Chapter 230
Chapter 230
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Translator: crow
Chapter Title: Chosen by the World Tree
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'I'm going crazy. What the hell is this situation.'
Rishir was overwhelmed by a terrible sense of bewilderment.
He had realized the fact that he had committed the number one taboo you absolutely must not do when chosen by the World Tree.
Simply: being human, in fact!
He had no clue where to even begin correcting the situation.
To begin with!
Among elves, the noble high elves, descendants of the World Tree—
And among them, to pick him as the noblest being—what were they thinking?
'What the hell do I have to do to be mistaken for an elf?'
Anyone could see it was the World Tree's side(?) at fault—
but Rishir couldn't honestly blame the World Tree.
It might be my unique constitution that's the problem.
This time too!
His faith in himself had made him unable to trust himself.
Thus, Rishir—in this do-nothing, say-nothing bind—waited only for its next move.
Moreover.
As the owner of that unique constitution and the source of the issue, he knew he shouldn't, but Rishir was feeling thrilled right now.
'Wh-what will the World Tree do to break this situation...!?'
For now, he—a mere mortal human—had no idea how to salvage it.
Rishir decided to place his hopes on that mythical being's quick thinking.
How long did that silence, born of crossed misunderstandings and misplaced expectations, last?
"Th-then, no helping it?"
The first to crack the silence was Elf Princess Yullin.
She wore an extremely ambiguous expression, no different from the other elves.
An expression of not knowing how to process the World Tree abandoning her, a high elf, to choose a non-elf!
Yet even amid it, a triumphant smile curled her lips.
"A h-human receiving the World Tree's selection in place of us, its descendants. Something's clearly wrong. So—"
So.
Let's treat that human like it never happened and start over from the beginning.
The elf princess was saying as much.
Setting aside the immediate humiliation to focus on the fresh possibility granted.
"No."
Prince Rasnian furrowed his boyish brow and shook his head.
"Rasnian!?"
An action defying Yullin's assumption that he'd crave the same chance as her.
Yullin glared fiercely at him.
Rasnian only shook his head more firmly.
"In this situation, identity doesn't matter. What's key is the World Tree showed us all the same standard. He... was selected by it."
The prince—with a girl's appearance—gazed at Rishir.
Rishir realized from those deep eyes that he wasn't some immature kid matching his looks.
"What are you saying, Rasnian! You okay with a human getting chosen by the World Tree instead of us!?"
"Don't spout nonsense. Of course it's frustrating. But then what? Deny the World Tree's will?"
"That's...!"
"Yullin. You know that'd deny our very foundation."
"..."
Had the prince spoken calmly, she wouldn't have accepted it.
But Yullin read in his face a humiliation rivaling her own.
Hoo.
Princess Yullin exhaled a seething sigh to calm herself.
Soon her gaze turned to Rishir.
"..."
Rishir felt his mind reel from the deep emotions in those eyes.
He had no plans to reproach her.
As a former bastard, he keenly knew the agony of craving acknowledgment only to be denied by its source.
And for the princess, that source wasn't some halfwit human like the Bendel family head.
The World Tree.
The sacred entity foundational to elves' pride.
How could she stay detached when it forsook elves for a human?
In that light, Rishir deemed their reactions fitting—
and felt they mustn't simply accept the World Tree's selection.
Already, one elf's emotional intensity was that thick.
If word spread across all of Ilraddin?
Drawing every elf's attention and feelings onto himself?
'Scary.'
Rishir lacked confidence to bear it fully.
The World Tree's selection wasn't an obligation for an outsider like him to shoulder.
Rishir concluded as much.
Thus the dilemma began.
'How to wriggle out of this—'
Right now.
Rishir strained not to show distress.
Reacting poorly to the sacred honor of World Tree selection would insult the elves.
For the same reason, he pondered how to decline it most amicably.
Soon.
Having devised some countermeasure, Rishir spoke.
"Everyone. Know what this is?"
Rishir drew an item from his bosom and showed them.
"That's..."
The elves, drained of surprise.
They eyed the high-grade spirit core the human pulled like junk from his pocket.
Extremely pure, vast energy within: clearly a great spirit's remnant.
"Truth is, Lady Rapita gifted this to me."
"...!"
From Rishir's view—entrusted Perring by Rapita—it was pure fact without lie—
but to Rapita, ignorant of the half-spirit's new 'hairball-spitting' habit, it rang sudden.
Still, Rapita nodded naturally, as if prepped.
'He's not one for meaningless outbursts...'
Bolstered by Rapita's aid, Rishir pressed on.
