In this world, the technology of visual memory is undeveloped.
　Everis says, "It's not that there is no way, but it's expensive.
　However, the art of distant vision, which shows what is present, is relatively common.

"Well, you've fallen for it. It's only yesterday.
Some say the killer returns to the scene of the crime.

　It's a little further into the jungle than the field where the attack took place.
　It's a room in a shack-like structure that's been magically raised and turned into rock.
　It had been built as a base for monitoring the work, but now it had become a 'guard room'.
　The far-sighted crystal balls lined up on a large desk shine dimly in the dark room.

　After the discovery of the raid on the field, Rene and his friends immediately prepared to go fishing.
　First, they saturated it with evil air to eliminate the residual power of the Order.
　Next, Everis set up a large number of surveillance cameras around the area.
　After that, he reinstalled the transit poles, and the skeleton cultivators went out again after dawn.

　There was no change in the daytime.
　We increased the number of guards around the site just in case, but the cultivators finished their work without incident and left at nightfall.

　It was just after dark that something strange happened.

　Something glowing appeared in the field that was engulfed by the approaching night darkness, a view seen through a crystal ball.
　A mass of light gushed from the ground like steam, forming a human shape.
　The silhouette was vague, but from the long, thin body and pointed ears, it looked like an elf. There were several of them.

　Each of the light figures in the form of elves had a light bow in their hands.
　When an arrow of light was fired from it, it exploded.

"...... bomb bows and arrows?
"Hmm, something like that.

　It was more like a magic bullet than an arrow.
　The fields were well tilled and ready to be sown, but the transit poles used to move the undead laborers were destroyed by the carpet bombardment of light arrows.

　Then, when the whole area was a mess, the elves disappeared.
　The humanoid light disappeared as if it were dissipating in the wind.

Elven ghosts appear only at night. ......
It's not really a ghost. It's not even a ghost. It's something really weird.
　And after all that, it just disappeared like smoke. I don't care if he ran away, he didn't just disappear.

　It seems to be a strange situation that makes even the well-informed Everis fold his arms and ponder.
　I'm not sure if this is related or not.

I don't know if there's a connection, but there's a big 'Elven Forest' just north of this place. Didn't I tell you that before?

　Everis placed a green jeweled accessory on the desk and surrounded it with three blue sugar cubes of magic stones in an inverted triangle.
　The brooch represents the elven forest and the magic stones represent the human race.

There is an elf forest in the middle, surrounded by three human nations: northwest, northeast and south.
　However, there is a unique relationship between these three nations and the elves. The Elves control almost all of the land in the area.
"Why ......?
I don't know. The only thing that is clear is that the elves control the veins somehow. I'm not sure if this is a good idea or not, but it's a good idea.
　In the event that you have any questions concerning where and how to use the internet, you can call us at the web site.
　Of course, the three surrounding countries rebelled, but in the end there was nothing they could do, and now they are living at the mercy of the elves.

　Elves are a type of human race. They are a graceful, long-lived, forest-dwelling species.
　They usually live in large forests as their territory and form tribal societies. The forests inhabited by elves are forbidden to outsiders, not just humans, but even elves from other forests.
　There are many such "Elven Forests" in this world.
　However, except for a few oddballs, the elves don't pay much attention to what goes on outside the forest and don't want to get involved.
　They do do business with humans and join in battles with demons, so it would be more appropriate to call them reclusive than exclusive.
　Four hundred years ago, when the entire human race was on the verge of extinction, elves were mixing, living, and fighting with other human races (although interracial marriage seems to have been suppressed because it was difficult to have children), and the long-lived elven elders know that period with their own eyes. They were not hostile to other races.

　In any case, the situation of the elves living in the neighborhood just north of this place was strange.
　Even the humans, who hold the lifeline of the earth's veins in their hands, don't seem to understand what the elves are up to.

　There is no evidence to connect the recent events in Rene's territory with the elves in the north.
　I don't have any evidence to connect the two, but it shouldn't be too much of a leap of faith.

It's kind of creepy. I haven't even finished unpacking my things yet, but I think I'll have to start investigating soon.
"Well, okay. We're going to have to get that forest anyway.

　Rene sighs.
　I don't like the idea of more unexpected troubles, but we'll just have to trample them down and run with it.

I wonder how well that forest will hold up against the Imperial Blue Army?
"...... Depends on how sturdy the forest itself is, I guess. As long as it's there, I think it'll hold.
Oh, by the way, there was a country on Earth that sprayed poison to get rid of the jungle in order to defeat the guerrillas hiding in it. ......
"Whoa, that's good, that's evil.
　But that's just a way of fighting to destroy them. How is the empire going to treat the elves? ......

　I'm sure you'll be pleased to hear that.

　I'm not sure.

　The way the Empire of Koenis invades is simple and straightforward.
　It's not that I don't like it.


　Some nations surrender at that point and revere, but even then war often ensues.

　There are those who say that it is better to surrender from the beginning and fight against the mighty Caenis Empire. ......
　However, once under control, the system of the state is thoroughly destroyed and the form of government is drastically changed. This alone is frightening to people who were supposed to continue living in the same way for the rest of their lives.

