Chapter 328: Yggdrasil (2)
Chapter 328: Yggdrasil (2)
The scenery of Yggdrasil was exactly as I remembered it.
It wasn't as if the place was packed with buildings made entirely of wood, like what I’d seen at the entrance to the Great Forest… but even here, the vast majority of structures were made of timber.
Well, at least a minimal amount of iron and glass had been used.
While other races might cut down trees to assemble a house, it felt as though the people here had grown the trees into the desired shapes from the start to minimize cutting.
Overall, the outlines of the buildings were rounded and organic. Looking closely, some of the trees even seemed to still be alive.
It looked like a giant, wooden miniature garden.
In fact, it was a miniature garden of Cyclic Life.
While it’s true that all the Good Gods cherish their followers, no god pours everything they have into them quite like Cyclic Life.
After all, who else would split their own power in half to create a World Tree?
At the time, people called it an act of madness, but thanks to that decision, the elves were able to develop safely within the Great Forest.
And since Cyclic Life became the only god able to remain on the surface after the War of the Gods, it could be called a stroke of brilliant foresight in the end.
Well, there are quite a few followers of Cyclic Life among other races too… but apparently, it’s not much of an issue since anyone who becomes an official priest enjoys the same rights as an elf.
Familiar settings naturally bubbled up in my mind at the nostalgic sight. I wonder how long I walked while organizing these thoughts.
Eda, who was leading the way, glanced back at me and asked in a puzzled voice.
“Come to think of it, Your Grace, you don’t seem particularly surprised. Usually, those visiting for the first time are struck with awe by the majesty of the World Tree.”
“I’m actually quite surprised, despite how I look.”
“I see. If you don’t mind, I would like to offer a brief explanation of Yggdrasil. Would you permit it?”
“I’d like that. But… do we have to walk all the way over there?”
“Goodness, no!”
Eda reacted with exaggerated surprise to my playful remark. He pointed to a pillar a short distance ahead.
“We’re almost there. If you board this, you can fly there in an instant!”
“This is…?”
At first glance, I thought it was just a massive pillar, but looking closer, it was different.
It was a series of cylindrical, sturdy, and smooth wooden segments stacked on top of each other. It looked like a stalk of bamboo that had been magnified dozens of times.
The bamboo-like shaft soared high into the air, naturally connecting toward the World Tree.
…Wait, is it that?
As if confirming my suspicion, Eda continued in a proud tone.
“It is called the Ratatoskr. It is one of the paths connecting the World Tree to the ground, created by Cyclic Life out of pity for us who had to travel back and forth with such difficulty.”
“Hoh. It’s even more impressive seeing it in person.”
“Have you heard of the Ratatoskr?”
“Roughly.”
I might not know other cities, but Yggdrasil was perfectly implemented in H&A, so there was no way I wouldn’t know.
To put it simply, it was like a bi-directional slide created by the Authority of Cyclic Life.
Thanks to the Ratatoskr, allies could gain overwhelming mobility in Yggdrasil, where teleportation was impossible.
…Though the fact that the city still got sacked occasionally was a real pain in the ass.
A bitter smile formed on my lips as I recalled old memories of rage-quitting and starting a new game because of some bullshit enemy patterns.
However, Helena seemed to misinterpret my expression. She puffed out her cheeks and whispered in my ear.
“‘I could do that too if I had enough divine power.’ …is what she says.”
“???”
What is she talking about all of a sudden?
“Did you think I was thinking something like, ‘Why didn’t Solaris have something like this? It would’ve been much easier during the last defense battle’?”
“No. I was worried you might be thinking, ‘Cyclic Life seems more impressive; maybe I should switch gods?’”
“That’s ridiculous… In the first place, that thing only makes sense because the World Tree is there. Why would I be jealous?”
I let out a hollow laugh and shook my head, causing Helena to blink her golden eyes.
“Then why did you have that expression on your face?”
“I just felt a bit bitter thinking that even a place like this could be destroyed.”
This city was a place where Cyclic Life had poured out their Authority without stint, and where the ancient knowledge of the elves was concentrated.
But even an Yggdrasil like this falls when it’s time to fall.
Of course, I intend to prevent it from falling…
But the fact that thousands of years of wisdom and a god’s deep love could vanish in an instant just felt… some type of way.
Hearing my words, Helena gave a warm smile and took my hand.
“Then there is no problem at all, is there?”
“Pardon?”
“Didn’t you say you would stop it, Brother? Thousands of years of wisdom will continue as it always has, and the God’s love will still shine warmly upon the earth. Because you will make it so.”
