Chapter 350: Hirt(3)
Chapter 350: Hirt(3)
I’ve posted the adult version of Arwen in the announcements!
*
A seed lay on the ground where Hirt had vanished. It was much larger than an adult man's fist, and its appearance was anything but ordinary.
First of all, would you believe me if I said the seed sparkled like gold? Most people probably wouldn't.
Furthermore, its size was so substantial that one might mistake it for a fruit rather than a seed. To top it off, it was hard enough to be used as a hammer.
Actually, there was a place where such a description appeared. As someone who loves mythology and history, there was no way I wouldn't know it.
A size far exceeding an adult man's fist, emitting a golden light, and a hardness that wouldn't leave a single scratch even if struck with a stone.
The Seed of the World Tree, said to be Hirt's gift to the elves. Whenever that seed was described, those exact words were always used.
In other words, this seed, which Hirt presumably left for me, was very likely a World Tree...
‘But how do I grow this?’
In mythology, there are only records of the seed being planted; there's no mention of how it was actually cultivated.
I wondered if I should just plant it in the ground and give it proper water and nutrients like any other plant, but this was supposedly the Seed of the World Tree.
I couldn't just take it lightly, and the question of who would grow it was another matter entirely. For now, planting it in the Maishal Territory was a settled issue.
I just couldn't grasp how massive the repercussions would be. This was the Seed of the World Tree, something that had only appeared in myths.
That seed had grown into the World Tree and played a major role in driving out the demons—and that was roughly 3,000 years ago.
It was a story considered a distant legend even to long-lived species like demons and elves, yet I had received that very seed?
I could practically hear the sound of my fame not just piercing the heavens, but breaking through the universe. I was sure all sorts of ridiculous modifiers would start following my name.
I could somewhat predict the reaction when a new volume of the Xenon Biography was released, but the Seed of the World Tree was completely unpredictable. I wondered what kind of news would follow.
‘That aside, who’s going to grow it?’
I leaned my back against the wide trunk of the World Tree and pondered. It was such a significant issue that I hadn't returned to Elodia even after Hirt disappeared.
In my hand, I held the coconut-sized(?) object that was presumably the Seed of the World Tree. It wasn't just a metaphor; if you only looked at the shape, it really did look like a coconut.
The funny part was that it sparkled like gold. The fact that it was large enough that I, with my relatively large hands, had to hold it with both was a bonus.
‘She gave it to me to grow, right?’
I looked up at the World Tree. A sacred tree that had grown steadily for 3,000 years to reach the size of a city.
If I planted it in the Maishal Territory, would it grow this large? That would be a bit problematic. Our territory isn't exactly that big.
Of course, Lady Hirt must have had her reasons, so the possibility of it growing as large as the current World Tree was low. But a World Tree is still a World Tree.
It’s a precious tree, the only one of its kind in the world, and if it were to be planted in our territory... Just imagining it made me dizzy.
"Hmm..."
After much deliberation, I glanced to my side. Arwen was leaning on my shoulder, fast asleep.
Unlike me, Arwen didn't have an abundance of divine power, so she must have exhausted a lot of mental energy.
I sat down to rest while thinking about the seed. Since this was the World Tree, I didn't have to worry about anyone approaching.
‘She’s beautiful.’
Arwen, sleeping peacefully with her eyes closed, was truly stunning. Her long eyelashes and her silver-gray hair fluttering gently in the breeze.
I reached out and brushed back the hair of this woman who was the very definition of elven beauty.
‘She said she was dragged around by her attendants all day just to meet me.’
Seeing her wearing a sensually revealing dress and makeup, which was unlike her usual self, confirmed it.
In that state, she had faced Lady Hirt and even exhausted her mental energy, so her fatigue must have accumulated.
So, I decided to wait quietly until her fatigue was relieved. After all, more fatigue would surely pile up tonight anyway.
"Chirp! Chirp!"
While I was tending to Arwen's hair, a white long-tailed tit landed on my finger.
