As the choices appeared, the world came to a standstill.

Sweet paused in selecting an option and surveyed her surroundings.

Celestia observed the situation with an unreadable expression.

The Elf Guardian, Fowler, was glaring at the Dark Elves freed from their seal.

“Are you staring at them?”

Unable to kill the Dark Elves who were once her kin, Fowler had sealed them away with the World Tree.

Now he displayed clear hostility towards the Dark Elves who had been released?

It was certainly strange, yet there remained lingering doubts.

The Dark Elf who identified himself as an elder reacted to Celestia in the same way as Fowler did.

In other words, they were undoubtedly Elves, yet at the same time, they were not.

As the situation became more complicated, a scene from the showcase pierced Sweet’s mind.

– Recently, there has been an anomaly with the World Tree, the mother of all Elves. The Empire’s intelligence network concluded that it was the work of the Salvation Church.

When Aurora introduced Elderheim in the showcase, she definitely mentioned the Salvation Church.

– Recently, the movements of the Salvation Church have been quite unusual. The last trace was discovered near Elderheim, and around the same time, the Mage Tower reported unstable magical patterns from the World Tree. It seems the Salvation Church’s current target is the World Tree.

This was also the case with the words of Jasper, the Knight Commander of the Blackmane Order.

It was safe to say that the Salvation Church had already invaded Elderheim.

“The reason Fowler’s seal was suddenly lifted. An entity that is an Elf yet not an Elf.”

Sweet’s gaze turned to Raven.

An object of destruction yet not purely an object of destruction.

The Salvation Church had brought down the kingdom, summoning two objects in the process.

One of them, the Witch of Despair, had descended upon Raven’s body.

The ancient necromancer’s vengeful spirit was contained within the body of the resurrected Elder Lich.

Ultimately, the Salvation Church possessed a means to usurp “bodies.”

If the Dark Elves before them were indeed the Salvation Church that had stolen bodies, everything fell into place.

Having made a conclusion, Sweet immediately chose the third option.

[ Main Story – Moving to Immediate Execution. ]

Sizzle-!

Chain Lightning, double casting.

Countless chains of lightning surged toward the Dark Elves.

And at the same time, the frozen world began to flow again.

The startled Dark Elves could offer no resistance as they were pierced by the chains of lightning and fell.

As Sweet had anticipated, the Elf Guardian, Fowler, took no action at all.

The fallen Dark Elves were enveloped in black smoke, revealing their original forms.

[ Salvation Church Battle Priest Lv. 65 ]

[ Salvation Church Evangelist Lv. 66 ]

[ Salvation Church Paladin Lv. 68 ]

“Raven!”

At Sweet’s call, Raven sprang into action.

A species born with magical talent, second only to Dragons, known as the Witch and Master of Magic.

Of course, since Raven was still human, she couldn’t unleash the full power of a witch.

But that alone was more than enough.

“Share senses. Amplify senses.”

The Puppeteer’s hand appeared above the heads of the Salvation Church members.

And with that, the control room descended and bound itself to the Salvation Church.

With an indifferent expression, Raven drew a dagger and lightly slashed her finger.

“””Gyaaaah!!!”””

Raven felt a slight sting, but the shared senses caused the Salvation Church members to scream in agony as if their bodies were being mutilated by the dagger.

In the blink of an eye, Sweet’s Aqua Ray erupted towards the incapacitated members of the Salvation Church.

As water splashed everywhere from the collision, Sweet used Blink.

A skill combo exclusively for Mages that Inquisitor Pera had taught her.

“Freeze them all, Frostbite.”

Icicles erupted from the ground, piercing through the bodies of the Salvation Church members.

Was it because the magically generated water was scattered everywhere?

For a non-enhanced first awakening skill, it showed surprisingly excellent results.

“Raven. Show me your hand.”

“···It’s fine. It’s already healed.”

Raven boldly extended her hand, and just as she said, the scratch had already healed.

“Using Shared Senses like that is prohibited from now on.”

“This method is the most efficient.”

“Hmph. No way.”

Sweet said firmly, yet soon a mischievous expression appeared on her face.

“Only use Shared Senses when it’s just the two of us…”

Startled, Raven hurriedly covered Sweet’s mouth.

Thwack- Puff-

“Pervert. Degenerate.”

Raven reacted with reprimands and blows as she lowered her head.

“…Talk about those things only when we’re alone, you idiot.”

“What?”

“I don’t know.”

Sweet asked again about her earlier comment, but Raven, now pretending to be sulking, turned away from Sweet.

―――

Investigate.

Aah, damn it.

Celestia’s expression, LOL.

She’s really rubbing it in.

Unbelievable.

―――

Seeing the audience’s heated responses, Sweet smiled victoriously.

[ Main Story – Elf Guardian ]

“Huh?”

