Silence gripped the council chamber. All eyes fixed on the grand elder. My suggestion—burning the poison plants—was tactically sound for delay, but asking elves to destroy living flora themselves? Unthinkable.
A sudden slam shattered the quiet. A light-golden-haired elf in mid-seating leapt up.
"Grand Elder, this is vile human treachery! We cannot stoop to such methods!"
The red-haired elf seated third to the grand elder's right tensed, trying to hush the outburst. The golden-haired one glared murder at me. Jenna looked mortified, whispering in my ear.
His name was Koman—outstanding young martial prodigy, roughly Jenna's age but already commander of a 10,000-strong spear division. Arrogant from rapid rise. He'd once courted Jenna, but during her closed-door mage training, she rejected romance to focus on advancement. It fizzled.
Lucky me.
A beauty like Jenna deserved to be ruined by yours truly.
The red-haired one was Chishi—Koman's father, the grand elder's cousin, and clan chief of staff. Highly respected.
"Koman! Mind your tongue."
"Forgive my bluntness, Father, Grand Elder. Protecting every life in the forest is our sacred duty. Burning flowers is cowardly rat behavior—it could shatter our morale. I urge rejection of this proposal!"
Dozens of officers fell silent again. Most gazes turned to the grand elder—or burned holes in me. The air reeked of rejection.
But challenging me with some hotheaded spear captain? Centuries too early.
"Well said, Commander Koman. Burning plants is indeed human villainy. May I ask your rank?"
"I am Koman, commander of the Sixth Spear Legion. My sword 'Silver Light' will drink invaders' blood. Remember it well, Baron."
He emphasized "Baron" mockingly, as if scorning inherited title. His smug face flicked between disdain for me and glances at Jenna. I itched to slap him.
The younger generals at the table's end shot contemptuous looks. In this era, battlefield glory earned respect—martial skill and magic secondary. Same for humans or elves.
"Indeed, Commander Koman is broad-minded, a dragon among men! Such talent—rare in a century. The clan overflows with heroes. Congratulations. Just curious—how many great victories? How many enemies slain?"
"Uh?!"
Koman froze like he'd been struck. His proud face twisted ugly.
I knew elven history well. Their mortal enemies—dark elves—last fought four centuries ago. Elves Jenna's age or younger lacked real combat experience.
"Wait—don't tell me you've never seen battle, Commander?"
"I…"
I shook my head theatrically, adding a pitying chuckle. The hostile generals flushed; even the grand elder and Chishi looked awkward.
"A commander without battlefield experience is like a virgin bragging about prowess—all talk, no proof."
"You!!"
Koman nearly spat blood, but couldn't retort. For warriors, combat record defined prestige—everything else secondary.
"Heh heh… has anyone heard of our Empire's 'Triple-Three Heroes'?"
"I have."
Serbei finally spoke. All attention snapped to him—mage legion commander, most respected officer. No one dared contradict.
"Time flies—five years already. The north faced 150,000 orc invaders, but three counties had only 30,000 troops. Overwhelming odds. If borders fell, millions in ten counties would suffer orc atrocities.
"At fifteen, I was thrust into command—replacing a fallen lord in Febenli, leading five retainers to aid the defense.
"Desperate, I gambled. Scrounged 400 horses from civilians, recruited 400 bold young volunteers. Led by me and my five, guided by locals, we trekked over a thousand miles to raid orc grain depots—one fire, supplies gone.
"You know the rest—orcs retreated from starvation. Crisis averted, millions saved. But three of my closest retainers died gloriously. Only 67 of us returned. The fallen left only thin letters—no bodies.
"I paused, head bowed in genuine sigh.
Not acting. That victory cost dearly—over twenty lost just infiltrating. Three childhood friends died shielding me. The two survivors? Riando and Karan—still by my side.
That battle forged us. Karan's rise to senior mage? Born there.
My words erased every sneer.
"Can you imagine watching friends your age—brothers through thick and thin—charge with explosives into enemy ranks?
"They entrusted their lives to me, to protect loved ones. I succeeded—but I'll never forgive myself for sending 333 good men to death."
My chest medal wasn't glory—it was their blood and tears.
"If you insist on sparing flowers, my men and I will burn them. Our hands are already bloody—no need for noble elves to soil theirs with 'rat deeds.'"
