24 – Episode 3. Unintended Interest is Declined. (2)
“If we have a conversation… will you hand over a fragment of the world tree?”
That was impossible.
Even for the sake of Clara’s growth and the protection of the duke, I was determined to leave the magical purification water with the duke. This was something I couldn’t concede.
Their mission was not to assassinate or retrieve the fragments, but to gather information, so negotiation was the only option.
“That seems difficult.”
“Well then, there’s no need for a conversation. If necessary, the information can be extracted from you through torture.”
Swirling his dagger, he points it at me in a threatening manner. Other elves follow suit, fidgeting with their weapons.
This is quite a predicament. It’s difficult to have a conversation in this tight spot. Anyway, arrogance seems to be a characteristic of the elven race.
As I silently gossip about the elves, a familiar quest window suddenly appears before my eyes.
[A quest has arrived.]
[Would you like to review it? Y/N]
It’s welcoming to have quests popping up one after another today.
I thought they would just happen recklessly, but it seems they will be somewhat mindful.
[Let’s make a connection with the elven race. #1]
Category: Main (Yan)
Deadline: 7 days
“You have started to gain the attention of the elven race, but you have not gained their trust. They still doubt you. It is necessary to dispel this suspicion.
You must bring convincing information and results to the current chieftain of the elves, ‘Mari Terse’, or else your own troops will be deemed useless and discarded.
Being discarded by them means certain death, so it is inevitable to aim for the fragments of the World Tree.
However, handing over the magic purification water obtained through the quest would mean halting the growth of the saint, which is an action that must not be taken.
The power of the saint is essential when the demons descend upon this world in the future.
Therefore, you must negotiate with them by providing information related to the World Tree.
This is based on the information that Demos Pol will release demons in the Rimes Gorge a week from now.
The World Tree is one of the fundamental elements of this world and serves as a medium that can be connected to Beatrix. His goal is the ‘magic contamination of the World Tree’.
The World Tree can unfold a sanctuary to purify the surrounding magic, but it does not possess the power to purify magic within itself. Therefore, exposure to magic weakens the sanctuary.
If the World Tree is significantly damaged, the connection to Beatrix becomes unstable, allowing the summoning of demons, which must be prevented at all costs.
However, unfortunately, due to the experience of being deceived by the Emperor Frey, the elves do not easily trust humans. Therefore, they can only superficially hang the magical purification water.』
[Clear Conditions]
[Deliver the letter containing information to Mari Terci 0/1]
Reward: Mari Terci’s interest.
Failure: Death.
I know this story.
Daemon systematically releases demons to attack the elves in order to eliminate the World Tree. However, due to the powerful magical purification power of the World Tree and the combat capability of the elves, several plans could not help but be blocked.
However, just once, when the vice bishop threw a demon-bloodied spear at the World Tree, the sanctuary was damaged, and through that, the bishop realized in the original work that the sanctuary of the World Tree was not perfectly invincible.
However, this event did not happen now. At least, it happened after Lina and Miné had a showdown, and Miné began to grow in earnest.
Yet, the fact that it is happening now can be attributed to my act of turning the witch into a saint and planning to subdue the Verall sect.
This is evidence that it is no longer meaningful to stick to the timing of the original work.
I can understand that, but there was one part that bothered me.
The assumption of ‘when the demons descended’ seems to ‘confirm’ the descent of the demons.
If the quest is for an all-powerful transcendent being to come down, then I should just tell the whereabouts of the Verall bishop right away.
There’s no need to follow the plot. If only the Verall bishop dies, Verall will collapse in an instant.
So why drag it out like this?
As I was about to lose myself in contemplation while looking at the quest window, a sharp voice cut through my thoughts.
“Where are you looking?”
“…I am receiving a divine revelation.”
“What?”
“It’s just a joke.”
Yan furrowed his brows at my nonchalant attitude. His relaxed demeanor in this situation seemed somewhat displeasing.
Since you’re just receiving the fragments of the stolen World Tree, you shouldn’t have any complaints, right? Hand it over right now.”
Does he think I stole it?
Come to think of it, the fragments of the World Tree are not something an ordinary person can easily obtain, so it’s understandable for him to think that way.
But I can’t exactly say it was given to me as a quest reward…
…No, maybe it’s okay to tell him.
“Have you ever considered the idea that it wasn’t stolen, but received?”
“Received? From whom?”
“Obviously, from Veyat.”
I pointed to the sky as I spoke.
I can’t exactly call it a quest as it is, but because it’s an unrealistic item, the intervention of a transcendent being can actually make it more convincing.
I’m not sure if that transcendent being is really Veyat, but considering the multiple mentions in the quest, it seemed like a safe bet to confirm that it was Veyat.
“That’s a ridiculous statement. Do you even know why they are called the fragments of the World Tree? It’s because they are bestowed by the grace of the World Tree.”
This person is saying the opposite of what the quest is claiming.
Even if the quest didn’t explicitly state it, I already had an understanding of the World Tree through the setting.
