EP.180

The fate of the entire race is decreed as auspicious. Even if it means distorting the fate of the world.

It supplies mana to the entire country. Even if it leads to the devastation of the whole sea area.

It provides the most suitable climate at any time and place. Even if neighboring countries become colder and drier.

It acts solely for the eternal transformation of the Elves. All other effects are merely secondary. The Great Blessing of Milestone operates for only one proposition.

[They shall prosper forever.]

Therefore, paradoxically, Milestone cannot halt within its operational scope. The cessation of Milestone would hinder the prosperity of the Elves, so the Great Blessing will act to protect Milestone.

“Do you know when our race had a civil war?”

“A civil war… are you speaking of a civil war?”

“Yes. Like those humans or demons, a ‘real war’ among each other.”

“That… is the culture of barbaric tribes… We, we Elves don’t engage in such base acts—.”

“Is that really true? Do you mean it?”

The Queen chuckled.

“Is it rare for Elves to kill each other? Corporations devour each other, internal strife occasionally erupts, one side is driven out, executed, and exiled to be sunk in the middle of the ocean; isn’t it that rare? Poisoning each other, attempting assassinations—was that such an unusual occurrence?”

“Nevertheless, Your Majesty. That is—.”

“Despite such tremendous desires, we have never caused a ‘civil war.’ Even when there were ample events, reasons, and objectives to do so. Even when the authority of the king had fallen, and all nobles claimed to be the kings of their own lands!!”

At the Queen’s words, Hermon stiffened.

“That is an ‘act against prosperity’! For the sake of all Elves, a civil war must be avoided at all costs. The Great Blessing of Milestone did not allow any conflict to escalate into war.”

“W-What do you mean by that?”

“What if Milestone, that artifact, was casting a mind sorcery over our entire race?”

If it contradicts the proposition of prospering forever, even if it has to induce a change in mindset.

“So, if Milestone truly halted, wouldn’t that be based on Milestone’s judgment?”

Now, it is assessed that halting would be more beneficial for the Elves’ prosperity.

To test it.

“There is neither civil war nor conflict nor competition. Since we dominate the sea area, we control logistics, and as we lead trade, wealth accumulates even without effort. By defeating the magical beasts, we can share various benefits without having to conquer them.”

The queen continued speaking as if singing.

“Before that and after that, humans are too foolish. As long as the United Kingdom is maintained, Kalion can remain forever the most powerful nation.”

What is needed can be obtained as desired. No one tries to develop.

They merely dig up artifacts and technologies created by their distant ancestors.

This long lifespan and ample resources allow them to live leisurely in paradise.

“It’s stagnation.”

“Pardon…?”

“The Milestone has judged that the Elf society has now stagnated. Since the political situation has stabilized, Kalion is stagnant. Therefore, it can no longer prosper, and the reason is due to the blessing of the Milestone.”

The Milestone judged that it must be destroyed.

“However, that is merely an artifact! It lacks intellect or reason… We do not serve such a capricious god—”

“Have you truly created a real god with your own power?”

“…Yes, Your Majesty.”

“Has your master told me such? Do you know what he said afterward?”

Rejecting the capricious false gods, the elves truly created a great god.

A god that only loves elves and exists forever for elves.

“If a god truly loves his people, shouldn’t he seek self-determination?”

“What do you mean…?”

“No child can live forever under the care of their parents. For a sufficiently grown child, shouldn’t the parent step back?”

The queen smiled, recalling the most powerful wizard evaluated in this world.

*

If it is truly possible to stop the Milestone, it is because the Milestone intended it.

Make a decision for the entire ethnicity. If permitted, the god will act.

Do so.

You will be recorded as a tyrant who destroyed the artifacts of your ancestors, but the people of the queen will be eternally praised.

*

“Now, is the day of your death approaching, dear Astronomy Board?”

All parents eventually have to step back for their children.

*

“The Alchemy Faction tried to extinguish the Milestone and control magical beasts,”

Edelplat murmured quietly in the dark. The man who heard her turned his head.

This was right after he had killed half of his disciples. The great swordsman, who had severed half of the Swordsman Faction’s disciples with his own hands, was whispering while gazing up at the dark night sky.

“And the Life Faction developed a technique to create divine power using souls.”

The one remaining eye gleamed ominously.

“We, the unworthy disciples of the Swordsman Faction, have found a method to induce mental acceleration.”

“Master…?”

