There was no need to wait any longer.
From the early morning of the next day, I went to find Elenia.
“…What? No, wait a minute. What did you just say?”
“I’m going back to the Great Forest right now and will handle the Mother Forest’s bow.”
My words were so absurd that Elenia was left speechless.
Her lips kept moving, but no words came out.
Finally, she called my name, “Tyreal,” and grabbed my shoulders.
“Master must have put strange ideas into your head again. That’s going too far. He’s a bit eccentric, so he says things like that without a second thought.”
“But he’s not wrong. What could be more foolish than me, who wants to change the elves, being bound by their customs and waiting?”
He’s already someone who thinks magic and spirit arts are useless.
On top of that, he’s also the one who ran away before even coming of age.
And now, he’s supposed to quietly wait until the coming-of-age ceremony?
Lord Noah is right.
If you really want to make a change, you have to go beyond imagination.
You have to burn it all down.
The elven race has been stagnant for too long; ordinary methods won’t work.
Whether it’s reform or revolution, you have to start with a bang.
Only then will those who think differently emerge.
What’s needed right now are radical elves who share my vision, and this kind of performance is necessary.
“Anyway, as you know, Elenia, what I wanted wasn’t the pinnacle of martial arts but to handle the Mother Forest’s bow.”
“The two were mutually necessary.”
“I can do it. I’ve already learned and mastered so much from you. I could have done it already, but I hesitated because of some hidden fear. Maybe meeting Lord Noah was a desperate attempt to eliminate that uncertainty.”
“But certainty is good, right? That’s why I guided you to Master.”
That’s true.
Meeting Lord Noah was indeed a great help.
However, if what Elenia suggested was about assessing my exact level of skill, what Lord Noah evaluated was not my physical abilities but my mental state.
And it helped me far more than I expected.
Much more.
“Elenia, please wait here.”
“You’re not coming with me?”
“I heard from the Baron’s people that there’s about a month left before the academy reopens. And you’ve built some connections in the human world, right?”
“Connections? Not really. It’s just that when Master causes trouble, I’m the only one who can communicate with him, so I’ve ended up making some acquaintances.”
That’s exactly the most credible part.
Being the restraint for someone who’s not a demon king but close to it.
Humans will surely listen to Elenia’s words.
If they don’t, it doesn’t matter. Lord Noah will make them listen.
“I’m going to officially bring the elves into the world.”
“How?”
“By sending them to the academy as exchange students. Not as individuals, but as representatives of the Great Forest’s elves.”
“……Do you really think they’ll agree?”
“It doesn’t matter if it’s just a few. There must be some among our kin who share my and Elenia’s thoughts. I don’t expect everyone to change from the start.”
My role is to spark the flame.
It’s up to the next generation of elves to spread it.
I need to pave the way.
That’s why there’s no reason to wait until the coming-of-age ceremony.
“You know, in the end, all of this is only possible if I can handle the Mother Forest’s bow.”
“I can do it. No, I will do it. If I achieve it before even coming of age, it will shatter all the fixed notions our kin have held until now.”
“On the flip side, the greater the shock, the greater the backlash. What do you plan to do about that?”
I’ve already anticipated that.
In fact, it would be more frightening and strange if there weren’t a strong backlash.
“The greater the backlash, the more sympathy or curiosity it will generate. Especially among those my age. Think about it, Elenia. If an elf like me, who hasn’t even had a coming-of-age ceremony, handles the Mother Forest’s bow? If that elf says it’s time to leave the forest and face the real world?”
“…At the very least, they’d be curious.”
A forest can be engulfed in a massive blaze from just a small spark.
Perhaps the reason the rest of the elves so vehemently rejected those who mingled with humans lies there.
If they were too lenient, everything they’ve protected so far would crumble.
“That’s why I’m going back right now.”
“Okay.”
“Do you really think they’ll give the Mother Forest’s bow to Tyreal, who hasn’t even had a coming-of-age ceremony?”
“They will. I’ll make sure they have no choice.”
This isn’t baseless confidence. I’m certain of it.
There’s something that races who pride themselves on long history and tradition can never overlook.
A being that shakes that foundation.
