"Higashino."
"Ainz said in a low voice."
Are you sure you want to walk there like this?
"Certainly."
Ainz paused for a moment, then did not refuse.
After all, this kind of thing is very simple for him.
"Good."
Higashino Makoto raised his right hand and made a light sweeping motion in the air.
"Perfect Unknowable"
High-level invisibility magic, almost a conceptual elimination of existence.
Unless one uses magic to see through it, or possesses some kind of innate ability, it is very difficult to detect.
After all, sound, smell, magical fluctuations, and even the very existence of the creature were all erased.
A pale gray light enveloped the five people and a cat. The black cat "Zafkiel" on Kurumi's shoulder yawned, seemingly accustomed to this kind of magic.
Let's go.
Higashino Makoto strode forward.
Five people and one cat entered the battlefield.
Arrows flew past them, magic exploded above their heads, and soldiers fought each other before them.
But nobody noticed them.
Certain Death walked behind Higashino Makoto, observing everything around them.
Those soldiers of the Slane Theocracy, those warriors of the Elf Kingdom race, those lives that were bleeding, dying, and struggling.
She had never walked past so calmly, so quietly, so without any murderous intent.
"Higashino."
She said in a low voice.
"Um?"
"Why don't you kill them? If you can't, I can help you."
"Because they don't need to die."
Higashino Makoto spoke up to stop her, his voice so soft that only she could hear it.
"This war will be over soon. They just need to survive, wait for the war to end, and go home."
Certain Death fell silent.
She watched Higashino Makoto's retreating figure, his long, silvery-white hair fluttering in the wind, and the fact that not a single drop of blood stained his dark robe.
"You're such a strange person."
She said.
"Perhaps, but to me, you are the strangest."
In Higashino Makoto's mind, time travelers are all strange guys like this.
Some drag the world into war without any remorse, some save civilians without expecting anything in return, and some disregard the fate of the world in order to return home...
It seems that all time travelers are eccentric and unconventional.
Although Higashino Makoto feels he is already quite ordinary, he does not deny that his statement is rather strange.
Five people and a cat traversed the battlefield, crossed the edge of the forest, passed through the Elf Kingdom defenses, and passed through lives that were fighting, dying, and struggling.
No one noticed them, no one stopped them, no one knew.
Five people who changed the fate of the world are passing by them.
Deep in the Great Forest of Evasha, the sunlight is blocked by the dense canopy of trees, with only scattered spots of light falling on the ground like golden fragments.
Higashino Makoto deactivated "Perfect Unknowable," and the figures of five people and a cat appeared in the forest.
"Arrive."
Certain Death's voice was low, carrying a suppressed and complex emotion.
Higashino Makoto raised his head and looked ahead.
The Elf King.
It was a city built in the forest.
No, not a city, but a massive fortress made of living trees.
Hundreds of towering trees were transformed into houses, towers, city walls, and bridges by the magic of the forest priests. The trunks were hollowed out by magic, aerial walkways were built between the branches, and watchtowers were erected on the canopy.
The entire city blends seamlessly with the forest, creating a scene that is both spectacular and eerie.
In the very center of the city stands a giant tree, ten times larger than any other tree.
The trunk is so thick that it takes dozens of people to encircle it, and the crown soars into the clouds that the top is almost invisible.
The tree trunk was carved with intricate patterns—not decorations, but some ancient magical runes unique to the Elf Kingdom. It was the palace of the Elf King.
Higashino Makoto stared at the giant tree, a glint of light flashing in his dark eyes.
An interesting idea popped into her head, and she started a private communication with Ainz.
"Quite an interesting building. I think I made the right decision coming here. Hmm, Ainz, try not to cause too much damage if possible."
"By the way, don't you have a pair of the Elf Kingdom with heterochromatic eyes among your guardians? How about we make them the kings of the Elf Kingdom?"
Ainz opened his mouth, surprised that Higashino Makoto would have such a strange idea at this time.
But upon closer reflection, it doesn't seem to have any downsides?
Should we ask?
Perhaps they're interested?
"I'll go back and ask Aura and Mare after this is all over."
"OK."
Higashino Makoto nodded, not pressuring him.
It doesn't really matter who the next king of the Elf Kingdom will be; what matters is that the current king should die.
"By the way, Certain Death. Don't make a move later, leave it to our 'Dark' squad. Of course, I'll try my best to leave the Elf King's last breath to you."
"I am strong."
Certain Death bit her lip and finally uttered those words.
She wanted to say something more, but ultimately didn't.
She simply turned her head and looked at the giant tree, and at the palace of the man she had never seen but had hated her all her life.
Let's go.
Higashino Makoto strode forward.
The five people and one cat headed towards the Royal Capital, towards the giant tree, towards the end of a hatred that had lasted for over a hundred years.
The main hall of the royal palace is made of living trees.
Tree roots meander across the ground, forming a natural floor.
The branches intertwine on the ceiling, forming an intricate dome.
The tree trunk was hollowed out, creating a huge space large enough to accommodate hundreds of people.
Sunlight streamed through the gaps in the tree canopy, casting dappled shadows on the trunk.
Elf King Decem Hougan Hogan sat on his throne.
It was a throne woven from tree roots and vines, tall and majestic, like a throne belonging to the king of the forest that grew out of the earth.
Decem Hougan sat there, one hand supporting his chin, the other resting on the armrest, his posture languid and arrogant.
He looks to be under forty, but he is actually over four hundred years old.
Her long, golden hair cascaded over her shoulders, and her emerald green eyes were long and sharp.
He wore a strange crown, white armor with gold trim, and a red cloak.
A dozen or so Elf Kingdom warriors were stationed in the palace surrounding him.
They were all his descendants, children he sent to the battlefield, who survived, and whom he barely considered "some value."
Although the value of those people was so low that he didn't even know their names.
Their faces were expressionless, their eyes vacant, like puppets whose souls had been ripped out.
When Higashino Makoto entered the main hall, Decem Hougan didn't even look up.
"Humans?"
His voice was deep and languid, carrying a condescending arrogance that showed he didn't care about others.
"How did you get in? Where are my soldiers?"
Your soldiers are still alive.
Higashino Makoto stopped and stood in the center of the hall, looking up at the Elf King on the throne.
They didn't see us. We just walked over.
Decem Hougan finally raised his head, his emerald green eyes looking at Higashino Makoto. There was no anger or fear in those eyes, only a pure, emotionless curiosity.
"Is it a magic or a tool for concealing one's presence? Interesting."
His gaze swept over Higashino Makoto, then landed on Ainz, then on Kurumi, and then on Narberal.
Finally, he saw Certain Death.
The corners of his mouth turned up slightly.