Chapter 358: Uber Rex (3)

As they approached Elenost, the density of villages increased. The atmosphere was uniformly one of extreme tension. Even women and the elderly held bows, standing guard on the village outer walls.

However, while their gazes were wary of Eugene’s army, they were not hostile.

In a situation where the dragon’s rampage and monster waves had already destroyed several villages, the fact that he was a civilized race that didn’t devour human flesh alone was enough to foster a sense of solidarity. Admitting them into the village was a separate matter, but Valda handled that.

“Elves? Why are you with a human army?”

“Those golden eyes are surely…”

The golden hair and eyes that Ostir and his ancestors had coveted for generations but could never replicate. Such was the power of bloodlines—it was an era where no amount of words could overstate their importance. Yet the fact that mere appearance granted free passage in elven society was something special.

“As expected of an elf village—the walls are incredible. Safer than most fortresses.”

Eugene whistled as the gates opened.

If the mushroom village he first visited had gained defensive strength by hardening fungal mycelium, this one simply planted trees in a single row. Yet the trees were packed without a single gap, and both their thickness and height were remarkable.

“A wall that takes an extremely long time to complete. The trees whispered to me that they’ve been guarding this village for over nine hundred years.”

Valda, who had closed her eyes to commune with the trees, spoke. Eugene touched the trees as he passed through the outer wall—their hardness was closer to stone than wood.

“Were they planted here as seedlings and grown to this size?”

“Yes. They say they grew together with warriors from the village standing on their shoulders. From their grandfathers and great-grandfathers across generations.”

“How romantic.”

Squirrels scurried between the trees, and if you looked carefully, you could see several bird nests as well.

Elf archers stood guard in lookout posts connected by branches between the trees. From such high positions, surveillance was easy, and the power of their arrows—or stones they might throw—would be considerable.

Knights and mercenaries craned their necks, examining the tree walls. Normally such behavior might earn one the label of “country bumpkin,” but elven villages were the one place that made city folk feel like bumpkins.

“Just now, did that sentry go inside the tree?”

“There are holes. Like squirrel houses, it seems. Looks like they’ve built something like rest areas inside.”

“Is that a slide? My goodness! They actually ride it down!”

A female elf archer had descended on a spiral slide. Her long green hair streamed horizontally behind her—the speed must have been considerable.

The tree walls hadn’t merely prioritized romance and defensive strength—they also possessed practicality. While ascending used stairs like any other wall, the descent was fast, comfortable, and fun.

“Do you see? The life force of those many trees is interweaving. Those aren’t multiple trees planted side by side.”

The summoners were more interested in the energy flowing through the tree walls than their appearance. In particular, Ricardo’s eyes sparkled—as a plant summoner, this was his specialty.

“Just as you observed. Those trees are all connected by a single root system. Each of those massive pillars is essentially a branch.”

“I’ve heard there are certain species like that. Entire forests that turn out to be a single tree.”

“Exactly that.”

Valda nodded happily. Eugene sometimes revealed knowledge about the forest that surpassed even most elves. As a mage of the forest, there was no greater blessing.

To be able to discuss her favorite hobby and lifelong research subject with her husband was, in a way, a rarer case than a love match replacing a political marriage.

“Come to think of it, as a wall, a single organism has advantages. They need to maintain uniform height, and if the trees were all separate, that control would be difficult. Unless they took a vine form like the dryad villages…”

“…There are factors like that too.”

Moreover, this peculiar man sometimes caught even things Valda herself hadn’t noticed, surprising her.

Generally, an elf couple’s married life was very quiet, but Valda was constantly enjoying fresh experiences—in court life, in adventure, and in bed.

*

The village chief welcomed Eugene and Valda with elaborate hospitality.

Traditional elven dishes were prepared with the finest care, and a rare cow had been slaughtered for the occasion. White bread, unavailable without trade, was sprinkled with salt and butter.

‘Is this salt bread?’

As for elven home cooking, Valda prepared it regularly so he had little interest. Eugene’s hand reached for the salt bread he liked.

“…”

“…”

Gulp.

And naturally, he U-turned and picked up something else. He had spotted young elves throughout the room, gazing at the salt bread with longing eyes.

“You’re being far too generous. The village must be in a difficult situation as well—there’s no need to be this extravagant.”

“The food supplies actually have some slack, since the festival we had planned was canceled.”

The chief bowed to Valda as if it were nothing.

“You are the finest guest our village has seen since its founding. Moreover, you are a benefactor who has come to forestall the forest’s calamity and fulfill your duty. If we couldn’t even do this, our ancestors would appear in our dreams and scold us.”

“Haven’t you joined Ostir’s muster here?”

“It’s been too chaotic outside. Not far from here, a considerable pack of gnolls appeared, blocking the road to Elenost. Even sending out small parties is dangerous.”

