Chapter 160

Chapter 160
## Chapter 160

The Aftermath of the Capital Invasion (4)

Upon reaching the woodlands bordering the Elven Kingdom within the Enamel Continent, the various non-human delegates offered quick parting words and dispersed toward their respective homelands.

‘Reflecting on it, the Elven Kingdom occupies the literal center of the landmass, functioning as a nexus for travel, which makes it an ideal meeting ground.’

It almost made it sound as though the High Elves served merely as a transit system.

Yet they were the rightful sovereigns of their entire population.

“Whew, pant— This is far more grueling than I anticipated. Even with Lord Rapori guiding me, it takes this much effort… How on earth did you manage to traverse the entire ocean like this…”

Cecily, who had been practicing her control over the ‘Forest Path’ alongside Rapori, continually wiped away her perspiration and let out a heavy sigh.

The remaining members of the group had simply journeyed through the sylvan corridor, whereas she had spent the entire duration glued to Rapori’s side, absorbing his instructions regarding its mechanics.

She had mastered the conceptual principles, including the manipulation of energy, during their voyage toward the Ion Continent, and upon their return, she had engaged in hands-on practice by quietly assisting him in piloting the corridor.

Furthermore, upon crossing back onto the mainland, she had even executed a trial run where she assumed full command…

“If I am this exhausted after such a brief window, maintaining it for that long is beyond comprehension. Lord Rapori truly possesses incredible capability!”

“Ha ha ha, it simply requires the proper refinement. You will master the rhythm in no time, Lady Cecily.”

Cecily offered a soft smile at his reassuring words, then directed her gaze toward the distant, towering silhouette of the World Tree, offering a contemplative reflection.

“It is quite a peculiar sensation. During our initial seafaring crossing, I underwent my awakening, and on this secondary journey, it is Harris’s turn. It almost mirrors a recurring pattern. I wonder who will be next? Tee-hee.”

“Oh! The next slot belongs to me! Consider it claimed!”

Shapiron’s gaze flashed with intensity as she seized the moment to interject.

It was evident that she harbored a quiet frustration over being outpaced by Harris, whom she viewed as her primary competitor, even if she refrained from expressing it openly.

With that, following their brief exchange, the diplomatic party resumed their march toward the World Tree.

They trekked for several days toward the colossal timber that seemed to distort all sense of scale.

Observing the shifting musical landscapes in the various settlements they traversed along their route, Harris understood that his strategy for cultural integration had achieved a partial triumph.

‘…Incredible. They integrated the style and birthed an entirely distinct musical form. Given that I have shaped their trajectory, should this be deemed a victory?’

They truly were a people profoundly dedicated to the art of sound.

Since his primary aim was to harvest Karma through alternative avenues, this outcome brought him genuine gratification.

‘At long last.’

Yet that matter paled in comparison to his current reality.

He had finally made landfall.

He stood directly at the base of the monumental timber that climbed aggressively into the atmosphere as though pinning up the heavens—the World Tree.

“Ah!”

In that moment, Harris…

《The World Tree gazes upon its child.》

Could perceive the essence of the World Tree with unprecedented clarity.

He had been utterly unable to grasp even a shred of the Main God due to the entity’s boundless scale, but the World Tree existed on a comprehensible plane.

Granted, its magnitude remained beyond calculation.

Its massive column scaled the heavens as if piercing the cosmos, its sprawling canopy, which appeared to blanket the terrestrial realm, produced celestial spheres rather than standard vegetation, and its subterranean network anchored the very globe beneath his boots.

It was a staggering manifestation that demanded reverence.

By comparison, he amounted to nothing more than an insignificant speck resting upon a leaf.

Swoooosh—

While anchoring himself against the awe-inspiring sight, Harris suddenly noticed a compact, crimson piece of fruit roughly the size of a fist hovering directly before his face.

It arrived accompanied by ethereal entities of diverse hues that cushioned the bough from which it descended, dancing in a vortex around his form.

