Chapter 151 |
“Recently, as in about six months ago, did you not ignite a fire in a forest where the Apfros nest was?”
“…Huh?”
Raciel unintentionally replied. The elf woman’s eyes turned icy.
“Exactly. The leader of the arsonist gang. Lieutenant Rihan.”
“…”
It’s true. He has no intention of denying it. But that wasn’t a recent event. Therefore,
“This feels quite unfair.”
“Unfair?”
The elf woman’s eyebrows furrowed.
“It’s true that I set fire to the forest. But you’re portraying me as a wicked person with your clever rhetoric.”
“A wicked person? Me? You?”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
“You questioned me with a knife to my throat from the beginning, asking if I had set fire to the forest ‘recently.'”
“That’s correct.”
“So, I thought. Arson? Did I recently do such a thing? But I should at least remember it if I did, especially if it was ‘recently.'”
Raciel calmly interrogated.
How did this elf woman infiltrate the heavily guarded Second Prince’s palace without being detected? She must be a master of stealth techniques.
But he wasn’t afraid. The reason was simple. From the moment he first saw the elf woman’s eyes, he sensed that a friendly conversation was possible.
‘If she truly wanted to harm me, she would have attacked me immediately.’
He remembered once again. He is the crown prince of the empire. Anyone attempting to assassinate him wouldn’t engage in a conversation. They would simply accomplish their mission and escape.
‘Furthermore, in the novel Devil Sword Emperor, it was stated that elves… never interfere in human politics.’
So, there’s no reason for her to harm him. This means the elf woman wants something from him.
This gave him confidence.
He confidently questioned the woman. The impact was quite assertive.
“So what now? Are you trying to engage in wordplay with me? You committed arson recently. Six months ago.”
“Yes. I didn’t think you would consider an event from half a year ago to be ‘recent.'”
“Why isn’t that recent?”
“Why is it recent?”
“It’s recent because it is.”
“Then, why did you come to inquire about it as if it’s old news only now, after half a year?”
“I took some time to contemplate how to approach you.”
“…”
“…”
Their gazes clashed in the empty air. Raciel realized that this elf’s perception of time seemed to be quite different from that of humans.
“So, let’s first remove the knife from my neck and converse.”
“Why?”
“Didn’t you come because you have something to say?”
“…”
“Threatening with a knife isn’t the best way to make a request. Unless it’s a robbery.”
“I might rob you.”
“State your demand first.”
“I want compensation.”
“For setting fire to the forest?”
“Clearly.”
Did she recall the incident then? The elf woman’s eyes became fierce once more.
“It was a beautiful forest. Numerous plants thrived, each with its own unique song. But you, a young human, set it ablaze. Without anyone’s permission or understanding, you heartlessly burned innocent plants.”
“Yes, I apologize. I have no excuse.”
Raciel openly admitted his guilt. In reality, there was no excuse. He had set the forest ablaze to fend off the giant wasp Vesparos, but arson remained arson.
Furthermore, he recollected the characteristics of the elves in this world as described in the novel Devil Sword Emperor.
‘…Extremely passionate plant lovers.’
That was the most striking trait of the elves in this world. They adored plants. It wasn’t just fondness or affection; it was an obsession to the point of pampering a ragweed thirty times over.
‘To what extent? To the extent that they wouldn’t even consume plants.’
The elves in this world were not vegetarians at all. They refrained from eating fruits as well. Their diet consisted solely of meat, all in the name of safeguarding plants. Their garments were crafted entirely from animal hides and sinews, even their bows and arrows were fashioned from animal bones, sinews, and obsidian.
‘Even the women were the ones who ventured out of the village for hunting. Why? Because their lighter bodies caused less harm to the grass when traversing the forest.’
In simple terms, they were fervent advocates of plant life.
The ultimate carnivorous conservationists.
That was the reality of the elves.
Yet, just like that, a zealous plant-loving elf had come to hold him accountable for setting fire to the forest. He had been apprehended, so to speak. Therefore, denying responsibility would only stoke greater anger.
“So, I am willing to offer you suitable compensation. Just let me know.”
Raciel adopted a businesslike demeanor. Acknowledge what needed acknowledgment and provide adequate compensation. He was confident in his ability to handle any compensation as the crown prince. He wielded immense authority and had also amassed considerable wealth from the Minotaur-bile Clear Heart Pill.
But the elf woman’s response was astonishing.
“Go to the forest yourself and restore it.”
“Pardon?”
“Didn’t you hear me? Go to the forest you burned and plant new trees and grass.”
“…Are you perhaps an ambassador for Arbor Day?”
“Arbor Day? What’s that?”
“Never mind, it’s not important. Are you suggesting that I should personally go there and plant trees and grass?”
“Yes.”
“How many trees should I plant?”
“Restore it to its pre-fire condition.”
“So, if I simply plant that many, it’s sufficient?”
“No.”
The elf woman shook her head resolutely and made an even more startling statement.
“The trees and grass that are planted must be carefully nurtured until they grow to resemble their previous state. That’s true restoration, isn’t it?”
