Kim Do-Joon stared at Luin. He was a strikingly handsome man, just like the other elves. Something about him vaguely reminded Kim Do-Joon of Eldora, albeit he couldn’t quite pinpoint what it was. He replayed Luin's recent words in his mind.0

— One of them dies and they throw a tantrum? If I’d known, I would’ve just tossed it into the mountains somewhere.0

That was all he needed to hear. The elf before him had killed the young goblin. The way Luin complained so casually, without the slightest remorse, made it obvious. Still, there was always a slim chance of being wrong, so Kim Do-Joon decided to ask.0

"Was it you who killed the goblin?"0

"What? You dare speak to me like that? Watch your mouth, Fertilizer."2

Luin's expression twisted in irritation at Kim Do-Joon's blunt question. Luin was an elf who revered the World Tree, born and raised beneath its sacred branches. To him, the "outside world" was nothing more than a pile of compost meant to nourish the tree. And humans, naturally, were part of it.0

Luin’s attitude was common among younger elves, who had no knowledge of the World Tree's ancient history or its downfall.0

"..." Kim Do-Joon stayed quiet.0

"What's the matter? Scared?" Luin chuckled as he noticed Kim Do-Joon's silent gaze fixed on him. 0

After a moment, he deigned to answer, as if doing Kim Do-Joon a favor.0

"Yeah, I killed it. So what? Was that goblin your family or something?"0

"No… Monsters are our enemies too," Kim Do-Joon replied after a slight pause.0

Technically, he was right. Monsters were generally the enemy. Although this village was somewhat unique,...0