Chapter 237
Chapter 237
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Translator: crow
Chapter Title: Trial of Nature
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"Purifier of the blood pond... Huh?"
Rishir halted his endless stream of self-introductions.
"It stopped."
The peculiar sensation guiding him had subsided.
'What was that? Every damn title under the sun popping out, and that's my true name?'
Rishir let out a chuckle, stroking his mouth.
"Ah."
He hurriedly composed himself.
This was no place for rash behavior, facing the monumental ancestors of the elves.
Rishir cautiously glanced around, wondering if he'd disrupted the solemnity of the place.
Then he realized his efforts were in vain.
"..."
Lunadien, mouth agape and speechless—
"..."
Even the massive eyes of the wooden statue—
They exuded an atmosphere far from solemn.
"Ancestors, what was that just now—"
Lunadien finally snapped out of it and directed her question toward the wooden statue.
But her ornate voice trembled midway, unable to finish.
There were far too many questionable parts in that self-introduction.
Honorary mage of the Gray Tower? Fine, honorary mage.
But swordsman of the Gray Tower? What about sorcerer, black mage, and priest?
And the inconsistencies didn't end there.
'Master of the sand dunes that blot out the sun?'
Lunadien hadn't even heard half of the names Rishir uttered.
The moment that name was mentioned, all her nerves focused there.
'Sand dunes that blot out the sun... that's definitely...'
Lunadien knew that name well.
The transcendent being tied to a certain dark elf's lifelong wish—
No, to every dark elf's wish.
The weight of that name.
Thus, she knew how unrealistic it was to claim ownership of it.
An immortal who even death doesn't claim—who could its master possibly be?
While Lunadien fixated on that specific name in confusion—
—true names...
The wooden statue focused on the 'number' of them, equally baffled.
True name.
It was literally one's true name—not a role bestowed by others, but an identity imposed by one's self-determined fate.
Thus.
One could have only one true name.
Fate's paths were infinite, but only one being could walk each.
Once bound to fate's grand flow, it was an unbreakable rule, a law of nature.
The elf ancestors firmly believed this.
...So what was that?
—Listing them like collected trinkets...
A human treating true names like collectibles.
The elf ancestors were at a loss on how to react to this novel phenomenon—or entity.
Then.
One ancestral soul forming the wooden statue's will whispered to its comrades.
—...Everyone. Did I just hear a weird name?
—We all did.
—...No, from your reactions, you didn't hear it.
—What name was it?
—...Can't say.
—What?
—Too heavy to utter...
The wooden statue's eyes, unified as one, scattered into many again, bustling about.
Like the hurried exchanges among them.
"..."
Rishir stood quietly in place, waiting for their agitation to settle.
The confusion and frenzy around his unique constitution—it was practically routine now.
A moment later.
—Who are you, demanding the elves' legacy? State your true name.
The eyes converged once more, urging Rishir's response.
As if nothing had happened.
In that instant.
Rishir felt something surging within him again.
The familiar sensation tugged at him once more, trying to make him list(?) true names.
However.
Perhaps overaware from the prior experience?
Rishir failed to yield to it naturally.
Ultimately, two choices remained.
Stay silent.
Or say whatever came to mind and mood.
—State your true name!
Rishir sensed urgency in the voice, forcing him to open his mouth.
"...Guardian of the World Tree."
The true name Rishir chose(?) after deliberation.
Correct the mind-boggling 'Mother of the World Tree' title.
Appeal to the elf ancestors.
An efficient(?) true name with two effects.
'But can I just make up a true name like this?'
A brief doubt—
'...Well, it's my name, whatever.'
Rishir judged salvaging the situation took priority.
—Indeed, something must have glitched earlier!
—He bears an extraordinary aura!
—Unlike us elves, he has multicolored hues?
—Not beautiful, but that extraordinariness is undeniable! Influencing fate-sight powers!
The ancestors' ensuing conversation proved Rishir's judgment correct.
A relatively convincing progression compared to before!
The ancestors neatly ignored the prior incident.
—Still, Guardian of the World Tree! A human sharing the station of the World Tree's descendants—revered beings!?
—Unbelievable!!! But one can't falsify a true name! That title proves the descendants acknowledged you!
—Lamentable!!! Recognizing a human as Guardian without consulting us!
The wooden statue grudgingly accepted.
'Feels like if I'd said Guardian from the start, they'd never buy it—'
Rishir irreverently thought of 'shock therapy' watching them.
—Guardian of the World Tree, state your name!
Afterward.
The massive eye reformed, staring straight at Rishir.
"Rishir."
—Guardian of the World Tree, Rishir! In the name of we green mages, we permit you to be embraced by nature's bosom!
The giant eye closed, replaced by a fresh turquoise rift.
'Dimensional gate...!'
Rishir peered inside the gate on the wooden statue, eyes widening.
The forest aura flowing from within evoked the Grand Master's Forest.
Comparing the energies, Rishir fell into great shock.
