Shia, Menelapie, Yujin, and Olgania moved to a reception room somewhere in the National Assembly.
Though it was unofficial, the atmosphere among the close friends was surprisingly pleasant, unlike the diplomatic letters and terms exchanged earlier.
For Menelapie, making Shia her top priority didn’t mean she disliked people; and Yujin liked all of them except Shia.
With Menelapie by her side, Shia always felt good.
Oh, well, at the moment, it was less about feeling good and more about being flustered.
“Ah, no… Really…?”
Shia was flustered because the government’s decision that “the elf’s safety would be handled by the returnee Isia from Korea” had just been made.
Soon, through Yeonseo, some members of the National Assembly and the Hunter Association would sign off on a document which would officially assign Shia the task of managing the identities of the elves that came from the Great Forest to Earth.
Why on earth…?
Me??? Why me??
For Shia, it was too sudden, and she still wore a dumbfounded expression.
“I dozed off during the meeting, but how did it come to me being in charge of the elves’ safety?!”
“Should I start explaining from there?”
“Don’t worry. You have me, right?”
“Ah…!”
Just like that, Menelapie was trustworthy.
Even when I wasn’t paying attention at the meeting, I never doubted that Menelapie would neatly summarize everything so I could understand.
In the previous world, whenever there were complicated political matters or founding the Rose Order, it was always Menelapie and Teresa who summarized it for me, giving clear instructions like, “Just do this, Shia.”
Even here on Earth, my only reliable ally is Menelapie…
“Shia, the reason you are now in charge of the safety of the elves is not that complicated.”
“Then…?”
“Of course, it’s because our saintess is incredibly sacred and outstanding! It’s only natural.”
“……….”
What the hell…?
No, what does that even mean!?
Menelapie’s mindless praise only soured the expressions on Yujin and Shia’s faces simultaneously.
“Hehe, but what Menelapie Unnie said isn’t wrong.”
At that moment, Olgania, who had been quietly sitting on one side, said, and Shia’s golden eyes turned to her.
I thought it was just an innocent compliment, but she said it’s not wrong… Could Olgania also be trying to tease me like Yeonseo Unnie and Menelapie?
“It’s not wrong?”
“Well, you did help us elves, didn’t you?”
“Yeah, that’s true…”
I helped with the Chaos Ant and even resurrected the big Olgania thought to be dead. I healed diseases too, and I crushed the demon king’s fragments that were attacking the rotting World Tree’s roots. It makes sense that the elves have a strong affection for the saintess.
“Thanks to that, the only person we trust in the Great Forest right now is Shia Unnie. It wasn’t intentional, but the elves currently have zero trust in humans aside from you. There have been diplomatic tensions with China, and during that process, their blatant desire to consume the Great Forest has made many elves wary of humans.”
I already knew about that.
However, the current position of the elves also put them in a very ambiguous situation regarding the various countries on Earth, and blindly breaking off relations with the entire world would be tantamount to declaring an enemy.
Although the elves’ power is absurdly high, they cannot turn their backs on all the countries on Earth. They know all humans aren’t greedy fools.
“But… even so, why do I have to take charge of the elves’ safety…”
“It’s simple. At this point, the elves can’t trust any country on Earth. The only human they can trust is the saintess, Shia Unnie.”
“Conversely, the countries on Earth need a reassurance that the elves are rational beings who can communicate, not just a race seeking war and destruction.”
“And what do you know about the country that belongs to Shia, which is a top-ranking hunter nation in the world: Korea? While the elves’ safety will rest with you, it allows for foreigners to see that elves and Korea are managing a decent relationship. That way, over time, distrust or wariness towards the elves will gradually decrease.”
After hearing this, Shia realized.
They’re trying to use me for the nation and the race!
But Shia is a saint.
If the elves, who are in trouble, have a chance to stabilize the unstable international society due to their arrival, Shia could never refuse.
Naturally, Shia couldn’t turn it down.
“Don’t worry too much, Shia. I’m accepting this after deep consideration.”
Menelapie whispered encouraging words to the sighing Shia.
“I hope this becomes beneficial for you. It should be completely harmless.”
“…Sigh, but how can I handle an entire race when I’ve never done this before…”
“Hehehe, Shia, let me tell you one benefit that this whole situation will give you… The crops of the elves are quite delicious!”
“……Huh?”
That’s true.
The reason I survived without eating meat even once in the Great Forest was thanks to the ridiculous deliciousness of the elf-grown crops.
