Chapter 141
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 145
Chapter Title: These Crazy Bitches
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After having Murel pack away the artifact I'd named the World Tree's Bracelet and all the World Tree's Seeds, I faced her.
"...?"
"......"
The moment I met her poised, exquisite, and alluring beauty... I nearly lunged forward for a lip-lock without thinking.
It was an impulse of such intense emotion that even I was taken aback.
"Sigh... Hooo..."
I took a deep breath to suppress the feeling.
I was teetering right on the edge of a line I shouldn't cross, and getting the means from the World Tree to do it anyway felt like the reins had come loose... but I couldn't let that happen.
"...? What's wrong, Lord Alzen?"
"No, it's... um..."
Besides, saying something like, 'No more pregnancy worries, so we can have all the sex we want,' would've been too much, even for me.
"......"
Yeah, no need to spell it out.
Surprising her with it later out of the blue didn't sound half bad.
"Lord Alzen?"
"Just stay still."
Instead, I pressed my index finger to the space between her brows and focused my mind.
On the World Tree's authority—or power—implanted in my ears and mouth, that is.
"...?"
Rustle, rustle.
Invisible and intangible, it still took the form of leaves and branches from the World Tree, proving its origin.
As it traveled up my arm to her brow, Murel flinched for a moment before staring back at me with an expressionless face.
The trust shining in her eyes filled me with warmth.
"Hm, that should do it. Let me see..."
Can you hear me? Murel.
"!... Lord Alzen. What is this?"
Murel placed a hand on her head, her eyes widening in surprise.
This is the power I received from the World Tree. You should be able to do it too, so think the words you want to say to me in your head.
...Like this?
The voice ringing directly in my head made me gasp softly in admiration as I placed a hand on my own head.
Oh, so that's what it feels like. Amazing.
Magic...? Or the World Tree's authority?
I don't know the details. But the important thing is, we now have a way to communicate over long distances. And it seems even faster than speaking out loud.
Indeed, this will be incredibly useful.
I grinned at Murel, and she nodded solemnly in return.
"Um... Lord Alzen? Murel?"
At that moment, with us just staring silently at each other, Nemes looked around with a worried expression, probably finding it odd.
"Ahem... Nemes. Come here."
"Pardon? Ah, yes."
After registering Nemes for communication as well, we exchanged a brief mental conversation.
"...This is truly fascinating. And so practical."
"Right? Since it's a power from the World Tree, it should be safe from eavesdropping or interception... Plus, it seems we can split into channels."
"Channels?"
"In simple terms, there's a way to talk in a group and a way to talk one-on-one."
"Oh, this really will be incredibly useful."
Nemes's eyes sparkled as she instantly grasped the value of this ability.
"Your reaction's a bit over the top. Did you not know the World Tree could grant something like this?"
"Ahem, Lord Alzen. I think you might be misunderstanding something."
She cleared her throat awkwardly, then looked at me seriously.
"The World Tree doesn't bestow such blessings on just anyone."
"Even on elves?"
"Yes. Even elves. Great power comes with great responsibility. The World Tree only grants blessings to those who can bear it."
"...I see."
I looked up at the World Tree—so massive it seemed to split the world like a curtain.
The World Tree merely rustled its branches silently, overlooking the world.
"......"
As I recalled what the World Tree had given me and nearly voiced my suspicions, I closed my mouth.
What was the point of asking?
It wasn't going to take them back now.
"...Well, it must have its reasons."
And it was probably something tied to the goddess or causality.
If so, it wouldn't answer even if I asked.
I waved it off and turned away.
"I'm heading out."
I wish you luck. Starnassila Alzen. Until we meet again.
"...Wouldn't it be better if we didn't see each other much?"
......
I sighed at the silent World Tree.
What was I supposed to do with no response?
It almost felt like foreshadowing my death and regression in the near future.
...Nah?
A chill crept up my spine. I glanced sidelong at the World Tree, sighed, and quickened my pace.
Murel, Nemes, and Latipi quietly followed behind me.
A few days had passed since I'd distributed the World Tree's Bracelets to the group and registered everyone for communication.
"Haaap!"
"Good! Vivian! You're doing great!"
