Fine, Let's Give It a Shot
Immediately after cursing my own loose tongue, I realized this wasn't actually my fault.
Even checking the setting compendium in my head once more, it clearly stated: The elves were also aware of the World Tree's contamination.
...Then what the hell went wrong?
"Um... how about we calm down first?"
I managed to stammer while breaking into a cold sweat, but Nazareth Nemes was already dropping to one knee, her face dead set.
Her burning resolve to unearth the truth no matter what pricked uncomfortably against my skin. Dammit, the pressure was suffocating.
"Lord Stanashila Aljen. Please, tell me. What do you mean by the World Tree being contaminated?"
"No... that's what I want to ask. Uh... you really didn't know?"
According to the lore, the contamination itself was something the elves handled on their own. The real crux of the crisis was what came afterward: the civil war instigated by the High Demon and the faction of elves under their sway.
"I have never heard of such a thing in my entire life. The World Tree, tainted? What is the meaning of this?"
"...H-Hold on a second. I get how you feel, but I need to clear up my own confusion first. Uh... why don't you know about this?"
Nemes looked thoroughly baffled by my question.
"Even if you ask me why... Perhaps the high elves concealed the information?"
"Concealed... Concealed the information?"
In an instant, an absurd truth struck me like a bolt of lightning.
"...Ah, damn it all."
That was it. The setting compendium hadn't lied. It was true that the elves had been aware of the contamination all along. It was simply that the news hadn't spread to the entire race.
Thinking about it, it was glaringly obvious. This was information concerning the World Tree—the divine entity the elves revered and worshipped. How could they casually disclose catastrophic news like that? It wouldn't just cause simple social unrest; it would tear their entire society apart.
"What kind of setting compendium pulls narrative trickery like that...?"
"Pardon?"
"No, nothing."
Gulping down liquor by the mouthful, I tried to soothe the burning irritation in my gut.
"Uh... no, haah..."
I felt like I'd been swindled, and my mood soured completely.
As I scowled, chugging alcohol and puffing away on a cigarette, Nemes and Arpe waited with strained patience. Granted, their burning gazes and restless fidgeting exerted an unspoken pressure that screamed for answers.
"...To be honest."
"Yes!"
"We are listening."
Their immediate, ravenous attention made me shudder under the weight of it, but I shut my eyes tight and pressed on.
"To be honest... it was all bullshit. Demons, contamination—I made it all up. Hahaha. Fooled you guys, didn't I?"
"......"
"......"
"...Ah, fuck me. Yeah, of course that wouldn't work... Haaa..."
Unable to endure their baffled, utterly dumbfounded stares, I looked up at the ceiling.
"So damn stupid."
"You've been getting on my nerves for a while now, haven't you?"
Smack!
"Ow! What was that for?!"
Cacciola, having taken a smack to her backside, glared at me with indignant fury.
"From now on, you get hit once every time you sass me. Got it?"
"Don't be ridiculous! What do you think a lady's bottom is?! If you're a man, show some basic manners!"
"How about you learn some manners yourself? First off, get off me. It's hot."
"A-Ah. Sorry. I'm sorry! My mistake, okay...? S-So just let me stay like this a little longer..."
Watching Cacciola instantly turn servile and grovel was pathetic enough to elicit pity on its own. How on earth did she end up like this...? A heavy sigh escaped my lips.
"Lord Aljen. Is there a reason you cannot tell us?"
That was when Nemes fixed me with a piercing, earnest gaze.
"...You could say that."
"Could you tell us what that reason is?"
"That's also pretty tricky."
Plague of the Great Forest was one of the core main quests—a pivotal chapter among countless others. It made sense, given that it rewarded one of the five divine relics needed to slay the Demon God. If I spilled the beans now and the quest got resolved prematurely, there was a high chance the relic would never be obtained.
After all... that divine relic was none other than the essence of the dead World Tree. According to the game's lore, it was a compressed crystal containing the World Tree's entire source, soul, and divinity... and as expected of a divine relic, its power was monstrous.
"Wait a moment, Lord Aljen. Did I understand you correctly?"
Arpe's eyes sharpened as she glared straight through me.
"An unprecedented disaster has struck the World Tree. And according to your words, it is the work of demons. Innumerable innocent elves are dying because of this catastrophe... and yet, for some obscure reason, you intend to turn a blind eye and ignore all those deaths?"
"Yeah. Pretty much."
"...!!"
Her face twisting in shock and outrage, Arpe sprang to her feet.
"Are you serious...? You said you would kill the Demon God."
"Yeah. I did say that."
"Then doesn't that mean you intend to be a hero? Didn't you harbor justice and conviction in your heart?"
"I don't have the slightest intention of becoming a hero, though. And I don't give a damn about justice or conviction either."
"......"
Staring at me blankly, she opened her mouth a few times before pressing her lips tightly together. A chill settled in her platinum eyes, laced with contempt. Even if she was twisted in her own ways, a heroine was still a heroine, after all. Right on cue, she flared up with textbook righteousness. Seeing her like that was actually somewhat reassuring.
"It seems I judged you wrongly."
"Common mistake. Rebecca over here thought the same."
"Eep."
I chuckled and pointed toward Rebecca, who had been standing at attention; caught off guard by being dragged into this, she blinked in wide-eyed confusion.
"...At any rate, are you saying you know what is happening and still refuse to speak?"
