Arena

Chapter 188. The Final Exam (2)

The air of war rang out through the Brown Mountain Range.

Entering and exiting the trading post was only permitted to a select few veteran elven warriors, and as for the women and the young elves, they were only told that they were allowed to move between safe cities.

The veteran elves, centered around Derek. Started scouting the entire Brown Mountain Range without any gaps.

It hadn’t even been two years since the trading post appeared in the Heinz fiefdom where the elves and the humans were actively trading with each other.

Although it was quite short, the elves of the Brown Mountain Range had ushered in an era of prosperity.

Thanks to that, the Brown Mountain Range was occupied by the most number of elves since the beginning of history.

Receiving the aura of nature emitted from the three Trees of Life, the elves welcomed their golden era.

Weapons that were tempered through high temperature and magic, which elves had difficulty creating, could be provided to the warriors through trading with the human merchants.

Derek was also supplied with two magic swords imbued with durability enhancement magic and was now able to unleash more of his prowess.

However, a time of ordeal was approaching after a couple of years of peace.

‘Both prosperity and crisis come from humans.’

Thought Derek as he scouted the area with a few other elf veterans.

The fact that there were three Trees of Life in the Brown Mountain Range was thanks to the help of a human, named Kim.

However, the threat to their well-being was also caused by humans.

‘How are we elves supposed to accept humans?’

Kim, friends with the elves despite being human, recommended that the elves should interact with the humans.

He advised that the elves should interact very proactively and learn to differentiate which humans they could befriend, and which humans they shouldn’t.

Just as he had told them, the elves of the Brown Mountain Range started to interact with numerous merchants frequently and exchanged goods.

The change that originated from that was definitely a good thing.

Numerous enslaved elves were freed, and the elven warriors became stronger through the provision of magic-imbued weapons.

However, it was as though…….

‘…as though we became a part of their society.’

Derek, who had lived for a long time, had a hard time judging whether this was a good thing or not.

He could not get used to the fact that humans were influencing the lifestyle of elves.

However, if this was the way they could not fall behind humans, they had to accept this life.

‘Not like I could change anything just by worrying too.’

Derek erased his trivial thoughts from his mind.

No matter what kind of change the elves meet thanks to becoming a part of human society, it did not change the fact that the Brown Mountain Range should be protected as the holy territory of elves.

“There aren’t any signs yet.”

One elf spoke.

It was one that was around Derek’s age.

Derek shook his head.

“They will not show signs when they attack. Let us go elsewhere.”

“Yes.”

They headed towards the western end of the Brown Mountain Range, summoning elementals regularly to scout around the area without rest. It could be seen just how strong their will was to protect their holy lands.

Although their schedule was arduous, Derek’s well-honed concentration did not waver in the slightest.

But at that moment.

Derek was startled and stopped moving.

His actions caused all the others to stop in their tracks as well.

“What is it?”

“Did you see something?”

Instead of replying, Derek glanced towards the south.

“Is there something in the south?”

“We didn’t feel anything though.”

His colleagues voiced out their questions.

Derek spoke.

“Go on ahead first. I will follow after I check it.”

“Okay, then.”

“Take your time.”

The veteran elves departed first.

Derek left alone, started moving towards the south where he felt a slight presence.

It was very minute, yet ominous.

Derek was only able to notice it as he was on his edge all this time.

When he got through the tall grass, he was able to find something.

A small green orb was floating in the air.

The green orb was looking at Derek as though it was an eyeball.

Derek glared at the green orb.

“Who are you?”

He questioned.

The green orb did not answer.

However, Derek intuitively knew that the orb was listening to him.

“You are Kajad Pun Aman?”

– I guess I was found out.

The voice rang out with eerie black magic. However, rather than being afraid, the voice sounded very confident.

Derek creased his brows as he felt the black magic energy on his skin.

-And here, I wanted to see my nourishment for myself. You’re quite the elf for having discovered the presence of my Eye of the Abyss.

“Nourishment?”

-I am referring to the Tree of Life.

Derek’s face turned red in anger.

“And that’s your nourishment?”

-Indeed.

“Do you realize the importance it has to us?”

-That, I do.

“Yet you still aim for it?”

-Unfortunately, things turned out this way.

“So you are aware that you are walking the wrong path.”

-Just because harm comes your way doesn’t mean that I am in the wrong.”

“What?”

-Killing and eating animals in order to survive does not make that a sin. In the first place, being right or wrong is different according to different standards.

“So you realize your wrongs from what I hear. I hate sophists like you.”

-…….

