34 – Meteor
In fact, the situation where the Count of Tenafel and the Elf prince who appeared to be a foreign ambassador were both vying for me was even more terrifying.
Behind the prince, the elemental of fire, with its massive body hunched over, glared at me with flickering eyes. It was more frightening.
A huge body resembling a wingless dragon, engulfed in flickering flames.
At that level, could it be a superior elemental capable of causing even natural disasters?
Perhaps, if it so desired, it could turn the Count’s territory into a sea of flames in an instant.
That’s why, before I knew it, sweat droplets had formed on my forehead.
In the end, they rolled down my cheek and fell with a soft thud at the edge of my chin.
I don’t know how many thoughts passed through my mind before that droplet of sweat fell onto the table.
Clearly, this was the Emperor’s doing.
The Emperor’s letter must have already reached the Elf King, and naturally, the Count of Tenafel would have been informed of the Emperor’s intentions.
There was no room for doubt in that.
So why on earth were they acting like this?
A question that I couldn’t find an answer to, no matter how hard I tried.
In the end, my thoughts became tangled like a twisted thread in my mind.
But one thing was clear, war must never break out.
“Now, wait a moment…!”
So for now, I had no choice but to stop and watch.
“Why are you doing this, Your Majesty? Surely you’re not refusing the honor of leading the vanguard, are you?”
“The guy with blood still fresh on his head sure has a way with words. How dare he be so arrogant.”
“A high position entails heavy responsibilities. It has been a deeply-rooted tradition since the time of the ancestral emperor for the noble class to lead the front lines in battle. Don’t grovel like a coward, stand proudly at the front and humbly accept death.”
“To think that you can’t even muster that much courage, what a waste of noble blood. It’s truly embarrassing to have the same kind of blood as a coward like you. I can’t decide what to do with myself.”
Count Tenapel and the Elven prince were both eagerly seeking my attention, as if they were close friends who got along well.
It felt like blood was coming out of my ears.
They didn’t even give me a chance to speak.
Somehow, I felt suffocated.
“I came here to prevent a war…!”
“Oh, come on. Would Your Highness really do such a thing?”
“To think that even with Elven blood running through your veins, you would lie. Indeed, there’s nothing to be done about the blood of humans. You bring shame to Wiblea and Riven Guard.”
It seemed that war was just a sideshow, and their only purpose was to seek me out.
These authors…
I can’t shake the feeling that they’re doing this on purpose, even though I don’t know why.
But…
Even if they try to seek me out, they won’t be able to defy the will of the Emperor and the Elven King, so war will never happen anyway.
And…
Considering their high positions, they wouldn’t try to kill me even if it meant going against their superiors.
Then I too am at my wit’s end.
They don’t even listen to me and only torment me, so I can’t help but lose my temper.
Bam!
I also stood up from my seat, slamming the table like a viscount.
“Well then, let’s put an end to this nonsense and start the war.”
I said to the Elven prince.
“I will take the lead. I will drench the land with Elven blood.”
After saying that, I exchanged a subtle glance with the viscount.
“……”
“……”
After saying that.
Not only did I feel relieved, but both the viscount and the Elven prince were as silent as a tomb.
***
Erakus Tenafel, the Viscount of the Mersen Empire.
And Aphlatous, the twelfth child of the Elven king.
The two of them were always at odds with each other.
Of course, they never openly showed it, as the animosity between the two races ran deep. They only expressed it when they were drinking together.
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Contrary to appearances, Aphlatous was the older of the two.
He may look like a twenty-year-old youth on the outside, but in reality, he was eighty this year.
He was nine years older than the viscount, who was just in his seventies.
The periodic exchange of goods between them was more than enough to prove their special bond between the different races.
“Brother, my grandson has been suffering a lot lately because of his heir training. Can you give me some sap from the World Tree?”
“Have you already used up what I gave you last time?”
“Who do you think I stuck that little bottle on? I used it a long time ago.”
“Alright, just wait a bit.”
“Thank you, brother!”
“And this time, bring plenty of that special brandy that you said was only brewed for the Emperor.”
“Don’t say that out loud between us. hehehe.”
Their connection began when Wiblia became the Empress of Mersen, thanks to the King’s concern for his daughter’s well-being.
It was a connection that started with the previous Northern Commander, who advocated for human conquest, being demoted and Apollatus taking his place.
It was from that time that peace finally came to the Tenafel Plains, where large and small battles had been ongoing.
Although it didn’t mean that the relationship between humans and elves had improved.
It was a situation no different from a ceasefire agreement reached between the Emperor of the Empire and the Elven King.
And it became an opportunity to drastically reduce the bloodshed on the borders.
Of course, the peace based on the tacit understanding among leaders did not last long.
After the Empress’s death.
It was because the dark clouds began to gather again in the peaceful southern part of the Empire.
They blamed Wiblia for betraying the country outwardly.
But deep down, it was the elves who had idolized her and only wished for her happiness.
To those people, Wibrea’s death was known to be because of the emperor’s infidelity.
No one had ever thought that the fact itself being openly discussed was strange.
Although the nature of the elves, who despised lies and despicable acts like deceit and cunning, played a significant role in not even considering such a possibility.
But of course, the biggest reason was that.
The sorrow caused by Wibrea’s death had turned into pure anger.
Elves were inherently incompatible with humans.
Strictly speaking, it was due to their hatred of the weak human nature that habitually succumbed to greed, lied, and even killed and sold their own kind.
Even within that weakness, the boundless potential that occasionally blossomed brightly was not even a consideration.
It was because humans repeatedly kidnapped innocent elves and sold them as slaves.
