—————————————————————–
Translated By Arcane Translations
Translator: Ruby
—————————————————————–
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇
Brigitte opened the reception room door, revealing a single elf.
Snow-white skin.
And green eyes that seemed to capture a quiet forest.
Pointed but not markedly longer ears than humans’.
Clear features, small face.
A face unmistakably beautiful by human standards.
“Hello, Your Majesty Empress Brigitte.”
The elf spoke in a clear voice.
Elves have genders. The being before them was clearly a female elf.
Yuma looked at the elf with [Search Eye].
Despite wearing simple leather clothes suggesting she wasn’t even among the elves’ combat personnel, her level exceeded 90.
‘Truly befitting the most superior race after dragons, Yuma thought.’
Her neutral alignment was also notable.
While this world might differ, the elves in Loop Blood were similarly neutral, acting only for their own race and the safety of their forests.
Ishera rose and bowed.
“I greet the pinnacle of the great Astes Empire. I am Ishera of Albheim.”
Regardless of race, she was an empire’s empress.
A being even elves had to show formal respect to.
Ishera showed a kind eye-smile.
While other men might have been thoroughly enchanted by that smile, Yuma had the characteristic of considering himself most supreme.
Brigitte slowly nodded.
It was exactly as the elf just said. Brigitte was this land’s empress.
“Welcome, Ishera.”
So she could not bow to anything.
“May I ask who you are?”
Ishera moved her head with silver hair.
And where her gaze stopped was Yuma.
“Grand Duke Yuma of the Astes Empire.”
Ishera’s green eyes widened roundly.
“Aah…!”
Ishera exclaimed with wide open mouth, then continued.
“I meet the Dragon Slayer…!”
Ishera’s voice trembled slightly.
Dragon.
Dragons were beings that ruled through sheer terror for elves just by existing.
Long ago.
When dragons didn’t confine themselves to their world [Yuger] like now and freely traversed the middle realm, there was a time they drove the elven kingdom Albheim to the brink of destruction.
And when the ancient dragon-class black dragon [Elcam-Acreon] recently awoke from long slumber near Baron Rubelt’s territory in the Astes Empire.
While no one in Baron Rubelt’s territory knew, the high-ranking officials in distant Albheim noticed an ancient black dragon had awakened.
The World Tree, which held the history of the continent in its forest language, stood at Albheim’s center.
Though it only read the currents of land and sky, that was enough to detect most dangers.
Because all dark omens have precursors.
That’s how Albheim’s high officials noticed the black dragon’s existence faster than anyone else.
However, noticing didn’t mean they could act.
Ancient dragon.
The fear that recklessly baring teeth at a fully matured black dragon could lead to reliving the nightmare from 3000 years ago was deeply embedded in elven genes.
When that ancient black dragon rose from its temporary lair, Albheim’s high officials shuddered at the calamity about to befall the continent again.
But suddenly the whole world turned bright red for a moment─
And the black dragon vanished without a trace.
And when they learned it was done by a human.
And done alone, it was simply unbelievable.
However, there was an elven witness who saw the scene.
One of the high officials and high elf, Albheim’s spirit master Makein, had been secretly watching the scene through wind spirits sylphs.
Albheim wanted the Astes Empire in the Tribal Council, driven by curiosity about Empress Brigitte, but even more so by the Dragon Slayer.
Ishera’s gaze remained fixed on Yuma as if she couldn’t see anything else in this world.
Yuma spoke quietly.
“Your business.”
Ishera finally blinked and pursed her lips.
“Pardon…?”
“State your business for coming here, elf Ishera.”
Ishera flustered briefly, then looked at Empress Brigitte.
“Ah… I was too enthralled meeting Dragon Slayer Lord Yuma. I will now explain why I came to this distant Astes land.”
Brigitte nodded.
“The World Tree read the heavenly signs and conveyed to our high elves. The gaps in space are slowly breaking down and. In three or four months, the sky will tear and. Some calamity will descend… seeing enemies will invade from the sky, our nation speculates it’s either an invasion from the demon realm or dragons.”
Indeed.
The World Tree seemed to have power befitting its name.
‘Well, they probably can’t open the path from demon realm to middle realm all at once.’
Even now, countless magic-related demon race were likely combining powers to break ground for invasion or performing incantations beyond the demon realm.
“So facing this enormous continental crisis, we judged it best for races who can join forces to do so. And Albheim began moving. Please participate in the Tribal Council.”
Ishera bowed again to Brigitte and Yuma.
Brigitte’s fine lips slowly parted.
“When is this Tribal Council planned for?”
“In 10 days. The location is the continent’s center, Albheim’s Third Holy Ground.”
Elves believed without doubt they were the protagonists of this continent, Geherhen.
