The fate of an entire race is determined by good omens. Even if it means twisting the fate of the world.
It supplies mana throughout the nation. Even if it devastates the entire sea region.
It provides the most suitable climate anywhere, anytime. Even if neighboring countries become colder and drier.
It acts solely for the eternal transformation of the Elves. The methods of its operation were merely side effects. The Great Blessing of Milestone operated for only one proposition.
[Eternal prosperity.]
Therefore, paradoxically, the Milestone cannot stop within its scope of operation. Stopping the Milestone would hinder the prosperity of the Elves, so the Great Blessing will work to protect the Milestone.
“Do you know when our race had a civil war?”
“A civil war… Are you talking about a civil war?”
“Yes. Just like those humans and demons do, a ‘real war’ against each other.”
“That’s… a culture of primitive races… We, we Elves would never do such a lowly thing—.”
“Really? Seriously?”
The Queen chuckled.
“Is it rare for Elves to kill other Elves? Corporations devour corporations, and sometimes internal strife arises to drive one side out, execute them, and cast them into the sea to drown. Is it that rare to poison each other or attempt assassination?”
“However, Your Majesty. That is—.”
“Despite that immense desire, we have never caused a ‘civil war.’ Even though there were enough incidents, reasons, and purposes to do so. Even when the king’s authority fell to the ground and all the nobles claimed to be the king of their own countries!!”
Hermon stiffened at the Queen’s words.
“Because that would be an act ‘against prosperity’! For the sake of the entire Elven race, a civil war must be avoided at all costs. The Great Blessing of Milestone did not allow any conflict to escalate into war.”
“What… are you saying…?”
“What if we consider that the Milestone is casting Mind Sorcery over our entire race?”
If it violates the proposition of eternal prosperity, even guiding the way of thinking.
“So, if Milestone indeed stopped, wouldn’t it be by the Milestone’s own judgment?”
Now judging that stopping would be more favorable for the prosperity of Elves.
To test that.
“There are no civil wars, no disputes, no competition. We control logistics since we dominate the sea region, and while leading trade, wealth accumulates without us doing anything. We crushed the demons, so we could share all the interests without having to conquer.”
The Queen continued to speak in a singing manner.
“Before that and after that. Humans are simply too foolish. As long as the United Kingdom is maintained, Kalion can remain the strongest nation forever.”
What is necessary can be obtained as desired. No one strives for progress.
They remain content with merely excavating the artifacts and technology made by their distant ancestors.
This image of leisurely living in paradise, supported by long lifespans and ample resources.
“It’s stagnation.”
“Pardon…?”
“The Milestone has judged that the Elven society is now stagnant. The political situation has stabilized, so Kalion is stagnant. Therefore, it can no longer prosper, and the reason is due to the blessing of the Milestone.”
The Milestone judged that it must be destroyed.
“However, that is just an artifact! It has no intellect or reason… We do not serve such fickle gods—”
“Have you truly created a true god by your own power?”
“… Yes, Your Majesty.”
“Your mentor told me that. Do you know what he said afterward?”
Rejecting the fickle false gods, the Elves truly created a great god for themselves.
A god that loves only the Elves and exists forever for the Elves.
“If the god truly loves his people, shouldn’t he be willing to let go?”
“What do you mean…?”
“No child can live forever under their parents’ roof. For a sufficiently matured child, shouldn’t the parents step back?”
The Queen smiled, recalling the mage regarded as the most powerful in this world.
If indeed, Milestone can stop, it will be because Milestone intended it.
Make a decision for the whole race. If granted permission, the god would act.
So be it.
You will be recorded as a tyrant who destroyed the artifacts of your ancestors, but your people will be forever praised.
“Is the day of your death upon us, O celestial observer of yours.”
All parents must one day step aside for their children.
“The Alchemy Faction attempted to extinguish the Milestone and summon monsters.”
Edel whispered quietly in the dark. A man listening to her turned his head.
It was right after he had killed half of his disciples. The great swordsman who personally beheaded half of the Swordsmanship Faction’s disciples gazed up at the dark night sky and whispered.
“And the Life Faction developed a technique to create divine power from souls.”
One remaining eye glimmered ominously.
“We, the foolish disciples of the Swordsmanship Faction, found a way to induce mental acceleration.”
“Master…?”
