Chapter 214
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 214
Chapter Title: Purifying the World Tree
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The power that formed the Spirit Sword—Spirit Energy—could be considered one of the fundamental elements composing this world, much like mana or aura.
Like carbon, for instance.
The Spirit Sword was an entity that patterned this Spirit Energy into specific movements.
Crack... Craaaack...
As vitality began overflowing from the rotten, crumbling roots of the World Tree, Oselon, the head of the Trigrad family, widened his eyes as if they might tear.
"Th... This...!"
And then, the purple slime that had blanketed the World Tree's roots scattered like powder and vanished.
From the tip of the now-restored root, fresh new sprouts began to emerge bit by bit.
"Oh... Oooooh... World Tree!"
Oselon dropped to his knees before the root, as if overcome with emotion.
"What in the world?! It's been healed?!"
"At least I know the power works. But given the sheer size of the World Tree, I'll probably need to go there myself to treat it properly."
The problem was that the elves wouldn't let me anywhere near the contaminated roots of the World Tree.
"Just what... what is that divine sword?!"
"Divine sword? Nah, it's just a stubborn one that doesn't listen."
The Spirit Sword grumbled discontentedly, but I withdrew its power.
Even so, worthy of being the World Tree, once it regained a bit of strength, it put up an impressive resistance against the contamination.
I sheathed the sword, tossed it into my subspace, and then asked,
"Before we get into the details... Lord Oselon?"
"A... Ahem! Speak."
"First, before we proceed, may I relay a message from my family head, the Cascadia Count?"
I pulled a letter from my breast pocket and held it out to him. Instead of answering, he reached for it and unfolded the document.
"Trading rights in Fairy Wood..."
"Of course, the demands won't be excessive. We only seek to open trade routes."
He erased the awestruck expression from witnessing the healed root fragment and gravely read the letter from top to bottom.
"Is treatment truly possible?"
"I've confirmed it has an effect. There's a high chance of success, but... we should keep the possibility of failure in mind."
"Failure?"
"I haven't seen it myself, but if the roots are in this state, the contamination must be severe throughout the World Tree. Isn't that right?"
"Yes."
In response to his curt answer, I laid out the cold reality.
"You can treat someone whose cancer cells have just started forming, but not if they've already spread throughout the body."
"Cancer cells?"
"Think of it as a disease."
"I see. If it's too far gone, there's nothing to be done."
"Yes... Without seeing it firsthand, I can't be certain. Of course, the proposal in this letter is conditional on successful treatment."
I had no intention of demanding trade rights even after failure.
Understanding my implication, he closed his eyes.
"Very well. If you can improve the World Tree's condition, the Elder Council won't object."
His swift decision suggested either great authority on his part... or that the World Tree's dire state was widely acknowledged.
"The issue is the young lord's presence."
"My presence?"
"There are radicals claiming an outsider entered the forest and endangered the World Tree."
The elves were currently plunged into chaos.
And understandably so, as this was the first time in history the World Tree had fallen into such a state.
If even the High Elves were like this, what more could be said of ordinary elves?
"Thus, while it's fortunate the young lord has proven his method... reaching that place will likely face interference."
In other words, the panicked elves wouldn't allow an outsider near the World Tree.
"Father..."
"Moreover... embarrassing as it is, my daughter is under false accusation, so the Trigrad family's position isn't favorable."
Put differently, other elves might block access with all sorts of excuses.
"But that's not for the young lord to worry about."
He stated firmly.
"I'll clear the path. You focus on treating the World Tree and clearing my daughter's unjust name. If you do that..."
We'll grant exclusive trading rights in Fairy Wood.
I shook my head at his following words.
You don't eat what'll make you sick.
The elves' current situation was utter chaos.
Moreover, every elf had sensed the World Tree's vitality sharply declining moments ago, so they couldn't hide their anxiety.
The male and female elves gathered in the conference hall all possessed youthful, beautiful appearances, but those in the know understood.
These were mostly the eldest among the elves.
Elves were remarkably free from aging.
"It's not too late even now. We must secure the culprit, Triana Bell Trigrad, and interrogate her..."
"But she's just a candidate for proxy, still a young elf. How could a child like that damage the World Tree so severely in such a short time?"
"That's why we need to investigate. All circumstances point to something happening after that child acted!"
"Where has the head of the Trigrad family gone, anyway?"
"They said he stepped out briefly."
