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While Joshua was having his conversation with Krevas, the situation of the continent was, as the dragon said, developing faster and more complex than what was initially expected.
It started in the southernmost part of the continent.
A blonde man of middling age looked over endless greenlands, lands that even the people currently on the continent didn’t know existed.
“Hidden like this, no wonder no one has found it for so long now.”
“It’s really incredible. I thought it was just illusion magic at first, but now that I'm seeing it, I can’t believe that mana could be used in this way.”
“If it were a kind of illusion magic, any powerful mage would’ve noticed it right away. The mana itself is twisted. They’ve made it so that even the light that is reflected off a human's retina is included in this.”
“They don't call elves the gods' favored race for nothing, but Mr. Evergrant, how did you know the forest was tucked away here in the first place?” the other mage asked.
At the mage’s question, Evergrant recalled a face. It was the face of the person he held in the highest regard.
However, that person was no longer with him; he had returned to mana's side.
Evergrant’s hands curled into fists.
‘For you, I will continue. So—’
“Umm… Mr. Evergrant.”
Evergrant’s head swiveled around to face a voice behind him. It was a different speaker from before—it was a big man who was constantly wiping sweat off his entire face. It was Yovik. With a line of carts behind him, he seemed to be screaming, “I’m an immoral merchant.”
“Is it really true that there are elves here?”
Evergrant slightly frowned.
“You don’t believe me?”
“No… that’s not it. It’s just that… from here, it looks like there’s only trees.”
Instead of responding, Evergrant just raised one hand. The silver staff, which even at a glance seemed unusual, shone in his hand.
“Anyways… I was thinking of starting now.”
Yovik gave Evergrant a blank look until an enormous boom shook the air and made him recoil in shock.
The unbelievable scene that emerged before his eyes astounded him.
“This—?”
Crack. Craaaack.
An odd sound filled the air. A fissure began appearing in the very space before their eyes; not long after that, they noticed their surroundings gradually warping.
“...!”
Their ears were assaulted by the deafening sound of what seemed like glass shattering—but that was impossible since they were in the middle of thick forestland.
After rubbing their eyes, the scenery before them was not the same as what they saw before. A new road emerged and at the end of that road…
“Oh my God, the legend of the World Tree is real…” Yovik said in awe.
The towering tree reached into the clouds such that it was visible even from afar. That tree had existed since the dawn of recorded history. The legendary tree’s name was…
“Yggdrasil!” the mage from the Magic Tower standing next to Evergrant yelled.
Yovik, also known as the Slave Trader, gulped. A million different calculations were running through his head; now that he’d seen the truth with his own eyes, it was time to get down to business.
Clap!
He suddenly loudly clapped his hands together.
“I knew it!”
“...?” Evergrant looked at him in bewilderment.
“I had no doubts that the Elven Forest was here!” Yovik proclaimed. “After all, wasn’t it you, the great Class 8 mage and the youngest Tower Master in history, who said it? Of course, I would trust your words! To think that you found it with just one gesture when so many talented people have searched for it for hundreds of years and failed.”
“....” Yovik's shameless demeanor left even Evergrant speechless.
“I am jealous of the mages in the Magic Tower. With a great man like yourself at its head, the future of the Magic Tower will only get brighter…”
“That’s enough pleasantries,” Evergrant interrupted as soon as Yovik paused. “More importantly…”
“Of course! Honorable Tower Master, please tell me what you want.”
Evergrant sighed as Yovik excessively came to attention.
“You haven’t forgotten your promise, have you?”
“Ah, so that’s what you mean.” Yovik rubbed his hands. His next move was very important. He proceeded rapidly with a glint in his eyes.
“As promised, twenty percent of the total profit will go to the development of Magic Tower. As long as Mr. Evergrant helps, this will basically be a monopoly and will generate a lot of profit. We’re going to be sitting on piles of money! Just thinking about it makes me want to dance around in joy.”
Evergrant frowned as he watched Yovik shimmy.
“I have something I’d like to point out. I clearly remember it was 20% of the total revenue and not 20% of the profit?”
Yovik stopped, and then he stiffened.
‘This fucking petty mage.’
Yovik might have been swearing mentally, but he pasted a smile on his face as he spoke to Evergrant.
“You see, with work like this, this is always the case since the risk is quite high, no?” he responded with a smile. “Since the prey is pretty great, there could be many powerful people eyeing it as well.”
“....”
“And that’s not all. In the process of transporting the elves, I would also have to pay to make sure people keep their mouths shut, not to mention the black market fee. Plus, I would also have to entertain the officials. You know, this may all cost more than what I get back,” Yovik cautiously continued. “So…if you understand the risks, and consider that as the money put aside for emergencies…”
Evergrant turned around without hesitation.
“I will look elsewhere.”
“...What?”
“Because of my affection for Avalon, I offered you this opportunity first, but I didn’t expect to be stabbed in the back like this.” Evergrant glared as he spoke. “And you won’t bother talking about a penalty for breaching the contract, right? After all… we haven’t signed a contract yet.”
“W-wait a moment…”
“Then this is the end of my negotiations with your merchant group, Yovik. Since you came all the way here, be careful on your way back.”
Yovik could tell that Evergrant was not joking. After decades of being in the business, he could clearly tell when he should be careful, and right now, he needed to be cautious. If he was this greedy for just a small sum of money, then it was possible that he could lose this deal to his competition.
‘...Oh no!’
Thud!
Yovik didn’t think for long as he dropped to his knees.
“I-I will do it! 20% of the revenue will be dedicated to the development of the Magic Tower! Leave it to me! I guarantee that the outcome will meet your expectations.”
“....”
The place became deafeningly silent.
Yovik prostrated on the ground, albeit hampered by his belly fat.
He gulped.
