Chapter 161

Chapter 161
## Chapter: 161
Chapter Title: Serengeti’s Wedding

Perhaps the mountain of content updates that had been delayed for over a year because of my interference was now surging forth like a chaotic tidal wave.

This was…

‘A total windfall.’

It was becoming glaringly obvious that these elves were the equivalent of geese that laid golden eggs.

No, scratch that—they were laying diamond eggs.

What if I could claim a monopoly on all this fresh content they were unlocking?

What if I was the only one allowed to experience the latter stages of this still-unfolding primary quest?

‘A massive jackpot.’

I had to struggle to keep the corners of my mouth from curling into a grin.

“Will you accompany us now?”

“One condition. I’m taking Aurile with me.”

“…Aurile possesses great strength, but we can provide you with a combatant of a significantly higher rank.”

Aurile was currently at level 13.

And they had a warrior even more powerful than that?

I gave a firm shake of my head.

“Aurile alone is plenty. If that doesn’t work for you, then we have nothing more to discuss.”

Unless it was a partner I could keep entirely under my thumb, the path ahead would be far too treacherous.

After my encounter with Lord Solbaren, it was obvious that the Rift Tower was a rigged environment where the rules were stacked heavily in their favor.

I’d much rather have a compliant subordinate who follows orders than bring along some other elf who might put a knife in my back.

“…I understand.”

Surprisingly, Arwen was quick to back down.

It was likely due to the influence of my High Druid trait.

However, that wasn’t the only mystery weighing on my mind.

“Elder Arwen. Does the name Priest Andrew mean anything to you?”

“……I have never heard that name before.”

“What about Andasar?”

“That one as well…… It is completely unfamiliar.”

Hmm.

Just as I suspected.

Back when Priest Andrew had called out to Elder Arwen, and when he caught sight of Andasar, the only thing she radiated was a sense of ‘unfamiliarity.’

Yet, Priest Andrew clearly recognized Elder Arwen.

In all likelihood, Elder Arwen is the mother who gave birth to Andasar.

But if the elven race is a brand-new update to this world, a massive paradox emerges.

A being that didn’t exist until now couldn’t possibly have a husband or a child from years ago.

What was the explanation for this?

‘……I can’t quite piece this logic together.’

……I just don’t know.

But one reality was undeniable: the world was updating with new content.

The Primordial Forest and the elves were almost certainly part of these new additions.

If there had been a shortcut to Balmang Mountain, I would have discovered it a long time ago.

The fact that these elves—who were previously nothing more than myths—had finally stepped onto the stage meant the wheels of fate were turning in earnest.

If I could just fit the pieces of this puzzle together, the truth would surely be revealed.

“Um…… High Druid.”

It was at that moment.

Elder Arwen suddenly addressed me, her face clouded with a look of hesitation.

“Is there something else you wish to ask?”

“Well…… if I am not being too forward……”

“…?”

When I met her gaze with a look of confusion, Elder Arwen paused for a long beat before finally finding her voice.

“Would you be willing to touch my head as well?”

“…………?”

Serengeti’s Wedding

Elder Arwen made a hasty exit through the warp, accompanied by the other elves.

They had accomplished one of their goals, but a far more pressing matter had suddenly taken priority.

‘There is no doubt. He is a High Druid.’

Elder Arwen was a ‘Laurel Tree Warrior’ of the 6th stage.

She was a master of her craft, having successfully cultivated every single one of her ‘Laurel Leaves.’

And yet, the moment Randolph’s palm touched her head, those leaves—which had supposedly reached their limit—began to glow with an even more intense brilliance.

It was impossible.

A literal miracle.

A miracle had just taken place.

‘The Queen must be informed of this immediately.’

Her instinct was to take him directly to the Primordial Forest, but there were diplomatic hurdles to clear first.

Reporting these findings to the Elf Queen was the absolute first priority.

Acting too quickly by bringing him along could expose him to the machinations of the other ‘High Elves.’

There were likely factions already plotting to use a High Druid for their own gain.

‘If the World Tree is restored, the Queen’s true power will return.’

As the World Tree had withered, so had the Queen’s influence.

With the Queen’s strength fading, the Primordial Forest had descended into internal strife.

