Chapter 81
Chapter 81
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 81
Chapter Title: Elven Kingdom (1)
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A dreamlike atmosphere lingered on.
The fruit of the World Tree descended, wrapped in countless wind spirits, while Cecily was surrounded by spirits of every color, shimmering brightly.
A whirlwind of raging winds, sparkling clusters of light, surging earth, and rapidly sprouting buds swirled chaotically around her.
Tremendous natural energy concentrated at that center, forcing even her close companions to instinctively step back further.
As he put some distance between them, Harris realized something.
Countless elves had quietly surrounded the area, watching them intently.
'Well, the awakening ceremony of a High Elf isn't something you see every day. They said Cecily's emergence was a long-overdue event.'
And as the storm of natural energy from her direction battered his body, he suddenly realized one more thing.
'Huh? Wait, this isn't the time to just stand around watching.'
Harris focused his mind and took a deep breath.
Fresh air seeped deep into his lungs.
Air brimming with natural energy and spirit essence—packed with nutrients.
It was the perfect environment for training.
'Can't miss an opportunity like this!'
Perhaps because strengthening his unique skill had boosted his avatar's potential and growth rate, handling energy felt much smoother than before.
"Huuup— Hooo..."
He repeated deep breaths.
His eyes watched Cecily's awakening ceremony, but his focus was entirely on drawing the overflowing energy around him into his body.
Laphori glanced over, sensing something off as she watched Cecily bring the fruit to her lips, but Harris—intoxicated by the dense energy he'd never felt before—had no time for such trivialities.
The moment Cecily fully absorbed the World Tree's fruit...
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙ The entity has met the conditions and gained enlightenment. Acquired skill 「Nature Affinity」. Harris had achieved his own gains.
"Hooo..."
Feeling satisfied, he looked toward Cecily and saw that she'd lost consciousness, being carefully carried inward by a group of elves.
A fresh branch from the World Tree, still bearing the fruit's stem, was clutched in her hand.
"That's the High Elf's Honor Guard. She'll need to rest in a safe place until she regains her senses, having just awakened."
Laphori approached quietly and added an explanation.
"Lady Cecily will remain asleep for a while. She needs time to stabilize her surging energy."
"I see. Makes sense—she was right at the heart of that massive energy flow."
"You were impressive too, Harris. Now I understand why the World Tree has taken such an interest in you."
As expected, he'd noticed what Harris was doing.
"Ah, it seemed like a good chance."
"To control energy like that after such a short time learning it... As expected of h— Hm?"
He was mid-praise when he suddenly stopped, staring at something behind Harris with a shocked expression.
'I didn't sense a thing?'
His senses were heightened from absorbing so much energy, yet nothing had registered.
Chilled by Laphori's reaction, Harris whipped around...
And came face-to-face with it.
A single tree branch floating in midair.
"...?"
It was a lush, vibrant branch heavy with green leaves.
"Heh, the World Tree must truly favor you, Harris. To send a personal gift like this."
'Gift?'
Looking closer, he sensed it brimmed with natural energy, just like the branch Cecily had held.
The only difference was that this one hadn't borne fruit from the start.
"Branches bestowed directly by the World Tree are special. They're usually given only to those at pivotal moments, like an awakening ceremony..."
They could be crafted into weapons or accessories, performing like holy relics.
As such, even High Elves rarely obtained them.
Harris cautiously grasped the floating branch.
Its inherent energy sharpened in his senses.
'That's why I didn't notice it.'
It felt like holding nature itself—seamlessly blending with the surroundings.
With the area's natural energy density heightened from the ceremony's aftermath, detecting it was impossible.
Then a curiosity struck him.
"Did you receive a branch like this during your own awakening, Laphori?"
"Of course. I compressed its energy into a pair of accessories."
Seeing his nostalgic expression soured Harris's mood slightly.
He glanced at the bracelet on his wrist and ventured carefully,
"Don't tell me... this bracelet is from that?"
"Haha, no. I made mine into rings and used them for a proposal."
Relief washed away the burden, replaced by a subtle pang of regret.
But considering the gear he could make from this branch would surpass the bracelet, it wasn't so bad.
"So you did get married."
"Ah, didn't I mention? It's been quite some time."
"But you're not wearing a ring now..."
"I passed mine to my daughter. It'll help her more than me at this point."
Laphori smiled warmly, the picture of a loving father.
'...Good for him.'
Watching him beam with familial joy brought an involuntary wry smile to Harris's face.