The hatred towards humans was constantly boiling.
That was why.
After Wibrea’s death.
The elves could not help but unleash their pent-up anger.
They relentlessly fought against the Tenafer Barony, which bordered the Elven Kingdom of Liven Guard.
The anger was so intense that even the commander, Aphlatus, had no choice but to tolerate their hatred.
But no matter how much they killed each other, the anger that had already reached its peak showed no signs of subsiding.
That’s how it had been for several years now.
The soldiers of the barony had been engaged in constant localized warfare.
Of course, there were no significant casualties because Tenafer and the barony had shared information beforehand.
It was the result of focusing only on releasing the uncontrollable anger they felt towards each other, rather than killing each other.
As time went on, the soldiers on both sides began to realize the nature of the battle. With an implicit agreement, the blood-soaked local conflict had transformed into a kind of game.
Although there were still casualties, the number of deaths had drastically decreased compared to before.
However, the standoff that had emerged this time was more serious than ever before.
It was because a massive slave caravan, carrying young elves, had been intercepted on the Tenafer Plains.
The young elves, not even ten years old, were all bound by slave collars, and signs of abuse were easily visible.
Although they loved flowers, trees, and peace, the existence of elves could be far more cruel than monsters when faced with the destruction of nature and the dying of their kin.
Countless elves, their eyes flipped inside out, massacred the slave caravan.
Without exception, they all agreed that they had to march immediately.
As the commander, Aplatus, he couldn’t simply say it couldn’t be done.
So, even if it meant putting on a show of fighting, he had no choice but to lead his army out of the forest.
But in the Empire, there was his sister’s son, whom he had cherished so much.
Although he had committed countless atrocities and eventually even lost his position as the crown prince.
Still, he was a precious nephew whom Aplatus had eagerly awaited to see.
So, for the sake of his safety, war should never have happened.
But a few days ago, he received a command from the king.
It said that his nephew was coming, and he should use him to overcome the crisis of war.
But how…?
At first, he felt a bit overwhelmed.
Can the situation change if Prince Eos, the imperial prince, comes and explains and apologizes?
With the anger of the elves piercing the sky, it didn’t seem like such a miracle would be possible.
I heard that even Count Tenafel, at this moment, received the emperor’s order that war is absolutely forbidden, no matter what he offers.
What the emperor wants is for the prince to gain the reputation of preventing war and erase even a little of his notorious reputation.
I understand what he wants, but it was never an easy task to deal with excited elves.
Even the commander’s orders were not easily obeyed, so how could the son of Wiblia alone appease the anger of the elves?
It would have been fortunate not to turn into a hedgehog even if struck by arrows filled with all sorts of magic.
But if my nephew could prevent the war.
Certainly, he could become a hero to the humans.
In that case, I must help him somehow.
My own nephew.
If he still suppresses the seed of those humans who hunt elves and defends the rights of elves that the people of the empire instinctively ignore.
Perhaps even the deep-seated emotions between the two races that have been accumulated for a long time will soften even a little.
That’s why I had a conversation with Count Tenafel, who is no different from a brother now.
“Let’s make Eos a hero.”
“Yes, brother! But shouldn’t we make people first before that?”
“People? No matter what anyone says, he’s an elf!”
“No, why are you suddenly getting angry? I mean, it’s about personality. It’s about saying that he should fix the personality of that arrogant guy.”
“Personality? How exactly?”
“Well, wouldn’t it be better if we trampled on his self-esteem a bit?”
So it was.
For that reason, as soon as I saw Eos, I did my best to go with Count Tenafel.
Seeing my nephew for the first time was so delightful.
I wanted to hug that boy who resembled my younger sister right away.
But I endured it with the determination to make him a good elf.
It was for that reason that I forced a disdainful look and crushed even his pride with harsh words, in order to make him a symbol of harmony between humans and elves.
But as expected.
The notorious reputation of that guy, known even to the elves, was definitely not just an empty rumor.
“I will take the vanguard. I will moisten the earth with the blood of the elves.”
Naturally, I thought he would lower his posture and try to persuade me.
But the reaction, expression, and attitude he showed upon his return were so arrogant and ridiculous.
And what’s this? Moistening the earth with the blood of the elves?
Even if he’s a few years younger.
Even if he’s my own mother’s nephew!
He dared to declare that he would kill himself.
Apollotus’s anger surged to his head.
‘Even if I have to beat this guy to death, I will definitely give him proper treatment-‘
But Count Tenafel, who caught a glimpse of it, was shaking his head anxiously.
It seemed that this approach was wrong, so he suggested another way.
So I reluctantly sat down with the Count.
Then, he calmly asked.
“So, you want to prevent the war?”
“For now, please sit down, Your Highness. Isn’t it better to have a proper conversation first?”
The Viscount raised an impatient expression.
But the prince pulled his chair back slightly, crossed his legs, and sat down.
Even with his arms crossed, he had a defiant expression that somehow made me feel angry.
It was then that I heard someone’s urgent cry.
“It’s an attack!”
“The humans are attacking!”
The head of Aphelatos, as if sensing something ominous approaching from afar, suddenly raised his head.
The Viscount and the prince also turned their heads, following his gaze.
The distant sky above the Viscount’s territory.
From there, something like a huge meteor was approaching rapidly, emitting intense flames towards this place.
There were as many large and small clusters of flames as there were scattered stars around.
It was undoubtedly an assault.
And it was a devastating attack unleashed by countless sorcerers with the intention of reducing everything to ashes.
If those things were to fall, everything, including the plain, the Viscount’s territory, and the forest, would be engulfed in flames and turned into ruins in an instant.