Chapter 180

Chapter 180: World Tree

World Tree
Chapter 180. World Tree

It was an unusual sight for ordinary humans, let alone for nobles of ducal rank or higher with renown, to travel in an aerial carriage alongside a dragon spawn.
They flew at high speed with the Serdes Continent spreading beneath them.
— First time in an aerial carriage, I suppose?
He had ridden in one several times and had even driven it.
He had simply stopped using it because there was no reason to ride it.
— That is correct.
Ferda nodded for the moment.
— They almost never operate them. Humans, especially, only use teleportation magic circles if they are in a hurry, after all.
As Erica said, the utility of the aerial carriage was truly ambiguous.
It lacked the leisure that nobles desired, yet was not as immediately effective as a teleportation magic circle.
If the pilot was inexperienced, it was no different from placing a large piece of furniture on a catapult, so even in the Empire they kept them on standby without operating them.
But if a region lacked leisure and also could not use teleportation, nothing beat an aerial carriage.
The residence of the High Elves was precisely such a place.
— When will we arrive?
— At this speed, in about an hour. Would you like to converse in the meantime?
— I am not interested in small talk.
— Hoho, would I really suggest it just to pass the time?
Her laughter sounded heavy, as if her nerves were on edge.
— Let us talk about the black solution you handed to me.
Black solution.
Among the items taken from Research Institute Director Linne, the Dark Elf, there were two: one was a diary, the other a sample box.
— Our research results show that there is good news and bad news. What is certain is that it is similar to dragon blood.
— Is that good and bad news?
— Similar means there is as much difference as between humans and monkeys. It is like saying they are the same because both have limbs and rejoice when you give them food.
It was a strangely condescending nuance, but Ferda decided to ignore it.
— In any case, to summarize: the fact that they cannot produce dragon blood means they cannot create dragons artificially. That is the good news. Understand?
The most feared thing in the Dragon-Demon War was Godwin’s magic.
All dragons were mobilized to stop Godwin as he expanded his influence, and they barely protected the continent through sacrifice.
At a time when dragons are weakened as they are now, if another Godwin appeared, no one knows what would happen.
— Then what is the bad news?
— The bad news is that dragon blood has effects similar to those used in the Ascension Ritual.
Demons are made from Godwin’s blood.
Now they are known by different names, but there was a time when they were also called dragon spawn.
They cannot create Godwin, but creating demons is possible.
— Is production possible because Godwin’s essence remains?
Essence, called the true nature of the dragon.
If one could obtain that power, one would gain immense strength and could freely do things previously impossible.
Erica shook her head at Ferda’s assumption.
— Essence is related, but it would not be the main factor. Even if it remains, dragon spawns that are not dragons cannot perform the Ascension Ritual.
Ferda recalled Silverwind’s situation.
Since the Dragon-Demon War, Silverwind’s descendants were no longer being created.
Godwin, who had absorbed all of Silverwind’s essence and reached a level similar to Silverwind, did not skip the Ascension Ritual because he didn’t want to, but because he couldn’t.
— In any case, this black solution itself is far from being a dragon. So I thought it might be related to Research Institute Director Linne being a High Elf. I planned to ask for an analysis and also ask them to investigate it.
— Said Erica, showing the bottled sample.
— I hope we obtain meaningful results.
— That is right.
The conversation about the black solution ended there.
Ferda turned his gaze toward the window.
At some point, the carriage’s destination appeared in Ferda’s view.
“World Tree.”
A tree that rose toward the sky, whose roots, it was said, extended throughout the Serdes Continent.
They say anyone in the western continent region begins their morning marveling at the majesty of the World Tree the moment they wake up.
He later learned that it was a saying that had evolved from crude jokes.
Yet seeing the World Tree certainly aroused different emotions.
People often say the spire of a cathedral pierces the sky when looking from below, but once you are in the sky, it makes you feel like mere creatures under the heavens.
Especially after mages learn magic to stay in the air for a long time, they often say such things out of vanity.
But the World Tree was completely different.
Even from so far away, even flying so high, its summit could not be seen; the branches faded into the color of the sky, appearing as if the sky itself were richly distorted like leaves.
It truly seemed to hold up the sky.
— First time seeing the World Tree?
As he could not take his eyes away, Erica asked in a low voice.
Ferda answered that question to himself.
“This is the second time.”
He remembered seeing it from a similar height in memories steeped in vengeance and ruined.
What he remembered was a sky turned to ash and the World Tree glowing red.
