Chapter 72: Author’s Note: Clarifying Yulim’s Actions and Factional Stances

The author here would like to briefly explain some recent plot developments, as many readers have left comments and feedback.

First, regarding Yulim Wilivia.

Yulim Wilivia has been, from the outset, a timid girl who never wished to cause a major stir or take a life.

However, acquiring the divine artifact necessitated her continued delve into the Cursed Lands, which inevitably deepened the curse afflicting her.

This gradually eroded her sanity, and only by clinging to her unwavering resolve was Yulim Wilivia able to persevere.

To alleviate the curse’s oppressive weight during this period, she donned an eye mask.

The divine artifact’s inherent immunity to fire was already mentioned when Yulim Wilivia was able to walk across magma.

Furthermore, the text has indicated several times that Yulim Wilivia activated her dark elf traits upon her return, making her form ethereal to avoid drawing attention.

Thus, after retrieving the artifact and making her way back, the eye-masked, fire-immune Yulim Wilivia failed to notice the trail of magma the Godslayer Sword left in her wake.

This oversight ultimately led to her discovery by the guards.

Next, we address the circumstances surrounding Yulim Wilivia’s killings.

Within the Cursed Lands, with her mental state severely compromised by the curse, Yulim Wilivia harbored no intention of attacking the first wave sent by the Elf Prince.

She remained purely on the defensive.

Those four elves, having witnessed the demise of countless comrades along their journey, were driven to desperation.

They recklessly charged into the Godslayer Sword’s passive defensive flames, sacrificing themselves in vain.

Finally, as she neared the exit of the Cursed Lands, the futile sacrifices of those four elves inadvertently intensified Yulim Wilivia’s curse once more.

She was already delirious, teetering on the brink of a complete mental collapse.

Therefore, she had no desire to escalate the conflict further, wishing only to make peace with the elves.

However, the elves reneged on their agreement, instead preparing a deceptive banquet.

Before emerging, Yulim Wilivia’s instincts screamed of danger, and memories of being hunted resurfaced.

Yet, she still harbored a sliver of hope, believing her elven kin to be trustworthy.

It was only upon seeing the path ahead riddled with traps specifically designed for her that Yulim Wilivia’s defenses completely shattered, unleashing the curse and plunging her into an irrational state.

At that point, it was no longer something Yulim Wilivia could control.

This led to the carnage and the unleashing of the Finality magic, all while Yulim Wilivia was still within the Cursed Lands.

Only after stepping out of the Cursed Lands did Yulim Wilivia regain a fraction of her sanity.

Upon realizing she had taken lives, she was prepared to pay the ultimate price, even wishing for the highest-ranking elder elf to kill her to prevent the magic from spreading further.

However, the Elf Prince foolishly provoked her, triggering painful memories for Yulim Wilivia and nearly causing her to lose control and kill again.

During this volatile moment, the Elder Elf launched a sneak attack on Yulim Wilivia.

Even in her deranged state, amplified by the Demon Lord’s domain, Yulim Wilivia was fully capable of reacting.

Yet, her sanity forcefully reasserted itself at the last moment, causing her to deliberately not evade the Elder Elf’s strike.

The sword blow originally aimed at the Elf Prince was intercepted by the Elder Elf, leading to his demise.

It was then that Yulim Wilivia finally uttered that the Elder could have lived.

This statement also carried another meaning, one understood from the Elder Elf’s perspective: had they honored their agreement and allowed Yulim Wilivia to leave, the current situation would never have arisen.

In essence, Yulim Wilivia’s original intentions and objectives never wavered throughout the entire ordeal; she was forced into every killing.

Personally, I believe Yulim Wilivia’s characterization remains consistent and has not broken.

Next, we address the second point of contention: faction alignment.

Are the elves truly innocent? Yes, from the current perspective, they were inexplicably attacked by the protagonist’s group.

However, have you considered *why* this occurred?

The narrative in the Cursed Lands already laid numerous groundwork: the deity who protected the forest was slain by the elves’ own ancestors.

They murdered the Goddess of the Forest and seized her authority over life to attain eternal life for their entire race.

The elves appear intellectually stunted and weak precisely because their patron deity was killed.

This act rendered the elven race afraid to leave the forest, allowing even s*ave traders to exploit them.

Consequently, they remain confined to the forest, relying on their long lifespan as an advantage while stagnating, with zero technological advancement.

From the very beginning of entering the Cursed Lands, the echo of the God of Order had prophesied that the elves would pay the price for their initial greed.

This was because the Godslayer Sword, the divine artifact that slew the Goddess of the Forest, remained within the Elven Forest, making everything their own doing.

Who wouldn’t be tempted by a divine artifact capable of slaying a god?

There would be no shortage of individuals willing to risk everything for such power.

Therefore, even without the protagonist’s group, future conflicts would inevitably erupt with others seeking the sword.

For those who sympathize with the elves and claim Yulim Wilivia instigated a massacre in their territory, have you considered Anna’s previous statement?

She explicitly mentioned that the Godslayer Sword originally belonged to the Sword Saint’s family.

Thus, Yulim Wilivia retrieving the sword was, in essence, returning it to its rightful owner.

Perhaps this author’s writing skill is insufficient, or I’m simply indulging in flights of fancy.

I do not wish for my narrative to depict any faction opposing the protagonists as inherently evil villains who deserve death, only for the protagonists to defeat them and showcase their own righteousness.

That would simply be a pure ‘power fantasy’ novel.

Every faction possesses its own stance.

We, as readers, have a ‘god’s-eye view,’ granting us a comprehensive understanding.

This naturally leads to differing perspectives on events.

If you empathize with the elves, you would indeed find them pitiable, fighting for their homeland.

However, if you align with the protagonists, is it not equally pitiable to see their companions reduced to a near-death state?

Therefore, please take a careful look at the book’s title.

While I do not write grimdark or overly complex stories, the protagonist’s race and faction already indicate that she is not a traditionally righteous hero.

Thus, the core concept of this book is quite similar to *Overlord*: it inherently focuses on an antagonist faction, possessing kindness, but not in abundance.

The author knows that readers who have made it this far genuinely love this book.

I read all your comments and feedback, and I have never deleted any.

If there’s any plot point you don’t understand, I will patiently explain it.

I only hope that you won’t resort to passive-aggressive remarks; I’ve been feeling quite overwhelmed by them lately.

Therefore, I plan to go out for a day tomorrow to clear my head, and updates will be sporadic.

I sincerely apologize for this.