Emerging from the Dimensional Gate
As we squeezed through the Dimensional Gate, the cityscape of the Etalroi Federation—the sole nation in Dimension 33—unfolded before our eyes. The sun hung high, scattering brilliant sunlight everywhere. Pigeons perched on ancient buildings and statues scattered throughout. It wasn't quite as balmy as Kikiwai Island, but a gentle breeze swept through the city. The air, reminiscent of a Mediterranean coastal nation, buzzed with a strange vitality.
This was Rhinomil, the economic hub and cultural capital of the Etalroi Federation. In the heart of the international city with the North's highest population density, near the Dimensional Gate, all sorts of races hurried about. The atmosphere felt a bit detached from the typical image of a Mediterranean coastal nation that came to mind when people thought of Dimension 33. Towering skyscrapers stood amid ancient religious architecture. People flocked here for all sorts of reasons, coexisting past and present.
Unlike the southern coastal cities famous for resorts and trade ports, the inland Rhinomil was renowned as an industrial district producing luxury goods. Leather products, glass crafts, high-end clothing, and solid wood furniture. There was even a joke that its top export was "trends"—Rhinomil was practically the birthplace of extravagance.
'I'm so jealous, so jealous... I wanna go on a business trip to Rhinomil too.'
I recalled Mira muttering over the phone when she heard about the trip. The city where designers dreamed of working. The front lines of the fashion industry. Apparently, most major luxury brand HQs were clustered here. No wonder the fashion sense on the streets was off the charts. Even the beggars dressed with personality in thrift-store couture.
The elves from Cappelino di Driade who visited the branch last time had suits that fit like a glove. Bloodlines don't lie, huh.
We took a moment to survey the city, grabbed a warm cup of coffee, then hailed a taxi heading north.
"To Sant'Anzonello Giosabella, please."
The Cappelino di Driade headquarters was located in a forest on the outskirts. It took less than an hour to reach the forest with its intense-sounding name, Sant'Anzonello Giosabella.
Trees several times larger than Earth's so-called giant specimens towered densely here—this was precisely where Cappelino di Driade's HQ stood. Though administratively part of Rhinomil, it was over an hour from downtown. Was it because of that, or designated as a greenbelt?
We'd barely entered the forest when human shadows vanished. Well, on a weekday afternoon, who leaves a perfectly fine city for a forest stroll? Cappelino di Driade was just an unusual company with its HQ in the woods.
After driving another 30 minutes down a two-lane road through the vast forest lined with sky-scraping giants, the taxi driver's smartphone chimed with a guidance voice.
Distance to destination: 500 meters.
"Almost there."
"If you know that, get your head in the game. Without info on ancient elves, we can't risk any faux pas."
"Got it."
Elama was right. With no client details, better keep chatter minimal. Still, something felt off. I'd heard ancient elves had to stay within the World Tree. But we'd nearly reached the HQ without spotting anything worthy of the name.
Furniture companies probably pulled all-nighters sometimes. And all Cappelino di Driade employees were ancient elves, right? No World Tree nearby meant health issues for the staff.
"Strange. No World Tree near the HQ building."
Elama was murmuring the same thought, eyes fixed ahead in puzzlement.
"Yeah. They could clock out on time without traffic, but living so far... it'd hurt their health—"
Mid-sentence, the sky burst open through the branches and leaves without warning. A massive clearing in the forest. And at its center stood a colossal tree soaring toward the heavens.
"...So that's it."
Its branches stretched lushly into the clouds, leaves casting a vast shadow over us. Thickness and height rivaling Jamsil's famous tower. An ancient behemoth whose age defied imagination. Its trunk was riddled with countless holes, each filled with smooth glass windows.
"This is Cappelino di Driade's—"
Ancient elves, who suffered health issues sleeping outside the World Tree, had a simple commute solution.
"Headquarters building?"
The tree, converted into a residential-commercial complex. The elves used their World Tree as multifunctional real estate—office and home.
"First time seeing a tree this size."
"Yeah. No company builds an entire HQ in one tree."
Makes sense for a wood furniture firm—eco-friendly to the core. Elves unable to live far from the World Tree naturally worked inside it. Silly to assume buildings need concrete and steel.
I'd puzzled over using a tree as collateral, but guessed real estate after learning elves lived in World Trees. Didn't expect the company HQ inside too. Should've realized from the forest address.
"No time to gawk. Forgot why we're here?"
"No way."
