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Translated By Arcane Translations
Translator: selkie
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“Ugh!”
The door of the barracks swung open. The Imperial Army knight who had led them shoved
Sylvia and Siadin roughly inside. The two elves stumbled and fell to the ground.
Sylvia slowly lifted her head.
In front of her, a banner with a golden dragon on a red background was visible. The number “5” painted at the top caught her eye.
“The Fifth Prince…”
“How dare you! He is of the royal bloodline of the Philios Empire! Show proper respect!”
“Do not be too harsh, Gestain. They are also pitiful souls who have been used.”
Under the royal banner, the Fifth Prince, Raymond, spoke in a calm voice. Only then did Gestain withdraw his menacing aura and step back.
Though his entire body, including his neck and arms, was wrapped in bloodstained bandages, his eyes remained sharp, watching Sylvia and Siadin intently.
“Used… Are you certain?”
An old man in a blue robe, the Blue Tower Master, narrowed his eyes and spoke in a low voice as he stared at Sylvia.
“Am I wrong? Sylvia Platier.”
‘He knows my name?’
Even while being dragged in chains by the Imperial Army, Sylvia had not lost her composure. But now, her expression faltered.
“H-how…”
Her eyes wavered. If he knew her family name, that meant her entire clan had been exposed.
Right now, she was being suspected of involvement in an assassination attempt on a royal. If this information reached the capital, the true Imperial Army would take action.
Even though the Philios Empire was in decline, wiping out a small elf clan was no difficult task.
Since the Great War, the unity among different races had shattered. Sylvia’s clan had no one to turn to for support.
“That thing around your neck, is it not the ‘Forest Necklace’ that proves the lineage of a High Elf? And with your clan’s emblem engraved on it, identifying you was not difficult.”
He knew everything precisely.
After the war ended and contact between humans and other races was severed, she had assumed no human would recognize the Forest Necklace. She hadn’t bothered to hide it. That had been a mistake.
“I know you were used, but you should not be relieved just yet.”
Raymond spoke firmly. His intent was to overwhelm her with the atmosphere and seize the initiative.
[The one who walks ahead, Sylvia Platier. She was a pure elf in every sense. But after enduring all kinds of horrors under the Second Prince’s threats, her nature changed. She usually seemed timid, but when necessary, she acted with extreme pragmatism. At times, she appeared ruthless and cold.]
Sylvia Platier was not just a guide to the protagonist in the novel. She sensed danger beforehand and issued warnings. She essentially served as the strategist of the protagonist’s group.
‘Even now, she must be thinking hard to survive.’
Having read the novel’s narrative and settings, Raymond could easily guess what she was thinking.
“Just because you were used does not erase your crime.”
“Fifth Prince, but—”
“If you want to live, don’t try to be clever. Speak honestly. You have no choices here. I hold the blade. Remember that.”
“Understood, Your Highness…”
Sylvia trailed off. She had tried to steer the conversation but had been completely overpowered.
Now that she had lost control, attempting to outmaneuver him would only backfire.
Seeing her nod obediently, Raymond had to suppress the smile creeping onto his lips. He had made sure she wouldn’t entertain foolish thoughts. Now, it was time to change tactics.
He had used the whip. Now, it was time to offer the carrot.
“If you answer my questions truthfully, I will guarantee the safety of both of you. I swear on the name of the Fifth Prince of the Philios Empire.”
A prince’s name was never spoken lightly. Hearing Raymond’s declaration, Sylvia was somewhat reassured.
“Who is behind this?”
Although this assassination attempt was an “unexpected event,” Raymond had read the author’s setting notes. It was not difficult for him to infer the mastermind.
Even though he already had a good idea, he asked Sylvia to make sure his subordinates knew about the enemy and to turn his “assumptions” into “certainty.”
“Before I reveal the mastermind, I have a request, Your Highness.”
At Sylvia’s words, the expressions of those in the barracks, the two Tower Masters and the Fifth Prince’s subordinates, twisted in displeasure.
To them, Sylvia was in no position to be making requests or negotiating.
They were eager to remind her of that, but the Fifth Prince, Raymond, seemed to be deep in thought. So they held their tongues.
“You should know you are in no position to make requests.”
Raymond deliberately responded coldly. He was interested in what she could offer but had to feign indifference.
That way, he could obtain what the novel’s protagonist, Richard, had gained from her as well.
“I apologize, Your Highness… But this concerns the survival of my clan. Please, I beg you to help us.”
“I fail to see why you are suddenly bringing up your clan’s survival.”
Of course, he knew. But to extract the maximum benefit, Raymond pretended not to.
“The forces behind the assassination are threatening my clan.”
“Seeing how desperate you are, I assume this has something to do with the World Tree.”
“…How did you know?”
Raymond ignored her question and pressed on.
“Is the World Tree corrupted?”
Sylvia did not confirm it. Instead, her eyes widened in shock.
She had already suspected he knew a great deal when he brought up the World Tree, but she hadn’t expected him to know this much.
The Fifth Prince, Raymond, sitting there with a calm expression, seemed fully aware of the situation. He undoubtedly knew who was behind the attack as well.
Then why was he still asking?
Her contemplation was brief. The answer was close at hand.
‘He wants me to say it myself.’
She could understand why. Lowering her gaze in thought, Sylvia slowly lifted her head and looked directly at Raymond.
