A Treacherous Courtier Manages the Empire Well

99 – Struggle for Justification

Strike while the iron is hot. We headed straight for the World Tree.

“It’s incredibly high.”

“It’s grown again in the meantime. Its growth rate is abnormally fast.”

“It’s been rooting for hundreds of years, so it’s understandable. Let’s go up.”

We called a Dragon Knight and rode him to the top of the World Tree. At the top of the World Tree, there was a huge open space, with water gathered in the center like a lake.

Although we had no experience in making pacts with the World Tree, there was a strong feeling that if we were to make a pact, it should be done here.

The five of us dismounted from the dragon and approached the puddle.

“So… what do we do now?”

The Emperor asked cautiously.

We all remained silent without answering. It was just awkward silence that lingered.

Among the people here, no one had formed an alliance with the World Tree.

Not even a legend-like descent occurred.

Since the World Tree belonged to the elves long before history was recorded.

“Should we at least try to speak once?”

“Go into the water?”

“Offering sacrifices and summoning? I did bring fertilizer in the name of Lord Randor, but.”

Various opinions were voiced, but none of them led to a convincing conclusion.

Then, amidst this.

I came up with an idea.

“The World Tree is a tremendously remarkable creature, isn’t it?”

“Indeed?”

“Then it’s highly likely that they are aware of us being on their body already.”

Even though we are aware of being there, there is no response at all. Therefore, the conclusion is clear.

“It seems like they are intentionally ignoring us.”

“Ignoring us?”

“It would be like an inferior species climbing up and prancing around. Well… If we summon dragons and red dragons to burn them, would they start talking then?”

I glanced at Emperor Adran, Karia, Karl Hanson, and Selene. The four of them, as if sensing my words like ghosts, began to agree.

“Just summon the dragons. Let’s burn them right away?”

“It will become a massive campfire.”

“No alliances made. No conversations attempted. Only burning left.”

“Shall we call the Dragon Knights right now? With the Red Dragon.”

As we earnestly created an atmosphere suggesting we might actually burn them, the ground suddenly wriggled, and with a loud thud, something sprang out.

“Hey you bastards!!!!!!! How could you do that!!!!!!!”

What sprang out was an extremely cute girl who looked about seven years old. She was wearing clothes made of leaves, had a strangely curious look in her eyes not typical of a child, and most of all, judging by the tears welling up in her eyes, she was clearly furious.

This was the World Tree. As soon as her appearance was confirmed, I approached her with a fake smile, wearing the mark of the loyal vassal Abu Yong.

“hahahahaha! Just kidding! Oh great being. I was just making sounds because you didn’t come to talk to us. It wasn’t sincere at all.”

“The look in your eyes! It was scary! It seemed genuine! Just now! You were going to burn me!!!”

She seemed incredibly indignant and angry. Seeing her pointing fingers with tears welling up, I looked at Karl Hanson. I knew this would happen, so I had brought a bribe just in case. I handed her a large ration.

“Would you like some fertilizer? I brought it just in case.”

“This is why inferior species!… Oh. This is tasty?”

“Tasty? Our scientist, Leoric, developed it. It’s rich in nitrogen that plants love.”

“This is… Yum yum… Quite edible?”

She sat on the ration container, scooping fertilizer with her hands, a content smile appearing on her face. We waited for her to finish the ration. And when her meal was over.

“You said this was fertilizer, right? Bring more of this in the future. I’m in my growth stage, so I need to eat a lot. Got it? Well then, I’ll be off…”

“Please make a pact with us.”

She found herself in a situation where she had to pay for the food.

Fertilizer wasn’t free.

At Emperor Adran’s words, the young World Tree burst into laughter.

“Your inferior species wants to make a pact with me?”

“Yes. That’s right.”

The Emperor briefly explained the current situation of the Hyunje Aylam Empire.

The fact that the Rimmakal Plain, where the second World Tree grew, was within the empire’s territory.

Due to the growth of the World Tree here, there was a possibility that this place could turn into a battlefield due to the crisis caused by the gathering of elves, the power struggle between Dark Elves and High Elves.

Therefore, he explained the need to form a pact to prevent all of these situations.

“So, will you form a pact with me?”

“Yes. That’s right.”

“Good. Let’s make the pact then.”

As she lightly waved her hand, a strange pattern was engraved on Adran’s back of the hand.

“With this, you can communicate with me anytime. I will help you contract with spirits if you wish. Whenever you need my wisdom and strength, feel free to come find me. Got it?”

Adran looked at the pattern engraved on the back of his hand with a somewhat empty expression.

“Is this… all of it?”

“Yes! That’s all! And let me tell you in advance! If you use that power to oppress others, create a class society to persecute, or engage in such actions, I will immediately revoke it. Understand?”

The young World Tree shouted with great anger, her face filled with rage.

The five of us exchanged glances simultaneously.

There’s something more to this.

Adran smoothly stepped back, gesturing for me to speak, and I moved forward, opening my mouth.

“Of course. Of course. It’s a bad thing to monopolize power to oppress others. May I ask why you’re saying this?”

“Those damn High Elves! I have been receiving knowledge and memories from my mother. Half of those memories are about persuading the High Elves! They are using the power of the pact to maintain their power! For the sake of the Mother Tree. For the Mother Tree! It’s sickening! Spirits and wisdom were not granted for that!”

The World Tree, kicking the ground furiously, looked extremely angry.

