My Lord Who Is Being Prudent! [EN]: Chapter 123

§ 123 – Dark Elf (2)

Suddenly, my smartphone chimed with a notification.

‘Huh?’

Cyan stopped walking and pulled out his smartphone from his pocket.

Thanks to the clothes Sera gave him, the frozen smartphone regained its warmth.

At the same time, Mobile Lord returned to normal.

*Ding!*

《It can be damaged if it’s too cold!》

Was Mobile Lord ever normal to begin with…? Well, whatever.

Cyan dismissed the Mobile Lord’s notification and checked the quest notification instead.

『[Territory Quest] – ‘The Dark Elves are calling. We’re not demons, you know!’ (Cleared!)』

.

.

‘It’s cleared?’

The quest was cleared.

At the same time, he could obtain the favor of the Dark Elves as a reward.

Perhaps that’s why the Forest Keeper guided him straight to the village.

‘I didn’t do anything?’

The problem was that he hadn’t done anything.

All Cyan had done was chat with Sera.

And yet, the quest was cleared.

“What are you doing? Hurry up and come in.”

At that moment, Sera’s voice came from ahead.

Sera had only her head sticking out from the rippling space.

It looked as if her head was floating in the air.

“Come in quickly. I need to close the barrier.”

Soon, Sera disappeared back into the rippling space.

‘…Let’s go for now.’

Cyan started walking again, squeezing his body through the rippling space.

#

The forest people, the Elves.

A race that has lived in isolation from humans for a long time.

The moment he squeezed his body through the rippling space, his vision was instantly reversed.

A slight dizziness washed over him, and the lush forest landscape was reflected in his inverted vision.

A dense forest.

The snow that had covered the world in white was nowhere to be seen.

The cold that froze the skin had also disappeared.

The trees that made up the forest soared high into the sky.

And how thick they were.

Even if ten adult men joined hands, they couldn’t encircle them.

Such trees filled his vision.

It was truly a magnificent forest, more than just lush.

Moreover.

On the trunks of those giant trees, there were tent-like houses attached, both above and below.

From houses that were almost attached to the ground.

To houses that were so high up that one wondered if they could even live there.

From each of those houses, vines hung down to the ground.

They probably served as ladders to climb up and down the houses.

Following Cyan, the space rippled behind him, and Osly and Panat appeared.

Then, they faced the forest before them.

“How can there be such a place in the North…?”

“How can there be such a place in the North…?”

Osly and Panat muttered the same words.

However, the meanings they held were different.

Osly’s had a sense of ‘why’.

While Panat’s had a strong sense of ‘how’.

“It’s a space created by the power of the World Tree. Amazing, right?”

Sera said with a bright smile.

“To think the World Tree’s power was this great…”

Panat muttered something beside him in an admiring tone.

But Cyan just shrugged his shoulders.

The Dark Elf village, when viewed up close, was more magnificent than he had imagined.

And it wasn’t as large as he had thought.

Still, it was large enough to be called a village.

The sounds of insects could be heard within the village.

In the plaza, young Elves with black hair fluttered about as they played.

Sera, and the current appearance of the Dark Elves.

It was completely different from the image of Dark Elves known to the world.

“Hmm…”

“Are they… really Dark Elves?”

Osly and Panat showed different reactions.

In an instant, the gazes of the Dark Elves turned towards them.

The gazes of the Elves perched high on the trees also turned towards them.

Deep, dark black hair and black eyes.

Cyan didn’t know, but the Dark Elves’ eyes were also dark and black.

The Dark Elves gathered together and looked at Cyan and his party.

Humans. Humans have come.

How did they get in?

It’s the first time I’ve seen humans.

The main emotion they showed was curiosity.

Soon, a group approached them.

The energy they exuded was considerable. Guards? Protectors?

He didn’t know what to call the Dark Elves, but they seemed to be that kind of group.

“It’s the first time humans have come to the village.”

“Hello, humans!”

“Did the Forest Keeper bring them?”

