Chapter 23: Absolutely Not

“Seril?”  

“…”

“What are you doing? Let’s go back quickly. Go and do what you want to do, Tyreal.”  

For a moment, I was at a loss for words and just stared blankly at Seril.  

I thought she would stop me, or maybe scold me for being crazy.  

I even expected her to call me an idiot or something, but she didn’t.  

“…Are you really Seril?”  

“Huh?”  

“You don’t seem like it.”  

Maybe Seril’s twin sister?

Or a younger sibling?

Or perhaps a hidden cousin?  

She looks like Seril, but her actions are nothing like my terrifying childhood friend…  

“You idiot, what are you talking about!”  

The punch that landed on my head made me realize I was being foolish.  

Ah! It really is Seril!

I must have done something to deserve that!

Well, what can I do?  

“Of course, I thought you’d stop me or ask if I was out of my mind.”  

“Do you think you’d listen if I stopped you?”  

“…Well, no.”  

“Then don’t talk nonsense.”  

Seril clicked her tongue and reached out her hand, urging me to hurry up.  

I stared at her pale hand for a moment, then without thinking, I spoke up.  

“It’s not good for you to be with me in this situation.”  

“What are you talking about?”  

“In a situation where an underage kid is causing a fuss about wanting to handle the Mother Forest’s bow, if you’re by my side, you’ll get criticized too.”  

“If you’re my childhood friend, you should be willing to take the criticism together. Isn’t that what childhood friends do?”  

Has the definition of a childhood friend changed recently?  

As far as I know, there’s no part that says ‘you should be willing to take criticism together.’  

Of course, even if I argued that point, Seril wouldn’t pay any attention.  

“Tyreal, you said you’d do it. So you’ll do it. Even though you’re an idiot, you’ve never started something without a reason or basis.”  

“…”

I wondered if Seril had ever shown such unwavering trust in me before.  

She still called me an idiot, but there was no hint of belittlement in her tone.  

In fact, hearing her say that made me feel a bit reassured.  

“Let me ask you, Tyreal. Do you plan to fail? After running away and coming back?”  

“Absolutely not.”  

“Then that’s that. And! Having me by your side will at least show that someone supports you. Our kin aren’t fools, but if you’re alone, they’ll subtly ignore you.”  

Seril’s point was that two people are better than one.  

It wasn’t a wrong statement, so all I could do was nod in agreement.  

*

Elven life can be compared to a tranquil lake itself.  

Nothing changes.

No new water flows in like a river, and no waves crash like the sea.  

This isn’t something enforced by anyone.

They chose it and maintain it themselves.  

Occasionally, winds of change blow, but they succumb to the invisible power of tranquility.  

No one desires turmoil. This great forest is their paradise.  

No matter what lies beyond the world.

No matter what form it takes.

The elves love only this place.  

Laurel, the elder of this village, is one such elf.  

He too was curious about the world beyond the forest in his youth, but soon realized the greatness of the elves.  

Why mingle with humans, who constantly seek each other’s blood and end up shedding their own?  

There’s no need to change.

In fact, it’s because they haven’t changed that the elves remain elves.  

If any young kin doubted this truth, he would admonish them as an elder.  

I’ve been through it all, he’d say.

This is where you belong.  

“Who has returned?”  

Amidst this, a young elf he had failed to teach returned.  

One who had run away before even undergoing the coming-of-age ceremony.

A young kin who had been causing his parents grief.  

“Tyreal. Huh. It’s a relief. It’s only been seven years, so you’ve returned.”  

By elven standards, that’s not a long time.  

In fact, it’s good. He returned before reaching adulthood.  

Perhaps he realized his own foolishness and came back to repent.  

Elder Laurel thought he’d just give a little admonishment and went out with his staff.  

“I want to handle the Mother Forest’s bow.”  

And it didn’t take long for that staff to become an instrument of discipline.  

“What is this brat babbling about?! Do you think the Mother Forest’s bow is some kind of toy?!”  

It was unbelievable. After disappearing from the village for seven years without a word, he suddenly shows up and says this?  

He wants to handle the Mother Forest’s bow? The treasure of the elves that can only be touched once during the coming-of-age ceremony?  

“You brat. Where have you been and what have you been doing? Speak the truth!”  

“I’ve been in the human world for a while. I didn’t see much, but I learned what I needed to.”  

