Elves, unlike humans, are agile and do not tire easily.
This means that even if we were to head to the capital immediately, there would be no problem.
However, I chose to spend a bit more time with my fellow elves who had followed me out to this baron.
What we need right now is a period of adjustment.
At first glance, it might seem like this is solely for the benefit of the elves who followed me, but that’s not the whole story.
From now on, the Baron Heiner will continue to encounter elves.
Although they have interacted with elves before, the frequency will be incomparably higher than before.
Therefore, the people here also need to become more familiar with the guests from the forest.
After all, there are more than a few in the barony who have suffered because of the elves.
“Has everyone gathered?”
“Yes. I’ve gathered everyone!”
My childhood friend and ally, Seril, is as reliable as ever.
From our childhood until the seven years I spent away from the village, she has always been sociable and well-liked, earning the support of our peers.
Thanks to her, I was able to convey my intentions more effectively.
“Alright, everyone. You already know this, but why did we leave the forest?”
“To correct the mistakes of our kin and show humans the true nature of our forest clan!”
The initial reason we presented was to foster interaction with humans or to bring about change within our elven race.
But if we pushed that agenda too aggressively from the start, there would be much talk and strong opposition.
At that moment, I recalled the looks I received from humans when I first ventured into their world.
Elves are noble, beautiful, and above all, averse to bloodshed.
Yet, it was the humans, whom we consider crude and violent, who looked at us with fear in their eyes.
This became the most appropriate justification for our actions.
It was a gift from the humans themselves.
I didn’t hide my somber expression as I explained this to my fellow elves who supported me.
I emphasized that I feared the misunderstandings that led humans to misrepresent us.
Upon hearing this, the younger elves, who were naturally curious about the outside world, expressed their concerns.
They worried that they would be unfairly blamed for the actions of their elders, even though they themselves were not at fault.
For elves, who have a strong sense of self-worth, there could be nothing more dreadful.
We are pioneers.
The first of our forest clan to take an official step forward.
We must consider ourselves special and carry a sense of grave responsibility.
This will serve as a guiding star, ensuring we stay on the right path during crucial moments.
With this conviction, I reiterated our goals to them.
“Although it wasn’t for long, I ventured beyond the forest and encountered humans. They might ask, ‘Are humans truly a violent race that revels in bloodshed?’ The answer is yes. There have been wars between nations and ongoing battles between humans and monsters.”
Elves rarely engage in physical fights or even arguments unless absolutely necessary.
Instead, they might go over a hundred years without speaking or making eye contact.
Seeing some of my kin taken aback by my words, I quickly continued.
“But that’s not because humans are inherently cruel. It’s simply their way of life. Just as we compete between villages through magic and spirit arts, or hold contests to see who possesses the superior soul. It’s not for us to judge them from an outsider’s perspective. They must change on their own.”
Many elves who ventured out of the forest didn’t understand this and ended up provoking hostility by offering unsolicited advice.
From the humans’ perspective, it’s only natural.
They might curse us, and they wouldn’t be wrong.
How could they possibly appreciate a bunch of pointy-eared outsiders meddling and criticizing?
Especially if we were to say, ‘Ah, we elves are the most rational beings on earth! You should listen to us!’
If I were human, I’d probably think, ‘What the hell are these damn elves babbling about?’
“Humans may not live long, but they know how to burn with passion. They may not match us in magic and spirit arts, but they have mastered many other skills.”
“…”
“We need to think big. And we need to think broadly. Just because they are inferior to us in some ways doesn’t mean they are lesser or that there’s nothing to learn from them. If we truly believe that elves are the supreme beings created by the gods, then we have a duty to fulfill beyond just enjoying that status.”
As I finished speaking, Seril, who had been listening beside me, quietly linked her arm with mine.
“And! As Tyreal said! We also have a mission to pass down the proud name of the elven race to our descendants!”
“Yes. Seril is right.”
“That’s true. My goodness, ‘kanphs’? What on earth have our elders been doing in the outside world to earn such a title? How could they live with that?”