“Fifth Prince, before I reveal the mastermind, I have one last question. Will you help my clan?”
At her question, Raymond realized he had moved too quickly.
‘She caught on.’
But it didn’t matter. He had momentarily forgotten how sharp Sylvia was.
At this point, he had no choice but to reveal some of his cards.
“There is nothing for you to worry about, so speak of the one behind this.”
“It is the Second Prince.”
Sylvia bowed her head slightly as she revealed the mastermind behind this assassination attempt. Unlike Raymond, who had already expected the name to come from her lips, the others were in shock.
“Everyone, leave.”
Raymond knew that once they snapped out of their shock, they would bombard Sylvia with questions. So he ordered the two Tower Masters and his subordinates to step outside for the moment. However, Gestain and Desia remained.
“You two aren’t leaving?”
“Your Highness, a shield never leaves its master’s side.”
“We do not know what may happen. Please, allow me and Desia to stay by your side.”
Raymond could trust them. The same could be said for the Tower Masters, but they were likely to overwhelm Sylvia with questions. Gestain was a man of few words, and Desia knew when to stay silent. With a short sigh, Raymond nodded.
Everyone except for Gestain, Desia, and the two elves kneeling on the ground left the tent. Raymond, keeping a calm expression, spoke up.
“Tell me in detail what happened.”
At his words, Sylvia opened her mouth, ready to pour out everything that had happened.
“One day, the World Tree became tainted. Then, someone sent by the Second Prince came to us. They claimed to know a way to slow the corruption.”
It was exactly as he had read in the novel’s setting book.
“We followed their instructions, and the corruption indeed slowed. But it was only possible with the medicine they provided. In exchange for supplying the medicine, they began to demand more and more from us.”
Tears started dripping from her eyes.
“At first, it was just herbs. But the demands grew until they finally asked for young elves and even parts of the World Tree itself. They even requested elves who could commune with spirits.”
Her voice trembled. Raymond remained silent, simply listening. He glanced to the side.
Gestain maintained an eerily blank expression, while Desia bit her lip slightly, as if suppressing anger.
“Continue.”
“Ten elves with the ability to handle spirits were chosen. I was among them. We were all sent on dangerous missions. In the end, I was the only one left.”
Raymond already knew why Sylvia was the sole survivor. She was so skilled as a guide that she would later earn the title of ‘The One Who Walks Ahead.’
In the novel, the protagonist Richard never lost his way after meeting her. No matter how dire the situation, he always managed to escape with her help.
“The World Tree does not have much time left, Fifth Prince.”
“Since you told me all of this, does that mean you believe I can cleanse the World Tree’s corruption?”
“Yes, I do.”
“And what made you think that?”
“Do you truly wish for me to say it?”
Sylvia’s gaze flickered toward Gestain and Desia before returning to Raymond.
“Do you really want me to say it out loud?”
She was perceptive. Raymond smiled faintly and replied calmly.
“No, there is no need.”
Sylvia didn’t know that Raymond had read the author’s setting book. She only suspected that he knew more than others. But to raise her own value, she acted as though she knew more, and Raymond played along to some extent.
Since he had read the setting book, he knew about the herbs needed for purification.
“Purifying the World Tree’s corruption isn’t difficult.”
That was the answer she had hoped for. A faint smile appeared on Sylvia’s lips.
“But what do I gain from purifying the World Tree while antagonizing Deneb?”
“Isn’t it already a given that the two of you are enemies? The Second Prince sent assassins after you.”
“That’s a separate issue. You’d best not assume my help is guaranteed out of pity.”
“Then tell me what you want.”
She never expected this to be a one-sided favor. Unlike the stiff-faced Siadin, Sylvia remained composed.
“A small amount of herbs, enough for me to use personally, your loyalty, and one more thing.”
“I have already been cast aside. Offering my loyalty and some herbs is not difficult. But I must hear the last condition.”
“I want to see the place where the ancient statue stands.”
“You even know about that?”
Only a handful of Platinum Grass Tribe members with High Elf blood knew about it. Sylvia became curious about how much Raymond truly knew.
“It’s just an ancient statue, nothing more.”
That was the truth. At least, as far as she knew. But Raymond knew differently.
‘There’s no way it’s just that…’
The so-called “statue” held the essence of the first Magic Swordsman, Deyrian. If one could endure its magical energy, they would receive the “Blessing of Sword and Magic.”
It was the very blessing that had turned Richard into the protagonist.
Raymond’s eyes gleamed as he looked down at Sylvia.
“Is that impossible?”
He asked.
In the novel, Sylvia had willingly guided Richard to the statue.
But their meeting hadn’t been the most pleasant this time, so Raymond considered the possibility that she might refuse.
“I swear on my High Elf bloodline. If you cleanse the World Tree and protect us, Fifth Prince, you may take what you desire.”
Sylvia bowed respectfully. The negotiation was practically complete, though something seemed to be missing.
“My lady! What about Lady Aria?!”
Siadin shouted urgently. Only then did Raymond remember the name “Aria.”
She was Sylvia’s younger sister. At this point in time, she was likely being held hostage by the Second Prince’s forces.
“Sir Siadin… Aria is in the capital…”
Sylvia’s voice wavered. Her demeanor made it clear to Raymond that she had intentionally left out her younger sister’s existence.
The basics of negotiation.
‘Never ask for too much.’
For the survival of her people, she had been willing to give up her beloved younger sister, Aria.
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