They were a race full of such self-consciousness.
Though other races had to acknowledge it since they naturally possessed such capabilities.
Anyway, with that abundant self-consciousness they had spread their holy grounds across various continental regions.
They were occupying territory under the pretext of protecting the continent’s ecosystem.
“I departed from that Third Holy Ground. Traveling by horse should take 9 days to arrive.”
Brigitte opened her mouth again.
“Which races have agreed to gather?”
“We’ve received positive responses from dwarves and lycanthropes. Ah, we’ve already brought powerful warlords among the cat folk to the forest holy ground.”
Dwarves, lycanthropes, and cat folk.
Brigitte furrowed her brow realizing it meant a total of five races gathering including the elf before her and herself.
‘Grand council.’
This was enough races gathering to call it a grand council without exaggeration.
Brigitte glanced at Yuma.
“Do as you please.”
At Yuma’s words, Brigitte immediately spoke.
“Alright. Shall we depart tomorrow?”
Yuma knew well Brigitte wasn’t the type to avoid such matters.
“Yes, thank you for responding to our elves’ call, Your Majesty Empress Brigitte.”
Ishera flashed a bright smile.
Then looked at Yuma.
“We would be grateful if the God of War would participate as well.”
“I was planning to anyway.”
Before preparing against the demon army, he couldn’t miss the sight of five races of this continent gathering.
The elf in the imperial palace wasn’t just Ishera.
There were eight elves who accompanied to protect Ishera, who could be considered a diplomat in human terms.
They were conversing in the guest room of the annex.
“As expected, humans seem to be beings that need our guidance.”
“They need enlightenment about continuing acts that violate nature like magical engineering.”
The elves thought while watching imperial workers busily moving beyond the window.
Creak─
The guest room door opened.
Among the elves evaluating humans, a large-built elf who had been keeping silent opened his mouth.
“Welcome back, wise Ishera.”
Ishera nodded.
“Yes, spirited Mulius. I successfully completed the task.”
“How was Empress Brigitte?”
Ishera recalled Brigitte speaking calmly before her.
“She seemed like a legitimate empress of the empire.”
“And Dragon Slayer Grand Duke Yuma?”
“He was a bit different, certainly.”
On the way to this guest room, every noble and knight she met couldn’t help but startle at seeing her.
Their hearts raced just seeing her outer shell of face and body.
But Dragon Slayer Yuma was different.
As if possessing immovability, he showed no reaction.
‘Rather.’
He showed a gaze that seemed to look down on her, an elf.
“Anyway, we agreed to depart right away tomorrow.”
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇
Imperial Library.
In a corner, a blonde woman was immersed in reading books.
It was Ermel, the empire’s former saint.
Step step!
Someone approached close to Ermel.
The face of Ermel, a magician nearing 3rd circle, brightened.
“Lady Hestia!”
“Mm mm, Ermel.”
Hestia came to talk with Ermel whenever she had time.
Since not long after the god Incrinew died.
Perhaps she felt a bit sorry for Ermel who lost all her holy power when Incrinew, the god she served while dedicating herself to the empire as an oracle saint, died.
Anyway, Hestia liked Ermel as a person.
Because she listened well to her words and chatted warmly.
And it was the same for Ermel.
Hestia told about the moment Yuma killed Leviathan.
“He… split the sea?”
“Yeah, walked through the sea swish swish, then blew off Leviathan’s head and threw it into the sea! Could see all the ground below. Then completely annihilated all Leviathan’s subordinates in that sea.”
Very enthusiastically.
“Wow…”
Ermel believed Hestia’s words as she waved her hands in the air explaining Yuma’s achievements enthusiastically.
Someone who killed a god couldn’t not split the sea.
“At this rate, won’t Yuma Yuma really become a god someday?”
When Hestia asked perking up her scarlet cat ears, Ermel smiled brightly.
“While there are no cases of humans gaining divinity… if it’s Lord Yuma, maybe someday.”
“Ooooh, when that happens I’ll take the first believer position…!”
Ermel kept smiling watching Hestia’s green eyes shine.
“You can become the first believer now too? Originally faith starts from firm belief. Lady Hestia believes in Lord Yuma.”
“Ah, that’s right!”
Hestia leaned on Ermel’s shoulder.
“Then Ermel can be Yuma Yuma’s second believer.”
“Hehe, shall I?”
Hestia placed her hand on top of Ermel’s right hand.
“Now, together! Yuma Yuma! Hooray!”
The two hands rose simultaneously.
“Yu-Yuma Yuma hooray!”
Ermel awkwardly followed Hestia’s words.
It was the day a former saint decided to become the second believer of the person who erased her worshipped god from this world.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇
