#1100 Visitors to the Development Site – Elf POV

My name is Elelelelelelcy.

...Wait, wrong.

It’s Elelelelcy.

Four Els in total!

Even after living for centuries, I’m still not used to my own name.

Well, it can’t be helped.

Among us elves, “El” holds significant value.

After all, the number of “El” included in your name indicates your rank in elven society!

So having four makes it clear I’m of a high caste among elves.

Of course, that’s only natural because I’m not just any elf!

I’m a High Elf!!!

A High Elf is an evolved form of elf who has absorbed the pure mana of the forest, becoming more noble and refined!

We live far longer than regular elves, centuries easily!

Furthermore, we can freely wield the natural magic that only comes with great age.

Some say we’re so powerful and uncanny that we’re almost like a “quasi-Lifeless King”!

…Who are they calling a Lifeless King?! I’m nothing like those shriveled-up corpses!

Anyway...

I’ve enjoyed my many centuries of life quite pleasantly enough.

Lately, I’ve been into collecting the elegant, refined masterpieces crafted by Master Aileron.

…Huh?

You’ve never heard of Master Aileron?

You’re SO behind the times!

Master Aileron is a genius artisan who gives birth to supreme beauty with her own two hands.

She’s basically an elven national treasure!!!

Her works are just so… “Myuhyaaaaa!” and “Meta!”, they really seep into your soul.

To appreciate them, you need to live in a forest for a hundred, two hundred years at least, letting their depth truly sink in.

So there I was, living the easy life for the last three thousand, uh, three years or so?

When you’re practically immortal, your sense of time gets fuzzy.

In any case, urgent news came one day.

It was from one of my subordinates.

“…What’s that? The Saint has revealed himself to the public?”

Now that’s unexpected.

Are we talking about that particular Saint I know of?

See, I have a bit of a history with him.

...

A few years back, I was on the brink of death.

My homeland, the Elven Forest, was dying.

Human magic scars the land’s mana.

Without mana, the forests wither.

Repeated human rampages had drained the earth dry, and the forest where we elves dwell was no exception.

The trees grew thin, and then human armies would invade, trying to force us into submission, setting the forest aflame.

Over and over, until our forest hovered on the brink of extinction.

Without intervention, it surely would have vanished.

But then something remarkable happened.

The Saint descended.

For no apparent reason, he offered to restore the Elven Forest.

He wanted to revive the land’s mana, replant the trees, and bring back the endless woodland that once spread to the horizon.

When I first heard it, I thought it was a fairy tale.

A lunatic’s pipe dream.

But the Saint made good on his word. Though not yet at its former glory, the replanted forest has grown tall and lush.

Beasts and insects have returned, thriving in the restored greenery.

It’s no exaggeration to say the Saint saved the Elven Forest.

...And now that same Saint is appearing openly in public?

Even though I barely know him, I can tell he’s always been a world-weary recluse.

He probably hates any involvement with society at large.

So why show up now, out in the open?

Something must be driving him.

I asked my subordinates what they knew.

They said:

“He’s helping humans with some kind of frontier development…”

What? Development?

Ugh, just hearing that word makes my pointed ears wilt.

From an elf’s point of view, this so-called ‘land development’ is the most abominable, twisted offense there is.

Humans, under the banner of ‘development,’ cut down trees and grind entire forests to dust.

The very forests that form our most precious homeland.

When we elves hear ‘development,’ we rush over and throw wrenches in their works, no matter where it’s happening.

We are the guardians of the forest!

But this time, the Saint, the one who saved our forest, is involved. That complicates things.

I’ve always wanted to repay him for reviving our forest.

But attacking his efforts would feel like a huge betrayal. At the same time, I can’t just stand by while forests are harmed.

What a tricky situation this is.

If that’s the case, there’s only one thing to do: go see for myself.

I’ll head to this so-called development site and judge the Saint’s true intentions.

If he’s truly causing harm to the forests, even a benefactor must face our wrath.

Don’t worry! Elves are naturally ungrateful, anyway!

***

So here I am at the rumored frontier settlement.

Hmm, this forest is delightful.

Brimming with life, the air so pure.

If even a High Elf like me is comfortable here, that’s proof of its quality.

To nurture such a rich forest would take more than a mere century or two.

This is precious land. Yet humans think nothing of despoiling it for their so-called development.

We elves must ensure no such savagery goes unpunished.

Let’s find the Saint.

…Oh, there he is.

He’s surrounded by a few attendants, making a ruckus.

“Tiiimberrrr!!!”

That cracking sound... are they cutting down a tree?!

A tree, a friend to all elves, felled by human hands!

So they are indeed doing it! Curse those barbaric humans!

And the Saint is helping them?!

Unforgivable! Even if he’s our savior, he’s still committing a crime against the forest and must face the consequences!

I’m just about to unleash a blast of natural magic when I hear the Saint’s booming voice:

“Hey! Don’t just chop any tree at random! We carefully chose which ones to fell. No shortage, no surplus, got it?”

So he’s instructing his team?

“The forest is essential for our survival too, so we can’t just hack it down willy-nilly. We’ll be replanting this area after harvesting it, restoring a sustainable woodland. Understand?”

Incredible.

The Saint’s actually planning a careful, sustainable approach.

As expected of the one who brought our forest back from the brink!

“Human life coexists with nature! Our development aims to minimize harm to the environment. We’ll only fell the absolute minimum number of trees needed for building materials. Got it?!”

Perfect!

Then we elves can help with that endeavor!

Minimizing damage to nature is exactly what we want.

Let’s join forces with these humans! Hurraaaaaaaaaaaah!!!

“Gyaaaah! An elf showed up?!”

“I heard elves jump out of nowhere and chop the heads off developers! Everyone, defend yourselves! Save your own skins!”

“Gyaaaah, the headhunters are here! Spare us, oh please!”

Huh? What’s going on?

The moment I appear, these developers start freaking out.

Sure, elves have a history of attacking developers, but I was just moved by how carefully they’re treating the forest. I want to help, not hurt them!

Let’s work together!

No, wait-

Ouch, ow, ow, ow!

They’re pelting me with stones!

That hurts, you idiots! Quit it already or I’ll kill you!!!