Chapter 80

Chapter 80 – The Great Being (10)

“A High Elf that went extinct thousands of years ago has appeared!”

“This High Elf has lived for over 10,000 years. She has been alive since the Mythical Era!”

“The Order of Light has completed all verifications. The Saintess brought here by the High Elf herself is the true Saintess!”

The news spread like wildfire. It didn’t take long for the words of the people, the reporters rushing in like the wind, and the news printed in newspapers to leap across the entire continent.

If Irilia had commanded the Order to maintain secrecy, it might have been different. But she did not do so.

“It’s too late anyway.”

She smiled wryly at her identity, which was causing a stir in the world. Although it was something she had prepared for, it was true that she felt burdened when it came to actually revealing herself and taking action.

“I believe it’s better this way. After all, due to her unique appearance, the High Elf would find it hard to act freely regardless.”

“That’s true.”

She nodded at Arisa’s words. Even if she could manage to pass as an ordinary girl by covering her ears, there were clear limits to that.

Her stunning silver hair and beautiful features attracted everyone’s attention. In fact, Lila hadn’t been captivated by Irilia simply because she was an Elf.

It was solely her appearance that had drawn them in. Since she had given up on acting like a truly ordinary girl, her behavior also caught attention.

In other words, even if she concealed being a High Elf, it would still be impossible for Irilia to live as freely as she wished.

“The ancient High Elf has emerged to proclaim that unless everyone joins forces against the impending calamity that ended the Mythical Era, it will once again engulf this world… I think this should have some effect.”

“If we’re going to reveal our identities, we should at least gain something from it.”

Since she had revealed her identity, Irilia also decided to make her intentions known. She warned and proposed that the members of the Order fight against the disasters that even the leaders of the Order couldn’t fully grasp.

Although there was no visible effect yet, a stone had already been thrown into the lake.

It remained to be seen how large the ripples would grow.

“Then, will you really execute the next plan? You’re saying you’ll impart teachings to the Hero and the Saintess?”

“‘Teaching’ is just an excuse; I’m planning to help where I can.”

She shook her head at the mention of teaching. She knew full well that she was not at the level of imparting knowledge to others.

All her power came from the strengths linked to her past and the abilities gained from awakening as an Elf. Those two were all she had. Unlike others who mistakenly believed she possessed deep knowledge and skills from living for 10,000 years, that was not the case.

Instead, there were certainly areas where she could help, including knowledge from a distant past that only she knew.

“Others won’t see it that way.”

“Whether they consider me a mentor or not is none of my concern.”

She shrugged at Arisa’s observation. The water spirit that had been peeking out from the teacup in front of her was nodding in agreement.

*

“A girl with brilliant silver hair and deep crimson eyes, but inside is a 10,000-year-old High Elf. It seems she has finally taken off that suffocating hood.”

“I just thought she was a special Elf… Aren’t there ordinary people with white hair and red eyes?”

“Can you even compare? I knew it would come to this from the start.”

Ethan tossed the newspaper aside and chuckled heartily, as if feeling relieved. However, his loyal subordinate, who had once faced Irilia alongside him, was stunned, unable to take his eyes off the newspaper.

“But it seems the High Elf has no intention of revealing her connection to us. She sent her companions away and only took one Elf with her. Did you check the records of her entry into the Leap Zone?”

“Yes, she must have moved with Lila’s party, but surprisingly, there are no records at all. They are all still in the same place.”

“I don’t know how she did it, but it seems she can even manipulate the entry records written by the responsible mage. So don’t dig deeper.”

While High Elf Irilia had publicly revealed her identity to the world through the Order, adventurer girl Isil remained in a distant city.

Ethan understood that this was her intention and refrained from acting. It was clear that Irilia had no plans to let them go easily.

“A benevolent and wise elder from ancient times is going to impart teachings to the Hero and Saintess. Hmph.”

Seeing another article, he sighed. He couldn’t fathom what expression she wore or how she had charmed the Order, but the Irilia he knew was far from a benevolent mentor or elder.

The Irilia he had seen was a conceited brat who acted on her own whims or a cruel boss that made even members of the underworld tremble in fear.

‘This is going to be a big deal.’

Imagining how shocked the world would be when her mask comes off, Ethan shook his head. He thought no one would believe that a noble 10,000-year-old High Elf could have started by taking over an underworld gang.

“Captain! We’ve received word from Captain Erns Restia!”

“Oh, speaking of which, he was also there.”

At that moment, another subordinate rushed in. At the mention of Erns Restia’s name, Ethan couldn’t help but chuckle.

Lila’s father, Erns Restia, was also one of the people who had seen Irilia. He likely never thought that the being he intended to use as merely a slave would be such a significant figure.

“As long as Lila is right beside her, there shouldn’t be any problems.”

There was no need to worry about that. Since Lila, his only daughter, was with Irilia, Erns could not be hostile to her, even if the sky split apart.

He would simply need to advise him to keep his mouth shut. However, since Ethan had openly taken his daughter away, he would earn Erns’s deeper resentment, but that was something he would have to bear as he acted under Irilia’s orders.

‘Is there anyone else apart from us?’

Rising from his seat, he glanced out the window at the city.

He was certain there were others who would respond to the news spreading across the continent, people who could be considered Irilia’s “agents,” and he was not the only one.

And that certainty was undoubtedly the truth.

“It’s time.”

“P-Professor?”

As Renia leaped up, her startled students flinched. Regardless, the ears and tail of Renia, who had been drooping, were moving more lively than ever.

“There are still many foolish and ignorant people in this world who do not realize the crisis we are in. Since she has stepped forward, the situation will surely change.”

There was a glow on Renia’s face. It was her own achievement that led to the investigation of the Calamity based on her chance meeting with Irilia, uncovering the truth behind it.

However, there were still quite a few obstacles obstructing her path. People who envied her for her young age and outstanding achievements, those who could not easily forsake their own beliefs, and so on.

Each time, she had wished to lean on Irilia’s authority.

If Irilia publicly disclosed that she had existed in the Mythical Era 10,000 years ago, who could possibly deny it?

However, Irilia chose to act from the shadows, while Renia had to take all the attacks head-on.

But now, she no longer needed to do so.

“Quickly prepare the report and the invitation! We will hold another presentation, and make sure to urge them to attend! I have received a direct request from her!”

“A-Understood!”

Renia urged her students to set up the presentation once more.

Without logic or evidence, she intended to hit those who had slandered her and refused to believe her, all for their own interests, with this opportunity.

‘Just the fact that she has revealed herself has caused such a stir in the world.’

After sending all her students away, she sat back down at her desk, feeling a little calmer.

Then she picked up the newspaper that was in front of her. In fact, the chaos was not limited to her office.

Places that had no direct connection to Irilia were also showing tremendous interest.

After all, a person from 10,000 years ago had appeared. It was common knowledge that Elves lived for a few hundred years, but this was not just a few hundred years.

Someone who lived in an era where all records and traces were denied and erased had emerged.

‘Could history itself change? Though perhaps not that much?’

While the immediate pressing issue of the Calamity was being shoved aside, Renia was, in fact, a scholar studying that age.

A simple comment tossed by Irilia could be the evidence and testimony that would shake the academic world. Other scholars would certainly struggle to meet her, but Renia didn’t mind.

After all, she was one of the few who had made a pact with that great High Elf.