After 500 Years, I Let Their Empire Burn

I am an elf who's lived for over ten thousand years. I've witnessed countless cycles of life and death.

Five hundred years ago, I joined a hero, a priest, and a dwarf, and we fought our way straight through the Demon Lord's Keep.

Later, the dwarf died of old age, and the hero and the priest were buried six feet under as well.

To uphold the covenant I made with that hero, I've endured five hundred years in this empire.

Yet today, the hero's great-great-great-grandson—the current emperor—jabbed a finger in my face, called me an old freeloader monster, and ordered me out of the palace immediately.

"Hand over the Branch of the Tree of Life, you old fool."

Rayne's voice echoed through the hall.

He wore a magnificent robe studded with gems, idly toying with a solid gold scepter in his hand.

I stood at the foot of the steps, my leather armor tattered and torn, still dripping with the black blood of demonic beasts.

"This was left to me by Arlen," I said, lifting my head to meet the young emperor's gaze.

"Arlen? How dare you speak the late emperor's name!" Rayne shot to his feet, jabbing a finger in my face as he cursed.

"He is my great-great-great-grandfather, the great hero who founded the Radiant Empire!"

"And you? You're nothing but an outsider who wormed your way into the hero's party through trickery and deceit!"

I took a deep breath, suppressing the sharp pain in my chest.

A few days ago, out in the Northern Marches, I burned through all my magic and single-handedly slaughtered three thousand Rampage Drakes just to protect the Empire's border walls.

"If it weren't for me, Wintergate in the Northern Marches would have fallen this morning."

"Don't flatter yourself!"

He circled around me, his eyes full of disdain.

"The commander of Wintergate has already sent a battle report—it was the Empire's artillery that repelled the beasts."

"You just went to the battlefield to mop up the leftovers, then came back covered in dirty blood to claim credit."

"Sylriel, you've been freeloading in this palace for centuries. Don't you feel ashamed?"

I looked at this face that bore some resemblance to Arlen's, but it was stuffed full of greed and stupidity.

"That is a token Arlen gave to me," I reiterated.

"Your Majesty, please don't be angry." A delicate voice came from behind the throne.

Cecilia lifted her pure white skirt and gracefully descended the steps.

She was the current Saintess of the Sacred Church and also Rayne's fiancée.

"Lord Sylriel is old, so it's only natural that his mind isn't quite clear," Cecilia said as she walked up to Rayne and took his arm.

"After all, having lived for tens of thousands of years, who knows if he's already lost his wits."

She turned her head and looked at me with a pitying gaze.

"Lord Sylriel, just hand over the Branch."

"That is a sacred relic that grants longevity. Leaving it in the hands of an elf like you, who has already lived long enough, is a sheer waste."

"His Majesty handles a myriad of state affairs every day and needs the nourishment of the sacred relic. As a subject of the Empire, shouldn't you make an offering?"

I looked at her coldly.

"I am not a subject of the Empire. I am bound only to Arlen's Covenant."

"Still bringing up the Covenant!" Rayne roared, kicking me hard in the ribs.

I was already severely injured, and his kick sent me down on one knee.

"That damned Covenant only stipulates that you cannot harm humans and must act when the Empire is in peril!"

"It never said you could monopolize the Empire's national treasure!"

Rayne bent down, grabbed me by the hair, and forced my head up.

"I'll say it one last time. Hand over the Branch."

"Otherwise, I'll kick you out of the palace and let you fight for swill with the beggars in the slums!"

I felt a tearing pain in my scalp.

But I didn't struggle. I just looked at him coldly.

"You're welcome to try."

Rayne's face twisted with rage.

"Guards! Search her!"

Several fully armed members of the Royal Guard immediately surrounded me.

"Your Majesty, isn't this a bit inappropriate?" Cecilia pretended to stop him for a moment.

"What if Lord Sylriel loses his temper and hurts these innocent knights?"

"How dare she!" Rayne sneered. "The Covenant's binding is still in place. If she dares to use magic to harm humans, the Covenant's punishment will burn her heart directly!"

The knights roughly tore at my clothes.

I closed my eyes, letting them rummage through my pockets and bags.

"Your Majesty, found it!" A knight held up a piece of wood glowing faintly green.

Rayne snatched it away, a greedy light flickering in his eyes.

"This is a Branch of the Tree of Life... How beautiful. I can feel the surging life force within it!"

I opened my eyes and looked at the piece of wood.

"You will regret this."

Rayne burst out laughing and tucked the Branch inside his robes.

"Regret? I only regret not taking this thing sooner."

He turned around and took Cecilia's hand.

"Throw this old hag into the Lower District. Don't let her dirty my carpet."

"What about the Starspire Tower she lives in?" Cecilia asked softly.

"Have someone tear it down tomorrow."