The atmosphere of the Elf Warriors staring at us has become very serious.
Initially, they showed a bit of wariness, but now they are openly radiating killing intent toward us.
Even the two Elf Warriors who had flown away earlier appeared back in one piece.
Despite Hyeji’s and my attacks not being weak, seeing them unscathed made it clear that being an Elf Warrior wasn’t just a title.
Sharit no longer showed any semblance of relaxation and expressed his anger while stammering slightly.
“T-t-these bastards!!! D-dare to challenge the Elf Warriors!!!”
As if in response to Sharit’s words, the Elf Warriors gradually began to tighten their encirclement and approach us.
Elcia was still uneasy, and Jeong Ahyeon was supporting her while quietly glaring at the surroundings.
Seeing us like this, Sharit burst out in laughter and regained his earlier momentum.
“Hahaha!!! So, you’ve chosen death, huh!!”
“……You really want to see blood, don’t you?”
“How ridiculous! You’re all going to die here, anyway!!!”
“It’s clearly your decision, huh? In the end, violence is how everyone gets what they want.”
At that moment, Piece spoke up in an unusually tense voice.
[There’s nothing more dangerous than Elf Warriors getting serious!]
‘They’re getting serious?’
That’s actually good.
The season in the story is winter right now.
We needed to get a bit serious ourselves.
I glanced at Hyeji, and she noticed my gaze, locking eyes with me.
“Shinwoo, what are we going to do now? Are we just going to stand here?”
“Should we start to loosen our restrictions as well?”
“How?”
“……Violation.”
“!!!!”
Hyeji’s actions suddenly came to a halt.
She stared at me, wide-eyed, without saying a word.
As if to say, are you really going to do it?
I watched her reaction and began to recite the next code.
“Flame.”
“Disaster.”
“Explosion.”
Hyeji’s aura was gradually changing.
Being seasoned warriors, the Elf Warriors began to be extremely wary of Hyeji, whose presence had suddenly shifted.
The Elf Warriors soon stopped in their tracks, sweating profusely.
It must have been due to Hyeji’s sudden change.
I continued to recite the next codes without a break.
“Breast.”
“Absence.”
“Extinction.”
“Despair.”
“Wrath.”
“Death.”
Now everyone was holding their breath and only looking at Hyeji.
Hyeji didn’t growl or shout like before.
She simply stood still, quietly with unfocused eyes.
I recited the last code.
“Tool.”
In that moment, a chilling focus entered Hyeji’s eyes.
While the Forest of Elves was usually warm no matter the season.
It felt like winter had come to this space we were in.
“I will comply it.”
The manifestation of Winter Hyeji had arrived.
Earlier, she was Normal Hyeji, trying to minimize casualties, but now she was Winter Hyeji, who didn’t care about casualties.
She was a being where reason and logic held no sway.
[You crazy fool! This isn’t a brainwashing; it’s unleashing a leash!]
‘Oh, they’ll handle it on their own.’
The Elf Warriors, seeing her, instinctively sensed the arrival of death.
Especially, the female Elf Warriors, without exception, hugged their chests tightly, cautiously creating distance.
They instinctively realized the intense killing intent focused on their chests.
However, Sharit, who lacked such instinct, commanded the Elf Warriors.
“Kill them immediately!”
“B-but, Sharit! That’s just…”
“Don’t joke around! Are you Elf Warriors or not?”
“This is a dog’s death!!!”
One Elf Warrior objected vigorously.
Sharit grabbed that Elf Warrior by the collar, glaring with bloodshot eyes.
“If you let this golden opportunity slip away, the Pond Leaf Tribe will hold you accountable!”
“Gah! Damn.”
The Elf Warrior sighed and muttered a curse.
Once Sharit released the collar, the Elf Warrior looked like they’d given up and was about to charge at us.
However, the assault of the Elf Warriors couldn’t start.
The World Tree, having revived like a dog, urgently stopped everyone with a booming telepathic voice.
“My children!! Please stop everyone!!!!!”
The Elf Warriors sighed in relief upon hearing the World Tree’s telepathic voice.
They had moved one step away from death.
Then, Sharit began to question the World Tree.
“World Tree! Why are you stopping us!”
“If we simply start a war, we could die.”
“How would we know if we don’t try!!!”
“I’m definitely going to die!! You son of a bitch!!”
Due to his own survival being at stake, the World Tree abandoned all formalities.
It seemed Sharit hadn’t expected that from the World Tree, leaving him momentarily speechless.
Then he again expressed his opinion towards the World Tree.
“Then, do we just have to stand by and do nothing?!”
“Don’t worry.”
The World Tree replied relatively gently to Sharit.
And then, the World Tree turned its attention from Sharit to Elcia.
