Jade-colored eyes stared at me from the darkness of the wagon.

“Eldis cobalto? Wea dieforeoalta…” (An Elder Kobold? What’s it doing away from the woods?)

“… Kuarukua garuoua.” [… I don’t understand Elvish.]

For the most part, I have not seen any Elves in the Desert Country in my previous life.

The Elf girl and I looked at each other in silence.

……………

………

…

Now, let me tell you a bit about the history of Elves.

In the part of the Ancient Forest that stretches across the southern part of Easteria Forest, you will find the Elves Country that is called the “Grove of the Village Shrine”. 

The Elves grew the World Tree and expanded their territory by planting its seeds, causing friction with the humans… Eventually, the Humans cut the tree they had planted, and this led to the Forest Garden War between the Elves and the Philland Republic.

Today, the Elves outside of the “Grove of the Village Shrine” were those who were taken as prisoners 600 years ago, and even after the ending war agreement,  a small number of them were never able to return.

Most of them saw an opening after a long while and ran away, or died for one reason or another, and now only their children, the half-elves, remain.

Additionally, the “Grove of the Village Shrine” as seen by the Great Sage Morozof and the Philland bureaucrats who drafted the end-of-war agreement, was a dystopia, where its citizens were clearly distinguished by the color of their skin.

At the top were the beautiful white-skinned, White Elves with silver-blonde hair and jade green eyes, followed by the pale-skinned, Bronze Elves with indigo hair and golden eyes who are dexterous and skilled in iron-making.

Lastly, the main forces of the Elven race during the Forest Garden War were the most bloodied, wheat-skinned, silver-haired, and blue-eyed Black Elves.

The Bronze and Black Elves were restricted to certain occupations and were not allowed to hold government office or serve as custodians of the World Tree. They are also restricted to their residential areas and are not allowed to marry into other clans. Furthermore, their taxes were heavier than those of the White Elves.

“Why do you just accept these circumstances?”

When the Great Sage asked the Chief of the Black Elves back then, he answered…

“… Because it is the natural order of things; this is all in accordance with the World Tree’s guidance.”

That was the reply that he got. It was said that only the White Elves were the ones who could sprout and communicate with the World Tree that was necessary for their survival. 

However, the exchange that happened between the Great Sage Morozof, who headed the diplomatic mission, and the Elven Clans that had lasted for only about two months gradually made them aware of their current situation. 

The awareness started with the Bronze and Black Elves, and perhaps because of the Elves’ long lifespan, it gradually spread to the White Elves who were in the ruling class.

And so the wave of change started and it accelerated with the ascension of the new Queen 80 years ago leading to the current era… along with its many problems.

“My Queen… the bill allowing non-White Elves to sit in the Central Assembly has been rejected.”

“… Was it too premature, perhaps?”

Queen Alistair cast down her beautiful jade green eyes and let out a sigh as she received the report from Prime Minister Delphys that the bill she proposed to allow the Bronze and Black Elves to join the Central Assembly was turned down.

“Forgive me, My Queen… but it seems your views were too radical. Would it be possible for you to reconsider?”

The Prime Minister,  who is a conservative who defends the traditional strict distinction and who also serves as a negotiator with the reformers at the same time, finds it impossible to unite the views of both parties.

“Delphys, do differences in skin color matter that much?”

“… It is just as important as the history that we have built up to now.”

His response was the same as always. At that time, the Queen saw a Guard hurriedly running into the Audience Hall.

“What is going on? Speak.”

“Forgive me for the intrusion, Your Excellency! But the Central Parliament is under attack from the radicals advocating reform and liberation! There have already been casualties within the conservative senators!”

Alistair’s expression clouded over further as she received the report. If she had to guess, then it was probably a protest in response to the rejection of the bill to give up seats to the members of the Bronze and Black Elf clans.

“Why would something like this happen so soon…?”

“Your Majesty, these so-called reformers are clamoring for equality and liberty but take up arms against their own brethren… It is alright to capture these extremists, isn’t it?

“…Yes.”

If they allowed the status quo to be changed through violence, then she cannot rule the country, and she can no longer defend these people who have taken up arms and killed their own brethren.

Thus, the attack on the Central Parliament which involved the other clans and resulted in the deaths of a large number of conservative legislators triggered another incident.

And that… is the assassination of the Queen who supported the reformists.

……………

………

…

“Delphys, is it up ahead? For them to be lurking around here…”

As the mild afternoon sunshine filtered through the trees, Alistair made her way through the woods with a small number of guards. She was enjoying her after-meal when she received an urgent report from Prime Minister Delphys.

It seemed that the Conservatives who were victims in the recent attack on the Central Parliament which left many casualties were hiding and plotting a retaliatory attack against the reformers… Since Delphys was also a Conservative, his report was highly credible.

If the Prime Minister says that the Queen is the only one who can stop them, then she cannot ignore it. After all, she does not want blood to be shed meaninglessly again. 

(But it’s strange… Goblins have been appearing here recently, so I wonder why they would hide in such an area of the forest that is outside the bounds of the city and the settlements… No, rather than that, I have to stop them first!)

In other words, Delphys was plotting to claim the murder of the Queen as the work of Goblins.

And so, the Queen hurriedly proceeded into the depths of the forest without knowing about the imminent threat to her life…