The Elf Saint is a NEET, so I Forced Her to Work in Another World

Kuro of Arles, Duke of Maverny (Part 1)

***The city of Cendorin, Cherwoods***

Amidst the lush greenery that was the Great Forests of Cherwoods lay the elf city of Cendorin. Situated at the interior of the elf realms, it was one of the cities immediately threatened by the advancing sands. However, another problem was looming on the horizon...

"We don't want to leave! This is our home!"

"We ask your help to fight the sands! You are evicting us for that canal!"

"If those soldiers go past the city fences, we fight!"

The population of Cendorin stood between the center of their city and some of the elvish workers, out to demolish their settlement. Protecting the workers were the members of the Elf Saint's Life Guards, as well as some token soldiers from the other elvish cities. The Grand Canal project was slowly but steady progressing, and Cendorin was on its way.

"I ask that your kin go around our city," the lord of Cendorin city pleaded to the head of the project. "Your grand canal will be useless if our place would be destroyed. What's the purpose of it then, should we die of starvation?"

The leader of the project reiterated, "Milord, we already have told you that we don't plan on the complete destruction of Cendorin. We'll have to cut through your farms, if you wish for the canal not to go through the city center."

"We can't afford to let go our farms! Where will we plant our crops? The sands are almost upon us, and only a few stretches of land are available for farming!"

"Where will you want us to go, then?"

"Can't you turn around our place?"

The project leader refused. "We've been digging long enough, and already sacrificed a lot to accommodate your city's request. Our orders from the Saint's Tree is to continue digging to this site, because diverting it would be costly. If the population—you—will resist, then we have the discernment to possibly resort to heavy measures. You're not the only ones who are giving more than what they have to so that this canal would be completed!"

"Aren't you allowing yourselves be controlled by Her Holiness, and her snake of a human adviser? You're relying too much on his wisdom! Where is your pride as an elf?"

"Do you think we still have time to think of our prides when those sands devour our land with every delay?" the project leader countered. "That human—though we hated asking for help—knew how to deal with our problem! I'd rather listen to him than allow my foolish pride to decide for me and the lives of my family!"

At that point, the lord of Cendorin pulled out his sword; his people followed suit, drawing their bows and preparing their arrows. "If you dare cross our boundaries," he warned them, "then we shall be oath-bound to slay you and your kin! Tell that useless Saint inside her tree that if she intends for us to die, so be it!"

The project leader just shook his head and went back to the safety of his fellow workers' lines. Then, when he was out of danger, it was the Life Guards who took over the 'negotiations' with the uncovering of their concealed catapults.

Sir Eldarv, the one overseeing the security operations, called out to the citizens of Cendorin. "One last chance, brothers and sisters! We implore you to avoid needless bloodshed; please surrender your lands!"

"If you say we are your brothers and sisters, then why kill us? Come and get our lands from our hands!"

"!!!" Suddenly, one of the catapults fired, much to Sir Eldarv's surprise and confusion. It hit the wood fences surrounding Cendorin, killing and injuring a few of its people.