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Translated By Arcane Translations
Translator: selkie
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“Oh, Hidden Blade.”
Inside a spacious tent, in a corner swallowed by darkness, an assassin dressed in black appeared.
His eyes swiftly scanned the tent, where no light could be found. Soon, he spotted a dark silhouette and respectfully bowed his head.
“Report.”
“The Fifth Prince has entered the elves’ territory.”
“How many attendants?”
“I couldn’t confirm the exact number, but it’s definitely a small group.”
At the assassin’s report, the Hidden Blade, Hailson, narrowed his sharp eyes.
“Weren’t they under surveillance the moment they entered the Blue Forest? How could you not know?”
At the displeased voice, the assassin trembled slightly.
“It seems one of the Fifth Prince’s attendants is an exceptional guide. Our men were unable to keep up.”
He knew full well that it was just an excuse, yet he had no other choice but to say it.
Hailson nodded but was clearly unsatisfied. The assassin, obscured by the dark silhouette, couldn’t see the Shadow Emperor’s expression.
It was just as well. Hailson’s face was grotesquely contorted, and not seeing it was a blessing in itself.
“Fine. I’ll let that pass.”
“My apologies.”
“There’s no need for apologies. Your incompetence has already been proven. If you fail to make up for it, there will be no more chances.”
At Hailson’s words, the assassin swallowed dryly. The air felt heavy, as if pressing down on him.
He wanted nothing more than to escape this stifling tent immediately, but he still had more to report.
“There is additional information regarding the elf village.”
“Report.”
This time, it had better be worth hearing, Hailson thought.
“The World Tree’s barrier has started functioning again, but it is weaker than before. Our mage confirmed that it can be destroyed.”
Unlike before, this was a satisfying report.
‘The Second Prince of the Philios Empire has done better than expected.’
A cold smile spread beneath the dark silhouette. If the barrier had weakened, it meant the World Tree’s corruption was severe.
‘The puppet is proving more useful than I thought.’
Deneb Philios, the declining empire’s Second Prince, was nothing more than a puppet. The method of corrupting the World Tree had been given to him. Though he was no ordinary man, the darkness lurking behind the scenes was far too vast and deep for him to escape his strings.
“How long will it take?”
“Not long.”
“Be specific.”
“No later than a week.”
At the assassin’s report, Hailson nodded slowly, satisfied.
“The preparations are flawless, correct?”
“Yes. The mercenaries arranged by the Second Prince will take the lead. Even if we are exposed, it will merely seem like mercenaries driven by greed hunting elves.”
“Not bad.”
“The outcome will be favorable.”
“Do your best to ensure they are satisfied.”
Hailson spoke in a dry tone. The assassin nodded.
“I will do my utmost.”
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While dark schemes unfolded in the shadows, Raymond was stepping beyond the barrier and into the village with the elves. Unlike their first encounter with the elf patrol, there was no shower of arrows. Still, Desia and Gestain remained on high alert.
“We don’t have much time. I’d like to meet the Elder immediately.”
“There’s protocol—”
“It’s possible.”
The elf squad leader, who was guiding them, frowned at Raymond’s words and was about to object when Sylvia suddenly stepped forward.
Her timing was perfect. Had she been a moment later, the squad leader would have found himself at the mercy of Gestain’s sharp gaze. And that wasn’t all.
The devoted captain of the elite guards might have even jotted his name down in his secret journal.
“I’ll take you to the Elder.”
Though Sylvia carried the blood of a High Elf, she had yet to awaken, leaving the village under the Elder’s care. Moreover, she had spent a long time away due to the Second Prince’s threats, meaning she likely didn’t know the village’s current state in detail.
“The Elder is in the village hall.”
Another elf approached and reported. Sylvia nodded and took the lead.
As they walked toward the village hall, Raymond’s eyes roamed, observing the village’s condition.
He had heard there had been a battle with the Second Prince’s forces. The aftermath was evident. The destruction suggested a fierce fight had taken place.
