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Chapter 213
Not long after we began flying south, an expansive forest came into view.
It was my first time seeing such a vast jungle in person.
Going any deeper might draw intense suspicion from the elves, so I stopped at a reasonable point.
As soon as we swiftly and quietly landed, I brushed down Baril's head.
He let out a short purring growl before melting into my shadow.
“Is everyone handling the motion sickness okay?”
“Uugh… I-I’m fine.”
He said he was fine, but his face had already turned pale.
The high elf lady from Trigard had apparently lost consciousness; she was completely out cold.
“What… what was that just now?”
At that moment, another elf guard cautiously approached and asked.
“That’s an undead I control.”
“You’re a necromancer?! Even then, I’ve never heard of a necromancer commanding an undead dragon…”
“Is that really something worth digging into?”
“Ah… I suppose not.”
“I know elves dislike necromancy, so I won’t flaunt it.”
“Thank you… for your consideration.”
“Would you mind waiting a moment? I need to set some coordinates.”
“Ah, if that’s the case, of course.”
I scattered mana around us—x-axis, y-axis, z-axis.
After checking countless other variables, I secured the coordinates as if placing a waypoint.
“It’s done. Let’s move.”
The two male elves gave puzzled looks.
Judging by how they’d already started unpacking, it looked like they were expecting a longer stay.
“Um… didn’t you just say you were setting coordinates?”
“Yes. And?”
“And now you’re done? Doesn’t it usually take a whole day to secure coordinates?”
“What kind of nonsense is that? Taking a whole day to mark a single point? In the battlefield, you’d lose your head if you worked that slow.”
In the urgency of combat, you need to set coordinates in seconds.
Sitting around for a day?
Sure, if you want to die.
“No, I mean… that’s not something one can just rush—”
“More importantly, the elves’ patrol range is wider than I thought.”
Just as I said that, a number of hidden elves suddenly aimed their bows at us.
Without saying a word, their posture made it clear they’d shoot the moment we made a move, prompting the elf guards accompanying us to rush forward in panic.
“Fellow kin! Hold your fire! We are the escort of Lady Triana Bel Trigard, rightful heir of Trigard and candidate to succeed the World Tree!”
At that shout, the expressions of the armed elves shifted.
“Lady Triana? I thought she was exiled from the forest.”
“Let us pass. We may have found a way to restore the World Tree.”
The mention of the World Tree caused murmuring among the elves aiming their bows.
“Then who is that human?”
“He is a benefactor assisting us in this matter.”
“…Lower your weapons.”
“Captain?!”
“All of you—will you trust my judgment?”
Thankfully, the elves didn’t seem blindly hostile.
Although confused, the other elf guards eventually lowered their bows at their captain’s command.
The elf captain then descended from the trees and respectfully bowed to Triana.
“Forgive our rudeness, Lady Triana.”
“It’s… alright. How are things in the forest?”
“…Not good. A strong faction believes you’re responsible for corrupting the World Tree’s roots.”
As expected, that drew immediate protest.
“That’s absurd! A single elf couldn’t possibly harm the World Tree!”
“Of course, many of our kin feel the same. But rumors spread quickly, and once they do, some are bound to believe them. I don’t know where the rumors started, but a significant number of elves have been riled up. Officially, you’re forbidden from entering the forest right now.”
The elf captain looked at her with a tense expression.
“I remember how you helped me long ago, Lady Triana. So this time, I’ll pretend I didn’t see anything.”
It seemed the situation was more complicated than expected.
Thanks to the captain’s discretion, we were able to proceed deeper into the forest, though Triana’s expression remained dark.
“At first, everyone thought it was nonsense. There was no evidence I’d done anything… and the general opinion was that one elf couldn’t possibly harm the World Tree.”
But… something must have happened while she was away for that short while.
“In such a short time… what could have happened…”
The Elven Forest is enormous.
Not every elf lives here, but many dwell under the World Tree’s blessing.
“Let’s go to the Trigard estate first. I want to introduce you to my father and ask his advice.”
“Very well.”
He did move to save his daughter’s life, so he probably isn’t the worst sort of person.
Following a seldom-used path, we crossed the forest until an astounding sight came into view.
A tree so massive it easily spanned several kilometers.
It wasn’t a living creature per se, but the World Tree’s very presence enriched its surroundings and gave the elves strength to live.
There’s a reason they revere it like a god.
However—
“It doesn’t look like it’s doing well.”
“My goodness… the World Tree…”
The colossal tree I saw in front of me clearly looked unwell.
Its leaves, which should be lush and green, had dried and turned yellow.
Strange, purplish fluids were seeping from the bark.
