Chapter 348: Hirt(1)
Chapter 348: Hirt(1)
True to her name as the Goddess of Nature, Hirt granted me her permission through the phenomena of the natural world.
The wind shifted direction, and birds took flight in unison, soaring toward the World Tree. It was a scene straight out of a movie, leaving me in genuine awe.
Since the Goddess of Nature herself had given the word, how could any of her creations refuse? Naturally, the priests guarding the World Tree granted us passage without a fuss.
They, too, had realized Hirt’s intent after witnessing the earlier phenomenon. When I added my own explanation, they looked at me with wide, startled eyes.
"For Lady Hirt to respond in such a manner is exceedingly rare! Aside from the Demon War, it is almost unheard of! Are you truly unfazed by this?"
"It’s my first time hearing about it, so it hasn't really sunk in yet. By the way, you said she did this during the Demon War?"
As Arwen and I walked toward the World Tree, she spoke with quite a bit of excitement. Not fully grasping the weight of what had just happened, I gave a calm response.
According to her subsequent explanation, the only other time Hirt had responded like that was when she bestowed the seeds of the World Tree during the Demon War.
Aside from that, there were records of her aiding humanity by controlling animals—including monsters—to fight against the demons when the world was in peril. I had read about that in books as well.
Was it difficult to control all animals?
I pondered this silently, leaving Arwen to mutter beside me.
According to the records, Hirt had provided the World Tree as befitting her title, but she hadn't offered much significant help beyond that.
As mentioned, she had empowered humanity by controlling certain types of animals, but the impact was minimal.
In particular, species classified as monsters—such as Goblins, Orcs, and Ogres—had actually sided with the demons. It was said they were modified into even more grotesque entities.
Orcs' skin turned red as they became more ferocious, and Goblins, already intelligent, became even more cunning and malicious.
The Ogres were the worst of all. According to the records, they could shrug off direct hits from Elven magic.
Fortunately, they were rarely seen now, having retreated deep into the wilds, but they were notorious as creatures you should run from the moment you spotted them.
The Father of All Things...
Suddenly, the words shouted by the demon worshiper just before his suicide came to mind. The Father of All Things, a counterpart to Hirt, the Mother of Nature.
I didn't have the mental leeway to dwell on it while heading toward the World Tree, but it seemed like a good idea to search for records at the Holy Land later.
If my hunch was correct, it would make for excellent material. Of course, I wouldn't put it in the Xenon Biography, but perhaps in a sequel...
Peck! Peck!
"Hm?"
While lost in thought, I felt something poking the crown of my head.
I snapped out of it and looked up, but saw nothing. Only the clear, blue sky stretched out above.
Had I imagined it? I blinked and raised my hand to my head. Then, something landed softly on my index finger.
"Chirp! Chirp!"
When I lowered my hand, a tiny, adorable crow-tit was chirping away. I was momentarily taken aback before a gentle smile spread across my face.
Was this Hirt’s way of telling me to stop daydreaming and just get to the World Tree? Facing such a cute bird made my heart feel warm and fuzzy.
"It’s a crow-tit. They’re usually quite wary and don't approach people easily."
Arwen spoke up from beside me as I watched the bird tilt its head and flutter its wings. She looked back and forth between me and the bird with an intrigued expression.
"They don't even go to Elves? I heard Elves were close with animals."
"I do not know where you heard that, but it is a misconception. While it is true we are close to nature, that does not necessarily mean we are close to animals. We are a race that hunts animals for meat and establishes ranches as well."
In typical fantasy, Elves have a strong image of being one with nature, but this world was a bit different. They were nature-friendly, but they weren't vegetarians.
Elves enjoyed meat and raised livestock to secure their food supply. Above all, they occasionally harmed nature to build their villages.
However, unlike humans who expanded indiscriminately, they offered prayers and performed rituals to Hirt.
The image of Elves being nature-friendly likely stemmed from the fact that they were the chosen race of their goddess.
"Then there are no cases of communicating with animals? I've heard rumors of Druids appearing occasionally."
"Hmm... that is difficult to say for certain. If communicating with dogs or cats makes one a Druid, then I suppose they exist, but taming a wild beast like a lion is a truly difficult feat. In that regard, one could say the Beastkin are closer to Druids than we are."
"Aha."