I lounged comfortably on a vine, sipping alcohol while watching Vivian spar with Rampon Pashtra.
The sight of the massive Pashtra clashing sword and axe against the petite Vivian's serious faces created a bizarre contrast that was oddly captivating.
"Pashtra. Your stance is wobbling."
"Lady Vivian. Your aura is unstable. Focus."
"Always mind your footwork."
Their sparring took place under the watchful eyes of Wendy, Lira, and Nemes, with real-time feedback flying in. Each time, Pashtra and Vivian grunted as they corrected their mistakes.
Baring their teeth, they swung sword and axe desperately—the picture of pure drive for improvement.
They'd been frustrated at doing nothing in the last Demon King battle, and it seemed they were dead serious about it.
"Hm..."
Pashtra held the advantage throughout.
Her realm was upper-grade while Vivian's was mid-grade—a two-level gap made it inevitable.
But what mattered wasn't the back-and-forth... it was their growth trajectory.
"Watching like this, even as her brother, it's a bit frightening."
"As you say, her talent is terrifyingly impressive."
Murel nodded in agreement, gazing at Vivian with deep eyes.
"...She's growing in real time. She'll break through to upper-grade soon."
"You serious? Logically speaking?"
Knowing the [Origin World] lore and game mechanics, I shook my head in disbelief.
Even in a game build optimized purely for growth, Vivian never reached upper-grade aura before entering the academy.
No, since intervention wasn't possible pre-academy, that was to be expected?
...Still, this gap felt way too huge.
Permanent flesh regeneration? World Tree fruit? Sure, those could play a role.
But Pashtra, Vivian's opponent, had consumed the same elixirs.
Pashtra had sparred multiple times with other master-level fighters, yet showed no such explosive growth.
"...Good grief."
In other words, this growth spurt was purely Vivian's talent.
"......"
Slowly.
At some point, the spark left Vivian's eyes, her focus blurring as her movements turned languid and fluid.
Slower, even slower, until her sword halted mid-air at its limit.
She'd entered awakening state.
"...A monster."
"Lord Alzen, that's a bit..."
Murel smiled wryly, trying to chide me, but even she watched Vivian with a hint of awe.
And the others felt the same.
"Could it be... Vivian has more talent for the sword than magic...?"
Weller showed the juiciest reaction.
Stunned, she stared blankly at Vivian in her awakened state.
"Sis. Looks like Vivian doesn't need magic? What do you think?"
"Urk...! D-don't be ridiculous...! Vivian's magic talent is no less than her sword! You just don't know! She's reaching 6th circle soon!"
"...6th circle? For real?"
"Yes!"
"......"
Upper-grade aura and 6th-circle mage... before even entering the academy.
That was straight-up broken.
I let out a small chuckle of absurdity and shook my head.
Truly, a little sister with a bright future.
"...Haha!"
Yeah, grow fast and slice up that Demon King for me ASAP.
My rest in the elf village had been truly relaxing and sweet, but sadly, it was drawing to a close.
"I see. So you're thinking of heading back soon."
Latipi and Benuit, freshly registered for communication, nodded at my words.
"Yeah. I'd love to stay longer, but duty calls."
"Understood... In that case, we'll prepare as well."
"...Huh? Prepare what?"
At Latipi's words, I blinked in confusion, but she looked at me with earnest eyes as if it were obvious.
"Why, preparations to move, of course. Don't worry. We elves are unmatched at nurturing nature, so we need no extra resources or construction."
"...Wait. What do you mean, move?"
Latipi and Benuit, who'd been listening in, both tilted their heads as if baffled.
"Yes. Isn't that right?"
"No, no... What are you talking about all of a sudden? Why move? Something happen?"
"Something? Of course. You're leaving, Lord Alzen."
"What...?"
My head spun for a moment, and I clutched it reflexively.
"Uh... so, wait, just to clarify—you're saying because I'm leaving, you're uprooting the entire elf village to follow me?"
"That's right."
"...Is that... necessary?"
"It's not a matter of necessity. It's only natural. You are the World Tree's proxy, the incarnation of nature itself. For an elf to not stay by such a being's side would be unthinkable."
"......"
I stared at them, speechless.
These bitches are way crazier than I thought.}