Chapter 139

The third and final category is the Dark Elves, who stand out as the most distinct among the classifications of elves and are said to be a very small minority even among elves.

For some reason, they are highly avoided among elves, and when elves refer to Dark Elves, they call them cursed elves or fallen elves.

Even the notoriously arrogant city elves refer to them this way, and even the forest elves, who generally maintain amicable relations with other human races, do the same.

Honestly, Dark Elves are already hard to find since they live around the World Tree, and their numbers are the smallest among elves, so very little is known about them.

But even so, Dark Elves are considered the most distinct lineage among the three branches of elves.

First, their most prominent feature is their dark skin.

Ranging from a healthy-looking brown, like skin tanned by the sun, to a lifeless gray, there is some variation among them, but they all share the common trait of having dark-toned skin.

Second, they are free from the vegetarian lifestyle that is considered a symbol of elves.

They have overcome the limitation of vegetarianism, which is called the only weakness of elves, and can freely live a carnivorous lifestyle. They are also not bound to the World Tree for their living area.

In fact, they don’t even have a central World Tree to begin with.

These characteristics are so radical compared to traditional elves that if the elves hadn’t called them cursed or fallen elves, one might doubt whether they were truly elves at all.

However, their long, pointed ears, beautiful appearance by human standards, and long lifespan make it clear that they are indeed a branch of elves.

Their characteristics, as inferred from the derogatory titles given to them by other elves, suggest that they are a lineage heavily ostracized in elven society.

Why the elves shun Dark Elves so much is unknown, as the elves never speak of it, but one can only guess that there must be some reason, especially since even the forest elves, who usually get along with others, reject them.

Whether Dark Elves have been ostracized for a long time or if there is truly a reason for their rejection is unclear, but they themselves seem to feel ashamed of their situation. They rarely interact with other human races and instead hide, building their own villages and living in seclusion.

It’s a pity that they live in hiding despite being free from the constraints of the World Tree.

That’s why, while writing this book, I wanted to include at least one interview with a Dark Elf, but it proved impossible…

Surely, if we could learn more about Dark Elves, it might provide clues to overcoming the limitations of vegetarianism imposed on elves.

What can be inferred is that, judging from the terms “cursed elves” or “fallen elves,” their existence seems to have emerged as a result of some acquired factor after elven society was established, unlike forest or city elves.

Also, their appearance suggests that they might not be a natural evolution but rather ordinary elves who underwent some artificial change.

Among Dark Elves, there are those who, despite being able to eat meat, still insist on vegetarianism. Whether this is simply a preference or due to some other reason is unknown.

Perhaps they are mimicking the culture of other elves out of a desire to return to elven society.

Lastly, the content on the next page is a folktale collected while researching the origins of Dark Elves.

By delving deeper into this folktale, we might uncover the origins of Dark Elves.

—

**Appendix 1.**

Long ago, there was a greedy king.

This king was so greedy that he ordered his soldiers to invade and conquer neighboring countries.

As he invaded and conquered more countries, the greedy king’s kingdom grew larger and wealthier, but the greedy king never knew satisfaction.

No matter how many shiny jewels he held or how expensive and splendid his clothes were, the greedy king’s eyes always coveted what others had.

Blinded by greed, the greedy king continued to invade other countries.

As the greedy king expanded his territory day by day, his kingdom’s borders soon reached the village of elves who nurtured the sacred World Tree.

Upon seeing the World Tree, the greedy king thought, “The fruit from that tree must be very sweet.”

And upon seeing the elves who nurtured the World Tree, he thought, “Their appearance is so lovely. If I cut off their ears appropriately, they would make fine concubines for me.”

With such thoughts, the greedy king once again ordered his soldiers to invade the elves’ village. However, in the mystical elven forest filled with countless trees and mischievous spirits, the soldiers were no match for the elves.

When the greedy king heard that his soldiers had returned defeated, he beheaded the generals and soldiers who had returned in failure, then jumped around in rage, shouting, “These insolent wretches! I, the king, offered to make them my slaves and concubines, yet they dared to refuse my grace! Unforgivable!”

The greedy king gathered all the artifacts and mages in his kingdom and set fire to the forest where the elven village was located.

The elves cried and ran tirelessly to extinguish the flames, but the fire was magical and could not be extinguished. Thus, the elven village and the World Tree burned to ashes along with the forest.

Seeing the forest burn, the greedy king danced and clapped his hands in joy.

Afterward, the greedy king forgot about the forest he had burned and returned to his palace to live a life of luxury.

Every day, the king indulged in wine and women, living extravagantly.

But as days passed,

a year passed,

and ten years passed.

From the ashes of the completely burned forest, elves with dark, ash-like skin began to appear one by one.

Their eyes bled, and their mouths spewed hatred.

They invaded the greedy king’s kingdom and slaughtered all its people.

Only then did the greedy king beg for his life from the now-blackened elves, but their ears heard only the screams of their fallen kin. Thus, the greedy king and his entire family were wiped out without a trace by the hands of the elves.

And they did not stop there. They turned the greedy king’s entire kingdom into ashes, just as their village had been, and within a year, the kingdom vanished from history.

—

This folktale, with its somewhat eerie content, is presented as a folktale, but personal analysis suggests it might be based on real events.

If this folktale is indeed based on reality, perhaps studying it could unravel the secrets behind the birth of Dark Elves.

What exactly led to the birth of Dark Elves?

Do elves who lose the World Tree become Dark Elves?

Or are Dark Elves elves who have died and been resurrected?

Perhaps elves filled with terrible vengeance become Dark Elves?

Or is it something else entirely, unknown to me, that turns elves into Dark Elves?

Are the Dark Elves in this folktale the same as the elves from the burned elven village?

Why do elves call Dark Elves cursed or fallen elves?

Is it because they failed to protect the World Tree and were cursed?

I know far too little about Dark Elves.

If I ever get to meet a Dark Elf, I might be able to resolve all these questions…

Unfortunately, it seems I must end the discussion on elves, including Dark Elves, here.

If I ever uncover more about elves, including Dark Elves, I hope to compile another book. Starting from the next page, I will describe another human race, the dwarves.

Though their relationship with elves is微妙, I hope readers will enjoy the cheerful stories of these “little giants” who love alcohol and are a merry race.