Chapter 82

Chapter 82
## Chapter 82

### Elven Kingdom (2)

“The task of alerting the Dwarves of Titania along with the remaining populations across the Enamel Continent regarding the current crisis has been completed.”

“Their initial responses are somewhat indifferent since the danger hasn’t hit close to home yet, but given the gravity of the situation this time, we must ensure they grasp the severity.”

“Because he possesses the capability to traverse space without restriction, there is no telling when the Immortal King might set foot upon the Enamel Continent, meaning our vigilance must be absolute.”

These discussions were taking place within the grand briefing chambers of the royal palace belonging to the Elven Kingdom, which held the distinction of being the sole structure with a direct physical link to the World Tree.

Unsurprisingly, the individuals gathered for this high-level council were of exceptionally high status, as attendance was strictly restricted.

The assembly comprised the High Elves, presided over by the Queen herself, alongside the foremost leaders of the realm who directed the various sectors of state governance.

“A formal request for historical records has been forwarded to the Church. Aside from the intelligence brought to us by Lord Rapori, our understanding of this particular generation’s Immortal King remains virtually nonexistent.”

The focus of their gathering remained centered on formulating defensive strategies to counter the looming threat.

Historically, because previous incarnations of the Immortal King had restricted their destructive campaigns to the Ion Continent, the various non-human lineages—the Elves included—had avoided direct devastation, suffering only the casualties of the military units they had sent across the sea as reinforcement.

During those past conflicts, the enemy had been brought down prior to ever crossing the ocean, leaving the main territories of the Enamel Continent completely untouched.

However, the current generation’s Immortal King had displayed an unprecedented level of power from the very outset, causing widespread anxiety among the leadership.

His capacity to disregard spatial boundaries and breach the inner sanctuary of the holy land’s cathedral proved that the ocean separating the landmasses offered no real protection against a sudden invasion.

The realm had been able to initiate defensive protocols without delay solely because Rapori had transmitted detailed reports regarding the entity to the Elven Kingdom prior to making his own journey to the Enamel Continent.

As a result, formal alerts had been distributed to adjacent territories, defensive readiness had been elevated significantly, and specialized military detachments were actively combing every territory to monitor for traces of dark magical signatures.

“Haaaa… It is truly exhausting to be forced into war preparations against the Immortal King at the exact moment we ought to be celebrating the emergence of a brand-new High Elf.”

With the most critical strategic matters settled, the tension in the room lessened slightly, prompting several council members to voice their frustrations.

A grand festival had originally been scheduled within the capital city to commence a few days following Cecily’s awakening, but the impending threat meant the festivities had to be drastically shortened and scaled down.

Given that it was meant to be a momentous event celebrated by the entire populace, the forced reduction left many feeling profoundly disappointed.

“Even so, we should consider ourselves blessed that Lady Cecily came forward during this exact period. Both the Queen and I are drawing close to the end of our tenures.”

“An accurate assessment. I harbored deep anxieties regarding our succession, but a great weight has now been lifted from my mind.”

Seated at the head of the long council table, the Elf Queen offered a nod of agreement in response to Rapori’s comforting observation.

Because the sovereign of the realm was chosen from among the High Elves through a process of collective deliberation and remained in power until voluntary retirement, her period of rule had already spanned a considerable epoch.

“On that note, Lord Rapori, did you not escort another individual possessing significant potential back from the Ion Continent? Word is already making the rounds that he was granted a branch directly from the World Tree during the awakening ritual.”

“Haha, his unique qualities were apparent from the moment our paths first crossed; the profound interest shown by the World Tree was unmistakable. It appears my initial assessment was correct.”

Rapori offered a pleased expression as the Queen steered the conversation toward Harris.

“His innate capabilities are truly remarkable, and the pace of his advancement defies expectations. I am confident there is an incredibly high likelihood he will successfully meet the qualifications.”

Harris represented a secondary source of great promise who had come into his orbit following the successful rescue of Cecily.

Rapori had personally ensured his relocation to the Elven Kingdom, securing him a place within ‘Drasha Academy’, which stood as the premier center for learning in the entire realm.

His ultimate ambition was for Harris to absorb the highest quality instruction available, thereby unlocking his potential to transition into a High Elf.

‘I suspect he will find common ground with Shapiron. The two of them share remarkably comparable backgrounds.’

The rank of High Elf was not passed down through bloodlines, yet she had been gifted with the necessary compatibility from the moment of her birth, mirroring his own path.

Fortune had smiled upon her since the day she entered the world.

‘Developing a close bond would serve the interests of both youngsters.’

Driven by this logic, he had intentionally orchestrated circumstances so that Harris would undertake his educational exercises alongside her.

He maintained complete faith that his affectionate daughter would show proper hospitality and extend her support to Harris.

A gentle smile appeared on Rapori’s face as his thoughts turned to his treasured only daughter, a child who had come into his life during his later years.

—

The midday break was underway at Drasha Academy.

The afternoon offered delightful weather complemented by a refreshing breeze, and he was passing the time appreciating a public musical display by local Elves while propped up against a massive tree trunk, consuming a basic sandwich, when the peace was disrupted.