I understood what she meant. Raising an animal might be possible regardless of race, but truly communicating with one was difficult even for an Elf.
Except, perhaps, for the Beastkin, who possessed animalistic traits. Since they understood animal instincts, communication would be easier for them.
As I learned more common knowledge from Arwen, I turned my gaze back to the crow-tit. The bird tilted its head as our eyes met.
"Arwen."
"Yes?"
"I think this little guy looks like you."
"W-What?!"
Arwen looked completely flustered when I showed her the bird and pointed out the resemblance. I wasn't joking; I genuinely meant it.
For one, its body was mostly white, and being small and precious, it really did match Arwen’s image perfectly.
It was cute, too. And above all...
"W-What do you mean by that? I... I do not understand."
"I'm just saying it's cute. Its behavior, too."
"Uuu..."
Her ears twitched up and down, almost like the crow-tit fluttering its wings.
I let out a small laugh at the sight of Arwen blushing furiously in her embarrassment, then I raised my hand.
As I moved my hand upward, the crow-tit took flight with a vigorous flap of its wings.
Flutter!
"Chirp! Chirp!"
"...Aren't you going?"
"Chirp!"
And then it sat right back down on the crown of my head. I was a bit dumbfounded, but it was so cute I just let it be.
Still, it really is far.
I looked ahead, leaving the bird where it was. The World Tree looked like it was right in front of us, but the path seemed endless.
Perhaps because the journey itself was considered a form of pilgrimage, the use of magic like Teleport was strictly forbidden. That was why we were traveling on foot.
Consequently, the only way was to head out from the back of Elodia and just keep walking. The problem was that the path was dauntingly long.
I knew the distance was no joke from the moment I saw how it defied perspective, but I hadn't imagined it would be this far.
The area surrounding the World Tree was a vast, open plain, which made it feel even more distant. The only saving grace was that I had a companion, so I wasn't bored.
I glanced at Arwen, who was fanning her face with her hand to cool down her blushing cheeks.
She seemed to be calming down now, so we could probably talk again.
"Arwen."
"Y-Yes?"
Arwen’s voice trembled slightly from my earlier surprise attack. Her ears continued to twitch up and down, betraying her inner feelings.
I smiled warmly at her shy demeanor and reached out my hand. Arwen looked at it with a puzzled expression.
"Shall we hold hands while we walk?"
"W-What?"
"How about we walk hand-in-hand?"
When I suggested it again, Arwen’s face, which had finally started to cool, turned bright red once more.
Since her skin was so fair, it was incredibly noticeable, but seeing her react like that so often was somewhat amusing.
She looked back and forth between my hand and my face before cautiously reaching out.
Her fingers were small but slender and delicate. Because her overall frame was small, her hands were tiny too, but their proportions were perfect.
Slide—
"Haa..."
As our hands finally met, Arwen let out a breath she had been holding. She didn't stop there, interlacing her fingers with mine so we could feel each other's touch.
Arwen’s hand was soft and supple, like a baby's. Moreover, unlike Mari, the size difference was so great that my hand almost completely covered hers.
"It’s big..."
Arwen muttered in wonder as she looked at my hand enveloping most of hers.
Her silver-grey eyes sparkled with curiosity, making her look like a child who had just discovered a new toy.
Between her appearance and her behavior, she felt more like a younger girl than someone much older than me.
Feeling Arwen’s hand twitching slightly in mine, I smiled and asked quietly.
"Arwen, have you ever interlaced fingers with another man like this before?"
"I have. My father and I often did this in human society. He always held my hand, saying I must never wander off. It reminds me of those times."
"Aside from your father?"
"You are the first."
Arwen answered and then placed her free hand on top of the back of mine.
Whether she found my large hand fascinating or was just acting on an unconscious impulse, she gently stroked it and touched the prominent veins, an action that—knowingly or not—was quite provocative.
Part of me wanted to take things further right here. However, since Hirt had asked us to come quickly, I couldn't delay any longer.
And so, we walked slowly toward the World Tree, hands clasped together.
A cool breeze blew, fluttering our hair, and the birds—including the crow-tit on my head—chirped melodiously.
Slide—
As the pleasant atmosphere continued, Arwen began to lean closer to me.
She gently unclasped our hands only to grab onto my arm instead. She didn't stop there, subtly pulling my arm toward her chest.
