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Quick retreats are important, but the weary members of the current troop, armored as they are, simply couldn’t run all day.

“Iarine, the stamina of the forest guardians is nearly at its limit.”

“…”

Iarine, who had been moving forward with her eyes fixed straight ahead, finally turned when her subordinate spoke up.

Without uttering a peep, the weary faces all around revealed their exhaustion. The scars of battle etched upon their bodies drained their energy.

“It’s time to take a brief rest.”

Just as the forest guardian said.

To stay with everyone a little longer without leaving anyone behind, it was necessary to take a break now.

Iarine called back the spirits she’d sent out for perimeter checks and updates on their surroundings. For now, it seemed relatively safe, so if they were to seek a moment of respite, this was their best chance.

Coming to a halt in the forest, Iarine declared,

“I will request a short break from now. Let’s gather our strength for a little while.”

She lightly issued commands, sending away an elf who had approached her.

Her gaze slowly shifted.

The person she locked eyes with was none other than her closest aide, her mentor, and caregiver, who was deeply loved by the head of the Ianette family.

Iarine spoke to her in a cold tone laced with the chill of a north wind.

“And you, come see me for a moment.”

Without waiting for a response, she whirled around and followed the noble daughter who was distancing herself from the troop. The forest guardian could only quietly follow behind.

After creating some distance from the others, and using the power of the spirits to obscure their voices and appearances,

Swish!

Iarine drew her sword.

“…”

“…Iarine.”

The forest guardian merely rolled her eyes downwards at the blade that was now before her face.

Maintaining her composure despite the sense of chill, she calmly raised her hand.

“You’ve been putting your sword so close to my neck lately.”

She gently pushed Iarine’s blade away with her finger.

Though it was a weak push, the sword was forced further away than expected.

“Cenya, what exactly are you trying to do this time?”

“What do you mean by ‘trying to do,’ Iarine?”

“Did you think I would just let you sneak by looking so confused? Do you think I’m oblivious?”

As she pushed against the blade, Cenya’s hand was forced back, and the sword advanced toward her throat once more.

“I’m fed up with being left out while scheming with the forest guardians from our family. I can’t stand idly by and watch our elves perish unnecessarily anymore. Honestly, I… can’t endure it.”

“Lower your sword. The head will surely be greatly disappointed if he saw you like this.”

“Cenya. Just shut up.”

Ignoring Cenya’s plea, the sharp blade kept advancing.

When the edge of the sword finally touched her neck,

“What’s your plan this time?”

“…”

Cenya grabbed Iarine’s sword, preventing its murderous intent from piercing through.

Crimson…

A trickle of blood began to flow from Cenya’s hand.

“My spirit. I thought it was quietly scouting the area, but I’ve noticed it regularly watching Arielte’s guardian. Are you going to tire them out first until they die? Or perhaps use them as bait during an ambush?”

“…”

“What exactly is your obsession with Arielte and Chelness? I don’t understand at all.”

“Everything is for the glory of the family.”

“That’s a joke. Cenya, you’re not the blindly devoted elf clinging to our family’s honor.”

Their gazes locked.

Iarine pressed down harder on Cenya’s hand gripping the sword.

“You know better than anyone that it’s not the time for petty family squabbles, so why are you so desperate to avoid dealing with other families’ guardians? I truly can’t comprehend it.”

“…”

“So, one thought crossed my mind. Could it be that a personal sinister motive is lurking behind your claim of family honor? Is it truly for the glory of our family?”

“…”

“Especially after you visited the Kalia Marquis Family with your mother, you’ve started to change even more drastically.”

As blood trickled down Cenya’s hand and began to stain the ground, Iarine showed no intent of retracting her sword. Instead, she pressed even harder against Cenya’s neck, the blade hovering just above her soft flesh.

“Cenya.”

There was no way Iarine would act like a puppet, obeying Cenya’s words.

“Answer me. What on earth are you hiding inside?”