Not only that, but several birds living in the World Tree began to approach me one by one.
There was the white long-tailed tit on my finger, canaries, and various other birds. I don't know much about bird species, so I can't really describe them further.
Regardless, the birds didn't fly away even when I moved, acting as comfortably as if they were sitting in their own nests.
When the long-tailed tit first approached me, I figured it was Hirt's will and let it go, but my thoughts changed after receiving her blessing.
‘She said there would be a Pure Blessing of Nature, right?’
The Pure Blessing of Nature.
I wasn't sure exactly what it meant, but it was a blessing bestowed directly by the Goddess of Nature herself.
The birds approaching me without any wariness must be a part of that.
The scope of "nature" is quite vague, but because it's vague, it will likely show great efficacy, so I didn't need to worry about it too much.
"...Mm?"
While I was playing with the birds, I suddenly felt a gaze from the side.
Turning my head, I saw Arwen looking at me, her silver-gray eyes open.
She had a hazy look from just waking up, but there was another kind of haziness mixed in as well.
"Are you awake?"
I greeted her warmly with a bright smile. How could she look so cute even when she was dazed?
Arwen blinked a few times, then blushed and replied shyly.
"...I have caused you trouble. I am sorry."
"No, it's fine. I was resting too."
"Ahem. Ahem."
When I treated her affectionately, Arwen coughed awkwardly and began to slide away from me.
Perhaps to avoid being a burden any longer, the shoulder that had been touching mine slowly moved away.
But that didn't last long. I shifted my weight and pressed myself right up against her.
"M-My lord?"
"Let's stay like this. Are you being shy now?"
"B-But, you were blessed by Lady Hirt..."
Was it just because of that? Well, it made sense. I had received a blessing from a goddess of a higher rank than Luminous or Mora, so her reaction was natural.
Even Kate, who received grace from Luminous, was given intensive care by the entire Order, and I had been blessed by the Goddess of Nature, who was even higher.
Above all, I had received the Seed of the World Tree directly from her, so our statuses were bound to be different.
But it was all meaningless. Being blessed by a god didn't change who I was.
If anything, it made me bolder. I wrapped my arm around Arwen's hesitating waist.
‘It’s so thin.’
Her waist looked incredibly slender, but feeling it directly made it even more vivid. Despite that, her hips were mature, making them stand out even more.
"Hiek!"
Arwen was startled by my bold action. I could feel her body stiffen completely through my arm.
Soon, when she was pressed tightly against me, I looked directly into her face and spoke.
"So, you're not saying you won't come anymore, are you?"
"Ah... I-It is not that..."
"If it's not that, then what?"
"...You are truly mischievous."
Arwen, who usually spoke so formally, muttered a small complaint with a red face. Even her grumbling was so cute that a laugh escaped me.
I didn't let go of her waist and held her for a while. Arwen was stiff at first, but as time passed, she gradually relaxed.
All the while, birds circled around us or landed on our bodies, creating a scene straight out of a painting.
"...Isaac."
"Yeah. Go ahead."
"Lady Hirt said it as well. That you are someone from another world."
Arwen asked while looking at the canary perched on her finger. Since Lady Hirt had confirmed it herself, I had no intention of denying it.
When I nodded, she lightly waved her hand, sending the canary flying away.
The canary soared into the sky and flew toward the World Tree, whose height was immeasurable.
"Then, how did you come to this world? I will not ask what kind of world you came from. However, I am curious about the circumstances of your arrival."
"It's nothing special. I came here because of demon worshippers."
"Demon worshippers?"
"Yeah."
Arwen's eyes widened at my calm, truthful answer.
I explained roughly while tapping at a long-tailed tit that was fluttering its wings energetically in front of me.
"A demon worshipper messed up a summoning, and I suffered a lot of damage because of it. That's why the gods called me here."
"If you say 'damage'... then surely..."
I wondered what kind of misunderstanding our Elf Queen was falling into now. I glanced at Arwen, who had turned pale and fallen into deep thought.
