CHAPTER 230: CHAPTER 230 - MISSION FAILED, MISSION ACCOMPLISHED

This coffee is really a blessing, but it is not the reason we came all the way here.

"Tarindor... what do you know about the changes in the world? Have you heard anything about Saint Lillian?"

Right after I say that, the chit-chat that was happening immediately stops, and the atmosphere becomes suddenly serious.

"Well. I don’t know much. The spirits whisper something about a new power rising in the east and about the mana monster in the north having been destroyed.

They also told me that someone powerful was coming, but they weren’t afraid. They have actually been very excited in the last few months. Does that have something to do with you? Who is that Saint you talk about?"

Despite having a more serious expression on her face, Tarindor actually answered with a gentle and calm voice.

"Well, the new power in the east is probably my mother, Saint Lily, goddess of compassion. She ascended to godhood recently, during the war in which the kingdom of Wesgoth broke from the rule of the goddess Juno."

It’s better to pause here, to give the elf time to process this big news.

And indeed she takes some time before saying something.

"A goddess of compassion... Well, that’s very much what this world needs right now. So that’s why..."

Her voice trailed off, but the way she looked at Yawarete and Shalia completed the phrase for her.

"Yes. Slavery is a crime in the Kingdom of Wesgoth, as is any discrimination against other races. We’ve been slowly working under the table to free as many slaves in other countries as possible, but the progress on that front has been slow."

"I see... And you said that there was a war, and you broke off from the Church, right? Is that connected to the goddess’s disappearance for the last years?"

"Somehow, yes. My mother, Lillian Annes, was a princess of Wesgoth, and..."

As I told the story of my mother, her slavery, my birth and escape, and our triumphant return, her eyes slowly widened more and more.

"You are really an amazing girl. To be able to pull all that off at such a young age. And your mother as well. Becoming a deity is not an easy task. Lots of people try and fail. And, from what you’re telling me, she didn’t even try..."

Hehehe. Mom really IS the awesomest mother in the world. Please praise her more.

"It’s nothing... the context just forced me to do some things to survive, that’s all. In any case, that’s the situation in our country right now.

We defeated the crusade launched by the goddess, and now she’s focused on the fight against the dragonkin. So we’re at peace. But the world faces a crisis, and it has to do with the mana monster that we defeated."

She let her surprise surface again.

"The mana monster? The one that was responsible for creating that wasteland?"

"Exactly, she’s not the only one."

This time the explanation is shorter but at the same time more impactful.

"I can’t believe... if what you say is true..."

I know, I know. It’s hard to digest this information.

Exactly the opposite of this bread and cheese. Because of this, this is damn good.

I eat a bit more so she can have enough time to process the new info again.

It’s not just because it’s really good, I swear!

"You managed to destroy one... and that one was enough to empty the whole region of the Barren Wilds. But, if the world is really so big, then how many of those..."

"Several hundred, at least. All over the globe. We have no hopes of defeating them all alone. But I could at least break the Adventuring System."

Lovelace said her piece for the first time in the conversation.

Tarindor blinked a few times, looking at her.

"I see... as the one who built it in the first place, you should be able to destroy it. But would that alone stop the monsters from sucking all the mana?"

That’s a good point. Juno could just steer that mana to herself, or to anywhere else she wanted to.

"That alone, no... but I could send something harmful through the connection between them and the System. I’m fairly confident that I would at least be able to weaken them significantly."

"Then that’s the next step... but I think that I understand your plight now. Without the system, you fear that humanity will be wiped out by the dragonkin."

"Yes. That war is not our war. We have nothing against the dragonkin, and we would be happy to cooperate with them. But we understand the long history of that war and the reasons behind it.

We know that humans have been a pest in this world ever since our arrival here. We wouldn’t dare to say that the dragonkin are wrong in their fight and their hatred. But that doesn’t mean that we want to sacrifice our entire race."

Those are the words that come from the bottom of my heart. They are the official position of both the Kingdom of Wesgoth and the cult of the Saint. But being official, in this case, doesn’t lessen the emotional weight behind them.

"I understand. We elves came with you to this world. It was before I was born, so I don’t know the whole of the story. But over centuries, the behavior of the humans made us side less and less with you all.

Long before the goddess took hold with her Church, we had already retreated to this forest and declared our neutrality in the conflict between you and the dragonkin.

But not once in all those years did I see a nation with this level-headedness. It’s a great development and very nice to see. Yet, I can tell you this. They won’t listen; they won’t forgive."

I feared she would say that.

After all, it’s kinda naïve to expect to solve the situation with a simple ’oh, sorry we fucked you for so long. We’re destroying your planet, but now I want to be friends, so let bygones be bygones, okay?’

Of course that won’t work.

"But without our aid in destroying the system, they might get locked in this state of war for who knows how many centuries. And the situation is very fraught. I don’t know how long the planet will still hold."

This is our only card. The fact that without our help, the planet will be wrecked beyond salvation, even for themselves.

Her eyes eased up, and she cracked a smile, serving herself another cup of coffee.

I need to remember to ask her about the seedlings of the coffee plants later.

"You already know what their answer will be, right? Dragons are very proud creatures. They will rather die along with this world than collaborate with whom they see as the ones responsible for their suffering."

This... Well, I can’t say she’s wrong, as I have never interacted with any dragons ever. But that description does match all the tales and records about them.

Damn it.

"What do you suggest, then?"

I’m at a loss. We need to destroy that thing that is sucking the world dry. But we can’t let ourselves be consumed in the process.

But the Seer elf only shakes her head with a sad expression.

"I don’t know how to help you. I have no words of comfort, nor ideas. If the situation is as you say, action must be taken immediately. But I’m afraid that your people will have to pay the price for your race’s foolishness.

Though elves and beastkin will probably escape. Unless the beastkin sides fully with the human, of course. You should find another way to deal with that crisis. We elves can’t lend you our assistance in that matter."

I was hoping that the elves could at least put us in contact with the dragonkin, finding a neutral channel to talk. But she seems to have already dismissed the idea from the get-go.

"Could you at least deliver them the news, both about the new deity and our breaking off from the Church and also about the mana monsters?"

Tarindor sighs and, after some internal deliberation, finally agrees.

"That much I can do. But I won’t be able to say that you brought the news directly. Otherwise, they won’t even believe what I said. Do you want me to tell you their reactions to that news as well?"

"If that isn’t much to ask... I would also like to have some trade and cooperation between our countries. I have a special interest in buying coffee from you, and we have some things you could find interesting."

"Hmm? But how would that trade work? There are several countries in the way, which aren’t exactly friendly."

Hehehehe. Now comes the big reveal. We might have failed in our main mission, but the secondary is very important as well.

"Oh, I have the solution for that. I developed a magic that allows for instantaneous transportation over long distances."

I recognize the shine in her eyes right now. I guess we’ll be able to have several cooperation agreements, at least.