Even without deep nature magic knowledge, he sensed it surpassed the Grand Master's level.
Proof of a clear gap between them.
"Human."
"Yes? Ah, Lady Lunadien."
"From now on, keep your wits about you."
"I'm going in there now, right?"
"Yeah."
"Definitely... need to stay sharp. What's inside, exactly?"
"The first green mage. Think 'founder of nature magic'—does that help?"
"..."
Rishir's vision briefly blackened.
No, greened.
'So—not creating a unique spell or school, but inventing the foundation of magic itself?'
As Rishir sorted his thoughts, Lunadien continued.
"Also, the being who, with the World Tree, shaped the current great forest."
"Scale's too huge to follow... Like imagining a god?"
"Haha, teased too much? Relax. You're not meeting the actual first green mage. Waiting inside is their will."
"Will?"
"Something beyond words or writing."
Lunadien pointed at the gate.
"The moment you enter, you'll face a trial."
"Trial?"
"By nature's will—to test your nature magic aptitude."
The nature magic seed.
Lunadien mentioned it.
"What do you think the nature magic seed is?"
"Honestly, I pictured a physical item. Like an artifact."
Lunadien gave Rishir a meaningful smile.
Then, she lightly touched his forehead with her fingertip.
Almost not touching.
"This."
"...Pardon?"
"The first green mage's aura. Even slight contact grants nature magic aptitude."
Whoa.
Rishir chuckled.
How vast must it be, to instill aptitude with mere brushing?
"Exactly. Your task inside: somehow succeed in 'contact'."
"Contact... with what, exactly?"
"You'll know upon entering. Nature's form awaits you."
"Nature's form... like grass?"
"Close. Not easy. The natural energy inside is harsh for a human novice like you."
Lunadien flashed her signature ornate smile.
"Still, I believe you'll succeed. You're the Guardian of the World Tree, after all?"
"...!"
—Human! Hurry! Their aura wastes while you dawdle!
Rishir nodded and stepped forward.
His body was swallowed by the turquoise gate.
—Garden of Stars.
After the human entered the gate.
The elf ancestor called the tower lord's name.
—You're filling the human with false hope.
"What do you mean?"
—How many humans have failed contact and despaired? You know well.
"Not just any human, but one acknowledged as Guardian of the World Tree."
Then.
"Ah!"
A figure bounced out from the gate.
Rishir.
He looked around with a dazed, entranced expression.
Clearly a failed contact.
As Lunadien sensed the wooden statue's mischievous gaze.
Rishir spoke.
"Wh-what happens now?"
"What do you want? Try again? Or give up?"
"Ah, I can try again!? Then—"
Rishir plunged back into the gate without hesitation.
And bounced out.
The process repeated endlessly.
—Lunadien. Isn't this enough? You caused this; only you can stop him.
"..."
Lunadien's face clouded with worry.
Few succeed on first contact, true—
But Rishir's repeated failures over hours were ominous.
Countless attempts.
The fact was clear.
Rishir.
He had no aptitude for nature magic.
Lunadien felt confusion.
'Then how, why was he acknowledged as Guardian of the World Tree?'
Then.
The gate spat out another figure.
The tiresome repetition.
"Yes!!!"
For the first time, a different reaction from Rishir.
He clenched his fist in triumph.
—Success, it seems.
The wooden statue said.
Then quietly added.
Finally.
Lunadien was at a loss how to respond to Rishir's joy.
Not the time for celebration.
The situation fit those words perfectly.
He'd proven his aptitude after endless tries—
But aptitude needing such proof couldn't be extraordinary.
Rishir's innate nature magic aptitude was utterly ordinary.
Perhaps even lowly.
Lunadien pondered how to break it to him.
"Lady Lunadien, success! Finally, I made contact!"
"I see... that's—"
"With the tree!"
Lunadien's words stopped.
The nature form in nature's embrace.
It manifests differently by aptitude.
Ordinary: sprout.
Better: grass.
Extraordinary: flower.
Outstanding: sapling.
And—
The pinnacle: tree.
Only revered elf ancestors, the green tower lord, and a handful of green mages had touched that tree.
They called it the "Tree of the End."
Green mages saw reaching it as symbolic, their goal.
Believing beyond magic's realms—
There lay nature magic's essence—
Nature's will.
Thus, elf ancestors and Lunadien still honed their aptitudes toward the Tree of the End.
—Why?
"Pardon?"
—Why a tree?
—...W-well?
—Why'd you touch that tree?
"...Even if you ask me—"
That was why the elves voiced doubts instead of congratulations.
Rishir, expecting cheers, panicked at the barrage of questions.
Then.
Rishir closely examined his hand.
'Doesn't look any different.'
Wondering if something else changed, he said.
"What next?"
At the same time.
In Bondales, a commotion erupted.
Acting councilor.
Fienne furrowed her refined brow.
"What? A tree suddenly grows? What does that mean?"