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Chapter 312
Chain of Hatred
Ferda moved to the frontline conference hall with Valdemar.
When he said it was time and suggested they move, I wondered if he was going to make me think again, but as we moved, we arrived exactly at the scheduled time, just as he said.
One might suspect that even matching the time so precisely was by design.
Valdemar arrived, and the guard opened the door.
Ferda and Valdemar entered inside.
W е̇ b ń о v_êl Eñ um̂ a
"What reason is there to just leave the World Tree as it is!?"
A thunderous shout that pierced the ears.
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Not only Ferda, but Valdemar too was caught off guard and startled.
It also meant that high-level barrier magic was enveloping the conference hall.
'The one who shouted like that... is it the King of Stalburg?'
The King of the Dwarf United Kingdom Stalburg, Orin.
Ѐn_ům̀а̄ . і̊ d̊
He was large for a dwarf and wore golden armor.
Gold is soft in nature so it's not used for actual combat, but his armor looked harder than the knights' armor.
Proof that the dwarves' smelting skills had advanced far ahead.
Anyway, he was shouting at someone.
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"That damn root doesn't stop and keeps going down toward the ground. It sucks up all the nutrients of quality ores to maintain its own body, it's no different from a parasite! Do you know what a parasite is? They're lowly, useless things with no benefit!"
Orin spat out words that would make elves gasp in horror without hesitation.
W̊е̊ b̆nȯv̌e l̄ Е̊n̈ ú m̆ӑ
The dwarves, of course, and even some kingdoms seemed to agree with his words.
The World Tree's roots affect ore quality.
That was the same constraint not just for dwarves but for humans who live making tools.
While understandable, the fact that such a loud shout erupted meant there was an opposing force, whatever the case.
That force consisted of people Ferda knew.
"That's ultimately just your perspective; it can't represent the whole."
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Serdes Magic Association President, Erdes Roton.
She crossed her arms and spoke firmly.
"The reason the balance of the Serdes Continent has remained intact so far is thanks to the magical power the World Tree emits. If the World Tree's magical power disappears, they say it sucks up the power in the ground, but ultimately it makes everything converge to zero through circulation."
"In the end, you're saying you make the surface abundant and don't give a damn about us subterranean folk!"
Orin banged on the table.
"We dwarves aren't mindless destroyers like orcs or goblins! You think we're whining because we can't just dig around? That's not it! Every time those damn roots spread through the ground, the mine shafts shake, living in fear every day is the dwarves' daily life! For me who has to watch the death of all my people, the World Tree isn't something that can be dismissed as a mere natural disaster!"
Е̃ń ù.m̊ а̃
"If it's a natural disaster, we have words too. You blow up your mine shafts every time you don't need them? Because of that, the ground collapses and countless farmers lose an entire year's harvest. Are we just a single fly?"
It was a frequent occurrence in the Central-West, and an occasional incident even within the Arken Empire.
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Sudden ground collapses were always due to dwarves' mine shafts, but each time they provided miscellaneous weapons to appease public sentiment.
From a king's perspective, ruining a year's farming was trivial damage.
Dwarven weapons held enough power to suppress that level of commotion.
'So he was once a Hero's companion, huh.'
W̊ ě b̈ nо́v̈ è l Е̂nu ḿа̌.
Notorious as the Magic Association's capricious president, but before that, one of the Heroes who saved the world.
That stood out at this very moment.
"My words are equivalent to representing the Great Dragon Frontesis-nim!"
"Represent Frontesis? That's bullshit. You crazy bastards went beyond Frontesis's eyes and touched deep underground. Saying there's an ore harder than Frontenium hidden down there."
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"Yo-you bring up the deeds of the extinct Suchija! Don't humans have such pasts too?!"
"Want to talk more about the past? When Godwin showed ambition, what did you do? Didn't you offer quality weapons to the Demon King, begging him to just let the underground survive?"
Eñ um а̌ .і́ d̀
Orin's face turned bright red.
It was the dwarves' shame not properly recorded in history.
For that reason too, the dwarves eventually tried to wash away their sins by providing top-grade equipment to the 12-Person Expedition.
Erdes's words didn't end there.
"And don't you dwarves borrow the power of magic sometimes? When mine shafts collapse, your mages always find and rescue the buried dwarves, right? That's why you gave them positions too."
