(A/N):
Drop a meme here that you find funny. Or reflects your mood.
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The chamber had completely lost its earlier hostility.
Now—What remained was shock.
Pure disbelief.
The members of the Eye of the Midnight Sun stared at Ben as though they truly were seeing a ghost sitting before them.
Not because of power. Not because of fear.
But because none of them could understand him anymore.
This was not how humans were supposed to act.
Not according to the hatred they remembered.
Not according to the revenge they had built their lives around.
Fana was the first to finally break the silence.
"…Why?"
Her voice was quieter now.
Confused. Almost cautious.
She looked directly at Ben while asking the question everyone among the elves was currently thinking.
"Why would you help revive the elf clan?"
Her eyes narrowed slightly.
Frown!
"Wouldn't you fear us? After everything? After what happened to the elves? What if we betray you? What if we seek revenge again for our slaughter?"
The room fell silent once more.
"...."
"...."
"...."
Even the captains looked toward Ben because honestly—That concern was reasonable.
No.
It was the biggest concern.
An entire ancient race returning after centuries of hatred?
The consequences alone were terrifying to imagine.
Then suddenly—Ben laughed.
"-Hahaha!!!"
Not mockingly. Not arrogantly.
Just genuinely amused.
The reaction immediately left everyone confused.
Even Julius blinked curiously.
-Blink!
Ben finally stopped laughing and looked directly at the elves.
"Are you all really that brainless?"
The words hit so unexpectedly that several people simply froze.
"...."
"...."
"...."
Rhya stared blankly.
Fana looked speechless.
Even Patoli frowned in confusion.
-Frown!
Meanwhile Yami burst into laughter from the side.
"Hah! Damn brat just called an extinct race idiots."
Charlotte immediately smacked his arm while trying to remain serious herself.
Ben leaned back calmly before continuing.
"If I help bring back the elves properly …why in the world would you continue blindly chasing revenge?"
His gaze sharpened slightly.
"You would regain your people.Your future. Your race.Your chance to actually live."
Then he pointed toward Patoli.
"Instead of remaining trapped in five hundred years of hatred created by a devil."
Silence.
"...."
"...."
"...."
Because—That logic was hard to refute.
Ben continued to ask.
"You think I'd revive the elves without preparing for the consequences?"
The captains immediately reacted slightly at that sentence.
Nozel folded his arms tighter.
Fuegoleon narrowed his eyes thoughtfully.
Julius meanwhile simply observed quietly.
Ben calmly continued explaining.
"If the elves are revived properly …then both sides gain something."
"The elves regain their lives."
"And humans gain allies."
"The elves are naturally loved by mana. They possess immense magical knowledge."
"Ancient techniques. Powerful understanding of mana itself."
Then his expression became more serious.
"And most importantly… both races would gain a common enemy."
The room became heavier again.
"Devils."
Those words immediately shifted the mood.
Ben's gaze slowly moved across everyone present.
"Whether humans or elves… Devils manipulate everyone equally."
"They feed on hatred. They profit from division."
"So instead of continuing a five-hundred-year-old revenge born from manipulation…"
"…why not destroy the ones actually responsible?"
Rhya slowly lowered his gaze into thought.
Fana remained silent.
Even Vetto looked calmer now despite still being restrained.
Meanwhile the captains finally started understanding Ben's perspective.
Not forgiveness. Not naïve kindness.
Strategy. Coexistence.
Preparation against a greater threat.
Still—Nozel finally spoke seriously.
"Your Majesty…"
His voice was colder than usual.
"You should reconsider. Even if your reasoning makes sense …this decision changes the future of the kingdom itself."
Several captains nodded silently.
-Nod!
"...."
Because Ben was essentially proposing something unprecedented.
The return of an extinct race.
Meanwhile Ben simply shook his head.
"No."
His answer came immediately.
Firm. Without hesitation.
Then he looked back toward the elves sitting before him.
Not as enemies. Not as monsters.
But as people standing at a crossroads.
"I already made my decision."
Silence filled the room again.
"...."
"...."
"...."
The captains exchanged uneasy glances.
Meanwhile the elves stared at Ben with expressions they themselves no longer understood.
Suspicion. Shock. Confusion. Disbelief.
And somewhere beneath all of it—The first tiny traces of trust.
Ben calmly folded his arms while waiting for their answer.
