124 – World Tree Yggdrasil
With the guidance of Rival and Lilu, who had finally regained their composure, the party was able to arrive at the colony where the Arma clan elves lived.
The Arma clan is a clan that takes on the role of guardian of the World Tree.
So, unlike other elf clans who wander around moving from base to base, they have lived by the side of the world tree, Yggdrasil, for a long time.
Their main role is to protect and monitor the entrance to the place where the World Tree is located.
For that reason, in the case of quite a few people, it was not possible to show them the way to the World Tree.
Yes, if it is a decent person.
“Are you… A hero?”
“Wow!! Your sister was a warrior?”
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Rival, who had invited his group to his house, opened his mouth as if surprised when he heard their circumstances.
No matter how much they live hidden in the forest and cut off from the world, they still hear about big things.
There was even a member of the Arma clan who participated in the Allied Forces who said that it could not be left like this.
Of course, they heard about the invasion of the Demon King’s army, the great war, and the background to the end of the war.
“…Furthermore, the Demon King was not subdued, he was just sealed…”
“Yes. Ms. Leivinia, who was used as a sacrifice to seal the Demon King… Her power is probably reaching its limits.”
“Lavinia Avewalk… I heard that she disappeared after that, but that’s what happened…”
Velia approached Rival, who closed his eyes and was in trouble.
“We need to see Yggdrasil in order to prevent the coming disaster. Could you please help us?”
Velia bows her head and pleads.
Rival nodded.
“Since the situation is an emergency, I can guide you to where Yggdrasil is. But…”
“But?”
“…No one knows whether we will be able to go and see Lord Yggdrasil. It depends on Lord Yggdrasil’s will.”
When we arrived at the colony, it was already dark in the forest, so we decided to wait until the next day to go to the World Tree.
As it was a village with few guests, there was no inn or anything like that, so the group stayed in an empty room in the warrior commander’s house.
“Huh?”
Chaney was checking the equipment in his room after finishing his meal.
When she went outside to get some fresh air, what caught her eye was the image of Velia praying with her hands raised towards the sky.
She seemed more desperate than any priest she had ever seen, so Cheney couldn’t take her eyes off her Velia.
After a while, Velia opened her eyes and stood up, as if she had finished praying.
“Oh my, Mr. Chaney.”
“Velia, were you praying?”
“Yes. I was always doing it at this time.”
I didn’t know that.
Although we had been together for the past few days, she was Cheyney, who often stayed alone in her room or tent after eating.
Therefore, she must not have known anything about Velia, who quietly offered her prayers.
“We are offering a prayer of gratitude to Yggdrasil, who always looks after us.”
“…I don’t think all priests do that.”
“Ahahahaha, well, it’s rare to see priests who follow all the principles like this.”
Velia smiled her bitter smile.
No matter how devout a believer is, it is true that he rarely prays a set amount of prayers at a set time.
In reality, there is no rule that says this must be the case, and Yggdrasil is probably not that important of a being.
“But, I have given everything to Yggdrasil before. So…I guess I should say that I have come to do this as a habit…”
“I know very well that Velia is an incredibly devout believer.”
Cheney almost said he was a fanatic, but he put the word out as best as he could.
Velia simply smiled and accepted those words.
“hahahaha, thank you. …It’s like I’m living thanks to Yggdrasil.”
“…Oh, we talked about this before, right?”
“Yes. I think there are probably many children like me.”
In the early days of the war with the Demon King’s army, there were many war orphans born during the time when great damage was suffered.
Of course, each country made an effort to protect war orphans, but there was also a battle against the devil’s army, so it was not possible to put much effort into it.
Therefore, the Yggdrasil Church, which focused on rear support and rescuing refugees rather than fighting, took in and raised most of the war orphans.
Velia was one of them, and when many of her orphans were finding their own path, Velia chose to devote themselves to her church.
“…I want to serve Yggdrasil for the rest of my life.”
“Lifetime?”
“Yes, for life until I die. Maybe even after I die…?”
“Ahahahaha… I can’t say anything about that.”
In the first place, no one could know whether there would be such a thing as after death.
“Hey!!”
“Do your arms like this, and… Pay more attention to the movement of your legs.”
“Yes! Master!!”
She saw off Velia, who had returned to her room, and Leos caught the eye of Cheyney, who was walking around with her.
It seemed like he couldn’t resist Leelu’s request and was teaching him fighting techniques.
“Leos.”
“Hmm? Is it Cheyney?”
“Ah! Hero!!”
Leos turned his head at the sound of Chainy’s voice, and Lilu looked at Chainy with sparkling eyes.
When we were talking earlier, after hearing that he was a hero, Leelu’s attitude changed like that.
“Leos, how is she?”
“Hmm? It seems like you definitely have talent. You learn quickly.”
“Ehehehe!! Thank you!!”
No matter what I teach, Leelu always learns and acquires quickly.