"My guess: this item's sparked the 'misunderstanding'."
"Misunderstanding?"
Yullin and Rasnian's ears perked sharp.
No way.
Was this human claiming the World Tree erred—made a mistake?
"Yes. Holding this—originally Lady Rapita's—I've been mistaken for her."
"...!"
Yet his ensuing explanation forced the elves to listen, wariness yielding.
"Meaning... the World Tree actually chose Rapita?"
One line untangled the snarl.
As he claimed, it explained bypassing high elf heirs for a human.
"Yes. Recall: the great World Tree called 'master of winds'. Surely the wind spirit Lady Sylph. But who's Lady Sylph bound to now?"
Rishir glanced at Rapita.
At the wind spirit Sylph beside her.
-...As you say, I follow none but Rapita—solely her.
Imagination?
The wind spirit's tone felt contrived somehow.
Must be illusion.
No way the great wind spirit playacted to humor a human.
"Then Sylph heeding you at the altar too...?"
"Yes. Because of this item. Fact: it caused Rapita and Sylph's rift—her handing it to me."
"Ah."
Rasnian and Yullin nodded; mysteries cleared at last.
"Ah! So that's it!!!"
Even watcher Ratsil nearby.
Rishir's fresh fabrication to dodge peril fit elves' views too neatly to doubt.
And above all—
Unimaginable to them.
Someone voluntarily forfeiting the immense glory of World Tree selection.
"Lady Rapita."
"Eh? Oh!"
Rapita neared per Rishir's gesture.
Perfect closure seals perfect execution.
Minding loose ends, Rishir gripped the World Tree branch with Rapita.
Eyes signaling, Rishir and Rapita spoke in unison.
"We uphold the great will."
"I pledge duty to Lady Rapita, great World Tree's heir and noblest elf."
-...
Swaaaa—
Seemed leaves rustled in wind somewhere.
The light-forest realm quivered.
Moment later.
"Ah."
They'd exited that space, back in Rapita's private quarters.
"Huh?"
Instantly.
Rapita startled, eyeing Rishir.
He'd abruptly seized her hand.
Reason revealed forthwith.
Rishir.
He'd slipped into her palm what he'd held—
World Tree's parting gift.
For the perfect crime(?).
'...'
Ha.
Rapita stifled inward laughter.
'The World Tree... wasn't wrong.'
She endorsed its will: forsaking elves, choosing human.
"Rapita? Holding something, right?"
Right after.
Yullin spotted Rapita's odd moves and asked.
"World Tree's leftover, maybe?"
Rasnian chimed; Rapita nodded.
Glancing once at Rishir, he unfurled his hand, revealing contents.
"This is..."
"Seeds, yeah?"
From Rapita's palm: myriad pristine white seeds.
"The World Tree... left seeds...?"
High elves' breaths now quavered.
Those seeds.
This context.
They grasped its grave portent.
"Wh-what to do with these seeds?"
"Yullin. Calm first."
"Calm how!? Th-the World Tree gave us seeds and split!!! It's already shaky! We might've landed some massive duty?"
"...Us?"
Oops!
Ratsil unwittingly blurted, clapping hand over mouth.
Princess Yullin pouted, glaring.
"S-sorry!!! Th-this loose mouth! Th-this!"
Slap.
Slap.
Ratsil smacked her pouted lips.
Yullin sighed gustily.
"Whatever. You're right: Rapita's the chosen—not me."
Yullin sulked at Rapita.
"Lucky? Proved me, your ignorer, pointless?"
"..."
Rasnian deep-sighed, nodding to Rapita.
Shaken off 'I'm human!' shock, they confronted lagging behind their scorned rival: bitter truth.
"..."
Then.
Rapita clenched seed-hand, reopened.
"Yullin. Rasnian. If okay... share this heavy burden with me?"
"..."
Princess and prince gaped.
"Wh-what're you saying— Rapita. Know what that means!?"
"Rapita. Burden or not, that's—"
They figured she'd cracked under weight, spouting drivel.
But that look.
"Rapita...?"
Elf princess eyed Rishir once, then to siblings.
"We know top priority, right? As World Tree heirs."
Crunch.
"Huh?"
Rishir—warmly watching—felt shoulder vise; glanced aside.
Escort Knight Gondola.
Rock-face gone waterlogged leather.
He beamed emotional at Rishir.
Knowing what bloomed Princess Rapita's true grace.
Eh.
What'd I even do.
Rishir patted thick hand, chuckled coolly.
"...Rapita, no."