　The newcomers to the empire will be treated like second class citizens for a while. Nobles will be kicked out into the streets. The people are conscripted into the military and used as a force to invade new countries. If you don't serve the empire with all your might and are not recognized, you will be reduced to a status of 'better than a slave'.
　Knowing this, those who are targeted by the Caenis Empire will fight against it.

　What's more, although this is not limited to the invasion of the Caenis Empire, in war, the defender tends to have the upper hand.
　They have the advantage of location, easy access to supplies, high morale, and above all, they can draw magic power from the earth's veins to move their defensive weapons.
　The Koenis Empire is not undefeated.
　If we can build a perfect defense system. If we join forces with the surrounding nations. With our heroes. With the backing of Dilettante and Noah Curio. If we can outmaneuver them. If we unite as a nation. If we attack a neighboring country and strike when it's exhausted.
　We could win a victory and make peace with them as equals.
　...... Needless to say, most of the countries that have fought with this idea have been crushed by the Caenis Empire.

　On the other hand, the Caenis Empire has also given candy to the areas it controls.
　Being a part of a major power has its own advantages.
　Infrastructure such as roads and water systems will be improved, and commerce will be revitalized.
　Although there is no lack of corruption in the government, there are those who used to suffer from tyranny who say that the rule of the Caenis Empire, governed by numerous laws, is much better than being subjected to the whims of the nobles.
　Also, the Caenis Empire is a bureaucratic country where there is no such thing as nobility. Even those born as commoners can pass the exam and become bureaucrats if they are talented. It was a much easier path than taking credit and getting a knighthood.

　In addition, the Empire of Caenis also put a lot of effort into education.
　This is partly due to the fact that they don't get along well with Diretta and the Temple forces, but there are many 'application schools' that are separate from the Temple schools. These schools provide a variety of education that goes beyond the knowledge given by the temples to the gods, and there is no shortage of technological development. The nations that have newly joined the Empire will also benefit from this. The higher the level of education, the richer the life, and for the gifted, the more opportunities for advancement.
　Particularly gifted children would be brought from all over the country to the imperial capital to be educated as elites. They may eventually work at the court or return to their hometowns to become local representatives. ...... In either case, they and their families will be able to live like royalty and nobility.
　In any case, he and his family can live like royalty and nobility.

　As a poet once said, "The Caenis Empire invades with the faces of angels and demons.
　It was a country that could do such things. It was a country that could do that.

　The Imperial Blue Army, which was in charge of the eastern side of the Caenis Empire, was currently planning to advance southward, bypassing the Ku-Ru-Kal Mountains from the east.
　Their immediate targets are the three human nations that are situated on the eastern edge of the Ku L'Kal Mountains. And at the center of it all is the Elven Forest.
　The forces of the three nations plus alpha formed a military alliance to fight the invasion of the Caenis Empire. After being defeated and scattered in the first battle, the Dothraki Confederation in the northwest of the forest and the Principality of Cadenis in the northeast of the forest declared their surrender. The Blue Army is staring at the Great Forest of Goosenfall, where the elves live, and the Kingdom of Lugarut to the south.

　The Red Army had already heard unbelievable stories about a road suddenly being built through the mountain range, and information that the "Rose of Hell" had taken up residence south of Lugarut, but it would be a shame to cut short a battle that had already begun,......, much less a battle that had been won.
　In order to create a foothold for the future, they wanted to at least take possession of the Great Forest of Goosenhoe.

　This was because the veins of the three countries centered on the Great Forest of Goosenfall were controlled by the Forest Elves (although I had no idea how they could do that).
　The Blue Army has taken up a position to the southeast of Dothras, but the veins are drying up like a river that has closed its floodgates, and it is having some difficulty regaining its position.
　A stronghold that cannot use its veins is of little value. Even if you are attacked, you will not be able to move your defensive weapons, your city's infrastructure will be paralyzed if it relies on artifacts, you will have trouble with ritual magic, and you will have trouble communicating.
　We should take advantage of the momentum from the fall of the two countries to acquire the veins of the Great Forest.

　The recommendation to the Elven tribes in the Great Forest of Goosenfall is the same as the one to the human nation. To come under the control of the Empire.
　But then the forest would belong to the Empire of Caenis. This was met with a fierce response from the elves. The elves had a much stronger and heavier attachment to the forest than humans had to their land and country.
　The decision of the Council of Elders was to fight to the bitter end.
　The elves do not pray to gods, they worship their fathers and ancestors. They believe that the forest is a system that controls the cycle of the soul, a sacred place where the souls of the fathers and ancestors reside. To have it ravaged at will by human hands was a deprivation of faith, and an event that could not be overlooked.

　However, they did not go into the battle knowing that they would lose.
　The Elves of the Great Forest of Goosenfall had fought against the three surrounding nations that were seeking to liberate the veins of the earth and had effectively brought them under their control, which meant that they had experience fighting against humans. Once they were holed up in the forest, they were invincible and undefeated, and if they struck their attackers when they were exhausted, they could easily win.
　The memory of that time was still alive in the elves, giving them a sense of victory and optimism.

　Of course, it didn't take long for them to be proven wrong.