Chapter 316: Chapter 234 Part 1

Translator: “Hakou” Editor: “Weasalopes”

The Spirit Forest that stretches across the northern part of the Ost continent. In one of the trunks of the world tree that rises in the center of the forest, there is a mansion where the high elves gather.

In the conference room of this mansion, the high elves were currently holding a meeting.

「These are two things that we must deal with urgently」

The vertical wrinkles between his eyebrows that haven’t disappeared recently. As the Chairman spoke, the wrinkles deepened.

The village of the elves had been peaceful for a long time, but in recent years, various problems had arisen. The Chairman had no time to rest his mind.

「First of all, the matter regarding the garbage. We can’t carry the waste from our village out of the forest」

The houses and workshops in the village produce filth and other harmful substances. Until now, they have had the human race come to pick it up and dispose of it in the mountains inside the Empire territory.

Recently, however, the Empire has refused to cooperate. The elves were baffled by this.

「It’s not a land that they’re going to use anyway, so what’s wrong with it?」

The high elf shook his head with an expression of incomprehension. Another high elf agreed with a pained expression.

「I even told them that we would pay them, but they still wouldn’t budge. It seems that the human race does not have the brains to think about profit and loss」

Another high elf crossed his arms and asked, 『Did you ask them?』 to the two of them. They nodded skeptically and said that it was the story of a messenger who had returned from the Empire.

He was there to rebuke the new lord of the northern city for their sudden outrageous act.

「It seems that the lord did not not show themselves, they’re probably afraid of our fury. We met with his second-in-command, but he was useless, so we had to go all the way to the imperial capital」

Shaking his head from side to side, the high elf continued to speak.

「The people in the imperial capital who responded simply said 『we entrust it to the lord』. It seems that they are all idiots who don’t understand that there will be serious problems if things continue as they are」

Everyone in the room got louder as they talked to each other. The Chairman frowned, slammed his desk and shouted strongly.

「Quiet!」

The Chairman looked around the conference room that became quiet at once and let out a single breath. Then he resumed the meeting.

「The second is the lack of resources. Since the trade with the Empire has stopped, we are unable to obtain the things we need」

The Spirit Forest is blessed with clean water and rich soil. The magic in the air is also rich, but it is not blessed with underground resources.

Partly because the elves themselves are not good at it, resources from underground and crater areas have to be purchased from the human race.

Many of the materials used to make potions and tools were not available, which is why the elven village was unable to produce daily necessities.

「If the trade stops, the Empire will also get its own head on a spike. Are they so stupid that they doesn’t realize such a simple thing?」n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om

One of them said while showing an expression of disbelief, believing that the Empire was suffering more than them.

In the midst of the high elves, who had started to make noise again, a fat high elf opened his mouth with a dejected look.

「But it was also our own fault. We’ve given birth to a powerful ruler in the Empire.」

Due to topographical constraints, the only route for transporting goods in large quantities is the road to and from the Empire. Because of the steep mountain range between the northern countries, large golem carriages cannot pass through.

In other words, this road is a lifeline for the elves. And it has been seized by a powerful force of the human race.

「We should have honey-trapped the inside of the Empire, putting them at odds and weakening them. This is the punishment for failing to do so」

The high elves made a bitter expression and fell silent. The high elves had been too optimistic, thinking that those foolish people would soon divide, or that the emperor would soon die of old age.

Exhaling deeply, the Chairman replied.

「I’ve instructed some people to take action, albeit a little late. But honestly, it will be difficult to do so now. The Empire has already recognized us as the enemy」

The attitude of the Empire suddenly changed after their encounter with the Grim Reaper in the Great Pit.

In that battle, the elves lost their four B-class Knights. Since the pilot was an elf, the village’s involvement would be obvious.

It was unknown whether they were captured alive or not, but there was no way they could have left a single corpse behind.

「From the looks of it, the Empire’s approach is to blockade trade routes and defend their borders」

As the Chairman finishes, the fat high elf raises his hand and expresses his opinion.

「We only have trade routes with the Empire, but they can exchange goods with other countries. They may be waiting for us to make a noise first」

The Chairman nodded and spoke.

「I’m of the same opinion. Time is on the side of the Empire, and if we don’t act soon, we’ll kept going downhill」

A voice that sounded as if it was mocking the two people with serious expressions flew at them. The source of the voice was an old man who was as thin as a dead tree.

This high elf is the commander of the Elven knight order.

「What are you so worried about? We should just go out there and turn their land into vacant lot」

He said while hugging the old woman next to him by the shoulder as he made a proud expression.

The Chairman quietly countered with a sullen expression.

「We are indeed strong, but the Empire is big and has a large population. It will be difficult to defeat them, and what we want are underground resources」

Do you understand? He glared at him and added.

