Chapter 27
Chapter 27
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Translator: uly
Chapter: 27
Chapter Title: The World Tree Shakes Its Branches (2)
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"...What kind of ghost is this?"
The spirits of elves.
They were different from human spirits, starting from their very nature.
Just as I sensed something plant-like from Irene, the same feeling emanated from these spirits.
It wouldn't be wrong to see them as ghosts that had become plants turned human.
A type of ghost I'd never seen before in my life.
"You've lived a long time..."
They said elves had long lifespans, and indeed, the spirits carried an immense accumulation.
"Chris, not that way."
"No. All the elf spirits are pointing over there."
Spirits clung to the trees around me, one per tree.
The grudge emanating from them was also unique.
Resolve, steadfastness, protection.
It was the will to protect something.
Unlike human spirits, each bearing different forms of grudge,
these wills aligned perfectly.
Even if mixed together, there'd be no sense of discord; they were simply split into multiples.
Parmon stuck close behind me.
"I know you're constantly worrying about something. Ignore the surroundings and just keep walking."
As we delved deeper, the trees grew denser.
All sorts of plants bloomed everywhere.
Astor Closel murmured softly.
"It'll be hard to go any further."
Plants sprouted so thickly it was difficult even to place our feet.
There was scarcely any path left.
Yet the elf spirits still pointed in that direction.
"Irene, what lies ahead if we go this way?"
"If we can get through, it's the direction of the village."
"Why tell us to go this way?"
For the village, we could've just followed the original path.
There had to be a reason the spirits pointed here...
At that moment, an exclamation burst from Irene.
"Ah...!"
As if sensing something, she looked around.
"The branches... the branches are shaking."
"Hm...?"
The idea of branches shaking was still distant to me.
But unlike before, I could see the elf spirits busily moving from tree to tree.
Irene's eyes widened as she stared straight at me.
"No way..."
At that instant, the forest grew lively.
It wasn't a noisy clamor.
It was a welcoming cheer of joy.
All the spirits were greeting me.
Crack...
Swoosh...
"...What is this?"
Have you ever seen trees move?
They stretched like they were shaking off sleep.
Branches rose up, and plants lay down flat.
Swoosh...
Trees that had leaned askew straightened themselves, while others tilted over.
And between them, a path opened.
Irene trembled with excitement.
"...The forest path... The branches are welcoming you."
A wide-open path.
And at the end of that path stood a colossal tree.
Even from afar, its immense size hit home.
"The forest path that opens only for high elves, why..."
"Heh heh..."
"Do you have high elf blood in your ancestry?"
"Doubt it..."
Irene was still dazed.
"Let's go, everyone."
The elf spirits still pointed down that path.
They must have opened it to welcome me.
"These are some unusual spirits."
No matter how I looked at them, they were special.
Were their spirit forms different because they weren't human?
Even stepping forward, the ground didn't feel hard.
The flattened grass cushioned my feet.
"That World Tree sure is huge."
It didn't quite blanket the sky like in legends,
but its majesty suggested its true stature, even if it was just a tree in form.
I couldn't feel it properly from this distance yet.
"The World Tree is the origin of all elves."
We were still quite far.
I should've bought a horse instead of walking.
"The forest path opens only to noble elves. It's never opened for a human before."
Irene's eyes sparkled even brighter.
The elders looked surprised but accepting; Hans openly scrutinized me.
"You're making me self-conscious, so look ahead..."
Since walking the forest path, I'd felt at ease too.
The unease had vanished, along with the gloomy atmosphere.
It must be because the elf spirits followed by hopping between trees.
We walked on.
And at the path's end, we saw a crowd of murmuring elves.
"...The forest path!"
"Who walks that path?"
"No high elf has left the forest..."
Soon, all eyes focused on us.
"How did a human walk that path?"
Murmur.
Murmur.
I sensed wariness from the elves.
Mixed with curiosity and wonder.
Then Irene stepped forward, extending her hand.
