Rick liked elves.
Even though his father, Baron Heiner, had often been troubled by their race.
Occasional news from the territory would reach him—like another elf causing trouble or injuring a resident.
But Rick believed it was just a fraction of a fraction behaving that way.
He thought it was natural since evil tends to stand out more sharply than goodness.
“Stupid and foolish race. If you’re going to spout nonsense, at least keep it within limits.”
However, one day, the moment he expressed his feelings to an elf he had secretly admired,
Rick found himself mercilessly cut down by the blade of cruel words, leaving him emotionally shattered.
From that moment on, Rick began to avoid and even fear elves.
Thankfully, he had his family by his side, and Rick didn’t completely fall apart.
Together with his sister, Maria, he achieved excellent grades and succeeded in entering the academy.
It was a double celebration for their small barony, with not just one but two students admitted.
Rick believed it was time to leave the past behind and move toward the future.
But when he heard that an elf would be accompanying them on the way to the academy,
a long-forgotten memory resurfaced, and he unconsciously bit his lip.
“It’ll be fine. Father said we can trust those elves.”
His dependable sister, Maria, reassured him, helping him calm down a little.
But only a little.
When he closed his eyes to sleep, the shameful moment came rushing back.
The day he realized that one could be pierced not only by weapons but also by words.
What if those elves did the same to him or his sister this time?
They might be pretending to be kind now, but they could reveal their true nature at any moment.
Rick knew from experience.
Elves, in the end, were a race that loved themselves too much to ever truly understand or care about others.
“I’m sorry. I’m sorry. I’m sorry…”
This thought was shattered when Tyreal, an elf, bowed his head and apologized to the Imperial soldiers.
It was the first time Rick had seen an elf do such a thing—for strangers like himself, his sister, and the baron’s people.
The outcome was favorable for them but turned out to be disastrous for the elf.
This elf, whom most humans would find intimidating, was humbling himself repeatedly.
Rick had expected anger or accusations of being misunderstood despite acting in goodwill.
Instead,
Tyreal admitted his faults, acknowledged his insensitivity, and even promised to be more careful moving forward—something no other elf would have done.
At first, Rick thought it might just be a fleeting whim. After all, some elves did act this way on occasion.
But what happened next—another unfortunate incident just moments ago—made Rick reconsider his view of elves once again.
At the same time, another thought crossed his mind: perhaps he had been sheltered like a flower in a greenhouse.
In the barony, he had only met kind humans and aggressive elves.
But now, in the real world, hadn’t he encountered kind elves and aggressive humans?
Rick confided these thoughts to his sister, Maria.
He admitted that while he still feared elves, he now had a reason to reconsider.
He wondered if perhaps he had been too fragile, having grown up solely within the barony.
“…I see,” Maria replied softly.
Maria, who had been silently fiddling with her hands, listened to her younger sibling’s words.
“Whatever it is, as long as you learn from it, that’s all that matters.”
Perhaps it wasn’t just her sibling who was ignorant of the world, but herself as well.
Just like those elves who stepped out into the world, now it was their turn to leave the barony and face the real world.
Still, if there was one thing to remember, it was the heart the elves had shown them.
*
“This is the Imperial Academy. It’s incredible.”
The academy we finally arrived at looked almost exactly as I had imagined.
No, not imagined—rather, it resembled the depictions I had seen in various media or representations in my previous life.
It wasn’t just a building.
The sight of several enormous castles combined together was akin to a city.
A towering ivory tower where students crafted their own stories within this small kingdom.
It was no wonder why imperial nobles were so eager to send their children to the academy.
“This is where Elenia’s teacher, Sir Noah, resides, isn’t it?”
“That’s what I heard, though I hope he hasn’t caused trouble and been expelled in the meantime.”
“What kind of personality does he have for Elenia to be so concerned?”
“He’s undoubtedly a profound thinker. But sometimes, his eccentric side tends to overshadow that.”
The baron’s people who had accompanied us informed us they needed to stop by the admissions office, signaling our parting.
