Chapter 113

It was equally shocking for the elves to see the sapling transform into the form of a young girl before their eyes.

The centurions stared blankly at the World Tree, then startled and prostrated themselves.

Even if the manner of appearance was strange, they couldn’t deny that the being before them was an incarnation of the World Tree.

“Everyone, put down your weapons and bow your heads!”

“Anyone who acts rashly will be punished according to military law!”

When the centurions shouted with deeply bowed waists, the warriors threw their weapons to the ground and lowered their posture.

No one doubted the World Tree that suddenly appeared or disobeyed the orders.

Elven history could be said to be the history of the World Tree, so how could they not worship it?

“The World Tree says, we were all born from nature, so to grow and multiply is the first…”

Some even recited verses praising the World Tree, their faces flushed with religious ecstasy.

Wendigo looked around and clicked his tongue in displeasure.

Seeing the situation, there was no need to confirm that the child before him was undeniably the World Tree.

‘I’d rather it had been one of the plans prepared to assassinate an elder.’

He thought that if it was someone meticulous enough to overthrow the republic-led expedition with a shipboard mutiny, it wouldn’t be strange to replace the World Tree sapling with a monster…

But seeing even the warriors who were steeling their resolve in the face of imminent death bowing their heads, it was clearly the World Tree itself.

Wendigo asked the child before him with a tiny bit of hope:

“Are you really the World Tree? This might be a bit rude, but… you look very different from what I imagined.”

[ I am indeed the World Tree. ]

“!”

The fragrance contained in the voice of the child, no, the World Tree, was surprisingly pure truth.

However, what was even more surprising was the fragrance contained in the World Tree’s nature.

The World Tree’s fragrance was literally nature itself.

Not only the soft smell of earth and the subtle fragrance of trees, but also the cool scent of streams and the fresh aroma of dawn air.

‘This is… a fragrance with a different texture from any I’ve experienced before.’

At least it was certain that this wasn’t a being accumulating evil deeds. However, Wendigo didn’t lower his ice sword.

Wendigo pointed the ice sword at the World Tree’s neck and asked:

“What’s your purpose in suddenly revealing yourself?”

[ Didn’t I just tell you? I simply want to plant my sapling in this land. ]

The World Tree tilted its head and answered his question.

Wendigo shook his head. That wasn’t the story he wanted to hear.

“If that was the case, it would have been better to reveal yourself from the start. Isn’t it that things didn’t proceed according to your intentions, so you revealed yourself?”

At Wendigo’s point, Dario nodded with a tense face.

It was still as death when Elhemina said she would plant the sapling, but when Elhemina changed plans while shedding tears, it revealed itself.

It was a suspicious timing by anyone’s standards.

Without a proper explanation, there was no intention of letting it take root, regardless of the World Tree’s value.

So an explanation was needed, but…

[ …… ]

“Uh… are you listening?”

“It’s hard to tell with that expressionless face.”

The World Tree didn’t offer an explanation and continued to stare at Wendigo while maintaining a poker face.

Dario cautiously approached and waved his hand in front of the World Tree’s eyes. However, the World Tree’s pupils were as still as a calm lake, without even the slightest tremor.

Dario looked at Wendigo with a disgruntled expression and asked:

“Could it be that it died because it couldn’t explain? This is exactly how those guys who have nothing but try to bluff act in gambling dens.”

“I can still feel strong mystery from it… hm?”

While observing the mystery emanating from the World Tree, Wendigo discovered a thread connected to its head part.

The thread, faint like smoke, was connected to somewhere unimaginable.

While closely observing that thread, from a certain point, intense waves of mystery were being transmitted along the thread towards this side.

“Dario, it might be better to step back for now.”

“Huh? Is there some problem?”

Dario, who had been snapping his fingers and moving around in front of the World Tree to elicit a reaction, asked puzzledly.

At that moment, mystery was transmitted to the World Tree’s body through the thread.

The World Tree’s neck turned quickly towards Dario’s direction at an eerie speed, like a mannequin coming to life.

“Uwaaagh!?”

When combined with the creaking sound of wood that didn’t match the child’s body, Dario backed away in horror.

Freyja cackled and pointed at Dario as if she had expected this from the start.

The World Tree approached Dario with cracking sounds and asked:

[ Human child. What were you doing in front of me? ]

“W-well, I wasn’t really doing anything! Since there was no reaction, I was just checking if there was something wrong with your precious body… Hello?”

Dario, who was always eloquent, hurriedly made excuses but noticed something strange and tapped the World Tree’s face as it stared at him.

However, seeing no reaction at all, Dario hastily crawled back to Wendigo’s side.

Wendigo asked Freyja, who was cackling:

“You seem to know what’s going on in this situation.”

“Well~ It’s not that big a deal. No matter how great the World Tree is, it has more than one body to manage, so that’s why.”

As if that were true, mystery was transmitted again through the thread connected to the World Tree.

