Chapter 110: The Great Forest (1)
So this was the Great Forest of the elves—once only a setting in the story.
Like a country bumpkin visiting the city for the first time, I was too busy taking in the scenery, feeling a thrill of excitement.
The air still carried a lingering sense of disorder, but that couldn’t be helped.
When I asked what had happened, an elf told me that a large group of them had suddenly fallen asleep all at once.
No one knew the cause. And near the Mother World Tree, nearly everyone had collapsed—it was practically a wasteland of slumber. That must’ve been why the atmosphere felt so uneasy. The elf explained only that much before hurrying off to help with the situation.
Even considering that unsettling incident, the place was breathtakingly beautiful.
Lush greenery surrounded me on all sides, flowers bloomed in chaotic splendor, and butterflies fluttered freely, carried by the wind. It was the kind of place that made me think, If anywhere could be paradise, it’d be here.
Even Hoyeon would have to acknowledge its beauty—though she’d probably compare it to her homeland in the end.
Lost in thought, I wandered aimlessly until I realized I had no idea where I was.
Still, I wasn’t too worried. If I grabbed anyone nearby and asked, they’d be happy to point me in the right direction.
The elves' unusual kindness toward humans had been vaguely hinted at in the original story. There was speculation that the goddess had created them as a helper race for humanity, and Georg had outright said he was tired of them acting like caretakers. Considering the elves' role in the story, it was practically confirmed.
The story never explicitly stated it, but it was clear—the goddess had made the elves for the sake of humans.
…Well, the real reason I was taking in the sights like this was because I might not get another chance.
I wasn’t sure of Jeongho’s exact personality, so I couldn’t be certain. But if war broke out, this place would almost certainly be destroyed.
I hoped there wouldn’t be a war. But that seemed unlikely.
After all, in a Q&A, Jeongho’s stated goal was a "world without conflict."
After much debate among readers, we concluded that this probably meant conquering the entire world so there would be no wars between nations.
And when someone asked the author, they confirmed it.
…Just what kind of place was the East? I still didn’t understand.
If only I could exhale all these complicated thoughts in a single sigh and be done with them.
“…Haah. Nothing ever goes the way I planned.”
Looking back, almost all of my plans from the start of the semester had failed.
The items I’d acquired turned out to be useless or weren’t even in the expected locations. Events had changed, shifted, or disappeared entirely.
And most importantly, the relationships with the heroines had been doomed from the start.
At least things were smooth with Hoyeon… but practically speaking, it was a one-sided power dynamic.
Hoyeon just didn’t realize she was in the dominant position.
"I’d like to hear what’s been going wrong—if you don’t mind sharing?"
Hearing someone respond to my muttering startled me, but what truly shocked me was who had spoken.
I swallowed back the scream rising to my throat and turned my head slowly.
Standing there with a relaxed smile was Gloria.
“…Gloria? Weren’t you supposed to be resting?"
It had been less than a week since the Church publicly announced that the Saintess had awakened.
Could someone who had just regained consciousness really be up and about like this?
"That’s why I am resting. What better place for recuperation than the Great Forest?"
"Ah… Well, that’s true, but… really?"
Something about it felt like an excuse.
If she weren’t an Apostle, I wouldn’t be so suspicious. But since she was, there had to be a reason for her presence here.
"Are you suggesting I’m faking my condition?"
"N-No! I, uh… I hope you make a full recovery."
I didn’t want to get caught in some convoluted mess, so I decided to drop it and make a quick escape.
Besides, I had a feeling Hoyeon would be looking for me soon.
And keeping her waiting was never a good idea.
I turned to leave in a hurry, but Gloria called out, stopping me in my tracks.
"Wait a moment! If you’re not too busy, could you answer a question for me?"
I could ignore her and walk away, but that might seem suspicious.
With anyone else, it wouldn’t matter. But it wasn’t a good idea to act that way around someone from the Church.
"Of course. What is it?"
"It’s about Hoyeon. Since you’re close to her, I thought you might know. Has she… had any dealings with demons?"
My body tensed involuntarily at the question.
There was something I felt guilty about.
Her so-called ‘God’ was probably a demon.
…But that had nothing to do with the demons of this continent. Her god resided in the East.
And if I answered ‘yes,’ something bad would definitely happen.
But me? I had directly infused my body with demonic energy, even if it had been purified and diluted.
The fact that even the Saintess couldn’t tell meant that Georg must have been right about his methods.