Eugene pointed his thumb toward the location of the battle while drinking apple cider.

“If it was a gnoll pack, we eliminated them on our way here.”

“Of course! That’s why we suspected you might be them when we saw the direction you came from.”

The chief and all the elves expressed their joy and gratitude. Because of the gnolls, they had lost contact with neighboring villages, and their worry for relatives and friends there had been considerable.

Ostir rushing to fight the dragon had turned out to be a blessing for this area in the end. If he had dealt with the threats here first, some of the village warriors might have joined him.

“I’m the one grateful for the hospitality. Since the opponent is who it is, I wanted all my subordinates in top condition.”

No matter how well-equipped an army was, there was a significant difference in condition management between bivouacking in the field and resting safely in a village.

“The place you’re looking for is that way. We’ll attach a guide from our village’s scouts.”

“I’m grateful. In a deep forest like this, without a local guide, one can’t help but feel uneasy. Even a short distance can easily become disorienting. But won’t Ostir take issue with your cooperation?”

“It’s not just any situation—a dragon has appeared. Combining forces to drive it out takes priority. Besides, His Majesty has also eliminated nearby monster threats. How could anyone fault us for showing gratitude to a benefactor?”

Honestly, the chief wasn’t without concern in this area. Ostir’s personality was so famous that even those who had never visited Elenost knew of it.

But looking at the map the chief produced, one could readily guess why he was willing to take that risk. The dragon’s rampage was not far from the village.

For the local elves, political considerations were a luxury—they needed every ounce of help they could get. Their ancestral homeland, inhabited since ancient times, could vanish overnight if they were careless.

*

As it turned out, Eugene’s worry was unfounded.

Bwaaah!

The village sentries blew their horns. Not an enemy appearance, but the kind sounded for situations requiring urgent response.

“Move!”

Among Eugene’s forces camped near the outer wall, the first-response squad immediately formed up with crossbows and spears before the gate.

Meanwhile, on the tree wall, the guard captain who had spotted the newcomers approaching with trembling eyes dispatched his subordinates.

“Report to the chief immediately. And call the healers. Right now.”

Then he shouted to those managing the entrance.

“Open the gates!”

When the heavy outer wall gates opened, the remnants of Ostir’s army filed in one after another. Lantzheim soldiers who had been aiming spears and crossbows lowered their weapons.

“What is this…”

“Attacked by the dragon? That must be it.”

Some were warriors from Elenost, others were volunteers from nearby or more distant villages. All were haggard, drenched in sweat and dirt.

Unlike elves, who were meticulous about cleanliness even in the field, they reeked. Some were coated head to toe in mud as if they had crawled through a swamp.

Others were so badly injured they needed support or had to be carried on companions’ backs.

“You idiots! Stop gawking and bring stretchers!”

The ten-man captains shouted, quickly summoning the medics.

“Hey! His injuries are serious—stop. We’ll carry him.”

The elves, who had entered with looks of “I’m saved,” were bewildered by the sight of Lantzheim soldiers.

“Humans?”

“Why are humans here here?”

The elven remnants eyed the medics with suspicion, but not a single one of Eugene’s subordinates took offense.

“Now this is what I’m talking about!”

“This is the reaction elves should have!”

Most of them actually enjoyed it. Having been received with nothing but hospitality while using Valda as their shield all this way, they had missed this stereotypical response.

Of course, those who took the lead in helping, led by the medics, were oblivious to any of this.

“We can take care of ourselves.”

“Shut up and be a patient.”

Some elves resisted the medics who approached with stretchers, but they couldn’t hold out for long. They were too exhausted, and rejecting help offered in a desperate situation was difficult.

“Aah…”

The proud expressions melted away the moment they lay on the new stretchers.

“The wound is deep. We need to act here immediately to prevent further shock.”

“Wait! What are you doing?”

“I’m going to cut your clothes.”

The medic, scissors poised over the blood-soaked elven tunic, spoke.

“Stop! My sister gave me this as a gift.”

“Your sister would want you to live.”

The medic ignored him and cut the tunic with scissors.

“Damn you! My sister is dead!”

“Then she would want you to live even more.”

“That’s just… mmph!”

Fellow elves who had come with him quickly covered the injured man’s mouth.

“I’m sorry. And thank you for your kindness.”

“It was such a horrific battle that things were chaotic. Please understand.”

“It’s fine. It’s not the first time we’ve experienced something like this.”

When the medic moved the clothing away, a deep gash was revealed—and it was already showing signs of infection.

“You made it this far. That’s impressive.”

“I never want to hear the word ‘dragon’ again.”

The elves flinched at even the mention of the word “dragon.” The fight against the dragon must have been truly horrific.

Bwaaah!

