Auryll of the Laurel Tree

“Guardian of Light.”

Rumble.

The stone statue moved.

The Guardian of Light—the Royal Guardian—was a colossal stone statue. Twelve wings spread from his back, and in both hands he gripped a sword as massive as his own body.

The giant statue that stands at the place called the Entrance of the World. I never imagined it would actually move.

The one who guards the Entrance of the World. Called the King of the Gate, the Guardian of the Gate, and other such titles. Of course, the “Entrance of the World” was a sealed dungeon that had never once been opened. The barrier surrounding that guardian had made entry impossible for anyone. Even I was seeing it move for the first time.

“The remaining seat…”

“Only one left now.”

Everyone’s attention sharpened further. With only a single seat remaining, the most likely candidate among those left was naturally the Elf Queen.

The Elf Queen herself was watching me with quiet expectation. Having already named the Giant of Evil’s Demise and the White King, she clearly believed she would be called next. And it would have been a perfectly reasonable choice. Naming the Elf Queen and acknowledging her would have bought her favor. Winning the goodwill of the masters of the sacred domains was never easy. Moreover, as the sovereign who ruled the elves, it would have made bringing the rest of the elves into line far simpler. After all, the Elf Queen of the world could hardly be expected to follow someone else.

I nodded and spoke ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠the final remaining name.

“Auryll, Elf of the Laurel Tree.”

“……?”

They had been told never to make an enemy of me—yet no one had expected that last name. The Elf Queen, who had been certain she would be called, fell into panic. Of the five already named, she had been convinced that no one else present could stand on equal footing with them except herself.

And she was not the only one stunned. Auryll herself, and every other elf present, wore the same blank expression.

Looks like they can’t believe it.

I smiled inwardly. The reason I had chosen Auryll against every expectation was not simply because I knew her. That played a part, of course, but there was a more important reason.

Because the concentrated power of the elves is the most troublesome of all.

The only “group” that had come seeking the World Tree here was the elves. In a competition of groups, they were by far the race that demanded the most caution. Moving as one body under their queen, they would become extremely difficult to handle. On top of that, they were the race that had received every possible blessing from the World Tree. As a result, the average combat strength of the elves was high. The high elves gathered here possessed an average fighting power of Level 14. I had never before seen a combat force this powerful—even after the heavy losses they must have suffered in the war against the dark elves.

But having gone through war also meant that hierarchy had become all the more important. And among the elves present, ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠the one with the lowest standing was Auryll.

“Are you saying we must follow… a mere elf?”

Exactly the reaction I had expected. Of course they would grumble. Elves who had tightly united around their queen would find nothing more humiliating than following an ordinary elf. A male high elf had spoken the words, but the question might as well have come from the queen herself.

So I answered indifferently.

“If that displeases you, then follow one of those I named earlier. Of course, only if they accept you.”

Could the elves truly follow another race, another being? Absolutely not. These elves, who had no contact whatsoever with foreign lands or other races, had only two choices: follow Auryll, or abandon entering the dungeon entirely.

Still more flustered, another high elf objected.

“Druid of the Golden Rule. Auryll’s qualifications do not surpass those of Her Majesty the Queen.”

He spoke with the utmost courtesy, yet thorns were buried in the words. He meant that Auryll’s honor could not be compared to the Elf Queen’s. The World Tree itself had verified it, so the statement was not wrong.

However—

“This is not a place that measures the World Tree’s verification. This is a place that measures whether I acknowledge someone or not.”

“B-but you clearly said those of ‘honor’…”

“My acknowledgment is honor.”

“…….”

The high elf who had been arguing shut his mouth tight. It meant that nothing was more honorable than ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠my recognition. That my acknowledgment mattered more than the World Tree’s verification. And that the Elf Queen had failed to receive my “acknowledgment.”

“By what… standard exactly…”

As the high elves continued muttering in disbelief, Great Elder Albino, unable to watch any longer, stepped forward.

“Are you lot questioning the Druid of the Golden Rule right now?”

“Th-that is not it. Only…”

“Do the elves intend to make an enemy of the druids?”

“……!!”

Every elf who heard him recoiled in shock. Druids and elves were symbiotic. Those who created the forests, and those who managed them. Yet the role of “management” could be entrusted to other races—the dryads, for example. Dryads who lived alongside the forests also knew how to tend them. Therefore, elves could never afford to make enemies of the druids.

Albino turned toward the Elf Queen with a face full of fury.

“Even before the appearance of Ruin, the druids have always respected the elves. The elves have carried out the immense duty of caring for forests across the entire world and protecting the greenery and the World Trees. But the elves of today have changed. You gather in the Primeval Forest and pay no mind to any other forest.”

“…Because there is no duty more important than protecting the World Tree, as you yourself said.”

“Tsk.”

“……?”

Albino clicked his tongue and shook his head—a clear attitude of contempt. Yet his reaction was only natural.

“The previous Elf Queen possessed spirit, yet the current queen is pathetic. Now I understand why the Druid of the Golden Rule did not name you.”

“Albino… even if you are a legendary druid, I cannot simply let those words pass.”

“You cannot let them pass?”

He took one step forward.

Then—

CRAAAAACK!

Albino’s body swelled. His horns grew longer still. At the same time, flames blazed across his entire form. Wings of pure fire unfurled more than ten meters long, and in one hand he now gripped a long spear of fire demons.

An overwhelming presence. If a incarnation of fire existed, this would be its form. And then the number that rose above his ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠head:

It was not merely his appearance that was overwhelming. The legendary druid who had existed even before Ruin. This was the moment that revealed exactly why he had been called a “legend.”

……Level 18?