This was an event he had witnessed once before.

Inhaling deeply, he felt a crisp, invigorating vitality saturate his chest.

During the previous occasion, he had been relegated to merely absorbing this revitalizing atmosphere from a distance while observing Cecily’s elevation ritual…

This time, however, Harris reached out, grasped the ‘World Tree’s fruit,’ and raised it to his lips without a shred of reluctance.

Snap—

‘Oh!’

He possessed the impression of taking a solitary bite, yet the entirety of the fruit had instantly slipped down his throat.

The concentrated vitality packed within the harvest immediately radiated through his physical vessel, and every fiber of his being, from his scalp to his soles, began to transfigure under its potency.

The ultimate destination for the power coursing through his channels centered squarely behind his eyes.

A sharp, throbbing sensation flared within his sockets.

Once the entire transformation concluded, the underlying reason why the elevation to a High Elf was dubbed an ‘awakening’ became completely lucid to him.

It felt as though an obscuring lens had been stripped away, granting him a clearer view through the fabric of reality.

《The individual meets the conditions and grows. You have acquired the special skill “Stargazer”.》

《The individual meets the conditions and gains enlightenment. The skill “Spirit Summoning” evolves into the special skill “Call of Nature”.》

The shift extended far beyond a mere expansion of his visual range.

He could interpret his environment as though observing from an external vantage point, and the world presented itself in a manner far more mystical than its standard state.

Comparable to the perspective granted when traversing the ‘Forest Path’… no, it surpassed even that.

‘“Stargazer”… This represents the foundational engine behind the diverse miracles demonstrated by the High Elves.’

Navigating the spatial distortions of the Forest Path, projecting blessings upon others, and tracking targets across distant woodlands.

Every single one of these phenomena constituted an act of magic manifested by channeling the essence of the World Tree through this specific capability.

Hummmm—

Simultaneously, a brief yet profound wave of intent from the World Tree resonated within his consciousness.

It carried a far greater definition than his impressions of the Main God, yet it remained something that defied literal translation into standard speech…

Nonetheless, Harris comprehended its core sentiment intuitively.

-I will watch over you, my child.

No subsequent communion followed that fleeting declaration, but he could tangibly discern that a spiritual conduit had been permanently forged between his soul and the World Tree.

* Individual Name: Harris
* Race: High Elf
* Common Traits: “Mind Hub”, “Persona”, “Super Recovery”, “Clear Mind”
* Individual Traits: “Chosen of the World Tree”, “Assimilation with Nature”, “Stargazer”, “Call of Nature”, “Fairy Archery”, “Harmony of Melody”
* Special Notes: Awakened as a High Elf, a priest of the World Tree, and can now borrow its power through the ley line. Natural energy and affinity have increased dramatically, and all spirits are on the verge of evolution. Receives infinite love from all plants and animals.

Likely due to the physical tax of such an abrupt metamorphosis,

He felt his vitality ebb away as a fog rolled across his consciousness, causing his eyelids to drift shut.

“Harris’s elevation ritual has concluded…”

“Transport him inside with utmost care…”

Thus, at long last,

Harris, who had entered this realm as an isolated wanderer unrecognized by the World Tree, was formally claimed and inscribed into the ancestral lineage.

—

“Sigh—”

Riley Carte Azeria, the Fifth Princess of the Azeria Empire, a striking noblewoman characterized by her vibrant golden locks and aquamarine gaze, released another weary breath as she paced the perimeter of the courtyard.

More than seven days had elapsed since her abduction by the Immortal King and her subsequent confinement.

‘The surroundings are far more immaculate than I anticipated, and my accommodations are reasonable.’

The sector assigned for her confinement consisted of several modest residential quarters arranged around a spacious central courtyard.

For someone who had anticipated a grim dungeon, this layout was quite startling, and the specific quarters allotted to her provided more than enough room to reside in solitary comfort.