“All three have utilized the Milestone.”
Even amidst the concerned eyes of her disciples, Edel silently looked up at the sky.
“I lack knowledge and am ignorant of magic… But let’s assume my deficient kin were each researching such things.”
“Yes, Master.”
“If they all possess at least one unique talent, and if we consider they developed things that only they can do—”
Alchemy Faction, Life Faction, Swordsmanship Faction.
These three groups she identified each used the Milestone to develop their own technologies for themselves in their own ways.
All of that could be viewed as a kind of the ‘essence of what they can do.’
And if all those kinds of technology developments were being attempted by all the research councils… that is, if all academies were trying to do so.
“Each different academy protecting the Milestone has created the essence of technology that can be implemented in different ways.”
“… Yes…?”
“If all of that converges through the medium of the Milestone, doesn’t it seem somewhat familiar?”
Edel was ignorant of magic. She had never even shown interest in it. All her concern was solely limited to the art of the sword.
Thus, she couldn’t comprehend the principles of the Milestone, the workings of the Great Blessing, or the purposes of the research conducted by the academies.
However, she was a person who had fought on the battlefield for many years. She had even faced the Seven Dragon Lords directly and survived.
So now, she instinctively realized.
“The limit of all possibilities that a race can achieve. The essence of racial evolution. The maximum potential of a race.”
When all those elements gathered, when they began to act as one form.
The United Kingdom referred to that existence as such.
The Seven Dragon Lords. Those who lived and became gods.
And the most representative nickname of the Milestone was ‘the god we created with our own hands.’
“What the hell have you done, Veolgrin?”
The mana does not move. Neural acceleration and physical enhancement did not function either.
She bitterly muttered as the winter winds hit her violently.
“What do you intend to do by creating a god of Elves that does not love Elves?”
“Do you know the word Ku-Geor?”
“Is that Elvish? I don’t know it well.”
“It means ‘Winter Hunting Dog.’”
Veolgrin smiled while looking at Maximilian.
“According to the legends from the days when there was still winter in Kalion, there was a hunting dog bred during winter that existed deep in the night. It was said that the souls of animals that died in winter were passed on to that hunting dog.”
“Ah, our country also has many similar folk tales. The common folk mythologize beings they cannot oppose. Like meteorological phenomena or natural disasters.”
“Yes, that’s right.”
Veolgrin quietly nodded.
“The difference between Elven legends and those of other nations is that this hunting dog ultimately killed winter. It is believed that after the famished hunting dog eventually consumed its own master, spring would finally arrive.”
“Indeed, Elves are no different. Their way of creating folk tales is just like humans.”
“Life is probably like that.”
Veolgrin concluded while gazing at the tumultuous winter sea filled with snow and hail.
“Lieutenant Colonel!! Lieutenant Colonel!!”
“I told you to call me Commander. Why?”
“It seems the Elves can’t use magic anymore? It is said this isn’t just some ambiguous winter?”
“Hmm?”
At the Idrenhill diplomatic residence, a man scratched his chin and tilted his head.
“Elves are originally frail and do get quite cold. But just with this kind of weather?”
“Ha ha, indeed!”
As he laughed, the man took a moment to gather his thoughts and spoke.
“The fact that the Elves can’t use magic means… they can’t use Mind Sorcery anymore, right?”
“Presumably?”
“If they can’t even do that, there’s nothing they can do.”
“That’s right?”
“Let’s think… In that case.”
A spy from a cold country’s eyes glimmered as he stood up.
“It’s our world, isn’t it?”
The seasons of Krasilov consist of winter, hot winter, cold winter, and painfully cold winter.
Such weather is not vastly different from Krasilov’s warm late spring.
And the thirty-odd men present here—
“What should we do to live as busily as possible before the seniors arrive?”
They were the last survivors of the Cleanup Unit.
The extremely few survivors who had received orders to assassinate the remaining Seven Dragon Lords, whom the Hero could not kill, and still managed to return alive.
Among them, those who swore allegiance to the nation until the very end.
Founding members of the Counterintelligence Command. And that meant soon.
“We must witness our Majesty’s wedding. Right, everyone?”
This meant they were the disciples of Ivan Petrovich.
All members of the first strike team of the Counterintelligence Command, under Dmitri, lightly chuckled and stood up.
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