Chapter 61: Night Of The Storm

If there is a second most terrifying thing in the world, it is when a kind person gets angry.

And the first most terrifying thing is when someone who has no reason to be sane appears.

“Noble members of our forest clan.”

In that sense, Tyreal, who suddenly returned to the Great Forest, could be considered the first.

“I have finally returned with the bow of Mother Forest that you all so desperately desired.”

At first, I thought it was some kind of divine artifact because he brought it in a translucent form.

Seeing the bow, which I thought was lost, restored, I wondered if Tyreal had gained some enlightenment.

Perhaps, after living among humans, he realized that elves should live as elves.

To cut to the chase, that young clansman did indeed gain enlightenment.

But who could have imagined that his enlightenment would be to swing the bow like a club, thinking, ‘Historically, this has always been the cure.’

Who could have imagined he would declare so boldly as soon as he entered the village?

The elders and adults tried to resist again, struck by the suddenness of it all.

They opened their mouths to shout, “What is this? You left the village on your own and caused chaos!”

But the moment they saw the translucent bow in Tyreal’s hand, they couldn’t say a word.

There was no elf left who could call him a child after seeing that.

“Mother said that she will no longer remain silent in the face of the arrogance and wickedness of our forest clan.”

If the forest had heard, it might have said it had never spoken so harshly.

But unfortunately, those elves couldn’t hear it.

Because they couldn’t prove their worth. 

Because they couldn’t even draw the bow in Tyreal’s hand.

“Tyreal. What is this… Mother Forest said she will no longer remain silent?”

When the elder stepped forward to ask the meaning, Tyreal pointed the end of the bow at him.

In the past, they would have scolded him for being rude, but now they couldn’t.

Because something that was neither magic nor spirit was glowing at the tip.

“Our arrogance will become a blade that stabs ourselves. Even if it’s not pointed at our kin now, how long do you think that will last?”

“Tell Mother Forest! We would never harm our kin! I can’t understand why she thinks that, but—”

“It’s already over. She said there’s nothing more to say.”

The elder and the village leaders seemed more shocked than expected.

They had never broken the forest’s rules. 

They had lived as proper elves.

Why? 

How? 

Why did Mother Forest side with that young one instead of them?

“Clan of the forest. My kin. Mother Forest has spoken. The noblest beings must know how to love even the lowliest. The strongest must know how to embrace even the weakest. She waited and watched, but in the end, all she got was disappointment. So, through me, her proxy, she delivers this message.”

Beside Tyreal, the King of the Wind burst into laughter, “Hahaha!”

He looked at the forest and asked, “Did you ever say that? I’m hearing it for the first time!”

The forest coughed and said it wasn’t exactly those words, but the meaning was similar.

It was awkward to withdraw support for Tyreal now, and he had proven his worth.

Most importantly, there was nothing wrong with what that young one said. Sadly, it was all true.

How long could that arrogance remain benevolent only to fellow elves?

There was a real possibility that it could become a blade that cuts each other when the situation changes.

The forest wishes for its children to shine beautifully and brightly forever.

For that, it pushed and pulled, embracing them warmly.

But it realized that for more than that, discipline, not just love, was needed.

There is nothing more tragic than the foolish actions of the young leading to the downfall of the race.

[Above all, that word ‘ganpu’ is very unpleasant to hear.]

[Haha. That’s true. Looking at it this way, it seems humans made it all.]

As the forest and the king exchanged opinions, Tyreal slightly bowed.

Until now, he had been imposing, but now it was time to show a softer side.

Elves are like trees that grow too straight; if you keep pushing, they might break.

“Elder. Were you really unaffected? When our kin caused trouble in the outside world. When humans spoke ill of us. Did you not even care, thinking it was just human chatter?”

“Uh? Well, of course, it was concerning…”

The elder’s answer would have been, “It wasn’t concerning.”

After all, they were elves. 

The forest clan. Noble creations of the gods!

They gave each other autonomy. 

What did it matter what humans said?

But unfortunately, the elder’s instincts firmly blocked that thought.

Look at that. 

The veins bulged in Tyreal’s hand holding Mother Forest’s bow.

The moment that grip tightens, something might snap!

It could be his arm or even his neck, which made him even more uneasy.

“It was, a little. Hmm. Concerning. Tyreal.”

“It’s not for humans. I’m an elf too, why would I care about others? I just don’t like how they generalize all of us based on the mistakes of a few.”

He didn’t know exactly how many of his kin had caused trouble outside the Great Forest.

But it didn’t matter. 

In the end, none of them would think they had done anything wrong.

Instead, they would think other kin had made bigger mistakes.

Their excessive self-love and trust were the curses bestowed upon them.

“What will you do? Will you continue to oppose everything as before?”

Frankly, this situation is not pleasant. 

How could it be?

For hundreds of years, they had never imagined bowing to humans.

At most, they thought of them as just numerous.

But now, even Mother Forest is saying they must change. 

It’s quite shocking.

But what can they do? 

There’s no more reason to oppose.

The divine artifact they thought would never return is here, albeit in an uncertain form.

Most importantly, Tyreal wielding the artifact is an undeniable fact. 

Denying it further is impossible.

They tried to stop him with rules, age, and every possible justification.

But no more. 

There’s no benefit or possibility beyond this.

If they stubbornly persisted to this extent, they wouldn’t have become elders.

“If Mother Forest said so, we must follow.”

“You’ve made the right decision.”

“But don’t misunderstand. This is solely because of Mother Forest’s words, not because of you, Tyreal…”

As he spoke, the elder suddenly felt something strange and looked ahead.

Thanks to that, he saw very clearly. 

Without any error, he saw it vividly with his own eyes.

“…?”

The bow made of forest wood, rushing right at him.

What is this? 

The thought was fleeting, and immediately after, the elder’s body soared into the air.

Pain came last. 

First was confusion, then shame.

‘Uh. Why am I floating… Wait, why is Tyreal also in the air…’

The confusion didn’t last long. 

A heavy pain came to greet him.

Crack!-

“Ugh?!”

He was the elder. 

And that Tyreal was just a young one who hadn’t even had his coming-of-age ceremony.

No, no. Regardless. 

The thing hitting him. 

That’s a divine artifact, a divine artifact!

Why is he being beaten? 

And why is Mother Forest’s bow being used like this?

“W-wait! Why are you doing this? Tyreal! Why!”

In front of all the other kin. 

A child who isn’t even an adult treating the elder like this?

Too shocked to even breathe properly, Tyreal prepared to swing the bowl again.

“Did you really think Mother Forest would just say, ‘Well done,’ and leave it at that?”

“What, what are you talking about?!”

“If you did wrong, you must be punished. If those in power fail to manage those below, they must also pay the price.”

Tyreal laughed heartily inside. 

That justification was now his.

The divine artifact wouldn’t last long. 

It was barely manifesting to communicate with him.

But this was enough. 

Now no one could openly hinder him.

So what now? 

What else? 

First, deal with the responsible ones.

This way, they won’t want to be hit later and will think of ways to survive.

It’s no good if only I suffer. 

If we’re going to suffer, let’s all suffer together.

And to make everyone suffer, first assign responsibility and take control.

“Take it gracefully, Elder. This is Mother Forest’s loving discipline.”

Whether the forest in his head shouted that it had never done such a thing, Tyreal didn’t care.

*

Later, the elves would call this day ‘The Night of the Storm.’

An elf fell from the sky like a star, roaming the forest, wielding a divine artifact.

Using a bow like a club, personally disciplining the solemn elders.

Finally, the moment when discipline and punishment entered the elven race.