They can’t just remain silent or try to block it.
They must publicly demonstrate that no one can recklessly challenge it.
And in doing so, they must show that they have their reasons for acting this way.
Think about it.
A runaway underage elf appears and suddenly declares he can handle the Mother Forest’s bow.
What would the elder elves think upon hearing that?
Some might react differently, but most would scoff and say,
“Let him try. What can a kid who’s no good at magic or spirit arts do?”
In fact, they might see this as an opportunity to show the younger ones who dream foolish dreams the consequences.
That neglecting magic and spirit arts leads only to a miserable future.
“So, Elenia, stay here and plant some seeds among the humans.”
“Do you really think the humans will accept it? They’ve suffered so much at the hands of our kin.”
“That’s exactly why they’ll accept it. If the great forest-dwelling race bows its head first, the Empire would be foolish not to accept.”
Though it hasn’t been long, during my travels in the Empire, I’ve noticed something.
Humans fear and guard against us elves, but they also strangely envy us.
Whether it’s our overwhelming understanding of magic and spirit arts or our long lifespans.
Whatever it is, there’s no denying the competitive spirit and desire to surpass us.
And then, if those elves say, “Hey, we want to send some kids to your Empire’s academy,”
I’d immediately boast, “The Empire’s academy, recognized even by the elves!”
The Empire’s administration would surely think of this basic advantage.
Honestly, having lived as an elf for so long, I’ve been thinking like them.
But recalling my past life, I realize I’ve been human all along, and the answer becomes clear.
“I’ll be back. It won’t take long, so get ready, Elenia.”
Retracing my steps wasn’t difficult.
More than anything, with my resolve firm and my purpose clear, my steps felt light.
But I never imagined I’d meet someone I knew on that path.
“…El!”
At first, I thought I misheard. It was too faint.
But when I heard it a second time, I knew it wasn’t my imagination. It’s not every day you hear your name called out of nowhere.
‘What’s going on? Did Elenia follow me?’
No, that’s impossible.
I didn’t sense her presence at all.
Still, curious, I slowed down and looked back.
Suddenly, something appeared and hugged me tightly.
“You idiot, Tyreal!!”
“That voice… Seril?”
Wait, wait. Seril?
Why is she here?
I quickly pushed her away and looked.
My goodness.
It’s really Seril.
I’m not mistaken.
“What are you doing here? Why are you…”
“What do you think? I was worried you’d do something stupid, so I followed you!”
“But isn’t it a bit late for that?”
Why is she here?
More importantly,
“What about your mother?” You…
“…Think about your own parents. Why are you asking about my mom?”
“My parents would understand!”
Damn it.
What’s going on?
Why is Seril here?
No, wait.
Actually, this is good. It’s fortunate we met here.
“Let’s go.”
“Where?”
“The Great Forest. Our village.”
“What, what? Were you on your way back?! Did you decide to end your runaway?!”
No way.
I shook my head.
“I’m going to stir up some trouble.”
“Stir up trouble?”
“Yeah.”
“You’ve always been a bit of an idiot, but can you explain it more clearly?”
If she knew, she’d either faint or knock me out.
Is that okay?
But now that I’ve started, with Seril’s personality, she won’t let it go.
She’ll probably pester me until I tell her everything.
Oh well.
Better to get it over with.
She’s my childhood friend; I should tell her.
“The Mother Forest’s bow.”
“The one you said you’d handle at the coming-of-age ceremony?”
“Yeah. I’m going to handle it right now.”
“…Huh?”
“I’m not waiting for the coming-of-age ceremony. I’m going to stir up trouble right now.”
After hearing my words, Seril’s reaction was naturally to grab my collar…
“Are you really going to do it?”
But she didn’t.
Wait, what’s going on?
Why is she so calm?
“I have to. I will. I’m not waiting for the coming-of-age ceremony. I’ll do it right now.”
“…You’re serious. Your resolve is firm.”
I nodded a couple of times in agreement.
Seril, who had been staring at me for a moment, suddenly said, “Alright,” and grabbed my hand.
“Seril?”
“What are you doing? Let’s go back. Let’s go and do what you need to do. Tyreal.”