The fate of humans and elves now sat inside this single room.
And for the first time in five hundred years—Both sides were actually listening instead of killing.
The chamber remained silent for a long time after Ben finished speaking.
No one seemed capable of immediately responding anymore.
Too much had changed tonight.
The hatred the elves carried for centuries had been shaken.
The history the Magic Knights believed in had cracked open.
And the future itself had suddenly become uncertain.
Ben slowly stood up from his seat, causing everyone's attention to return toward him once again.
His expression had returned to calm seriousness.
No teasing. No laughter.
Only authority in his tone.
He looked directly toward the members of the Eye of the Midnight Sun.
"For now …leave the palace."
Those words instantly made several captains react slightly.
Especially Nozel.
But Ben raised his hand lightly before anyone could interrupt him.
His eyes moved toward Patoli.
"And William Vangeance…"
The atmosphere immediately became heavier.
"…will no longer remain a captain."
Patoli's expression darkened slightly.
"...."
Ben continued firmly.
"Not until you are separated from his body."
Silence followed.
"...."
"...."
"...."
Even Julius quietly nodded at that decision because honestly—There was no other reasonable choice.
William's situation was too unstable now.
Too dangerous. Too politically sensitive.
Ben slowly folded his arms.
"Until then …the Golden Dawn vice-captain will temporarily handle the squad."
Several captains silently accepted the decision.
Meanwhile Patoli clenched his fists slightly but did not argue.
Because after tonight—He himself no longer fully understood what he was supposed to be anymore.
Enemy? Victim? Leader? Pawn?
Ben then continued.
"As for the resurrection ritual…"
The elves immediately looked back toward him.
Even Julius became attentive again.
"We will prepare it properly."
His voice was calm but decisive.
"The magic stones still contain enormous magical energy. Enough energy remains from the devil's previous usage."
Julius' eyes narrowed thoughtfully. Because that actually made sense.
"...."
The stones were ancient artifacts overflowing with mana.
Even after centuries and repeated usage, their power had never truly diminished.
Ben continued explaining.
"With proper preparation… we can create suitable vessels first."
"Then perform controlled reincarnation. No hatred manipulation. No devil interference. No incomplete souls."
The elves visibly reacted at those words.
Especially Rhya and Fana.
Because for the first time—Someone was speaking about their people not as weapons…
But as lives worth restoring properly.
Ben's gaze sharpened slightly.
"But understand this clearly."
The room quieted again.
"If we proceed with this …there will be conditions."
Rhya narrowed his eyes slightly.
-Frown!
"What conditions?"
Ben answered immediately.
"No war. No revenge campaign. No attacks against civilians. No retaliation for the past."
His voice remained calm.
"But firm enough that nobody doubted his seriousness."
"The revived elves will live under the protection of Clover Kingdom law until both sides stabilize."
Nozel frowned slightly hearing that.
-Frown!
Even some captains looked uneasy.
But Ben continued before objections could form.
"And in return… the Clover Kingdom will officially acknowledge the truth behind the elf massacre."
Those words stunned the captains again.
Even Julius looked surprised.
Because this was no longer just secret diplomacy.
This would completely change the kingdom's recorded history.
Ben looked toward the elves again.
"You wanted justice. I'll give you truth instead. Because truth lasts longer than revenge."
The chamber once again fell into deep silence.
"...."
"...."
"...."
Patoli lowered his head slightly.
Not out of submission.
But because his mind was in complete chaos.
Meanwhile Rhya slowly spoke after a long pause.
"…You really intend to do this."
Ben nodded once.
-Nod!
"Yes."
Simple. Direct. No hesitation.
Rhya stared at him silently for several seconds before finally exhaling slowly.
"…Humans really became strange after five hundred years."
Yami immediately snorted loudly from the side.
"Nah."
He pointed lazily toward Ben.
"That idiot's just built different."
Several captains sighed at Yami's wording while the heavy atmosphere slightly loosened for the first time tonight.
Even Julius smiled faintly again.
But beneath that lighter moment—Everyone understood one thing clearly.
Tonight had changed history itself.
Because the war between humans and elves…
Had just been stopped by the one thing nobody expected.
Not power. Not fear. Not destruction.
But a conversation.
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(Author's POV)
(A/N)Thanks for reading the chapter!
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Guys My New Fic name is: Karuppan: King of Openings.
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