‘Furthermore, the sentries appear to display a degree of consideration… at least regarding my person.’

She remained oblivious to their activities beyond the walls, but whenever her gaze fell upon Andrew, the individual tasked with treating Crown Prince Simon like a common laborer, he appeared utterly spent…

Conversely, the woman designated as her personal warden, Lilith, attended to her needs with the precision of a seasoned lady-of-the-chamber.

Naturally, a professional boundary persisted given her role as a captor, yet she behaved like an absolute savior when contrasted with the man who incessantly degraded Simon to discharge his own frustrations.

‘Then again, he brought that upon himself. Perhaps I should view my circumstances as fortunate?’

Nevertheless, she could not muster genuine joy over these conditions, given the reality of her captivity.

Regardless of how luxurious the accommodations were, she remained a captive stripped of autonomy.

Her daily routine had dwindled to pacing her designated perimeter, engaging in brief disputes with Simon whenever their paths crossed, and quietly engaging in internal reflection and magical exercises in isolation.

‘This setting is actually flawless for magical refinement. I previously cast it aside using my hectic schedule as an alibi, so it might be wise to apply myself completely now… I lack alternative pastimes regardless.’

She had pursued the craft as a pastime during her formative years, giving her a foundational grasp of arcane principles.

After all, she had been the initial instructor to introduce Isea to the fundamentals of the craft.

‘Granted, she left me behind almost instantly. Was it truly fair for her to eclipse years of my dedication in less than a single month?’

She found herself perpetually locked at the novice tier, whereas Isea had already ascended to the rank of an Archmage.

Muttering quietly to herself at the memory of Isea, the princess let out a tiny grin and pinched her eyes shut.

The singular anchor preventing her from losing her sanity within these walls was the profound confidence she placed in Isea.

She possessed no inkling of when her release might occur, and she could easily face a fate worse than execution depending on the volatile whims of the Immortal King.

The solitary conviction preserving her resolve through this bleak period was…

‘Provided I draw breath… Seah will assuredly arrive to liberate me.’

Yet she could do nothing save bide her time.

Riley pulled her knees to her chest and buried her face, gripped by a crushing sensation of powerlessness.

The Emperor, who favored evaluating potential heirs through cutthroat rivalry rather than harboring genuine affection for his offspring.

Her maternal figure, the Fourth Consort, who had met an untimely demise and left Riley isolated in court, alongside the Empress and competing consorts who viewed her existence as an irritation,

And her own flesh and blood, who had engaged in merciless political warfare for the crown since their childhood days.

‘Seah… sister.’

With her immediate household structured in such a manner, her maternal relatives—a minor house of viscounts situated on the frontier—were far too preoccupied with self-preservation to offer her any backing.

The attendants assigned to her had behaved no differently, fostering her deep-seated cynicism toward the inhabitants of this realm.

‘…I ought to have addressed her as sister far sooner. Why did I let pride make that so complicated?’

The solitary individual from whom Riley had experienced authentic familial devotion within that hostile court was Isea.

In all candor, she had initially taken her under her wing much like a domesticated creature…

Hummmm—

While she was nursing her melancholy in a secluded patch of the courtyard,

Lilith, the warden overseeing the princess, stepped through the concealed gateway positioned in the center of the residential square.

She arrived hauling a seemingly lifeless male by the collar of his garments.

“Good grief— It appears Andrew is tormenting His Highness the Crown Prince once more. Honestly…”

She cast a brief look toward Riley, then ignoring her entirely, immediately gathered her arcane energy to issue a summons.

“S-… no, Sister Lilith! Did you summon me? What requires my… Huh? Who is that fellow?”

Andrew, who had been badgering Simon and forcing him to scrub the living spaces, strolled over with an arrogant gait before his eyes fixed upon the prone figure, prompting him to dart forward.

