Chapter 10: The Strange Flowerpot (Part 10)
I figured there must be some story behind it, but by now, I was genuinely curious. Still, asking her directly was impossible, so I had no choice but to speculate based on what I could see. Her face had been stiff, but she forced a smile and turned to the boy and girl. She stretched out her hand, pointing to the massive tree before them—the World Tree.
The two young elves stared at the World Tree in awe, their eyes widening and mouths falling open. The boy, whose face had been as tense as hers, couldn't hide his expression, and the girl, who was holding her hand, was practically jumping up and down. Seeing their reaction—brought here by her, who seemed to be visiting her 'hometown'—it was probably either that their homeland had no World Tree, or they hadn't known one existed here. Given her unhappy expression, it was clear she hadn't received a warm welcome during that trip back to her 'hometown,' despite steeling herself to go.
Well, the prefix attached to her now was exile, after all. Whether she was an exile or not didn't bother me, but it didn't sit well knowing it might disrupt her plans.
"—."
At that moment, she smiled at the young elves' reactions and suddenly pointed up at the sky. She gestured to her compound bow, the sandals on her feet, and the two-story miniature house that loomed gigantic compared to their bodies.
"—?"
"—!"
The young elves alternated between looking at the sky—where I was watching—and her, shaking their heads in disbelief or nodding with sparkling eyes, showing quite the animated response. I couldn't help chuckling at the sight, especially the short-haired boy's incredulous reaction as he crossed his arms.
Since I was helping her out, it was time to prepare a welcome gift for the new residents who'd just moved into my flowerpot. Once they received it right in front of their eyes, they'd have no choice but to believe.
I'd love to give the two of them compound bows too, but that would mean eating nothing but ramen for a month straight. For housewarming gifts, something cheaper yet practical would be better.
About 220mm or so?
Luckily, I'd been able to gauge her foot size perfectly since the women's sandals I'd bought by mistake fit her just right. I checked the young elves' foot sizes accordingly. Unlike her barefoot days in the past, they wore what seemed like properly made sandals, but they didn't look any more comfortable than rubber ones.
"—."
Soon, she led them into her house and shut the door. It was well past bedtime anyway, so I headed back to my bed, ordered the sandals online, and prepared to sleep. Tomorrow was the weekend, after all. I could keep watching them then too.
Then, just as I was about to drift off...
A High Elf moves the power of the World Tree
...In the corner of the online shopping site where I'd been ordering sandals, something caught my eye: "Mini Wireless Remote-Control Robot."
It was the Battle Bot 001, a kids' ultra-mini wireless remote-control toy. About 5cm by 5cm, this four-wheeled miniature vehicle had plastic turret and cockpit structures mounted on its tiny body.
What hooked me was that this little thing reminded me of the expensive high-tech remote-control toys I'd loved as a kid. But more than that, its ultra-mini size drew me in.
Regular RC toys were too big. To fit them in the flowerpot, I'd have to mess with the scale adjustment, which defeated the purpose. But Battle Bot 001 was different. At 5cm, it was only about ten times larger than her, whom I estimated at 3-5mm.
And being ten times her size meant it would be ten times bigger than the enemies threatening her. Even the mana beast ants putting her in danger right now were much smaller than this Battle Bot 001. If it collided head-on, the sheer mass difference would let it bulldoze them like a dump truck flattening a compact car.
"Hah."
But I snapped out of it and slapped my cheek hard, reeling back from nearly impulse-buying something over 100,000 won. Better to sleep on it. Waking up refreshed and making a clear-headed decision was the smart move.
I already knew from experience that gifting something just because I thought it was good wasn't always the best idea. Especially not heavy, clunky metal machines that elves like her would probably hate.
But the next morning, I sat blankly on my bed, staring at the message that Battle Bot 001 had been purchased and was now en route.
I had to admit it. Sure, it was partly for the elves' sake, but that was just an excuse for my own selfish desire.
Still, I couldn't resist the thrill of fighting those grotesquely mutated monster ants with a toy I controlled. Laughing hollowly—not like a kid anymore—I got out of bed.
The elves were already up early, out of the house and tending to their tasks. Teaching the kids?
I watched them through the installed camera, ate a quick breakfast, and settled in.
In the flowerpot world, she was teaching the young elves who'd come to live with her all sorts of things. I didn't know elven customs, but with just the three of them here, everyone—even the kids—had to pull their weight.
And sure enough, the young elves eagerly learned without resistance. The little girl tried her best at whatever she was told, and even the teenage boy, who seemed full of adolescent cynicism and rebellion, was diligent about the work itself. Chopping toothpicks with an axe, cutting cloth with scissors, harvesting from the planted crops.
At a glance, it was a monotonous daily routine, nothing special. But I preferred it this way. Watching beautiful, mystical otherworlders go about their peaceful lives was far better than seeing them risk their necks against repulsive mana beast bugs.
"—?"
Of course, even so, they couldn't let their guard down. She knew it as well as I did. That's why she was now handing the boy the bow she'd made and teaching him how to shoot—preparing for battle. Who knew when the underground monsters might swarm again.
Of course he'd take an interest in the compound bow.
After firing a few wooden arrows, the boy eyed her compound bow. Both she and I were a bit flustered; she gave an awkward smile and shook her head. Yeah, do you know how much that costs?
He looked a little dissatisfied but seemed to accept it, showing no further interest.
"—."
But something even more impressive remained. As if to console him, she stood and extended her hand.
The ant nest vibrates
Ever since receiving a fruit from the World Tree, eating it, and becoming a High Elf, she could now borrow its power directly. She channeled it once more. There was no visible change like opening a portal, but something was clearly happening—the boy recoiled in surprise as the blue power, flowing like misty fog or smoke from the World Tree along the ground, began enveloping him.
Now I knew what that blue power was. The miraculous force that emerged whenever she used her abilities, granting transcendent might to her attacks and actions. It had to be something akin to the mana that hunters drew from within—what they called magical power.
"—?"
Soon, the power fully absorbed into the boy's body. She smiled brightly, as if asking if that wasn't enough, and he nodded dazedly.
They were preparing in their own way. Threats would come again, after all.
And sure enough, a bit past lunchtime—right when the packages I'd ordered at dawn yesterday arrived via delivery—the dungeon ant nest shook once more, spewing mana beast ants to assault the World Tree.
Three this time. Four tomorrow, five the next?
I didn't think the strengthened her would lose, but just as she'd gone somewhere to bring back these young elves, I felt the need to act for the future.
"—!"
"—."
I shifted my gaze from the mana beast ants racing across the flowerpot to the elves arguing about them. She was sternly pointing at the house, scolding the boy. She'd apparently decided he wasn't ready to fight yet. He rebelled, insisting he could handle it, but she simply placed the hand of the watchful little girl into his.