Martial Elf

Pohelrn was as lively as ever.

Wherever you went, inns and eateries were bustling with merchants, hunters, and city citizens, and the wide roads were filled with carts carrying golden wheat and barley ready for harvest in the autumn, passing through the gates and heading to the warehouses.

However, the difference from three years ago was that everyone traveling to and from Pohelrn was wearing a necklace around their necks.

Regardless of their status or wealth, from gold and silver to copper and crafted stones or wood.

The materials were varied, but at the end of each necklace hung a symbol shaped like a wooden form, intersecting horizontally and vertically.

It had always been the most widely practiced religion among humans in all of Pohelrnian, but now it was a religion that almost everyone believed in.

“I was really wondering what was going on, but everything seems… oddly normal.”

The young leatherworker said as he blankly gazed out the window at the bustling people.

“Does that mean everyone would have been begging for food on the streets? The world is meant to flow smoothly.”

Deadol, the head of the leatherworking guild, quietly scolded the foolish young worker who was assisting him, while recording the quantity of fresh hides that had come into the guild today on a sheet of Elven Road paper.

At Deadol’s words, which always seemed strict, the young worker pouted, recalling the memory from three years ago in spring.

It had been a sudden event.

As always lively, the cold weather had become a bit warmer, and those looking for odd jobs prepared to assist in the harvest of spring barley and wheat that was soon to come.

When he looked up at the sky, a colossal giant, whose face could hardly be seen, appeared in Pohelrn.

This giant, rising like a pillar supporting the sky in the wide plains, was so massive that it was visible anywhere within the city.

As the giant cast its shadow over half the city, it introduced itself as Babel Terato and demanded the city of Pohelrn’s submission.

Faced with the emergence of a monster beyond common sense and recognition, everyone despaired and bowed their heads, cursing the fate of the weak.

Then, a miracle occurred.

Our great mother god El Prigion.

The golden beast Gal Dragon, raised by the father god.

And the goddess Araya, his daughter.

Three transcendent beings stood to confront Terato.

And the battle was so fierce that it changed the surrounding environment of Pohelrn.

Of course, from the viewpoint within the city, all that was seen was flashes and chaos.

However, even amidst such a colossal battle, the greatest human capital Pohelrn remained mostly intact, with only a few parts of the city wall shattered.

Ah, of course, the barley and wheat outside all burned away, leading to a great turmoil for some time due to the scarcity of barley and wheat.

Now, no one doubted that that great miracle had the blessing of the gods.

Originally, the young worker might not have known, but the older residents and nobles in Pohelrn were not sincerely believing in this new faith.

His Majesty Priegoss, the great leader of humanity, met the great goddess Araya, daughter of the great gods wandering the world seeking evil, and received great wisdom, beginning to serve those gods.

However, unlike the 72 wicked and crude demons scattered across the world at that time, the great gods were such colossal beings that they never revealed themselves to humans.

Because of that trivial reason, the irreverent disbelievers could not trust in the love and blessings of the great gods, claiming they could not see them with their own eyes.

But when humans reached a crisis, those who couldn’t believe in their existence descended upon this land, saving them from peril and bestowing love, even within a place full of irreverent disbelievers.

In that moment, the foolish ones who adorned their eyes and heads with a mantra began to believe that the gods existed, watching over and protecting them from the unseen.

“Of course, I believed from the very beginning! I’m different from those fickle humans!”

The young worker took great pride in saying he had faith from the start.

“…I want to join the Paladin Order…”

The young worker murmured, inflating his fantasies in his mind.

The great battle that culled the fate of humanity, or rather all of mankind, was not illuminated by the transcendents alone.

The army blessed by His Majesty Priegoss and the gods.

When the giants broke through the city walls and rampaged, killing people, light descended from the sky.

In fact, all humans present in Pohelrn at that time received a baptism of the sacred light that filled the entire city.

And amidst that great baptism of light, His Majesty Priegoss, empowered with superhuman strength, and the blessed army, along with the great elves from the forest, slaughtered the giants.

When the battle ended, most soldiers lost that strength, but the paladins and the faithful retained it.

It was said to be a power granted only to those approved by the gods, and from a distance, it truly appeared to be a magnificent strength.

If the young worker had such power, he would hunt down all the villains roaming the world.

…Of course, for now, he merely dealt with leather.

“There must be thousands of kids like you having such thoughts in this city. Don’t be absurd.”

“Eek! My hands are so fast you can’t even see them!”

“Well, that’s a relief. It seems you might get things done quickly.”

“…! If I join the Martial Arts Festival!”

“If you don’t urinate yourself there, that would be good. But at least it is fortunate that you’re a tanner. You can use your pee more effectively than others.”

As Deadol teased with a smirk, the young worker grew silent and turned beet red.

Deadol, seeing him, chuckled.

“Anyway, the conditions for selecting paladins have changed a bit now.”

“…! How so?”

“A very faithful and devout believer will receive a prophecy where a beautiful winged woman will come to him in a dream, telling him to go to the Grand Temple. While bearing this mark somewhere on the body.”

