"Hand over the sacred artifact! If you return it quietly, I'll forgive you with just one eye!"

The leader of the elf rangers issued a threat. The tightly drawn bowstring and bright red lingerie were quite striking.

Setting aside the eye candy, it was actually quite threatening. We were surrounded by elves aiming their bows at us, and their arrows were infused with densely compressed mana.

Above all, there was the Mind-Link.

It's essentially like having constant telepathy among allies. There would be no overlapping arrow trajectories, just a dense barrage that would be difficult to dodge.

But the fact that a warning came before shooting was a good sign. It meant there was room for dialogue. This was the result of the wise crow's trap taking effect.

I pushed Benett's back.

"Now, Benett, this is your moment."

"What do you mean 'my moment'?"

"Charm the elves and make them back off. Our companions' lives are at stake. For the greater good, I have no doubt you'll step up willingly for all of us."

"......"

Benett stepped forward with a sour expression. He understood that avoiding unnecessary combat was essential if we wanted to pursue the Dark Mage.

But after taking one step forward, Benett's expression turned dubious. Was something bothering him?

"What's wrong, Benett? Would you like me to fix your hairstyle?"

"No... Mad Magician. Look at where the elves' gazes are directed."

"Obviously, at you..."

Wait.

I rubbed my eyes, wondering if I had seen wrong. But reality didn't change. Most of the elves were... looking at me, not Benett.

"My heart keeps racing when I see that black hair..."

"The gray hair caught my attention too, but that person seems different somehow."

"I-I'm embarrassed. I wish I had worn a prettier triangle outfit..."

Their gazes were like those of schoolgirls looking at a handsome senior they admired. When I shifted my gaze to a shy elf sitting at the edge, she made a "hyeiyat" sound and twisted her body.

The elf next to her straightened her back and thrust out her chest as if showing off her figure. Slightly larger than Selvia's. As far as I know, this type of response indicates romantic interest.

Wondering if I had misjudged, I looked at Selvia.

"...Kyaaah!"

Selvia was glaring fiercely at the elves, like a heroine looking at stray cats. Since Selvia's detection sensor had reacted, it probably wasn't just my imagination.

What's going on? Why are the elves looking at me instead of Benett?

I was sure the wise crow had edited Tara's memories properly and implanted them...

......

Let me think from the crow's perspective. What would I have done if I were the crow?

An elf harem party chasing Benett is an effective and fun idea, so I'd implement it. Including Benett elements in the memory-trap is a given.

But that alone isn't 100% safe. Not knowing how important the sacred artifact is to the elves, I'd imagine the worst. Assuming they'd track us to the end of the continent.

No matter how long it takes, I would have decided that Benett needed to reunite with the main body, the Mad Magician.

Then I'd need to prepare for when the main body Mad Magician handles the situation. Whether he talks his way out or breaks through by force, laying groundwork now would help.

So alongside the affection directed at Benett, I'd include affection for the main body in the memory-trap like a set menu. A bit stronger to ensure resolution through dialogue even in tense situations.

If chaos ensues, it's not my problem. The main body will have to deal with it anyway...

The whole truth became clear. I shuddered like someone struck by lightning.

"You crazy crow bastard...!"

I had a vision of the crow winking at me from beyond the sky.

Benett seemed to grasp the situation from that, smirked, and pushed my back saying:

"Now, Mad Magician, this is your moment."

"What do you mean 'my moment'...?"

"Seduce the elves and make them back off. Our companions' lives are at stake. For the greater good, I'm sure you won't back down now."

"......"

I didn't expect my karma to return in less than three minutes.

I stepped forward with a sour expression. I used "Pseudo-Illusion Magic: Mirage" to make my appearance neat and added a soft-focus effect. I also cleared my throat.

It's roleplaying time. I am a host. I am a host...

