Book 5: Volume 2 Chapter 7, The Crack

Translator: Kazumi

Editor: Silavin

 

After observing Collete and Shiomala’s condition, the group discussed what to do but ultimately decided to speak to Romana first.

 

The barrier protecting the World Tree would only need to cover the area around it, not the entire forest. The reason for covering the entire forest with a barrier was solely for the benefit of the Elves who managed it.

 

It was therefore considered that if the Elves did not want the barrier, they might let it weaken and eventually get taken down. However, when Kousuke and the others discussed this with Romana, she agreed they wanted the barrier to continue protecting the area as before.

 

However, before reaching that decision, Romana appeared as shaken as Collete and Shiomala. The other Elves froze for a while, perhaps a sign of their collective faith being shaken.

 

After receiving permission from the Elves, Kousuke immediately began preparations to erect a barrier over Sewri Forest.

 

Casting a barrier was not something one could simply agree to on the spot. Careful calculation was required to determine what kind of barrier was needed and what kind of Magic Circle would create it.

 

This time in particular, they had to create a barrier to reinforce the one Yuta had originally created. It was not impossible to cast a barrier that ignored all of that, but frankly, it would be quite wasteful, mainly in terms of Magic Power.

 

However, this time Kousuke was thinking of something that would be powered primarily by Holy Power (synonymous to Spirit Power) rather than Magic Power, since the Elves would be maintaining it. After all, some kind of Power was absolutely necessary to maintain the Magic Circle needed to cast the barrier.

 

If it were Humans using it, he would think about ways to mitigate the consumption even more, but since it was Elves this time, he could eliminate that concern to some extent. After all, Elves were said to be able to use Spirit Magic from birth. When it came to the Spirit Power each individual possessed, they could not be compared to other races.

 

Maintenance required knowledge of Magic Circles and related matters, but simply supplying power was something any Elf could do.

 

Incidentally, once the barrier Yuta had cast was functioning properly, the barrier Kousuke created would no longer be necessary. Converting that time into numerical terms would take over a hundred years, but for long-lived Elves, it fell within their lifespans. From that perspective, it was not such a heavy burden.

 

Kousuke explained all of this to the Elves, and they gave him approval, so he began work in earnest on casting the barrier over Sewri Forest.

 

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In a room in a mansion clearly rich in assets, the owner was receiving a report.

 

“So? What were the results?”

 

The reporter nodded in response and began speaking.

 

“The results were pretty much as expected.”

 

“…’pretty much’?”

 

The owner frowned, and the reporter nodded and continued.

 

“Yes. After all, it was Humans who were investigating and had traveled the ‘Paths’ in the past. It’s impossible for them to remember it as accurately as the Elves.”

 

The owner sat back in his chair after hearing the report.

 

“…I see. It must have been painful to lose a ‘collaborator.'”

 

“Yes. I would have liked to extract more information.”

 

The master shook his head at the reporter’s words.

 

“That’s too late now. Shouldn’t we just be happy that we’ve found a few ‘Paths’?”

 

The reporter nodded slightly, understanding this was more confirmation than question.

 

“Ah, sorry. I was in the middle of reporting. So? How many ‘Paths’ are there?”

 

“According to the report I’d heard roughly beforehand, it seems to be about 60 to 70 percent.”

 

The master muttered, “60 percent…” and leaned back in his chair, closing his eyes. After remaining in this position for a while, the master shook his head.

 

“Those numbers are a bit tricky. Besides, surely they can’t even reach the village?”

 

“Yes. It seems the ‘collaborators’ were cautious about this and never guided anyone there. Even if they had been guided once, it would have been impossible to fully grasp the ‘Paths’ there.”

 

“That’s probably true.”

 

The master nodded at the reporter’s words. The report was exactly what the master had expected. He didn’t think for a second that the results would allow them to reach the Elf Village.

 

Besides, the master’s goal wasn’t the Elves but the abundant resources in Sewri Forest. If anything, the Elves were nothing more than a nuisance to the master.

 

“…Well, that’s fine. Shouldn’t we focus all our efforts on understanding the ‘Paths’ now?”

 

“Yes. That’s what I’ve instructed. From now on, we’ll be focusing on determining the amount of lumber available near the Path.”

 

“Yes. I’ll leave it to you.”

 

At the master’s brief reply, the reporter decided he shouldn’t stay longer and left the room.

 

After the reporter left, the master lit his pipe and began smoking. Soon, white smoke exhaled from his mouth. The master let out a long exhale and muttered to himself.

 

“Well, the die has already been cast. Now, it’s up to us to decide.”

 

From the master’s perspective, it would be best if the Elves who had taken root in Sewri Forest came out into the open as a result of this incident, even if it meant fighting the Elves themsElves.

 

The barrier had been a major reason why Sewri Forest had remained untouched until now. A crack had now appeared.

 

The master was convinced that if he could successfully develop Sewri Forest, he would leave his name behind for generations to come. To that end, he had spent a long time, entangled in various complications, to reach this point. Now that he had finally found this crack, he believed it was necessary to carefully, yet boldly, widen it.

 

There was no point in rushing. The Elves weren’t his only enemies. They must not be made to suspect his movements.

 

“…If only they would just come out into the open.”

 

The his words spread throughout the empty room, with no one to hear them.

 

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Kousuke began creating the barrier, but Collete had already returned to Tower Village. In her place, Sylvia had come to Sewri Forest Village.

 

Sylvia knew the most about Holy Power, so she was called in hopes she might be of some help. However, when it came to Magic Circles and barriers, she was understandably no match for Yuta and Kousuke.

 

In short, there was no one else in the village who could interrupt the two as they discussed the barrier’s shape.

 

So Sylvia and Shrein continued their conversations with the Elves inside the village. Even though Elves were an exclusive race, a xenophobic one at that, Shrein and Sylvia were lumped together as Kousuke’s companions, so the Elves didn’t frown upon them.

 

Both Shrein and Sylvia had learned something meaningful from these conversations. It was interesting for them to learn about the way long-lived Elves thought. For Shrein in particular, talking with the Elves was helpful in comparing their way of thinking with that of Vampires.

 

They continued like this for a few days, until Kousuke finally contacted them to say he had finished talking with Yuta and was about to begin preparations to set up the barrier.