Snapped to attention by Elama's voice, I refocused on the World Tree. On-site inspection meant gauging if it could be liquidated, and for how much.
The ancient elves wanted to borrow 130 billion gulden total. With the Etalroi Federation's economy strained—north propping up the bankrupt south—even syndicates of local banks struggled with that sum.
If they defaulted, the bank would sell the World Tree to recoup losses. Dimensional Credit Vault would accept it as collateral only if valued at least 150-160 billion gulden.
Why would elves, who couldn't survive without their World Tree, stake their lifeline? What did they need 130 billion for? And did we even qualify to price a "world"-scale giant, worthy of "great"?
Endless questions swelled.
"Let's go."
Elama strode unfazed toward the main entrance, undaunted by the life-affirming tree.
"Right."
I followed without protest. Only way to answer was to go inside and hear their story.
* * *
The World Tree's interior, past the automatic doors, resembled any high-rise complex. The core rose open like a doughnut hole up to the fourth floor, with restaurants and a mall on levels 2-4. First floor had a reception desk and elevators—separate ones for offices/workshops and residences.
Notably, nearly everything inside was wood and glass. And smack in the center of the first floor loomed a massive altar. The kneeling elderly elves bowing before it suggested it wasn't your typical mall sculpture.
"Mother Tree, lead the children of the forest to rest beneath your soothing shade."
At the altar's center stood an old man in ornate robes like a religious leader or high priest. His ecstatic expression led the worshippers revering the World Tree.
"Amazing they've chanted like that for millennia."
"A World Tree worship cult?"
"More precisely, they revere the star spirit dwelling within. Each clan has a Divine Tree bishop leading them."
Divine Tree bishop. Probably that old guy at the prayer's center.
"How do you know so much?"
"Great Huuriten's traditional theater includes ancient elf tales."
Forgot—he was a former Karbook actor. Karbook, a dimensional intangible cultural heritage, had deep roots. Elf/World Tree plays? No surprise.
"Theater buff, huh? Classy taste."
From outside, it looked tree-shaped, but inside it dwarfed any mall. Bizarre beauty blending religious architecture and commerce. Visually stunning, but fire hazard nightmare. One short? Collateral to ash.
Ignoring building/fire codes somehow. How had it survived unscathed?
"Why so fidgety?"
"Uh, what if it catches fire?"
"......"
"Overthinking?"
Elama glared silently, then faced forward. A long golden wig had appeared on his head unnoticed.
"Client ahead. Straighten up, Kim Jian."
His gaze ended at Donjubara Palri, the accounting chief stepping from the elevator.
"...Yes."
I straightened, bowing to the elves in sync with Elama. Palri, with his staff, bowed politely in return.
"You've had a long journey. This way to the upper floors."
Shoving aside fire worries, I boarded the elevator. Oddly, no buttons inside.
"152nd floor."
I realized the mechanism right after Palri spoke.
-Whoooosh!
A gust blew in before the doors shut, propelling the elevator upward.
"Spirit magic... Heard it was practical."
Palri chuckled, shaking his head at Elama's mutter.
"That's the rumor outside, but not true."
Spirit magic—straight out of fantasy novels—sparked my curiosity.
"Then the lights and auto-doors we saw... all with spirits?"
"Yes. Their help is essential for furniture crafting too."
Palri extended his palm; a fluffy cotton-ball puff appeared in midair.
"This one's a spirit?"
"Wind spirit. It's powering the elevator now."
The black-eyed, round-faced furball bounced on his palm, climbed his arm to his shoulder, giggling cutely. I wanted one as a pet.
"Excited by rare outside visitors."
No sooner said, the puff leaped to my head, nuzzling. I gently cupped it; it flattened like a heat-flattened hamster, wriggling adorably.
"Ah..."
Cute. Insane. Fucking precious mochi ball.
"Rare for non-locals to get such a welcome. Means your characters are honest."
"They hate liars?"
Palri nodded. The soft mochi rolled on my palm despite no limbs. Elama glared laser-eyed.
"......"
Reluctantly, I pinched the spirit between thumb and forefinger, handing it back.
Spirit-made furniture, huh. Cappelino di Driade prices were online, but no real photos despite searches. Maybe tied to special crafting.
Such thoughts swirled as the doors opened. 152nd floor—high up. Less than two minutes, no ear pressure. Wind spirit adjusting air pressure?
"This way."
Down a long corridor to massive wooden doors that parted automatically. Inside, a middle-aged man rose from his seat, turning to us.
"I've been waiting."