"Beautiful ladies, if you would grant me a moment to prove my innocence and purity—"

Though Selvia glared at me like she wanted to devour me for flirting with other women, I somehow managed to get the elves to sit at the negotiation table.

===============================================================

"The Dark Mage stole the sacred artifact, and you were just trying to stop him... Isn't that too convenient an excuse?"

The elf ranger leader sat with her arms crossed and legs crossed, tapping her foot. She seemed to be trying to maintain a strict and solemn expression, but her face still had a blush.

Come to think of it, it's remarkable that it ended with just a blush. Cursed by the evil crow to feel embarrassment, she was essentially maintaining her dignity while wearing only underwear in a crowded street, metaphorically speaking.

Considering that her heart was also fluttering for me, she showed impressive mental strength befitting a leader.

I continued with the kindest eye-smile I could manage.

"Yes. Even if we open our hearts and talk, you can't trust us 100%. Unlike the ladies of the forest, humans don't have that function. But... that's why we've prepared various measures."

"I wonder if you can earn the trust of elves? Let's see. But if you fail, you'll taste bitterness. Not too bitter, but..."

"What I'm proposing is a deal."

"...A deal?"

If they're unsure whether to trust you, make them want to trust you. Place a thick pouch of benefits on the other side of the scale to make gambling on trusting humans an attractive proposition.

"As a magician from the Purple Tower and the master of the crow, I can remove the 'Curse of Knowledge' placed on you while strengthening the security vulnerabilities in the Mind-Link revealed by this incident. Also."

"Hmm."

"I have connections with the Empire's 1st Princess, 2nd Prince, and 3rd Prince. As I understand it... the 2nd Prince lost an eye and an arm in the Great Forest. I can arrange a reconciliation meeting to resolve that grudge."

"......"

The elf leader's expression hardened as she pondered deeply.

"I've heard that the Empire's prince visited the elven sanctuary where the World Tree's main body is located. He demanded a sapling of the World Tree in the name of the Emperor, and the elves refused."

"Oh my."

"Then the prince tried to steal the World Tree sapling, a fight broke out, and he was driven away without achieving his goal. The Empire of humans was the first to show disrespect, so why would you think we'd want reconciliation?"

Was there such an incident?

The answer to this is simple.

"Because we're stronger."

"......"

"We have more than three Ascension-level personnel gathered here. Even if we fought you to the death right now, we have enough power to win without losses. It's just like the relationship between the Empire and the entire elven race."

"...Are you threatening us?"

"I meant that you should feel our sincerity from the fact that we're not using our power despite having it. After we catch the Dark Mage, we'll return the sacred artifact and provide compensation commensurate with the disrespect shown. Please consider it."

The elf leader bit her lip slightly, then stood up and said:

"You said you're chasing the Dark Mage. We'll be watching. Don't forget that we'll be observing you from between the leaves. We'll keep watching."

That sounded a bit like a stalking declaration.

"Yes. I'll keep that in mind."

At the elf leader's gesture, the elves uniformly concealed themselves in the undergrowth. They blended with nature so well that they were difficult to perceive without concentration.

Looking at it this way, the leaf-clothing was certainly effective.

It seemed they planned to follow us at a distance while remaining hidden.

I breathed a sigh of relief at the successful negotiation. I was glad we didn't have to harm innocent elves.

And I seemed to have gained an unexpected hint.

The story about Irid trying to obtain a World Tree sapling on the Emperor's orders. If he wanted to borrow the power of the World Tree's Mind-Link, if he needed it desperately enough to try to steal it, perhaps the purpose was...

To detect and deal with "The Thing" that had once infiltrated the imperial family.

The Emperor might know a lot about "The Thing." I hadn't been particularly interested in the Empire's Emperor until now, but perhaps I should meet him at least once.

While I was lost in thought.

Rustle. The undergrowth shook, and one elf cautiously emerged. And then.

"Um... here. Please accept this."

"...?"

"I-I don't know. What should I do!"

