Elves Have Come for Gratitude
It had arrived. The moment I had been waiting for.
After the elves who consumed the World Tree fruit recovered, they had gathered with one mind. They wanted to express their gratitude to Rune-nim somehow.
On my way over, I had sensed a gathering of elves. Now it was clear that the entire crowd was here because of Rune.
‘Moving through magic was fortunate.’
The elves were already in chaos after the king’s death.
Luckily, the building we used as a waiting hall had Belianus inside. I had expected quite a few people would come to see him.
Some had even come to thank Rune in a small way.
But I never imagined the entire flock of elves was rushing here to see me.
Speaking of which, with the outside in this state, it’s wonderful that you returned safely.
Jed’s words came out as if it had just occurred to him.
“Fortunately, the ‘Invisibility Mask’ Rand made worked quite well.”
Jed’s voice rang with laughter as he praised him.
Whoa! You really did a great job with that. If you had simply walked in through the front door like an ordinary person, you would have been captured and never made it back here.
Heukmi-nim would agree too, right?
Heukmi, who had been giving some request to Dullahan, turned and readily nodded.
“Yes! He even asked me where Rune-nim was.”
Right? Belianus-nim did manage to calm them down, but they didn’t seem to have any intention of leaving at all.
Jed puffed out his chest with relief, making a grand show of it.
I needed to understand the situation better, so I asked the reason.
“Why did these elves come looking for me so desperately?”
At that moment, the obvious reason clicked, and the answer came immediately.
It seems it was due to unease, especially fear of the future.
“!”
Something struck a chord in my own heart.
“Is it because there’s no one who can see the future? They don’t know how to proceed.”
Unburdening my thoughts, Jed let out an exaggerated humming sound.
That’s right! If I had hands, I would have clapped. How unfortunate. Yet it makes sense. After all, the elves’ king is the one who predicts the future, isn’t he?
“I had assumed that was the case, but…”
It was a bit much.
I swallowed the rest of my words.
However, Jed sensed something from my expression and continued in a sly voice.
Rune-nim, do you know why this Jed has been quite successful at commerce?
It was a question I would normally have brushed off, but the tone felt different.
I suspected there was a reason behind such a sudden question and gave an appropriate response.
“What is it?”
It’s simply the hearts of the people who use the shop! The wish to feel just a little better. The instinct to calm anxiety. The desire to possess! Well, practical courage is the foundation of course.
“Hmm.”
There were points that didn’t quite fit the situation, but I could guess what he was going to say.
Giving a light sigh, I let him continue.
Look, Rune-nim healed the elves who were beyond medical help with medicine and food. You drove out the demons and even restored the World Tree.
Crossed arms, I opened my mouth.
“That’s right… what I did was accurate. But strictly speaking, I wasn’t alone. Ordinary elves and others were with me.”
Oh! How modest!
Grinning, the dwarf-like excitement of Jed pulled dramatic words from him.
A miracle worker! The one who brought the Forest Seal and reads the World Tree! Hehe. You truly satisfied every wish of the elves! This means, in other words, that you have more than enough value to replace the elf king and the prophet.
I furrowed my brows.
I never thought the fact that I was connected to the World Tree would drag me into such troublesome business.
I understood the hearts of the hopeful elves.
But it felt unpleasant that it was pushing me in a direction I didn’t want.
‘They should just get along well among themselves and live.’
The elf kingdom was their responsibility to nurture.
I had only planned to help Rand accept it and reap any benefits that came out of the elf kingdom.
Yet here I was, about to be asked to stay.
“Time will cool the fervor a bit.”
It was a passion from the past.
Confident in that, I replied to the story.
Perdikion joined in.
“Rune. This is just my opinion, but it might be difficult. The feat of creating a World Tree fruit is unprecedented in all history.”
The red dragon hatchling’s words earned Jed’s agreement.
That’s right, as expected from Perdikion-nim! This is too grand to brush off as a momentary surge. You’ve changed the elves’ lives dramatically!
If I had arms, I would have rubbed my hands.
I figured Jed was oiling his tongue every morning.
Unaware of my thoughts, Jed cleared his throat and went on.
Moreover, this isn’t ordinary! From what the elves told me, they sensed not just simple forest mana from Rune-nim’s power, but something very special.
“!”
In that short time, elves had already figured it out.
While I was secretly surprised, Jed looked quite delighted.
What was it? The seal of the forest written by the dark race close to death, the power of growth, or something like that.
It was common for some superior fellow to have insight anywhere.
I didn’t know which elf it was, but the insight was impressive enough to leave me in awe.
‘They recognized how the dark race’s traits and forest power harmonize.’
If that was all, I would have let it pass as an unusual idea.
But Jed didn’t stop there.
Some high elves with a lofty attitude even said they would greet Rune-nim as an honorary elf.
A tremendous proposal.
Except the person involved didn’t want it.
I looked up at the ceiling with a somewhat nonchalant gaze.
