Chapter 212
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 212
Chapter Title: The World Tree's Crisis
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"Is there anywhere you're uncomfortable?"
Triana jumped in surprise at Leon's question, then nodded vigorously.
"No, not at all. It's so comfortable that I keep wondering if this is really okay..."
"I'm glad you like it. So, what you're curious about is my sword, right?"
After some hesitation, Triana nodded with a resolute expression.
"I saw you use it to subdue those slave traders, Young Master. It wasn't like simple magic—it felt like you were growing the trees themselves... Is that right?"
"Yes, exactly. It's limited to plants, but it's close to complete control. It wouldn't have much effect on something as grand as a World Tree, though—just a minor influence."
Still, considering the origin of that power, it was undoubtedly extraordinary.
"Is it a magic sword?"
"Something like that... but no one else can use it."
Leon crossed his legs, savored his coffee, and gazed out the window.
Triana's eyes widened at his words.
"Young Master... Could you lend me your power?"
"I refuse."
Leon was firm.
"Won't you at least hear me out?"
"It's something wrong with the World Tree, isn't it?"
Triana drew in a deep breath.
Her wide eyes showed just how shocked she was.
"That answers it, then. Sorry, but the Bata Kingdom is sensitive to elf-related crimes, for better or worse."
Triana's ears drooped pitifully.
She had a cute appearance, but elves were a race whose age couldn't be gauged from looks alone.
"The World Tree's condition isn't good right now."
"Didn't I say I won't listen?"
"If you can help, the Trigrad family will pay a price worthy of the deed, I swear on our name. Please... just give me a chance to make my proposal."
"W-wait a minute! Miss! Surely you don't mean..."
"No matter what, saving the World Tree comes first. For that, this much is..."
The guard elf male flinched at her determined cry, trying to dissuade her, but Triana's resolve was unshakable.
"Fine. In that case, talk to my younger sister, Countess Melissa Cascadia."
"The Countess?"
"I'm just a family member. The family head is my sister."
She lowered her gaze briefly, her mind clearly conflicted, then nodded and put on a resolute face.
Melissa wasn't the type to do unpaid charity, so she'd handle it well.
That was Leon's thought.
The next day, Triana—the young lady of the Trigrad family, looking as if she'd made a major decision—met with Melissa and negotiated for several hours.
She left the office with a relieved expression and returned to the lodge.
"How'd it go?"
"The proposal itself isn't bad. In fact, it's more like an opportunity."
"What'd they offer that's so good?"
As she signed the documents and pulled the family head's seal from a drawer, she replied to my question.
"First, there's something you need to check. Can it produce meaningful results?"
"With a World Tree-scale issue, I can't say for sure."
"There are two reasons I decided to accept."
She held up two fingers.
"First is the Trigrad family's business specialty. Ever heard of elfwood?"
I knew it well. Not just any wood, but lumber processed in the elves' unique way—famous for its superior strength, lightness, and other qualities as a premium material.
It was even said that high-end staves for mages often used elfwood.
Beyond that, it was the top material for woodwind instruments, hence the term "Fairy Wood."
Excluding World Tree branches—the finest known wood on the Razeros continent—elfwood was undoubtedly the best quality lumber available.
"As you know, the Bata Kingdom doesn't trade elfwood separately. But the Trigrad family produces and distributes Fairy Wood, their elfwood."
In other words, helping them out would open up trade routes as promised.
"Does that girl have the authority for that?"
"It surprised me too, but she seems to. The second reason is a bit personal..."
She let out a short sigh.
"Senior Isna was spotted near the elves' forest."
Huh? What's this about? Why's Isna involved here?
"The elves' forest is in chaos right now because the World Tree's roots are rotting."
"I get the gist. But what does that have to do with Isna Mielephon?"
"Hear me out—things have gotten ridiculous. There's this rumor going around that the World Tree's state is because of Triana Bell Trigrad, one of the proxy candidates."
What nonsense.
"No way a single high elf could do that."
"Exactly. But that's how the situation's spinning. Apparently, the Trigrad family head pretended to exile her daughter to protect her. 'Don't come back to the forest until you find a solution.' Something like that."
