The Cursed Forest Where I Was Exiled Had Somehow Been Designated As A Sanctuary. - Awakened to the Purification skill, I, Surrounded By Divine Dragons And Great Spirits, Become The King of A Nation - Episode 36

Soldiers clad in armor are being brought into Yggdrasil Village one after another.

After their journey through the Great Tree Sea, Peter was distributing food to the battered group.

The soldiers are moved to tears by the warm meal, and their appearance alone tells the story of the grueling march they endured.

What was that all about…?

While watching them eat from a distance, Zess was reminiscing about the time he faced the soldiers.

They looked visibly worn out and exhausted, yet they continued to walk as if possessed by something.

Moreover, they were chanting “Long live the Arclight Kingdom,” “Long live Lord Bauman,” and “Long live Lord Keiras” in unison.

In Zess’s eyes, who felt a chill at the bizarre sight, a dark taint covering their heads was reflected.

Thanks to Flora, Zess, who had regained at least a minimum level of mental strength, performed a “Purification” on impulse, restoring their sanity and bringing the unconscious ones back to Yggdrasil Village, where they remain to this day.

Unlike the divine curses or the power of the evil god that afflicted all the elves, it was something more artificial… a stain. What on earth was that?

What crossed Zess’s mind as he pondered was the formal suit that had been stained black with ink.

Behind that formal suit, Baumann’s face, filled with delight, emerges.

“Can’t be…――”

Having arrived at a hypothesis, Zess noticed Robert calling over from among the soldiers and walked over.

“Invading the Great Tree Sea?”

“Yes. To summarize their story, King Kelas of the Arclight Kingdom sought the resources of the Great Tree Sea and decided to take control.”

At home, Zess, who received a report from Robert, frowned at the report.

“I heard a rumor that after we were sentenced to the forest exile, the vacant territories are now directly governed by the royal family.”

“Most likely, they couldn’t properly govern their territory and tried to dominate the Great Forest using military force.”

The former nobles of the kingdom gathered here also share information with each other.

“How can we even think about expanding our territory when we can’t even properly govern the land we currently have…?”

Zess couldn’t help but be astonished by their story.

Originally, Keiras was concerned about the declining authority of the royal family.

Did they think that by being the first to conquer the Great Forest, which had been considered impossible to subdue and remained inviolable until now, they could restore their prestige?

The former nobles nod in response to Zess’s mutterings, but they let out murmurs laced with fear.

“However, the army strengthened by the Crown Prince’s skills was extremely powerful. My house also allied with the surrounding lords, but it ended in a tragic result.”

“The Crown Prince’s skills?”

The man nods at Zess’s ruminations.

“The soldiers who have received Prince Bauman’s skills erase the natural human fears, suspicions, and hesitations, becoming elite warriors who charge forward relentlessly to fulfill their given orders. Their combat style, akin to that of monsters, leaves the Allied Nobles utterly powerless…”

Zess is convinced by the man’s words, which he speaks with regret.

So that stain really was due to Baumann’s skill after all.

Yugushiru, who had been sitting on Zess’s lap, muttered in exasperation.

“Humans are foolish. Even if you eliminate the fear of monsters, it doesn’t mean the power of monsters or evil gods disappears. You might be able to suppress them temporarily, but there’s no way to control them.”

“Well, it’s not surprising. I didn’t know the reasons for the monsters overflowing in this Great Tree Sea or the existence of the evil god’s power until I met Yggdrasil either. …Or rather, Yggdrasil, you’re heavy—”

“What?”

“No, it’s nothing.”

From between the wavy green hair, Yggdrasil’s jade-colored eyes glared sharply, and Zess involuntarily fell silent.

I almost touched the dragon’s reverse scale. She’s not a dragon, though.

“Anyway, I understand why they came in droves to the Great Tree Sea. Once Flora-san’s ‘Healing’ mends their wounds, let’s send them to the Great Tree Overseas.”

Because she had performed “healing” on Zess, Flora’s mental strength had reached its limit.

Due to the severity and number of the injuries, it is said that it will take two days to complete the treatment of the soldiers.

At Zess’s muttering, the former nobles opened their mouths with unease.

“Are you sending them back?”

“Of course. They probably wouldn’t want to be here either.”

Unlike the people of the Great Tree Sea who gathered in Yggdrasil Village, the soldiers of the Arclight Kingdom have a place to return to and the will to do so.

“However, if we return them to the kingdom, they will undoubtedly learn of this place, which, despite being within the Great Forest, is not infested with monsters. And the kingdom will undoubtedly desire this land.”

“But isn’t that just a matter of time? If the kingdom is invading the Great Forest, sooner or later they will reach this land.”

“That’s true, but…”

Starting with Robert, the villagers gathered at Zess’s house wore serious expressions.

Zess scratched his head at their expressions.

“What should I do…?”

On the troubled Zess’s lap.

Yugushiru pressed her small back against Zess’s body, as if to cling to him.

◆　◆　◆

“— I guess it means I can’t keep hiding.”

That night.

In the bed of his quiet, still private room, Zess looked up at the ceiling and muttered to himself.

Since being transported to the forest, Zess has been living a leisurely and peaceful life.

Those who seek a similar life, those who have no place to belong, those who long for a land of peace.

By teaming up with those people, the current Yggdrasil Village was formed.

Zess was satisfied with life here.

Right now, thanks to the cooperation of the Silk Trading Company, we have connections with the outside world, but even if those connections didn’t exist, I am confident that we could still live happily as we do now.

However,

“……I wonder if a life spent living in fear like that can really be called a peaceful life.”

Not just the nobles.

The people living in this Yggdrasil village also harbor a certain degree of fear towards the outside world.

It was the fear that this peaceful land might be taken away by external forces.

The only way Zess could think of to dispel that fear was one.

“…Haku”

“Haku?”

Haku, who had been sleeping by the pillow, suddenly lifted his head.

Feeling that something was off with Haku, who was glaring at the entrance as if on guard, Zess slowly got up from the bed.

I made my way to the front door, being careful not to step on Sonia sleeping on the floor, and opened the door.

“—Huh?”

Beyond the door, there were several figures.

They are the soldiers of the Arclight Kingdom.

In the middle of the night, Zess stared in astonishment and Haku remained on guard as they all knelt down at once.

“It is a message from the Spirit King. — The Holy Celestia Church Kingdom fully supports Lord Zess.”