But if they could conquer the Rift Tower or use the High Druid to heal the World Tree, the Queen’s dominance would be restored—and the internal chaos would vanish.

The danger was the time in between.

The period before the World Tree could fully recover.

‘This is the chance. The opportunity of many lifetimes……!’

Furthermore, she had ensured that Aurile would remain by his side.

Aurile was a youth with an untapped reservoir of potential.

Even though she had barely sprouted any Laurel Leaves, she was already counted among the three strongest Laurel Tree Warriors.

If that girl could manage to bloom all her leaves……

‘The 7th stage. Aurile might actually transcend the limits of a normal warrior.’

Reaching the 7th stage and beyond was a privilege reserved strictly for the ‘High Elves.’

The World Tree only granted such immense power to those of pure royal blood.

For a common elf to hit the 7th stage was a phenomenon that happened once in a millennium, if ever.

Though Aurile was common-born, her raw talent was undeniably on that legendary level.

Beyond that, Aurile was one of the Queen’s most devoted followers.

If she could climb the tower with him and shatter her natural limits, she would become a powerful shield for the Queen, whose authority had been slipping away.

How much time had passed since they stepped through the warp?

“You’ve taken longer than we anticipated.”

“……Dark Elves?”

A group of dark-skinned warriors, Dark Elves, were standing in their path, blocking the way.

Arwen’s brow furrowed in anger.

The Dark Elves were the ancient enemies of their kind.

However, the path they were on was a secret known only to her people.

They had taken every possible precaution—checking and re-checking—to ensure no outsider could track them.

So how had these enemies discovered their route and prepared an ambush?

“We’ll let you live, provided you talk. Who was the person you met?”

More than fifty Dark Elves unsheathed their blades and began to close the circle.

‘Our secret path is compromised. Who sold us out? And to think they’d work with Dark Elves…’

It meant there was a spy among them, someone working hand-in-hand with their bitterest foes.

They were in league with the Dark Elves, the very race the elves hated most.

However.

‘They haven’t identified who I spoke with.’

They were still in the dark about his identity.

Only the elves closest to the Queen knew the truth regarding the ‘Rift Tower.’

To everyone else, this had been framed as a temporary mission of minor importance.

At the very least, the enemies lacked the specifics.

They only knew about the patrol route.

“…I see no reason to provide answers to common filth like you.”

If they were ignorant, she would keep them that way until the end.

Even if it cost her everything, she would never breathe a word about the existence of the High Druid.

Elder Arwen exchanged a look with the elves under her command.

They all met her eyes with a shared, unwavering determination.

“Hmph. Choosing death over common sense. Let’s see if your resolve holds when we start cutting.”

Whoosh!

Zip!

The horde of Dark Elves lunged forward.

In the moments following the elves’ departure.

Priest Andrew remained frozen, staring at the warp with a hollow expression.

The whole encounter felt surreal, like a fever dream.

‘That was definitely Arwen.’

There was no way his eyes had played tricks on him.

She had visibly flinched when he called her name.

And yet, she had looked at him as if he were a total stranger.

The same went for Andasar.

‘It was her, without a doubt……’

Why had she failed to recognize him?

But he hadn’t been able to find the words to confront her.

He was paralyzed by terror.

The terror that she had truly wiped him from her memory.

And the crushing guilt of what he had allowed Andasar to become.

“Artemia, Balmang Mountain, Palantir.”

“……Randolph?”

Randolph had walked up behind him and spoken those names.

Three specific locations. Noticing Andrew’s blank stare, Randolph gave a casual shrug.

“They informed me that these are the entry points to the ‘Primordial Forest.'”

“Why are you sharing this with me?”

“Because it’s something you need to know.”

“……”

Andrew’s gaze flickered with emotion.

The locations of the warp gates to the Primordial Forest were some of the most guarded secrets in existence.

For Randolph to give him this information was a massive gesture of confidence.

Moreover, if he traveled to one of those cities, he could reach the Primordial Forest—where Arwen lived.

But he still lacked the internal strength to do it.

Worse yet, these were the same elves who had looked upon Andasar with loathing and attacked him on sight.

Going there would likely be a death sentence.

“I’m grateful you told me. Truly.”

“When we begin the ascent of the Rift Tower’s 2nd floor, I’m bringing Andasar along.”

