Chapter 136:The One Burdened with Conviction.

“That’s a load off my mind.”

Asir was locked away, and all processes were returning to normal. Estel smiled, removing the cigarette from her lips.

This crisis had been quite difficult, but thanks to Asir’s empty-headedness, they were able to overcome it more easily than expected.

“There won’t be anything like this again, right?”

“Hahaha! I don’t think you need to worry.”

“This incident has further solidified my position. Even if the First Prince returns, no one will be able to stop me now.”

Estel smiled heartily at Tene, who looked at her with worried eyes, wondering if something like this might happen again.

This incident had allowed Estel to secure an unshakable position.

Although the Council of Elders and the Black Flame Dragon were on her side, there were many who looked at Estel with disapproval, as she was undermining Elf traditions.

That was why they had sided with Asir, swayed by Asir’s declaration, who had a high rank in the line of succession and claimed legitimacy.

But Asir, whom they had supported, had not only made a mess of things but had also become a complete traitor. Their arguments had disappeared, and the proportion of those who supported Estel was estimated to be over 90% within the Great Forest.

The Elves were also awakened to the fact that if they only pursued tradition, the entire Great Forest could be taken over by other forces without them even knowing it. In a way, Asir’s situation was a boon for Estel and the Evergarden family.

“Assuming the problem is solved, what do we do with that one?”

“That one? Ah… you mean the 2nd Princess.”

“Well, she is still a princess, even if she looks like that, right? Right now, the Elves are radically shouting because of her connection with the Empire, but wouldn’t they be somewhat reluctant to harm a member of the royal family?”

Felix, who had been pondering something for a while, brought up a problem that had been on his mind.

“Well… it was quite a misstep for a princess to collude with the Crown Prince of the Empire and intentionally try to prevent the Elves from entering human society.”

“If it had been purely the 2nd Princess’s own proposal, without anyone’s advice or connection, we would have had no justification to block it… Thinking about it this way, that Ganix guy must be quite clever.”

“But the 2nd Princess is too foolish, so things turned out this way. In this case, we’ll keep her locked up in prison for the time being, and then consider her fate when the Elixir business is successfully underway.”

“Since she is a princess, keeping her in such a shabby prison is only a temporary measure. After some time, we’ll have to give her some better treatment.”

“…Well! It’s also annoying, so I hope she stays there for a while and reflects on her actions.”

Although her crime was great, she was still a princess of a nation.

For the time being, she would be imprisoned in the underground prison as a punishment, but after some time, they planned to improve her treatment and bring her over to their side.

“First, let’s quickly proceed with stabilizing production. How is the work progressing?”

“The Elves who were mobilized to collect World Tree Leaves are quickly returning. At this rate, we should be able to produce more than enough by the Elixir payment deadline.”

“The sales route will be the Evergarden territory for the time being, right?”

“That’s right. The arrogant nobles will have to lift their heavy butts and come to our territory to buy an Elixir.”

“While the nobles stay in the territory, the market economy will boom with the blind gold coins they scatter, so it’s very good.”

In many ways, there had been incidents, but they had passed without much trouble.

The sunlight was warm, the work was going smoothly, and it was a very peaceful time.

Tene smiled pleasantly in such a situation, leaning back on the sofa and closing her eyes.

However.

Tingle-

“…?”

A tingling electrical signal that brushed past Tene’s head made her open her closed eyes.

“Huh? Uh? Some, something?”

“Huh? What’s wrong?”

Rosaria, who was sitting next to her, asked as Tene then raised herself from the sofa and shook her head as if she was bewildered.

“Just now, I felt something outside. Something… something very ominous—”

And just as Tene, frowning, was concentrating on something, she opened her mouth.

Bang-!

“Ugh!?”

“What?!”

“Uwaaaah!?”

Everyone in the office screamed, covering their ears at the sudden, tremendous noise.

Rumble-

Before the roar could subside, the office they were in shook wildly as if it were about to be uprooted.

“Wh, what’s going on?”

“A tremendous roar…! Something must have happened outside!”

“Le, let’s go out for now. We need to check what’s going on…”

As the shaking subsided to some extent, and Astel, maintaining her composure even in the confusing situation, tried to lead her family and leave the office.

Bang-

“Princess! It’s a disaster!”

Before she could even touch the door, a soldier burst through the door with a bang, sweat pouring down his forehead, and shouted urgently.

“What’s going on? What was that roar outside!”

“Th, the World Tree…! It’s on fire!!”

“….What?”

And with the soldier’s panting voice, Estel’s pupils shook violently at the news.

*    *    *

“Fall back!!”

“When will the water magic be ready!”

The Evergarden family, who had rushed over at the soldier’s news, were left speechless at the sight unfolding before their eyes.

“Yo, Your Highness!”

“…What’s the current situation!”

“It’s an attack! The base and leaves of the World Tree have been set on fire by fire magic, and it’s spreading rapidly!”