"Well..."
I mulled it over. According to the original plot, the elven civil war wouldn't be resolved for another three, maybe four years at earliest. The main story wouldn't even kick off until two years from now when the Hero entered the Academy. Assuming the Hero grew steadily and triggered the affection events, they would only head to the Great Forest during their second or third year.
By that point, the World Tree would already be on the brink of death; the struggling Hero would defeat the High Demon with the World Tree's final burst of strength, and only then obtain the relic. That was the canon timeline... If I intervened this early and saved the World Tree, everything would derail. As for the relic, perhaps a surviving World Tree might offer some alternative reward... but the bigger problem was that the canon storyline would unravel, wiping out the Hero's growth and stat progression.
"Agh..."
Scratching my head violently, I dragged hard on my cigarette.
"...Lord Aljen. I do not know what you are agonizing over."
Seeing my state, Arpe reined in her temper and stepped closer.
"......"
No, she hadn't suppressed her fury—she'd merely placed it on hold. The flames churning deep within her pupils were downright terrifying.
"However, whatever is troubling you, I am certain it cannot be so dire as to outweigh innocent lives."
"...You really think you can sway me with that? Of all people, you? Talk is cheap. Easy to spout whatever sounds nice off the top of your head, isn't it?"
When I snorted in exasperation, she clenched the fabric of her dress and gritted her teeth.
"...Please, do not disappoint me any further."
"And what happens if I do?"
"...With you."
As if forcing the words out took every ounce of her strength, her face flushed red as she strained to speak.
"I... I will break off our friendship."
"Oh, bringing out the big guns, are we?"
Ruining my rapport with a core heroine would definitely be my loss. Far greater a loss than missing out on some divine relic. She hadn't said it knowing that, of course... but she'd stabbed right into my soft underbelly.
Chuckling softly, I absentmindedly ruffled her hair. Startled, she flinched and looked up at me with wide, puzzled eyes.
"...In short, this is a favor for a friend, right?"
"Pardon? Uh... does it count as that?"
"Yeah. I guess so. A favor for a friend... Ha, damn it. Right, how can I ignore a request from a friend? Shit, since when did I ever act while calculating the future anyway? If there are downsides, there'll be upsides too. Nobody knows how things'll turn out down the road anyway..."
Mumbling justifications as if dodging responsibility and making excuses to myself, I finally met Arpe's gaze.
"Fine. It's a friend asking, so I can grant this much."
"Then...!"
Her face brightened instantly, breaking into a radiant smile, and I smirked along with her.
"In exchange, if trouble crops up, you'll have to take some responsibility. My friend."
"Uh, responsibility?"
She froze.
"Yeah. Nothing major. You just gotta help me slay a Demon God."
"...Isn't that responsibility a bit too heavy?"
"Come on, it'll be fine. Things have a way of working out."
With an overpowered default heroine on my side, missing a single relic shouldn't be the end of the world. In fact, there were plenty of game builds that took down the Demon God without that particular relic. ...Granted, the difficulty would skyrocket to insanity, but as long as we had the Holy Sword, it wasn't impossible.
"Alright. Since we settled that... I'll tell you everything. Would it be better if I explained from beginning to end, or do you want me to tackle whatever questions you have first?"
At my question, Arpe and Nemes exchanged quick glances before turning their heads back toward me almost in unison.
"Please explain everything!"
"I would be grateful if you explained everything from the start."
"...Ugh, what a pain."
The moment I grimaced in reluctance, Arpe's expression turned sharp once more.
"Haaah... Fine, fine, I got it. So... where should I even start..."
"Orabeoni! We're here to play! Ah! The Imperial Princess is here too?!"
"Pardon the intrusion..."
"Hello. What a lovely evening."
"U-Uuu... S-So-sorry, excuse meee..."
Just as I was scanning the lore in my head to start piecing an explanation together, Vivian, Leona, Cecilia, and Everil barged in without even knocking. When on earth did my room turn into a daycare for brats?
"...Guess the explanation will have to wait."
"Ugh, yes... We have no choice."
"Mmh..."
Arpe and Nemes couldn't hide their impatience, but unable to simply brush off the four youngsters, they awkwardly composed their expressions.
"Good morning, Lord Aljen."
"Yeah. Morning."
Giving Wendy a half-hearted reply, I went to take another swig of booze when my eyes widened at another figure entering through the open doorway.
"Hmm? What brings Big Brother Berga here?"
"...Stanashila Aljen."
Casting a cold, detached gaze across the room with a face that took right after Urtega's, he didn't step inside, choosing instead to speak from the threshold.
"Stanashila Berick has vanished. Do you know where he might be?"
"Hmm...?"
I tilted my head at the unexpected question.
"Not a clue. Why ask me?"
"A hunch. I felt that you might know."
"......"
Well, he wasn't entirely wrong.
"So, you truly do not know?"
"I don't know, good sir. How on earth would I know that?"
When I answered with a flippant smirk, he paused for a second before nodding.
"Understood."
Having finished his business, Berga simply shut the door and walked away.
...Berick disappeared, huh.
Now that Greenjack had been dismantled, had he abandoned everything again to latch onto some other lifeline? I didn't know where he had gone, but a faint pang of unease crept into my chest.
"......"
That aside, Duchess Pitra was going to be devastated. I was bad enough, but that bastard really gave me a run for my money when it came to being an unfilial son.