This time, as if it really intended to have a proper conversation, the amount was incomparably greater than before.

Light filled the World Tree’s eyes, and after looking around, it identified Wendigo and approached with small steps.

Though still expressionless, the World Tree bowed its head and apologized:

[ I’m sorry. There were many calling for me, so I couldn’t help it. ]

“That’s strange. If you’re so busy, why are you trying to take root in the north?”

To Wendigo’s question, the World Tree stared at him as if he had asked something obvious and answered:

[ Because it’s the law of nature for living things to reproduce? ]

“That’s why the king is asking why you’re trying to take root in the north instead of Elvenhome.”

Dario, who seemed quite frustrated, stepped forward and pressed the World Tree.

The World Tree looked at the elves for a moment, then gestured to Wendigo as if telling him to lower his head.

When Wendigo lowered his head and leaned in, the World Tree placed its hand on what was presumed to be his ear and whispered:

[ The child they call the founder promised me peace and growth, proposing symbiosis. But now that promise is broken, so I want another safe place. ]

“… I’ll need a more detailed explanation.”

[ How strange. I thought you would understand easily…? ]

The World Tree showed emotion for the first time, greatly puzzled.

Of course, Wendigo was dumbfounded. From what he had heard from the elves and Freyja so far, the World Tree was the protector of the elves, not something that needed protection.

Bluntly speaking, wasn’t the founder’s promise already half-broken by the fact that they hadn’t become toys of the gods with the World Tree’s help?

Realizing that Wendigo truly didn’t understand, the World Tree made a strangely dejected expression.

[ I see. Let’s talk in a quiet place. ]

The World Tree reached out towards Wendigo. Wendigo reflexively extended his hand, and the World Tree grasped the tip of his claw and walked towards the outside.

“W-World Tree!”

“Outside is dangerous. Please, let us…!”

[ I’ll be fine. Wait here, you’re in the way. ]

Despite the elves’ lamentations, the World Tree responded indifferently and headed outside with Wendigo.

The elves watched the World Tree leading(?) Wendigo away with expressions as if the world had collapsed.

“Really. I don’t know why that tree acts like that when it has no attachment to them~”

Freyja followed them with an expression full of displeasure.

Dario glared at the World Tree taking Wendigo away with suspicious eyes.

‘I wonder if this isn’t going to end up with blood being shed if I follow His Highness for nothing.’

… However, one couldn’t stay alone when the king had left.

Dario hurriedly ran towards Wendigo, trying hard to ignore the elves’ hollow gazes.

The World Tree, having led Wendigo and his party outside, made a small gesture causing trees to spring up from the ground, creating a hemispherical space.

Inside, golden plants never seen in the north emitted light, illuminating the darkness.

The World Tree opened its mouth, staring at Wendigo from the center:

[ I’m not very good with words, so it might get long… but if you want, I have no choice. ]

“Can’t you tell me briefly and concisely?”

[ Didn’t I just speak briefly and concisely earlier? ]

“……”

Convinced that there was no middle ground with the World Tree, Wendigo inwardly sighed.

The World Tree, interpreting Wendigo’s silence as affirmation, began its story.

---

The World Tree’s claim of not being good with words was a lie. To be precise, the World Tree didn’t lack skill with words, it had none at all.

Who would have expected it to start from its birth when asked why it wanted to take root in the north?

The fortunate thing was that the more one listened to the story, the more one could understand about the World Tree.

The World Tree, worshipped like a god by the elves, was… stranger than expected.

Dario, who had organized the World Tree’s long, long words in his notebook, wondered if he had really heard correctly what he had written down.

“So… you’re saying you don’t favor the elves, World Tree?”

[ That’s right. The elves helped me reproduce by planting saplings here and there in place of me who can’t move, and in return, I helped them, it was just symbiosis. ]

“Uh… how do you feel about the elves worshipping you like a god?”

To Dario’s question, the World Tree blinked and answered:

[ I know they gain peace of mind from that act. But I never demanded such behavior. It has little to do with my growth and reproduction. ]

The World Tree wasn’t interested in the elves worshipping it.

It just remained silent because that act didn’t negatively affect it and didn’t have a bad influence on the elves.

From the start, even if the elves thought of it as just a tree, it wouldn’t have cared as long as they maintained their symbiotic relationship.

‘So that’s why its fragrance was peculiar…’

Wendigo understood why he had sensed the fragrance of nature from the World Tree.

The World Tree was a great being capable of transforming the ecology of an entire island and race, but its actions contained no personal desires.

The driving force moving the World Tree was only the instinct to grow and multiply to prevent the species from dying out, which is engraved in all races.

Wendigo recalled the elves outside and felt a little pity for them.

They were busy worshipping the World Tree, saying it protected them and bestowed grace, but the World Tree itself didn’t understand why they did so…

‘I should never answer this if anyone asks.’

Wendigo decided to bury this fact.

… Sometimes, ignorance is bliss.