But still, I couldn’t help feeling uneasy.
"…No. She has no connection to demons whatsoever."
But you know what?
I didn’t want to get involved in anything complicated anymore.
"I see. In that case… things will become more difficult. Thank you for your cooperation. Having a trustworthy ally like you is truly a blessing. Take care on your way."
…I’m really not that trustworthy.
I lie fairly often.
But whatever.
It’s unlikely we’ll cross paths again.
***
I hurried back to my room.
Inside, I found Hoyeon, sitting with an unmistakable aura of discontent, stroking Yeonho, who meowed in protest.
The room was neater than when I’d left it, which was… concerning.
Hoyeon lifted her gaze and fixed me with a stare.
"…Dogeon. Where have you been?"
Technically speaking, there was no rule saying I had to be in my room.
And she hadn’t explicitly told me to stay.
So if anyone should feel unjustly accused, it was me.
But looking at her, I couldn’t bring myself to argue.
Because beneath that annoyed expression, there was loneliness.
"I went for a walk. Thought I’d do some sightseeing. I should’ve left a note on the desk—sorry. I should’ve known you’d be looking for me."
Hoyeon, dissatisfied, continued stroking Yeonho until the poor thing let out a distressed cry.
She finally released him and then firmly grasped my hand.
"…Next time, tell me before you leave. I get lonely when I’m by myself."
"Alright, alright. But can you let go now? I think you’re about to break my hand."
"A-Ah… Sorry…!"
Phew. I really thought my hand might snap.
Not that it wouldn’t heal quickly.
Even after letting go, she wrapped her tail around my leg, as if reluctant to part.
At moments like this, it was hard to tell who was really in charge.
But the truth remained—Hoyeon still held absolute power over me.
She stared at me with an expectant look.
But this wasn’t the academy dorms. The soundproofing wasn’t perfect. And it was broad daylight.
"…Not now, Hoyeon. Let’s wait until night. If not then, another time. Got it?"
She clearly did not like that answer.
But at least I prevented her from broadcasting our business to the entire forest.
That was a win. A small one. But a win.
***
Georg—No, Elliot—was Examining the World Tree’s Vicinity.
He despised the elven name he had been given.
And yet, ironically, there was a part of him that wished someone would call him by it.
Because in moments like this, he felt as though he had returned to the days when he never once doubted that he was the greatest.
A peerless genius.
A revolutionary in magical studies.
A Grand Mage.
These were the titles he had earned not as a warrior in the Hero’s Party, but as a researcher.
Had the demons never invaded, he likely would have spent his life aiding the humans who worshiped him.
But his encounter with demons and the hero had changed everything.
From his body, in the most direct sense—To his very beliefs, in the most profound.
Why was it that he, and his kin, could never resist the presence of humans?
What was the reason?
To uncover it, he had embarked on an inquiry that seemed to have no end.
The structure of the body.
The nature of the mind.
The origins of the Goddess.
The fundamental connections between mana, divine power, and demonic energy.
The core link suggested by the formulae he had developed—formulas that allowed him to freely convert one force into another.
Everything pointed eastward.
The land the Goddess had described as being filled with demons and terrors.
A continent whose true nature remained utterly unknown.
Unfortunately, Baek Hoyeon was of little help.
Her outward appearance might have resembled theirs, but internally, she was entirely different from the indigenous people of the East.
Even he, reckless as he was, understood that dissecting her would lead to irreversible consequences.
If he could take her apart, his research would advance in leaps and bounds.
But that was not how he wanted his inquiry to conclude.
“…Then, I suppose I should pursue the only lead I have.”
Something remained in the air.
It felt like demonic energy, but it wasn’t.
A residual force of unknown origin, scattered in every direction.
Observing it, he realized—the situation might be even more serious than he had thought.
His first objective was to locate the source of the energy that formed mana, divine power, and demonic energy.
Because he had sensed this very power before—when fighting demons, back when he was still a mage in the Hero’s Party.
“Elliot, have you discovered anything…?”
The elder cautiously inquired whether he had uncovered the truth.
Georg shook his head.
“Not enough to be certain, old man. If possible, can you seal off this area? I’ll need at least a week to stay glued to this spot.”
“…A blockade, you say. If that is what you wish, then so be it.”
If my hypothesis is correct, then at the very least…
We need enough time for everyone to escape.
Muttering to himself, Georg silently resumed his preparations.