The smell of ash pierced his nose, and for a month afterward he could not smell anything properly.
Ferda confronted his past self.
He saw that ugly figure that abandoned his purpose, cast away his humanity, and focused solely on emotion, wanting only to become stronger.
— This is the first time I see it with a clear mind.
— You might be nervous and make mistakes, but elven etiquette is similar to human etiquette. Besides…
Erica placed a hand on her chest and said.
— I am here, so do not worry too much.
A face that said: ‘trust only in me as your senior’.
Erica seemed to have arbitrarily accepted that he was nervous because it was his first time.
There was nothing in particular to explain, so he left her with her misunderstanding.
The aerial carriage approached the World Tree, lowering its altitude to the waist of the World Tree.
What looked like dots turned into a large clearing where a carriage could land.
— Let us get off.
Erica opened the door and stepped out first.
The crisp air pierced their lungs, hard to believe it was summer.
The Elves who came to receive them caught Ferda’s attention.
Luxurious armor made of high-quality elven metal.
Elven archers wearing them lined up, paying their respects.
Ferda still did not know how to distinguish Elves, but he was certain they were Wood Elves who lived in the forest.
Because the man at the lead shone too brightly.
Among the Elves, those whose noble beauty stands out are the High Elves.
His face looked like it would light up the world if he smiled, but what rested on their faces were only dry, blunt expressions like drought-stricken land.
— I greet the noble Guardians of the World Tree.
Erica greeted them first.
The High Elf accepted the greeting in turn.
— Blessings and joy of the earth. Welcome, daughter of water.
— Thank you for your valuable time while you are busy with festival preparations, Elder.
— There is no need to thank me. Everything was permitted by the Great Chieftain.
He cut himself off and glanced sideways at Ferda.
Erica immediately moved to the introductions.
— Regent-nim, this is one of the High Elf Elders.
Erica did not introduce the Elder’s name.
Because Elves do not introduce their names through others.
— Blessings of the earth. It is a pleasure to meet you.
And that High Elf did not reveal his name either.
It meant that Ferda’s visit was not welcome.
— It is an honor to meet you.
Ferda ended with an equally dry greeting.
The High Elf Elder turned his eyes toward Erica.
— I heard you need the help of the High Elves.
— Yes. This matter is important, and it is something only the High Elves can do, so I had to ask for it.
— Of course we must accept since the Great Chieftain permitted it, but may I ask what the matter is about?
Erica sensed a strange atmosphere at those words.
And she noticed a fact.
— It seems they did not inform you properly why we came.
— That is correct. They only said a guest would come.
Humans, whether transmitting or receiving, are bound to have misunderstandings if there is a flaw.
Yet for Elves, whose minds are connected as one, such a thing was as rare as being struck by lightning in the middle of a city.
Which meant they did not want to inform the other Elves of this situation.
So Erica silently refused.
— I am sorry, but I came as the Representative of Iorga. This matter must proceed after speaking first with the Great Chieftain.
Yet the Elder did not yield.
— This land is Elven land; we are the first children of the earth and we protect our mother.
— I know your efforts and your will well. But my intention and the Great Chieftain’s message remain unchanged.
— Then we cannot send you off easily.
— Presumptuous, High Elf Elder.
The chilling final words did not come from a voice between the two.
The voice came from the other guest, Ferda.
— What did you say, Regent?
— I will say it again. Do not be presumptuous.
Ferda pressed firmly.
— Even as the future consort of Valdrova, does a short-lived race dare spit insolence?
— Do you think it is only because I am Valdrova’s consort? The guest in this matter is me. I am telling you not to interfere in my affairs; what else needs to be said?
— Insolent…
The atmosphere grew increasingly hostile.
The High Elf’s expressionless face twisted slightly.
His fingers twitched in his gestures.
At that spasm, tension mounted among the Elven archers behind him.
Ferda prepared his mana, and Erica likewise readied a response.
— Stop!
A woman’s voice shattered the calm before the storm.
A woman who appeared to be a High Elf came running toward them.
A frail body, platinum blonde hair scattering with the light, round green eyes filled with bewilderment.
— What is happening?
— Ha, ha… This person, these people are the Great Chieftain’s guests. You clearly only said to guide the guests, why are you causing such a commotion, Elder-nim?
— A human sets foot on this sacred land; as one who listens to the mother’s heart, how could I stand still?
— You said not to harass the guests and to bring them to me. This is the Great Chieftain’s message.