"You've had a tough journey here, Harris. Seeing you recognized by the World Tree right away makes me feel like my final duty was worthwhile."
"Final?"
"I'm at retirement age. This Ion Continent trip was my last official assignment."
Harris stared blankly at his face.
He looked like a smooth-skinned young man in his early thirties.
"Ah, of course, I won't step away entirely with the manpower shortage. But I'll no longer lead from the front lines."
Misreading Harris's gaze, he added unnecessarily.
"Good thing a new High Elf was born—puts my mind at ease."
"Y... yeah. Truly fortunate."
Of course, Harris didn't point it out bluntly.
He was one of the eternally youthful elves now, after all.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ The Enamel Continent, home to the Elven Kingdom, was less than a fifth the size of the Ion Continent they'd crossed.
But while Ion was oversized by Aouterica standards, Enamel was no small fry either.
And in its northwest lay the elves' nation, the Elven Kingdom.
'Feels different from what I imagined.'
Influenced by Earth media, elves evoked images of forest fairies.
Vegans living in trees, at one with nature...
'But civilization's pretty advanced here. Even street performances.'
Sure, wooden buildings perched in trees matched the archetype, but stone structures on the ground were just as common.
'Impressive that even those follow nature-friendly architecture.'
He'd noticed it entering the Elven Kingdom, but the capital especially featured refined buildings.
'Well, it's the capital.'
This was Drasha, the Elven Kingdom's heart—a city blending forest and civilization around the massive World Tree, exuding exotic charm.
And now Harris was inside one grand edifice.
Not rivaling the World Tree, but its tree—unimaginably huge by Earth standards—was integrated into the building.
A vast stone base encircled the roots, with wooden structures climbing the natural trunk.
This artistic marvel was...
"You're Harris, right? I heard you came from the Ion Continent with Lady Cecily. Is it true?"
"They say it's unlivable there. Lady Cecily was in real danger this time..."
"Yeah, I heard if Laphori hadn't gone, it would've been disastrous."
Young elves chattered endlessly beside him.
This was Drasha Academy, one of the Elven Kingdom's educational institutions.
'They're all older than me, but kids by elf standards.'
Appearances ranged from mid-teens to early twenties. The academy gathered promising youths past childhood, future pillars of the nation.
Harris had stepped onto the elite track.
"Ahaha... Y-Yes, that's right... Yeah, I was fine. Had good companions. Yep."
Though the excessive attention was overwhelming now.
He understood their curiosity—worlds known only from books and tales.
Not just from another region, but across the sea from another continent. Naturally, questions flew.
And now they were fellow students.
"I worked as a mercenary. Back then, I didn't know spirit arts, so I fought with my body mostly..."
This was right after theory class, during break. Harris was sharing anecdotes to build rapport when—
Bang—!
A sharp noise drew all eyes.
A blue-haired woman stood, slamming her desk, chin raised defiantly against the stares, glaring imperiously.
"It's so noisy I can't focus at all. Could you quiet down?"
Her words addressed the group around Harris, but those blue eyes fixed solely on him.
No mistaking it for friendliness.
'What's her deal? Why the glare?'
Even if annoyed by the commotion he caused, her reaction seemed overkill.
As he puzzled over the hostility from a stranger,
"Ah, we got too loud..."
"Ahem... Sorry for the noise."
"Talk later, Harris."
His cluster dispersed warily to their seats under her gaze.
More comfortable now, but the abrupt shift left him flustered.
'She must have real influence.'
He eyed the mood-chilling woman.
Immaculately groomed blue long hair, sharp upturned eyes, an expression beyond haughty—arrogant.
'Definitely a pampered noble miss.'
A prickly one, at that. Refreshing contrast to the gentle elves he'd met.
After class ended.
"Hmph—"
Passing him, she paused, turned, and scanned him head to toe.
Her gaze lingered on his wrist bracelet, then she scoffed and strode out elegantly with her entourage.
'What was that?'
Dazed, he overheard whispers about her.
Her name: Sharilon Silvesti.
As expected, from a prestigious house.
Elves lacked rigid classes barring High Elves, but ancient lineages wielded influence accordingly.
Especially one instrumental in founding the Elven Kingdom during the great migration to Enamel.
But one unexpected fact about her stunned Harris.
'Now that's a surprise.'
Because that young lady was none other than
the only daughter of High Elf Laphori Granwood, someone Harris knew fairly well.