Serengeti's Wedding
Perhaps because of me, more than a year's worth of update content that had been locked away was now pouring out in a chaotic flood, building into a tidal wave.
This…
This is huge.
These elves were clearly the goose that laid golden eggs. No — not merely golden eggs. They might well be the goose that laid diamond ones.
If I could monopolize all the new content unlocked through them? If I could savor the latter half of the still-unresolved main quest entirely on my own?
This is seriously huge.
I forced down the smile that threatened to form of its own accord.
"Will you join us now?"
"One person. I'll take Auryll."
"…Auryll is strong, but I can assign you a warrior of a higher stage."
Auryll's level was thirteen. And there were warriors stronger than that?
I shook my head.
"Auryll alone is enough. If that doesn't suit you, then forget the whole arrangement."
Unless it was a companion I could completely control, this path would not be easy. Having dealt with Lord Solbaren, I'd learned that the Rift Tower was a rigged stage that set only conditions unconditionally favorable to itself. Better an obedient slave than bringing some other elf only to get stabbed in the back.
"…Understood."
Still, Aruwen was quick to accept — perhaps because I possessed the traits of a High Druid. But that was not the only thing I was curious about.
"Elder Aruwen. Do you happen to know Priest Andrew?"
"…I've never heard that name."
"And Andasar?"
"That one as well… I've never heard of her."
Hmm. Just as I thought.
When Priest Andrew had called Elder Aruwen's name, and when she had discovered Andasar, the emotion I'd sensed from her had been unfamiliarity. Yet Priest Andrew clearly knew Elder Aruwen. The wife who had given birth to Andasar was almost certainly Elder Aruwen herself.
But if the elves had only been newly updated this time, a contradiction arose. A being that did not exist could not have a husband and bear a child. How was this possible?
…I can't get a handle on this part.
…I didn't know. But one thing was certain — new content was being updated. The Primeval Forest and the elves themselves had likely just appeared as well. If a warp had been connected to Mount Balmang, I would have known about it long ago.
Still, the fact that the elves — who had existed only as rampant rumor — had now revealed themselves meant the gears were finally starting to turn in earnest. If I kept fitting the puzzle pieces together, the answer would surely emerge.
"Um… High Druid."
That was when Elder Aruwen suddenly addressed me with a cautious expression.
"Is there something else you wish to ask?"
"Well… if it wouldn't be too impertinent…"
"…?"
When I looked at her questioningly, Elder Aruwen hesitated for a long while before speaking.
"Would you touch my head as well?"
"………?"
Elder Aruwen crossed the warp in haste alongside the other elves. They had achieved a certain goal, but something far more urgent had arisen.
There's no doubt. He is a High Druid.
Elder Aruwen herself was a sixth-stage Laurel Warrior — a complete warrior who had fully grown every last laurel leaf. And yet the moment Randolph laid his hand upon her head, leaves that could grow no further began to bloom with even greater brilliance.
An impossibility. A miracle. A miracle had occurred.
I must report this to Her Majesty.
In her heart she wanted to take him to the Primeval Forest at once, but problems still remained to be resolved. Informing the Elf Queen of this fact came first. Bringing him rashly might give the other High Elves an opening — those who would seek to use a High Druid for their own ends.
Once the World Tree returns, Her Majesty's authority will return as well.
As the World Tree had weakened, so too had the Queen. And as the Queen had weakened, chaos had begun to take root in the Primeval Forest. But if they could climb the Rift Tower or restore the World Tree through a High Druid, the Queen's power would return, and this chaos would end.
The problem was the time before that — while the World Tree remained unrestored.
This is an opportunity. A once-in-a-lifetime chance…!
Moreover, she had attached Auryll to his side. Auryll was a child of infinite growth potential. Despite having barely managed to sprout any laurel leaves at all, she ranked among the top three of all Laurel Warriors. If that child could fully bloom her leaves…
Seventh stage. With Auryll, she could grow into a warrior beyond even that.
The seventh stage and above was a realm permitted only to High Elves. The World Tree chose and blessed only pure High Elves. For an ordinary elf to reach the seventh stage was something that happened once in a thousand years, if that. Auryll was an ordinary elf, yet Aruwen was certain her talent was of that once-in-a-millennium caliber.
Moreover, Auryll was a loyal retainer who faithfully followed Her Majesty. If she climbed the tower with him and expanded her limits, she would be of great help to a Queen whose influence had so sharply declined.
How long had they traveled after crossing the warp?
"You're later than expected."
"…Dark Elves?"
A band of dark-skinned Dark Elves blocked their path. Aruwen's brow furrowed. Dark Elves were a race hostile to elves. And yet this route was a path known only to their own people — one they had poured every effort into keeping completely hidden from the outside. How had they known of this road and lain in ambush?
"We'll spare your lives, so speak. Whom did you meet?"
More than fifty Dark Elves surrounded them, short blades in hand.
The route has been exposed. Who betrayed us? And while commanding Dark Elves, no less?
It meant there was a traitor who had colluded with the Dark Elves — who had boarded the same ship as a race hostile to their own. However—
They don't know whom I met.
They did not know whom she had encountered. Matters related to the Rift Tower were known only to the elves who had accompanied the Queen. Outwardly, it was said they had departed briefly for special training. At the very least, these were not people who knew the details. They knew only this thoroughfare that the elves used to come and go.
"…I see no obligation to answer filthy Dark Elves."