Though she was smaller than the other women, a sensation that was by no means insignificant was transmitted through my arm.
"...Isaac."
"Yeah."
"If you had not been here... would I have truly become like Elisha in the book? I find myself wondering that."
Elisha was, as everyone knew, the Elf Queen in the Xenon Biography. She was also the lover of Xenon’s master, Kair.
They were a couple who met a tragic end without ever confessing their feelings to each other.
Hearing Arwen’s question, I didn't find it absurd; instead, I considered it seriously.
It’s not impossible.
Thanks to the Xenon Biography, the Second Demon War had been delayed by thousands of years, and the entire future had shifted in a positive direction.
Naturally, Arwen’s fate would have changed accordingly.
Especially since she had only recently ascended to the throne, she would have likely faced the Second Demon War. She surely would have endured hardships no less severe than Elisha’s.
But that was a future that would never happen now. No one knew what would become of her.
Above all, I was by no means a prophet or a regressor, as she might think.
It was true I came from another world, but it was a world entirely unrelated to this one.
"I don't know either. The future isn't something one can easily predict. You might have become like Elisha, or you might not have."
"..."
"But it's true that things have changed for the better. The existence of the demon worshipers was exposed, and the pollution of the World Tree's roots was prevented."
I said this and looked at Arwen. She happened to turn her gaze toward me at the same time.
"Don't you think you can stop worrying about that now?"
"..."
"Instead of worrying about such a future, you should think about what kind of future will unfold from now on. Don't you think?"
"...Pfft."
Arwen let out a light laugh at my answer. Then, she spoke with a soft smile.
"It seems I spoke needlessly. To ask you such a question... I feel foolish."
"So, have you decided what you're going to do now?"
"Am I not doing it right now?"
Arwen answered clearly. Seeing her respond without a moment's hesitation, it seemed she had reached a firm conclusion.
In response, I reached out and stroked her hair. Her hair, which shone like the Milky Way, felt wonderful to the touch.
She didn't seem to mind, leaning her face close to my arm and basking in the warmth. As a result, her chest pressed even closer, giving me a slight start, but I had long since grown accustomed to it, so I didn't panic.
"Isaac."
"Yeah. Go ahead."
"I am truly glad that you were born into this world."
"I feel the same way."
Though I was born into this world due to a mistake by the demon worshipers, I was much happier than in my previous life.
While I was at it, I got to give the demon worshipers a massive middle finger while being involved with beautiful women—could there be a happier life than this?
We walked slowly toward the World Tree, arm in arm. The World Tree, which had seemed like it would never get closer, eventually loomed large before us.
It was just as we were nearly there.
[You have finally arrived.]
As I stood with my mouth agape at the sheer scale of the World Tree—large enough to cover an entire metropolis—a beautiful, melodic voice echoed in my mind.
Judging by the sound alone, it was likely a woman's. But the important thing was whose voice it was.
As I looked around in surprise, the voice echoed in my head once more.
[Look up.]
At those words, I slowly raised my head. The World Tree stretching high into the sky came into view, but there was something even more eye-catching.
Shaaaa—
A light that was neither bright nor dark began to slowly gather in one spot. That light took on a shape, gradually transforming into a human silhouette.
Arwen and I stared blankly at the phenomenon. I didn't know where the light was coming from, but the sight was utterly surreal.
Eventually, the light that had become a silhouette began to clear, revealing its true identity. The first thing I saw was the hair.
Reminiscent of the colors of nature, pale green hair sparkled like stars.
The eyes were the same. As if they held the stars themselves, her green eyes shone beautifully.
And above all...
...She's huge.
A voluptuous chest and a body with golden proportions. It didn't matter that she was barely covered by leaves in all the crucial places.
Perhaps because she was a transcendent being, I didn't feel a single impure thought. But her size was the issue.
She was big. Extremely big. I'm not talking about a specific part of her body—she was incredibly tall.
Since I had to look way up at her, she had to be at least three meters tall. I couldn't even think to close my hanging jaw as I gazed at the woman.
Meanwhile, the woman looked down at me with her star-filled eyes and began to crouch down. It felt as if a great mountain were shrinking before my eyes.
Finally, having brought herself roughly to eye level, she spoke with a beaming smile.
"We finally meet, child."