They expressed a desire to meet again someday if the opportunity arose, wanting to repay the kindness they hadn’t fully returned yet.
We wished them the same and turned to leave after saying our farewells.
“For a first interaction with humans, it ended rather well, Elenia.”
Did she notice something in my words?
Elenia glanced at me, then tapped the hilt of her sword with her fingers before speaking.
“Almost all our kin have said the same.”
“What do you mean?”
“At first, they nod in approval, acknowledging the better sides of humans and thinking, ‘Well, they’re a rational species.’ But then, they eventually see their true faces or hidden sides and end up disappointed.”
In the world of elves, there are no nobles or commoners.
The great forests have no kingdoms or empires.
There is a hierarchy of power, but it is not formalized into titles or social status.
…To be honest, unofficially, it seems to act as status, but let’s set that aside.
“Just as not all elves are good, not all humans are good either. In fact, meeting and recognizing good individuals might be even harder. That’s why, in the end, everyone arrives at the same question: ‘If humans are no better than us elves, does it even make sense to learn anything from them?’”
She was asking me.
What would I do if another member of our kin raised this issue?
Humans accept change, but if they are no better, what then?
Would you still side with humans instead of your kin?
A simple, straightforward question.
“That’s precisely why we elves who called for change were ostracized. The problem isn’t just with our forest clan, but humans aren’t any better either.”
“…I agree. Yes, I acknowledge that.”
Perhaps I, too, had forgotten for a moment.
Thirty years.
Such a long time spent solely among elves.
It was only natural that my eyes focused solely on their flaws, the defects that needed to be fixed.
Even if it’s the outside world, it’s not like it’s filled with hopeful pink hues.
There must have been a reason why the elves who left the great forest returned disappointed.
There might have been an issue that no elf could possibly overlook.
“That doesn’t change the fact that we elves should adapt. Just as there are good elves and good humans, each has its strengths, and we need to accept that.”
“Hmm.”
“Above all, isn’t this world ultimately changing with humans at its center rather than us elves? We can’t rely solely on magic and spirit arts to remain the superior race forever.”
Even if spirit arts are out of the question, humans are steadily catching up with magic.
The very existence of the absurd innovation known as the teleportation magic circle is clear evidence of that.
And beyond that, there’s no need to even mention it. The disadvantages for us elves are undeniable.
This isn’t just about raw power; it’s a series of situations arising across various fields.
Our race, with lifespans several times longer than humans, progresses at a much slower pace.
It’s gone too far to simply dismiss as a characteristic of long-lived species.
At this rate, we’ll truly end up being called “Kanph.”
And trying to change an entrenched image later on takes several times the hardship and effort.
I know better than anyone that the process can cost not just sweat but also blood.
“My plan remains unchanged. I’ll draw the Mother Forest’s bow to prove what our kind desires, and use that as a stepping stone to bring about various changes.”
“I see.”
“Ultimately, everything I’m doing is for the elves. That’s the reason behind it all.”
It’s not that I admire humans.
Nor am I a reincarnator blinded by modern human superiority.
I simply want this beautiful and noble race to be praised a little more by others.
Isn’t it unfortunate?
Such splendid beings are called “Kanph” and receive uncomfortable stares.
If it’s not that we can’t change, but that we won’t because we lack the will to do so, then all the more reason to act!
“Now then, shall we go meet Lord Noah first?”
How much farther do we need to go before I can pull the Mother Forest’s bow, the first step in this plan?
Can this human, Lord Noah, truly provide an answer to that question?
When I asked the academy administrator earlier, he said Lord Noah was at the Grand Training Grounds.
Guided by the administrator, who couldn’t hide his reluctance at dealing with elves, Elenia and I arrived at the entrance to the Grand Training Grounds.
—Crash!!
I blinked for a moment, wondering if I had seen wrong.
Turning my head, I couldn’t believe it.
A small hole had formed in the pillar right beside me.
Was it thrown?
Or kicked?
Whatever it was, if it had hit properly, my head might have been gone.
“My master says to come in quickly.”
That was a greeting?
Really?
This is absolutely maddening.