Chapter 178
Chapter 178
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 178
Chapter Title: Elves and Dwarves
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Just like the other areas in the palace, this place was elegantly adorned in a simple manner.
"Hmm, hmm. Indeed."
Harris, who had exchanged greetings with the others, nodded as he chatted amiably with the gardener who had volunteered to guide him around the interior.
Elves, by their nature, preferred harmony and neatness over extravagance, so it wasn't particularly strange.
However, since their duties all involved hands-on work, there weren't any special attractions here.
It was merely a dormitory for resting in shifts, with an attached cafeteria and training facilities.
In other words, there was nothing particularly noteworthy enough to snoop around and react to, like he was doing now.
"Um... Sir Harris?"
"Yes? What's the matter?"
"...Are you looking for something? If you tell me, I can guide you there."
"Ah—no, not at all. As you know, I've only recently arrived in the Elven Kingdom. I'm just not familiar with it yet, so please don't worry."
At the gardener's question, laced with clear bewilderment, Harris, who had been sharply scanning the surroundings, flashed a gentle smile once more.
He did have something specific in mind, but it wasn't urgent enough to mention outright.
"Ah, I did hear about that. You're from the Ion Continent, right? It's fortunate that the elven lineage is still thriving there, especially since the two most recently awakened are both from other continents."
Harris merely smiled awkwardly, unsure how to respond to the gardener's admiring words.
'Honestly, I'm not sure if the lineage is truly thriving.'
He had only luckily rescued Cecily from being sacrificed to black mages, and he hadn't heard any updates on other elves.
Of course, he hadn't specifically investigated, but if something major had happened, his extensive information network would have picked it up.
The lack of news likely meant they were either well-hidden in remote areas or seamlessly integrated into society.
"By the way, I heard the Second Continental Conference is being convened soon. Apparently, quite a few are heading to Ion this time. Even we, who have no interest in outside matters, have heard the buzz everywhere."
"Ah, yes, indeed. The scale of it all makes it impossible to ignore."
As he said, a sizable contingent of reinforcements would soon be dispatched alongside the Second Conference at the Church of the Main God's holy site.
It was to finalize the decisions from the first conference and delve into more detailed discussions.
Unfortunately, Harris couldn't join this delegation.
The same went for Cecily, who had accompanied him last time...
'That's only natural, though. They wouldn't keep sending out novices who just awakened.'
They might allow it once for experience, but there was no way they'd repeatedly send promising young talents into unknown dangers.
Moreover, this time, for the reinforcement dispatch and temple construction, three veteran High Elves—including Rapori Granwood—had been selected.
There was no place for a newcomer like him.
'Thinking about it, Harris is still in his growth phase. No need to step up prematurely. Staying by the World Tree is the most effective anyway.'
Even though all spirits he could handle had evolved to advanced levels upon becoming a High Elf, with the lightning spirit on the cusp of superior evolution, he was still lacking compared to the other avatars.
'Focus on growth and building inner strength now.'
And that wouldn't take long.
Skills like World Tree's Heir, Nature Assimilation, Observer of the Stars, Call of Nature, and various growth bonuses wouldn't let him slack.
"Hm? ...This place?"
At that moment.
As Harris wandered the gardeners' quarters, he finally found what he was looking for.
"Ah, this is the storage for byproducts gathered during work. They're mere scraps compared to artifacts imbued with the World Tree's power, but the materials are valuable. They're used as catalysts in high-level spells, so calling it a treasure vault isn't wrong."
"...I see."
"They're often given as rewards to those who've earned merits or used as gifts in trades with other races. Dwarves especially love them."
"Of course. They're World Tree byproducts, after all."
He responded nonchalantly to the gardener's lengthy explanation and stepped inside the storage.
Normally, no one could enter freely, but as a High Elf, it didn't apply to him.
"Whoa— all this...!"
And before his eyes.
Dried branches neatly stacked in piles and heaps of leaves filled his view.
It was far too abundant to call precious.
"Ah, these have been steadily collected over years. We maintain a reserve for emergencies while distributing some externally."
Apparently, they were used in various ways within the Elven Kingdom, and even regular elves could obtain small amounts systematically. A sudden shortage would inconvenience many.
Thus, external trades weren't frequent.
'Well, given the World Tree's size, this amount makes sense.'
In fact, it seemed rather modest.
Considering branches vast enough to blanket the capital, filling one warehouse was like a speck under its nails.
Especially if this was years' worth...
'Still, it's more than enough for personal use.'
As a High Elf, Harris faced no restrictions in using them.
"There's more than I expected. Mind if I take some for my own use?"
"Of course. They're usually hard to take out, but High Elves are exempt."
The High Elves, heirs and priests of the World Tree, were direct conduits to it.
Imposing restrictions on them would be absurd.