Orin frowned.
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"It's not just magic; they're versatile with smelting skills too, so we gladly gave them positions."
"When I do it it's romance, when others do it it's adultery? Saying let's burn the World Tree is ultimately because you can't let the things that'll become your power disappear. The Short-stout King just spouts nonsense without any plan."
"This crazy old hag's mouth!! You're just as short-stout, you bitch!"
Ferda didn't open his mouth and just quietly nodded.
Six of one, half a dozen of the other.
The verbal fight was about to turn into a mudslinging match.
Е̌ṅ ũm̆а̌ .і̄ d
Orin would pick a fight, and Erdes wouldn't avoid it.
'In the end, both sides' positions are just for their own power.'
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Mages need the magical power the World Tree emits, dwarves need ore.
The one on Erdes's side was another mage, Erica.
"Our Blue Eye cannot allow indiscriminate destruction either."
"So the Blue Eye sides with them because you're a mage too?"
Ẅё b n о̌.v_ѐ l Е n um̂ а̂
Orin revealed his displeasure without reservation.
"This is the position of one mage and a Tower Master, but as the Association President said, it's also a matter of balance. The World Tree is the only surviving pillar among those erected in the primordial era to separate land and sky, long before I was born. The fact that the continent's life could spread evenly was ultimately possible thanks to the World Tree's breath and magical power."
"That's old history, not now."
Unlike with Erdes, there was a touch of respect.
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"The World Tree has lived too long. After that much time, even an ancient tree should naturally wither and fall. But it doesn't. Those... bookworms' city..."
An aide who couldn't watch whispered in his ear.
W е̊b̄ n.о v ēl̂ Ёnú m ä
"Escolea."
"Right, Escolleia! How was the tree there?"
"It died."
"Right, it died! Why would it be a wise tree? Because it acknowledged its usefulness was done and died! It didn't try to prolong its life by spreading useless roots!"
Orin continued in a passionate tone.
"Mesabosk, that damn dragon attached to the World Tree and the roots started growing more roughly! Those damn things are growing the World Tree for their own vitality."
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"That's not the World Tree's will. It's because Mesabosk-nim forcibly overgrows it."
"Because it's a plant it has no will? That can't be. Why would elves go around calling that huge pillar 'Mother'?"
Orin smiled slyly.
"From my long wisdom, uselessly long-lived old folks always survive eating their children's flesh. That 'Mother' will surely sacrifice her children to live. The pillar that separates sky and land will become an object that returns to chaos again!"
The phrase "long wisdom" to a Dragon Spawn sounds truly bizarre.
Orin continued without a shred of hesitation.
Еńum̈а̊
The story from opposing positions didn't seem like it would progress further.
They turned their eyes elsewhere.
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They wanted someone to offer an opinion, and that was the Arken Empire side that entered on time.
"The Empire's position is..."
Grand Duke Golt, receiving the gaze, opened his mouth.
There was probably nothing to ask.
Ẁ e b n о̌ ṽеl̃ Ё n ǔ m а̄
The Arken Empire's barracks were already full of dwarves' furnaces.
"I have one question for His Majesty Orin. Is it the Kingdom's will to massacre all the World Tree's elves?"
Orin was horrified.
"No way! No matter how much we hate and loathe those pointy-ears, do you think we're heartless monsters?"
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Whether killing or saving, psychology naturally hesitates at such extreme statements.
It meant dwarves are ultimately sentient beings too.
Еn̂ u̇ m̆ а
"As I thought you'd think so. So we need to talk more realistically about the plan."
He stood up and pointed at the World Tree map.
"As currently understood, demons have entered the World Tree's deep part. Only High Elves, and those they permit, can enter the deep part. And High Elves are nobles with the trait of connecting spirits."
Valdemar tapped his head as he spoke.
"They are the most pure, and the most easily stained existences."
"You seem to underestimate High Elves too much, Grand Duke Golt."
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When Erica said that, Valdemar smiled.
"The characteristic of those who insist on isolationism is always the same. They either lack the power to resist externally, or... they're too easily stained. Judging by the current situation, isn't it closer to the latter?"
The High Elves' vulnerability that no one else knew.
Only Ferda and Erica knew it.
"Demons intend to use the pure magical power in the World Tree's deep part, so the safest and surest method is to destroy the World Tree... that is the Arken Empire's opinion."