"First, issue a warrant and secure her..."
BAM!!!
The elves in the meeting jumped to their feet, eyes wide, as the door burst open and a man strode in.
"Head of Trigrad. Please, take a seat... Hm?"
Those about to interrogate the Trigrad head froze upon seeing Leon and Triana following behind, and they shot up in unison.
"Triana Bell Trigrad!"
"And a human?! We expelled all outsiders at a time like this!"
Ignoring the chaotic gazes of the elves, Oselon Bell Trigrad stood before the Trigrad family's designated seat and spoke.
"I know you're all confused."
"You know that, yet you bring those two here?!"
"Triana Bell Trigrad. Wasn't your daughter banished from the forest?"
"Indeed. With the false accusations and public opinion turning against her, I sent my daughter outside."
"..."
Some elves averted their eyes at his words, while others stared boldly.
"In that situation, anyone would have thought the same."
"Lord Romila."
"Apologies, but I still suspect Triana Bell Trigrad harmed the World Tree."
"Do you think that makes sense?"
"It's the only explanation right now. Only proxy candidates can interfere with the World Tree's roots. The other candidates have alibis and proven innocence, but your daughter has neither."
That was why the elves suspected Triana.
Of course, from Triana's perspective, it was unjust, but the circumstances pointed to her as the culprit.
"My daughter is not the culprit. Triana is just a young elf without motive or ability to harm the World Tree."
"We can't be sure."
"Lord Romila, you've been acting like you want my daughter to be guilty. Could it be that your family did it and framed her?"
At Oselon's question, Romila shot up in fury.
"How dare you! Insulting House Romila like this!"
"Who's insulting whom? It's Romila doing it to Trigrad right now."
"Enough, all of you!!"
"This discussion isn't progressing at all!"
At the mediation from other family heads, Romila and Oselon glared at each other before backing down.
"This human is Leon Cascadia, young lord of House Cascadia. He was with my daughter when she was outside."
"Bringing a human here in this crisis? Madness."
Ignoring Romila's grumbling, Oselon addressed everyone.
"Leon Cascadia's power might be able to heal the World Tree."
His statement was practically a bombshell.
For elves who had guarded the World Tree their entire lives to hear a human could solve what they couldn't—it was absurd.
However, Oselon had his own plan.
"Bring it."
At his command, an elf maid brought a wooden root fragment covered in white cloth on a tray.
"What is that?"
"A fragment of the World Tree's root?"
"Correct."
Oselon placed it on the round table.
"If you have eyes, look. Does this root still bear traces of that vile purple contamination?"
"Heavens..."
"Such pure, clean energy..."
Many elves' eyes sparkled at the vanished contamination, while some eyed it suspiciously.
"What method did you use?"
"Before that, my proposal. Leon Cascadia is an outsider, but he knows the World Tree's plight and came to help. Since we lack a way to improve its condition, why not borrow his power for the treatment?"
The elves erupted in unison at his suggestion.
"Impossible!"
"We refuse!"
"An outsider treating the World Tree? Even as head of Trigrad, this is unacceptable."
It was, in a way, inevitable.
It was like one noble suggesting a chimpanzee heal the kingdom's ailing king.
Of course, the elves weren't simply arrogant humans steeped in chosen-people ideology.
They didn't truly see humans as chimps, but they took immense pride in managing the World Tree.
"I saw with my own eyes Leon purify the World Tree's root. Do you have a groundbreaking way to improve its state?"
"That's..."
"If not, why not grasp at straws? If you can't trust him, watch over him until the treatment is done."
The elves glanced at one another.
Then, the silently observing Romila spoke up.
"Then, per tradition, we'll vote by show of hands. Those agreeing with Head Trigrad, raise your hands."
A few elves slowly raised their hands.
"Those opposing, raise yours."
This time, a majority lifted theirs.
"It's decided."
Oselon's face crumpled, but the elves refused to grant an outsider access to the World Tree's core.
"Have you all lost your minds?! Do you know what agony the World Tree is in? For the sake of petty pride..."
"It's not pride, Oselon."
"What?"
"It's prudence. Even if there's a method, do you think we get two chances? What if it worsens? We lack reason to trust him."
As he said, the other elves couldn't shake their fear of the World Tree deteriorating further.
In this situation, even attempting treatment—let alone approaching—seemed impossible.
Oselon racked his brain for a solution.