#490 The Elf Monarchy’s Tranquility

My name is Elfelf Elfriede El-Dupont Eltoerus Elcator Elza Elze Elvira Elmantos Elcador Elise Elfelf Mikael Uriel Gabriel Ariel Raphael Elle Elfant.

I am a supreme elf who was allowed to have twenty sacred Els engraved on my name.

Naturally, I am a High Elf— fittingly revered as the monarch in the forest where I reside.

Our elven community is of a scale and cultural standard worthy of being called a “monarchy.”

In a land once known as the Human Kingdom, the forests have withered, and the elven population has declined, but this is limited to their side only.

Elven settlements within the Demon Kingdom show unprecedented prosperity.

Among them, the settlement I rule in particular has never declined.

The reason for this is due to Yggdrasil, the only tree of its kind in this whole wide world. It is the largest, most powerful, and most precious tree among the countless trees that exist.

Yggdrasil is said to have existed since the beginning of the world, thousands or even tens of thousands of years old.

It is a sacred tree, and just by standing, it purifies the air and gives vitality to life.

Thanks to the tree, the surrounding forest is always healthy and disease-free. At least for the past several hundred years, no part of the forest has died, unlike the ones in the Human Kingdom.

As long as Yggdrasil exists, my settlement, the Elf Monarchy, will be safe.

There is another benefit that Yggdrasil gives us—its leaves.

These special leaves are harvested in fixed numbers several times a year after the festival to give thanks to Yggdrasil.

They can heal any wound when applied to the affected area, and when ingested into the body, they can get rid of incurable diseases and ailments.

It is safe to say that the word “panacea” exists to signify the versatility of Yggdrasil Leaves.

Naturally, the leaves are exclusively used to keep us elves healthy. Still, some are also being exported outside the forest because other people want to experience the medicinal benefits themselves.

In the past, thieves would invade the forest and pluck the leaves by force, but our elite elves, also known as manhunters, didn’t let any of them leave alive.

Eventually, people started to coax us into using the leaves as currency and trading them for a large sum of money.

We made a huge profit.

We elves, who have never dealt with such fortune, have been able to buy various useful things outside the forest, enriching our lives even more.

Yggdrasil s is benefiting us in many ways.

Long live Yggdrasil, our almighty guardian!

The elves living within the Human Kingdom’s territory who could not have such a guardian are truly a pity.

But who cares about the hardships of others? We, the Elf Monarchy, will receive the blessings of Yggdrasil and continue to maintain our eternal peace.

Hooooooh-ho-ho-ho-ho!

At least, that’s how I used to think.

Now, everything feels like a distant memory from the past...

* * *

“What is this?”

What got me so upset was when I was shown a written estimate for a business deal.

Who was that foreigner trying to do business with us again?

Whatever. Anyway, this demon merchant was awfully cocky that day.

“As you can see, here is my estimate of the price for your Yggdrasil Leaves.”

“Isn’t this very cheap? More or less half of the price of your usual quote.”

You’re buying the same quantity as usual, right?

So why has the price been reduced?

“I suppose you weren’t aware. Well, Yggdrasil Leaves are experiencing a price collapse in the Demon Kingdom at the moment.”

“A price collapse?!”

You should have told me that first!

We’ve been living in the forest for so long that we don’t know much about the outside world!

And why? Why is there a price collapse?

A price collapse means that a commodity’s price has drastically dropped, right?

Yggdrasil Leaves? Being bought cheap?

Are you trying to buy down something sacred and precious? How dare you!

“Please calm down. The price is not going down for no reason.”

“And you’re saying there’s a good reason for this?! The monetary value of Yggdrasil Leaves decreasing is nothing short of preposterous!”

Yggdrasil is a hidden treasure that we, the elves, worship from its roots to its leaves!

If its leaves become cheaper, it means they’ve lost some value!

Such a thing is unforgivable!

“The reason why Yggdrasil Leaves have been traded at such a high price is that the absolute number of leaves is extremely small—the supply was too small to keep up with the demand. Such an article will inevitably be expensive.”

“Exactly! Yggdrasil Leaves are precious! They aren’t something that should be sold to outsiders, to begin with!”

You should be grateful we’re willing to sell even a small portion of them!

Don’t try to underbid us!

“Ma’am, the thing is, we’ve recently developed a new sales channel...”

“What?!

“Supply is catching up with demand, and it’s only natural that the price should be in line.”

Wait a minute, a new sales channel?

There should be no such thing!

“There is only one Yggdrasil in the world! How can Yggdrasil Leaves come from somewhere else?”

“Well...we can’t say much because confidentiality agreements bind us. But we are trying to use several suppliers in order to make it more affordable for our consumers. We hope you understand.”

“Of course I don’t understand! Not a single Yggdrasil Leaf can be sold to those who make a fool out of us! Unless you change the unfair price reduction, we won’t be doing business with you anymore!”

“Is that so. Well, apart from this deal, I brought this pottery in hopes of you purchasing it. I’m afraid I have to bring back “The Elf’s Willpower,” the latest work made by Noujou’s craftsmen with all their heart and soul...”

“Wait a minute! I want that! Let me take a closer look!”

Ha...!

It’s so lovely...!

The coloring and shape of this clay pottery are profound and well thought-out!

I’ll buy this, but I still don’t agree with the price of the leaves, so let’s put that on hold!

* * *

“And that’s why we didn’t sell the Yggdrasil Leaves? But on the contrary, milady paid a lot of money to buy all that weird pottery?”

“What is it to you, assistant? Can’t you see the brilliance of this pottery?!”

The charm of the plates and containers that have been circulating the Demon Kingdom of late has struck a chord with me, the Elf Monarch!

“But that doesn’t mean you should buy this many, milady. How many does this make now? You’ve spent most of the money we made from selling Yggdrasil Leaves on these. If we can’t sell any more leaves, the Elf Monarchy will lose everything!”

Yes, that’s the problem.

Up until now, Yggdrasil Leaves have been sold at a reasonable price and have brought us huge profits.

However, this invincible pattern is starting to fall apart.

“The demon merchant said they have found a new supplier, but how is that possible?”

“It’s not. After all, Yggdrasil is the only tree of its kind.”

I think.

If I had to guess, I would say someone has created an elaborate counterfeit.

“The brazen lot! To imitate the sacred Yggdrasil and create a fake is absurd! As elves who worship the World Tree, we will not overlook this wickedness!”

“If we destroy our rivals, surely, we can sell Yggdrasil Leaves to the highest bidder again!”

How worldly-minded of you, assistant!

Very well. You must investigate and find out the offender who produces these fake leaves and give them the appropriate sanction from our forest!

Let them know the might of the elven settlement that bears the name of “Elf Monarch”!

“As you wish! ...But milady...!”

“What is it?”

“The power of the Elf Monarchy’s people is limited to within the forest. Naturally, the enemy will be outside of that. Whatever should we do...?!”

That’s what you’re worried about?

“Have you forgotten who I am? I’m... Elfelf Elfriede El-Dupont Eltoerus Elcator Elza Elze Elvira Elmantos Elcador Elise Elfelf Mikael Uriel Gabriel Ariel Raphael Elle Elfant.”

“You don’t have to tell me your name from start to finish, milady.”

Oh.

“In short, as Elf Monarch, I have many abilities that you lesser elves do not have.”

With my power, it will be a simple matter of finding the culprit.

We will destroy the fake Yggdrasil and restore the leaves to their fair price.

Then we’ll use that money to buy more marvelous pottery from Noujou!