She placed a beautiful bracelet made of leaves in my hand, then disappeared back into the undergrowth. I wonder what this is made of.

I quietly gazed at the leaf that still retained a strange warmth.

Though it was just a leaf, it was somehow moving. Perhaps this is what healthy cultural exchange between races looks like. Maybe I should cast a preservation spell and pass it down for generations.

That's when Selvia coldly commanded:

"Throw it away."

"But Selvia, this has academic value..."

"Academic value or whatever, throw it away, Oppa. Before I burn it all!"

"Hmph..."

I reluctantly let go of the leaf.

We resumed tracking the Dark Mage, now accompanied by the neutralized elf group.

===============================================================

A squirrel sitting on a tree persistently watched them leave.

===============================================================

Something feels wrong in a peaceful forest. It's quiet, silently peaceful.

Strange. There are no sounds of birds chirping, snakes slithering, or even insects flapping their wings. All living, moving things have been erased. No, devoured.

Here is a deer wandering alone, its companions having disappeared overnight.

Surely it had companions with whom it survived, but where did the herd that grazed and drank together disappear to? Has a terrifying predator appeared in this forest?

The deer moves its head around searching for traces of a predator but can find no signs.

As questions flash in the clear eyes of the four-legged beast.

"'Flesh Control.'"

Something whitish fell from a tree. A white-haired girl descended with her hair fluttering, and simultaneously, predator's fangs sank into the deer's nape.

When the grotesque dagger touched the flesh of the living being.

The deer was instantly reconstructed and absorbed into the small body of the white-haired girl. All the deer's blood, flesh, and short life became propulsion organs for running faster.

Crack. Newly created muscles ruptured, generating acceleration.

Not even bloodstains remained at the scene of predation.

"...Hmm."

Faceless thought as she ran through the forest path in her main body.

She had created a simple surveillance network using small squirrels with her Ascension ability. Thus, she learned that the number of pursuers had increased and that the Mad Magician was among them.

The Mad Magician.

A monster who manipulated an entire tournament with illusion magic, deceived and shook the representative knight of the Eastern Front to change his Ascension, and instantly comprehended her own Ascension.

And he is hostile to Redburn. Her stupid brother Roderus should have succeeded in the assassination. That inadequate failure never did anything right.

He is a significant threat to the family and must be killed.

The current situation isn't ideal.

She has no spare meat puppets, can't receive support from her father's "Lantern of Foresight," and is in an unstable situation where her main body's appearance has been exposed.

Should she just keep running away, prepare, and then fight?

No.

The reason she's taking the risk of fighting a strong enemy in this situation is because that crazy magician is also in a considerably unstable condition.

He is fragmented.

Recently, there was a wide-area telepathy from "The Lamb That Swallows Pain." It was a secret message targeting four Dark Mages and their close associates.

The Mad Magician's soul has been split into several pieces, some functioning as artifacts, and if possible, they should be collected and sent to him.

The reason Dark Mages flocked to where MadMa fragments existed was because they started moving as a group after receiving this message.

A situation where he's suffering a critical ability reduction after being caught in the Goddess's "Forced Expulsion." If she's going to kill him, perhaps this timing is the only chance.

His ability is extremely tricky.

The moment he starts causing chaos under the protection of the Master of the Purple Magic Tower, the illusion with physical force will be dispelled, and the culprit will shatter all the Dark Mage's plans with inconceivably ingenious schemes.

So she needs to kill him now.

The elven sacred artifact. She had originally intended to present it to her father, but he might be even happier if she used it to kill the Mad Magician.

Faceless crushed the souls of animals she had persistently collected while passing through the forest, drew the image of an evil god on the ground, and used it as a medium to transmit a message.

"'The Fear-Eating Corpse Flower'... I've obtained something you're interested in. The elven sacred artifact. Come here. The magician who completely ruined your plans is also here."

She prepared for a counterattack.