Importantly, the Elf King has become less tyrannical, and the war is truly over.
Right now, stability is the most important thing.
The "Elf King" walked out of the council hall and headed down the corridor into the depths of the palace.
Ancient runes were carved on the walls on both sides of the corridor, shimmering softly under the illumination of the magic lamps.
Every few steps, an Elf Kingdom guard stood watch, and when they saw the "Elf King" pass by, they all lowered their heads.
It walked to the end of the corridor, pushed open a heavy wooden door, and entered a small room.
The room contains a bed, a table, a chair, and a bookshelf.
There were no books on the bookshelf, only a few simple decorative items.
The portrait depicts a young female Elf Kingdom with long golden hair, emerald green eyes, and a gentle, bright smile.
The "Elf King" looked at the portrait and remained silent for a moment.
Then it went to the table, sat down, and took out a blank parchment and a quill pen from the drawer.
It began to write a letter.
Recipient: Higashino Makoto.
Content: Mission in progress. The dissolution of the harem is progressing smoothly, and the frontline troops are withdrawing. Although the senior officials have doubts, no one has openly opposed it.
Just as the adults had guessed, no one questioned it, even though his subordinates were completely different from the Elf King except for their appearance.
Novas Etier lives on!
After finishing writing, it folded the letter, put it in an envelope, and sealed it with magic.
The mark above is Black Cross.
"Someone come here."
The door was pushed open, and a young Elf Kingdom guard walked in and knelt on one knee.
"His Majesty."
"Deliver this letter to --"
The "Elf King" paused.
"Deliver it to the border of the Slane Theocracy. Hand it over to a woman named 'Kurumi.' She has black twin tails, red eyes, and a black cat by her side."
The young Elf Kingdom guard was taken aback.
"The borders of the Slane Theocracy? Your Majesty, that is—"
"I know."
The "Elf King" interrupted him.
"Go ahead. People will help you along the way; there won't be any obstacles."
The young Elf Kingdom guard hesitated for a moment, then lowered his head.
"Yes, sir."
He took the letter, stood up, and left the room.
The door closed.
The "Elf King" leaned back in his chair, staring at the ceiling.
"Hopefully a new king will be elected soon."
It whispered.
"Higashino Makoto's orders must be carried out."
A small village on the border of the Elf Kingdom.
The war is over.
It is not a temporary ceasefire, nor a fragile truce.
It is a true, complete Peace where no one is fighting anymore.
The news came yesterday. An Elf Kingdom warrior on horseback came from the direction of the Royal Capital, stopped at the well at the village entrance, and announced it loudly.
"His Majesty has ordered the war to end! All troops to withdraw! No more fighting!"
The villagers were silent at first, then erupted in deafening cheers.
Some cried. Some laughed. Some knelt on the ground, thanking the forest god for his protection. Some held their children tightly, as if afraid they would be conscripted at any moment.
Elph stood at the village entrance, watching all of this.
Her sister, Lia, stood beside her, her pointed ears trembling slightly, tears glistening in her green eyes.
"Sister... is it really over?"
Lia's voice was so soft that it was almost carried away by the wind.
Elph did not answer.
She simply watched the cheering villagers, the weeping mothers, the silent fathers, and the children who didn't quite understand what was happening but laughed along with the adults.
"It's over."
She finally spoke, her voice hoarse.
"It's really over."
Lia's tears finally welled up.
She threw herself into her sister's arms and cried like a child.
Although she was originally a child, in the lifespan scale of the Elf Kingdom, being over a hundred years old is indeed still considered youth.
Elph hugged her younger sister and gently patted her back.
"It's alright now."
She said.
"It's alright. We're going home. There's no more fighting."
Lia cried in her arms, cried and cried, until she was exhausted and fell asleep.
Elph, holding her younger sister, stood at the village entrance, gazing in the direction of the Royal Capital.
"Mr. Higashino..."
She murmured the name softly, her eyes filled with gratitude.
"Thank you."
The wind blew through the forest, and the leaves rustled, as if in response to her.
In the distance, the giant trees of the Royal Capital shimmered with golden light under the sunlight.
That tree was once a symbol of fear.