"The peace of the branches."
"The rest of the branches... You've returned, Irene."
A bit peculiar, but that must be how elves greet.
Quite elegant...
The elf who approached us looked our way and spoke.
"Irene, who are these humans? How did they walk the forest path?"
Gazes darted between us.
It felt like being monkeys in a zoo.
Irene's eyes turned to me.
"A human guided by the will of the World Tree through its branches."
"..."
"..."
Elf gazes concentrated once more.
No expressions showed on their faces.
Not a single elf spoke.
Silence fell.
"Um, hello?"
Then an enormous cheer erupted.
"Wooooaaah!"
"A human guided by the branches has arrived!"
"The human who appeared with lightning!"
"He walked the forest path!"
I was dumbfounded.
To think the day would come when a shaman like me received such a welcome...
Now I was surrounded by countless elves.
"How did you open the forest path?"
This was ridiculous; I wasn't some celebrity...
Though shamans and celebrities do share similar fates, this attention was over the top.
Elf spirits mixed in here and there, adding to the chaos.
Still, it felt pretty good.
All the elves were beautiful, after all.
"Enough. We must see Lady Romanel."
The elf guiding me intervened with the others.
Romanel was an elf in a position akin to a king among humans, apparently.
"Heh heh... To receive such a welcome from elves."
The elders chuckled in disbelief.
Harmonious elves rarely showed hostility, but such warm welcomes were equally rare.
So I was in an extraordinarily unusual situation.
"...The elven forest is a bit different from what I imagined?"
"I thought they lived inside trees before seeing it myself."
Inside the elven forest lay a grand city.
Not just a lone castle like human ones.
A city harmoniously blended with the trees.
The buildings looked carved from the natural earth rather than constructed upward.
Surprisingly, trees intertwined between the structures.
"Enter here, and you'll find Lady Romanel."
A stern-looking elf said this and stepped back.
Though his face was set, his eyes brimmed with goodwill.
"Thank you."
A path wound between the trees.
All sorts of scents wafted over.
The fragrance from Irene felt even stronger.
"The scent of spirits..."
The deeper we went, the more familiar it became.
And soon, I identified the source.
"One guided by the branches, welcome."
Mysterious silver hair, porcelain skin.
Features so perfect they stunned.
This high elf called Romanel was...
"Hm..."
A divine vessel.
And not a complete one.
The container for the god was split in half.
No, not even that.
It felt like she'd received only a portion from someone.
Yet it was harmonious.
"How can this be...?"
Romanel smiled radiantly.
Did she even know her own state?
"Do you perhaps serve a god?"
"All elves serve the World Tree. I am the closest to its branches."
I began to grasp what a high elf was.
A position for communing with the World Tree.
Like how shamans are needed for humans to speak with the departed.
"Something similar, yeah."
Romanel smiled at my companions behind me.
"It's been a while. Nice to see you too, priest."
After greetings, she turned back to me.
"I'll guide you to the World Tree."
"Mm..."
Unease crept in again.
I felt like I had to go, but...
"By any chance... are you feeling unwell anywhere?"
Romanel gave no answer.
She just smiled sweetly and walked on.
The massive tree drew nearer.
With it, the unease intensified.
Now it bordered on irritation.
"Is that tree the World Tree?"
"More precisely, it's the body of the World Tree."
Romanel, who seemed its vessel, showed no anomalies.
That meant the connected World Tree should be fine too.
"There has to be some filthy thing lurking..."
I sensed traces, but no solid form.
Only when we reached its base could I finally sense it.
The true nature of the World Tree.
"...What kind of case is this?"
This entire massive tree was the divine vessel.
The vessel I'd sensed in Romanel earlier was this tree itself.
Even after her explanation, only up close did I realize what it was...
A tree housing a deity.
A tree protecting the village, enshrining its guardian god.
That's what it's called.
"This is a village guardian tree...?"
No wonder I hadn't sensed anything.