Chapter 321 – Episode 321 ― Time to Move (4)
Episode 321 – Time to move (4)
There was only dust floating in the sunlight.
The crowd was quiet. Everyone who saw the demon’s determination fell into their own thoughts.
Iris, who was not allowed to attend but was only allowed to attend and not speak, was also surprised by Roan’s attitude.
‘To protect, we attack first…’
It is one of the basics that is taken for granted even in old military methods. However, it was also a difficult thing to follow for a forest fairy.
Although a forest nymph lives for a long time, he spends most of his life as a young adult. Most of them are excellent warriors and wizards, and have a wisdom befitting their age.
But it’s a story in the forest.
It has been too long since the forest fairy was isolated from the world. This means that their wisdom may be different from the wisdom of the outside world.
There are some people, like Iris’ companion Kouran, who communicate with humans and demons and learn their culture, but they are very few.
‘I probably don’t even know half of Aina about demons or humans.’
Iris lowered her gaze slightly.
A little heat appeared on her face as she felt embarrassed for no reason.
A child who was frustrated in the forest, I was considered strange by her tribe. However, there are few forest fairies who know her exterior as well as she does.
Iris also learned about other races only through books and by word of mouth from the forest fairies who were her elders.
What would happen if they were suddenly driven out of the forest and had to live a social life?
If we take it to the extreme, we may have to completely escape from the dark forest that they consider sacred and manage and protect.
The reason why the forest fairy dukes have not let themselves out of the forest so far is reasonable.
There was no need to leave the Dark Forest, the safest place in the world for forest fairies.
The number of forest fairies is small.
If we are diluted into this wide continent, it will be difficult for us to protect each other.
Moreover, we have never had frequent encounters with other races.
They are messy and small, so they can easily become prey to those with bad intentions.
No matter how powerful you are and your ability to detect lies, you cannot detect all the people who are trying to deceive them.
At least in the dark forest, there is no need to worry about that. No, there wasn’t.
“Iris.”
Iris suddenly came to her senses at the voice that was like cold water.
“What do you think?”
“I am…”
Iris said, feeling everyone’s eyes on her.
“I think what the Demon King said is not wrong. But…”
Aina raised her eyes at Iris’s seemingly ambiguous ending. However, before she could say anything, Roan quietly stopped her child.
Roan was able to find out through the skill.
Iris and Amilie already knew that Roan’s words were correct, and she sympathized with his words.
Nevertheless, they cannot easily give up the forest.
“It will be sudden for everyone. There will definitely be unprecedented changes. If the magic of the forest disappears, going in and out of the forest will become essential.”
An answer filled with only facts, befitting a forest fairy.
The duke’s expression was cold at Iris’ answer.
A cold and insensitive expression that seems neither angry nor sad.
Roanman read fear in it.
“When that time comes, you… Do you think other young forest fairies can handle that change?”
Iris’ eyebrows slightly raised at Amilie’s words. Ai, who was listening to the Duke’s words by Roan’s side, trembled as if the words were unexpected to her.
While the elders were whispering quietly, Iris straightened her posture.
Iris is the guard leader of a residential area.
To educate and strengthen young forest fairies
She is the one who understands their limitations and qualities better than anyone else.
“There are an increasing number of young forest fairies who want to go out of the forest. Duke. There is curiosity and pride. As we began trading with the demons, our interest in the outside world grew.”
The conference hall was filled with Iris’ calm voice.
“We are like children who grew up protected in the forest. Currently, that is the case. But that doesn’t mean we’re weak. When we encounter trials and experience new things, everyone will change, whether we like it or not.
And if you have the ability to endure change… Yes, I am confident that our forest fairies also have such abilities.”
Iris’s eyes met Aina.
“Isn’t there an example here? And my thoughts are also changing as I look at the king of the demons.”
“Sister…”
Aina called Iris almost silently. Her eyes widened in surprise, but her actions were based on the fact that she did not want to be disturbed.
“I have defended my home by fighting external enemies. However, most of the people who stay within the forest do not know what it is like outside. “I think there is a reason to contact the outside world to find out what we need to protect from.”
“Don’t you think that’s a risk? Even if the magic disappears, doesn’t that mean all the forest’s geographical advantages disappear?
Neither demons nor humans can enter this forest without permission. There are risks in leaving your home hastily.”
“Of course, Elder Shuru’s words also make sense. I don’t think there is a need for all of our people to suddenly leave the forest. But if the magic of the forest disappears… “Wouldn’t it be a duty, not a choice, to know life outside the forest?”
Iris’ silver eyes turned to Roan.
“As the Demon Emperor said, if the enemy is out there, eliminating that enemy may be the way to avoid repeating the same things of the past.”
“I heard you well. Iris.”
Not only Aina, but also the elders and Amilie, who knew Iris as the guard captain, were surprised.
