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Chapter 51: inside the meeting room in a certain village
Einhel Republic – an exclusive elven nation formed by gathering multiple elven <Warrior> tribes though in reality was different from what it looks like.
There’s a village carved out of the forest and the only trees that grown there are trees selected by the inhabitants.
[We live together with the forest but we don’t say that we won’t do anything to the forest]
Is what they say.
Nature is very harsh and the elves knows it. It’s impossible to live with it if you didn’t change some of it for their own convenience.
Elves mostly calls themselves <The Managers of the Forest> which is why most humans mistaken them to be <The Guardian of Nature>
As a republic, Einhel has no royalty. Its policy is determined by a group of representatives of various clans called the <Council of Sages>. Today, they are holding a meeting, discussing about the re-appearance of the nightmare and how to deal with it.
It has been 10 years since the monster appeared and the elves still hasn’t found a way to deal with it.
[Hmmm… currently there are 12 victims already]
[are you sure you didn’t miss a digit?]
[Osba, what are you talking about? There are 1,031 victims already!]
The old man named Osba tilted his head
[Is that so?]
There are 24 representatives that gathered inside the room. Half of them look old and it shows that they lived more than 300 years. They are here because of their <wisdom> as <those who have lived a long life> but because they lived for too long, the meeting always goes so badly
[Old man Odell, there’s 1,013 of us]
[You got it all wrong]
Old man Odell chuckled lightly
[Old man Zevis, this isn’t a laughing matter! I want to know the exact number!]
One of the representatives whose appearance haven’t faded yet rebuked the three old men but they only stick out their tongue and reply with:
[Ah! I got scolded]
[But isn’t this a good time to increase our numbers again, wouldn’t it?]
[Yeah, that’s right! Ah right… you should urge your daughter to show you your grandchildren as soon as possible]
[I don’t have a daughter old man Osba]
[I guess, your better start making one]
With Osba’s word, Odell and Zevis cheered.
[That’s right! That’s right!]
[Our population had declined. It’s the job of the young ones to procreate and birth children]
The three old men nodded in agreement. But he who was young and already has a son can only grumble in silence
[We should encourage child bearing]
The old man went as the meeting that would decide their future went on.
[Now then let’s get back to the story]
The faces of the three old men crumpled as one old woman urged to return to topic.
[Our current problem is the existence of the nightmare. Unless we do something about it, our sphere of influence will remain threatened. Does anybody here have a good idea?]
[What the status of Shuvard-sama, Maynus-san. Is his recovery going well?]
[Are we still going to rely on that old man late into this stage?]
The old woman named Maynus lamented with a disgusted voice. She wants the younger generation to do their best, unfortunately they are all chicks who haven’t had any experience in war and is very unreliable.
She wants someone to show leadership and do something about this situation where old people like her are put in charge for forever. Sadly, she can’t find anyone who would fit the bill.
[The only one who can only fight against that thing is Shuvard-sama]
[Unfortunately, we can no longer rely on him]
The young man was at a loss for word at Maynus’s response. Maynus sighs that no one was able to come up with a plan but suddenly someone raised their hand.
[I’ve prepared a shrine maiden, so we still have some time]
[Cassial, you appointed another shrine maiden?]
[Yes, my daughter found a gifted one.]
Cassial’s word were met with Maynus’s  word and said
[A shrine maiden has no talent]
She welcomes those who wants to give their suggestion but she detest those who speak out of their selfishness and to take the power themselves.
History once proved that monarchy is a dangerous matter for the elves. Many elves agree with it too and Maynus is one of them. That’s why in her view, the rise of Sezetian warriors is not a good thing.
[We still got time. We can still plan our countermeasure against the nightmare]
The two representatives from the corner of Sezato, stared at each other then one of them said their opinion to change the atmosphere of the room. This triggers a flow of opinion ranging from terrible ideas, delusional plans, up to just plain unrealistic suggestions.
This case just shows the difference in elves’ way of perceiving time. They still consider it as <just 10 years> instead of Project of the old Fleuretus Empire that is now residing in now what’s called the Fleuretus Great Forest.
Although they recognized it as a new threat, none assumed that it will be more than their natural enemy the Nightmare and most of the people here are optimistic.
[There’s no problem as long as magic is effective]
And because of such ideas, they would be in a big trouble because of such a big mistake.