In the midst of all this, the main story shifted to a new episode, and Sweet’s vision went dark.

***

The Elf Guardian, Fowler, had long harbored one question.

As someone born in the embrace of the World Tree, living for the Elves, what should he choose if the time came to pick between his creator, the World Tree, and his kin?

What choice must he make?

This question loomed over Fowler’s life like a shadow.

Even when wanting to shed that shadow, it remained impossible to detach from it.

On either side of the scales in Fowler’s heart were the World Tree and the Elves.

Two beings positioned at the extremes of the spectrum of what is precious.

Striving to keep it balanced, teetering precariously.

– Fowler, I have one last request.

The balance shattered when the World Tree began to twist.

Hyde, the Elf who had spent the longest time in Elderheim, an aging Elf, left a request for the Elf Guardian.

– Please, do not kill the World Tree.

Hyde was an Elf who had lived for over a thousand years.

Even a thousand years ago, when the Twisted World Tree was born,

There existed a previous Elf Guardian, and both he and the former Elf Guardian’s decision were the same.

To save the Elves, killing the World Tree.

Naturally, every Elf opposed this decision.

The World Tree was the origin of their race and the creator of the Elves.

To dedicate and sacrifice was only natural. Like a parent to the Elves.

Thus, as a Guardian, Fowler asked the Elves.

What parent treats their child’s dedication and sacrifice as a given?

An answer that could convince Fowler did not come from the Elves.

It was only natural. The values of the Elf Guardian were different from those of the Elves.

He pondered, and pondered again, and then pondered some more.

How could he stop the main culprit, the Twisted World Tree?

Not even understanding the reasons behind the World Tree’s distortion.

Even when investigating related texts, there was no solid answer.

In the history from a thousand years ago, there was only a record of “Hero Aurora” intervening and finishing the situation.

The content recorded was only to that extent, making it impossible to find a remedy.

Even when he patrolled and strengthened vigilance, nothing changed.

Since then, Fowler could only watch as his kin fell into corruption. He had no choice but to watch.

Even if he suppressed the kin who had degenerated into Dark Elves and imprisoned them in an underground prison,

The increasing distortion intensified the violence of the Dark Elves.

Due to the Dark Elves’ rampage, even the underground prison collapsed.

There was no longer space to imprison his kin, nor could he even imprison them.

Did he have to kill his kin in this state?

That thought filled Fowler’s mind in that very moment.

– It seems you need power, friend.

A voice echoed from the darkness.

– If you contract with me, you can save those kin you so long for.

The words spoken by the spirit of a form he had never seen beyond the darkness were irresistibly sweet.

The promise made with Hyde.

Before being an Elf Guardian, the identity of being an Elf.

All of the things that had constantly tormented Fowler.

Were swallowed by the thick darkness and turned pitch black.

Gaining power, Fowler immediately sealed the rampaging kin.

The long, long torment had come to an end.

“For the liberation of the Elves.”

In the darkness filled with laughter,

The Elf Guardian who had made a decision began to act.

***

Fowler’s recollection came to an end.

Returning to the original point, Sweet immediately readied for battle.

The fact that a cutscene was happening meant something was about to unfold.

“I knew they were enemies wearing the guise of kin.”

A voice filled with regret.

“But I simply couldn’t deny that they betrayed us.”

Fowler’s gaze fell upon the cold corpses of the members of the Salvation Church.

“They must blame me. It can’t be helped. This is something that must be done by someone.”

A dark figure appeared behind Fowler.

“They are the cause, the instigator, for twisting the World Tree.”

The dark figure had mouths and eyes hanging everywhere.

“As long as the World Tree exists, the Elves’ nightmares will only continue to repeat.”

A corrupted spirit. A monster that feeds on corruption.

That monster grinned grotesquely at Sweet.

“My spirit that formed a contract with me has informed me.”

Fowler’s sclera and iris switched places.

In an eerie way. He was no longer an Elf.

An ominous gaze turned toward Raven.

“A being of destruction that has fallen into humanity.”

And then the gaze returned to Sweet.

“A foreigner walking the path of a hero.”

Lastly, Fowler’s gaze followed the sealed World Tree.

“You are coming to Elderheim.”

“If you have the power, you can kill the Twisted World Tree.”

Fowler stretched his arms toward the two, extending his hand.

“You said you came to solve the problems of Elderheim.”

[ BOSS Corrupted Spirit King’s Contractor Lv. 70 ]

“Cooperate with me.”

A monster’s information appeared above his head.

[ Main Story – Cooperation ]

[ Main Story – Resistance ]

Choices appeared simultaneously with the suggestion.

Sweet did not hesitate for even a moment.

“Get lost, you monster brat.”

[ Main Story – Moving to Resistance. ]

[ Achievement Unlocked – Following the Path of Heroes. ]

As the battle began with the unlocking of a new achievement.

 

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