“Must you display such a complete lack of refinement? How long do you intend to maintain the uncultured behavior of a common mercenary?”

Shapiron had approached out of nowhere to deliver the unprovoked criticism, immediately pivoting to walk away with an air of immense pride without waiting for any form of reply.

‘…Did she seriously walk across the grounds just to utter those words?’

Harris unhurriedly finished the remainder of his meal, keeping his gaze fixed on her departing form while remaining resting against the bark.

‘To think that particular girl is the child of that gentleman… ’

Given Rapori’s distinct light blue hair and deep blue eyes, her physical resemblance to her father was undeniable.

‘The custom dictates that High Elves adopt the family name ‘Granwood’ upon attaining their status. Since Elven society traces lineage through the maternal line, ‘Silvesty’ must be derived from her mother’s family.’

The memory of Rapori’s gentle countenance from their last encounter came back to him, recalling how the older Elf had beamed with joy at the mere thought of his household.

He mentally compared that image with the vision of the irritable young woman who had just looked down her nose at him with a scowl.

‘Hmm… It takes a lot of imagination to connect her personality with such a mild-mannered father.’

Despite his short stay in this place, it was already glaringly obvious that the student body kept their distance from her due to her immense pride, self-absorbed attitude, and deep-seated arrogance.

Naturally, she maintained a circle of companions who trailed behind her, but the dynamic lacked any semblance of genuine equality.

‘Then again, social dynamics operate the same way regardless of the realm. Elves are clearly no exception to the rule. Yet she seems uniquely fixated on targeting me.’

Based on his observations over the past several days, her usual behavior involved constructing emotional barriers and treating those around her with aloof disdain; she rarely went out of her way to actively instigate conflicts.

The sole exception to this rule was Harris himself.

‘Ultimately, it’s nothing more than immature pestering. It’s best to pay her no mind, as getting dragged into an argument would only create unnecessary complications. Her father is currently acting as my benefactor.’

Furthermore, he had requested Rapori’s assistance in refining the World Tree branch he had been gifted, making any friction with the man’s offspring highly counterproductive.

“Ah… The atmosphere today is truly perfect…”

The radiant sunlight, the comforting shadow cast by the branches, and the soft movement of the air combined beautifully.

An overwhelming sense of sleepiness washed over Harris, prompting him to rest his eyelids and let the distant, melodic voices of the Elves wash over him.

In truth, the primary driver behind this behavior was a distinct streak of indolence that had taken hold of him of late.

Ever since he entered the direct zone of influence surrounding the World Tree and unlocked the ability known as “Affinity with Nature,” his continuous cultivation of the skill had caused his physical form to grow increasingly accustomed to pure relaxation.

‘While I possess the willpower to force my body to exert itself, maintaining this state of rest seems far more effective for deepening my connection to the natural world. It provides a noticeable boost to my internal peace and physical recovery.’

He wondered if this sensation mirrored the experience of achieving absolute harmony with the environment.

Harris allowed his entire being to embody this state of mental and physical equilibrium, remaining completely motionless until the conclusion of the midday recess.

“…This is pure rejuvenation.”

Any thought of Shapiron Silvesty had completely vanished from his mind.

There existed no practical requirement for them to cross paths, and so long as they preserved this mutual distance, no friction would arise.

—

‘I had a feeling it would turn out like this.’

Harris stood frozen, looking directly at Shapiron who had taken up a position directly in front of him.

Her features were twisted into a familiar scowl as she directed an intense stare toward him.

Their current face-to-face predicament was the direct result of the spirit summoning curriculum at Drasha Academy.

Before he could even register the situation, the instructor had assigned the two of them to the exact same team.

“Excellent, that settles the team distributions. Now, let us proceed with a review of the material, keeping our newly arrived students in mind. As you are all well aware, establishing a deep rapport with spirits is a foundational requirement. As we transition into the advanced material…”

Developing a channel of communication with these manifestations of the natural world was an absolute necessity for any aspiring Spirit Summoner.

To achieve this, the Elven race utilized a highly potent, esoteric methodology that had been preserved through countless generations…

It took the form of movement through dance and expression through song.

‘That certainly explains the sheer volume of public musicians I encountered upon arriving in the Elven Kingdom.’

The Elves, by their very nature, possessed an inherent bond with the environment, allowing them to achieve perfect resonance with spirits through nothing more than physical rhythm and the natural vibration of their vocals.

The melodies produced by their musical gear functioned in the exact same manner.

This capability was an innate birthright and a closely guarded methodology unique to their heritage, representing an achievement that summoners from foreign heritages could only admire from afar.

“Furthermore, utilizing this specific approach serves as an excellent safeguard against losing oneself completely to the tranquility of nature, which can breed extreme lethargy. Generally speaking, even if you succumb to the immersion, it merely results in a bit of laziness, but maintaining a diligent work ethic is always the preferred path, wouldn’t you agree?”

It took less than a moment for Harris to realize that the instructor’s commentary was aimed squarely at a specific individual.

The description matched his current state perfectly.

‘Except my level of laziness goes far beyond just a bit.’

