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Episode 414, Part 2
A vast wetland that cannot be compared in size to any human metropolis.
The water was so clear that the bottom was clearly visible despite being stagnant, and the air, which should have been damp, was incredibly refreshing.
I looked up at the sky.
Numerous wooden structures are irregularly attached to the trunks of large trees, which have a height that seems endless and a circumference that could cover a castle.
There are stairs, ladders, vines, planks, and wooden bridges all intertwined here and there, but the residents move around skillfully without any difficulty.
Boooooooo.
On one side, spirits with a subjugation difficulty of platinum level according to the Adventurer's Guild standards are gathered together and playfully mingling with young elves.
'I've seen the World Tree of the past in Karans' memories… … but this is my first time here.'
It's full of elves.
It was a place that truly fit the description of a cradle of a race.
Introduced by Karans.
“This is the elf’s haven, the ‘Forest of Life.’ What do you think?”
“……It’s mysterious. And it’s very comfortable.”
Karans nodded his head as if it was natural for him to hear Verden's sincere sentiment.
“The Forest of Life is a place filled with the magic purified by the Great Mother. It will feel very cozy to the brothers who possess pure magic. More so than to me and other elves.”
From an elven perspective, Karans judged Verden to be an elf.
Race unknown.
Even though I have become a semi-transcendent being and have transcended the limitations of my physical body… … .
'I guess I'm the exception.'
If other magical transcendent beings were treated like elves, we would have already heard of related cases from Karans.
“But, brother, who are they?”
“They are colleagues who share the same goals.”
“I see. They are certainly far from ordinary, as they were chosen by my brother.”
Karans turned his head slightly and glanced at the two people over his shoulder.
“The human has merged with the Merquien sisters, and the magical power of that strange being is… similar to that of a brother, but also turbid. It’s ambiguous, but from an elven perspective, you could consider them sisters.”
Sister?
“Merquien hates the World Tree, saying it is twisted and corrupted.”
“The Merquien sisters are rather extreme among us. They especially try to distance themselves from beings that are far from pure, even more so than humans.”
Looking back on the past few days, Mercienne had argued with Adrian often, but she hardly ever spoke to Isabella.
'Isn't it just Merquien, not all elves?'
It is widely believed that elves are a race with an absolute collectivist ideology.
That's why I thought that most of them wouldn't have much of a difference in personality… … But when I looked closely, they were all very diverse.
“Carans, those two won’t be attacked in the forest, right?”
“Elfs do not forget kindness. Inviting my brother to the Great Forest was a decision of the race and a way to repay a kindness. Of course, the group you brought with you was not on the invitation list, but the managers of the World Tree have already recognized this and have permitted entry into the Forest of Life.”
Karans asserted.
“So, what you are worried about will never happen. We are not the kind of people who would even betray our own kind.”
Elves keep their promises no matter what.
It was a voice full of racial pride. The elf's misanthropic remarks were based on facts, so there was no room for refutation.
'I don't even think about that.'
To begin with, Verden had never felt a sense of belonging to any race.
There was another part that I was concerned about.
'The World Tree's administrator has permitted entry… … .'
Adrian and Isabella's companionship must have been directly permitted by the World Tree.
It's different from what Karans perceives.
Verden looked at Merquien with a questioning look. She shook her head secretly.
It hides the meaning of the world tree.
Why on earth?
At that moment, the elves who had been watching from afar began to slowly approach.
There was no sense of caution.
The eyes that looked at Verden were filled with the magic of nature.
“Nice to meet you, stranger brother.”
The elf woman approached cautiously, extended her arm, and took Verden's hand.
She swallowed her breath.
“I really feel a magical power similar to that of the great mother… It’s just like the Karans brothers said.”
“There’s no way a human could possess such pure magic. Maybe this brother isn’t an elf, but a part of the World Tree…!”
“A human who has the protection of the Great Mother. I’ve never heard of one, but it sounds plausible. Then shouldn’t we call him the Great Father?
“I’ll have to ask the World Tree Administrator about that. Until then, I think it’s right to call you Great Brother.”
“Welcome to the Great Forest, great brother.”
“Me too, I’ll shake hands too!”
A handshake event was held out of nowhere.
The elves gathered around Verden with an attitude of utter seriousness.
The countless gazes filled with awe, admiration, and respect were quite burdensome.
Isabella was in a similar situation to Verden.
“Hmm, it’s so irreverent that I can feel a bit of the purity of the World Tree despite the heterogeneous magic power… It’s stimulating.”
“It’s like looking at an elf whose insides have been stained with murky filth. From now on, I will call you the evil sister.”