Most concerning of all—
“The spirits… they’re trembling…”
The air around us had felt unsettled for a while, likely a sign of the spirits’ agitation.
Seeing the forest with my own eyes, I realized the situation was far more severe than I imagined.
“This way, milady.”
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Avoiding the eyes of others, we quietly entered a large elven residence.
Unlike typical human buildings, the elves’ home, crafted from giant living trees, carried its own distinct atmosphere.
“Lady Triana?!”
“Vandal! Where is my father?!”
“Good heavens… Your face is half gone… Just how much suffering have you endured…?”
Triana gave a wry smile at the sight of the female elf examining her with trembling hands.
“I’m fine. More importantly—my father?”
“The Lord has gone out to attend the Council of Elders, but he should return soon.”
The forest of the elves was ruled by a small number of High Elves, who led the others like nobility.
The Trigard family, being a High Elf lineage, naturally held such authority.
Just then, the door opened, and an elf man wearing the Elder Council’s official attire entered with a grim expression.
“Father!!”
“Triana? Oh, heavens. Triana!”
The moment he saw her, he rushed forward and embraced her tightly.
“Ahh… Triana. You’re safe. I heard news that you were attacked…”
“Father… I’m alright.”
“I’m sorry. I never should have let you go like that…”
He gently stroked his daughter’s back again and again with trembling hands.
“But… who is this human?”
At last, Triana’s father’s gaze turned to me.
“Leon Cascadia, eldest son of the Count of Cascadia from the Kingdom of Bata.”
“From the Kingdom of Bata, I see. I am Ocelon Bel Trigard, head of House Trigard.”
“He’s the one who rescued me from an illegal slave trader.”
“What?!”
Ocelon shot to his feet.
“You were taken as a slave?! Who dared—! I’ll lead the army myself and turn those bastards into pincushions!”
“Please calm down! Thanks to the Count Cascadia, they’ve all been captured and will face severe punishment—I received their promise!”
“Unforgivable! I’ll shoot an arrow right between their eyes myself!!”
Seeing the other elves rush over to calm him, it was clear this wasn’t the first time he had flown into such a rage.
“More importantly, Father! I believe this person might be able to solve the issue with the World Tree.”
At her words, Ocelon calmed down and looked at me.
“What do you mean? A human can improve the World Tree’s condition?”
“Not certain yet. We have to take a look first. By the way—do you have a fragment of the World Tree?”
At my question, he hesitated, then gestured to an attendant elf.
“Bring it here.”
“What? But if it’s mishandled…”
“Just bring it.”
“Understood, my lord.”
What the attendant brought was a rotten tree root laid atop a white cloth.
However, it wasn’t merely rotted—it was grotesque in shape, pulsating and swollen, with a purplish, mucous-like substance clinging to it.
“Is this… the root of the World Tree?”
“Yes. The Trigard family has long tended the blessed tree of the World Tree. Because of that, we were entrusted with this by the Elder Council in hopes of finding a cure.”
They say the World Tree is connected from root to leaf.
Yet to think even severing a part of the root would have such shared impact—it’s almost absurd.
And apparently, there are issues with the production of Fairy Wood as well.
If they can’t receive the World Tree’s blessings, the supply from the Trigard family will be in jeopardy.
I reached out toward the decaying fragment of the World Tree’s root.
“Hey now!”
But my hand was stopped midair by Ocelon’s grip.
“Why did you stop me?”
“You may be my daughter’s savior, but I must warn you—touching this with bare hands will only end badly.”
He spoke with a grim expression.
“Every elf who’s touched it directly so far has had their fingers rot away, and eventually died. I may not be fond of humans, but I won’t let my daughter’s savior die like that.”
I withdrew my hand at his words.
“I appreciate the concern, but unless I examine it, I can’t tell whether a solution is even possible.”
“I wouldn’t expect much. Even the experts have given up hope.”
I stared silently at the root without touching it.
This wasn’t just the World Tree being in poor condition.
Something external was at play here.
I couldn’t confirm it, but that was the strong feeling I got.
“…Prince Leon, do you think it’s possible?”
“I’ll have to inspect the World Tree’s root directly. But let’s give it a try.”
I took out my claymore from a pocket dimension and slowly unsheathed it.
“Hey! What do you think you’re—”
“Will it work?”
My question wasn’t directed at Ocelon.
It was aimed at the weapon in my hand—Falling Blossom.
As if responding to my call, the blade began resonating wildly.
‘Swing me. Let me show my power!’
Feeling the sword vibrate with such eagerness gave me certainty.
“It’ll heal.”
[Bloom.]
At my command, a massive amount of spiritual energy surged out of my body and into the decayed root of the World Tree, initiating a transformation.
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