“…”
While reviewing an official document, Lord Noah slowly lit a cigarette.
It was a new custom he had learned from the people he first encountered after falling into this strange world.
At first, he struggled to adapt, but now he needed to smoke at least one a day to feel at ease.
Especially when faced with the paper and ink (though here it was called “ink”) that he could never quite get along with, he felt compelled to exhale smoke.
“…”
“…Master.”
Elenia, who had been waiting beside him, cautiously opened her mouth.
“How is it going?”
She rarely urged her master, but this time was different.
Elenia had mobilized every connection she had, every relationship she had built while traveling the world.
Even that wasn’t enough—she had to leverage her master’s name to some extent.
Despite his many misadventures, her master was a man whose name was etched in history through martial prowess and the sword.
The Empire might find him troublesome, but they could not afford to antagonize or push him away.
After all, it would be awkward if that sharp sword were to turn against the Empire.
A sword too precious to give away, even if difficult to wield, must at least be kept close.
So, invoking the will of a powerful figure like Lord Noah, she worked tirelessly.
She made it possible for the forest-dwelling clan to enter this academy.
Furthermore, she ensured that the Empire recognized the fact that the elves were changing.
“They’ve agreed to the proposal.”
And the Empire, though with some skepticism, ultimately accepted.
They had lost much and would lose more, but what they stood to gain was too clear to ignore.
After calculating the risks, it seemed the best course of action was to accept.
“So then.”
“From now on, we’ll be seeing those pointy-eared, colorful-eyed elves in this academy.”
“That’s a relief. Truly a relief.”
“A relief?”
Lord Noah’s face twisted oddly, as if he couldn’t believe what he was hearing.
“From what I’ve heard, the elves have committed quite a few atrocities.”
“Unfortunately, that’s true.”
“This is a place where even the slightest misstep must be avoided. It’s a place where we must handle things with care, especially with children around. What if your kin causes trouble here?”
Until now, such incidents were treated as individual elven transgressions.
The Empire tolerated it because they had their reasons.
But now, with the state stepping in to facilitate this arrangement, further disruptions would be unacceptable.
Especially with so many elves coming in, even if each caused just one incident, it would amount to dozens.
In such a situation, the Empire couldn’t remain silent indefinitely.
This time, they would have to take a stance, and if things escalated, it could lead to racial conflict.
At worst, this could spark a war.
“That likely won’t happen, Master.”
“What makes you so sure? Are you relying on that elf, Tyreal?”
“Yes.”
The answer, devoid of any doubt, made Lord Noah grunt and sigh.
Fine.
He admitted it.
That pointy-eared, colorful-eyed elf, Tyreal, was different from the others.
He had sensed it from the moment they crossed swords. No, he had almost been certain of it.
This one should have been human, not an elf. That would have been the correct fate.
He should have wielded a sword, not dabbled in magic or spirit arts.
Even now, though exceptional, he should have been far more skilled. He should have been that way since childhood.
Perhaps he would have already reached the pinnacle of martial arts, becoming a new legend.
He might have given purpose to Lord Noah, who had been bored and adrift in this strange world.
At least in terms of martial prowess, there was no doubt about his potential.
But that was one thing; persuading his kin was another.
Lord Noah, who had once belonged to a group, knew how difficult that could be.
When opinions clash, persuasion is a thorny path.
Especially when both sides firmly believe they are right, it becomes nearly impossible.
In such situations, even the pinnacle of martial arts or a sword that can cut through anything offers little help.
Sure, he could force his opinion, make them nod in agreement.
But would that be the end?
This wasn’t a battle to be won with a single strike.
It was about convincing a group to submit and follow his lead.
Excessive force would only breed resentment, and crossing the line into slaughter would bring greater calamity.
Lord Noah—no, the Sword Saint, or perhaps the Sword Demon—knew this better than anyone.
It was because he couldn’t escape that dilemma that things had fallen apart.
