While traveling with the Acting Clan Chief, I activated my detection magic.
Gradually expanding its effective range, I detected a massive cluster of readings along the forest's outer edge.
Tens of thousands of humans had gathered.
Most likely the Imperial Army.
(Quite a force.)
They were holding position without advancing into the forest.
They had temporarily halted their assault.
The exhausted soldiers had to be resting.
The elves were far from helpless.
Ambushes and traps leveraging home-field advantage were their forte.
After several skirmishes, the Imperial Army had likely taken a fair share of retaliation in return.
The present situation was one of waiting for reinforcements and resupply.
That said, the stalemate between the two sides would eventually break.
The Empire could field enormous military resources, pouring in reinforcements one after another.
There were also reports that the forest was being burned.
The elves had too many things to protect.
They were at a disadvantage both strategically and in terms of military strength.
Without my intervention, the elves would inevitably be defeated.
Logan understood that, which was precisely why he had so readily accepted subordination.
It was the result of prioritizing survival over the pride of his clan.
Going by this, I probably didn't need to worry about an invasion for another half day or so.
Scouts would likely be active, but at that level, they posed no real threat.
If they got in the way, I could dispose of them in passing.
Having finished assessing the situation, I deactivated my detection magic.
The Acting Clan Chief was walking briskly a few steps ahead of me.
She kept scanning her surroundings.
Elves were hidden among the surrounding trees.
I didn't even need to think about it.
They were keeping watch.
They were making sure I wouldn't cause any trouble.
I had no intention of doing anything suspicious, so I just let them be.
Despite the large number of people around, the area was wrapped in silence.
We continued walking in silence.
"...Brother... is—"
A voice broke the silence.
For a moment, I thought the Acting Clan Chief had spoken, but it was unmistakably my own voice.
It was an almost unconscious act, and I regretted it slightly after the words left my mouth.
I hadn't intended to start a conversation, yet I'd gone and said something unnecessary.
Meanwhile, the Acting Clan Chief flinched, stopped, and turned around.
"W-What is it...?"
The Acting Clan Chief looked uneasy.
I had been the one to speak first.
I couldn't ignore her, so I asked the first question that came to mind.
"Is your brother a good clan chief?"
"...Yes. As the head of the clan, my brother always worries about us. He's someone I can truly respect, from the bottom of my heart."
The Acting Clan Chief answered with a straightforward gaze.
There was no deceit in it.
She was speaking from the heart.
"I see."
That was all I said.
The Acting Clan Chief looked puzzled but didn't press further.
She glanced back at me but resumed walking.
(Did she notice my emotional reaction?)
I couldn't tell from her behavior.
Still, she had certainly found me suspicious.
I was pathetic, even by my own standards.
To think the sight of an old friend's face could throw me off.
I thought I had long since moved past that.
It seemed bonds forged in life weren't so easily severed.
As I silently mocked myself, we emerged into an open area.
The Acting Clan Chief stopped and gestured with her hand.
"This is the elven village."
Wooden houses stood in neat rows.
Small huts had been built atop the connected trees as well.
It was my first time entering an elven residential area, but it largely matched my expectations.
Inside each house, I detected multiple readings.
They had to be the elves living here.
They were holding their breath.
It seemed they had sensed my arrival and hidden themselves.
Next, I shifted my gaze far ahead.
Beyond the trees, blue sky stretched out.
At first glance, nothing was there.
However, there was a definite sense of wrongness.
A spatial distortion.
Some kind of magical manipulation had been applied.
I stroked my chin in thought.
"A perception-blocking spell, then. The World Tree must be over there."
"Um, well, that is..."
At my observation, the Acting Clan Chief stammered.
My guess seemed to have hit the mark.
For the elves who lived here, the World Tree was more precious than life itself.
Concealing it with magic was perfectly reasonable.
Of course, knowing the World Tree's location didn't mean I intended to do anything about it.
If I meddled carelessly, I would only earn the elves' enmity.
Even if I was subjugating them, there was no need to go out of my way to be resented.
After that, I toured the village under the Acting Clan Chief's guidance.
Their living quarters were not particularly expansive.
I was able to walk the outer perimeter without taking much time.
Having just completed a full circuit, I addressed the Acting Clan Chief.
"I've gotten a general sense of the layout. I'll set up defensive magic and a barrier now."
"P-Please do."
The Acting Clan Chief bowed and stepped away.
I deployed defensive magic covering the entire village.
I also constructed a barrier imbued with multiple effects.
As the Demon King, this was trivial.
"With this, the Imperial Army won't be able to infiltrate easily. As long as nothing extraordinary happens, staying in the village should keep you safe."
"Th-Thank you!"
With a look of relief, the Acting Clan Chief bowed deeply.
At that moment, a familiar presence appeared behind me.
I turned to find Logan standing there.
He hadn't brought the guards who had been with him earlier.
He appeared to have come alone.
"Follow me."
Logan said only that and, without waiting for my answer, started walking.
A pushy attitude.
Very much like him.
He was fundamentally a taciturn man.
He often invited misunderstandings by failing to explain himself.
Still, what on earth did he want?
We should have already discussed everything we needed to.
The only conceivable topic left would be some kind of briefing about the battle with the Imperial Army.
That would be a characteristically logical errand.
"Brother..."
The Acting Clan Chief murmured.
She was probably beside herself with worry.
The fate of her clan hung on my mood, after all.
That said, I had no obligation to worry about the Acting Clan Chief's distress.
I left her behind and followed after Logan.
Logan led me to an old mansion.
It was large even compared to the other buildings.
Located in the central part of the village, it was probably the clan chief's residence.
"Come in."
Logan said curtly and entered.
I followed him inside.
The spacious interior was sparsely furnished.
However, it didn't feel bare — rather, it seemed like a design that prioritized function over form.
The occasional decorative touches lent it a restrained elegance.
"Have a seat."
I sat down as invited.
Logan took the seat across the table from me.
No one else was in the room.
A heavy silence filled the space between us.
Honestly, it would be a lie to say I didn't feel awkward.
"What do you think of our village?"
As I idly took in the interior, Logan suddenly posed a question.
I couldn't fathom his intention.
His expression gave nothing away.
He might have looked angry, but that was nothing new.
"..."
I thought for a moment.
I wanted to avoid saying anything careless.
Logan was not a man who did things without purpose.
There had to be meaning behind this exchange, too.
Which meant I needed to be careful.
"...It's very beautiful. A harmonious landscape."
After careful thought, I offered those safe, inoffensive words.
I didn't know what he was looking for, but it was neither a good nor a bad impression.
Upon hearing my answer, Logan let out a deep sigh.
His demeanor had shifted from before.
Was this disappointment and exasperation?
I doubted I was imagining it.
A sharp gaze pierced through me.
"Do you think you can get away with that?"
"..."
I fell silent.
A sensation as though a nonexistent heart was clenching.
I thought I could hear my own heartbeat.
I couldn't find my voice.
Seeing me remain silent, Logan sighed once more.
And then, he asked the question that cut to the heart of everything.
"—Dwight Harvelt. What exactly happened to you?"