sound clearly audible in Ferda’s ears.
The sound of something hard and tenacious breaking miserably echoed in Erica’s head.
Then, highly condensed mana began to surge around her.
— Hmph…….
What poured from her mouth was.
— Hahahaha……!!
A laugh that sounded as if she had lost her sanity.
— These guys and those guys…… if one keeps up appearances, they just look at you as an easy target, don’t they?
Erica tossed her hair back and looked at the Elder.
Her clear, river-blue eyes lost their light like the eyes of a rotten pollock, and the corners of her mouth pointed unnaturally toward the sky.
She began to mutter like Echidna.
— Right, what reason? If there are bastards who keep plucking your nose hairs and kicking your rear, you should simply tear them to pieces…….
Erica reached for her waist.
What she took out was a small water bottle.
— I’ve been too kind until now, haven’t I?
She threw the water bottle she held into the World Tree’s waterfall.
Splash—!
A deep resonance was heard within the sound of the falling water.
At the same time, the sound of the quietly flowing water stopped.
It was an astonishing thing.
The falling water stopped as if it had frozen just like that.
Not flowing according to the natural order meant that it was being dominated.
Erica was dominating the water of the World Tree at this very moment.
Rumble—!
A vibration surging from the ground.
The quiet spring did not just create ripples, but danced noisily, and five streams of water soared toward the sky.
Kwaaaa!
They rose as if intertwining, then were gradually sculpted into a fixed form.
The heads looking toward the sky began to be sculpted into dragon shapes as if shedding skin.
The five streams of water turned into five Water Dragons.
Erica stepped onto the head of a Water Dragon and stood atop it.
The Water Dragons carrying her flew elegantly.
Unlike the elegant dragons, a dark shadow hung over Erica’s face.
Beneath that shadow was a bloodthirsty smile.
Erica waved her hand lightly and said.
— Shall we sweep everything away?
The water streams flew toward the elves with fierce roars.