CH 282.1

The Spirit Forest in the northern part of the Ost continent. In the meeting room of the high elves’ mansion on the trunk of the World Tree, a large group of high elves had gathered.

『Regarding the condition of the World Tree after the use of the spirit gun』

This is the report that will be discussed today.

The high elves, the leading class of the elven race, have the right to participate in the meeting. Unlike when they were controlling the Spirit Cannon, they couldn’t just close the door because someone was a nuisance.

「Looking at the result of investigations, the impact on the World Tree is still within expectations. So it will be possible to use the Spirit Cannon again」

As soon as the hunched shoulder acting Chairman finished, the elderly high elf in charge of patrolling the world tree opened his mouth.

「The leaves are starting to turn black and fall off, but it’s only 10% of the total that is still intact」

The amount of magic power that the world tree radiates is also reduced by about 10%, the same as the leaves. The High Elves were relieved to hear this.

『The leaves of the world tree will continue to slowly dwindle towards the end of its life without returning』

In other words, its life expectancy has been reduced by 10%. This is not a small number.

However, this was the first time the Spirit Cannon had been used after the revolution. For those who were thinking of various other possible side effects, 『10%』 sounded so light that it was hard to believe.

「As everyone here knows, the leaves of the World Tree disappear as if they were melting in the wind when they leave the branches. That’s why the people in the village don’t seem to notice them」

The high elves’ expressions brightened even more when they heard the old man’s words.

『The human race sealed the border to torment the elves』

This is all that the people of the village have heard.

They don’t know that the World Tree is nearing the end of its life and that the location of the next World Tree is unknown. Of course, they also don’t know that using the Spirit Cannon will shorten the life of the World Tree.

The high elf with the thick eyebrows opens his mouth with a satisfied expression.

「Then there is no need to be so flustered. If you make a fuss with only a fragment of knowledge, it will only cause unnecessary confusion」

「Yes, yes, they just have to leave it to us the high elves」

The elderly high elf who was in charge of patrolling agreed. Not only he, but the entire high elves were also in agreement.

They were chosen by the Great Charter Magi Carta based on their merits and earned the title of 『High Elves』. Although they themselves were originally from the village, they drew a clear line between themselves and the common elves.

It’s similar to the way the royal family was before the revolution, but only the fat high elf has noticed this. And he’s already gone.

「And what happened to the Griffon? And the new generation of the World Tree」

The high elf with thick eyebrows drew everyone’s attention to the acting Chairman. The hunched-shouldered high elf gave a small cough before answering.

「We don’t know if the Griffon is alive or dead. But since it has been flying around the city every day, I think it is safe to assume that we have killed it」

Once he had quenched his thirst with a glass of water, he continued.

「As for the next generation World Tree, it seems that it was not in the Northern city. If it had been, it would have been burned down, and if that had happened, some kind of change would have been seen in the world tree here, such as it sprouting」

The latter was unfortunate, but the people present were not disappointed. This is because they originally speculated that the next generation of the World Tree was hidden at the bottom of the Great Pit in the southeast of the Empire.

「The unidentified Knight that our Knights had encountered in the Great Pit also did not appear. Perhaps, the survivors of the royal family never left the Great Pit where the World Tree is」

In response to the acting Chairman’s further explanation, the high elf with thick eyebrows paused for a moment and expressed his thoughts.

「So I guess it wasn’t the survivor of the royal family himself who accompanied the Griffon, but it was entrusted to one of his trusted men huh」

The elderly high elf in charge of the patrol nodded in understanding.

「They probably intended to cause unrest in the village, but were burned before they could do so. They must have never expected us to shoot them in such a wide area」

When he finished speaking, he opened his mouth wide and laughed.

The acting Chairman looked around the room and decided it was time to move on to the next topic. He then opened his mouth to discuss the next topic.

「I’d like to use the Spirit Cannon again on the Great Pit, as originally planned」

He felt the whispers stop and all the ears gathered on him and continued.

「Since the opponent will be hiding deep underground and World Enemy will be there. How about changing from Fire Arrow to Thunder Spear, focusing on power rather than the range of effect?」

The diameter of the Great Pit was about a thousand meters. Thinking about this, the high elf with thick eyebrows nodded his chin.

「I don’t know how durable the World Enemy’s armor is, but it shouldn’t be impossible to pierce it with the Thunder Spear. Let’s make a huge pillar of lightning in the Great Pit!」

Zaratan is probably fighting the World Enemy alone in what appears to be an underground lake. No one talks about getting Zaratan caught up in the attack.

『After everything is over, he will be praised for his valiant fight to protect the world and the elven race』

It was an unspoken agreement that they plan to proceed this way.

Just as the acting chairman inhaled to announce the decision, the old pharmacist woman raised her hands high in the air.

「I’ll do the next operation. I honestly can’t stand to watch such a sloppy job」

The acting Chairman’s gaze grew stern, but the old woman remained cool.

She feels that she is right, so she can’t imagine the feelings of the person to who she said it.

「The second shot would have a greater impact on the World Tree. If a more skilled person does it, we can reduce the load on the World Tree. It’s only natural」

The old man who was as skinny as a dead tree sitting next to her crossed his arms and spoke. Knowing the hardships the acting Chairman has been through, no one around agreed with him.

However, like the old woman, he did not notice the bad atmosphere. The acting Chairperson closed his eyes, suppressed his displeasure, and thought about it.

(Someone who was in charge of activating the Spirit Cannon will definitely have their name written in history. I can see why it’s a very enviable position)

“But”, he sighed in his mind.

(Acting as chairman and being in charge of activating the Spirit Cannon. Both are too heavy of a burden. If I don’t choose one or the other, my mind and body won’t be able to handle it)

The image of the Chairman vomiting blood and collapsing from emotional exhaustion appeared in his mind. He thinks that this could be him in the near future.

「….I understand. I will let you do it. The third level of the magic circle has stopped, so please start by restarting the activation of that one」

There was a slight buzz at the decision of the acting Chairman to give up his place on the stage. But the old woman didn’t nod and said with her mouth twisted.

「I’m going to take over at the call to the executioner of judgment. Since I’m going out of my way to do it for you, at least do the preparation for me」

As expected, there were a number of people who blamed her for wanting to do only the glamorous part at the end. The skinny old man raised his voice in defense of the old woman.

「The magic power of someone with excellent skill and one with poor skill are not equivalent in value. It’s only in critical situations that we should concentrate on putting it to use」

However, no one agrees with her, and on the contrary, those who said, 『If you don’t want to start it from the third stage, then just stay back and watch』, are gaining momentum.

Realizing that she was now at a disadvantage, the old woman’s wrinkled face turned grim and she agreed.

「Fine, it can’t be helped. Okay, you, you, and you three. Assist me」

Some of them frowned in disgust when their name was mentioned. But they didn’t refuse.

The old woman, who was a high-ranking magician of the water attribute and the best pharmacist in the village, had been taking care of them by healing and providing potions.

「That is all. This time, the problem that has been haunting us all will finally be resolved」

After the meeting was over, the high elves gathered around the acting chairman and called out to him, while the commander and the pharmacist old woman left the room completely unconcerned.

In this way, the one who was in charge of the spirit cannon was transferred from the acting chairman to the old pharmacist woman.