“All three of us have done that using the Milestone.”

Despite the concerned expressions of his disciples, Edel simply continued to gaze up at the sky in silence.

“I may lack knowledge and be ignorant of magic… but let’s assume my underwhelming kin were each researching such things.”

“Yes, Master.”

“Since they all have at least one talent, if you think about it, they must have diligently developed things only they could do—.”

Alchemy Faction, Life Faction, Swordsman Faction.

These three groups she confirmed had each developed their own techniques using the Milestone in their unique ways.

All of it could be seen as a kind of “essence of the techniques they could perform.”

And if all the Privy Council members… that is, if all the academic societies were attempting the same kind of technological development.

“The different academic societies protecting the Milestone have each created the essence of the technologies they could individually implement in their own methods.”

“…Yes…?”

“If all of that converges through the Milestone as a medium, doesn’t it remind you of something you’ve seen before?”

Edel is ignorant of magic. She had never even been interested in it. Her entire focus was solely limited to the art of the sword.

Thus, she cannot comprehend the principles of the Milestone, the workings of the Great Blessing, or the purposes of the research being conducted by the academic societies.

However, she was someone who had fought on the battlefield for many years. She was even someone who had stood before the Seven Dragon Lords, confronting them alone and surviving.

Thus, she instinctively realized now.

“The extreme of all possibilities that a race can achieve. The essence of racial evolution. The maximum capability of a race.”

When all those elements gathered together, and it began to act as a single form.

The United Kingdom referred to that existence as such.

The Seven Dragon Lords. Those who became gods while still alive.

And the most representative alias of the Milestone was ‘Our God, created by our own hands.’

“What on earth have you done, Veolgrin?”

The mana did not move. Neither nerve acceleration nor physical enhancement occurred.

She whispered bitterly, facing the increasingly harsh winter winds.

“What do you intend to accomplish by creating a god of elves who does not love elves?”

*

“Do you know the word Ku-Geor?”

“Is it in Elf language? I’m not sure.”

“It means winter hunting dog.”

Veolgrin looked at Maximilian and smiled.

“According to the old legends from when Kalion still had winter, they say that during the deep nights of winter, there was a hunting dog raised by winter. It was said that the souls of livestock that froze to death would be passed on to that hunting dog.”

“Ah, we have many similar folktales in our country. Isn’t it said that people mythologize beings they cannot confront? Like weather phenomena or natural disasters?”

“Yes, that’s right.”

Veolgrin quietly nodded.

“The difference in the Elf legends compared to other countries is that the hunting dog ultimately killed winter. It was believed that when winter was at its harshest, the starving hunting dog would end up consuming its own master before spring would finally arrive.”

“It seems elves are no different. They create folktales just like humans do.”

“Isn’t that how life is for everyone?”

Veolgrin concluded as he gazed at the tumultuous sea filled with snow and hail.

*

“Lieutenant Colonel!! Lieutenant Colonel!!”

“Call me Commander. Why?”

“It seems the Elves can’t use magic? This doesn’t look like just a slightly harsh winter.”

“Huh?”

In the diplomatic residence of Ydranhill, a man scratched his chin and tilted his head.

“Elves are naturally frail and tend to feel the cold a bit more. But in weather like this?”

“Haha, that’s right!”

As he looked at the laughing man, he took a moment to gather his thoughts and said.

“The fact that the Elves can’t use magic means… they can no longer cast mind sorcery either, right?”

“That seems likely?”

“If they can’t even do that, what can they do?”

“That’s right?”

“Wait a minute… then.”

A spy from the cold country stood up with shining eyes.

“It’s our world now?”

Krasilov’s four seasons consist of winter, hot winter, cold winter, and ridiculously cold winter.

This kind of weather was not much different from Krasilov’s warm late spring.

The thirty or so men present here—

“Shall we try to live as busy as possible before senior arrives?”

Were the last survivors of the Cleanup Unit.

They were the few survivors who returned alive after receiving orders to assassinate the remaining Seven Dragon Lords who the Hero had not managed to kill.

Among them, those who, after careful selection, pledged to remain loyal to the state until the end.

The founding members of the Counterintelligence Command. And that meant soon.

“I must witness our Majesty’s marriage. Listen up, everyone.”

Were the disciples of Lieutenant Colonel Ivan Petrovich.

All members of the first strike team under Dmitri, the Counterintelligence Command, lightly laughed and stood up.