60 – 60. Escape
The money I used as a lubricant to release the elven prisoners was 800,000 Talers.
It was more money than the annual salary of a typical high-ranking officer for ten years.
Actually, I could have released them without spending any money.
Victoria, who sent me here. It would have been a piece of cake to release two prisoners with just one word from her, the princess of the empire and the driving force behind the military. Even if I had asked directly, she probably would have granted it.
But instead of relying on Victoria’s power, I resolved it with a suitable bribe.
“Not many people know what I’m doing.”
There were fewer than five people, including myself, who knew what was happening to the elves in the Great Forest. It was because the environment was not conducive to coming up with the idea of destroying a nation with dru*gs.
Everyone is just half-heartedly following orders from the royal family.
Amidst all that, if you simply release the prisoners, the resentment among the frontline troops will only grow.
That’s why I presented them with a small reason.
A few pennies to the soldiers who were captured and sent back as prisoners, consolation money to the families of the deceased soldiers, and a few more pennies to the commanding officer. It was money willingly spent to facilitate the smooth progress of the operation.
And the result?
“Human. Explain what this situation is…!”
Two prisoners growled in front of me.
The prisoners who would soon be released and sent back to their hometowns.
I could just send them back, but I’ve spent money (although it came from the elves) and I should at least break even.
I had plans to utilize these prisoners as well.
Should I give them a taste of heroin and send them off?
‘I could do that, but there would be no benefit.’
Marcella would be even more furious seeing the prisoners return under the influence of dru*gs… but there was nothing to gain from nurturing her grudge, already trapped in a trap. She might even act out more.
So, I decided to just send the prisoners off nicely.
However, before releasing them, I decided to interrogate them a bit.
“Don’t glare at me. I’m not releasing you with a happy heart. It was strange to ask for favors here and there.”
“You… released us?”
“The elders of Medelin begged for your release, breaking their pride. The so-called elders of Esenia came with money and bowed their heads. They said they couldn’t bear to see young warriors who haven’t even reached 150 years old die in the human kingdom.”
“….”
“I wanted to refuse, but at that time, your clan leader contacted me and asked again. From our perspective, he is like a king. …I couldn’t refuse anymore. So, I used my wits to release you.”
“Why are you telling us this?”
“I was sincerely amazed by the elders’ dedication. It made me think that our struggle against the elves was not in vain. I thought you should know that too.”
The captives stared at me intently as I spoke.
Even though they seemed subtly resigned, I could sense their pride. It was inevitable. From the Empire’s perspective, it was as if the emperor himself had come forward to rescue a mere junior officer or non-commissioned officer. Of course, it was a lie I had made up.
“If you have any sense of honor, you should show some respect to the elders. I won’t interfere, but that’s what I believe is right.”
“True. Human. This is not your concern.”
The captives acted coldly, but I could see a tinge of anger on their faces.
I made sure to feed them well and dress them in clean clothes, escorting them to the Daesurim post with grace.
Considering how hostile the relationship between the Empire and Daesurim had been, it was unusually good treatment.
But it was necessary.
“This is how the authority of the elders will rise.”
Elders who were suspected of being addicted to heroin.
Most, if not all, of the elder council.
It wasn’t just for fun that I elevated their status, there was a reason for it. The elders were soon to become the representatives of Daesurim and the elven race in negotiations with the Britannia Empire.
“Now, I need to prepare for that.”
The addicted elves.
Leaving them behind and moving on would be easy, but my goal was not just to distribute dru*gs.
It was to subdue Daesurim without firing a shot. And to eliminate the possibility of war in the future.
“Contact Queen Victoria. We have matters to discuss.”
It had been just over three weeks since I arrived in the border city with heroin.
I didn’t expect things to progress this quickly, but the time of harvest was approaching.
Wouldn’t war be better?
It was a reflexive thought that Marcela, realizing she had fallen into a trap, recalled.
It wasn’t the first time she had entertained such an idea. Even during the days of opposing the all-out war and clashing with elders, it was a recurring thought, saying, “Isn’t there a way for humans and elves to coexist?” But it wasn’t as urgent back then.
“Marcela, how are you going to take responsibility for this matter?”
An inquiry from the elder.
It was a strangely excited expression as if he finally believed he could get rid of the obstruction.
Even in the midst of it, the elder was fiddling with his pipe. The elders around him seemed to subtly mock Marcela.
She didn’t suffer additional wounds from the elders. It even had the effect of erasing the remaining resentment.