Rasnian palm-faced, sighed deep.
If Rapita acted thus, what of them?
"...Well, now I'm World Tree-chosen?"
Princess Yullin maxed bitchiest face possible—but flush of emotion betrayed.
"..."
"Ugh—"
Rapita's wry smile followed.
Will crushed, Yullin bowed head.
Soon.
"...Let's go."
"Huh?"
"Consult prophet first. On seed handling."
Princess Yullin huffed out.
Rapita wry-smiled, following Rasnian's beckon out.
Escort Knight Gondola moved to tail—
"Rishir? Not joining?"
Rishir?
Knight cautiously voiced his name.
"..."
The name of he lost in thought.
"Sir Gondola? Recall the World Tree selection moment?"
"How not? Such grandeur, mystery... when next?"
Knight swelled emotional mere recall.
Reaction checked, Rishir nodded.
"Got it. Uh, if no bother—alone bit? Need to sort thoughts."
"Hm? Ah! Sure. Makes sense. Okay. Compose slow, then out. I'll tip servant your spot for guide—no sweat."
"I-I'll wait outside!?"
Thus Rishir solo in room.
'Dangaleon.'
He called comrade pronto.
-Got it!!! I'll torch the brazen pointy-ear's denial-free room!
'Not that—see just now?'
-Obviously! Ancient tree losing dignity, cozying you!!! How miss etching eyes!
'Not that.'
-Hm? Then wha—...
'Th-that woman. Corner of space, watching us.'
-...Now that— hazy shape glimpsed maybe... Y-young master!? What'd you spy—
"..."
Dangaleon missed too?
Rishir's face grave.
Brief mull, low mutter.
"Seems that woman meddled 'twixt us and World Tree."
-H-how dare!!! Why no instant execution, that wretch!?
"Dunno."
-Pardon?
Rishir'd spotted suspicious entity, played blind.
Simple why.
"What, monster?"
His brief aura-depth read conclusion.
-Young master deems so: surely pesky foe!!! Exit now perchance!?
'...Watch situation first.'
-Young master's call absolute!!! But memorize this, young master!!! Forests blaze easy...!
'...Why memorize that?'
World Tree space's mystery figure.
Post-discussion with Dangaleon, Rishir exited.
"Ah, Rishir! Feeling better!?"
"Yes. Fine."
"Relief! Ah! No funny biz in princess room, right!?"
Uhuhu.
Ratsil hand-masked lecherous grin.
Fearing energy-vamp watcher post-fine-check, Rishir rushed.
"C-come think—where our group's at?"
"Ah! I got spot! Follow! All pining for Rishir now!"
Tailing Ratsil: another room, same building.
'Same building as World Tree heir... Prophet who foretold selection maybe?'
Thoughts straight, Rishir knocked.
"Lady Rapita. Me."
"Ah, Rishir!"
Swift approach vibe.
"Come!"
Princess Rapita hand-opened welcome.
"Mid-talk: prophet and you."
Rishir's eyes trailed Rapita's gesture.
Forest-green glow room: someone eyed Rishir.
"You princess's mentioned—..."
Rapita backed, viewing them.
Rapita's view.
"Oh. Late intro. I convey World Tree voice. Overhonored: Turquoise Star—..."
Eyepatch silver-hair woman and human chatted.
But Rishir's view.
"..."
Rishir couldn't focus converse.
Mystical aura crush?
No.
"This guy?"
World Tree selection spot.
Phantasm or ward.
There-spotted mystery woman loomed near, staring him.
"Hmm..."
Place-folk blind to her.
Thus presumed Rishir too.
Woman neared closer, scrutinizing.
Swirling dream-purple eyes fixed Rishir.
"This guy sure?"
She scowled irked, conversing someone.
"No clue why skip heirs for this human..."
Then.
Progressing prophet and woman's voices overlapped.
"No rush. Time aplenty. First: seeds snag his energy."
"Namely: World Tree wishes you sprout seeds via that energy."
Rishir eye-shut, breath evened.
-Kuhahaha!!! Dumb bitch!! Frolics young master palm clueless, yaps bold!!!
To poise in weird bind.
"Sprouting World Tree's gift..."
Rapita eyed hand-seeds.
Exalted face faintly fatigued.
Rapita chalked to ordeals, shrugged off.
Night of Deception watched still, smirked jeer.
Man-stare unease flipped glee at high elf.
"High elf prime. Resonance nuts. Pace: that bitch soon—"
Focus lapse interim: seeds man-held.
"..."
What?
Odd vibe; she head-tilt.