「Even if we take their land, it is useless if there are no people to dig and refine it. We elves don’t like that kind of work, and we don’t want the hassle of having to control and force the human to work for us」

The knight commander snickered at the Chairman as he finished his sentence.

「You’re an idiot, aren’t you? What we need to take is only the neighboring land」

The chairman peels his eyes open and the fat high elf raises his eyebrows unpleasantly. On the other hand, the old woman leaning against the knight commander holds her hand over her mouth and giggles in a funny way.

「All we need is a land to dump our garbage and a trade route. If we can extend our reach to the border of the Kingdom and the northern countries, we no longer need to rely on the Empire」

When he flicks his finger, the map tapestry hanging on the wall changes. The borders of the Spirit Forest, the Empire, the Kingdom, and the northern country expanded.

Next, the rural city of the Empire, just south of the Spirit Forest, glowed red.

「From this location, we can push back the Empire, trade with other human nations, and at the same time, work to separate ourselves from the Empire. I think this should be enough」

Hearing this proposal, almost everyone, including the Chairman, was silent. He examined this proposal in his mind.

「…It’s not bad」

The fat high elf spoke in a serious tone. He did not like this high elf, who was as thin as a dead tree.

But he would have to admit that he was not stupid.

「This is the best plan for our current situation huh」

The Chairman groans.

「Now then, when should we depart? My side is ready to go anytime」

The high elf, who was as thin as a dead tree, smiled happily and asked the Chairman. But it was the old woman next to her, her head resting on his shoulder, who interrupted him.

「There’s no need for the elven Knights to go all the trouble to do that now aren’t there? We can try luring the demon beasts there for now」

That’s true huh? He said in an arrogant manner, laughing out of the corner of his eyes.

「The demon beasts should be enough to deal with the likes of the Knights of the human race. When the High Elves come out, I shall deal with them myself」

Looking over at the Knight Commander and the old woman who rubbed their cheeks together, the Chairman thought about what they had just said.

The Knights are their trump card, and if this can be done with demon beasts, it would be better. If the Empire is already prepared and waiting for them, then so much the better.

(I’m also worried about the existence that equivalent to a high elf)

We can hit the less important guys and observe the situation. There is no reason not to adopt this idea.

Having made his decision, the chairman turned to everyone in the conference room and shouted in a strong voice.

「Alright, then the demon beasts, especially those called vermin. Let’s try to intimidate them and lure them south to the Empire」

Some of the people in the room expressed their agreement. Thus, the plan for the Elven village’s attack on the Empire was decided.

***

The scene moves from the spirit to the royal capital, far to the southeast.

The red-light district after the sun has set. There was an old man skipping through the back alleys.

「I’m really looking forward to it」

That was me.

I’m on my way to the 『Uniform Store』.

Today is my first appointment with Ponytail since she returned working part-time there. It can’t be helped that my pants are bulging with anticipation right now.

「The person who made a reservation, Tauro, has arrived~」

I pushed my way to the old concierge at the counter in the back of the lobby with high spirits.

I couldn’t find Ponytail’s figure on the platform, but it was not strange since I had already made a reservation.

I smiled and took out my guild card, but for some reason the old concierge didn’t want to take it. With a gloomy expression, he opens his mouth apologetically.

「Actually, we’re having a little trouble」

From what I’ve heard from him, apparently Ponytail was very upset with me for some reason.

「She holed up in the playroom with her junior?」

One of her juniors in the pilot school, Black Tights-chan. She is said to have taken her into a room without permission and locked it from the inside.

『She want to lecture me and make me apologize to Black Tights-chan』

So when he came to the store, bring him to me. Or so she insisted.

He thought about forcing his way in with the master key, but he wanted to at least let me know of this first. He decided to do so and waited for me to come.

After he finished speaking, the old concierge let out a long, small sigh.

(Full energy as always, aren’t she)

Contrary to the concierge’s worries, my mood is only getting better.

(Head alone to the room with Ponytail and Black Tights-chan and apologize to Black Tights-chan?)

Very well. I don’t know what I should be apologizing for, but bring it on.

I replied to the old concierge in a calm voice with the calmness of an adult.

「It’s okay, if that’s how she wants to do it, then fine by me」

I will pay for them both. When I told him that, the old concierge lowered his back and muttered, 『We’re really sorry』.

But he didn’t stop there, and continued to speak as if he had trouble saying it.

「……It will have to be on another appointment, is it?」

Black Tights-chan already had a reservation, and the customer would be arriving soon.

(Now that’s a shame)

This was a dream collaboration between senior and junior students of the pilot school. And the performance theme was 『to make me apologize』 which was a fresh experience.

I also wanted to stand on the stage called “bed” with them.

(But if there’s another customer looking forward to their play with Black Tights-chan, then I won’t be able to do that)

Unable to give up, I was troubled and made a suggestion.