Deadol pointed to the symbol on his necklace.

“! Then one day, I will receive a prophecy too!”

“What a curious situation it is. The gods needing to use someone like you.”

“But don’t worry. Even if I become a great paladin, I won’t disrespect you, guildmaster.”

“…That brat.”

Deadol let out a chuckle looking at the bright smile of the young worker.

Yes, it’s good for children to be innocent.

The innocence of children means the surroundings are peaceful enough for them to retain that purity.

“Ah…! It’s a theater troupe! They’re surely going to perform about the giants, transcendents, and the king of humans!”

Seeing a troupe passing by, the young worker exclaimed, as if he wanted everyone to hear him, causing Deadol to laugh lightly.

“If this is over, I’ll give you a bit of free time.”

“Whew!”

Upon hearing that, the young worker hurriedly started to find his place and focus.

And through the window that couldn’t be closed in time, he saw humans, brimming with life and confidence on their faces, moving around freely, who he thought he could never see while traveling the continent.

Long live peace. May such tranquility continue.

◈ ◈ ◈

“Are you leaving now?”

“Adaya, my dear.”

As I looked at the child who clung to me with tears in her eyes, laughter bubbled up from within.

With black hair, slightly bulging twin horns, and a beautiful appearance. And still immature, with her wings and black tail not yet concealed.

“I’m sorry, El. But I have to go.”

“Wahh! Shidya. Stay here. Don’t leave.”

As I gently stroked the child’s head, Deity approached and lifted her away from me, holding her close.

“Wahh! Wahh! Shidya! Shidya!”

“You were so flustered at first, but now you hug her quite well.”

“…Indeed. It’s already been two years.”

Deity wore a bittersweet smile on his lips.

When everything was over and he returned to the Grand Temple, what he faced was a frenzied attack from Lamia, who had lost her senses, and barely resisting Antrea and her sisters.

However, even Deity could see the faint kindness towards him in their eyes.

There was Alia, who never showed herself, and the expressionless Saras, speaking to him.

When Priegoss learned everything, he blankly gazed at the core of Deus Ex Machina.

Now, it had merged with Alia.

He didn’t know the reason, but even though Alia’s personality should have remained as a control personality, there was no reaction whatsoever.

After that, for a while, Priegoss focused solely on his work like a soulless human.

Anya, having heard Alia’s story, quietly assisted Priegoss.

Harmony of Blades. That’s to say, among the six succubus sisters including Lamia, four of them had left Pohelrn.

However, they wouldn’t do anything harmful to humans or elves.

That would be an act against Alia’s will.

And so, he had focused on the restoration of Pohelrn for seven months, lost in thought.

In the Grand Temple where I stayed, where the core of Deus Ex Machina was stored… this child appeared.

El appeared.

When the child, who bore the features of a succubus, suddenly appeared before the altar, it was only natural that chaos ensued.

Having heard from Saras that Alia was pregnant, when Priegoss realized that El was the child of both him and Alia, he barely managed to comprehend it at first.

Even the succubus who had gone outside hurriedly returned to Pohelrn when they learned of El’s existence from Antrea.

At that time, although Lamia had threatened him to hand El over, they somehow managed to negotiate to raise El here until she reached adulthood.

“How are things going with Anya?”

“…Seems like…”

Perhaps it was still weighing on his mind because of Alia and El.

“What a fortunate child. The king of humans, being loved by two noble and beautiful women, don’t make such a sad face.”

“I apologize.”

“Anya doesn’t have much time to be with you. Don’t make my sister too sad.”

“…I will try my best.”

“Hmm.”

He then shifted his gaze to the giant standing aside.

“Have you decided to stay here?”

“Yes. I wish to uphold what that child wanted during the remainder of my life.”

“…Indeed. Would you not feel lonely? Now among the Titans, you are the only one left.”

Golb quietly shook his head, gazing at the two large mounds where people had been buried.

As if that was enough for him.

I quietly nodded.

“I plan to take those diminutive ones born from the last body of Terato to the north and use them until they die.”

“Indeed, I would have to express my gratitude if the Gal Dragon comes by someday.”

“Indeed, it seems that they inherited the blood of giants, measuring only half the height of a human, yet possessing great strength, pounding iron well, and showing fine craftsmanship. They must be suffering terribly, satisfying Gal’s fussy taste.”

I had tasted a bit of what it was like.

As I winked, only then did Golb’s mouth curve into a soft line.

“I’ll leave Anya in your care, Priegoss.”

“…Thank you for all this time.”

“Not at all. You all were the finest disciples.”

Saying that, he donned his hat and, as if shaking off lingering feelings, stepped skyward.

In that moment, as the view of the massive walls of the city receded away,

“Thank you, Araya.”

“But… leaving behind a thieving cat was a bit too much, don’t you think? Is it okay if I tease her a little?”

It seemed like a familiar voice was whining somewhere.

“Puhah!”

I feel sorry for you, Alia.

But please don’t tease her too much.

After all, she is your precious sister.

End of Part 1: The Divinity of the Elves.

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