There was, however, an elf who caused her pain.
“Marcela! Why did you engage in such a thing without properly investigating? Now it’s awkward for me too! I… I don’t even know the language; I just followed along. I seem to be treated as your sympathizer. Not only me, but other elves too…!”
Now, even an elf, not just a weakling, was hitting Marcela.
The cost of mobilizing hundreds of elves to pressure the elder council was greater than she had thought.
Enough for the greatest warrior of the Great Forest to fall into disgrace.
‘How did it come to this?’
Marcela blinked her eyes, reviewing her past mistakes.
From Noble mtl dot com
It was hard to believe that the accumulated merits had suddenly become worthless.
But… as she reconsidered, there were quite a few things that bothered her.
‘Surely, all of this wasn’t because of me?’
With a bitter smile, Marcela surveyed the elders.
And he said with an awkward tone,
“I shouldn’t have drunk lemon tea.”
“What?”
“No, thinking about it, I should have accepted when that guy Alan Maydoff offered to attach the taste test label. If he’s that kind of guy, he would’ve definitely screwed up.”
“Marcella, what nonsense are you talking about now…!”
The elders frowned, but Marcella paid no attention.
“It wasn’t the only chance I had. If I had immediately disposed of all the heroin I had when I felt disgusted, I wouldn’t have been robbed by that Lurde girl. You wouldn’t have had incidents of people getting involved with heroin and losing their minds either.”
“Oh, come on.”
“I also wonder why I did that, really.”
Looking back now, those were difficult decisions to understand.
At that time, even Marcella was mentally occupied with the phenomenon.
But that couldn’t be an excuse. If she had fought with all her might, she could have avoided making wrong decisions. There wouldn’t have been a situation where she was cornered like now.
“My weakness caused the disaster.”
She couldn’t escape responsibility.
Still, there was something she had to say.
Because there might not be another chance to speak like this.
“But there’s one thing I want you to know. I only recently found out, but we are clearly under invasion. …I could express it more gracefully, but the term ‘invasion’ suits it best.”
Invasion. No matter how much she thought, there was no more accurate expression than this.
“Everyone. Once you’re enchanted by heroin, you’ll only crave heroin. You might think you can quit anytime if you set your mind to it, but it won’t happen. In the end, you’ll indiscriminately fulfill the demands of the person providing heroin, no matter what they are.”
Marcella decided to fold instead of adding, saying, “Even if I were asked to surrender the World Tree Mother someday, I would willingly comply with it,” to appeal to the elders.
Was it too extravagant an imagination for her?
No, it was because she realized there were almost no elves who listened to her words.
It felt like giving a formal chance of justification to a sinner. She didn’t feel unjust, as committing the sin was a fact.
The sin of not preventing the heroine. And the sin of eagerness to prevent the heroine that led to not seeing through the trap of humans. If this was also a sin, then it was a sin.
Marcella, pondering bitterness, informed the chief elder.
“Elder, I will accept any decision regarding this matter. I’ve learned that internal struggle is impossible. …But I have a request.”
“What is it?”
“Don’t do it, Heroine.”
Marcella left with a brief word.
Elves scattered left and right with her.
There were quite a few who looked at Marcella as if observing her, but there was not a single elf siding with her.
Most elves would avoid her slowly just in case they made eye contact with Marcella. Marcella made efforts to maintain composure and left the scene.
Naturally, there were no elves following her.
…
The decision regarding Marcella was announced a few days later.
It was after the prisoners, released through the elders’ devoted efforts, arrived in Medelin.
The prisoners looked clean, with no signs of torture. They even went to the elders upon arrival, shedding tears and expressing gratitude.
This was a sufficient achievement to elevate the authority of the elders. Elves who had intimidated these elders couldn’t be left alone.
At the end of the meeting, the elders announced the decision regarding Marcella.
Marcella Woodrina’s position as a warrior is revoked. And she will be confined in the Hoen District on an indefinite basis.
Dismissal and retirement.
The Hoen District, located on the outskirts of Medelin, was not really an exile destination, but rather a place where twilight elves spent their lives, just tending to plants and passing time comfortably.
It wasn’t a suitable place for Marcella, who was only 190 years old and had no intention of leaving Medelin, despite having a poor lineage to become an elder.
Marcella didn’t show any signs of resistance.
Instead, she quietly escaped from Medelin with just one sword.
She couldn’t give up like this.