Of course, until now, the elders had not told us the truth.
Whenever something happened, it was always the humans’ fault.
We elves were always the victims.
Even if our responses were excessive, they justified it as necessary.
But if humans did the same, it was seen as a provocation against the forest clan.
If I hadn’t seen my mother draw the bow of the forest.
Even though it was damaged, I witnessed its light staying with me.
If not for that, perhaps those before me would have reacted similarly to the elders.
But I have proven something that they could not.
Having seen, heard, and experienced the outside world, I have much to say.
Our peers can understand this, as the elders only ever nagged.
Thus, they are more inclined to listen to me than to our elders.
Humans call us ‘kanffs’ because of the elders’ misdeeds.
Honestly, what elf could quietly accept such a miserable reality?
“Let’s make one thing clear. Just in case, I want to say that everything I’m doing is ultimately for the sake of the elves. If humans take advantage of our resolve today to act high-handedly, I won’t stand idly by.”
“Tyreal is right.”
“We should treat each other with respect. Just because some are called ‘kanphs’ doesn’t mean we all are!”
Yes. We must make this clear.
We are not here to apologize to humans for our kin’s mistakes.
We are here to restore the beautiful and noble name of the elves to its former glory.
*
“Tyreal. A human man. The Baron is looking for you.”
The next morning, Seril burst in and shouted, making me tense.
It was just yesterday that I brought a group of elves to this barony.
And now, the Baron himself wants to see me at this early hour.
Only one thought comes to mind: Did someone cause trouble in such a short time?
Thinking of that possibility, the stories I heard from Elenia about elves—no, ‘kanphs’—causing all sorts of incidents in the human world came flooding back.
I thought our peers were less ‘kanph’-like, but was I wrong?!
“Baron.”
“Tyreal. I’m sorry for the early hour. But it’s urgent.”
“Who is it?”
“Huh?”
At the Baron’s puzzled response, I forced a smile, indicating he could speak freely.
“Tell me. Which elf caused trouble this time? As one who wields the bow of the forest mother, I will take responsibility and punish them. Please, speak.”
“No, no. That’s not it. That’s not why I’m looking for you.”
Ah, I see. You startled me. I thought it was about that.
As I let out a sigh of relief, the Baron blinked a few times before speaking.
“Actually, we just received a communication from the capital.”
“The capital?”
“This is the first time something like this has happened, so I’m still a bit shaken. Let me calm down first. Whew.”
After taking a few deep breaths, the Baron looked at me and spoke.
“The Ministry of Foreign Affairs is sending someone.”
“The Ministry of Foreign Affairs?”
“It seems the capital is treating this matter not as individual elves visiting the empire, but as an official diplomatic issue.”
On the bright side, this means the empire views our changes positively.
On the other hand, it also means they are highly alert to our movements.
If they are approaching this at a national level, we must also adjust our approach accordingly.
Perhaps moving in such large numbers from the start was too much, but there was no other way.
If we didn’t, the commotion I caused would soon be forgotten.
Elves live long lives, but they are also surprisingly adept at forgetting the past.
“They will arrive via a teleportation circle nearby and then come directly to the barony.”
“…We’ll have to meet them.”
“That would be best. If the Ministry of Foreign Affairs is sending someone directly, it must be a significant matter.”
Unfortunately, elves do not form a nation.
At best, a village owns a certain territory, and these villages are scattered.
If the powerful among us had formed a nation, perhaps an elven empire would have existed.
But it seems the gods prevented that by design.
“Baron, you need not worry. The empire’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs has business with us as well.”
“I’ll leave it to you. Our Baron Heiner has become too closely intertwined with the forest clan.”
The baron cannot remain unaffected now that so many elves have emerged from the Great Forest.
Politics and power are truly complex, I thought as I headed to the designated location.
Somehow, I’ve become the representative of the elves, but I’ve proven my worth.
I wielded the bow of the forest mother, and though it was damaged, it remains by my side.
So, meeting with the empire’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs should be within my capabilities, right?