Besides, with so few High Elves, it barely made a dent.
At most, they'd brew tea from leaves or use in experiments—hardly enough to notice from a handful of them.
So no one had minded until now, and supplies never ran low.
Until now.
"Uh... Sir Harris? You plan to use... all of them?"
"Ahaha, I need them for my personal training lately."
"Ah—! I see. Training... can't be helped, then. They do help grow natural affinity quickly. Haha..."
The flustered gardener nodded as if accepting, watching Harris diligently pack branches into his subspace magic artifact.
Harris smiled quietly at the acceptance and continued.
"Well, once these are gone, I'll come back for more later."
"Uh... P-pardon?"
With piles like this, why stop at a few visits?
Of course, he had no intention of selling them off.
'I didn't lie. I really plan to use them for training.'
But taking too much would draw eyes, so he'd moderate to avoid disrupting circulation.
Though trades might tighten up with less surplus.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ Clang—! Clang—!
Inside the workshop, cheerful sounds echoed.
"What in the world is...?"
Entering his personal workshop as usual, Jaonik couldn't hide his bewilderment at the sweltering heat on his skin.
The heat itself wasn't odd, but the unusual aura within was something he rarely encountered.
He'd only felt it once or twice before—an extraordinary fiery energy.
"No... could it be?!"
Realizing something, he rushed to the forge at the back.
Beside Howard, hammering in a trance, the forge spewed fierce flames... and sure enough, it held what he suspected.
"...World Tree branch?"
His mouth gaped unwittingly.
No doubt about it.
This rare material—he'd begged village elders in his youth for a palm-sized piece, and that was it.
Yet chunks several times larger now blazed in his forge!
"Ah, Master? You're late today. Heh heh!"
Just then, Howard wiped sweat from his brow and turned with a hearty laugh.
Jaonik stared dumbfounded, mouth agape, then pointed at the forge.
"H-Howard? That in there..."
"You recognized it at a glance. As expected of Master!"
"No, I mean! Is that really a World Tree branch?!"
He pounded his chest in frustration at Howard's casual reply.
This treasure that elevated mere ore—even he had only handled it in Tytania. How did this Ion Continent dwarf obtain it?
"Heh heh! A friend sent it as a gift."
"A friend? Hubert? Or Harley?"
"Harris—an elf I bonded with. He adventured with Harley once."
"...Harley gets into everything. Makes sense from his tales."
Jaonik, who knew Harley's "grand adventures," made a wry face.
"An elf friend sent World Tree branches as a gift? Ha, really..."
Recalling the main issue, he sighed in exasperation.
Whatever the connection, it wasn't important now.
'Wasting that precious thing like kindling! Save it for when skill peaks! At his level, he can't even control the fire properly...'
He tsked in regret.
It wasn't his gift, so how Howard used it was his business—but the waste was too much to ignore.
Even so, forging with World Tree flames would aid growth.
Mastering that experience alone would yield much.
Especially for the rapidly improving Howard, no fool.
'But it's excessive! Shortening growth a bit isn't worth the waste!'
Had he consulted first, Jaonik would've optimized its use.
It even felt like Howard hid it fearing he'd snatch it.
"Sigh— what's done is done. Flames remain, so this time..."
"Why not join me, Master?"
The sudden suggestion.
Howard eyed Jaonik's muttering oddly and spoke casually.
"Eh? Ah, with that size, flames will last hours. A taste wouldn't hurt."
His gaze went to the forge, where forearm-thick remnants blazed fiercely—enough for hours more.
"...Tch, half-prepared dabbling just breeds regret. Pass. Finish your work, Howard. Don't waste time."
Jaonik turned away, suppressing longing.
Of course he yearned, but wanted Howard to maximize the gift's potential.
"That? It's fine. I have more!"
Howard's unexpected reply stunned him.
"Huh? What?"
"Heh heh! My friend hit it big, sent tons for us to use freely! Come on, Master—no need to hold back!"
Led by the hand, Jaonik clutched several thick forearm-sized branches, dazed.
He'd begged for a palm-sized scrap in his youth.
What were these sturdy logs in his arms?
Sniff sniff—
The dry wood's aroma invaded his nostrils—truly World Tree caliber.
"...Ahem, then... shall I give it a go?"
His dormant creative urge surged fiercely.
He'd restrained for Howard's sake, but with plenty, why hold back?
"Perfect timing! I wanted to watch your demonstration. Teach this unworthy junior! Puheheh!"
"Uahaha—! You're a lucky charm, Howard! Alright, let's forge through the night!"
Feeling extra fondness for Howard today, Jaonik prepped immediately.
Nothing could stop him now!
Claaaang—! Kang—! Claaaang—! Kang—!
Afterward, harmonious hammering echoed through the workshop all night without cease...
And one young dwarf grew swiftly in tandem.