Chapter 158: The Shifting Era (5)
Two days after the conversation with the Emperor, a message arrived from Barthez.
It was news that the grand elders of the elves and dwarves had gathered in the northern village of Altair.
Martin immediately headed toward the teleportation magic circle to travel to the destination.
Sien followed closely behind him.
“Isn’t this too dangerous, Martin?”
As they walked together, Sien broke the silence.
Thanks to Martin’s instruction that she didn’t need to maintain formality when they were alone, she was able to speak comfortably.
“What is?”
“The grand elders of the elf and dwarf villages are all 9th Circle mages. Seven of them are gathering, but only Grand Elder Barthez and Grand Elder Alexandre officially support you. If, by any chance, the others turn against you…”
Sien’s face was filled with unease as she spoke.
She knew all too well that in a battle among 9th Circle powerhouses, there was little she could do.
“Of course, I know you have the sacred sword, Clariel, but still…”
“I understand your concerns, Sien. To be honest, I would have felt uneasy going alone as well. But with two people supporting me, there’s nothing to worry about. Even if winning would be hard, I could at least buy enough time to escape.”
Few individuals could capture someone like Martin, who could teleport at will.
Even if faced with a 10th Circle master, he was confident he could escape if there was enough distance between them.
The possibility of anyone below that level stopping his retreat was essentially nonexistent.
That’s why he could head to Altair Forest with ease.
Hearing his explanation, Sien finally felt reassured and continued walking beside him.
It wasn’t long before the two stepped onto the teleportation magic circle.
Vwoom.
As a brilliant light rose from the circle, the space around them distorted.
Simultaneously, both felt a strong sensation of being pulled elsewhere.
Soon, the pressure that had been crushing their bodies disappeared, and Martin and Sien opened their eyes.
That was when it happened.
Thud.
Someone ran forward and threw themselves into Sien’s arms.
Naturally startled, Sien quickly realized who it was.
“Solenne?”
“…”
Even when Sien called her name, Solenne didn’t respond.
She simply buried her face in Sien’s embrace.
Realizing how Solenne must have felt, Sien gently moved her arms to hug her tightly in return.
Martin, on the other hand, looked visibly uncomfortable.
‘Of all days, I didn’t want to see her today.’
It was because of the topic of the upcoming meeting.
For Solenne, it would be nothing short of a tragedy.
While Martin was grappling with his discomfort, about five minutes passed, and Solenne finally released herself from Sien’s embrace.
Then, she bowed her head toward Martin.
“…My apologies, Lord Patriarch. I’ve shown you an unsightly side of myself.”
“When we’re together like this, there’s no need for formality. That’s what friends are for, isn’t it?”
“Fufu. Even after becoming the patriarch, you haven’t changed one bit.”
“It wouldn’t do to become a different person just because of a higher position.”
Martin answered in a relaxed tone.
Hearing his response, Solenne’s faint smile deepened.
Then she turned to Sien.
“I’m sorry, Sien. I must have startled you as soon as you arrived.”
“Why would friends apologize for something like that? But are you getting enough rest? Your complexion is terrible—far worse than it should be. I know you’ve been going through a lot, but it’s precisely in times like this that you need to rest more.”
“Rest, you say… How could I possibly rest? My friends worked so hard to lay the groundwork for the three races to advance toward a brighter future, and my family is ruining it all.”
“Which is why you need to rest even more. If your family is in the wrong, you need to be even stronger to make up for it.”
“My goodness. You and Martin are both so good with words.”
“We’ve spent enough time together for that to happen.”
“It’s truly a blessing to have such good friends.”
Solenne wiped her tears with the sleeve of her right arm.
Her expression was noticeably better compared to when they first met.
“Now then, both of you, follow me.”
With those words, Solenne began leading the way.
Martin and Sien followed her, observing the village as they went.
There were notably more elves compared to the last visit, and the number of dwarves was also substantial.
“It’s Lord Adalbert!”
“Congratulations on becoming the patriarch!”
“Already a 9th Circle? Incredible!”
The elves who recognized Martin raised their voices in greeting from all directions.
All of them showed welcoming attitudes, and none displayed any hostility.
“At least there’s no one to criticize me. That’s a relief.”
“You don’t have to worry about that, Martin. Whether they’re moderates or hardliners, both the elves and dwarves respect you. Especially among the elves, it’s safe to say that all of our people view you favorably.”
“It feels like my efforts are finally paying off.”
“That’s one way to look at it. Ah, here we are.”
Solenne stopped in front of the largest tree.
A massive hollow had been carved into its trunk, and an overwhelming aura emanated from within.
It was the result of seven 9th Circle powerhouses gathering.
“Sien, you’ll need to stay out here and wait.”
“Got it. Take care, Martin.”
“Will do.”
After responding to Sien, Martin was about to enter.
However, just before stepping inside, he turned to face Solenne and locked eyes with her.
“Solenne, as your friend, I’ll be honest with you. What I’m about to do will deeply wound you. It may even turn me into your lifelong enemy.”