If they didn't know, she would deny it to the end. Even if she died, she would not speak the High Druid's existence aloud.
Elder Aruwen looked around at the elves who had come with her. Every one of them nodded with resolute eyes.
"Tsk. Still so foolish even when shown mercy. Let's see if you can say the same thing when you're on the brink of death."
Swish!
Shhk!
The Dark Elf band charged.
Right after the elves departed, Priest Andrew stood staring blankly at the warp. He still felt as though he were dreaming.
That was definitely Aruwen.
He couldn't have been mistaken. She had clearly reacted when he called her name. And yet she had treated him like a complete stranger. Andasar was the same.
I'm certain it was her…
Why hadn't she recognized him? But he hadn't been able to speak to her. He was afraid — afraid that she had truly forgotten him. And because he had nothing to say about what he had done to Andasar.
"Altemia, Mount Balmang, Palantir."
"…Lord Randolph?"
Randolph had suddenly approached and spoken those three names to Priest Andrew. When Andrew looked at him, not knowing what they meant, Randolph merely shrugged.
"The names of cities connected to the Primeval Forest, apparently."
"Why are you telling me this?"
"I thought you ought to know."
"…"
Andrew's gaze wavered. Warp points connected to the Primeval Forest were secrets among secrets. That Randolph had told him meant a gesture of trust. Moreover, if he went to any one of those cities, he could reach the Primeval Forest where Aruwen was.
But he still could not find the courage. Above all, these were elves who had attacked Andasar with revulsion the moment they saw her. If he went there, he would struggle to keep his life.
"Thank you for telling me. I mean that sincerely."
"When I clear the second floor of the Rift Tower, I will take Andasar with me."
"Pardon…?"
Confusion flashed across Priest Andrew's face. The elves had come seeking to climb the Rift Tower together. Randolph, having cleared the first floor, would already have some grasp of the second. Which meant he intended to bring Andasar to a place where elves would be present.
"Among the elves, I go with Auryll. Of course, since we've made the Winter's Covenant, she won't be able to attack Andasar."
"B-but… wouldn't it still be dangerous no matter what?"
"Don't worry. And actually, I have a request for you."
"…Please, just say the word."
Priest Andrew answered with heavy resolve. The grace he had received from Randolph was not one or two favors. Even if Randolph made an unreasonable demand, Andrew was prepared to throw himself into it.
"Go to Mount Balmang and confirm the warp connected to the Primeval Forest."
"Understood."
Priest Andrew nodded without a moment's hesitation. Mount Balmang was a harsh land among harsh lands. The journey would consume considerable time, but for Andrew — a regular priest of the Goddess Sect — the path was relatively easy. All the lands connected to that place were related to the Goddess Sect. That was surely why Randolph had asked him to find Mount Balmang.
Just confirm it. Only confirm it…
Priest Andrew steeled his heart. All he needed to do was verify the warp. He would never set foot in the Primeval Forest himself.
"Then will you be preparing to climb the tower, Lord Randolph?"
"No. There's something I must do first. And you have something to do before you leave as well."
"What is that?"
"Co-officiating a wedding."
"…Who's getting married?"
It was fairly common for Priest Andrew to officiate when weddings were held here in Knight's Garden. But with all the recent incidents, people wanting to marry had all but vanished. Had love managed to bloom even amid all that?
Still, that Randolph himself would make such a request was unexpected. When Priest Andrew cast him a curious look, Randolph smiled faintly.
"Hudson and Serengeti, apparently."
"Pardon…?"
"Marquis Weiser has given his permission, so the sooner it proceeds, the better."
"Th-those two are really… what?"
How was this possible?! To think that stubborn Marquis Weiser would actually permit this marriage. How on earth had this come about? Wasn't Marquis Weiser the sort who wouldn't even associate with a mere merchant?
Insane. Tomorrow the sun will rise in the west.
A miracle had occurred.
Hudson stared at his reflection in the mirror.
The curse is really gone.
The curse from the Empire had finally been lifted. He had reclaimed his original form as Hudson — not Serengeti's appearance. Yet Hudson's expression was far from bright.
Marriage…
Those two words had appeared before his eyes out of nowhere. But they hadn't come from his own mouth.
— Serengeti! Look, I'm finally back!
— Congratulations! Then shall we go ahead and hold the ceremony?
…There were straight pitches, and then there was this. And to make it worse, Serengeti had proposed first — and she had already secured Marquis Weiser's permission, and even asked Lord Randolph to officiate.
While he'd been too preoccupied with his changed appearance to even think of it, Serengeti had already been several steps ahead, painting a future with him.
But Hudson still lacked confidence.
Ha. I still haven't told her.
He still hadn't told her that he was not a native of this world. Even if his body on Earth had recovered, here he was a "sinner." Could she accept that truth? It might be better to hide it for the rest of his life. There was a saying that ignorance was bliss, after all.
"…I'll tell her."
But he didn't want to live the rest of his life hiding it. Yes. He would tell her. He was going to say it.
Having steeled his resolve, Hudson sought out Serengeti's room.
Knock. Knock.
He clenched his fist and slowly rapped on the door.
"Hmm? Hudson?"
Serengeti opened the door, recognizing him by his footsteps alone.
…Heavy sweat stains. Even at a time like this, she'd been doing bodyweight training.
"There's something I need to tell you."
"Tell me? Tell me what?"