Departing from his customary drained demeanor, he inspected the unconscious individual with intense fascination, running his eyes over the stranger’s wardrobe repeatedly.

“The reports claim he materialized instantly near the fortress perimeter. He bolted inside the moment the local walking dead attempted to harvest him. Standard teleportation magic should have been completely suppressed across this territory…”

“Sis! There is no doubt about it! This individual originates from my home world!”

The unusual garments and defensive apparel, including a specialized ballistic vest, were items rarely encountered within this realm.

He spoke with high animation, completely disregarding her contextual explanation…

‘The same world?’

Riley’s attention sharpened instantly as she subtly caught the fragments of their dialogue from her position.

“Ah, that aligns with my suspicions. His Majesty also appeared to anticipate as much, seeing as he commanded us to oversee his confinement separately within this sector. Regardless, he represents an invaluable asset, so he will find escape impossible once secured here.”

“Heh heh— This proves highly amusing, an unexpected newcomer. And of all potential coordinates, he manages to land precisely in this location… Ha ha ha.”

Andrew began to chuckle with an undercurrent of malice, as though a sinister plot had crossed his mind, though his amusement proved short-lived.

“Oh, that reminds me, Andrew. Your presence is no longer required in this sector. I intended to brief you on that change.”

“What? What becomes of my current assignment…”

“Sigh— I shall assume full oversight of this perimeter moving forward. Consequently, you may return your complete attention to your prior obligations.”

“Wait, wait, if that is the case, my service hours…”

“Since your duties here have been terminated, your schedule rests entirely in the hands of Olivia, does it not?”

His complexion drained of color in an instant, as though he had been struck by a terrible revelation.

“No, absolutely not! Grant me permission to remain here, Sis! I will literally perish if I am sent back there!”

“It is a matter beyond my control; it comes as a direct mandate from His Majesty. Ah, and your quarters going forward are situated within that specific sector, not this one, so do not mistake your path.”

“Y-you mean… the area occupied by those terrifying individuals…?”

As Andrew offered a desperate appeal, Lilith simply shook her head, indicating the decision was absolute.

Meanwhile, Riley’s inquisitive gaze remained locked entirely onto the unresponsive traveler.

‘A visitor from another realm… just like Seah…’

While the realization that Andrew the warden shared such an origin was startling, her current fascination centered on the dark-haired youth who had apparently just completed his transition.

Come to think of it, his unusual garments and the manner of his arrival closely mirrored the circumstances surrounding her initial encounter with Isea.

Granted, that past event had occurred within the private estate of the noble house where her maternal family resided, whereas this instance unfolded on the doorstep of the Immortal King’s stronghold.

‘Reflecting on that, this fellow possesses dreadful fortune. Imagine having your initial arrival drop you directly into a hornets’ nest like this.’

Riley observed him with a flicker of pity, possessing a clear understanding of cross-dimensional transitions due to her history with Isea.

Isea herself would have faced a catastrophic situation had Riley not extended protection, but this scenario was exponentially worse.

“Your Highness? You have undoubtedly gathered the context of our discussion, meaning this gentleman will also be taking up residence here henceforth.”

“Ah!”

Lilith, who had closed the distance between them without making a sound, spoke softly.

“…Your own duration in this place remains uncertain. Wouldn’t it be pleasant to have a companion for conversation aside from His Highness the Crown Prince?”

“………”

“Oh, now that I recall, the man managed to state his identity before losing consciousness— what was the designation?”

Lilith paused briefly to reflect, then cast her eyes downward toward the youth still hanging limply from her grip.

He was a dark-haired young man featuring soft facial lines and slightly downturned eyes, belonging to a demographic that mirrored Isea’s phenotype.

“…Hesperon, was it? Well, you can ascertain the finer points from his own mouth later. I ought to deposit this fellow into his assigned quarters.”

This marked the precise moment Hesperon, an awakened entity from Earth who had just been dropped into a foreign reality,

Was logged as a captive of the Immortal King.