“My mother has firmly instructed me. And I intend to follow her guidance. If there is a pact now, I will distribute it fairly to anyone with intellect. No longer will a special few monopolize the benefits of the pact. You understand? The same goes for all of you! If anyone tries to oppress someone with the power of my pact, I will immediately revoke it. Keep that in mind!”

I gestured for Karl Hanson to quickly bring something. Karl Hanson promptly handed me a bag of fertilizer with a ghostly look, and I skillfully opened it, handing it to the World Tree with a gentle voice.

“Have another bag of this. There. Just hearing about it makes me feel suffocated. Did the High Elves really do such nasty things? Please tell me everything.”

A climax of acting.

A face filled with empathy.

Approaching like a toad, as if giving treats to a child and gaslighting, nothing more, nothing less.

Adran, seeing my behavior, seemed to recall the time when I ruined the empire with a grim expression.

“Right. Munch… The grace of the Mother Tree should be shared with everyone. That was the Mother’s will. But… Munch… the High Elves monopolized it and used it as a means to maintain their power!”

“I see. I see.”

“I won’t do that! Whether Dark Elves, High Elves, Wood Elves, or humans! Everyone should eat the fruits of the land! The land should be fair. The fruits should be distributed fairly to everyone… Gulp, gulp…! So, there will no longer be deals made with a specific minority. I won’t repeat Mother’s mistakes!”

“Mother made a mistake? I’m curious what mistake it was.”

The World Tree can use commands like a dragon. The pact is a type of very powerful command magic. Mother’s pact was about bestowing spirits and knowledge only to the High Elves. But soon, Mother regretted that decision. The High Elves used the power of the pact and spirits to dominate the Dark Elves and Wood Elves under their rule.”

The World Tree paused in eating the fertilizer, looking perplexed.

I gently patted her back as she clenched her fist, seeming upset. She teared up slightly.

“I won’t make such mistakes now. I will distribute the pact fairly to everyone. I won’t be bound by the promise to continue the pact only with High Elves. I won’t repeat Mother’s mistakes. Never!”

After listening to all this, I looked at Adran.

Adran looked at me with a slightly intimidating expression before nodding slightly.

After chuckling at his words, I turned my gaze back to the World Tree.

“Well, World Tree. I have one question for you.”

“Mmm… What is it?”

“If the Dark Elves and High Elves, after demanding an exclusive pact and escalating into a dispute that threatens war, decide to engage in battle, what would be your plan?”

“I will never stand idly by while a war unfolds on my land! It must be stopped!”

“Do you have a means to stop it? While it would be preferable if there were no war between Dark Elves and High Elves… unfortunately, given the current state of conflict, it seems highly likely.”

“Hmm…”

“Now! Let’s say a fight breaks out between Dark Elves and High Elves in the Limnakal Plains! I’d like to hear your thoughts on how to handle it.”

“W-Well… hehehehe.”

The World Tree awkwardly scratched the back of his head.

“I don’t know how to fight. It’s because my mother made a pact with the High Elves. She needed someone to protect her.”

“I see! The High Elves continued to exploit the power of the pact to maintain their authority, disregarding your mother’s words. Isn’t that right?”

“That’s correct.”

“It seems unlikely that those individuals would heed the words of a young World Tree like yourself. Isn’t that so?”

“Um… Yes.”

“In that case, you would need the power to influence those individuals! Therefore, how about entrusting this to our Ailam Empire!!!”

I cleared my throat lightly, then began to throw out words smoothly and gently, like a well-oiled machine.

“If Dark Elves and High Elves engage in combat, our human empire will use force to suppress them and prevent the fighting! Of course! We will not recklessly wield the power of the pact to solidify a dictatorial regime, as you fear!”

“How can I trust that?”

“Even without your power, our human empire is strong. We have seven dragons as our guardians.”

“What? Dragons?”

“That’s right. We are already powerful enough, so there is no need for us to exploit the pact as you fear. The rich and the poor can distrust each other. The rich may worry that the poor are after their wealth, and the poor may fear being used as mere tools by the rich. But the rich need not worry about each other. They are equals!”

“Um…”

“If you wish, you can see our sincerity in how we humbly present your argument, despite having the power to solidify a dictatorial regime if we desired! We do not seek war! We hope there will be no fighting between the white and dark elves on the Limnakal Plains! I have a dream!”

“W-What dream is that?”

“A world where individuals are judged based on their actions and thoughts, not skin color or race! A world where no one oppresses another! That is what I, Emperor, Princess Selene, and Karia and Karl Hansen desire! World Tree! Your opinions are noble! We, the Ailam, will wholeheartedly support your views!!!”

The World Tree nodded as if captivated by my words.

“I see. Well, since it’s your word, backed by the dragons, I might believe it…”

“I will actively assist you, World Tree. In return, I ask for only two things.”

“What are they?”

“We have spirit mages in our empire. Exceptional ones. Please share the knowledge of spirit magic with the Tamir Khan tribe. Allow them to handle spirits at a level no less than the High Elves. If they use that power for conquest and war, feel free to take that power away.”

“Not a problem. And then?”

I chuckled like a villainous lackey.

Dark Elves.

To control the High Elves, the most crucial thing was not force.

As the saying goes, the justification was vital in Elven society.

The justification of serving the Mother Tree.

And now.

“Threaten the High Elves and Dark Elves. If they refuse to heed the World Tree’s words, threaten them that we will only allow humans to make pacts. If our army’s firepower is added to that threat, they will have no choice but to listen to the World Tree’s words.”

The justification was in our hands.