“Huh. So, you’ve really been tainted by the human world!”  

Laurel wasn’t the only one venting his anger.

The other elves reacted similarly.  

Leaving the village before coming of age is already a punishable offense, but to have gone to the human world?  

I thought he had realized his mistake and returned, but it seems that wasn’t the case.  

He wants to handle the Mother Forest’s bow?

Is he in his right mind?!  

Once tainted by the human world, there’s no saving any elf.  

This is why we try not to let those who leave the village return.  

What would the young ones learn from this?

It’s truly lamentable!  

“Tyreal. Listen well. We elves are noble and great beings. No matter what you saw or heard in the human world, forget it all.”  

“The elder is right. We are the souls created by the ancient gods to protect the World Tree, the center of the continent’s order. Humans are nothing but dregs!”  

I sincerely, desperately hoped the young one would come to his senses.  

If he apologizes now, we might generously accept him.  

“I’ll say it again. I will handle the Mother Forest’s bow.”  

He’s not listening.

In such cases, it’s the duty of the elders to educate.  

Soon, Tyreal’s parents will arrive, but if they see this, they’ll understand.  

Guiding a young kin to the right path is the duty of every adult elf.  

“I won’t be nice anymore. Tyreal. Go home.”  

Despite the elder’s warning, the young elf shook his head and took a step forward.  

It was as if he was saying, ‘Go ahead and try.’  

“Hmm.”  

It was time for the elder to fulfill his duty.

Laurel summoned the spirit he had spent his life with.  

An old friend who would understand his current feelings better than anyone.  

And a spirit and its summoner are the pinnacle of the elven world.  

Boom!!  

Before anyone could blink, the spirit was forcibly unsummoned.  

“What is this…?”  

They thought they were seeing things.

Not just Laurel, but all the elves.  

Then another elderly elf stepped forward. He too was a renowned spirit summoner.  

But his spirit was also unsummoned in less than ten seconds.  

“Tyreal, you brat! What kind of dark magic did you learn in the human world?!”  

If even the spirits can’t withstand it, it’s clear he’s not just tainted, but completely corrupted.  

“Yes. That must be it. There’s no way the spirits would lose to a young elf.  

They must have refused to fight because he’s too tainted!”  

“It seems we have no choice. If the spirits refuse to fight, we must educate him with magic.”  

Spirit summoning is powerful, but if the spirits refuse to use their power, it’s meaningless.  

If they refuse to even manifest and return, there’s no way to stop it.  

But magic is different.

As long as the caster is present, with sufficient mana sensitivity and concentration, anything is possible!  

Of course, to cut to the chase, no magical discipline took place.  

“F*ck!”  

“You brat! How dare you act so insolently to your elders!”  

The elf spun in the air and crashed to the ground.  

The other elves, shocked, rushed to help him and shouted at Tyreal.  

The young kin, not even of age, clicked his tongue and sighed.  

If you’re going to use magic right in front of me, shouldn’t you at least be faster than me?  

Your movements are slower than my magic casting, and you’re complaining?  

When I was young, I thought our race was merciful, but after leaving, I realized that wasn’t the case.  

In fact, it’s the other races who tolerate our arrogance.  

Tyreal swung his sword in its sheath and spoke, causing the other elves to sigh.  

Indeed, he’s too far gone.

An elf wielding a sword so recklessly.  

The forest kin are supposed to summon spirits and use magic with the wind!  

Even if not, they should stand still and draw their bows quietly!  

The Mother Forest’s bow is a bow, but it ultimately requires magic and spirit summoning, right?  

“…Elder. Let’s just let him try.”  

“What?!”  

“It’s a bit much for adults to only think of winning against a foolish child throwing a tantrum.”  

In other words, it was better to stop before everyone was humiliated.  

The other elves, understanding the implication, coughed awkwardly and exchanged glances.  

“Besides, do you really think he can handle the Mother Forest’s bow?”  

“Ahem.”  

“He’s lacking in both magic and spirit summoning, so he’ll realize it’s not as easy as he thinks. We don’t need to intervene; the Mother Forest will teach him.”  

It’s quite something to speak so confidently after already being thoroughly defeated.  

Laurel and the other elves slowly nodded in agreement.  

Yes. Let’s leave it to the Mother Forest.

This is absolutely not because we can’t handle it and are backing off!