The Elder looked at the woman with displeasure.
The woman clasped her hands over her chest and bit her lip.
It seemed she was trying not to avoid his gaze.
In the end, the Elder yielded.
— Since the blood relative of the Great Chieftain has come personally, I have no further need to greet them. I will return.
The High Elf Elder bowed to Erica and turned around.
The Wood Elves moved in perfect synchrony behind him.
As the hostile atmosphere dissipated, the woman let out a sigh of relief and greeted them.
— Blessings of the earth. Greetings, I am Rize, serving as the Great Chieftain’s aide alongside the Secretary.
A woman who bowed politely, introducing herself by name.
Ferda returned the greeting.
— I am Ferda Valdrova.
— I am sorry. I thought something like this might happen, so I tried to come greet you myself…
— Does it seem what we intend to do was not conveyed properly? We almost became intruders instead of guests.
— Ugh…
Erica did not hide her displeasure as she snapped at Rize.
Rize put on a nervous face and replied.
— I am sorry. The Great Chieftain did not convey the specific details of this meeting to anyone. That is why this happened… I am truly sorry!
Seeing Rize bow and apologize repeatedly, Erica stopped pressing her.
— Let us stop arguing about right and wrong. There is something more important. Guide us to the Great Chieftain, Secretary.
— Yes, yes! Please, this way.
Rize chanted in the Elven language and placed her hand on the pillar of the World Tree.
Then the stairs on the outer wall of the World Tree began to move diagonally.
They climbed the steps and headed to the upper section.
As they moved to the upper section of the World Tree, Ferda looked down.
Perhaps because the Elves had gathered densely around the World Tree since they spread widely after the Dragon-Demon War, wooden and thatched roofs were visible here and there.
Even so, true to a race that values harmony, the green leaves looked even more lush.
— Fortunately you contacted us just in time!
Whether embarrassed by the silence, Rize tried to force a brighter atmosphere.
— The Summer Festival is approaching, and if you had arrived a little later, we would have been stuck doing festival preparations again.
— You spend most of the year in festivals.
Ferda asked with an inquiring tone.
It could have been taken as sarcasm, but fortunately Rize replied with a smile.
— That is our job. To enjoy the joy of spring sprouting from the earth, the joy of summer growing in abundance, the joy of autumn bearing fruit, and the joy of winter waiting for a new spring.
Ferda recalled the face of the High Elf who had come to greet them with those words.
No matter how much he looked at it, it felt contradictory: a face that seemed not to have felt joy in an immeasurable age.
— However, it doesn’t seem like they enjoy festivals very much, do they?
— The Spring Festival has already passed. Originally, when summer arrives, everyone’s nerves sharpen.
— Is it different during festivals?
— T-that is…
Rize, unable to continue with a troubled look.
Erica answered for her.
— Originally, summer and winter were for endurance and mourning. Turning them into festivals is a recent change.
— Yes, that is right…
She only nodded slightly at Erica’s words.
If they are harsh seasons, is there really a need to celebrate festivals to raise spirits?
He could not understand Elven thinking, so he did not judge rashly.
— T-that reminds me, I heard that Ferda-nim is engaged to Valdrova-nim.
A sudden start to Ferda’s personal history.
— That is right.
— I have never met Valdrova-nim, but I heard she has many wounds in her heart. I am truly glad she can start anew by overcoming those wounds.
— Is that so?
— Yes. Becoming accustomed to solitude is not good. Having a partner with whom to share life is something truly joyful.
This woman named Rize seemed genuinely full of joy, unlike the Elder.
— If you don’t mind, would you tell me before leaving?
— May I ask why?
— I want to give her a gift. I will make a bouquet suitable for late spring and summer. Ah, but Valdrova-nim has a serious personality, so perhaps she might not like that sort of thing?
— No, she will like it.
A bouquet.
What expression would she make if he brought it to her?
Her voice, sounding so, so happy, echoed vividly in his ears.
— Oh, my.
Rize looked at Ferda’s face and covered her mouth with her hand.
— Why?
— Eh? Ah, it’s nothing!
Rize hastily turned her head.
Sensing another gaze, Ferda turned toward Erica.
Erica was staring intently at Ferda’s face.
She had a nervous expression, as if she had seen something she shouldn’t have.
— Why?
— No…
Erica murmured as if to herself.
— I never thought you could make that expression after always looking like you would destroy the world.
— …?
What expression did I make?
Ferda could not tell.