Chapter 78: The Conditions of Humanity

Chapter 78: The Conditions of Humanity

Airael immediately taunted, “I didn’t expect my worth to be so high, to spark a war and lose so many lives just to get me!”

As if he didn’t catch the mockery in Airael’s words, Suratu continued, “Since we humans are willing to go this far, Your Majesty, you must indeed be of such great value.”

“Then, as your enemy, shouldn’t I stop you from succeeding?”

Hearing Airael’s question, Suratu smiled and said, “Of course, Your Majesty, you can choose to do that, but I do hope you’ll consider carefully!”

“Hmph!”

Airael snorted coldly, “Do you think I’ll agree to your unreasonable demands?”

“Your Majesty, why don’t you consider marrying into the human race? We are undeniably the world’s rulers now. If you marry us, you would become the queen of humanity. Your children with the Emperor would inherit the rights to our human empire, and if they also inherit your elven kingdom, the world would be unified again, with your offspring as rulers. Meanwhile, the elven kings will also rise to power once more!”

With Airael’s question, Suratu finally revealed the conditions the humans could offer.

In response, Airael merely stared at Suratu, rendered momentarily speechless.

The other elves in the hall were just as stunned.

Once again, the hall fell into silence.

Not to mention anything else, Suratu’s last statement was indeed quite tempting for the elves.

World rulers, making the entire world submit beneath their feet.

The elves had once achieved such a feat, but now they lacked the power to do so.

The humans held the power now.

And the humans were also striving for the throne of world dominion.

If the elven race could truly regain the throne of world rulers through such a union, it didn’t sound too bad.

Though that would mean half of the throne would belong to the humans, you have to give to gain!

And if you calculated it carefully, the elves wouldn’t actually lose much.

I must admit, Airael was somewhat tempted.

She was not purely an elf.

Her rejection and hostility toward humanity were more due to objective reasons.

The subjective reason might be that Suratu was pushing her toward marriage.

Although her physical age was already two hundred years, she looked no older than ten human years—just a little girl.

Marrying a child was utterly beastly!

Moreover, not long ago, she was still a male being.

Accepting this female body was truly a matter of survival.

Now contemplating marrying a male being, her heart simply could not accept it.

Thinking of this, Airael realized another downside to being an elven queen.

Even without today’s human coercion, she probably wouldn’t be able to choose her future spouse.

How utterly tragic!

As for not getting married at all, just thinking about that was impossible.

First, there’s the population issue.

As a low-population race, the elven race encourages marriage and childbirth.

As queen, Airael would inevitably have to set an example.

Secondly, there’s the heir issue.

She surely would need to find a male to marry, in order to produce offspring as her heirs.

Influenced by her previous life’s perceptions, Airael, though still young, placed considerable importance on her future descendants.

Having become the elven queen, she surely would not hand her throne to another elf when she passed—she would pass it to her own offspring if possible.

After thinking this through, Airael realized she had to force herself to marry even if she didn’t want to.

Of course, the idea of ‘taking a husband’ wasn’t out of the question either.

In any case, she needed to find a male being she could mate with and who she could accept to give birth to children.

“Your Majesty, the humans have suddenly set the forest ablaze! A fire has erupted outside the city!”

Just then, another Elven Soldier rushed in and said.

Airael snapped back to reality and turned to Suratu, questioning, “Suratu, what exactly are you humans planning to do?”

The series of actions from the humans left Airael feeling utterly bewildered.

In this situation, a vague sense of dread began to rise within her.

Thus, she no longer cares for the respect due to Suratu as a Grand Mage and began to call him by his name.

The atmosphere in the hall grew tense once again.

Suratu remained calm and composed, saying, “If Your Majesty wishes to know, I would gladly accompany you to see. We need not go far—just to your city wall will suffice.”

“Then let’s head to the city wall and see what you humans are really up to!”

With that, Airael leaned on the Staff of Eternity and walked outside.

Behind her followed a large group of elves and Suratu, the human.

As she exited the castle hall, Airael spotted thick plumes of smoke rising in the distance.

The smoke seemed to blot out the sun, casting a shadow over the entire world.

Witnessing this scene, Airael’s bad premonition intensified.

Outside Silnas Fortress, many human soldiers were caught off guard by the raging flames behind them.

They nervously glanced at the fire, their faces filled with panic.

Yesterday’s defeat had already been a heavy blow.

Now, with such an outbreak, they felt close to collapsing.

Victor kept his gaze fixed on the burning forest.

The flames were gradually spreading deeper into the woods, and they were spreading rapidly.

The Elven Soldiers on the city wall and at the city gate were also confused about the current situation.

What exactly were the humans up to?

Were they not digging their own graves by burning the forest?

Under the blaze, escaping would become impossible for them soon.

In the depths of the forest, the Treemen each felt a surge of anger at the sight of the burning woods.

“Humans dare to set fire to our forest; we must punish them!”

“Yes! We must fiercely punish those despicable humans!”

“They show no reverence for nature or the forest!”

“…”

As the Treemen’s voices echoed, their rationality gradually slipped away.

“Kill, wipe out all those humans!”

Finally, led by Mackart, the Treemen charged at the humans.

They completely forgot the orders Airael had given them and overlooked their Elder’s instructions.