In the heart of the Great Forest of Goosenfall, in a square at the foot of the evil-tinted Great Spirit Tree.

　In the center of the Great Forest of Gethenfall, at the foot of the Great Spirit Tree, a magic circle shining with the hue of fresh blood was deployed in multiple layers, casting a vague and mysterious light from beneath their feet.
　Skeletons in robes ...... chanted spells in a chorus of frightening voices and clapped their tin canes on the ground at regular intervals.
　In the center of the magic circle, a breathless Rie Ramirez somehow managed to sit up and pray to the new moon.
　A ritual to darken his soul and make him a dark elf.

　Rene was looking down from a room of vines that were attached to the Great Spirit Tree like fruit.
　The vines that make up the room are dripping a blood red liquid.

"One month ......?　We've been in there that long?
　Subjectively, it was only half a day.

　As soon as the condescending old ghoul began to report the situation, Rene was taken aback.

Wait, so what happened to the battle? The imperial army was about to arrive, wasn't it?
　It's been a month since then. ......
"Let me explain it to you step by step.
　First of all, after the disappearance of the princess and Miaranse, we immediately raised the forces that had been deployed.
　We judged that we would only unnecessarily reduce the number of our allies in this situation, given that our opponent was one of them.

　The kneeling Alastor frowned.
　It's safe to assume that the mad Elves are up to something. If that is the case, we will have no choice but to retreat from the forest itself, rather than fight the imperial army.

"...... The elves have failed miserably. Or perhaps I should say that they did not even fight.
　This line was a fatal defeat, and the Imperial side made a full-scale incursion into the Great Forest of Goosenfall. The elves did their best to sneak between the trees and guerrilla-style attack the enemy soldiers who had penetrated the forest, but even that was not enough. ......
　The power of the forest was weakened because they were using their strength to contain the princess, and the elves were forced to fight even harder.

　This is the first time I've ever seen such a thing.
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I'm not sure what to make of that.
　A battle to delay the invasion of the enemy is normally only done when there is a chance that the situation will improve with time. ......
"I heard about that from Lieramires.
　I'm not sure what to do, but I'm sure I'll be able to do it.
What?
It turns out that was a big lie, and the Elven Fathers were fine with it as long as I was defeated, and they didn't care what happened to the forest.
The elves were all conspiring against me.
I think there's something going on in the veins of this forest that has something to do with the Great God.
　It's also a mystery why the night of the new moon was the night when he tried to capture or defeat me. Normally, this should be avoided as a time when my power would be stronger.
　I'll wait for Everith's analysis on that.

　Rene looks around at the blackened forest.
　She can't see the whole forest because she's not very high up, and all she can see are trees whose branches and leaves are all distorted and blackened by the evil. Everything in my field of vision seems to be black.
　Now that I've defiled the veins, it shouldn't be dangerous for me to be here, but until then, I've been buried in a mine.
　I thought that light figure was also 'something unique to elves', not even sacred magic. ......

I'm sorry for interrupting. To be continued.
"Ha.
　I'm sure you've heard of it. ...... The forest is strong because the elves have control of the earth's veins.
　It's not just a matter of time before you'll find yourself in a situation where you'll be able to't get out of it.
　Already, about 28% of the entire forest is under the control of the Imperial Army. The fact that they lasted a month in a situation where they couldn't even put up a proper resistance is due to the fact that the Imperial Army had a policy of restraining the wear and tear of their troops and proceeding in a steady manner.

　Alastor spread out a map of the Great Forest of Goosenfall and the three surrounding countries on the black ivy floor.
　The forest area was filled in from the upper right. This was the area that the Empire had conquered.
　It didn't look like they were moving toward the center of the map, but rather that they were licking away at the outer edges of the map.

It's been a month, but surprisingly little progress has been made.
　It means that they are taking their time to take out the veins of the earth without forcing an attack. ......
It's hard to resist at an accelerated rate, even at 28%.
　If you can get 40% of them, the rest will be over in a week. If you're fighting with only elves, that is.

　The witch, almost in her underwear, came up the giant vine path and took over the conversation.
　It was Everith, the one who was supposed to be leading the dark elf ritual on the ground. She brought up a chair that was lying around and sat cross-legged in a pose that minimized the apparent fabric area. Their lush thighs intertwined and claimed each other's elasticity.

"Everis. Is the ritual over?
You don't have to stay with me.
　...... It's almost over, but princess, you're the first one to celebrate, so why don't you congratulate her?
　It's going to be a drudgery ritual and there will be no emotion.
All right.

　Rene felt that below him, the flow of magical power woven by the ritual was converging.

　Rene threw herself through the hole in the wall that had unraveled, holding the skirt of her dress as she free-falled.
　The air resistance of her long hair caused her head to float, but she was able to reattach it, killing the impact and landing on the ground.

　Standing in front of Rielamires, who was praying, Rene produced a cursed red blade in his hand.
　Like a king anointing a knight, Rene placed the belly of the sword against Liaramires' shoulder.
　Rielramirez was not surprised by the sudden fall of Rene, and remained still.

No peace on earth, no justice for men. There is no God in heaven.
"Perhaps we can find a way.

　"But I believe there is a way for us," said Rielramirez, breathing hard through his dying breath.

...... is a good answer.

　Rene turned his blade 90 degrees and plunged it into Liaramires' shoulder.



"Huh. ......!

　The blade sunk into the ground.
　From that wound, Lia Ramirez began to be stained.

　Existence itself is being repainted. The meaning of her existence is being rewritten.
　Her beautiful skin, reminiscent of white wood, became a dark brown. Her jade-like eyes turned to gold, like sharp, shining stars.
　Her sparse green hair became slightly darker. All elves had green hair, but dark elves could be black or silver, or even green like the elves.
　There was a creaking sound of bones and she shuddered as if in great pain. The body structure is slightly altered. The elves were slender, but more robust and powerful.
　The liches surrounding the magic circle struck and clanged their tin wands in unison, and at the same time, a dark light rose from the magic circle, enveloping Riela Milles like a tangled web, binding and exploding.

　The area was silent, and Rielamirez stared at his discolored hands, frowning.

"...... is over, isn't it?
It's begun.

　Rielramirez straightens up, puts one hand on his chest and opens the other to show René.
　Her body seemed to relax. The defilement on her body has become her strength, the evil in the forest draws her strength.

Come on, let's go. First, I need to make this forest mine.

　The undead who had been watching the ritual cleared the way.
　As Rene began to walk away, Lieramires stood up and followed him, stepping firmly on the ground to keep him from stumbling.