Chapter 40
Chapter 40
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 40
Chapter Title: Elf Empire (5)
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After dealing with Kallos, the rest of the process went smoothly.
Kieeeek!
With their leader gone, the monsters fled in a disorganized panic, and the elves began pursuing them.
Elves might not excel at much else, but they were incredibly fast runners, so I figured we could leave cleanup to them.
“Haa… haa…”
Laura collapsed to the ground, apparently awed by the power of her own finishing move.
That strike she unleashed was definitely far more potent than her usual ones.
It seemed facing a formidable foe like Kallos had spurred another growth spurt in her.
In exchange, it must’ve drained even more mana, since she flopped face-first onto the dirt.
I hoisted her onto my back.
“Hehe… Feels good…”
She’d ridden on my back so often that she now instinctively settled into her favorite position.
It was debatable whether this counted as progress or not.
By the time I returned with Laura in tow, the Emperor and Vine were deep in conversation.
“It’s… it’s really the hero party…”
“Yes… it is.”
The Emperor gently stroked Vine’s shoulder, then patted her head.
“You’ve been through a lot.”
“Oh, come on… it’s nothing…”
Seeing how well they were getting along, I could tell they didn’t need me butting in anymore.
I headed toward Rainy and the Guard Captain, who were locked in a serious discussion.
Asking the Emperor directly would yield the most accurate info, sure.
But I didn’t want to interrupt that warm, fuzzy atmosphere over there.
“So, what turned the World Tree into that mess? Doesn’t look like demon energy to me, no matter how you slice it.”
Fortunately, their talk had only just begun.
Even Laura perked up her ears from my back.
“Hmm…”
The Guard Captain glanced at the Emperor, then steeled himself with a deep breath.
“Beyond evacuating Her Highness the Princess, my elf kin were making other preparations simultaneously.”
“Other preparations?”
“What do you think is most precious to elves, Saintess?”
“Don’t waste time. Just answer.”
“Yes, ma’am…”
Rainy, ever the straight shooter.
You’d think she’d at least pretend to mull it over when asking like that.
But nope, straight to the point.
“Hmm… After sending Her Highness away, we elves pondered if there was a way to preserve our race while also carrying on the World Tree’s lineage.”
“The World Tree…? That massive thing?”
Rainy was stunned by the Guard Captain’s words.
I was thinking the same.
How do you move something as tall as the Charlotte Building, once called a landmark in my past life’s Korea?
Elves were plant experts, so maybe they had some trick up their sleeves, but to an ordinary human like me, it was unimaginable.
“Oh, no, we never intended to physically transplant the World Tree. Even we know that’s impossible.”
“Then…?”
“Normally, when the World Tree nears the end of its lifespan every two thousand years, it drops the seed for its successor.”
Oh, first I’d heard of that.
Makes sense, though—even a World Tree can’t live forever, so it leaves offspring.
“The current World Tree has lived 1,813 years and 11 months. Far too early to drop its seed.”
“But…?”
Rainy sensed something ominous in the Guard Captain’s tone and grimaced.
I had a pretty good guess what came next.
“Before the demons subjugated us, we elves sought to obtain the next World Tree seed. If successful, we planned to send it to Baron Daven’s estate.”
“…”
Rainy looked aghast.
The Guard Captain hung his head, fully aware this wasn’t something to be proud of.
“Elves can use spells to rapidly accelerate plant growth. The World Tree’s current frailty stems from accelerated aging.”
Now it clicked why the World Tree’s power had waned.
It wasn’t demon energy or poison—it was simply withering away from forced rapid aging.
I blurted out in shock at the elves’ actions.
“Wait, aren’t elves destined to protect the World Tree?”
I’d already heard they’d excommunicated Vine to free her from that very fate.
Going that far implied penalties for defying it…
The Guard Captain nodded in agreement.
“Yes, exactly. Elves are bound by fate to safeguard the World Tree. Defying that strips us of our anti-aging blessing and plant affinity.”
He held out his hand to demonstrate.
It was wrinkled and gnarled.
“I’m 341 years old—well past normal lifespan, but the World Tree kept me hale. Now, nature’s course resumes.”
“…”
Even I, who’d been appalled by their mad scheme to force-grow the World Tree, felt a pang of pity seeing his hand.
“Elderly elves are already passing one by one. I’ve got maybe a year left myself.”
Laura, still on my back, trembled as she spoke.
“If you stop accelerating the World Tree’s growth now…”
The Guard Captain shook his head.