There were no bodies, but bloodstains and collapsed buildings had yet to be fully cleared. It was clear the battle had happened recently.
“This is the village hall.”
The wooden building ahead of Sylvia was far from intact. Half of it had collapsed, and signs of battle, bloodstains and wreckage, were everywhere.
Since the Second Prince’s forces had targeted the Elder, this was where the fiercest fighting had taken place.
“I’ll notify them.”
One of the armed elves guarding the entrance quickly ran inside. Moments later, a male elf clad in a green uniform stepped out of the hall.
“This is the Elder.”
An elf standing nearby whispered.
As expected of an elf, the Elder’s youthful appearance did not match his title. He had likely lived for centuries, yet by human standards, he looked no older than his late thirties.
“Elder…”
Fearing she might be disrespectful, Sylvia quickly stepped forward and explained the situation.
Fortunately, the Elder of the Platinum Grass Tribe was neither rigid nor slow to understand.
Sylvia had to keep her explanation brief, with the Fifth Prince standing right behind her. Yet the Elder immediately grasped the situation and bowed politely to Raymond.
“Your Highness, Fifth Prince of the Philios Empire, I greet you. I have heard our patrolmen acted discourteously. I humbly ask for your understanding and forgiveness.”
He was being exceedingly humble. But he had no other choice.
He had just heard from Sylvia that Raymond knew a way to purify the World Tree.
The World Tree was the most important existence for the elves. If purifying the withering and corrupted World Tree required setting aside one’s pride, then lowering their head was hardly a difficult price to pay.
“I won’t dwell on the past. Report the situation in detail.”
Raymond had lost count of how many times he had said he would forgive them. But even so, it wasn’t as if he could lash out at someone who was already apologizing.
As soon as he finished speaking, the elder of the Platinum Grass Tribe began explaining what had transpired in the village while Sylvia was away.
“The barrier has weakened significantly.”
The elder’s expression was grim. Sylvia cautiously opened her mouth.
“Is it weakened to the point of being a concern for intrusion?”
“Yes, my lady. If a magician with deep knowledge of barriers were to attempt it, temporary destruction would be possible.”
At the Elder’s response, Sylvia’s face darkened. She had seen the Second Prince’s subordinates roaming the Blue Forest. Until now, the barrier had managed to keep intruders out. But now that it was weakened, if a highly skilled magician was among the Second Prince’s subordinates, it was only a matter of time before the barrier was breached and the village was trampled.
Sylvia’s gaze shifted to the Fifth Prince, Raymond.
The Second Prince had tainted the World Tree, and the Fifth Prince was purifying it. It was an absurd situation. Yet, Sylvia had no choice but to pin her hopes on Raymond.
With the barrier weakened and the Second Prince’s forces approaching, time was running out.
She didn’t dare urge him with words, but the way she silently fixed her gaze on him was as good as a demand.
Desia’s eyes flashed in displeasure at Sylvia’s behavior, but Raymond simply let out a short sigh and nodded before speaking.
“Lead me to the World Tree.”
Raymond already knew how the Second Prince had corrupted the World Tree. He could prescribe a solution without checking it in person.
Even so, he insisted on seeing it with his own eyes. It was necessary to maintain credibility.
If he prescribed a cure without even inspecting the World Tree’s condition, he might arouse suspicion or lose trust. This was the wiser approach.
“Thank you, Your Highness the Fifth Prince.”
Sylvia’s face brightened slightly.
“I will guide you.”
With the Elder of the Platinum Grass Tribe, Sylvia led Raymond and his subordinates behind the village hall. A massive tree stood before them, but it was not the World Tree.
“I will open the Deep Barrier.”
As expected, that enormous tree was merely the gateway leading to the true World Tree. Speaking in a calm voice, Sylvia released her mana into the air. As she did, the tree split open, revealing a hidden passage leading to the World Tree. The Deep Barrier responded to the mana of a high elf’s bloodline, granting access.
Seeing this for the first time, Desia’s eyes sparkled with curiosity, while Gestain remained on guard.