Again, horns sounded from the outer wall. The medics treating patients spotted yet another group of elves approaching from the distance beyond the gate.

“It’s going to be a long night.”

Work was piling up, and these weren’t comrades but soldiers from a different unit. Yet the medic’s expression was more one of gratitude for being here at this moment.

After disinfecting wounds, applying medicine, and bandaging, the injured elves’ complexions improved dramatically.

“To the honorable human, we extend our gratitude.”

“May the blessing of the World Tree be with you.”

The elves expressed their thanks solemnly.

“Your blessing is more than sufficient. I pray to my god morning and evening.”

The medic kissed the pendant of the Banas faith that hung from his chest.

*

Food had limitations in volume and shelf life, but medicines and bandages had long preservation periods and were easy to stock in excess. Because Eugene always traveled with ample supplies, he could handle the flood of elven refugees.

Having brought a large number of skilled healers was particularly decisive.

“You two have saved them! We wouldn’t have been able to care for so many wounded on our own.”

The chief spoke with a trembling voice.

Among the refugees were many from neighboring villages. That was why they had quickly led the warriors to this, the safest and nearest village.

The villagers embraced long-unseen friends and cousins with expressions of shock and tears.

“The rumors were true.”

A high-elven chief with disheveled appearance knelt before Valda and kissed the top of her foot.

“Do you know who I am?”

“No matter how long it has passed, stories and paintings depicting the royal family are found throughout the land. Anyone with elven blood recognizes you the moment you stand before you.”

The arrogance typical of high elves had completely vanished from his eyes.

“My heart is grateful, but all I have left is the blood of the royal house. It has been too long since I could assert the rights of legitimate succession.”

“What in this world is more precious than noble blood? That is the difference between us and the barbarians outside.”

A statement befitting the most arrogant of high elves.

‘You’ll be mixing other things into that blood soon?’

Eugene, listening from a short distance, wanted to fire off a retort but held back. He didn’t want to disturb his wife’s authority during such a moment.

“We failed to serve the rightful heir in time, and that sin is great. I too have many who hold me responsible, and could only make cautious… no, cowardly choices. Please forgive this sin by sending me to the battlefield in the fights to come.”

Moreover, his loyalty appeared genuine.

“It must have been a difficult journey, but the situation is urgent. I have many questions—will you be alright?”

“Ask away, noble king.”

His attitude was one step lower than how he treated Valda, but by elven standards, it was extremely polite.

“How did the fight with the dragon go? I heard you deployed everything—Black Arrows, cavalry, and mages.”

“Our means of attack were useless. That abominable creature’s body was like watching the seasons change with every moment. It countered our attacks in every way. Even the Black Arrows, except for a few fired at close range…”

Eugene accepted the dirty Black Arrow that the high-elven chief’s son handed him. The tenacity to have somehow recovered it even in that situation was admirable.

“It is the single item passed down through my family.”

‘I don’t see how it would be more powerful than a ballista bolt.’

Despite its great reputation, the actual item was somewhat disappointing. While magical power could be felt in it, the limitations imposed by arrow weight and bow tension were clear.

Eugene had more faith in his ballistas—numerous and capable of being fired in volleys.

“What about Ostir? Is he alive?”

“I saw the hammer at the end of the dragon’s tail strike him and his royal guard. The battlefield was so chaotic that afterward…”

“Right around that time, monsters scavenging for scraps appeared on the retreat routes, and it was impossible to keep track of anything.”

The chief’s son added his account. He seemed concerned that his father might appear cowardly.

‘He’s uncertain. If only he had died there for sure.’

The dragon’s attacks were devastatingly powerful, but if the royal guard had cushioned the blow, anything was possible. The human body absorbed shock far better than one might imagine.

As food and drink appeared, the high-elven retinue described in detail how intense the fight with the dragon had been.

If this were a tavern in some distant land, everyone would have listened with excitement. But the dragon could attack this village at any moment.

At some point, the surrounding elves stopped caring about the story itself and began looking at Eugene with desperate hope. With Ostir’s main force defeated, the only hope left was him.

*

Tending to the refugees and gathering information delayed their departure. In the meantime, even more elven forces arrived at the village.

Bwaaah!

“Again?”

“Why are they all converging here? There are plenty of villages nearby where they could get treatment.”

Some of Eugene’s medics grumbled, but their complaints vanished when the gates opened.

The new arrivals were not injured or exhausted. All were downcast, yet their faces held expectation and hope.

Flutter! Flutter!

At the head of each unit, divided by tribe, were men carrying large white banners.

“We have no intention of fighting!”

“We heard that Filia-Mor was here!”

“We’ve brought food and supplies. Please accept our surrender.”

It was a moment when far deeper blood and far more powerful forces unified the Great Forest’s elves anew.