Martin’s tone was calm but resolute.
His intention was to spare the moderates in any way possible. However, the hardliners among the allied forces of the other races would have to be excluded for the sake of the future—even if the opponent was the father of a friend.
Hearing this, Solenne’s expression darkened.
Sien placed a comforting arm around her shoulder but said nothing further, knowing full well that no words could truly console her in this situation.
“I’m truly sorry—not just to you but to all the elves and dwarves. Humans have wronged your kind countless times, and we’ve almost never taken responsibility for it. But to reject dialogue and demand extermination just because you’ve shown anger… I don’t believe that’s right.”
Martin spoke with calm determination.
Solenne remained silent, attentively listening to his words.
“But as the patriarch, I can’t afford to leave room for criticism. If I make a single misstep, not only will my family’s main house fall, but everything I’ve worked for will be destroyed. To ensure a brighter future, I must stain my hands with blood this time. Even if you consider me your enemy for the rest of your life, I won’t hold it against you.”
“Phew. How could I ever think of you as an enemy? You and Sien saved me from the depths of hell. Besides, as the patriarch, you have so much to bear. I can’t fault you for fighting for what’s precious to you. But if I may ask for something…”
“Go ahead. I’ll listen to whatever you have to say.”
“Please… grant my kin and the dwarves you fight the most painless deaths you can. And deliver my final words to my father.”
She relayed the words she couldn’t say to her father when they last parted. Martin nodded solemnly.
“Then I’ll be going now.”
With those final words, Martin turned and entered the meeting.
‘I didn’t expect all the grand elders to be present.’
Martin was slightly surprised but quickly nodded to himself.
It was a testament to how critical this situation was for the elves and dwarves.
‘I need to handle this carefully.’
Since his goal was to establish a new empire, it was crucial to foster good relations not just in the north but with grand elders from other regions as well.
That said, he had no intention of ceding control of the conversation to them.
“Welcome, Patriarch. I apologize for not offering a proper reception for a guest of the village.”
“That can wait, Grand Elder Barthez. I believe there’s a more pressing matter to address first. Let’s focus on resolving that.”
Swoosh.
After a brief exchange with Barthez, Martin took a moment to glance around.
The elven grand elders exuded an air of wisdom, much like Barthez, while the dwarven grand elders had a rough and robust demeanor, akin to Alexandre.
Each of them bore an aura befitting their positions of power.
Nonetheless, Martin confidently continued to speak.
“As the patriarch, I believe it’s appropriate to speak plainly. However, I also wish to maintain respect, as all of you have lived far longer than I.”
Apart from Barthez and Alexandre, the other grand elders nodded in approval.
But their satisfaction didn’t last long.
“I am Martin von Adalbert, the new patriarch of the Adalbert family, as you are all aware. You must have heard from Grand Elder Barthez why I am here today. I’ve come to deliver the Emperor’s decree. His Majesty’s intent is clear: the complete annihilation of the allied forces of other races. He desires no survivors.”
“What?!”
“That’s outrageous! It was the 1st Prince’s faction that started this conflict! Why refuse dialogue entirely?”
The grand elders from other regions were visibly agitated.
The war’s cause undeniably lay with the 1st Prince’s faction, yet here was the Emperor brazenly expressing anger toward the allied forces of other races.
“I share your views. That’s why I requested to mediate between both sides, but His Majesty rejected the idea.”
“Hah…”
“A so-called Emperor driven by personal emotions… what a disgrace.”
“Be that as it may, His Majesty has issued his orders, and I have accepted them. I cannot give anyone grounds to label me a traitor, so I will see this mission through to the end.”
Both the Emperor and the 1st Prince viewed Martin with suspicion.
Until he became a 10th Circle master, he had no choice but to tread carefully.
“You must make a decision here today. Will you stand with us, like the village of Altair, or will you oppose me and the Adalbert family? I swear upon my family’s name that anyone who chooses to leave now will not be stopped.”
Despite Martin’s words, no one rose from their seats.
They all knew that defeating Martin would not be the end. The possibility was slim, but if Karl von Ferdinand got involved, everything would be over.
Given Karl’s personality, those who joined the allied forces of other races—and even those who avoided the fight—would all face bloodshed.
Knowing this, who could possibly take such a risk?
“Seeing no one joining the allied forces of other races, I’ll take it as settled. If anyone does join them later, they will be deemed traitors and face the consequences.”
Martin’s statement was a blatant threat, causing the grand elders’ brows to twitch.
However, his next words left them even more astonished.
“That concludes His Majesty’s decree. Now, let’s discuss a new future.”
“A new future? What do you mean by that?”
Alexandre broke the silence, despite already knowing Martin’s intentions. He was playing the role of a prompter.
“I no longer believe the Altaria Empire has a future. Therefore, I’d like to hear your thoughts on what a new nation should look like.”
A new nation.
None of those present were dull enough to misunderstand Martin’s implication.
And the audacity with which he spoke left them all awestruck.