“Veyat is not a real entity. It’s more like a figment of human imagination.”
The World Tree, in particular, could be said to be an entity that the elves have arbitrarily deified.
The World Tree was nothing more than a medium connecting Veyat and this world. I only thought so because strange phenomena always occurred near the World Tree.
“The World Tree revered by the elves as a god is merely a medium connecting Veyat and this world.”
“……What?”
“Oh, was that information unknown to you?”
The elves would have considered the World Tree as a deity, so they wouldn’t even have doubted the possibility.
That’s why brainwashing is frightening.
“Dare you insult the World Tree?”
Hostility emanates from his eyes. The dagger, stained with lively blood, gleamed. It’s ready to snatch away my lifeline.
“I wouldn’t dare. Have you ever considered if the stories about the World Tree bestowing grace are true? In the end, the World Tree is just a ‘tree,’ isn’t it?”
“If you dare speak more, I will kill you.”
The sword points at my throat. I chuckle briefly and nod repeatedly.
“Alright. Let’s change the subject.”
Erasing any trace of laughter from my face, I open my mouth solemnly.
“The World Tree you cherish so much will soon be attacked by demons.”
“What?”
“If not careful, the World Tree might get infected by magic, and the sacred barrier could collapse.”
If the World Tree can suppress the summoning of demons, the sanctuary it creates would be incomparable to the range of holy swords or magic purification zones.
“Ha…! Going to such extremes just to stay alive!”
“The World Tree has the power to eliminate magic around it, but it cannot eradicate the magic infiltrated into its core.”
In the original work, Deimos realizes the World Tree’s weakness after several attempts, so it won’t collapse with this attack. However, it was necessary to instill enough vigilance.
“Not amusing at all.”
I’m not amused either.
However, what can you do? There should be at least one flaw for the conflict of the story to deepen and become more interesting.
“If you don’t believe me, you can cut the roots of the World Tree a little and experiment.”
I don’t know if this comes out in the original, but even if you don’t know, it doesn’t matter.
The important thing is ultimately ‘credibility.’
You don’t need to tell everything as the truth. It was enough if it connected when telling the story later.
“Do you dare to harm the main body of the World Tree by looking at me?!”
“It means not to doubt what I say. If you doubt, there is a chance that all the information I say will become false.”
“The intelligence of humans has been famous since ancient times. However, it has been used to lie and betray other races to exploit that intelligence. Do you expect us to believe such beings?”
Well, it’s natural to doubt, as the elves have been struggling with a food shortage since the empire stopped supporting them.
But the empire didn’t return the fragments of the World Tree to the elves. When they asked again, the empire did not listen. Instead, they tried to wage war against the elves.
That’s why the quest was to purify the magical water for me.
“All right. If you don’t believe me, give me some time.”
“Some time?”
“Just a week. I will prove to you within a week that what I say is true.”
“There’s no reason to give that. I can kill you and go back right away.”
“Then try it.”
“What?”
Anyway, if the quest fails, I’ll die the same way. There is no difference whether I die a week later or now.
Then it was better to use this to gain a firm advantage.
“Why didn’t your mother tell you to assassinate me, who has the fragment of the World Tree? Have you ever thought about it?”
“What are you saying, you…!”
“If you kill me, it will lead to a full-scale war between humans and elves.”
“!”
I can’t be sure, but if Houston trusts me, he won’t stand idly by.
The Emperor has always had his eye on the elves, so he’ll probably think he has a legitimate reason now.
“Mother, you know what it means to provoke the Empire’s Duke.”
If a war breaks out between humans and elves, it will only lead to chaos.
“Yan, understand your mother’s intentions.”
“You…!”
“Don’t worry. If there’s a lie in what I say in a week, I will give you the fragment of the World Tree. Then you can safely return with the fragment. Everyone will survive.”
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He deliberately emphasized the phrase “Everyone will survive.”
Given the persecution, there’s no doubt there’s a bond among the Dark Elves. After risking their lives together, it’s impossible not to feel affection.
“What will you do?”
“….”
There was no immediate response.
She’s still looking at me, but the tip of her sword is trembling. She’s hesitating.
“…It’s a week. I won’t wait any longer.”
She sheathed her sword. I smirked.
“Alright. But before that, I’d like to make one condition.”
“A condition?”
“From now on, I will write a letter to your mother. Please deliver it for me.”
“Why do I have to do that?”
“I told you. The demon will attack the World Tree in a week. Don’t you think we should inform them of this information?”
For her, it was a condition she couldn’t refuse.
“Abel Sirius… so righteous.”
It was a statement made since nothing had gone according to her will since dealing with the demon worshippers as per the quest’s intention.
“If we don’t do this, ordinary people won’t survive.”
“You call yourself ordinary? Being too humble is arrogance.”
Yan laughed and walked away from the other elves.
I observed her retreating figure and requested pen and paper from the hidden servants in the carriage.
Now, how should I write this letter?