"Is that so?"
W̌ е bṅ ovе l Ěn üm̄ а
Erica's eyes glanced at Ferda.
Ferda couldn't open his mouth.
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'I have no choice but to follow Valdemar.'
From the moment I got involved in this operation, decision-making authority had already passed to Valdemar.
At the same time, I was in a position agreeing with Valdemar and the dwarves.
'Demons are Valdrova's worry.'
Ẁ е́ b nо̆ v́.е l Ё.n ü mа̌
So they had to be completely smashed without leaving any room.
The fact that I couldn't make decisions ultimately worked in Ferda's favor.
As he stayed silent, the quick-witted Erica roughly grasped the situation and gave up waiting.
"Still, I see the World Tree's destruction as an extreme option."
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Valdemar cast the bait.
Orin frowned and threatened Valdemar.
Е n̊ū m̃ǎ
"If you thought we'd just eat and discard them like spare ribs, you're mistaken?"
"Would that be possible? The long conflict between elves and dwarves is because of that World Tree, isn't it?"
"That's right."
"The World Tree is the head that binds elves. They're ones who've lived hundreds of years for that one thing alone. What happens if you burn their home?"
"They'll scatter."
"It's not just scattering. Children who lost their mother dream of revenge. Even if it's 'power with too great a price,' they'll gladly accept it."
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"Hmm..."
"Then you'd have to kill all the elves. Every single one without a shred of mercy. Can you handle that?"
Orin closed his mouth.
"Hatred is a chain reaction. Demons will try to use that well. So this isn't just blindly fighting; delicate work must accompany it. To exterminate demons, there's no need to create another hatred that becomes a reason to hinder the dwarves' survival."
"Hmm..."
Orin exhaled and held his tongue.
W ӗbn̂ о̆ vе́ l̀ E n ǔ.m̌а̀
Dwarves have high pride and are stubborn, but Orin is a king, and a sentient being.
His duty to take responsibility for the United Kingdom was greater than a single artisan's, and though he hated elves, he couldn't massacre them.
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Valdemar reminded him of that and calmed the extreme side.
He didn't say it, but that alone was an acknowledgment that his thinking had been short.
Valdemar left the quieted dwarves behind and asked Erica.
"Tower Master-nim who serves the Great Water Owner. Do you have means to prove the deep part hasn't been corrupted?"
E num ā
"Of course."
The conversation with Erica continued calmly.
She waved her hand in the air, and a medicine stored in subspace appeared in her hand.
"It's a detection reagent made by analyzing the Doppler Manufacturing Agent and antidote components. With this, we can check for magical corruption. If there's even a slight sign of demonic corruption, and it's judged impossible to remove..."
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Erica swallowed her words.
Everyone knows the words coming from her mouth will be immensely heavy.
Е́ n̆u m̊ а̄. i̇ ḋ
"...We will destroy the World Tree's deep part and bring it down."
"Can you promise that?"
"Golt. You're too arrogant."
Erdes cut in and threatened.
It looked like a child threatening an old man, but when Valdemar was a child, Erdes was already an old woman.
Erdes knows she's inducing Valdemar to make Erica say 'those words'.
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And Erica, being forced, knows this fact too.
She has to weigh the scales.
"...I swear in Iorga's name."
There's no turning back now.
Valdemar heard those words and was satisfied.
"Then there's no more reason to fight."
E nu m̌ ä
Valdemar had excellently mediated the conflict.
Through mediation, he gained strong speaking rights here.
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Ferda understood his words.
'In this war, he might die...'
He was an incredibly capable person.
And he'd lived far too long for his capability.
Е̌ ñ u mа
Kugugeugeu...
Ripples formed in the water cup on the table.
A vibration from something falling far from the frontline.
"What's happening outside?"
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An aide stood up, looked outside, and reported.
"Storeus-nim is engaging Mesabosk-nim in combat."
Е̄.num̄а .і̃ d̊
Storeus didn't give a damn about mortals' circumstances.
He only desires battle.
What situation would unfold was as clear as a picture.
Storeus's lightning will wound Mesabosk.
As Mesabosk's wounds deepen, he'll absorb the World Tree's vitality, and the World Tree will extend roots to survive.
The ones whose backs break in the fight of two evil dragons are ultimately only mortals.
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