“…….”
It’s strange. Is it because she’s a member of the clergy? Helena’s words feel exceptionally sincere. Her unwavering conviction was enough to make even me feel at peace.
As I stood there dazed, Helena lightly clasped her hands together.
“I believe in you, Brother.”
“Ah.”
It was an affection closer to faith than mere trust. The corners of my mouth, which had been slightly tense, relaxed.
“Now you’re smiling properly. It looks much better.”
“It’s thanks to you, Helena.”
As we were giggling together, Eda, who had been politely pretending not to notice, spoke up quietly in front of the Ratatoskr.
“Shall we depart immediately?”
“Yes. We should. It would be rude for a guest to arrive and not offer greetings.”
I shrugged as I spoke, and Eda gave a bow before opening the door to the Ratatoskr.
*
In an instant, we arrived inside the World Tree.
This place was the royal palace of Alfheim, the holy land of Cyclic Life, the heart of the Great Forest… and the home of Elisha and Iris.
Though Alfheim had abandoned many traditions to survive, it seemed they couldn’t bring themselves to recklessly touch the World Tree, as it perfectly preserved its appearance from the past.
That was why they still maintained the lifestyle of hollowing out the insides of trees—the kind of thing you’d only see in an elven folk village—and living in harmony with them.
The only difference was the mind-boggling scale.
In fact, as soon as I stepped off the Ratatoskr, I saw a wide-open plaza and hundreds of elves busily working as they moved about.
It wasn’t just wide; it was so tall that it was divided into three floors, and even this was just the lower layer of the World Tree.
When you considered the middle layer where the Elven Queen lived, and the upper layer that could only be accessed with the permission of Cyclic Life, the size was truly insane.
Fay looked so shocked she momentarily stopped breathing—perhaps because she was short, making everything look even grander, or perhaps for some other reason.
For some reason, Iris started acting all smug while looking at Fay, but unfortunately, there was somewhere we had to go before touring the interior of the World Tree.
After giving them both a reassuring pat, I began to climb the stairs following Eda’s guidance.
The first floor, the second floor… and finally the third floor, the top of the lower layer.
The third floor consisted of nothing but a long hallway and a single room. That was Chancellor Milone’s office.
Eda stood before the heavy, dignified door and knocked lightly.
“Chancellor. I have brought the guests.”
“Come in.”
The hinges turned smoothly, revealing the interior of the office.
The interior was mostly white with subtle green accents. Various books filled the walls, and a thick carpet covered the floor.
The space exuded an overall elegant atmosphere… but the owner of the room did not.
Behind a desk wider than a bed, buried under a mountain of paperwork, a woman staggered to her feet.
She was tall, roughly around my height. Her green hair was neatly cut to shoulder length, and her form-fitting uniform felt more ‘cool’ than ‘pretty.’
However, her face was filled with a deep exhaustion that even the characteristic beauty of an elf couldn’t mask. Because of that, the entire impression she gave off was reversed.
The woman, who looked like she hadn’t been home in about three days, spoke.
“Thank you for accepting the invitation, Duke Lindelheit. And to your companions as well. I am Milone, the Chancellor of Alfheim.”
“It’s a pleasure to meet you, Chancellor Milone.”
“M-may the Light shine upon our meeting.”
Helena was startled by the sudden appearance of a total wreck claiming to be the Chancellor, but her body reflexively made the sign of the cross. The others seemed to feel much the same.
To be fair, I was surprised the first time I saw Milone, too.
I’d heard that the position of ruler was given to the most capable elf, regardless of status.
I’d expected someone a bit more sharp and cold. No one would have expected her to look like she was on the verge of becoming a zombie.
But thinking about it, it made sense.
The Chancellor is the most capable person in Alfheim. In other words, she’s the person who does the most work.
Just how much work would an elf, who receives the protection of the World Tree’s domain, have to do to become this exhausted?
I don’t want to know….
I masked the pity rising from deep within my heart with a business smile and spoke.
“Thanks to your consideration, we were able to travel here comfortably.”
“I’m glad to hear that.”
Milone managed to pull the corners of her mouth up in response. However, her expression was truly pitiful.
I had steeled my heart, but just as my eyes were about to well up with tears of sympathy, Milone pointed toward a reception table a short distance away and continued.
“If you aren’t too tired, would you like to hear about the war situation over a cup of tea? For the record, I am tired.”
“???”
“I am tired….”
“…….”
You don’t even have to say it.