67 – 67. Dominance
The elders of Medelin were engulfed in anger.
“The arrogance of humans has gone too far…! This cannot be overlooked.”
“…But isn’t Alan Maydoff involved in heroin?”
“What’s wrong with us smoking heroin? It’s just a way to relax, but this damn Donmyeongjong thinks he can look down on us just because of that…! We must firmly warn him so that this never happens again…!”
The voices of the elders gathered in the Chief Elder’s office, criticizing Alan Maydoff.
Some of the more polite elders were trying to calm their anger while smoking heroin.
Alan Maydoff had called for the elders at night, claiming, “I have committed a grave offense against the elders of Esenia. I will publicly apologize to the elders and compensate them.”
However, there was no sign of Alan anywhere.
The situation where a mere human guest was being scorned by the elders.
The elders, who had been lenient with Alan Maydoff until now, had reached a consensus that this time, they could not overlook the offense. How could a human bureaucrat insult the elders who had lived in Dasurim even before the establishment of the Britannia Empire?
In the end, Chief Elder Ariella made a solemn decision.
“We will hold Alan Maydoff accountable. We will demand a public apology and compensation.”
“Agreed.”
Not a single elder was unaware that the compensation involved heroin.
After all, that was all the elder council wanted. Otherwise, it could be a high-grade pipe or a fragrant ingredient to mix with heroin.
“…Let’s see how far he can go. Disgusting human.”
It was the unanimous opinion of the elders to seize everything from Alan Maydoff in this opportunity.
There was not a single elf who doubted the fact that Alan Maydoff, that human, would appear soon.
Not a single one.
…
“Elders!”
The urgent report spread from that moment.
“What’s going on?”
“Naryo, the arsenal of Earth has fallen into the hands of the enemy…!”
With this report, silence fell over the room.
Suddenly, the enemy.
And the arsenal being lost.
Both were unprecedented events in the history of Medelin, leaving the elders puzzled.
Before one of the elders could gather their thoughts and give instructions, another urgent report came in.
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“It seems that the enemy has attacked the Ministry of Affairs. What should we do about this…!”
News of the office responsible for carrying out the elders’ orders being attacked.
“Today, the guardians who were on duty seem to have engaged in a battle with the enemy and have been captured. …Well, to be honest, we haven’t confirmed if there was a battle, but it is true that they have been captured…!”
Even the guardians responsible for Medelin’s defense have become prisoners.
This ultimately means that the enemy has invaded Medelin.
There was only one race capable of such a dismal act.
“Human? Are humans attacking us?”
“Yes…! The Empire’s army is currently invading Medelin.”
As this information sank in, the faces of the elders grew increasingly grave.
Humans entering the realm of the World Tree.
And in a short time, rendering all major facilities powerless.
The elderlies, even those who used to smoke heroin, put down their pipes, although they didn’t extinguish them. The news that the medallion had fallen into human hands was shocking.
Now is the time to come up with a plan, not when under the influence of heroin.
However, there were no elves who readily expressed their opinions.
Gathering warriors to repel them was not an option since the offices and armories had already been taken over. But requesting support from the villages outside Medelin seemed too urgent of a situation.
It was doubtful whether they would come to help even if requested. Who would believe that humans suddenly intruded into the heart of the forest and caused chaos?
The elders looked at each other with no answers, while the practitioners waited anxiously for the elders’ instructions, their faces filled with despair.
Meanwhile, time passed futilely.
“Ah! That’s right!”
The shout came from Elder Ariel, breaking the silence.
A glimmer of hope appeared in her expression as she nervously scratched her white hair. Despite the grim situation, she had a trustworthy corner to rely on. The elders also looked at her with hopeful expressions.
“Summon Marcela.”
“Yes?”
“Tell Marcela to lead the warriors and kill every single human… Leave no one alive. Just make sure to spare Alan Maydoff’s life! We need to hold the Empire accountable for this devastation.”
“Elder, sir.”
“Summon Marcela quickly!”
Hurry!
The elder urged.
Marcela would annihilate all the humans, swiftly resolving this sudden disaster and delivering the news of victory, with a face filled with such belief.
However, the response that came back was overwhelmingly bleak.
“Um… I apologize, but the one leading the human forces attacking Medelin… is none other than the Grand Warrior Marcela, Elder.”
“Uh.”
“Marcella is a traitor. Elders.”
The elders’ faces twisted with disbelief.
But it didn’t last long.
…
“Grand Elder. It’s all over.”
Marcella had actually led humans into the council chamber.
**
The capital of Dasurim, Medelin, crumbled easily to a pathetic extent.