If not, I would have fled from the Great Forest before resurrecting Olgania.
“Having the responsibility for the elves means their resources, and all of their labor and skills are now in your hands…”
“………….gulp…”
Honestly, I can’t resist the elf leaf fritters.
You could even say the crops are comparable to Yeonseo Unnie’s dungeon cabbage!
“Moreover, I heard that the elves decided to serve meat to outsiders this time…”
“…!”
Meat-infused elf crops?!
The Nut Tree House Elf had excellent cooking skills… slurp…
Honestly, isn’t eating the most important thing?
The reason we work and earn money in life… isn’t it all to eat and live?
Then… there’s no reason to refuse.
If everything goes well, I might get to enjoy superb food and ingredients prepared by the elves every day, then…
“Okay, I’m in!”
Forget everything else; Menelapie had obviously considered this a lot!
If Menelapie said so, it must be generally correct and harmless to me.
There’s no reason to turn down this offer.
“By the way, what did you do to set off that Spirit Nuke?”
“Ah….”
At those words, both Olganias subtly averted their eyes from Shia, and Yujin let out a deep sigh.
○○○○
That goes back to a week ago when the negotiations between China and the Great Forest started to go downhill.
The Spirit Nuke.
In elf language, it’s called “Seregedgarnir,” but on Earth, it’s more colloquially known as “Spirit Nuke” or “Fairy Nuclear.”
Elves are known for being exclusive and arrogant towards other races, but they are a gentle race that loves nature and peace.
So, why on earth did such a peaceful race bring along a weapon that could terraform the Earth to extremes if used properly, called the Spirit Nuke?
[There’s nothing more to hear. The Great Forest cannot welcome you. Leave quietly while I’m talking.]
[Oh dear! You, a representative of your race, have no political sense!]
[Political sense? You, a child, are acting like a spoiled brat!]
[What? I’m 58 years old! How dare you talk about age…!]
[58? I’m 2892 years old!]
The big Olgania was indeed very old.
Small Olga was born as a child of the World Tree thousands of years before elves were ruled, and after the Demon King’s appearance, she fought on the front lines against it and has extensive experience both in battle and politics.
So, in the diplomatic showdown disguised as negotiations with the People’s Republic of China, Olgania was not at all at a disadvantage.
In the previous world, Olgania witnessed countless generations of humans being born and dying. Dozens of kingdoms rose and fell in her sight.
Even though she had come to this new world called Earth, the greed of the human race was the same everywhere; thus, the seasoned Olgania, whose status and recognition level was unfathomable, saw the Chinese approaches or threats akin to a child throwing a tantrum.
[Then are the elves truly prepared to risk war against our China!?]
“We lack nothing; why would we accept diplomatic relations with you? I know that diplomacy should be based on an equal exchange of information and pursuing national interests, but why do you think we elves and the Great Forest have been your vassal since when?]
Ultimately that day, the negotiations between China and the Great Forest collapsed entirely, revealing only their differences in position.
However, at this point, Olgania genuinely had no desire for war against China.
Regardless of whether the elves’ power was strong or weak, if war broke out, many of their kin would die.
It was Olgania’s duty to prevent extreme situations like that and, while showing a tough stance, to try and find a solution through words as originally intended.
“Sigh, what to do…”
“Why not ask Shia Unnie or Yujin? I think it’d be good to consider a human’s perspective too.”
“Shia and Yujin?”
Small Olgania tossed out a suggestion to the mulling over big Olgania.
I thought she was just peacefully watching the Hunter Broadcast online, but small Olgania was also deep in thought.
Surely, living in the human world, Shia and Yujin might provide an objective solution.
And so, the big Olgania secretly visited Yujin one night, unofficially.
But China wasn’t going to miss such an opportunity.
As the heightened vigilance of the Great Forest hadn’t yet reached its peak, the Chinese side noticed that Olgania had gone missing.
‘Oh… that child was a delegate, right? If I can deal with the delegate, there’s a possibility to persuade or threaten them through words!’
That’s when the Chinese diplomatic team reached out to small Olga, who had been watching Shia’s re-broadcast.
[Long time no see, Yujin!]
[…………]
Hours later, after arriving at Yujin’s residence, big Olgania was met with…
[Did you do this?]
[What?]
[A report from an organization set in China said that a huge forest began to grow in the Gobi Desert in less than 30 seconds…]
[Ehh…?]