“Do you think we will let you? I shall definitely slay you with my own hands.”

-Haha, I’ll be looking forward to that.

Flash!

At that moment, Derek’s right hand emitted light.

The time between pulling the sword out of the scabbard and slashing it was too natural and seemed like a flow of light.

The Eye of the Abyss turned into dust after being cut in half.

“Kasa.”

Kasa, shaped like a flaming giant, was summoned.

Derek ordered.

“Please tell the others to return. We are returning to the village.”

After nodding, the flaming giant flew off to the west.

Derek’s face was still stiff.

‘The enemy really did show signs.’

***

We were still staying at Count Wolfenburg’s mansion.

A letter containing the royal decree from Alsefon III came from the palace.

[The Aman Imperial Army has started marching towards our nation. There is no more doubt that war is inevitable.

Hence, I decree Count Wolfenburg and his allies to gather at the specified point at the specified date.]

Here, “allies” referred to the examinees. Alsefon III did not know the exact contents of the exam, but he did know that Count Wolfenburg had powerful allies wielding supernatural powers.

“So we should get going now.”

Spoke Odin.

I nodded my head.

“Yes. All we can do now is cross our fingers and hope everything goes according to plan.”

Odin called all the examinees and told them about the royal decree.

Since everyone had agreed beforehand that they were participating in the war, there were no objections now.

Everyone decided to depart to the rendezvous area, while I took out my communication device prior to the departure.

I called for Baronet Raymon who was currently training the army at my territory.

– Count Kim?

“Yes. Have you gotten used to using the device now?”

– I can barely manage not getting surprised all the time. My word, such a peculiar device this is.

“Haha, that’s good. In any case, we are about to head off to war. Please protect the fief while I’m out.”

– Please don’t worry about it. Albeit short, the results of training have started showing.

“That puts my mind at ease. I’ll call you back later then.”

-Yes, I wish for the best, Count Kim.

“Thanks.”

After that call, Cha Jihye and I packed up our stuff.

I took out all twelve of my rake eagles.

There were originally 10 of them, but I decided to tame 2 more a while ago.

This was thanks to the fact that I could tame a total of 12 animals with the Animal Taming skill when it was mastered.

I thought about taming another type of beast, but I ended up going with a pair of male and female eagles from the Brown Mountains.

The new ones were named Eleventhborn and Twelfthborn. I fed them a lot during the past few months, so their sizes tripled in the meantime.

In any case, two people rode on one rake eagle. Cha Jihye and I rode on Firstborn’s back.

The examinees that weren’t able to get on approached me awkwardly.

“Ah, I really hate to do this.”

“Nothing will happen to me right?”

“What if I can’t breathe…….”

How could I not understand their feelings?

I sighed.

“It’s completely fine. I showed you the test.”

Yes.

The ones that weren’t able to get on the eagles were to be taken by me in my Virtual Space.

They were very repulsive towards going inside the Virtual Space, even after showing them a demo with Cha Jihye.

“There there, come on then.”

“Damn, I guess there’s no turning back now.”

The examinees resigned themselves and approached me. I put them all inside the Virtual Space one by one.

There was one female examinee that refused to enter the Virtual Space to the end. I wasn’t able to put her in if she so desired.

However, when I glared at her, the light-skinned girl awkwardly apologized and obediently entered.

“Let’s go now, then.”

Odin spoke after watching the entire thing.

I nodded my head and ordered the rake eagles.

Twelve large beasts flapped their wings and took to the skies.

We headed north-east in an arrow-shaped formation.

Even while flying, Dana showed his leisure by controlling the satellite with his laptop.

“The Aman Imperial Army is gathering on the northern border. From how the supply chain is quite thick, we may indeed be invaded very soon.”

Dana updated us with the new intel.

“Please keep watching over them. They may be using a strategy to cause a commotion with a large army and striking somewhere else with the elites.”

Spoke Odin.

He was the only examinee among the ones here who had experience commanding a battlefield, so he took the role of leader for this round. He wasn’t lacking in other areas either.

“Understood.”

Replying, Dana kept analyzing the information he received through the laptop terminal.

Even though the back of rake eagles were no airplane seats, he was able to do all that on the back of a living beast. He was no ordinary guy.

“It’s beautiful.’

Cha Jihye, who rode in front of me, spoke.

As I was hugging her back, I tilted my head.

“Huh? What is?”

She silently pointed towards the west.

The sky was dyed scarlet from sunset.

“…You’re right.”

Looking at that scene, I felt stunned.

It looked nothing like the bloodbath that would unfold soon.