Conflict? Of course, it happened.
Even when entering the Grand Elder’s chamber, a few warriors tried to stop us.
But the majority, heroin users, could be easily subdued.
Desperately casting spells, taking a hit from me, surrendering, drawing a sword and stumbling, lightly subdued, and unconscious. It was as easy as taking control of other key facilities.
Now, only the Council, the highest decision-making body, remained.
Marcella silently stared at the Council. Over thirty elders with startled expressions were eyeing Marcella.
I understood the emotions, but someone had to speak.
I looked at Grand Marshal Grant, the commander of the Imperial Army.
Master and Vice Commander of the Royal Guard. Nominally, he was my superior. In the original work, he played the role of admiring the protagonist Leon’s talent and raising his value.
An official with sufficient qualifications to explain the pretext of military intervention to the elders and impose submission.
However, Grand Marshal Grant also seemed very… very complicated. He probably didn’t expect to seize the enemy’s capital with only two friendly casualties (minor injuries).
Someone has to step forward. Holding the Morning Star, I stood by Marcela’s side.
And I spoke.
“Commander. It’s over now.”
“Alchemist…!”
“We are the imperial forces that entered upon the request of the great warrior Marcela. She said she doesn’t want unnecessary sacrifices. If you peacefully hand over power to her, we can peacefully coexist while maintaining a minimum of dignity.”
“What are you saying now…?”
“After this, Marcela will step forward as the representative of the elves for ceasefire negotiations with the empire.”
“….”
The remaining decision rested with the elders.
Submit or resist.
“Marcela, that young one, as the representative?”
In a normal situation, a skirmish might have broken out by now.
We are a small special forces unit, and the elders are all exceptional magicians. The Commander is particularly outstanding.
But looking at the faces of the elders now, it seemed they were definitely not in a state to fight. All the elders were heroin addicts.
Severe addicts who smoked five times a day.
There was even an elder who couldn’t let go of the pipe even now. Fighting with such dru*gged elders would honestly be impossible…
Amidst the hesitation, an elf stepped forward to resist.
Commander Ariel declared resistance with a fiercely distorted expression.
“Drive them out in one breath!!”
The Commander extended both hands forward, glaring at us.
Even without a staff, a Grand Elder like her would likely have the ability to cast lightning-fast magic that could bounce us off in a blink.
The only way to stop it was to swiftly dash and cut her throat before she could unleash the spell. There was no option to just stand there and take it.
However, there was no sense of urgency.
“Everyone, bounce them all…!”
Despite the forceful declaration, no matter how long we waited, the magic did not manifest.
The Grand Elder, staring at us with a nonchalant posture. Her dilated pupils shook anxiously from side to side, and the hand reaching forward was faintly trembling.
Meanwhile, there was no detection of the flow of magical power.
She might have mastered the technique of concealing magical presence due to her formidable skills. If that were the case, it was a situation where standing idly was not an option.
But it wasn’t the case.
“Soul Eater, Chain Lightning Soul Eater… No, that’s not it, um.”
“….”
It seemed like the Grand Elder was in a difficult situation to manipulate magic.
Even a mage who could control the Imperial Magic Tower was in a pitiful state, far below expectations.
Marcella calmly looked at her with her hand on the hilt of her knife, and the faces of the Imperial knights, excluding me, showed more of astonishment than disbelief. They only gazed at the disheveled Grand Elder Ariella with skepticism.
After an awkward moment passed.
“Ah! It’s finally happening!”
The Grand Elder Ariella finally showed a triumphant expression.
Simultaneously, a massive surge of energy was detected.
It seemed like a widespread spell that could blow up the entire office if cast. The momentum to kill not only the Imperial Army but also the elders was apparent.
The Grand Elder already had a victorious look on her face. The thought of annihilating all enemies, including the traitor Marcella, with this one spell, was evident on her face.
“Everything…!”
However, there was no dramatic twist.
Marcella, who had been silent all this time, drew her sword without a word,
and swiftly plunged it into the chest of the Grand Elder.
A fleeting action.
“Ugh…!”
But the outcome was fatal.
The Grand Elder, looking at the sword impaled in his own chest and Marcella alternately, as if in disbelief.
The elders, supporting the collapsing Grand Elder, questioned what she had done.
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Even the elder who tried to quietly leave the scene but was caught by an imperial knight, lowering his head.
Marcella calmly announced while observing that scene.
“Elder Tolema… or anyone else. Please pass the proposal to appoint me as the acting Grand Elder and grant me emergency powers to convene a meeting.”
No elder objected to her command.
The coup was successful.