Chapter 188
Chapter 188
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 188
Chapter Title: Leaves of the World Tree
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World Tree leaves.
A few years ago, these had been the elves' miracle cure that fully restored Misha, who had been trapped in mana reversal and simply awaiting death.
Thanks to the World Tree leaves, not only had Misha escaped that heavenly punishment of mana reversal, but she had even grown strong enough to form a contract with a spirit—something said to be impossible for humans.
'They're definitely a miracle cure. But...'
I was deeply skeptical of Rampang's thinking.
When suppressing the rebellion in Philador Kingdom and hearing Set's request, I had also immediately thought of the World Tree leaves to treat Ishwar. Unlike paeonia, they were relatively easy to obtain.
But I had soon given up, for two reasons.
First, there was no guarantee that even World Tree leaves could cure Veras's mineral poison.
Paeonia, grown by absorbing the pure energy of the vast ocean surrounding the archipelago year-round, could wash away all poisons.
In contrast, World Tree leaves were specialized for straightening twisted mana.
Both were undoubtedly top-tier miracle cures on the continent, impossible to rank, but for treating the poison Karma had suffered, paeonia was far more suitable.
The second reason was that World Tree leaves were an incredibly precious resource even to the elves, making it impossible to obtain them through simple trade.
The ones given to heal Misha had only been possible because of my merit in saving Paolo's daughter, Millia.
'Would the elves really hand over World Tree leaves so readily? Especially when even bringing those precious leaves offers no certainty of recovery—they'd be even more reluctant.'
It wouldn't happen, but imagining Rampang causing a scene in Elunheim if the elves refused made cold sweat trickle down my spine anyway.
"Ah, I can see it."
As various thoughts swirled in my head, Elunheim—the elves' holy site—came into view before I knew it.
'Already here?'
A few years ago—no, just a few years back—I would have had much farther to travel. Well, now there were sturdy, wide roads paved throughout, unlike back then, so naturally our mobility was far superior.
Seeing the well-maintained highways reminded me of my first visit to Elunheim after the spring festival, feeling like ancient history now.
As we drew nearer the boundary of Elunheim, I spotted merchant carriages dispatched from the territory, lined up in a row.
However, the atmosphere around the merchants felt off. As if there was some kind of problem.
Among those carriages flew a flag emblazoned with the golden turtle emblem—our family's direct carriage.
In other words, someone I knew was there.
"Baronet Met? What are you doing here?"
"Eek! Greetings, Third Young Master."
"Skip the formalities. What's going on?"
I stopped Baronet Met, who was about to bow immediately, and asked why he was loitering here.
Baronet Met was directly under Baron Geibel, who managed the territory's finances, and oversaw operations for the Carviot Count Family's merchant group.
Lately, Baron Geibel had been run off his feet, day and night, negotiating trade goods with the Holy Empire's merchant leaders dispatched by the crown prince.
Checking if any items might cause issues if imported to the Empire, or conversely, spotting strategic goods from the Empire we could use.
With all attention focused there, Baronet Met had been fully delegated authority over trade with the elves.
Why was someone who should be shuttling busily between Banten and Elunheim, busier than anyone in the territory, hanging around at Elunheim's entrance?
"Um... well, recently, the elves suddenly blocked all merchant access to Elunheim."
"What?"
My eyes widened at Baronet Met's unexpected answer.
"They blocked trade? No, how is something this major not reported yet? Does the lord know?"
If such a critical issue hadn't been reported, that was a massive problem in itself. It would mean our family's reporting system was broken.
"Answer me, Baronet Met. What did the lord say?"
"O-Of course I reported it without delay. But he said everything's delegated to the First Young Master now, so handle it yourselves."
Meaning he wouldn't step in unless the territory itself was collapsing.
"So, what did my brother say?"
"W-Well... We still have plenty of stockpiled elf trade goods from before, and he's too busy handling the Empire merchants with Baron Geibel to focus... I figured I'd resolve it myself and just report the results. I'm sorry, Third Young Master."
I let out a sigh, unable to say more as I watched Baronet Met bow his head.
Regardless, he had reported to Father and done his best not to burden his already overloaded brother with extra work.
"...I see. Understood. So, how much stock of elf trade goods do we have left now?"
"We still have about two months' worth, so no immediate issue, but with the elves still denying access... If this drags on, our hard-won sales channels might dry up again."
I pressed my throbbing temples at Baronet Met's words.
Currently, elf trade goods were being released slowly, in small quantities, to nobles in Edirne's capital and northern nobles near Banten.
Of course, dumping large volumes at once might secure more channels, but that would kill the scarcity value.
Besides, elf goods weren't mass-producible in the first place.
The plan was to carefully stockpile over time, then start trading with the Five Nations Alliance from Banten and southern nobles and Philador Kingdom from Olivia once I left.
If even the capital and northern noble allocations ran out, word-of-mouth spreaders would vanish.
In short, re-securing channels would take ages.
"Baronet Met, any idea why the elves suddenly halted trade? Have you figured it out?"