‘I knew some elves were highly sensitive to forest mana, but not to this degree.’
The Resurrection Authority was something only I could do.
Yet I had taken lessons from Rand just to make the forest seal ability appear that way, and this keen-eyed fellow had still seen through it.
“……I never expected it to go this far.”
Perdikion, who had been listening, looked at me with half-knowing eyes.
“If I said it would sound arrogant, Rune, even if I had been an elf, I would have been interested.”
“……”
I nodded in acknowledgment.
The absence of an elf king who could reveal prophecies.
The wish to believe in the miracle of healing.
The existence that gives forest mana to save the World Tree and bear fruit.
Even one of those would have been enough to spark interest, yet all three pointed straight at me.
‘Christina probably prepared the meal partly to discuss this situation.’
A slight guilt stirred in me.
As a guardian, Rune was bound to feel the weight of the elves’ overwhelming attention.
On the other hand, I felt incredibly relieved.
‘Well, who could possibly change the decision of a Gold Dragon Elder.’
Having thought it through, I reached my conclusion.
“Belianus will come to the meal too, right? We should discuss it then.”
“You’re right. I’m curious what we’ll do with those elves standing over there.”
Jed chimed in, clearly intrigued.
At that moment, Heukmi climbed onto Dullahan’s neck, rode him like a horse, and peeked out the window.
“Wooong. So those elves are all here because they want to see Rune-nim.”
Blinking, Heukmi scanned from the left end of the window to the right.
“There are even more than before. Their head colors are so diverse they look like a galaxy sparkling in different hues.”
The way the expression came out was quite adorable, yet it seemed the situation was only going to get bigger.
Just then, the door opened and Rand entered.
“Little ones, it’s meal time.”
“Waaah!”
Heukmi immediately slid down from Dullahan and dashed ahead.
Dullahan, Jed, and Perdikion followed them out the door.
I was about to take a step when I felt a gaze and looked up at Rand.
Rand opened his mouth.
“They wanted me to convey their gratitude. The elves.”
His slightly trembling brown hair stopped moving.
“……And me too.”
His sluggish green eyes held a strange mixture as they looked down at me.
What I heard today was an ordinary greeting.
Thank you.
Thank you for your hard work.
I’m sorry.
The words I thought I had lost long ago.
That I would never hear again.
After receiving them, the small commotion that began blooming in my heart was too varied.
Rand didn’t remember how he had answered.
But the fact that this situation was thanks to the little hatchling in front of us hadn’t changed.
“It’s good.”
I gave a short congratulatory reply.
That was enough.
Now Rand was no longer the brown dragon abandoned in the desert.
Ahead lay more celebrations, more joys.
***
On the long dining table in the banquet hall, all kinds of delicious-looking food had been arranged.
Salads with ingredients suited to the elves, white bread brushed with sweet honey and cookies.
Mushroom marinades and ratatouille.
Salt butter bread, egg tarts, fresh cream plain scones and corn scones.
Fresh cheese and butter, strawberry jam.
Grilled fruits soaked in sweet grape wine, enhancing the flavor on skewers.
Onion soup and potato soup.
Tomato salad, and so on. Just by looking, it all looked fresh and appetizing.
Of course, for those who loved meat, there were marble-cut tomahawk steaks cooked with whole pepper and herbs.
Smoked game meat, lightly boiled rice cakes, and sandwiches were also there.
Internally, I was amazed.
‘Christina must have paid a lot of attention.’
Even the drinks came in six different varieties. The table looked lively like a festival.
“I don’t know how to react. It would be best if it suits your palate.”
“It should suit it well. Who would have thought the Queen of Light would eat the food she personally prepared.”
Belianus’s reply brought a fresh smile like a budding flower from Christina as she spread her hands.
“Wonderful. Then shall we start the meal?”
Christina’s gaze swept over everyone.
Belianus offered a brief blessing, and the real meal began.
“Uuuung! It’s so delicious!”
Heukmi, who had stuffed her mouth full of the abundant meat she hadn’t tasted in a long time, held her cheeks in her hands and raised her tail straight up.
Rand took one of Christina’s skewers and ate it, making a slightly puzzled expression.
“……Amazing.”
After that sigh, Rand focused on the meal.
Belianus also tasted the mushroom marinades and gave a nostalgic expression.
“It has a familiar taste. It’s the best meal I’ve had recently.”
Gracefully poking the salad with knife and fork, Christina answered.
“Thank you. I’ve always been interested in the elves’ ingredients.”
The meal was incredibly enjoyable and made the mouth water.
But no one had forgotten the purpose of today’s meal.
When I had nearly finished eating the butter roll bread and steak, Christina opened her mouth first.
“Speaking of which, Rune. Where did you go earlier?”
‘It had come.’
I swallowed the remaining steak and replied.
“I met some elves with brother.”
And after the next words from me, Christina let out a light exclamation.
“That elf could hear the World Tree’s voice.”