"The Sorren Commerce was the largest smuggling guild in Segis World, controlling at least 70% of the black market slave trade. For them, dealing in elves was a significant source of income."
"To my knowledge, ever since the Mother Goddess... well... Her Holiness started to protect the elves, they couldn’t sit still. After all, a race blessed by a True God and one without such protection is completely different."
"These are bastards who would do anything for profit, as human merchants, they didn’t even worship the Gods of trade and fairness of the human pantheon, only engaging in shady dealings..."
"So... I have every reason to suspect that the Half-Beasts may have reached some secret agreement with them. It’s likely the Half-Beasts are planning to invade our Elf Forest once more."
Selena said solemnly.
"But Selena, we have previously defeated the Half-Beast army. A full thirty thousand Half-Beasts perished at the hands of the Chosen One, even Lionheart King Imush and the Half-Beast’s Chief Priest were killed, and their kingly Divine Artifact, the Lion Heart Sword, became the Chosen One’s trophy..."
"Under these circumstances, do the Half-Beasts still have the strength to organize another invasion? We were very weak then, but now... whether it’s the Chosen One or us, we’re no longer the same."
Life Saintess Alice retorted.
She furrowed her brows slightly, her words tinged with doubt.
Upon hearing her words, Selena sighed and said,
"Alice, I thought the same before, but... while in the Aries Kingdom, I met other clansmen and learned more about the Half-Beasts."
"We knew too little about the Half-Beasts..."
She paused here and looked toward the silent listener, Divine Favored Zero, and asked,
"Lord Ling, may I invite in the clansmen who know the details?"
With her permission, Selena quickly ushered in a male elf.
He was a companion who had returned with her, his hair was icy blue, and his eyes were clear as sapphires.
However, at this moment, his expression appeared bewildered, as if between laughter and tears, seemingly greatly shocked.
Nevertheless, neither Alice nor Eve was surprised by his reaction.
After Eve began preaching faith under the guise of the Life Goddess and protector of elves, many elves, after moments of hesitation and struggle, returned to see the grandeur of the Elf Forest and realized the true identity of the Life Goddess... all bore this expression.
It was shock, ecstasy, excitement, grievance...
The elf quickly realized his lost composure, wiped the moisture from the corners of his eyes, and hurriedly saluted Eve and Alice,
"Mires Frost, greets Lord Divine Favored and Lord Holy Daughter."
His movements were very standard, not an elf’s etiquette, but rather the most popular noble etiquette of the continent.
Eve nodded slightly, while Alice joyfully helped him up,
"So, you’re from the Frost Tribe, there’s no need to be so formal, just call me Alice."
However, when she helped him up, Alice noticed the horrifying scars under his sleeves.
The Elf Girl’s movements paused slightly, and her expression turned complex, while Mires awkwardly concealed his arm,
"Sor... sorry... for letting you see something unpleasant..."
"No, don’t be nervous, I understand, you have suffered."
Alice comforted him while helping him up.
She didn’t ask about the scars on his body because she had already guessed the reason.
"Mires is a companion we rescued from the Sorren Commerce. He was traded to the Human World by slave traders when he was very young and stayed in the Aries Kingdom for a total of three hundred years, gaining deep knowledge of the Half-Beasts."
The long stay in the Aries Kingdom and detailed knowledge of the Half-Beasts was beyond doubt.
Because the Aries Kingdom directly faced the Death Desert, it was the Human Kingdom most threatened by the Half-Beasts. The kingdom’s humans frequently fought against the Half-Beast Tribe in the Four Emperor Deserts and were particularly familiar with them.
This familiarity even surpassed that of elves who had previously helped the Half-Beasts settle and surpassed Eve, who inherited the legacy of the World Tree.
"Sorry... after staying in the Human World for so long, I instinctively used human etiquette, but I will correct this immediately."
Mires said somewhat anxiously.
"Relax a bit, and take it slowly."
Upon hearing Alice’s words, Mires calmed down slightly.
He took a few deep breaths, then his expression grew solemn as he placed his right hand on his chest, drew a tree-shaped symbol, and crossed his hands, bowing deeply in an elven ceremony once more,
"Mires Frost, greets Lord Divine Favored Zero and Saintess Alice."
"The symbol of the Life Goddess is not the World Tree, but the Life Scepter."
Selena reminded sternly on the side.
Mires’s movement froze again.
"Don’t be so tense, some things are best to just know. But since you know, don’t leave the Elf Forest again. That would be both for Her Highness and for ourselves."
Mires nodded with deep agreement and remarked,
"The Elf Forest now... has become a veritable paradise. I believe no clansman would wish to leave once they return."