This was because I knew her who always maintained the attitude that ‘her decisions are not my authority’ and did not express her personal feelings even for a forest fairy.
The sight of Iris asserting her own opinions seemed unfamiliar to them as well.
“Get out of her way. “I will talk to the elders.”
Nevertheless, the forest fairy duke could not make a decision right away.
Little did others know,
Roan and Fiora, who knew the story of the very distant past and were not forest fairies, were the only people who truly understood Amilie’s attitude.
When the forest fairies finally came together.
When dividing blood with external races, waging war, and fighting against one enemy, the devil of ‘greed’.
In the end, one race became extinct on the spot,
One betrayed,
The other one also disappeared due to that betrayal.
Moreover, that ‘greed’ is gaining strength again.
In the end, what was the meaning of the movement that took everyone’s orders?
Amilie is probably weighing her ongoing skepticism and responsibility countless times.
Because the next order is likely to be a forest fairy.
“Iris.”
As soon as Roan left the conference hall, he spoke to Iris.
“I thought you were conservative, but I guess I was biased. Thank you.”
“There is nothing to be thankful for. Emperor of the demons.”
Iris looks back at Roan with the same cold gaze as usual.
“Because it wasn’t specifically for the purpose of protecting you.”
Her head turned towards Aina.
The corners of her sharp eyes suddenly became kind.
“But I also learned something from looking at you.”
“To me? “My sister?”
“I thought I was only doing immature things outside, but I grew up without even realizing it.”
Roan is no longer in her sight. Roan sighed lightly as he watched his arms bulge.
“It’s worth developing your power and finding someone to give that power to. It is a pity that it was not of her own people that you said those words, but this sister is glad that you have now found someone to share your life with.”
Suddenly, Iris’s face returned to Roan.
His expression is quite different from before, and he seems to be wearing a mask, but his sharp eyes are definitely softer than when he first saw Roan.
“And I don’t say things that are unfounded.”
Iris narrowed her eyes.
“I can see that what you are saying is true. It’s hard to believe, but what you went through and what you warned me about. “I wonder what kind of determination you have to protect Aina from them.”
Ah.
Roan could clearly see why Iris’ attitude had changed.
Relief appeared on his face.
Iris, seeing that expression, still looked wary, but spoke in a non-hostile manner like before.
“So in the future… Protect Aina.”
A faint smile appeared on Roan’s face.
Roan held out one hand.
“Don’t worry. “Because she is my wife.”
Iris’ eyes sharpened for a moment, but she did not reject Roan’s hand. The forest fairy guard leader accepted the demon’s handshake.
**
“Our conversation takes time. “I don’t know if you can hurry enough, but I’ll try to finish the story as quickly as possible.”
The leaders of the demons and forest fairies met, but the conclusion was ultimately postponed.
However, Roan hid his regret. Through the skill, Amilie already knew that she intended to follow Roan and her goddess’s suggestion.
Pushing further here may backfire. Roan nodded and said.
“All right. Of course, if we can stop him before that happens, that would be the best solution.”
“That’s right.”
Amilie agreed to Roan’s words and added.
“Demons such as ‘Greed’ described in ancient records are actually closer to spirits. The difference is that the source of power is people, not nature.”
“Government ordinance… “Do you mean that?”
Suddenly, something strange came out. But Amilie’s attitude was serious. She didn’t speak in a light-hearted joking tone like usual.
“People’s changes, desires, and intentions. They say that demons are created by gaining power from places like that. That’s why they prefer places with a lot of people.”
“… !”
Roan realized what Amilie was trying to say.
“So you’re saying you chose the royal castle?”
“Perhaps this is the place where the greatest force of will swirl in the land of men.”
Does it mean that the reason Schlaner chose the castle as a base rather than an empty plain wasn’t just to turn the king into a puppet?
Roan’s thoughts went elsewhere.
“Then, if we drive him out of the palace, Spros…”
“Okay. As you expected.”
Amilie shook her head slightly.
“The power they can accumulate will decrease.”
There are even more reasons to give strength to the next action.
Roan, who was pondering Amilie’s words and contemplating his future direction, heard the sound of several urgent footsteps approaching from afar.
While Roan was ‘scanning’ to see if there was any trouble nearby, Iris recognized the forest fairy that was approaching.
The expression on his face as a security guard was dark. Roan’s forehead was slightly wrinkled.
“This is a message from the demons.”
“Hmm?”
This is a message delivered to the forest fairy from Zeno’s soldiers stationed at the border of the forest. I’m going to leave the forest soon, so I can’t believe you’re in such a hurry to tell me something.
I have a bad feeling.
As if he had rushed in, the security guard took a breath and spoke quickly.
“I was told that the church’s headquarters was surrounded.”
Inside Roan’s cold eyes, purple eyes shone coolly.
