After almost 20 days of traveling inside the Illusory Forest, we had finally arrived at the gates of the Elves’ village.
Sophia had already told me that the entire village of Elves and the World Tree itself are hidden by powerful barriers that are maintained by the power of the World Tree.
These two large trees intertwining in an arch are the only entrance to the Elf village, and it can only be opened from the inside.
But one thing I noticed was that there are dozens of people around this area watching us, I’ve also noticed that since we left the area of ??the third test the number of Fairies and Spirits has increased.
I’ve also noticed that some of the monsters around this area are keeping away but are still watching us which shows intelligence.
This place really is different, maybe because I was too preoccupied with the illusions from before, but if I now realize that the whole forest around me is full of Mana, spiritual energy, and Ki.
The concentration of energy was very high, but I hadn’t noticed it before because all this energy mixes very well with the surroundings in perfect harmony.
“This trip was faster than initially expected, so we’ll wait here.” (Grey Elf)
“The gate will open in two days, just wait until then.” (Grey Elf)
“In the meantime, do what you want, you must have noticed that there were no monster attacks today, that’s why no monsters approach this place, so you don’t need to worry.” (Grey Elf)
The Gray Elf gets off his mount and tells us to stay at ease until the gate opens in two days, this implies that they can’t open the gate whenever they want, but Sophia already told me that if they wanted to, they could open the gate right now which has a way of communicating with the inside at the gate.
In fact, she said that during the time she worked in the army there they never did.
I noticed something was wrong, but I didn’t know what it was, so all I could do was wait and see.
Sigh 𝗼𝐯𝐥.𝗻𝐭
“(I knew there was something wrong with such a simple and easy trip here.)” (I)
I get into our carriage to talk to everyone.
“Sophia, do you know the maximum strength of the Elves in this village?” (I)
“As far as I know the generals are the strongest with SSS Grade strength.” (Sophia)
“How many of them are there?” (I)
“There are 6 generals, two for each of the three divisions.” (Sophia)
“You already told me about it once.” (I)
“If I’m not mistaken, each race of Elves has a specific division, the White Elves have the magic division, the Dark Elves have the warrior division and the Gray Elves have the assassin division, right?” (I)
“The master is kind of right, you’ve simplified the three divisions a bit too much, but that’s enough for now.” (Sophia)
“They probably have people on the same level of strength as you, Father.” (Vanessa)
“If they do, I don’t know who it could be.” (Sophia)
“What about the leaders or the High Priestess you spoke of?” (I)
“I’ve never heard of their strength, so I have no way of knowing.” (Sophia)
“So I’m going to work on the assumption that they have 4 people with Lower Catastrophe Grade strength.” (I)
“You should consider that there might be someone even stronger among them.” (Kira)
“If that happens then we’ll just run away, I don’t think they could catch up to us with Nix’s speed.” (I)
“If there’s a World Tree in this place, then you shouldn’t underestimate their strength level, so whatever happens, we shouldn’t exaggerate.” (Vanessa)
“They probably won’t want a battle so close to the village that it exposes their Lower Catastrophe Grade forces, so just don’t take things too far.” (Vanessa)
When Vanessa said not to take things too far everyone looked at me, even that little Demon Layla looked at me, I don’t understand why they treat me like that.
“Don’t make a face like that, master.” (Kira)
“You should know yourself better, when you get angry you tend to be a little irrational.” (Kira)
“No need to worry about it, I don’t lose control like certain psychopathic Fairies, besides we don’t know exactly what’s going on.” (I)
“I don’t remember doing anything against the Elves, besides we went through all their tests cleanly and directly, I even invited the Elves who accompanied us here to eat all together.” (I)
“I’ve always tried to be as friendly as possible, so I don’t see any reason why anything bad should happen to us, as far as I know, it could be Alan’s group or that strange merchant.” (I)
“I hope so, I don’t see any reason for us to fight here either, as far as we know they know that the World Tree itself called us here, so I think it’s unlikely that we’ll be targets of anything.” (Nira)
“I think I might be being too cautious again, I might also be being pessimistic, so let’s just let all that go, after listening to you I start to think I’m thinking too much.” (I)
After talking to the others I realize that we have nothing to fear anything, we have never done anything bad against the Elves, besides that, I have been as sincere and friendly as possible with all the Elves since we arrived in the city of Jargan until now.
I get out of the carriage and set up a temporary camp to spend our time better, now I was calmer as the possibility of any problems with us happening was slim.
With that we spent the rest of the afternoon talking while we ate another delicious piece of monster meat, my entire group and I were still wearing masks, I didn’t want others to know our appearances as I don’t trust any of them.
The Guardian was still sleeping, I tried to call out to her, but she didn’t wake up at all.
While talking to everyone while drinking a few mugs of beer that I used magic to cool, I was always looking towards the village gate, a light fog appeared, but it was too weak to get in the way of our vision.
After everyone had their stomachs full we went to sleep in our carriage, everyone was tired from this long journey.
———-
Pov Gray Elf:
I was surprised when I got to the gate and it was still closed, that means something is going on, it was at this moment that my hired Spirit communicated with me mentally.
“(Are you sure this is what you want?)” (I)
“(Yes.)” (Noharak)
“…” (I)
I didn’t want to have to, but orders are orders.
All I needed to do now is wait for the right moment to act, after a while with everyone eating and drinking a light mist appears, I pull out a bottle saying it’s water, and drink it all, this was a potion to not be influenced by the poison sleep aid in the mist.
After more than two hours that everyone has gone to sleep I hold my dagger and go towards the big carriage, just as I thought the barrier is activated, I had already noticed this barrier on the way here, it’s not often you see such a carriage big and with so much magic inside.
I didn’t touch the barrier so as not to alert the people inside, what I did was use half of my spiritual power to create a space element rune and make the space ripple in front of me, so I step across the space by a few inches and avoid the barrier.
After that I enter the carriage carefully, I can feel that it is dangerous just to be here, but this is my only opportunity to fulfill the mission.
I look around until I find my target, I should have known this was going to cause trouble the moment I saw her.
My target was a young Gray Elf like me who wears a Night Watch mask, having that without being a Night Watch is a serious crime punishable by death.
“…” (I)
When I tried to approach her I was immobilized, an extremely violent, cruel, and brutal Aura started to press me from all directions as if it was going to crush me with just the pressure, I am not able to speak or breathe, all I can feel is fear when boundless bloodlust surges from behind me, I feel as if I turned my body around a horrible monster would be there with its jaws open ready to devour me.
In all my centuries of service, I have never felt this fear, but when a voice full of murderous intent comes from behind me I understand who this monster is.
“You Elves really are bold to plot against my group.” (Zenos)
“Do you want to see me angry?” (Zenos)
He grabbed me by the neck from behind, but I couldn’t do anything to defend myself, all I felt was fear and death, I was sure that this was the end of me, besides this bloodlust was very strong and intense, he must have killed thousands to get such a bloodlust.