The Dark Elves’ gazes turned to the Forest Keeper.

The Forest Keeper glanced at Sera and said.

“Sera invited them.”

“Sera did?”

“Yes. I brought them.”

Sera raised her hand high and said.

“I see.”

“Sera invited them.”

The Dark Elves nodded and murmured.

Then, they shouted with sparkling eyes.

“Welcome, humans! Would you like to play with me?”

“Let’s play with us! There are many fun places.”

“Everyone is amazed when they see the sparkling lake. Would you like to go?”

They seemed to be very excited.

They didn’t seem to particularly dislike humans.

Soon, Sera spread out her hands and blocked Cyan’s path.

“No! Cyan is going to meet the Forest Keeper.”

“The Forest Keeper?”

The Dark Elves’ gazes turned to the Forest Keeper.

Then, the Forest Keeper nodded slightly.

The Dark Elves lowered their heads as if they were disappointed.

“Tch. Then there’s nothing we can do.”

Then, they drooped their bodies and walked away, shuffling their feet.

The Forest Keeper silently moved his feet again.

Sera followed the Forest Keeper.

“Let’s go.”

They arrived at a wide plaza in the center of the village.

With the curious gazes of the Dark Elves.

A tree that looked different from the others was visible in the center of the plaza.

That was probably the World Tree.

“I didn’t believe it while looking at the research on the World Tree… But seeing it in person, it seems the research was all underestimated.”

Panat exclaimed in admiration.

The World Tree was a tree with power befitting its name.

It contained the source of life and was also called the Tree of Life.

It was also known as a tree that grew beyond the boundary between life and death.

However, it wasn’t really a tree that supported the world.

It could be said to be a tree that supported the cities or villages of the Elves.

Nevertheless, it was true that it contained tremendous power.

And it was a tree that made mages go crazy to the point of having seizures.

The tree that contained the source of life.

The magic staff made from that tree exerted tremendous power.

No wonder the reason why Elves were called natural mages was because of the World Tree.

In the past, countless humans rushed to obtain the World Tree.

Because of that, many Elves were wiped out.

This was also the reason why Elves hated humans even more.

But despite such greed, there were no staves or weapons made from the World Tree on the continent.

There should have been at least one, but there were none at all.

Not because they were broken or lost, but literally because they didn’t exist.

The World Tree was a tree with its own will.

Those who were not chosen by the World Tree could not use its power.

Even if it was a branch that was torn off.

Unless the World Tree’s will allowed it, it would lose its power.

“This is the World Tree.”

Cyan carefully examined the World Tree before him.

Unlike the surrounding trees, the World Tree was not very large.

However, it was only because the surrounding trees were abnormally large.

That tree was also large enough that even if five adult men joined hands, they couldn’t encircle it.

And the appearance of the World Tree was also a bit different.

While other trees soared into the sky as if showing off their height.

The World Tree grew inward as if it were embracing something.

And what the World Tree was embracing.

For some reason, nothing could be seen there.

“Was there something here?”

“Yes… but it’s not here now.”

Sera answered Cyan’s question with a gloomy expression.

Her uncharacteristically dark expression seemed to have a story behind it.

Cyan was curious, but he didn’t bother to ask.

Soon, the Forest Keeper approached the World Tree.

Then, the base of the World Tree split open in all directions, revealing stairs leading underground.

“Come in.”

The Forest Keeper walked into it and disappeared.

Sera, along with Cyan, Osly, and Panat, followed the Forest Keeper.

After walking down for a while, a spacious room appeared.

The room had no particular decorations, but the atmosphere was insane.

To be exact, an aura? Energy?

It was something difficult to explain.

Cozy and warm.

It was filled with the most comfortable feeling in the world, as if one would fall asleep as soon as they closed their eyes.

The Forest Keeper looked at Cyan, Osly, and Panat who entered, one by one.

Then, he stopped his gaze on Sera and slowly opened his mouth.

“Sera, you should go out for a while.”

“Why? I want to stay here too.”