“What……?”

Priest Andrew looked completely bewildered.

The elves had come specifically to coordinate a climb of the Rift Tower.

Since Randolph had already cleared the 1st floor, he likely possessed information about the challenges of the 2nd.

Which meant he intended to bring Andasar right into the middle of the elven group.

“Aurile will be the elven representative. And since the ‘Winter Contract’ is active, they are forbidden from attacking Andasar.”

“Ha, but… won’t it still be incredibly risky?”

“Don’t let it worry you. Actually, I have a task I need you to handle for me.”

“…Name it, and it’s done.”

Priest Andrew’s voice was heavy with sincerity.

He was deeply indebted to Randolph for countless favors.

Even if the request was impossible, Priest Andrew was prepared to give it his all.

“Travel to ‘Balmang Mountain’ and verify the location of the warp gate to the ‘Primordial Forest.'”

“I will do it.”

Priest Andrew agreed instantly.

Balmang Mountain was notorious for its brutal environment.

It would be a long and grueling journey, but for a high-ranking member of the Goddess Church like Andrew, it was a manageable mission.

The territories surrounding it were under the jurisdiction of the Church.

This was undoubtedly why Randolph had chosen him for this specific task.

‘Just a verification. Only a confirmation……’

Priest Andrew tried to calm his nerves.

He was only there to check the gate.

He had no intention of actually entering the ‘Primordial Forest.’

“Are you beginning your preparations for the tower then, Randolph?”

“Not yet, there’s a prerequisite. And there’s something you need to attend to before you depart as well.”

“What’s that?”

“A joint ceremony.”

“……Who is getting married?”

Usually, when weddings took place in the ‘Knight’s Garden,’ Priest Andrew was the one to lead them.

But lately, with one disaster following another, romance had been the last thing on anyone’s mind.

Had someone actually found love in the middle of all this chaos?

The fact that Randolph was the one making the request was the most shocking part.

As Priest Andrew looked at him with wide-eyed curiosity, Randolph let out a small, knowing smirk.

“It seems Hudson and Serengeti are making it official.”

“Whaaaat……?”

“Marquis Wyzer has given his consent, so we’re moving quickly.”

“Those… those two are actually…… really?”

No way!

It was unthinkable that a man as stubborn and prideful as Marquis Wyzer would ever sign off on such a union.

What kind of madness had transpired?

Wasn’t Marquis Wyzer the sort of man who viewed merchants as little more than pests?

‘This is insane. The world has truly gone mad.’

It was nothing short of a miracle.

Hudson stood before the mirror, studying his own features.

‘The shadow is finally gone.’

The Imperial curse that had haunted him had at last been lifted.

He had returned to his original form as Hudson—the face of Serengeti was gone.

Yet, Hudson didn’t look like a man who had just won his freedom.

‘A wedding……’

The concept of ‘marriage’ had suddenly slammed into his life.

But he wasn’t the one who had initiated it.

—Serengeti! Look at me, I’m finally myself again!

—That’s wonderful! So, when are we getting married?

……Talk about a direct hit.

To his utter shock, Serengeti had been the one to propose.

She had already convinced Marquis Wyzer to say yes.

She had even arranged for Randolph to oversee the ceremony.

While he had been focused entirely on his physical transformation, Serengeti had already sprinted several miles ahead, planning their entire life together.

But Hudson was still plagued by doubt.

“Sigh. I still haven’t been honest with her.”

He still hadn’t confessed that he didn’t belong to this world.

Even if his original body back on Earth had been saved, in this world, he was technically a ‘criminal.’

Could she ever accept a truth like that?

Perhaps it was safer to keep it buried forever.

They say what you don’t know can’t hurt you.

“……No, I have to tell her.”

He didn’t want to live a lie for the rest of his days.

Fine. I’ll be honest. I’m going to do it.

With a heart full of resolve, Hudson made his way to Serengeti’s quarters.

Knock. Knock.

He gathered his courage and rapped his knuckles against the wood.

“Hmm? Is that you, Hudson?”

She knew it was him just by the sound of his steps. Serengeti pulled the door open.

……She was soaked in perspiration.

She was in the middle of an intense bodyweight workout, even now.

“The truth is, there’s something I need to discuss with you.”

“Discuss? What is it?”