Chapter 188: Greinif (4)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 188: Greinif (4)
“…….”
Alon remained silent.
“…….”
As he fell silent, Queen Adrina followed suit.
However, unlike Alon, a smile she didn't bother to hide played across her lips.
What on earth does she mean by "that kind of feeling"?
He couldn't understand the Queen’s words or her expression at all.
It could just be her way of glossing things over to keep the peace.
But to Alon, the Queen’s "intent" sounded like this:
“Ah, so you want me to play along? I’ll take it as that, then.”
As if she were simply agreeing to feign ignorance.
“……What do you mean by ‘that kind of feeling’?”
“Exactly what it sounds like. That kind of feeling.”
“I mean—”
Alon fumbled for words, his mouth working soundlessly.
He had no idea where to even begin correcting her.
What was he supposed to do with this……?
“Let me, uh, say this again. I am not the Primordial Elf.”
“Of course you aren't.”
Queen Adrina nodded. Her face showed neither doubt nor deliberation.
Seeing that, Alon was even more at a loss for words.
“……You don't seem to believe me at all.”
“Not at all. I believe you.”
“It’s ridiculous for me to even say this, but if I’m not the Primordial Elf, shouldn't you be acting hostile right about now?”
“I can do that if you wish.”
“…….”
“No, I mean…… even if it’s not hostility, there’s no reason to be this hospitable, is there?”
He found himself in the bizarre position of fervently (?) trying to explain that he wasn't the Primordial Elf.
It was utterly bewildering, yet the Queen continued to gaze calmly at Alon’s face.
“Well—couldn't we just say I simply wanted to see Marquis Palatio’s face for myself?”
“……?”
“I heard you were quite famous, Marquis. Is that not true?”
“It is, but.”
“Then let’s go with that.”
Only then did Alon realize.
No matter how many times he spoke, their misunderstanding would not be cleared.
Rather, they had no intention of clearing it.
What is it, exactly?
Alon didn't know much about Greinif.
He had never even made contact with them before.
And yet.
What could have possibly caused the elves to fall into such a massive delusion?
……They wouldn't have such blind faith just because I’m wearing a single gauntlet.
After a moment of thought, Alon decided to take advantage of this goodwill for now.
“……May I ask you something?”
“Anything.”
The Queen smiled brightly, as if delighted by the request.
Watching her, Alon organized his questions in his mind.
All I heard from Siyan was basically to go to Greinif, so there’s nothing to ask there. That leaves questions about the Primordial Elf, who used magic similar to mine, and the Roots.
He debated which of the two to ask first.
“By any chance, do you know anything about the Roots?”
He asked about the Roots.
He had wanted to ask about the Primordial Elf first, but given the circumstances, it felt awkward to bring up.
The Queen nodded immediately.
“Yes, though it might be difficult to explain.”
“……Why?”
“Because the Roots must be seen in person.”
“Must be seen in person?”
“Yes. No one can describe it as anything more than ‘the Roots.’”
Must be seen in person, huh.
“Can I go to those Roots?”
“If you wish, I will open the way for you.”
“I appreciate it.”
“However—”
Having readily agreed, the Queen cast a brief glance behind Alon.
“It is extremely dangerous, so it would be best not to take the knight behind you.”
She was referring to Evan, who had accompanied Alon.
“For him, just going there could be fatal.”
“…….”
Evan’s body flinched.
Alon also felt a sudden, faint urge to turn back.
“……Is it that bad?”
“Yes.”
A firm answer.
His dilemma deepened.
Judging by the Queen’s words, the Roots seemed like a truly perilous place.
But.
“Then I’ll leave it to you.”
Alon decided to descend to the Roots.
He judged that the value was worth the risk.
……“Learn how to use Status,” was it?
Alon thought of the ‘Eye.’
The entity that, at first, had caused blood to pour from every orifice of his body just by looking at it.
The Eye that, even recently, had drawn tears of blood from him after only a few dozen seconds of contact.
It had certainly told Alon that.
To go down to the Roots and learn how to use ‘Status.’
Alon had no idea what the ‘Status’ the Eye spoke of actually was.
It was a type of power that had never properly appeared even when he played Psychedelia.
But.
It will surely be of help.
He had to face it head-on.
“I’m counting on you.”
“Understood. Then you shall enter tomorrow.”
* * *
Immediately after the brief meeting with Alon.
An elf stepped out from behind Queen Magrina, who was wearing a faint, silent smile.
“Your Majesty.”
“Rim.”
The elf had a somewhat sullen expression.
As a member of Pagade in charge of the Roots, she furrowed her brow as if she couldn't understand the situation at all.
At that sight, the Queen let out a light laugh.
“You seem to have much to say, Rim.”
“Forgive me, but I do not know if I should speak my mind.”
“Go ahead.”
The Queen granted permission with a benevolent smile.