Then, Sera puffed up her cheeks.

“They’re the friends I brought.”

The Forest Keeper didn’t answer.

He just quietly looked at Sera.

“I won’t say anything. I won’t make any noise.”

Even so, the Forest Keeper still didn’t answer.

Only a calm gaze and eyes were directed at Sera.

“They’re the friends I brought…”

Soon, Sera drooped her body and left the room.

After Sera’s presence faded away.

“I am Asrandiz. The Forest Keeper of the Dark Elves.”

The Forest Keeper, Asrandiz, spoke.

And was he really the Forest Keeper?

His atmosphere was clearly different from Sera’s.

“I am Cyan, the Lord of Ruben.”

Cyan opened his mouth right away.

Following him, Osly and Panat also opened their mouths.

“Osly Batenberg. The Margrave of the North.”

“I am Panat Rothschild.”

Asrandiz nodded once and said.

“You are not ordinary humans.”

Did he know something about human society?

Asrandiz’s gaze towards Osly and Panat was subtle.

Cyan asked Asrandiz.

“Excuse me for saying this, but is this okay?”

“What are you talking about?”

“I mean, is it okay to let us into the village without any suspicion like this?”

Asrandiz hadn’t asked anything.

Elves basically hated humans.

It wasn’t any different for the Dark Elves.

Rather, they hated them even more.

Inviting them to the village like this was impossible.

But Asrandiz guided them into the village without any questions.

At Cyan’s question, Osly and Panat nodded slightly as if they agreed.

Soon, Asrandiz slowly answered.

“Didn’t Sera bring you?”

“…?”

Cyan was momentarily puzzled.

He was letting them into the village without suspicion because Sera brought them?

Without even checking?

From what he heard, Sera was Asrandiz’s daughter.

So, was he a fool for his daughter?

Cyan thought for a moment.

Of course, that wasn’t the case.

“That child has the ability to see through the souls of beings. Sera doesn’t open her heart to just anyone. Especially inviting them to the village.”

“Ah.”

Cyan exclaimed softly.

No wonder she felt the primal mana that even Durak didn’t notice.

It seemed there was a reason for that.

And the reason why the quest was cleared.

He roughly understood what had happened.

Not completely, but.

“She’s not like a Dark Elf.”

“Humans also have their own individualities… And the fact that Dark Elves are tainted by darkness is just a misunderstanding, isn’t it?”

At Cyan’s words, Asrandiz tilted his head.

“Do you know about us?”

“I don’t know the details. Only that you are descendants of that distant one.”

“…!”

At that moment, Asrandiz’s eyes widened.

Surprise and shock.

He looked at Cyan with an expression somewhere in between.

Descendants of that distant one.

He seemed to know that it meant Elodie.

And that fact was not easily known. No, far from being easily known, it was a fact that almost no one knew anymore.

Even the Dark Elves didn’t know that fact.

It was just a word passed down like a tradition to the Forest Keepers.

But a human knew it.

Asrandiz’s shock didn’t subside easily.

Such a desolate silence fell.

And after a little time passed.

“It’s not just… a misunderstanding.”

Asrandiz slowly opened his mouth.

Asrandiz’s expression was quite dark.

The fact that he brought up the story of the black magic spreading in the North as soon as he saw them.

It seemed that something was going on.

Cyan slightly turned his head and looked at Osly.

In terms of status, or whatever.

The person in charge of Cyan’s party was none other than Osly.

As if he had noticed Cyan’s gaze, Osly showed a reaction.

However, he just looked at Cyan with calm eyes and didn’t particularly step forward.

It was as if he was telling Cyan to start the conversation.

That was because Osly was a knight.

He was almost ignorant of magic, let alone black magic.

Although it was related to the North, the fundamental problem was black magic.

He couldn’t lead the story about it.

That’s why Osly brought Panat.

But Panat also had no intention of stepping forward.

He had glimpsed Cyan’s magical knowledge on the way.

He had an understanding that was more than considerable, it was tremendous.

