Vierno’s joining was a tremendous boon for Ludger.

He knew everything about the geography of the Elven forest and the structure of the kingdom.

That information was like a godsend for Ludger, who was heading toward a mysterious place he barely understood.

And on top of that, Vierno even declared he would fight alongside them.

“If you step forward, Teacher, then the elves of the Dentis family may suffer harm.”

“That is true. That’s why I intend to ask the opinion of the family members as well. Of course, to prevent any leaks, I will leave out the matters concerning you, Teacher Ludger, and Lady Sedina.”

“Isn’t that something they could refuse?”

“That will be their choice. I won’t criticize them for it. But if they choose to fight, I will accept it.”

“What is the reason you are deliberately inviting danger?”

“If we don’t stop it, then an even greater danger will come.”

Vierno, having lived long, could roughly grasp how the current situation was unfolding.

“If war breaks out, our Dentis family will inevitably be forced to the front lines. The Lifret family would never leave us alone.”

“So rather than be trampled helplessly, you would at least resist as much as possible.”

“And isn’t that the right thing to do?”

Vierno asked playfully, and Ludger, too, replied with a faint smile.

“Of course.”

Vierno’s attitude might seem lighthearted, but in truth it was more of a mask.

If he didn’t treat it lightly, he felt he would suffocate beneath the crushing pressure, so he forced himself to keep his heart steady that way.

“Um...”

At that moment, Bellaruna carefully raised her hand.

“Th-then, am I going too?”

“Of course.”

At Ludger’s indifferent reply, Bellaruna’s expression collapsed like someone sinking into a swamp.

“W-why?”

“Why?”

“I mean... why me?”

“You are an elf, aren’t you?”

“N-not just any elf, I was chased out for hacking the World Tree!”

“That’s why you must go. Teacher Vierno is even willing to bear the stain of rebellion and fight with us. If you step back, what does that make this?”

But I’m not strong like him!

Bellaruna wanted to scream that, but no words of excuse made it past her trembling lips.

She barely managed to squeeze out a weak protest.

“I-I might not be of much help.”

“No. You will be helpful. I am certain of it.”

The one who answered was Vierno.

“You are Lady Bellaruna, yes?”

“Y-yes.”

“You say you hacked the World Tree, but do you realize how great a feat that is?”

“T-that’s...”

“It is not something done easily. Yet you achieved it. Depending on circumstances, you may even hold the most important role of all.”

“The most... important role?”

“To deceive the Eyes of the Forest.”

The Eyes of the Forest?

Ludger, Alex, and Walter, who didn’t know of it, looked at him questioningly, and Vierno kindly explained.

“The elven kingdom’s forest is an immense primeval wood. To other races, it may seem like just a vast and dense forest, but the root network formed by the trees stores immense amounts of information in real time.”

“That means the moment we step into the forest...”

Vierno nodded heavily.

“Yes. The kingdom will know of our entry. If they don’t pay much attention, they may let it pass. But do you think the Lifret family would take this matter lightly? They kidnapped the last survivor of the Plante family. They will be prepared for everything.”

If Vierno alone returned to the kingdom, it would not be much of an issue.

The problem was Ludger and Alex.

For humans to enter the Elven Kingdom was an impossibility.

A half-hearted disguise would do no good ➤ NоvеⅠight ➤ (Read more on our source) either.

The information being constantly stored in real time would detect even the smallest anomaly.

The moment suspicion arose, their true identities would be exposed in an instant.

“That could be troublesome.”

Ludger did not believe they could avoid fighting entirely.

But starting a battle from the very beginning was something altogether different.

At the very least, they needed to reveal their strength only after they had infiltrated deep inside the kingdom.

Closer to the heart, near the World Tree itself.

‘Not knowing how vast the kingdom is, and with inaccurate spatial coordinates for a place never visited, moving recklessly through space will be impossible.’

Could they move through the forest while avoiding the trees?

The answer was “no.”

It was as absurd as saying one could sprint through a wasteland under a pouring rain while not getting wet.