In a way, his falling into this world was also a result of that failure.
“Master, I didn’t mention this before, but Tyreal has a peculiar way of swaying others. Even I, who initially wanted to reject him, found myself drawn in by his words and ended up accepting him.”
“…Is that so? I didn’t feel anything like that.”
“Perhaps you didn’t need persuading, Master. But if there’s something he truly believes must be done, and there’s an obstacle in the way, I can assure you, Tyreal will overcome it.”
The question of whether he could draw the bow of the Mother Forest had long faded from her mind.
Tyreal would undoubtedly accomplish it.
He would make sure of it.
If he couldn’t, he would find another way to achieve his goal.
His determination and execution were unparalleled.
“…It seems your confidence was well-placed.”
Lord Noah exhaled a sigh as he accepted the new report.
It contained news from the Empire’s foreign ministry, stating that the talks with the elves of the Great Forest had been quite satisfactory.
Despite the sudden arrival of a large number of elves, they had decided to accept them without much suspicion.
“It seems that young Tyreal has indeed succeeded.”
“Was I right?”
“Frankly, it’s hard to imagine. But if anyone could handle this, it would be you. Though I never thought you’d struggle with something as simple as drawing a bowstring.”
“Even with the magic and spirit arts you acknowledged, Master, he remained unmoved.”
Tch. Acknowledged?
He was merely momentarily confused by those peculiar arts.
As Lord Noah grumbled, Elenia simply smiled.
She remembered how her master’s eyes sparkled with curiosity whenever he saw those two arts.
“Then we should prepare some ‘space’ for your kin when they arrive.”
“You’re being unusually proactive, Master.”
“Aren’t they your kin? The only ones I’ve accepted as disciples, so I’ll pay a bit more attention. If you have any complaints, speak now. I’ll stop immediately.”
He wasn’t angry. He was just embarrassed.
Having spent considerable time together, Elenia knew her master all too well.
“Tch.”
Lord Noah was well aware of that fact himself.
“By the way, when will Tyreal arrive?”
“Are you waiting for him for some reason?”
“Didn’t he say it himself? He wants to atone for his kin’s sins. To do that, he must become something special. He must rise higher. Teaching such a madman might be quite entertaining.”
“Once, you said I was your only disciple.”
“You are my only direct disciple. That one is just… well, someone I’m temporarily interested in observing.”
Isn’t that still a disciple?
Elenia wanted to ask but decided against it.
For now, she had to focus on the imminent arrival of her kin at the academy.
*
The Great Forest was, as its name suggested, an immense and boundless expanse.
No one knew how many elves lived within it, not even the elves themselves.
They could only estimate.
However, they did know the exact number of elven villages within the forest.
Though they were individualistic, they didn’t live completely isolated from others.
Thanks to that, while the villages were far apart and interactions were limited, news still spread.
Sometimes through magical communication, other times through the whispers of spirits.
And recently, this village had received some news from a neighboring village.
“The bow of the Mother Forest is gone? What do you mean?”
“It’s exactly as I said.”
“What nonsense! Your village was supposed to be safeguarding the bow for the coming-of-age ceremony. And now it’s suddenly vanished?”
The story was already absurd enough, but what followed was even more shocking.
“…So, a young elf from your village suddenly declared he would wield the bow, and while drawing the string, it broke, and the bow turned into light and settled within him?”
“Yes.”
What kind of unbelievable event was this?
The fact that he even attempted to draw the string was astonishing.
To do so without magic or spirit arts, relying solely on his own strength—how was that even possible?
And the part about the bow turning into light and residing within him was equally baffling.
If it broke, it should have just been destroyed.
Why did it transform into light and stay with him?
They needed more details.
Just as they were about to press the visitor for more information, a commotion arose from the village square.
“What’s all the noise about? What’s happening outside?”
“Two young elves have entered the village, claiming to be accompanied by the bow of the Mother Forest.”
The unexpected arrival of the individuals in question.