Chapter 209
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 209
Chapter Title: Taming the Spirit Sword
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As if taunting me with, "Can't hold out any longer, can you? Why not just surrender?", the spirit sword Nakwha kept resonating endlessly. But to me, it just looked ridiculous.
I slowly pushed through the flowerbed and crouched down in front of the greatsword.
"Do I look like I've run out of spirit energy to you? Starting to get it now?"
The resonance paused at my provocation.
It seemed to sense something was wrong.
Too late for that, you insolent sword.
"You've only been stuck there for a few hours. How about we have a stare-down for a few days?"
As if realizing its mistake, the spirit sword Nakwha let out a different kind of resonance than before, but I just tapped the blade—made of pure light—with my finger.
"Kids who don't listen need to be disciplined."
Leaving the sword resonating as if pleading to call it quits, I walked away from the spot.
And then.
It wasn't until a full day later that Luna and I returned to the site.
"Whoa."
A colossal tree, easily over 100 meters tall, loomed before us.
I yanked Nakwha out of where it was embedded.
The blade hummed weakly. It had been rampaging like a newborn foal, but now it wouldn't act out anymore.
"Act up one more time, and I'll make you endure ten times longer next round."
It offered no resistance, and I stored it away in my subspace.
"But... this thing's way bigger than I expected."
It had once been a pitiful, tiny sapling, barely clinging to life. Now, it dominated the entire area as a massive tree.
A 100-meter giant? Even with Nakwha's power, that shouldn't be possible for its species.
Sure, some tree species can reach 100 meters, but this one? It typically maxes out at a tenth of that.
For it to grow like this...
"Ah, it's a Superior Wood."
These rare seedlings pop up occasionally, influenced by World Trees.
They're not actual sprouts from a true World Tree, of course.
But ordinary trees can mutate into massive versions under their influence.
Especially valuable, since cultivating them is so tricky—and you can't tell if it's a Superior Wood until it starts growing.
Either way, the key point is that these trees have far greater growth potential than normal ones.
This massive tree circulated life force through the surrounding air, greening the nearby flora and infusing the earth with vitality.
Not much profit in chopping it down anyway. Leaving it helps the local plants thrive—a win-win.
Elf forests are often built around trees like this...
Not that elves would care about one in a place like this.
At the very least, Nakwha had proven it could properly nurture a single tree.
It might throw a fit about being treated like some mere gardener, but who cares?
As I stood admiring the tree, I sensed footsteps approaching from behind.
"Holy crap. What did you do to this tree?"
"Told you yesterday. Had to put some punk in its place."
"And that punk's this tree?"
"More precisely, the sword that grew the tree."
I shook Nakwha, now dormant in its sheath.
"And what's that?"
"Just think of it as your big brother picking up a new trick. Play your cards right, and I might make you a spirit sword that suits your hand."
The process isn't easy, but I could craft one fitting for Melissa's Heavenly Demon Sword.
She'd need training to handle spirit energy, and it wouldn't match Nakwha's raw power right away, but still.
"No way. A tree turning into... not even a World Tree."
"A real World Tree would dwarf this by dozens of times."
"Who doesn't know that?"
Melissa let out a hollow laugh.
"Thanks, though. Thanks to you, I got to relax for a whole day, worry-free."
"What about the academy?"
It hit me as I looked at her.
"Didn't you hear? It starts in a few days. I'll be commuting between the academy and the territory for a while."
"Smart move. Oh, speaking of which—Aurora."
"Aurora? What's she got to do with anything?"
Did Melissa know Aurora's true identity?
"You know who she really is?"
"Nope. No family name, no rank. She clams up on that stuff."
"Get close to her. She's a goldmine."
No need to spell it out.
"What? Wait, is Aurora some Lavren family lady or something? That's ridiculous."
"Yeah."
"You're judging friends by their money n— what?"
Melissa stared at me, dumbfounded.
"She's a Lavren family heiress. Legitimate successor, even. Seems pretty tight with the Pascalia Emperor too. Your friend."
Melissa's mouth flapped open and shut at my words.
"That money-grubbing pirate... is a Lavren?"
She gasped in disbelief, over and over.