Even so, it was incomprehensible. Even accounting for the overall rise in the world’s combat power after the Great Expedition, the level was excessive. It was not completely beyond understanding, though. Across eons of time he must have whipped himself endlessly for the sole purpose of killing Ruin. He would have crossed countless lines of death so that he would never again flee from Ruin. A top-tier predator with almost no equals across both the Abyss and the continent. That was Albino—Great Elder of the Palga and Great Chief of the druids. The true form restored to him by the World Tree of Honor was truly wondrous.

“……!!”

“Ugh…….”

It was not only the Elf Queen who was dominated and suppressed by Albino’s rank. Most of those who saw him let out stifled groans and drew up their power to protect themselves. Countless others took a step back, lips trembling.

Strange.

Unlike the others, however, I felt almost no effect. Albino had completely blocked every bit of his energy from reaching me. Of course, that was not the reason I found it strange.

Albino’s unique powers. They were absolute authorities bearing the nature of “indestructible.” Authorities of an Absolute that made approach itself impossible and even erased hostile intent. And I could cut those powers down—just as I had cut through the barrier protecting the sacred domain.

Yet what was more intriguing was the “level” displayed afterward.

Even things that carry the nature of “Impossible” possess levels.

And those levels were distributed at an extremely high range. The Martial God’s Mind Sword, depending on sword mastery and level, could sever and destroy things of a lower “Impossible” nature.

…But why can I see Albino’s level?

The reason every one of Albino’s levels was visible remained puzzling. Originally, the strongest beings—including Albino—hid their levels. In fact, only about half of those present here had levels that could be discerned with the naked eye. They used equipment, tools, skills, or traits that even Hidden Traits could not easily penetrate, blocking observation of themselves. The problem was that Albino’s level, which had been invisible until yesterday, was now visible.

It is not the effect of trait evolution. If it were, I would have seen it long ago.

If this were a phenomenon caused by the High Druid’s Hidden Trait evolving into the Druid of the Golden Rule, it should have appeared immediately. The fact that it was suddenly visible now meant an entirely different reason. Perhaps it was related to the attitude he was currently showing me.

Something similar had happened before. Hudson. When that fellow had laid bare his entire self to me at the casino, I had been able to view his complete information.

……Albino trusts me completely?

In other words, Albino had begun to believe in me. That I was the god of the druids. That I was the master who would lead him—he had finally acknowledged it with certainty.

Probably the influence of this gathering.

If one treated it as a fake, the pretense would show. Everyone gathered here could distinguish that much. Unless one thoroughly brainwashed oneself into believing this was a supreme being that must be desperately protected and worshipped, discovery by every sovereign present would only be a matter of time.

Whatever the reason, it was a good phenomenon. Proof that the Palga and the druids were following me in earnest.

Albino then unleashed a presence like that of a malevolent god and spoke.

“Have you never heard from the previous queen that one must never make an enemy of a ‘druid’?”

“Th-that form…”

“Especially a ‘druid’ close to the ‘World Tree’—you were told never to make an enemy of such a one, were you not?”

“…….”

The Elf Queen squeezed her eyes shut. Because it was true. To be precise, she had heard the legends concerning Albino.

—Albino is the one closest to a High Druid.

—When all seven World Trees shine brilliantly, Albino becomes a legend.

—The elves must never make an enemy of Albino.

Records left by previous queens. She had certainly seen Albino’s name there. All druids were powerful, yet among them Albino was a legend. No one had known why he had suddenly vanished. Who could have imagined he had been guarding the World Tree of Honor in this place?

“……I offer my apologies, Druid of the Golden Rule.”

“Y-Your Majesty……!”

The Elf Queen bowed her head. The high elves who saw it were horrified, yet in that moment Albino’s rage subsided. She had correctly recognized the one to whom she should bow. Had she apologized to Albino himself, he would have been disappointed instead.

The Elf Queen continued.

“I have not the slightest intention of making an enemy of the druids or of doubting them. Elves and druids have been companions since the beginning. Likewise, I have no intention of questioning the choice of the Druid of the Golden Rule. Therefore, I beg you.”

Earnestly. With desperate sincerity, she bowed her head once more.

“Please grant us permission to enter the dungeon of the World Tree.”

The elves who dwelled in the Primeval Forest. Had their queen, who had reigned at the pinnacle of that place, ever pleaded so piteously to anyone before? Even when she learned of the appearance of Randolph, Master of Greenery who had cleared the Rift Tower, she had merely sent Elder Aruwen. She was a being who commanded others, never one who made requests of them.

But not here. This was a gathering of the masters of the sacred domains and every kind of sovereign. Moreover, the druids had appeared, and their god stood among them. She had finally realized that this was no longer a place where she could raise her voice and press her claims. She had at last understood that if she acted as she did in the Primeval Forest, not a single blade of grass would remain—they would be annihilated.

“I permit it.”

“…Thank you, Druid of the Golden Rule.”

Hearing my permission, the Elf Queen let out a breath of relief. With the queen I had expected to be the most difficult now yielding, my mind felt considerably lighter. No one would dare question my choices or opinions any longer. Moreover, having shown mercy, the queen would grow even more wary of me.

“But if you divide them into groups of thirteen, that makes seven groups, does it not? Who do you intend to have lead the remaining group?”

The Giant of Evil’s Demise spoke once more. He was asking whether I had Albino in mind, or whether I would appoint someone else.

I answered with an unconcerned air.

“I will.”

“……Will you personally select the twelve?”

“No.”

“Then?”

“They will choose.”

“……?”

“Stand before whichever of the seven—including myself—you wish to follow. Once every group has filled its quota, we will depart.”