“Hold on.”
Listening to this, a strange sensation crept up Raciel’s spine. He suppressed a looming headache and inquired,
“So, to sum it up, you’re proposing that I should live as a forest caretaker, planting and nurturing trees and grass until the forest is fully restored?”
“Exactly.”
“Do you realize that it would take at least 10, if not 20, years to completely restore a forest after a wildfire?”
“Of course.”
“…”
“20 years isn’t such a long time, is it?”
“…”
Unbelievable!
Raciel inwardly exclaimed. It didn’t make sense. Twenty years would consume nearly 30% of an average human’s life.
‘I mean, I haven’t committed some heinous crime deserving a 20-year sentence!’
He was even more baffled by the elf’s nonchalant attitude towards such a substantial amount of time. He barely restrained his mental state, which was nearing the point of despair.
“Wait, are you kidding me right now?”
“Kidding? Me? Why?”
“Because for your race, which can live for thousands of years, 20 years might not be much. But for me, 20 years is a significant portion of my life.”
“In that case?”
“Can’t we find another way to make amends?”
“Like what?”
“I will cover all the expenses required for the forest’s restoration.”
“Money?”
“Yes.”
“Don’t make me laugh. A few shiny coins hold no value for us elves.”
“It won’t be just a few.”
“What?”
“It will be several crates.”
“…”
“If you want, I can provide even more.”
“…”
She hesitated.
For a brief moment, the elf woman’s eyes wavered!
‘I’ve got it!’
He was certain.
No matter how noble the forest elves may be, in the face of gold coins, they had to be on equal terms. Because the idea that money had no value was all a facade.
‘Of course. Who in the world doesn’t need money?’
Just look at the elf woman before him. Did she spend every day camping out while traveling from the elf village to here? Did she sustain herself by catching rats and sparrows in back alleys?
No, that was highly unlikely. It was impossible. If she had traveled all this way without any resources, her hair, reminiscent of a hair treatment commercial, and her well-kept attire wouldn’t make sense.
Hopeful of convincing her, Raciel spoke quickly.
“So, how much would it be?”
“…”
“I can offer a significant workforce for the forest restoration.”
“…”
“Wouldn’t that be more convenient for both of us?”
“…”
The Elf woman’s gaze delved into contemplation. The dagger that had once been aimed at his neck had silently been lowered. Likely because she found his argument reasonably compelling.
Sensing the favorable atmosphere, Raciel pressed on.
“Think about it rationally. I’m already filled with remorse. I acknowledge the wrong I’ve committed in destroying this precious forest. So, I want to make the most efficient and effective compensation. What’s the point if I alone struggle for 20 years to revive the forest?”
“…”
“Instead, invest some money, hire more people for maintenance. Then the forest would regenerate much sooner, become healthier, and everyone would be happy. Birds would sing in the clear air, oxygen would fill the atmosphere, it would combat global warming – we’d all rally for ‘Greenpeace,’ you know. Wouldn’t that satisfy everyone?”
“…”
“Consider it.”
He was making progress. He was close. Raciel subtly posed his persuasive question.
The Elf woman’s gaze wavered even further.
She pondered, ‘…What’s this human?’
She was perplexed.
She hadn’t anticipated this response. She had expected him to either strictly adhere to her demands due to the gravity of his offense or flatly reject them. It was either one or the other.
But it wasn’t. He offered a substantial sum of money for compensation, claiming it would satisfy everyone.
‘…’
It sounded far-fetched, but she couldn’t easily refute it. Struggling to gather her mixed emotions, she spoke.
“I understand your point. However…”
“You’re hesitating, aren’t you?”
“…”
“Yes, I am.”
“How about ‘pausing’ to think about it?”
“Pause to think?”
“Yes.”
Raciel nodded discreetly.
“It’s a crucial decision and negotiation, isn’t it? Deciding hastily would be strange, don’t you think? So why not take a moment to ponder, consider various perspectives, and then we can continue our conversation?”
“…”
It made sense.
Caught in Raciel’s rhythm, the Elf woman found herself nodding almost as if enchanted.
“Fine. I’ll pause and think about it, then return.”
“You’ve made a wise choice.”
“Yes. I’ll be back soon, so wait for me.”
“Of course, take your time.”
Raciel bid her farewell casually.
The Elf woman disappeared in an instant.
Whoosh…!
Did she vanish into the wind? Or did she meld into the shadows? He couldn’t discern. What he did know was…
‘Mission accomplished.’
A sly grin formed on Raciel’s lips. He didn’t waste a second before heading back to the banquet hall. The Elf’s ‘pause’ would likely be at least half a day.
‘So now, should I prepare as well?’
An unexpected appearance by an Elf woman demanding substantial compensation had initially shocked him. However, upon reflection, it wasn’t an insurmountable situation.
‘So I should assess my options.’
Finding a way to turn this incident into a profit. He was confident he could come up with one. He had plenty of time to think and weigh his choices. A night would be more than sufficient.
His cerebral cortex shifted into high gear.
(To be Continued)
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