“We’re already sinners who rejected our fate. Halting now won’t absolve us. And the World Tree nears its two-thousand-year limit regardless.”
No turning back.
One thing still bugged me, so I asked.
“Then why not get excommunicated like Vine?”
“No. That loophole works only once. We can’t escape fate—nor did we want to.”
“…”
Silence hung heavy.
Whooooosh.
A massive gust swirled around the World Tree, sending its leaves flying.
Bark peeled away from branches, and a potent grassy scent stung our noses.
I shielded Rainy and Laura on my back from the wind and eyed the Guard Captain.
He looked resigned.
“With the demons’ stimulation on top, the World Tree’s lifespan has ended.”
“…”
No sooner had he spoken than every elf around knelt and bowed.
Even the Elf Emperor with Vine joined them.
“Huh…? Wha… what…?”
Vine alone seemed clueless, bewildered.
Tweet-tweet-tweet!
Birds of every kind flocked to the World Tree, chattering away.
Nearby ancient trees bowed precariously.
Squirrels, raccoons, and all manner of beasts emerged from hiding to bow before it.
“Crazy…”
Rainy muttered a curse at the spectacle.
It mirrored my own feelings.
Never thought I’d witness a World Tree dying.
Unbelievable.
Shrrr.
Thick bark flaked into powder and vanished.
Crackkk.
The white inner flesh split slowly down the middle.
“N-No…? This can’t be…?”
Vine finally grasped it, stammering as the truth hit.
The trunk cleaved fully in two, body crumbling to powder that floated skyward.
Awestruck, I stared at the World Tree disintegrating into dust.
Soon, the original fully dissolved.
Thud!
A colossal seed dropped to the ground.
Rivaling a human head in size.
Even I, no expert on plants or spirits, sensed the immense life force within.
The elves bowed repeatedly in reverence.
“Wh-what is this?!”
Vine shattered the solemn air with her sharp cry.
“It still had over a century left! Mother!”
She’d pieced together the whole story in that short time.
Tears streaming, she planted herself before the Elf Emperor and screamed.
“I’m sorry…”
The Emperor could only murmur apologies amid Vine’s outburst.
“G-give me your hand, Mother!”
“…”
“Why hide it? You elves, don’t try to conceal your hands!”
“Princess…”
I’d thought defeating the Four Heavenly Kings meant a happy ending.
Not this lingering unease.
I gnawed my nails.
Then Laura, half-draped over me, thumped my chest weakly.
“Go console her.”
“How could I…?”
“You can still save the elves.”
“Huh…?”
“The hero party gets a wish after slaying the Demon King. You know the tale?”
“…Isn’t that just a rumor?”
Laura shook her head.
“It’s real. Can’t overturn the world or anything wild, but reversing the elves’ curse? Doable.”
I wanted to ask how she knew, but her confident gaze convinced me to trust her.
I swallowed hard and approached Vine.
She sat sobbing on the ground.
I cautiously placed a hand on her shoulder.
Smack.
She slapped my hand away firmly.
The Vine who always clung to me reacting like this? The shock must’ve been immense.
But I wasn’t the type to back off at rejection.
Persistently, I pulled her into my arms despite her protests.
“Calm down, Princess. You need to stay calm, especially now.”
“S-Sniff… but…”
“You’ve heard the story: the hero party gets a wish for defeating the Demon King.”
Vine’s eyes widened.
“That was debunked as fake…”
I shook my head.
“Lady Laura of Mastain Ducal House—the inaugural Family Head and a hero party member—said it herself. Gotta be true.”
Hope flickered in Vine’s eyes.
But she soon bowed her head.
“Even so, we basically killed the World Tree… Can the elves really be forgiven…?”
I smirked at Vine, who’d wailed over the elves moments ago yet now voiced such doubts.
“So, Princess, you want all the elves to wither and die?”
“No, but…”
“You want to save the elves, right?”
Vine nodded.
I gently wiped her tears with my thumb.
“Princess. When you decided to join the hero party, what mindset did I tell you to have?”
“Do whatever you want…”
“Just do what you want, Princess. Elf fate? Duty? Who cares. If our Princess wants to save them.”
“…Can I really?”
“Yes! As the hero, I permit it!”
To lighten the gloom even a bit, I hammed it up brightly.
Vine gave a small smile.
“Who are you to…”
“The hero. And for now, your betrothed.”
“Haha…”
She laughed, playfully smacking my chest.
Then met my eyes squarely.
“Thanks…”