"Don't make a big deal out of it. Just warning you so you don't slip up."
"Uh... yeah..."
She kept muttering, "That idiot's a Lavren?" in utter shock.
Normal reaction. The Thirteen Great Houses of the continent are recognized across every kingdom and empire on Lazeros.
House Mielephon of the sword, House Lavren of wealth, and eleven others—all transcend national borders.
Aurora, legitimate heir to House Lavren, was on a level most couldn't even fathom—a true princess in a golden cage.
And not just any noble house, but the continent's richest, pulling the strings of its economy. What more is there to say?
Still, Paradise Artifacts alone feel unstable.
"What're you mulling over?"
"Ways to make steady money."
"Isn't Paradise Artifacts raking it in already?"
"Short-term boom. It's hot now, but it won't last forever."
Expensive goods always fade. Everyone buys at first, but few keep shelling out big bucks regularly.
"That's why we need something lower-priced but consistent."
Melissa got it right away.
"Fair point. Solid logic. Good for a year or two, but..."
Fundamentally, Cascadia's a barren land. Mines? Profitable, sure. But they're powder kegs for trouble.
Too many eyes on them to exploit openly yet.
"Cascadia specialties... Can't exactly sell monster hides..."
As I stared at her pondering, a commotion erupted from somewhere.
"What the hell's that noise?"
"Screams?"
Melissa looked up, turning toward the sound like I was.
This forest usually saw zero traffic.
Melissa and I headed straight for the source without hesitation.
We've heard monsters and beasts plenty, but this was unmistakably human screams.
I crossed the woods in seconds, with Melissa panting behind me.
"Hah... hah... You maniac. How are you this fast?"
"Melissa. Any illegal slave traders operating around here?"
She flinched at my question.
"You knew?"
"Got reports. But knowing and catching 'em are different."
Even among slavers, the illegal bottom-feeders get side-eyed everywhere.
For instance, ones once snatched elves in a small kingdom's fief for slaves.
Enraged elves declared war.
The kingdom took massive losses.
That incident sparked rumors about elves being warlike despite their slender builds.
Beyond the dense woods, ragged-clothed elves fled in terror, pursued by shadowy figures.
Elves rule forests, but restraints make escape no picnic.
"Family Head. Your orders."
No long speeches needed.
Slave trading's illegal in the county, at least.
"We barely patrol, but this is still Cascadia territory. Subdue them all, get the situation, and if they resist..."
Her voice turned ice-cold.
"Crush them."
"Hurry... hurry! This way!"
A terrified elf girl was dragged along as the male elves sprinted desperately.
"Just a bit farther, and they won't catch us easily!"
"Hah... hah..."
The girl's ragged breaths finally gave out; she tripped. The elves' faces darkened.
"Miss!"
"L-leave me...! Don't let me drag you all down...!"
"Nonsense!! How could we abandon you?!"
"Exactly! We'll die before letting you fall!"
The spirits weren't responding.
Elf agility meant nothing now.
The cursed restraints bound their bodies craftily.
At least get their lady to safety.
They'd seized a golden chance to escape, but the ruthless humans pursued relentlessly.
Whirrr!
Then it came.
Hunting weights on ropes whipped out, tangling the elves' legs and sending them sprawling.
"Gah!"
"Damn it!"
"Kyaa!"
The pursuers—experts at this—closed in, subduing them in moments.
"Damn. They're giving us trouble."
"Stupid knife-ears. Think running'll get you out of here?"
Thud!
"Guuh?!"
One downed elf curled up from a kick, groaning. The hunters mobbed them, kicking and beating like a lynching.
Plain clothes, but trackers par excellence, highly skilled.
Restrained elves stood no chance.
"Kyaa!"
One hunter yanked an elf's hair.
"Aaa! It hurts! Stop!"
"You bitch, know how much your pretty hide's worth? Still run?"
"Aaak!"
"Miss!! Guh!"
No mercy in their blows.
As if any resistance meant losing a limb.
"Drag 'em. Gotta make deadline. Especially here in Cascadia turf."
"Hah. How'd this dump turn into a danger zone..."
"Monsters aside, weird shit keeps happening lately. Whatever."