One important point.
The bow of Mother Forest is not the legendary sword Excalibur.
Of course, it is indeed a divine artifact.
The moment you wield it, you gain the support of the elves.
In your own village, you gain overwhelming fame and stand even above the elders.
When encountering elves from other villages with whom relations are strained, you still earn their respect.
However, it does not make you a king. In the first place, the Great Forest does not have a nation.
It makes others listen to your words and gives your arguments more persuasive power, but it does not grant you coercive authority.
Moreover, during this process, the bowstring broke and eventually disappeared, rendering it incomplete.
One important point.
The bow of Mother Forest is not the legendary sword Excalibur.
Of course, it is indeed a divine artifact.
The moment you wield it, you gain the support of the elves.
In your own village, you gain overwhelming fame and stand even above the elders.
When encountering elves from other villages with whom relations are strained, you still earn their respect.
However, it does not make you a king. In the first place, the Great Forest does not have a nation.
It makes others listen to your words and gives your arguments more persuasive power, but it does not grant you coercive authority.
Moreover, during this process, the bowstring broke and eventually disappeared, rendering it incomplete.
That’s why this situation is just right.
Wielding a divine artifact while maintaining just the right amount of influence.
My words may not be enough to completely suppress the elders of each village, but they must still listen.
Even this much allows me to control the fellow elves who have followed me to some extent.
“Everyone’s here, right?”
“Yes. Everyone’s here, but… Tyreal? Why did you bring them along?”
Those who expressed a desire to explore the human world individually or in pairs with close friends.
I brought along those who had decided to go to the academy and those who had not yet made a decision.
“There’s something I need to say before everyone goes their separate ways.”
In my words, the elves who were planning to leave to see the world glanced around cautiously.
They probably have a rough idea of what I’m going to say to them.
This is no longer the Great Forest.
This is the human world.
So, keep to what must be kept.
If any strange rumors start circulating, be prepared to shed blood, like someone did last time.
That’s what they probably think I’m going to say. It’s obvious, you guys.
“First of all, I want to thank you for trusting me and coming this far.”
“Huh?”
“Even though the elders tried to dissuade you. Despite all the talk about elven traditions and nobility, you never lost your resolve to change. I respect that.”
Always start with gratitude.
That way, you can preempt any other reactions.
This is like a gift, or even a bribe.
Once accepted, they should keep quiet.
Even if they want to resist what I’m about to say, they’ll probably hesitate.
If they do, it would mean rejecting the gratitude and picking a fight.
“The elders told me, ‘You’re seducing the young ones and trying to lead them in the direction you want.’ But I have no such intention. I am an elf, and you are elves. Interfering in each other’s affairs is clearly crossing a line. It’s an infringement on the freedom of the forest.”
“…”
“Now. Let’s look at each other. Friends who will elevate the name of the elves in my stead, companions who will restore the luster of elven nobility tarnished by some of our kin.”
At these words, the elves who decided to go to the academy, those who chose to stay a bit longer, and even those who will scatter to their desired places as soon as the Ministry of Foreign Affairs contacts them—all look at each other, imprinting each other’s faces in their minds.
At first glance, it might seem like a silent greeting, each asking the other to take care.
Honestly, I wish it were that simple.
Truly. But elves cannot be pure.
From the start, this race is specialized in loving themselves more than anyone else.
“Please be careful with your words and actions so that your mistakes do not harm not only yourself but also those who are with you today.”
As I say this, it’s not that they are afraid of harming other elves.
It’s the fear that a momentary misjudgment or wrong action could lead to being collectively called “ganph.”
It’s not that being called that by humans is bothersome, but the fear of receiving resentful glances from fellow elves.
Honestly, from the elves’ perspective, whatever humans say can be easily brushed off.
But sharp criticism from fellow elves?
Even worse, outright condemnation?
They would be careful just to avoid that.
They wouldn’t want to face that.
From the start, talking about noble hearts or making elves great again is nonsense.
They came here out of curiosity and a bit of interest in me, nothing more.
At any moment, the elven facade could disappear, and the ganph nature could emerge.
To suppress that, simply preaching about elven nobility won’t work.
‘Collective responsibility. If you act like an idiot, I become an idiot too, and if I act like an idiot, you become one too. And the one who causes trouble is the ultimate idiot and the worst traitor. That’s how you make them careful on their own.’