"No, no matter how much I inquire, I get nothing. The guarding elves just repeat that trade is impossible right now..."
Baronet Met apologized again, looking mortified, but this wasn't his fault.
Not just him—the guarding elves were merely repeating orders from above.
'Looks like I need to meet Millia directly.'
Ultimately, the one issuing this order would be Millia, ruling Elunheim in Paolo's stead.
The elf guards stuck firmly to their stance that trade was impossible for now.
But when I—not anyone else—requested to see Millia, they relented with a show of reluctance and escorted me to Alfheim.
Alfheim was still far too grand to call a single tree.
Upon reaching the entrance, the elf guard who had guided me said the same as before, "Proceed from here on your own," and left.
'Guests, guests...'
From this sequence, I inferred two things.
One: They recognized me and, pretending reluctance, guided me without resistance. No, they even seemed inwardly welcoming. So, the elves as a whole weren't opposing trade.
Two: In Paolo's time, no one but me was allowed into Alfheim, but now Rampang, who came with me, entered unhindered.
Moreover, the elf guards consistently used "guest" and honorifics, maintaining polite attitudes.
In other words, since Millia took over, the atmosphere toward humans had become markedly more friendly than before.
Meaning they had experienced improved quality of life through trade.
'And yet they're halting trade...'
That implied some major change had occurred in the elves' world under Millia's steady rule, post-Paolo's fall.
And in a direction the majority of elves didn't want. Whatever it was, I'd find out soon enough.
Swish!
The wooden vines guiding us gently set us down before the massive tree door, just like last time, then stilled.
Nothing had changed from before.
A light push opened the door smoothly, revealing the familiar scene inside, unchanged.
Giant boulders harmonized with wooden vines, fairies frolicked in the air—a peaceful, beautiful sight.
The only difference: the throne of intertwined wooden vines at the center now held Millia, not Paolo.
"Welcome, Young Master Jerome. It's been a while."
Millia greeted me warmly, even with the stranger Rampang in tow.
I wasn't one to miss her emotions.
The elves' atmosphere, the welcoming entry to Alfheim, and Millia's reaction now...
All these told me the trade halt wasn't voluntary.
Which meant...
'External pressure from someone.'
Who, then? Who could oppose Millia's policies—not just oppose, but force a halt with enough authority?
Not Paolo first off. Three years ago, her misjudgment in the orc battle lost most elves' trust. Plus, Ash had said on our return from Death Valley that she had reflected deeply and changed.
If such a quietly living elf were to cause trouble, it would have erupted long ago. No reason or pretext for her to interfere now.
Someone who wasn't Paolo but could slam the brakes on Millia's smoothly progressing policies...
Bang!
As I pondered the culprit(?), a group of elves burst roughly through the door.
No idea why they'd force a door that opened smoothly with a nudge.
"Princess! Is it true you've let humans into Elunheim?!"
A red-haired elf with an agitated voice, followed by others.
They all shared one trait: wrinkles etched on their faces from years passed.
For long-lived elves who stayed youthful, wrinkles meant only one thing.
They had lived as long as Paolo—or longer.
"I told you! The World Tree is withering because of exchanges with humans! We must shun them!"
"...Elder Tristan."
Millia's address confirmed their identity. A casual remark from Millia three years ago flashed in my mind.
-After the elders secluded themselves for some reason, the elves had no strong figures left except Mother.
These were the elders who had secluded themselves.
"Bringing humans' vulgar goods into this sacred elven sanctuary is making the already ailing World Tree...!!"
"Elder Tristan, mind your words! There are outsiders present!"
As the red-haired elf called Tristan raised his excited voice, another female elf elder behind him hurriedly silenced him.
"...Ahem! In any case, send those humans away at once! We cannot allow trade with humans now that we're back!"
After saying their piece, Tristan and the middle-aged elves departed. Millia bowed her head to me with a bitter expression.
"...I'm sorry, Jerome. You saw an unsightly display."
"No need. More importantly, I can guess what happened without details... but could I hear more anyway?"
"...Yes. I planned to handle it myself and explain later, but with things like this... no choice. I'll tell you everything."
After a brief sigh, a long, long story poured from Millia's lips.
The World Tree, Yggdrasil.
A tree the elves revere as holy, said to have existed since the continent's birth.
Brimming with life force akin to nature itself, it was the source sustaining the elves' longevity and spirit affinity.
Thus, elves called it Mother and held it sacred.
Yet one day, that World Tree began withering—slowly, ever so gradually.
Elven society naturally erupted in chaos.
Elves exhausted every effort to restore it.
After decades of grueling work, they found not the ideal solution, but a stopgap.
Infusing it with energy from the highest-grade spirits summoned by the six great elders halted the withering.
Naturally, the elders had no choice but to withdraw from Elunheim's affairs and seclude themselves, regardless of their wishes.
Maintaining the World Tree was their utmost duty.
Years passed like that, to now.
The World Tree they had barely sustained began withering once more.