Even in regards to the mana of darkness, he showed a level that was even better than his own.

So how could he step forward?

Above all, it was all thanks to Cyan that they came to the Dark Elf village.

Osly and Panat didn’t say anything.

At the sight of the two, Cyan sighed inwardly.

He was going to rest a bit in the back and listen to the story.

Cyan slowly opened his mouth.

“If it’s not just a misunderstanding… does that mean the black magic spreading in the North is related to the Dark Elves?”

“…That’s right.”

Asrandiz said with a small nod.

“Our Dark Elves handle the mana of darkness. And the madness that resides within it. Because of that, we must be ostracized from the world. That was the fate we had to accept.”

“But… you know how to control the madness to some extent, don’t you?”

The Dark Elves are descendants of Elodie.

Elodie could control the mana of darkness.

Although it didn’t reach Kyle’s Soul Brand Art [a technique to control dark mana].

And although Elodie’s knowledge had been lost over the years.

They knew how to control the mana of darkness.

He could tell without having to ask.

Sera, and the Dark Elves he had seen along the way.

He couldn’t see any power of madness from them.

Even Asrandiz now.

Asrandiz was a mage of the 8th Circle, comparable to Egret.

In other words, a mage who had reached the 8th Circle with the mana of darkness.

In fact, there was no problem at all in discussing the strongest mage on the continent.

But he wasn’t tainted by madness at all.

That meant.

It was safe to say that he was almost perfectly controlling the mana of darkness.

“That’s why.”

“That’s why… what?”

Asrandiz slowly spat out the words.

“Misunderstanding. And unfairness. That’s what tainted that guy’s heart.”

“Are you saying…?”

“That guy had a lot of dissatisfaction with the treatment the Dark Elves received.”

The Dark Elves were ostracized by the people of the world.

That was purely because they were using the mana of darkness.

And the mana of darkness always had the power of madness.

But the Dark Elves were not.

They could control the power of madness.

So, unless they were really tainted by madness.

If it was purely ostracism from a misunderstanding, it was unfair.

No, it was impossible not to be angry.

To the humans who were oppressing them like this.

That meant.

“So… are you saying that the Dark Elf, out of rebellion, has turned the situation in the North upside down?”

“…”

Asrandiz didn’t say anything.

He just maintained a silence that contained neither affirmation nor negation.

A moment of silence fell.

After a little time passed, Asrandiz spoke again.

“I thought so. But the misunderstanding wasn’t just with the humans. To be exact, we were misunderstanding. We… we were mistaken about ourselves.”

Asrandiz muttered incomprehensible words.

“What do you mean?”

“You must have seen it on the way. The appearance of the World Tree.”

Cyan nodded.

In the first place, the place they were in was right under the World Tree.

It was the space that the World Tree held.

“Then you must have also seen that the World Tree was holding something.”

Cyan nodded once again.

That was what he had just confirmed.

And he had even heard Sera say that it wasn’t there now.

However, as for what it was holding─.

“What the World Tree was holding was Instiz.”

“Instiz…?”

Cyan tilted his head without realizing it.

That was because it was a word that felt strangely familiar.

A word that sounded familiar yet unfamiliar.

Then suddenly.

“If it’s Instiz, could it be?”

Cyan shouted in surprise at the memory that suddenly came to mind.

Instiz.

The beginning of this word goes back as far as a thousand years ago.

And two names appear here.

The Divine Craftsman, Morcru [a legendary blacksmith].

One of the Six Arnaize [powerful mages from the past].

And the Arnaize who made the legendary weapons of the other Arnaize.

Instiz was the name of the weapon that Morcru made.

And the owner of that weapon was.

“It was the staff that Elodie used.”

The Great Mage Elodie.

The staff she used was Instiz.

And.

“Instiz began to be swallowed by darkness at some point.”

Along with Asrandiz’s words.

*Ding!*

『[Story-Linked Quest] – ‘In Search of Continuing Truth’』

In an instant, there was a change in the story-linked quest.