To the outside, it looked like they were punishing her, but it was really about hiding their daughter from potential harm in the forest.
But whoever framed her wasn't satisfied and even hired attackers after she left the forest.
The slave traders who captured her as a slave probably fit that context too.
"Anyway, she got ambushed after leaving the forest, and the one who saved her was a woman in a white polar bear mask carrying a silver sword."
On this continent, the only woman wandering around in such a bizarre getup was Isna.
"She was heading to the elves' forest. And you've been looking for Senior Isna, right?"
"True enough."
If House Cascadia secured the elfwood trade, it'd mean steady revenue.
And it was a highly profitable business item at that.
That high elf Triana... she had more capability than I thought.
"I've decided to accept, but the most important part is your opinion."
"Sounds like a good deal. As long as there's no funny business."
"If you're okay with it, go ahead. I'll handle the minor issues."
"Any potential problems?"
"As long as you don't cause a huge mess, nothing major."
The toughest order yet.
Melissa accepted Triana's proposal.
Though Bata avoided tangling with elves when possible, individual families had freedom as long as they didn't cross lines.
"Thank you so much!"
"Let's go take a look first and assess. There are ways to fix it, but the World Tree isn't ordinary—odds are against success."
"..."
"What makes you think I'd be able to help in the first place?"
"I've never seen a power as attuned to nature itself as the one in your sword. It's... like spirits, but manifesting in a different way."
Then she looked me straight in the eye.
"And... you might not believe this, but before coming here, I dreamed of the World Tree. It told me to head north in the central continent. That the solution would be there."
Of course, her dream was likely just a meaningless one.
But she didn't want to miss even a single clue.
Fortunately, the elves' internal strife hadn't escalated to outright bloodbaths yet.
There were those slandering her and even orchestrating attacks, but for average elves, the World Tree mattered more than petty intrigue.
"There's no mana gate directly to the Mother Forest. We'll go to the nearest city, then travel by land. It's urgent, so we should hurry..."
With the agreement secured, Triana's eyes brimmed with hope—unlike when I'd first seen her.
"Hmm... No coordinates for the elf forest on hand..."
After pondering, I snapped my fingers.
My shadow spread out in a massive circular form, and a gigantic arm thrust out from within.
Boom!!! Thud!!
Something crawled up through the gap, revealing itself.
"M-Miss! Get behind me!"
The guard elves cried out in panic, but their faces held no real confidence.
What emerged was none other than the Shadow Dragon, Baril.
Once fully out, he let out a short growl and stared at the three elves.
Then he slowly poked his head forward.
"Hup!"
"Gasp! D-Dragon!?"
"No need to go that far. We just scout the coordinates once, then use spatial transfer or a mana gate. Flying's much faster for an unfamiliar route anyway."
I loaded the three elves onto the special saddle on Baril's back.
Secured them like safety belts, then took the front seat on the saddle.
"Leon, I wanna go too, but not this time."
Luna told me with a glum expression.
No helping it.
She'd usually come along, but she'd promised a picnic with Arsha.
Arsha, who adored clingy Luna.
And Luna, who liked Arsha—it was inevitable.
"I'll be back in a day. Just go fry the World Tree's bad cells and done."
Of course, it was just an analogy—no actual cancer cells.
"Leon, grab some elf snacks on the way back if you can."
"Oh yeah, those are supposed to be good. I'll pick some up."
The elves looked pale, dumbfounded by our casual chat like it was a quick outing.
"Baril, let's go."
Whoooosh!!!
Baril's massive body slowly lifted off.
Kaboom!!!
Like a missile launch, he tore through the sky at incredible speed.
Whoosh!!
Bursting through the clouds in an instant, Baril flapped his enormous wings once and glided toward the destination.
"Kyaaaaah!!!"
The scream from Triana, the high elf lady of Trigrad experiencing this for the first time, was a bonus.
The great forest centered on the World Tree—called the Mother Forest by the elves—wasn't far south from the Bata Kingdom.
The central continent's heart held a vast primeval woodland.