Rim carefully opened her lips.
“Is that man truly the Primordial Elf?”
“Does he not look like it to your eyes, Rim?”
“……Forgive me, but no. Even the man himself says he isn't the Primordial Elf. Furthermore, according to Lord Philde, was he not supposed to never come to this World Tree?”
“Hmm—I suppose so?”
“And yet, has he not come to Greinif now……? Carrying that spine-chilling thing on his back, no less.”
Rim shuddered involuntarily as she spoke.
Of course, to her eyes—the eyes of a swordsman, not a mage.
The thing in the Other World behind Marquis Palatio appeared only as a very faint silhouette.
No, it wasn't even a silhouette.
A very hazy fragment. That was all.
But even with just that, Rim could tell.
The thing behind his back was an Incomprehensible existence that she could not possibly fathom.
Perhaps, like the things beneath the Roots—
“Rim.”
Her thoughts, which had reached that far, were snapped back by the Queen’s voice.
“Yes.”
“I would like you to escort him when he goes to the Roots tomorrow.”
“……Escort him?”
“Yes.”
“Do you truly intend to let that man into the Roots?”
“Because he wishes it.”
“I—”
Rim started to protest.
However, she had no choice but to shut her mouth.
“You understand, right?”
Because the Queen was already smiling at Rim.
An infinitely benevolent smile.
Yet, it was a firm smile that signaled she would accept no further arguments.
“……I understand.”
Rim had no choice but to comply.
The Queen’s command was absolute.
“Do not worry too much. The others will all be going as well. Right, Draim?”
At Magrina’s murmur, a man appeared from the shadows where nothing had been just a moment ago.
“……I shall obey your command.”
“Yes, then I’ll leave it to you.”
The Queen nodded.
After a moment of hesitation, Rim asked one more question.
“Your Majesty.”
“Yes.”
“……If, by any chance, that man tries to go beyond the Roots and head beneath them, what should I do?”
She threw out the question.
Even if she conceded as far as the Roots, if he went beneath them—
‘That thing’ was there.
However.
“Naturally, you should guide him.”
The Queen was still smiling.
Even though she clearly knew that something was down there—something that would be very troublesome if awakened.
“I…… understand.”
Rim eventually bowed her head.
Meanwhile, at that same time.
“……Marquis.”
“What is it?”
“I know you won't give me a straight answer anyway.”
“?”
“Who on earth are you, really?”
Evan’s voice was tinged with sheer absurdity.
Alon gazed into the air for a moment.
“……I wonder.”
“?”
“I’m starting to get curious about that myself.”
It was a night where his contemplation of his own identity, quite unseasonably, grew deep.
* * *
The day after being bewilderedly dragged to Greinif.
It had only been about a day, but Alon could roughly grasp how he was being treated in Greinif.
A few high-ranking individuals among the elves are mistaken and showing me goodwill, while most of the other elves are hostile…… I see.
It was only natural, and Alon wasn't particularly disappointed.
The Queen’s reaction was the strange one; it was only natural for elves to be hostile toward him, a human.
Furthermore, even among those who were ‘mistaken,’ some showed glimpses of hostility, which was perfectly understandable.
At any rate, having spent the day getting a feel for the atmosphere, Alon moved.
“Then, have a safe trip. Rim will be your guide.”
Seeing off by the Queen, he headed toward the Roots.
Accompanied by Rim, an elf whose displeasure with him was obvious to anyone.
“I am Rim. I will guide you from here.”
“……I’m in your care.”
A short while later.
“We are here.”
They arrived at the entrance in about thirty minutes, faster than expected.
Alon asked with a puzzled expression.
“This is it?”
“Do you think I would ignore the Queen’s command and bring you to a false location?”
Her reaction was somewhat sharp.
However, Alon didn't care much and looked around.
I see, so the Roots really did mean the roots of the World Tree.
It was a tree of such immense size that it looked like nothing more than a giant wall with a door attached.
Standing before it, the tree was so overwhelmingly large that he couldn't even see the branches unless he tilted his neck vertically to look up.
“Let’s go in.”
At Alon’s words, Rim turned her head and took the first step toward the Roots.
Alon followed behind her.
It’s dark.
The stairs leading into the Roots.
That was Alon’s first impression.
There were spheres that seemed to be activated by magic placed between the stairs to secure vision.
And yet, it was pitch black.
As if something were arbitrarily devouring the light.
How long had they been walking into the Roots while feeling that eerie sensation?
The darkness deepened until finally, almost nothing else around them was visible except for the back of Rim’s head.
Thud!
“We have arrived.”
Alon stepped onto the final stair.
Rim’s voice announced their arrival.
This is…… the Roots?
He truly couldn't see a thing.
In that moment, feeling as if he were trapped in a black-hole-like darkness.
[So you have come—Star Eater.]
“!”
A voice echoed in Alon’s ear.