The hostile young generals hung heads. Koman turned green, wishing for a hole to crawl into. Their "righteousness" crumbled against my record.
Elves had one virtue: honest, valuing right over self-interest. Easier friends than humans.
I winked at Serbei. He nodded.
"Plants can regrow. Can our clan rebuild after extinction? In dire need, I support Lord Sorola's plan."
No further opposition. My speech and Serbei's authority crushed dissent.
"Commander Zhan Ying, representing archers—I support burning."
"Commander Xue Yan, representing mage-archers—I support."
Opposite me, the cute blue-haired female officer saluted Serbei and me. Jenna whispered: Xue Yan, mage-archer commander.
Beside her, cold-faced Zhan Ying—clan's top archer, could snap threads at 500 paces with a great bow.
Elven strength: Serbei's 5,000 mages first, 40,000 archers second, 10,000 mage-archers third. Infantry/engineers last despite numbers.
With the three strongest legions backing me, opposition vanished—even Koman stayed silent.
"Since three commanders and most officers agree—absent objection—I order as grand elder: Serbei, lead wind, fire, lightning mages to the front and ignite. Zhan Ying, 40,000 archers in support. Hua She and Koman, 10,000 swords and spears each as response."
"Orders received!"
The four saluted and departed with subordinates.
Far off, poison slope bloomed smoke. Wind mages fanned toxic fog deep into the forest. Even dark elves would struggle; orcs would suffer, advance crippled.
But I'd played my hand—Longevity now knew I was here. What counter would he make?
Oddly… I felt anticipation. Did that mean I wasn't fully mature as a commander yet?
Alone in Gaia's upper guest quarters—guarded by my knights against elven interruptions—Jenna copied clan records and slime data per my orders.
"Lord Sorola, may I enter?"
"Heh heh… I've been waiting."
Voice identified: Xue Yan, mage-archer commander. Per Jenna, looked eighteen but over four centuries old—older than Jenna.
Xue Yan sat gracefully beside me, watching distant burning operations.
"On behalf of the young ones earlier, Xue Yan apologizes. They meant no offense."
"I understand."
"… …"
Uncharacteristically silent beside a beauty. Atmosphere turned awkward. Memories of the past dulled my usual charm; mind blank for topics.
Thinking of charm reminded me of him.
"Miss Xue Yan, do you know a certain 'Perverted Old Man'?"
She blinked, then nodded slowly.
"Lord Sorola knows him too?"
"Just call me Sorola. Unfortunately, yes. Heard your clan once posted bounties on him. Curious what the reward is."
"Heh heh… ask Commander Serbei—he'd know better. Every female elf from nine to nine hundred knows that name. There's a legend about him—interested?"
"Of course."
Xue Yan smiled first.
"Legend says…"
"Hm…"
"Legend says any woman who speaks to him… gets pregnant."
"Heh heh… HAHAHA! That's no legend—that's fact! HAHAHA!!"
I clapped, laughing hard.
Damn Perverted Old Man—I bow to you. He must've fucked eight to a thousand elf women. Enough for an all-female legion. Legendary!
"Anyway, Miss Xue Yan—what brings you here?"
"Nothing really… just wanted to meet the famed 'Magician of the Battlefield.'"
"You've met me. Verdict?"
"Eloquent, bold, insightful… but thoughts hard to read."
"I'm not that hard to read. Spend one private night—you'll know me inside out."
"Heh heh… addendum: no different from ordinary men."
I laughed heartily. This Xue Yan was interesting—but I stayed wary.
"Time's short. You came to assassinate me, right? Why haven't you struck?"
Her smiling face froze. Star-bright eyes turned murderous. A poisoned blue-gleaming dagger appeared in her hand.
As mage-archer commander, Xue Yan far outclassed me. Tight balcony space, her armed—I'd likely die before summoning guards.
"Commander Serbei called you battlefield magician—I scoffed. But today proved 'fame is earned.' How did you know my intent?"
"Simple. You said 'no different from ordinary men'—implying human men. Strange, since no female elves have visited the Empire in years. How would you know? Suspicious."
Xue Yan's expression softened slightly.
"Let's play a game—my dying wish."
"Bold. What game?"
"Simple yet complex. If I say one wrong word next—you kill me instantly."
She hesitated, then steadied the dagger at my throat.
"Sun's setting. Begin."