“Follow me.”
Sylvia and the elder stepped forward first. Raymond and his subordinates followed closely behind.
Unlike the narrow entrance, the interior opened into a vast forest. At its center stood the World Tree, but even to the naked eye, it was clear that its condition was dire.
The World Tree, which should have been brimming with pure mana, instead exuded a murky aura. The pool of water beneath it, which should have been pristine, was polluted and nearly black.
“The corruption is severe.”
For the sake of maintaining credibility and ensuring a convincing performance, Raymond muttered loud enough for everyone to hear as he approached the World Tree.
His confident stride stopped before the darkened pool.
‘It must be that substance from the setting guide.’
Since possessing the body of the Fifth Prince, Raymond had made many moves, altering some variables. But most of the original settings remained unchanged.
It seemed that the substance used to corrupt the World Tree had not changed either. The description matched perfectly with what had been detailed in the setting guide and novel.
That meant the purification potion needed was also predetermined. Fortunately, according to the setting guide, the necessary herbs grew abundantly around the Platinum Grass Tribe’s village.
These were common herbs. However, since no one knew the correct ratio and method of preparation, the solution had been right before their eyes, yet they had wandered in vain.
“Sylvia.”
“Yes, Your Highness?”
“Can you get me the Tears of the Crescent Moon and the Stars of the Night?”
“They’re common herbs in this area. Are you saying those can purify the World Tree?”
Suspicion flickered in Sylvia’s eyes as she stared at Raymond’s back.
She had never expected such ordinary herbs to serve as the key ingredients for a purification potion.
“The ratio is…”
“I won’t be telling you. I’ll make it myself.”
At his firm response, Sylvia bit her lip slightly. She had momentarily forgotten that Raymond was a magician of the highest caliber.
“We don’t have much time. You should gather them as quickly as possible.”
Raymond’s words were firm. The World Tree’s condition was visibly deteriorating.
Sylvia slowly nodded, and a faint smile appeared on Raymond’s lips.
“I’ll claim my compensation once the purification begins.”
“How much of the herbs do you need?”
“As much as possible.”
“I’ll gather as much as I can.”
With that, they left the Deep Barrier. Now that Raymond had personally witnessed the World Tree’s condition and diagnosed its affliction, there was no need to remain there any longer.
Sylvia mobilized every available person to collect the two herbs Raymond had mentioned. Despite their abundance in the area, it took two full days to gather the minimum amount needed for the purification potion. The process required a concentration step, which necessitated a large quantity.
“I’ll need at least a basic potion-making facility. You have one, don’t you?”
At Raymond’s question, Sylvia nodded. The elves were well-versed in handling herbs and proficient in potion-making, so they had the necessary facilities.
“I’ll take you there.”
The facility was a small hut on the outskirts of the village. When they entered, the basic equipment for potion-making was already in place.
Raymond sent Sylvia away for secrecy’s sake.
He ordered Gestain to guard the hut strictly. Then, with Desia’s help, he began making the purification potion.
The process was simple. Even though Raymond had little interest in alchemy, he managed it without difficulty with Desia’s assistance.
Perhaps due to the concentration step, it took a full day to complete. But that was within his expectations.
“The purification potion for the World Tree is complete.”
Emerging from the hut after a full day, Raymond muttered those words with a tired expression. Gestain remained stationed outside, while Sylvia, who had been waiting nearby, lifted her head at his words.
“I will guide you.”
Once again, she and the elder led Raymond’s group into the Deep Barrier. Raymond approached the darkened pool beneath the corrupted World Tree and poured the purification potion into it without hesitation.
The effect was greater than expected. Within a single day, the severely tainted World Tree had already recovered by more than half.
As word spread that the World Tree was being purified, the elves’ gazes toward Raymond and his subordinates changed.
Unlike the wary looks from before, now their eyes shone with reverence and awe.
“I’ve come to claim my compensation.”
But Raymond didn’t care about any of that. Before Sylvia could even be moved by the sight, he confidently demanded his reward.
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