But now, it's just a tree.
Slane Theocracy, the Divine Capital.
Certain Death stood on the top floor of the temple headquarters, gazing at the distant skyline through the window.
Cardinal Raymond Zarg stood behind her, his hands behind his back, his gray eyes also gazing into the distance.
"Any news from the Elf Kingdom?"
Raymond Zarg asked.
"The Elf King's harem has been disbanded. Frontline troops are withdrawing."
The tone of "Certain Death" was flat.
"That 'Elf King'... no, the Doppelganger is pretty good."
"Doppelganger?"
Raymond Zarg repeated the word in a low voice.
"He said that the monster that can freely disguise itself as other people is called by this name."
"That person even has something like this."
He felt a chill run down his spine. This kind of monster, capable of disguising itself as someone else, was a hundred times more ferocious than the legendary Death Knight!
Given the enemy's military strength, coupled with this kind of monster, if it were used to deal with the Slane Theocracy...
The consequences would be unimaginable.
He has everything.
Certain Death turned around, leaned against the window frame, and looked at the Cardinal with his heterochromatic black and white eyes.
"Power, tools, information, women. Even monsters disguised as others."
Raymond Zarg remained silent for a moment.
"Therefore, our decision was correct."
What decision?
"Do not make him your enemy."
There was no reply from Certain Death.
She simply turned her head and looked out the window again.
In the distance, smoke is billowing from the chimney of Nazel Bakery.
That was the signal for the first batch of egg pancakes in the afternoon.
"Cardinal."
"Um."
The egg pancakes are ready.
Raymond Zarg paused for a moment, then chuckled softly.
"Go ahead. Bring me two pieces."
Didn't you say you didn't like sweets?
"As you get older, your tastes change."
Certain Death didn't say anything more. She turned around and walked towards the door.
He took a few steps, then stopped without looking back.
"Cardinal."
"Um."
"The Slane Theocracy, are you really not going to war with the Elf Kingdom?"
Raymond Zarg was silent for a moment.
"Won't."
He finally said.
"At least, not while I'm alive."
Certain Death nodded, pushed open the door, and walked out.
The sound of the door closing echoed in the empty room.
Raymond Zarg stood alone by the window, gazing at the distant horizon.
The direction of the Elf Kingdom.
That land, which was ravaged by war for over a century, is slowly, little by little, returning to peace.
"The Six Great Gods..."
He said in a low voice.
"If you are watching from heaven, please bless that person, bless him so that he does not become an enemy. Bless him so that he can bring true Peace."
No one answered.
Only the wind slipped in through the cracks in the window, rustling the documents on the table.
Certain Death walked down the streets of the Divine Capital in simple casual clothes.
She walked to the door of Nazel Bakery and pushed it open.
"Aunt Nazel, three egg pancakes."
The old woman peeked out from behind the counter, saw her, and gave her a kind smile.
Three pieces? Why three pieces today?
"One piece for the Cardinal, and one for me."
"Where's the last one?"
Certain Death remained silent for a moment.
"For someone who isn't here."
The old woman looked at her for two seconds, then smiled.
"Okay, three pieces."
She took three pancakes out of the oven, wrapped them in a paper bag, and handed them to her.
Certain Death took the paper bag and put a gold coin on the counter from his pocket.
"Keep the change, please."
"You're always like this, child."
The old woman shook her head, but did not refuse.
Certain Death turned around, walked out of the shop, and sat down on the steps.
She took out a piece of egg pancake and took a bite.
Chewed it.
Swallow it.
Then he stared blankly into the distance.
Higashino Makoto.
She murmured the name.
"You said you would come back."
She paused.
"I'm waiting for you."
Sunlight shone on her, casting her shadow on the stone slab, solitary and slender.
But a faint smile lingered at the corners of her lips.
I'm hoping that person will come back.
Looking forward to the three of us eating egg pancakes together.
I'm looking forward to that feeling of "someone waiting for me to come home and eat egg pancakes".
She took a bite of the egg pancake.
The sweetness melts on the tip of the tongue.
Mmm, it's sweeter than yesterday.
Maybe it's because there are three today.