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“Evil sisters! Come play with us!”
“……Gaju, you keep telling me I’m evil. Do I have to like it?”
Isabella was popular with the young and young elves… …there was something similar.
Anyway, I wasn't rejected.
As Karans said, it seems like the elves treat her as a sister.
And Adrian… … .
'I'm being ignored.'
The elves don't even glance at it.
Although he didn't treat Adrian, who was human, as hostile because he had invited him, he didn't seem to intend to be friendly with him either.
“Foot.”
“…….”
As Merquien laughed, Adrian stroked his scabbard with an expressionless face. Was it better to be teased like that, or to be completely ignored by all the elves?
Verden couldn't tell.
“Carans, what’s next?”
Verden's goal is to talk to the World Tree, but Merquien demands secrecy.
So, for now, we have no choice but to hide it.
“According to the orthodox custom, an invited guest cannot stay in the Great Forest for more than four days. However, since we must wait five days to prepare the reward for you, Brother, this time has been decided as an exception.”
“Is that also the decision of the World Tree administrators?”
“Yes.”
It is convenient to simply call it consideration.
At least the World Tree's administrators seem to know the World Tree's meaning.
“By the way, what’s the reward?”
“I can’t tell you in advance, but… when we said goodbye to the kingdom of the Eastern Continent, I told you, ‘I will prepare a gift that will satisfy you when you visit the Great Forest.’ I can assure you that you will not be disappointed.”
Karans assured.
As a Guardian Elf who doesn't talk nonsense, it's clear that it's something that can't be easily obtained.
“Don’t expect it.”
“Haha, please look forward to it. Then, until the ‘fruiting’ begins in five days, please come and go freely and rest well in the forest…….”
Karans continued speaking belatedly.
“Oh, and my sister will be visiting you soon. She will be coming to the human realm to thank you for rescuing me and avenging the elves… I think we will meet again within three days at the latest.”
If you're talking about my older sister, you're probably talking about 'Serendia', one of the administrators of the World Tree.
I remember seeing this while reading Karans' memories in order to find Leonil's laboratory, which was thoroughly hidden.
'It must have been intentional.'
The encounter with Serendia will lead to a direct or indirect connection with the World Tree.
The sea you want.
Verden nodded, saying he understood.
* * *
Verden and his party stayed at the elf's mansion in a corner of the Forest of Life.
It was quiet, as it was far from the other elves' residences. The structure, made only of wood and plants, was clean without a single bug.
The two-story structure was spacious enough to accommodate three people and a mini golem.
“But why are you all gathered in my room?”
“Just because it’s comfortable?”
“I came to see you, my lord, because I thought you might be lonely.”
Isabella, lying on her bed, leisurely reads the contents of her notebook. It is full of theories she was taught by Verden.
Adrian was sitting on the floor, managing his magic sword, Cedence, while Alpha was busy running around doing [Scans].
Verden, who was looking at their faces, leaned his weight on the slanted chair.
“Five days… Alpha seems to be interested in even a single piece of wood, so she won’t be bored. Isabella and I can each study magic proficiency and theory. Adrian, is there anything else you can do?”
“The environmental conditions in the Great Forest are good, so I’d like to dive deep into meditation.”
“I see. What do you think about sparring with elves? It looks like there are other strong-looking elves besides Merquien.”
For a warrior who has reached a high level, it is necessary to discipline one's inner self, but more valuable than that is a real fight against a strong opponent that one has never experienced before.
“Well, I doubt if we can even have a conversation since we are humans. Of course, if I receive help from my lord, I can have a duel, but I don’t want to inconvenience my lord by doing that.”
Isabella joined in.
“Contrary to my first impression, you’re very cautious. As expected, you’re one of the four powers of the Central Continent.”
“I don’t know what kind of race elves are. But what was my first impression?”
“When I saw you without knowing who you were, you seemed like a loser for some reason. Sorry for the misunderstanding.”
“…….”
In the past, Adrian only trusted in his own strength, and if he didn't like something, he would just attack the nobles and all.
This is Kayrel's testimony.
Adrian turned his head silently and changed the subject.
“When do you think the World Tree administrators will arrive?”
“Elf’s concept of time is more lax than humans’, so I think they might come on the last day.”
Thinking deeply about it is meaningless.
It goes without saying that we will meet within a few days, no matter when you come.
In the evening, Karans and Merquien visited the mansion.
Carrying a basket full of bright yellow fruits and raspberries of a type I've never seen before.
