Reim stood with his palm pressed to the bark, as if the tree itself were lending him strength.

  “Zen-senpai…” he began heavily. “The forest has grown. Too much. Too fast.”

  Seven elves around the root-table fell silent. Even the runes on the walls seemed to quiet down, as if listening.

  “People have noticed,” he continued. “First—merchants. Then—hunters. Then… barons.”

  He clenched his teeth.

  “They’re calling us a threat. And the fact that the forest is reclaiming its land… they see it as expansion.”

  Selia cut in sharply:

  “One of the barons sent a letter to the king, claiming we are ‘harboring wild mages’ and ‘expanding prohibited territories.’”

  Feriss slammed his fist on the table in anger.

  “They’ve been cutting forests down for centuries! But the moment the forest pushes back—we’re the enemies?!”

  Tyriel snorted darkly.

  “People fear what they can’t control. And we’re outside their control.”

  The White Wolf lifted his head.

  “They want us to pay taxes. Through the barons. Through their chains.”

  The Gray Shadow added quietly:

  “And if we refuse… they’ll bring the guard.”

  Everyone turned toward me.

  I felt something cold tighten inside my chest.

  “Zen-senpai,” Reim said. “You’ve always been honest with us. Tell us plainly. What should we do?”

  The silence pressed down like damp fog.

  I could have said, Show strength.

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  I could have said, Intimidate them.

  I could have said, Burn the barons.

  But I could see what would come next.

  Show strength—and they’d be labeled monsters.

  Strike first—and the king would declare them a threat.

  Hide the forest—pointless. It would reveal itself anyway.

  I inhaled.

  And exhaled.

  “…I don’t know.”

  Reim lowered his gaze. Not in disappointment—but under the honest weight of the choice.

  I continued:

  “If you show power, you’ll be declared enemies. If you hide the forest, it will betray you anyway. If you accept the barons’ taxes, they’ll put a leash on you. The only chance… is to pay directly to the king. Bypass the chain of greedy men. But even then, the danger won’t disappear.”

  Selia whispered:

  “So… there’s no way out?”

  “There is,” I said quietly. “But not a quick one. Not by force. Only through knowledge.”

  All of them lifted their heads.

  “As long as you’re weak, they’ll come for you. If you become too strong, they’ll also come. But if you become… necessary—if you become something the kingdom cannot afford to lose—then they won’t dare touch you.”

  I touched the book lying before them.

  “I’ll give you what I can. Knowledge. A system. Magic that can be explained. Techniques that will make you masters, not apprentices. This is what I can bring. This is what will change the forest’s fate.”

  Lienna lifted the book and pressed it to her chest.

  “You’re giving us a future…”

  “But not a sword,” Feriss added darkly.

  I nodded.

  “You’ll have to forge your swords yourselves.”

  At that moment, something began to sound softly.

  At first—like a rustle.

  Then—like breathing.

  Then—like a voice.

  The forest spoke.

  Firefly-runes rose higher, vibrating as if someone had plucked a string.

  And a gentle, ancient, barely audible whisper passed through the hall:

  “Se… npa-ai…”

  My heart skipped.

  The elves dropped to one knee. Only I didn’t know what to do.

  The forest repeated:

  “Se… npai Zen… Hel… vard…”

  Reim whispered, barely audible:

  “The forest has accepted you. As an advisor. As a keeper of knowledge.”

  The fireflies settled on my shoulders—like feathers, like warm sparks.

  I stood without moving.

  And in that moment, I understood:

  I cannot save them with a sword.

  I cannot save them with a title.

  I cannot save them with force.

  But I can save them with their minds.

  And the forest… entrusts me with this.

  When the fireflies rose again, the silence became alive, like the breathing of trees.

  The Gray Shadow spoke first:

  “We accept your path, Zen-senpai.”

  Arlis added:

  “We will grow stronger—through study, through knowledge.”

  Selia smiled:

  “And you… will become our teacher. At least for the length of your vacation.”

  I smirked.

  “Well, if I’ve got a vacation like this… I think I can handle it.”

  Reim stood and placed a hand on my shoulder.

  “Then it is decided. The Council of Branches accepts this resolution.

  We walk the Path of Knowledge. A path that does not lead to war.”

  And in that moment, I understood:

  The forest’s fate does not depend on my hidden power.

  Not on what I can destroy.

  But on what I can create.

  And that… is the most frightening—

  and the most correct—path of all.