“If Lady Bellaruna can hack the World Tree, then deceiving the Eyes of the Forest should be possible.”

Vierno was confident.

Even noble elves with official access found it hard to enter the World Tree.

The information was so immense that the strain on the brain was no small matter.

Yet Bellaruna not only secretly connected to it, but even accessed forbidden information.

Perhaps she was born with an unusually vast capacity for information, or perhaps part of her brain was already broken.

Whatever the case, that talent was indispensable for this mission.

“I-I’ll be killed for sure if I go back there!”

“Even if the Lifret family gains full authority over the World Tree, it will still be dangerous.”

“That’s...”

“I know these words are a heavy burden to you, Lady Bellaruna. But without you, we won’t even be able to approach the World Tree.”

Bellaruna hesitated.

She knew she had something only she could do.

But knowing in her head and carrying it out were two different things.

A death order had already been issued on her, and now she was to shamelessly walk back into the kingdom?

That was no different from laying her neck down on the executioner’s block.

Deceive the Eyes of the Forest?

Easy to say. But could it really be done?

If asked whether she could do it, she would answer: it’s possible.

But not for even a fleeting moment could she allow herself to lose focus.

If even the smallest crack appeared, her identity would be exposed.

They would have to remain for days. And for those days, she would have to work herself to the point of nervous collapse.

That was just... too much.

Her face revealed that very feeling.

So it cannot be done?

Vierno looked disheartened, and at that moment Ludger, who had been silently watching, stepped forward.

“Bellaruna. If you succeed in this, you will be the hero who saved the Elven Kingdom from war.”

“A h-hero? I don’t really want some fancy title like that.”

“Think the other way. If you are a hero, then you will earn the right to connect to the World Tree openly.”

“...!”

“Not the dead World Tree beneath the capital, but the living, true World Tree. You might even bring back samples for research. Who could object? You would be a hero.”

“A hero...”

At Ludger’s coaxing words, Bellaruna’s eyes went blank.

“Ancient samples of unknown origin. If you could use them whenever you pleased, would you throw away that chance?”

“T-that...!”

Regret filled Bellaruna’s expression.

Watching this, Vierno was so stunned he couldn’t even speak properly.

He looked silently toward Alex.

Meeting his gaze, Alex merely shrugged and smiled.

As if to say he was used to this.

Meanwhile Ludger’s persuasion, which was more temptation than argument, reached its conclusion.

“I’ll do it!”

Bellaruna answered with determination.

Of course, three days later she would no doubt clutch her head, screaming why on earth she had agreed.

But once words were spoken, they could not be taken back.

“Good. Now that everyone has agreed, what remains is to take as many artifacts as possible from here.”

Ludger slowly swept his eyes around the exhibition hall.

Magic flowed through every object.

They could be used differently depending on their functions, but taking more could never be a loss.

“First, there are some things we must secure.”

Ludger turned to Walter.

“First. I need the elixirs manufactured by the Roschen family. One of each type.”

The Roschen family handled magical goods and artifacts.

Naturally, they also extended their reach into pharmacology, potions, and elixir production.

Roschen’s elixirs were expensive, rare, and extremely difficult to acquire.

Ludger intended to seize this chance to obtain them all.

More important than even artifact support was increasing his own mana reserves.

The Elven Kingdom was no different from enemy territory.

No one could predict what would happen there. He needed to prepare as thoroughly as possible.

“Understood.”

Walter readily agreed to Ludger’s request.

“And I also need every possible ingredient related to pharmacology.”

Elixirs alone would not be enough.

He required recovery tonics and stimulants that could recharge depleted mana in real time.

Such things would strain the body for most people, but Ludger suffered none of those side effects.

“Second. We’ll need to modify some of the artifacts.”

“Modify them, you say?”

Ludger casually picked up an artifact lying nearby.

It was a bracelet meant to be worn on the wrist, inscribed with defensive magic.

“A defense artifact that blocks three attacks of 3rd-circle level, correct?”

“Yes.”

“I’ll alter it to increase its output. In exchange, the number of uses will be reduced. Just once, but it must block at least a 4th-circle spell.”