He was currently relying entirely on sheer mental focus just to force his limbs to function; the moment he permitted his concentration to waver even slightly, he would instantly drop to the ground in relaxation.

While the practice was incredibly useful for purging internal tension due to the profound quietude and mental serenity it provided, there was a catch.

‘It certainly proved to be a minor inconvenience. It turns out that sluggishness was a direct consequence of over-immersion.’

He was currently residing within the immediate vicinity of the World Tree—the epicenter of all environmental energy—and every single one of the traits Harris possessed, including “Child of the World Tree”, “Spirit Summoning”, and “Affinity with Nature”, was directly tied to environmental resonance.

On top of that, he was wearing the specialized High Elf bracelet that Rapori had presented to him.

As a direct consequence of these combined factors, his lightning-aligned spirit, ‘Watt’, had recently broken through to the Intermediate tier, while the fire-aligned spirit ‘Callie’ and the wind-aligned spirit ‘Pascal’—both of whom he had bound himself to mere days ago—were already on the precipice of transforming.

Such a breathtaking pace of development was virtually unheard of, particularly for someone who had only just begun exploring the discipline of spirit summoning.

“The grand gala dedicated to our newly emerged High Elf, Cecily, is fast approaching, is it not? Performance platforms are currently being constructed throughout the metropolitan sectors…”

The instructor paused mid-sentence, scanning the faces of the highly engaged audience before letting a playful grin slip out.

“I have successfully secured a dedicated performance area reserved exclusively for Drasha Academy. Its placement is highly prestigious, meaning there is a very real chance Lady Cecily herself might witness the display.”

The classroom instantly erupted into a sea of whispered conversations as the students reacted with intense enthusiasm.

“Therefore, you will collaborate within your assigned teams to devise an original performance. My assessment of your capacity to connect with spirits will be determined entirely by the quality of your execution on the day of the gala.”

With the lecture concluded, a block of time was granted to allow the newly formed teams to deliberate on their strategies.

Aside from Shapiron, Harris’s assigned group included two other Elven students.

“Wow! To find myself placed on a team alongside both Shapiron and Harris! What incredible luck to be paired with the academy’s most talked-about figures. My name is Timer Coffin. It’s a pleasure!”

“…”

The speaker was an incredibly energetic young man who seemed completely oblivious to the tension in the air, while their final companion was an incredibly reserved young woman who merely offered a quiet, hesitant bow of her head.

“The pleasure is mine. I must admit I’m caught a bit off guard by this sudden group assignment. I will dedicate myself to ensuring I don’t drag down our collective score.”

Harris delivered his introduction using the most diplomatic and polite tone he could muster.

He was well aware of the terrible reputation associated with collaborative academic assignments, but in this specific instance, he was undeniably the weak link…

With less than a single week remaining before they were expected to take the stage, the situation felt incredibly overwhelming for a newly arrived transfer student who possessed zero foundational preparation.

It quickly became apparent that Shapiron was equally distressed by the team arrangement.

“How could this happen… why must I be paired with a mercenary who possesses absolutely no lineage… What could justify this? Why?”

Her brow furrowed deeply as she mumbled the complaints under her breath, eventually shutting her eyes tight to pull in a massive, stabilizing breath.

“Sigh… There is no changing the circumstances now that the decision has been finalized. Let us get to the point: do you possess familiarity with any specific choreographies or melodies? Present anything at all.”

The phrasing of her inquiry made it abundantly clear that she was merely asking out of basic politeness, fully expecting him to have nothing of value to offer.

Her downward stare was completely devoid of anticipation as she evaluated him with her customary superiority.

In fairness, such an attitude was entirely logical given that he had only just taken up the study of spirit summoning after spending his time earning a living as a sword-for-hire.

Following her prompt, the attention of the remaining team members shifted directly onto him.

Though they refrained from voicing their anxieties out loud, their expressions clearly betrayed their inner worry.

“Is there truly nothing you can provide? We are capable of structuring the remainder of the presentation around your limitations.”

‘…Her complete and utter condescension actually makes me want to put in an extraordinary effort just to prove her wrong.’

Naturally, attempting to replicate their traditional physical movements and vocal arrangements at this stage was out of the question, as he lacked the necessary instruction.

He had witnessed a handful of such displays out in the public squares, but the formats varied wildly from one performance to the next.

‘Then again, is it strictly mandatory to utilize a conventional Elven melody and choreography?’

At its core, the assignment wasn’t focused on replicating a rigid, pre-existing ritual; rather, it was an exercise in utilizing one’s internal resonance to establish a connection.

If that was the case, so long as he succeeded in blending his energy with the spirits, the specific style of the performance shouldn’t matter in the slightest.

“Hmm… I happen to know a particular melody that I frequently appreciated performing back in my place of origin…”

He cleared his throat with a subtle cough and began to speak with measured caution.

During his formative academic years, he had spent a fair amount of time practicing the guitar and had built a reputation as a highly capable vocalist.

‘And when you combine that musical foundation with the natural vocal clarity of Harris’s Elven body?’

Most importantly, he had a flawless record of never dropping below a score of 80 on any amusement venue’s singing machine.