“Warriors from other races, we will always remember your help. May the Forest God be with you.”
The youngest female elf in the Elder Council wove a flower wreath from Glowgrass and placed it on the girls.
Those who slew the Bloodslaughter King each received an extra loop.
Countless elves around them clapped with a strange gesture, said to be a sign of respect and gratitude among the Elves.
Ella leaned close to Leah and whispered, “What kind of god is the Forest God? Does such a god really exist?”
The Saintess was originally sulking, telling herself she wouldn’t talk to her for two hours, but seeing her come so close, her heart softened and she spoke:
“How should I know? I’m the Saintess of the Church of Light, not the Forest Church.”
Her heart softened, but her mouth did not.
The elder placing the flower wreaths seemed rather gentle and hadn’t made much of an impression during previous meetings—probably newly appointed.
Now that the war was over and Isadora and Trinia, who had participated deeply, had gone to rest, the victory celebration was left to her to host.
After placing the wreaths on the girls, she took some smaller decorations and distributed them to the valiant elven warriors from each unit.
The celebration officially began.
Flutes and pipes crafted with special techniques echoed with melodious songs through the woods.
“Ah~ beautiful forest, our forest, we are part of it, sharing honor and fate, until the stars and moon shift and mountains move to the sea…”
The lyrics meant something like that.
A young elf took the initiative to explain for them, his gaze full of admiration for Ella and Zero.
Riding a Dragon Hawk through enemy lines to take the head of the enemy general—it had become the dream of every young elf from today onward.
Only Tereka felt this kind of behavior was a bit disgraceful.
As proud elves, how could they idolize outsiders?
“Go, go, go, back to your seat.”
She drove the young elf away.
Everyone sang and danced, filled with laughter and joy—only these young ones looked dejected and idle.
“Aren’t you celebrating?”
Celes asked.
Tereka’s face reddened.
“N-no reason to celebrate. This war was just a warning; there will be many dangers ahead. As the future of the Elves, we should always stay vigilant, not indulge in the victories of others.”
In translation, that meant she felt awkward celebrating a victory they didn’t earn.
Having such thoughts meant she still had spirit.
Among the original Envoy Group, several were here, along with some other young elves.
Though they only knew the names of two, after handing out flyers together the day before, Celes and the others felt somewhat familiar with them.
“A celebration is a celebration—just join the fun.”
Vina pointed to the side.
“Look, even they showed up.”
“They?”
Ella asked in confusion.
“Who are they?”
“The least festive elves in all the tribe.”
Those from the Opening Club.
Whether it was the effect of the flyers or the songs echoing across the hills, it somehow sparked a fire in these elves, known for slacking off.
At least, they were willing to come out and celebrate with the others.
“See that guy there?”
Vina pointed.
“That’s the one who was heartbroken after being deceived in love.”
Following the Little Witch’s direction, Ella saw him too.
He looked utterly miserable, with green hair, and seemed embarrassed when the girls noticed him.
“I-I’m not here to celebrate. I wanted to see if I could find my child.”
To prove himself, he immediately grabbed a young elf who was singing and dancing.
“Hello, have you seen my child?”
“What’s wrong with you? Let go of me… Oh, oh, oh~ Our beautiful forest~”
***
In a quiet corner of the celebration, two elders who’d claimed to go rest stood together.
“You must be satisfied, right?”
Isadora spoke.
“I remember on your first day at the Elder Council, you said your greatest dream was to see this scene: the hooves of Deerhorn Cavalry thundering across the land, Dragon Hawks soaring through the sky—just like hundreds of years ago.”
A return to the past, to the peak of elven military power, ruling half the Continent, a time when no race dared defy them.
Yet a hundred years ago, the Highborn Alliance collapsed.
As the actual leader of the Alliance, they withdrew from the main stage of the Continent, nearly fading into obscurity.
After this battle, morale among the tribe soared—that was exactly what Trinia wanted to see.
“I am happy, but there are things I can’t turn a blind eye to.”
She spoke coldly.
“Elder Leitney led a unit of cavalry in a suicide charge on the Demon Army’s main camp, and I knew nothing about it!”
Isadora maintained her faint smile.
“You should turn a blind eye. After all… I also ignored your deliberate negligence of border security, which allowed the Demon Army to invade the Northern Forest so easily.”
Trinia’s facial wrinkles twitched slightly.
“Whatever you intend to do, you’d better be able to handle the Sacred Spring’s Seal.”
“I can’t guarantee it, but I’ll give it my all.”
***
The male elf searching for his child wandered everywhere, only to be avoided wherever he went.
In the end, he had no choice but to return and sit with the others from the Envoy Group who didn’t want to celebrate.
At last, Ella and the others learned his name—Lambart.
This time, he told his story in greater detail.
He said the elves were always serious about feelings.
When that big sister found him, he thought he’d found true love—one life, one thousand years.
“I didn’t expect her to be so heartless. It seems everything she showed me was an act. How could she… how could she…”
As he spoke, Lambart choked up.
“You just made the wrong choice. You couldn’t see what a truly good girl is like.”
Leah couldn’t help but say.
“The best girls are gentle, kind, understanding, sincere inside and out, and upright.”
A voice came from the side.
“Shouldn’t she also have pink hair and a big chest?”
“Y-You wish! Vina, what nonsense are you talking about?”
Leah shivered in response.
“I was just speaking in general.”
The Little Witch nodded seriously.
“Of course, you must have been speaking generally. After all, you’re a girl—you can’t just share your romantic preferences with everyone, right?”
“….”
Fortunately, Lambart spoke again.
“Now, I have only one wish—to find my child, even if only to see her once.”
Leah followed up on his words.
“You said you’ve never seen your child. How will you find her?”
Good, the topic of romantic preferences was successfully avoided.
Her companions probably didn’t think much of it.
“Actually, at the time, an elder told me something.”
Lambart rubbed his hands together.
“He couldn’t bear to see me in so much pain and told me the child was a girl.”
“Which elder?”
“Don’t worry. We have two Heroes here.”
Vina pointed at Ella and Zero.
“Tell us boldly. It will be fine, and we can help you find her.”
At these words, Lambart bit his lip.
“It was Elder Leitney.”
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