Until now, the number of elves going to and from the Empire was not large.
Even if one acted like an idiot, at most, only about six or seven would be cursed together.
Moreover, those six or seven weren’t even together and didn’t know each other, so it wasn’t a problem.
But this time is different.
Dozens of elves have come out into the world at once.
Think about doing something that would get those dozens of fellow elves cursed.
If tens of thousands of humans are talking, the ganph mindset might somehow overcome it.
But if fellow elves say, ‘Because of that idiot, we’re getting cursed too’?
“Make the elves great again.”
“””Make the elves great again!”””
Following me, everyone declares their ambition to make the elves great again.
But among them, how many will truly maintain the same resolve as me?
Some started out of curiosity, and now they have another reason.
They can’t be chewed out by their peers for the rest of their lives.
‘So, behave properly, friends? If you cause trouble and get called ganph again, you’ll have to endure being cursed by everyone here for at least 200 years!’
The young elves who have leaped into the world.
I’ve successfully shackled their ankles.
*
“The Imperial Ministry of Foreign Affairs officially conveys the Empire’s stance. We gladly accept the elves’ large-scale visit and their will for exchange. As the Empire and the Great Forest, humans and elves, are still friends, we kindly ask that you also consider us as friends.”
This means they are allowing a large-scale entry, but don’t cause any trouble.
At the same time, it’s also a warning.
If something happens despite this, the Empire’s stance towards the elves will inevitably change.
No matter what grand cause the elves proclaim in the future, it will be dismissed as nonsense.
This must be what it feels like to step on the shit left by ganph.
It’s uncomfortable, but the timing of our move was quite appropriate.
Image renewal and removal of the ganph term.
Was there ever a better time than now?
Anyway, this marks the official permission for the large-scale entry of elves, who are essentially walking incidents.
As long as they don’t cause trouble, we can now speak and act with confidence.
Entering the academy, teaching magic or spirit arts, or even settling down.
“Now, we shall depart.”
Although it wasn’t long, through consistent interaction, I’ve become quite close with Baron Heiner.
We were already acquainted, and he heard that I saved his daughter and son.
With that, the negotiations with the Imperial Ministry of Foreign Affairs went well, ultimately benefiting the barony as well.
So, by the time of our departure, we had become close enough to share personal stories.
“You must go. You didn’t leave the village and the forest just for this.”
“What happens now? When all the elves here leave.”
“The Great Forest will be quiet for a while. But that will only be temporary. The winds of change, once blown, cannot be stopped with mere gestures.”
The elders and older elves in the village will probably say, ‘Tsk tsk, these youngsters.’
But for the parents of those who are with me now, it will be different.
And how other village elves who hear this rumor will act is also unknown.
“So, you’re going back to the Empire.”
“No. We’re returning to the Great Forest.”
“Tyreal?”
Seril, standing beside me, looks at me as if to ask what I’m talking about.
The Baron also sighs, ‘Huh?’ and asks with his eyes why we negotiated with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs if we’re not going to the Empire.
“Didn’t I just say? Elves from other villages might come out. I’ve warned those who came with us, so I’m somewhat at ease, but there’s no guarantee for others.”
Right. Of course.
Who knows when the elves who came out on their own might turn into ganph.
Before that happens, we need to shackle the elves from other villages.
Only then can we comfortably spread the greatness of the elves while traveling through the Empire.
“Baron, you’ll be busy too. As more elves head to the Empire, the value of your barony, where they first encounter the Empire, will rise.”
“Hahaha. We were just discussing what to do about that.”
I thought about giving advice, but the Baron knows his affairs better than I do.
What I can do is reduce the burden the elves place on the barony.
“What are you planning to do this time?”
After saying goodbye to the Baron, Seril quietly opens her mouth.
I tap my necklace and answer.
“I have this. And something else.”
“Something else?”
“You know how competitive elves are. No, not just competitive—outright competitive.”
Neighbors, friends, always subtly or overtly competing and keeping an eye on each other.
What more between villages?
It’s a given.
They are absolutely determined not to lose to each other.
I’m planning to leverage that by heading to other villages in the Great Forest.
Responsibility, after all, is much heavier in team efforts than in individual ones.