It seems that her father, Lee Bal, praising her as a genius was not just blinded by her love for her daughter.
Well, I actually didn’t like the dagger skills that Reval taught me, so my progress was slow.
“That’s what Master broke the tree with earlier!! I want to learn that too!”
“It’s still early.”
“Ah…”
“…Once you master all the basics, I promise to teach you.”
“Yes!! It’s a promise!!”
At Leos’ promise, Lilu smiles and moves her fists and feet vigorously.
Looking at her like that, Chaney remembered her old days.
Almost 10 years have passed, when three warriors were being trained in the empire.
…At that time, everyone was very enthusiastic and studied swords, martial arts, magic, and sacred magic diligently.
Of course, her vision’s futile sense of justice and Eri’s shady(?) Desires, which she didn’t know at the time, were also mixed in, but her intention to defeat the demon lord was sincere.
The idea of defeating the devil and returning to the original world.
…How did these two people end up like that?
And what happened to the two people who returned to their original world?
…Even now that I think about it, it was something that could not be helped.
With the two people returning, the time freeze in the original world over there has been lifted.
Probably Chae-eun…Chae-eun is being treated as missing in the other world.
“…Mom, Dad, Chaeyeon…”
When I heard that the time freeze had been lifted and time was now flowing in the other world, I wanted to go home right away.
But Chae-eun held off on returning.
Of course, that didn’t mean her parents weren’t worried about her younger sister.
But Chae-eun could not bear to leave this world behind.
Mr. Oghma died, leaving the future to himself and longing for his family.
Leivinia always tried to comfort them and followed a dangerous path out of concern for her family.
Even the emperor who always felt guilty towards them and did not spare any support.
… And although she hasn’t confessed her feelings yet, she has found someone special.
“Okay, that’s the end for today.”
“Huh? I can do more?”
“There is no benefit in overdoing it. I have to go out early tomorrow too. And from tomorrow onwards, repeat the training you did today without me.”
“Yes! Master!!”
“Now then, should we go back, Chey? You too… Chey? What’s going on?”
Chaney is startled and comes to his senses when he hears Leo’s voice calling him.
I guess I was staring too intently.
Unknowingly, she lowered her blushing face to hide it and shook her head.
“Ah…It’s nothing. We have work tomorrow, so let’s go back quickly.”
“Umm…Yeah. I understand.”
As it got dark, the temperature in the forest dropped and it became cold.
But Cheney felt that his face was very hot.
“This is the place.”
The next day, following Reval’s guidance, the group arrived at an empty lot with nothing in it.
But judging from the fact that several elves were hiding and keeping watch, it was clear that there was something there.
“This is where the ‘door’ leads to where the World Tree is… But no one can know whether the door will open.”
“Huh? Was this a place like that?”
Lilu, who had followed her father, shouted in surprise.
“I played here with Chelsea and Arti before…”
“…I won’t tell you about this place until you become an adult.”
“I definitely feel some kind of divine power.”
Velia said that while looking around her.
Leos turned his head and looked at Rival.
“Has the door ever been opened before?”
“…It’s been over a hundred years since I was young, but it was opened once.”
“Hmm…What did the door feel like?”
“It was a large, round blue light-like door with a sense of divine power. Ah, it just so happened to have that feeling…”
In the middle of the vacant lot, a large blue light suddenly appeared.
Upon seeing this, Lee Bal’s mouth stopped for a moment and his eyes widened.
“This…This can’t be right.”
“Wow! It’s pretty!!”
The door to the World Tree opened as if to come in.
When he turned his head towards Lee Bal, Lee Bal nodded.
The group accepted it because it meant they could go in and entered the door.
…And a moment after the group entered, the door disappeared.
Facing the disappeared door in front of him, Rival relaxed and sat down.
“hahahaha, I never thought I’d see the door open again with these eyes…”
The door leading to the World Tree, which I saw only once as a child.
Reval, who saw it again as an adult, was deeply moved by it.
“Huh? But where is this girl, Lilu…?”
“I’ve been waiting for you, everyone.”
What I saw as soon as I entered the door was a huge tree growing as if it were piercing the sky.
And before her eyes was the sight of a smiling beauty with green hair wrapped in a cluster of white lights.
Around her, small green fairies with the appearance of children were flying around.
“You, the World Tree Yggdrasil…?”
“Yes. I am Yggdrasil.”
Upon hearing that answer, Velia fell to her knees.
She then put both her hands together and clasped them as if praying, and prayed.
I could tell that she was extremely moved by the tears in her eyes.
“It’s been a long time since we’ve had guests here. We sincerely welcome you four.”
“Ah… It’s an honor to meet you… Four people?”
At Yggdrasil’s words, Cheyney turned her head.
Myself, Velia and Leos still praying. And…
“Ehehehe”
There was a young elf girl smiling awkwardly.