“Everything is for Ianette…”

“…Nonsense. Your eyes are clouded.”

Iarine withdrew her sword.

But in a swift motion, she reversed the grip of her blade, plunging it into Cenya’s side with the handle.

“Gah…!”

Cenya stumbled back, lowering her stance as she gasped for breath.

Iarine seized Cenya by the hair, forcing her head up to meet her gaze.

“Cenya, although you’re favored by my mother… don’t forget.”

Iarine looked down at Cenya, and Cenya looked up at her.

“Since the day of your spirit contract, you’ve been my servant, not my mother’s.”

“…”

“You’re ordered by your lord. Dismiss your spirit.”

“However, if I send away my spirit now, the perimeter of the troop will—”

“It’s better to have nothing than to be involved in useless schemes. We should be focusing solely on retreating.”

“…”

“What exactly has made you become such a foolish girl, unable to discern right from wrong?”

Releasing her grip on Cenya’s hair, Iarine took a few steps back.

Cenya quickly straightened herself and resumed her stance, once again locking eyes with Iarine.

“Quietly following your words and the family’s intentions is only acceptable when I can comprehend it myself. But this time…”

What you’re demanding requires unnecessary sacrifice and loss.

In these critical moments in the Great Forest, the elf should be the most rational among them, and yet, her irrationality only creates further resistance.

“The situation is unfavorable, so I’ll talk with the head again later.”

Iarine left those words behind and returned to where the elves were taking their break.

Cenya remained behind, staring vacantly at where Iarine had vanished.

“Under normal circumstances, I should just shut up and follow orders. But as it stands… ”

A faint whisper escaped her lips, laced with uncontainable emotion and a scoff, caught by the wind.

With a foreboding glimmer in her eyes, Cenya looked up at the sky.

“Everything will be as the head wishes.”

The sky above was merely the treetops blocking the sunlight.

In the dark shadows, only her eyes shone brightly.

*

At long last, the time for a break had arrived.

From what I gathered, it appeared that Iarine’s key minions, herself and her trusted aide, had briefly stepped away.

I found a moment to step aside from the troop along with Shione and Diolia to find a suitable spot.

‘Normally…’

I would have quietly summoned Elvis and returned alone, but Shione and Diolia insisted I, the patient one, shouldn’t roam off by myself.

So, I ended up surrounded by them. I had also completed preparations to summon Elvis here.

The mana was properly adjusted and ready to operate, and I infused the spirit’s energy from within to ensure it could be led with my mana. That should be enough, I hoped.

The troop showed no signs of lingering in this spot for long. Therefore, I quickly called Tania.

“Tania, I’m counting on you.”

“Phew… From now on, I’ll forcibly weave a path and create a door using your mana, so Shinwoo, you better focus.”

“…It won’t be so exhausting, right?”

“Who knows? If your mana is sufficient, it shouldn’t be too hard.”

With that, Tania stepped down like she was using steps in the air, preparing to manifest a small path of flame on the ground.

Painting geometrical patterns in fire, Tania stood at the center, her sharp-eyed gaze sparkling as she exclaimed.

“…From now on, you’ll entrust all your mana to me.”

There was no hesitation.

There was no way I would waste my mana in unworthy endeavors with Tania.

Without a second thought, I funneled my mana through the pathway connecting us, pouring it out generously. Tania began to consume my mana at a rapid pace.

The flames forming the magic circle became clearer. The gentle breeze began to gather above it, creating a stream of wind. In the center, the compressed wind was trapped and began to condense.

As the gentle wind swayed, a lovely veil of flames erupted from it, creating a beautiful scene along the path.

Amidst the swirl of wind, a small spirit emerged, appearing from the veil of flames.

“Whoa, ah, hey! Hot, hot!”

Indeed, it was that familiar voice.

“Sis, fire, fire, fire! No, sis, this is—Hiyah!”

With Tania’s playful laughter, Elvis materialized.

 

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