“Ershiana, would you like to make a wager with me?”
“……What kind of wager do you want?”
The World Tree spoke calmly.
And, with a hint of joy, spoke gently.
“On your freedom.”
This proposal was so attractive that Elcia couldn’t refuse it.
*
The World Tree’s proposal was as follows.
Through a duel with the Elf Warriors, the side that wins would have their opinion followed.
Each side would select three representatives to fight in a 1:1 duel, and the first side to achieve two victories would win.
The victory conditions were threefold.
Either side could declare defeat.
Or they could lose consciousness.
Or they could die.
We had intended to release Hyeji and wipe them all out, but upon receiving such a proposal, we naturally protested and made additional demands.
The demands stated that today’s events should be regarded purely as a matter within the Forest of Elves and that the Korean government or the Academy should bear no responsibility.
[If the government or Academy gets involved, it’ll be a real headache.]
‘Hyeji’s dad might face issues due to his job nature.’
The chief elf had definitely instructed the Elf Warriors to contact the Korean government and the Academy earlier.
We were unwilling to get tangled up in trivial matters.
When enough time had passed for Hyeji’s self to return, the chief elf rushed over, panting, and showed us an oath document.
The contents of the oath were as follows.
– The Korean government and the Academy bear no responsibility for any events occurring today in the Forest of Elves.
– Everything happening today in the Forest of Elves is in mutual non-aggression, and violating this will be regarded as a unilateral breach of the peace treaty.
– Regardless of any casualties, both sides bear no responsibility and will solely endure on their own.
There were a few additional clauses, but the contents were largely similar.
All emphasized that no one would assume responsibility or involvement in today’s incidents.
Only after ensuring there would be no further entanglement did we finally accept the World Tree’s proposal.
*
Currently, we were in a standoff at the traditional duel arena of the Elves.
Though called a duel arena, it was merely a clearing surrounded by radiant greenery, with the World Tree visible in the distance.
In the center stood us and the Elf Warriors, with numerous Elves encircling us.
We were waiting for the selection of Elf Warriors to participate.
After all, only me, Hyeji, and Jeong Ahyeon would be participating.
Then, only two Elf Warriors stepped forward from their side.
The two Elf Warriors who had been by Sharit’s side, both wearing the same type of earrings as Sharit.
They stepped forward simultaneously.
“Why are you two the only ones coming out?”
The two Elf Warriors looked completely identical.
Aesthetic looks. Flowing blonde hair. Tall statuesque build, and surprisingly muscular for Elves.
The only visible difference was their choice of weapon.
The Elf Warrior holding a spear sneered and spoke.
“Since the two of us can win it all, there’s really no need to bring out everyone.”
“I’ll take you down. Come at me, you bastard.”
“Let me repay you for the last time.”
I asked Jeong Ahyeon to stay by Elcia’s side.
Then, the axe-holding Elf Warrior, looking pale, exclaimed in a hurry to the spear-wielding Elf Warrior.
“Hey, Fabian! I don’t want to die!! There’s no way I can beat that red-haired girl!”
“You’re the 1st ranked Elf Warrior; why are you being such a coward?”
“Then you take over! You’re 2nd rank too, so there’s not much difference!”
“……Hey! You inferior black-haired type! Aren’t you the one who called me out to fight?”
The spear-wielding Elf Warrior, calling the other his brother, reluctantly addressed me.
From the tone, it seemed the two were indeed siblings.
In that moment, I recalled that Ear Goblin Lucian, who belonged to the same tribe as those Elf Warriors.
“Are you guys related to Lucian? Anyway, are you that bastard’s brothers?”
“Hah! That bastard isn’t worthy of being called my brother!”
“He’s a disgrace to our tribe. Don’t compare us to him.”
The two Elf Warriors made disgusted faces, truly looking enraged.
Lucian’s reputation seemed to not be very good even within his family.
Then, the two Elf Warriors suddenly posed dramatically, crossed their weapons, and aimed at us.
The spear-wielding Elf Warrior spoke first, followed by the axe-wielding Elf Warrior.
“Since it has come to this, I will introduce myself as a warrior! I am the 2nd ranked Elf Warrior! Fabia Nerda of the Pond Leaf Tribe!”
“I am the 1st ranked Elf Warrior. Demia Nerda of the Pond Leaf Tribe.”
“I will definitely win! For the honor of the Pond Leaf Tribe!”
“……Let me live……. No, I will survive. Definitely…”
“Now it’s your turn to introduce yourselves!”
Hyeji and I looked at the Elf Warrior brothers without taking a special stance and said.
“Ear Goblin Vendor.”
“That’s me.”
Having said our names, it was now time to introduce ourselves.
“For sale: elves, never used.”
“You dog bastards.”
That was relatively simple.