“...If you do that, the artifact won’t withstand it.”

“That’s the point.”

Ludger’s words were simple.

He intended to modify nearly every artifact they took, turning them into single-use items.

An artifact worth enough to buy a house—spent and discarded in one use.

It was the very definition of burning money.

But Roschen’s wealth was what made it possible.

“Still, the researchers will protest. These artifacts were created through careful testing for stability. Even I cannot simply order them to release all output unchecked...”

“There’s no need.”

Ludger dismissed Walter’s concern at once.

“Because we already have an expert here.”

* * *

“So.”

Summoned suddenly, Seridan crossed her arms and chewed over Ludger’s words.

“You want me to modify all these artifacts lying around?”

“Yes.”

“Not just modify, but crank them up to maximum output.”

“You understand perfectly.”

“You mean, scrap stability, so they’ll blow apart the moment someone pushes them too hard?”

“Not quite that far.”

Seridan’s face split into a bright grin.

“That’s perfect!”

“Good to hear you’re positive.”

“You know, my lord, I have a dream. Do you know what it is? It’s to take these artifacts used by mages and reforge them to my heart’s content. To reshape them into the form I desire most!”

“Can you do it?”

“Can I? Of course! These artifacts aren’t pure products of magic alone. Well, some are, but most of them incorporate ‘engineering.’ Magitech engineering. And when it comes to that part, I never fail.”

Seridan’s eyes nearly gleamed blood-red as she stared at the treasure spread all around.

“A massive explosion that will be remembered for the ages! This could be the first step in my grand design—why would I ever refuse?”

“You said it was one dream.”

“All explosions lead to the same dream!”

A massive explosion...

If Seridan had the time and capital, she might very well attempt to create a nuclear bomb.

‘It’s fortunate that such knowledge doesn’t exist in this era.’

Though perhaps she would figure it out on her own.

“Anyway, which items am I modifying? If I’m going to touch them, I’ll give it everything I’ve got.”

“All of them.”

Ludger gestured to the artifacts covering the exhibition hall.

Seridan blinked blankly before repeating herself.

“All... of them? Really?”

“Yes. Every last one.”

“Kyaaaah!”

Seridan let out a scream of sheer happiness.

* * *

Leaving the overjoyed Seridan behind in the warehouse, Ludger stepped outside.

Waiting for him there was Walter Roschen.

“Here, the elixirs you requested.”

Had he been waiting personally just to hand them over?

That was what Ludger thought, though he did not refuse the elixirs Walter offered.

Dislike for the man was one thing—support was another, and he intended to accept it.

“An elf, and now a dwarf as well. You seem acquainted with quite remarkable people.”

“You’ve already done your background checks, haven’t you? Why bother with pretenses now.”

At Ludger’s blunt words, Walter nodded calmly.

“Yes. At least, I know you are no ordinary teacher. That is why I trust you and give this support without hesitation. Your strength is certain.”

“If you dug that deep, then you must also know which organization Sedina has ties to.”

“...”

Walter did not answer.

But his silence was answer enough.

“You must also know why she risked getting involved with them.”

“...I do. To her, I’m the scum who abandoned my wife and cruelly cast aside my own daughter. No doubt she hates me for it.”

“You understand well.”

“It may be laughable for someone like me, who has no right to speak, but this is all I can do.”

With that, Walter bent his waist low.

“Please, save her.”

“Sedina despises you.”

“I know.”

Walter answered without raising his head.

“She won’t even know you asked me for help.”

“That doesn’t matter.”

“Even if she returns safely, she will never look back at you.”

“I’ve accepted that.”

“And yet you ask me to save her? Even bowing your head to me?”

“She is my daughter.”

Ludger stared at the back of Walter’s head for a long moment, then turned away.

“If you’re going to bow, then do it to Sedina herself when she comes back safely.”

“Those words mean...”

Walter lifted his head slightly.

Ludger did not look back as he gave his reply.

“I will save her. That’s a promise I make to myself as well.”

That was the very reason he had accepted this request.

Ludger’s eyes gleamed with a fierce light.