Before she could properly reunite with Yujin, big Olgania learned about the news of the Gobi Desert being terraformed.
○○○○○
“So it was Small Olgania who set off the Spirit Nuke, not Big Olgania?!”
“Hehehe… I’m so shy.”
“No…..”
Shia glared at Yujin with a look demanding an explanation.
“Don’t look at me like that. I’m having a hard time too.”
“You should take care of a person you call your girlfriend!”
“She’s not my girlfriend!!!”
“…………………..”
No one noticed the fact that the fierce look on Big Olgania’s face changed into a deadly expression for just a second as Yujin made his excuse.
“Ahem, anyway… You can understand the story just by listening, right? While I was out, the Chinese tried to do something to Small Olgania…”
“Ugh… the Chinese diplomats threw papers at me, telling me to sign it! How dare a much younger kid bully me!! Anyone who touches my little sister is gonna regret it!”
“Sigh, Olga… where did you learn such words from…”
“From Shia Unnie’s broadcast!”
After hearing about how the Spirit Nuke went off, Shia let out a sigh.
She wasn’t just shocked and flabbergasted; she never expected such a bizarre reason.
“…Ultimately, Small Olganya caused chaos, and I had to meet Big Olgania to resolve the situation without even having time for coffee. Honestly, that part would’ve been okay… The Spirit Nuke unleashed by Olgania was only a test version.”
“A test version…?”
“To be honest, I didn’t make the Spirit Nuke; it was Olgania who did. The real one was different.”
“Hehe…”
At Big Olgania’s words, Shia looked on stunned at the leaf fry that had been offered.
How on earth did she create that…?
“Ehem, despite my appearance, I am a child of the World Tree! Creating that much is easy.”
“…..”
“Anyway, at the time, I thought Olgania would scold Small Olganya for causing trouble. But… do you know what she said?”
[If you’re going to explode, at least make it the real one! If you blow up something so small, they’ll think we’re nothing but ants!!]
Then Big Olgania triggered the Spirit Nuke once again, resulting in 30% of the Gobi Desert being turned into a verdant forest.
…It’s incredible. I thought they were gentle elves who loved nature, but now it seems like they harbor impulsive and violent tendencies hidden under a facade of extreme naturalism.
“In fact, the accurate name isn’t even the Spirit Nuke; it’s the Great Forest Special ‘Nugeo River Green and Green’ Bomb!”
No way, that’s insane.
So that’s the real name of it?
“I don’t know what a ‘Great Forest special’ even means?”
“Curious?”
“Yeah, freaking curious…”
Honestly, if I said I wasn’t interested, I would be lying.
How can I bear this?
“Even I am quite interested. It feels like a sign that extremes complement each other, just like life and death maintain a delicate balance.”
Even Menelapie, who should be stopped, was showing interest.
Seeing the focus of interest shift toward her, Olgania struck posed like a main stage MC.
“Then feast your eyes! The culmination of elf naturalism! A product of non-violence!”
And what Olgania presented looked somewhat familiar… Something that resembled a robust fruit with yellowish grains embedded in it.
“This is the Great Forest terraforming that will send humanity’s greed back to the primordial baby stage!!”
What Olgania revealed was just simply… corn.
With perfectly grown silks and delicious-looking, robust yellow grains.
“…It looks like corn?”
“Yeah! That’s right! You’re sharp Shia Unnie!”
“….?”
So this corn…
This is the so-called terrifying “Nugeo River Green and Green” bomb…?
“It’s called Be-violence. It shouldn’t look dangerous, right?”
Shia pondered if the dangerous factor lies in the mental state of the creator rather than the appearance of the bomb.
Up until now, thinking of Olgania, the flamboyant and “leaf fry vendor,” as an innocent elf girl, Shia felt a storm of confusion in her mind.
“So… the bomb that Small Olgania set off changed 30% of the Gobi Desert into a forest?”
“It looks harmless like corn, doesn’t it? What if you take one seed, bury it in the ground, or sell it in humans’ cities as if it’s just ordinary corn?”
“…What will happen?”
“Boom! KABOOM!! We are reverting to the primordial world!”
As Small Olgania opened her arms wide, expressing the imagery of trees growing, Shia facepalmed.
I’m going crazy.
I thought they’re the gentle and peace-loving elves, but now I realize there’s an impulsive and violent nature underlying it all.
“Ultimately, I’m not sure if I can properly manage these elves…”
