The King of the Elves launched a thorough investigation into the destruction of the temple, fully aware that the incident was far too grave to be dismissed as a mere act of vandalism or misfortune. Thus, he dispatched elite investigators, accompanied by numerous soldiers and specialists skilled in tracing magical residues, with a single command:
Uncover the culprit, no matter the cost.
As the investigation progressed, the findings proved deeply unsettling.
There were, without question, unmistakable traces of human magic at the site of the explosion.
Yet the more the investigators examined the scene, the more uneasy they became.
Because the evidence was simply... too perfect.
The magical traces had been left behind with suspicious clarity, almost as though someone had deliberately arranged for them to be discovered. There was no chaos, no inconsistency, no overlooked mistake—nothing that would normally accompany a crime committed in haste.
And that, above all else, troubled the king.
From that moment onward, an unshakable sense of unease settled within his heart.
Whenever he reflected upon the incident, his thoughts inevitably returned to the ministers who had been the first to cast doubt upon the World Tree's Messenger and tarnish his reputation.
Unfortunately, suspicion alone was meaningless.
The king possessed no evidence.
And intuition, no matter how sharp, was insufficient to condemn anyone.
Even the investigators themselves were not immune to the growing uncertainty.
Every visible clue pointed directly toward a single individual.
The Messenger of the World Tree.
The evidence was so overwhelmingly incriminating that denying the possibility became increasingly difficult with each passing day.
Meanwhile, throughout elven society, rumors spread like wildfire through a dry forest.
Day after day, seeds of doubt took root in countless hearts.
Questions echoed across marketplaces, noble estates, sacred temples, and secluded gardens alike.
Why would the World Tree choose a human?
What is the true purpose behind the Messenger's appearance?
Is the Messenger truly responsible for the destruction of the temple?
And if he is innocent, why were traces of human magic found at the scene?
More and more elves found themselves wavering.
Though many still remained steadfast in their faith, refusing to abandon the divine revelation regardless of the accusations, an invisible tension had already begun to envelop the entire forest.
And almost no one noticed its gradual descent.
---
Within the royal palace, Eliaria was quietly walking through one of the tranquil corridors when a hushed conversation between several maids reached her ears.
"Have you heard? They say the Messenger was the one who destroyed the temple."
"I can't understand what reason he could possibly have for doing such a thing."
"Honestly, humans simply can't be trusted."
Eliaria halted in her tracks.
As she listened to the rest of their conversation, a mixture of anger and anxiety surged through her.
Because, of all people, she knew Leo.
And she was absolutely certain of one thing.
Leo would never commit a meaningless act such as destroying a temple without reason.
He might be mysterious.
He might be strange.
But he was not someone who acted without purpose.
More importantly, the sheer speed at which these rumors had spread—and the impeccable timing behind them—felt far too deliberate to be mere coincidence.
Someone was orchestrating all of this.
Someone hidden behind the curtains, pulling the strings from the shadows.
---
Meanwhile, Leo remained completely detached from the turmoil consuming elven society.
Within the secluded sanctuary Ava had revealed to him, he continued studying the powers of the Eye of Fate.
Over the past two days, he had finally mastered the Gigar's Multiple Clone ability.
Yet merely using the skill was not enough for him.
Leo sought understanding.
After countless experiments, he had come to fully grasp the principles governing the technique.
Creating the first clone required a fixed amount of mana, while maintaining additional clones caused the consumption rate to increase progressively.
Furthermore, controlling numerous clones simultaneously demanded extraordinary concentration and mental precision.
After repeated trials and painstaking adjustments, Leo eventually achieved a significant breakthrough.
He could now create clones of individuals other than himself.
His golden eyes silently observed one such replica standing before him.
"The only flaw," he muttered thoughtfully, "is that they cannot speak."
Had they possessed the ability to converse, they would have become perfect instruments for deception and misdirection.
A faint gleam surfaced within Leo's eyes.
"Since I've already evolved the technique to replicate other individuals..."
"...perhaps I can push it even further."
Perhaps, in time, the clones could imitate not only appearances, but behaviors as well.
Mannerisms.
Habits.
Even voices.
And if he fundamentally reconstructed the magical framework of the technique...
He might one day grant these illusions genuine physical substance.
At that point, they would cease to be mere phantoms.
They would become true combatants.
For now, however, Leo found the entire process thoroughly entertaining.
At the very least, he was certainly not bored.
---
While continuing his experiments, Leo decided to reactivate the eavesdropping spell he had secretly placed upon the spy.
Curiosity compelled him to learn what the opposing faction was planning next.
It did not take long before the voices from their latest meeting reached his ears.
The members sounded exceedingly pleased.
"Honestly, spreading rumors among the common folk is easier than drinking water."
One of them spoke mockingly.
Another laughed.
"Fools believe anything if it's repeated often enough."
"And fools will remain fools forever."
At that moment, the man who appeared to be the group's leader calmly raised a hand.
"Do not become overly excited."
"We are still only at the beginning."
A faint smile crossed his lips.
"A fine meal..."
"...must be savored slowly."
Words of admiration immediately followed.
"Wise as always."
"As expected of our lord, your foresight is truly remarkable."
Listening from afar, Leo merely let out a disappointed sigh.
They were moving far too slowly for his liking.
His time within the Forest of the Elves was rapidly drawing to a close.
Eventually, as the meeting reached its conclusion, the leader spoke in a firm voice.
"Prepare yourselves."
"The next phase is about to begin."
Upon hearing those words, a small smile appeared upon Leo's lips.
Then, in a quiet voice filled with anticipation, he murmured:
"Now..."
"...things might finally start becoming interesting."