However, Estel, who immediately regained her senses because the commander could not afford to be in chaos, began to receive a report on the current situation from the approaching soldier.

“The World Tree is burning with fire magic? That shouldn’t be possible with such simple magic?”

“Th, our court mages are also looking for the cause… but they haven’t found the exact reason yet.”

The World Tree was an enormous existence that the Elves revered as a religion.

The tea brewed from its leaves was a panacea, and the staff made from its branches boasted tremendous performance, almost like a legendary weapon. The World Tree could not be defeated by simple fire magic.

“This… this isn’t just simple fire magic?!”

At that moment, Felix, who had been observing the World Tree with Magical Power as soon as he arrived at the scene, opened his mouth with a sense of bewilderment.

“The incantation and the phenomenon itself are fire magic… Inferno, which corresponds to the 3rd class… but something is interfering in the middle! It’s like a modified magic with some kind of intervention…”

“So, can you put it out?”

“It’ll take time!”

“Damn…”

If it was a fire caused by ordinary fire magic, they could somehow deal with it, but Felix was adamant that it would take time.

It was too late to easily put out the fire.

“Who on earth would do this…!”

“3rd Princess! Th, the 2nd Princess, who was imprisoned in the underground prison, has disappeared!”

“…Ganix! That bastard!!!”

Freya was able to recognize the culprit at once at the report that Asir, who had been imprisoned in the underground prison, had also disappeared.

Even so, he should know how important the World Tree is to the Elves, but setting fire to it like this was tantamount to declaring war.

“…Suppress the fire as much as possible! The World Tree must not burn down! We must prevent that at all costs!”

“What about the 2nd Princess…”

“The World Tree is more important now! Move quickly!”

The family was horrified by Ganix’s actions to interfere with the Elixir production, but protecting the World Tree was the most important thing now.

Freya and Estel were racking their brains as they watched the soldiers move.

At that time.

“This will cause a major setback in Elixir production…!”

“….Hey, are there people inside the World Tree right now?”

“…Honey?”

Dariann, who had been staring at the fire without a word, grabbed one of the running soldiers and asked.

“Right now… there are several people working in the internal space of the World Tree…”

“Evacuate?”

“Because of the flames, it is impossible to enter…”

“I see.”

Thud-thud—

Then, having heard that there were people inside the burning World Tree, he took steps towards the World Tree, which was burning like hell,

without any hesitation.

“Honey! Wait a minute! Surely you’re not going in there now!?”

“Stop, Dad! That fire isn’t just any fire! If you go in without protective gear, you’ll burn up in an instant!”

“…There are people inside.”

Freya and Felix, startled by his actions, tried to stop him, but Dariann’s legs did not stop.

“I’m a firefighter. And firefighters save people from fires. That’s the most important thing to me.”

“But…!”

“Th, then I’ll go!! I’m fine even in the flames!”

“Tene. Your power is too strong, and you could end up completely collapsing the interior. In the end, I’m the right person.”

“I also have Sword Aura, so I can endure it a bit. If I don’t move now, everyone there will die.”

“Ah.”

Freya realized.

That no words would work on Dariann now.

And that Dariann would definitely go into that fire.

Similarly, the other family members also realized Dariann’s determination in their hearts.

“Wait a minute!”

“Daughter. No matter what, I can’t stop—”

“I know! I know! But just a moment!”

Felix, who had been watching Dariann’s progress in such a situation, immediately ran out and shouted in despair in front of him.

Whooong-

“…It’s a barrier and fire resistance magic. I’ve made the oxygen concentration within a 3m radius of Mom thicker, so it’ll be a little better.”

“……I, I can only do this much. I have to put out the fire…”

“….Thank you, my daughter.”

Felix, who had stopped Dariann, quickly chanted a spell, and then cast all the protective magic he could on Dariann and cleared the way for him.

“Wait a minute! Lit!”

-Yes! Mom!

“Take Lit with you! Since he’s a fire spirit, he’ll be of some help!”

Rosaria, who had a contract with the fire spirit, also shouted, holding Lit in Dariann’s arms.

Dariann had received all kinds of magic and the protection of the fire spirit, but the interior was still extremely dangerous.

“…Honey.”

“Well, I’m not going to die. Don’t worry too much.”

Then, as the family, realizing that it was time to leave, looked at Dariann and tried to open their mouths, he smiled first and looked at them.

“I’ll be back.”

Dariann, carrying the gifted axe on his shoulder, silently walked towards the World Tree, which was burning like hell.

She wanted to stop him.

She wanted to block his path right now, and if necessary, use force to stop him.

The worst-case scenarios continued to greet her in her head, and she felt so helpless that she couldn’t do anything.

“….Come back, safely.”

Nevertheless, Freya had no choice but to let Dariann go.

The reason she loved Dariann was because Dariann was always the one who stepped up in these situations.

Transparent tears flowed down Freya’s cheeks as she looked at his back.