As the saying goes, it is considered precious even to elves, and the juice itself is certainly on a different level from what can be found in human cities.
“You gave me this, so give me something to eat. I’ll have strawberry cake for dessert, please.”
“Ahem, I’m craving human food for the first time in a while, brother.”
Have you come to taste the cuisine of human society while entertaining guests?
It doesn't matter. I've already bought a lot for this anyway.
Verden opened the subspace and summoned the ingredients. Alpha was in charge of cooking.
Only then did Karans' eyes widen when he saw the mini golem that had not become transparent.
“A golem imbued with the magic of a brother… I’ve never seen it before. Did you bring it ‘from there’?”
"okay."
The second forbidden area of the kingdom, the one who guided us from the Eastern Swamp to the Tomb of the Demon King was Karans himself.
He was one of the few who knew one of Verden's secrets.
The bowls are emptied one by one.
Alpha, who had completed his mission, rode the hem of his robe and settled on the nape of Verden's neck.
“Good job, Alpha.”
[Charging… is required… … .]
Are you already out of energy?
Well, I was curious, so I went around all day, [scanned], and cooked, so it was only natural that I would run out.
He activated the magic circuit and directly injected magic power into Alpha.
It was a task that only Verden could do.
[Thank you, Your Majesty Verden.]
Alpha, who had suddenly become energetic and full of power, bowed down.
A day passed like that.
As the day dawns, warm sunlight streams in through the window.
“Good morning, Asher.”
Serendia came to the mansion.
* * *
Serendia, the elves who stand out among the races known for their beautiful appearance.
She visited the mansion alone and had a private meeting with Verden. Adrian and Isabella waited outside so as not to be disturbed.
Verden was the first to greet me.
“Nice to meet you, Serendia. I didn’t expect to see you so soon.”
“I cannot keep the guest invited by the Great Mother waiting. And you have no reason to be respectful to an administrator like me.”
It's special treatment again.
'What does the World Tree see in me?'
To find out, I accepted the invitation to the Great Forest.
Verden nodded to Serendia's words and continued the conversation.
“You hid the World Tree’s intentions from other elves. What is the reason?”
“It is the will of the Great Mother. Of course, it is not only her will that has led her to decide to invite you to the Great Forest. It is purely our will…….”
Serendia slightly pulled her chin.
“I am grateful to you for saving my brother Karans and killing the humans, including Leonil Bertanas, who used the elves as test subjects. That is why I have left the Kingdom of Estyria alone. Until now.”
If it weren't for Verden, they would have been plotting revenge against the nation on a racial level.
Serendia's will was sincere. This is why the world considers elves dangerous.
“Of course, I have no intention of repaying your kindness to that extent.”
“I already heard about the reward from Karans.”
Verden brought up the topic.
“So when can we meet the World Tree?”
“We will meet again in the fruition four days later. But before that, Asher, who has inherited a fragment of the Oldark Ruin Arcanad, there is something I would like to ask you personally.”
“……Wait a minute. What?”
If it's Oldark, then it's the first Magic King.
Verden tilted his head.
It was natural that Serendia considered him the successor to the Dark King.
You must have already heard it through Carans.
However, I had no idea why now… … and why she, the administrator of the World Tree, would bring up the first Demon King.
[… … ?]
Alpha leaned out at the sudden mention of the Dark Lord's name.
Serendia looked at him and asked.
“Do you know how to repair old golems?”
* * *
Several elves were given the role of administrator by the World Tree, and each was in charge of one of the areas of the vast Great Forest.
Serendia is the area it manages, the center of the great forest that encompasses the Forest of Life.
There is a completely hidden space there that only the administrators are aware of.
“Only a very small number of guests, even among the elves, were invited to the Great Forest. Naturally, they were not all ordinary, but… there were some who were considered special.”
The only being who can enter and exit the land of the elves at any time, ignoring the abnormal phenomena occurring deep in the Great Forest.
Living natural disaster.
An unprecedented monster that has reached the pinnacle of transcendence but has not forgotten its humanity, forcing the administrator to acknowledge its equality with the World Tree.
“Surely not here…….”
"yes."
Serendia confirmed.
“It is the dwelling that Oldark built in the Great Forest, abandoned exactly 413 years ago.”
A place sealed with green roots, each one resembling a tall building.
A large golem sits on a vast magic circle that cannot withstand the passage of time. Most of its body is destroyed.
[… …Your Majesty the Demon King.]
Alpha was reminded of the Creator at that sight.
Verden discovered the second trace of the Dark Lord, following the Golem Research Facility.
Could it be a coincidence?
That can't be true.