Evergrant maintained his silence as he stared down for a time.
“Thirty percent.”
Yovik’s eyes widened.
“I won’t give you another opportunity.”
The merchant shivered. “I-I understand! Thirty percent.”
“Good.”
“Tha-thank you so much!”
“Please get up.”
Yovik stood up. His body had become bathed in perspiration before he realized, whether due to his bloated physique or his nervousness, he did not know.
“Um, about the…”
“...?”
“How will the other countries react to the distribution of elves in Avalon? Won’t they protest?”
Evergrant responded with a hearty chuckle.
“With what justification?”
“Well… I don’t know about Imperial Law, but don't the continent’s laws prohibit same-race trading? Although it’s not as clear-cut anymore…” Yovik fell silent for a while before continuing anxiously. “But they can always make it difficult. What if they complain about human rights?”
“Who is the master of the continent?”
“Sorry?” Yovik asked, perplexed. “What do you mean…?”
“Is it the dragons who slumbered for hundreds of years and not showed themselves even once? Or maybe the dwarves, with their unrivaled prowess in shaping metals? Are they the masters of the continent? Just look at Igrant right now. Human settlements cover more than eighty percent of the continent. No matter what anyone else says, we humans are the masters of this land.”
“That’s…”
“Technically speaking, the elves are only partially human; they are not true humans. Isn’t it only right that they be sacrificed for the sake of the true masters of the continent? For the benefit of us humans?”
“....”
It was incredibly self-centered and human-oriented reasoning, but Yovik had no response.
He himself was ready to agree with any rationale that would bring him business.
“I have no idea, but do slaves fetch a premium on the marketplace?” the mage standing next to Evergrant inquired.
Interrupted from his thoughts, Yovik provided an immediate response. “Yes, of course! Even with humans, the price varies greatly depending on age, gender, and looks. But this situation right now is a bit special.”
“What do you mean ‘special’?”
“Even if someone did a thorough search of the continent, they would have a hard time locating elf slaves today. Due to their scarcity, the price is whatever the trader says it is.”
“So how much would that be?”
Yovik glanced at Evergrant before slowly extending three fingers
“I would have to see them before giving you a more accurate estimate, but if they look like the legends say they do, then about this much of the big ones.”
“Th-thirty gold?” The mage stuttered.
Yovik shook his head.
“That’s too low of a guess.”
“Then, three hundred?”
“No.”
“...?”
“Three thousand gold.”
“That’s insane!” the mage exclaimed.
With that, a person could pay a year’s worth of rent for a decent property out in the countryside.
‘But forget the elf slaves. If the Primordial Stone really is here, then…’
A mysterious light glimmered in Evergrant's eyes as he thought.
‘Stormwind… if I could harness that power of wind, then I can overcome the wall that is Class 9 magic—one that is only reserved for dragons.’
Evergrant had been thinking when he suddenly stiffened.
“Let’s end the conversation here.”
“...What?”
Rustle.
Among those present, only Evergrant could sense the faint presence. It wasn’t just one—there must have been hundreds of them.
A hint of a grin began to develop on Evergrant's lips.
“So it’s true…I have heard that the rangers who protect the Elven Forest are made up of elves…”
“You mean—”
“Leave this place already, human,” a terrifying voice boomed loud enough to make their eardrums hurt.
Evergrant’s eyes widened.
“M-Mr. Evergrant.”
“It’s for the best that you came here on your own.”
Evergrant left the shivering merchant behind and approached the forest. It was now completely evident what had to be done, and there was no reason to hesitate.
“Mages of the Magic Tower, I command you,” Evergrant gravely intoned.
From behind him, the five hundred mages all yelled at once, “Yes, Tower Master!”
Evergrant looked over the woods. The place was entirely silent except for his voice.
“Raze that forest. Don’t let a single blade of grass remain.”
***
A beautiful woman with greenish blonde hair stood on the highest branch of Yggdrasil, the World Tree.
“The Forest’s protective shield…?”
“Miss Freya!
Another elf landed in front of her with lightning speed.
“An unknown person has entered the woods!” the new elf grimly informed her.
“I also just felt—”
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A massive, deafening boom swept the land before the green-blonde beauty could react.
“Kyaaak!”
At the same time, the World Tree began shaking.
“H-How can this be…?”
The blonde beauty trembled, then froze for a moment.
She had the highest level of mana sensitivity in her whole race because she possessed the rare talent of “mana clairvoyance.” Not far from the forest, she picked up the vibe of something massive and unsettling.
She narrowed her eyes.
“That energy didn’t come from the entrance… It came from a little further than that…”
The woman's eyes widened.
“...The sky?!”
She looked up. The energy Freya felt came from beyond the canopy of Yggdrasil’s massive leaves.
“What is going on—”
She suddenly flinched.
“M-Miss Freya?”
“Wa-Wait a second. What is this energy—?”
The energy… she realized where it came from, and it made her entire being shake as though she'd been hit by lightning.
“No way,” she eked out through gritted teeth.
The lady’s legs gave out.
“Mister Elenburs!?”
***
“Master?”
Icarus and Cain were equally shocked. They had been waiting for their master, who had left them behind hours ago.
But then the person they’d been looking for materialized in front of them with a flash of light.
“Let’s go.”
“Wh-where?”
“We don’t have time, so hurry up.” Joshua extended his hand.
After a brief exchange of glances, Cain and Icarus nodded and grabbed his hand.
“We’ll go wherever you go.”
“Hold on tight.”
“But master…?” Cain ventured. “Can I ask what you are planning to do?”
Joshua was silent for a while before he answered Cain’s question.
“I’m going to clean up a mess.”
“Yes?”
“It’s something that I’ve been putting off for a while now. I have to throw the rest of the garbage away now.”