I had held back because I thought she'd get the wrong idea even if I said I had died, but it seemed that had backfired in a different direction.
Either way, she was going to misunderstand, so there was no need for further explanation.
There was something more important right now. I pointed to the seed nestled between my legs and asked.
"By the way, what should I do with this? Do you know how to grow it?"
"Hmm... The records are so old I cannot be certain, but it is written that the Seed of the World Tree was raised by priests. The World Tree grows by consuming divine power."
"Divine power... Then if I plant it in our territory, will it grow on its own?"
"Since the orders of Lord Luminous and Lady Mora have been established, there will be no shortage of sanctified land. The problem is who will raise it... Do you have someone you trust?"
"There is one person, but..."
I could ask Kate, but that would create a void. After being directly threatened by demon worshippers, I couldn't leave Kate and Adelia's positions vacant.
That meant I had to entrust it to someone else, but there wasn't really anyone besides my family.
However, my father was busy in his own right, and my mother couldn't leave her post because she was raising Lily.
In that case, the only trustworthy person was...
‘...Should I ask Mr. Musk?’
Not asking Musk to grow it himself, but asking him to act as a sort of middle manager.
To make sure no one did anything foolish and that the priests were doing their jobs properly.
Of course, since it was presumably the Seed of the World Tree, no one would dare do anything reckless, but I needed to put someone I trusted in charge.
"Let's think about it slowly. It's not urgent right now. Right?"
As I said that, I tightened my arm around Arwen's waist.
Arwen seemed shy at my playful attitude, but she smiled softly and nodded.
"Um... Isaac."
"Yeah."
"May I... ask when you intend to receive your gift?"
Arwen, appearing timid yet brave, spoke to me.
"I am... ready at any time."
"Isn't it too early?"
The sun, which had been high in the sky, was slowly descending, but there was still plenty of time before nightfall.
During that time, we could visit the Holy Land to read books, or I could give her the 'gift' I had prepared.
But Arwen seemed to have a different idea. She shook her head and gave a fairly logical reason.
"It is because of our elven traditions. The preparations alone take an absurd amount of time. It will take at least a few hours just to get ready."
"A few hours? What on earth are you doing that takes that long?"
"It takes an hour just to purify one's body in the Spring of Life. Including other minor customs, it will surely exceed three hours."
"Are you all done?"
Arwen nodded at my question. So that's why she was so tired.
I pondered what to do and made a decision without hesitation. There was plenty of time anyway.
And above all...
"Alright."
"T-Then...!"
"I'll go receive my gift."
There was plenty of time, and the night was long.
Arwen's face lit up with joy when I readily agreed.
However, that expression didn't last long.
Mwah!
Because I launched a surprise attack and stole a kiss from her lips.
Arwen froze in place, not knowing what had just happened.
I gave her a smirk, stood up, and brushed off my pants.
Finally, just before returning to Elodia, I spoke to her in a playful tone.
"Then, I'll be looking forward to it."
"Auuuuu..."
Arwen sank into a state of total embarrassment before she could even give the gift.
*
Afterward, just as Arwen had said, the tedious elven customs followed.
Washing for an hour in a place called the Spring of Life, followed by various other minor rituals, wasted a full three hours.
Thanks to that, I realized exactly why the elven birth rate was at rock bottom. They’d be exhausted before they even got to the main event.
It was a good thing my basic stamina was sturdier than most; otherwise, I might have fallen asleep before receiving the proper gift.
Anyway, wearing only a robe and underwear, I headed toward Arwen's 'bedchamber' where I was to receive the gift...
"Y-You have come?"
"Wow..."
What that gift was.
"As you have likely guessed... I am the Queen of Albenheim, and the symbol of Albenheim itself."
And just how indecent and erotic that gift was.
"In our Albenheim, to you..."
As I came face to face with Arwen, who was dressed in red lingerie.
"We shall gift you Albenheim itself."
I came to realize.
