episode_0025

Before I knew it, I was in a space I had never seen before.

A place where everything around me was pure white.

It looked unrealistic to anyone who saw it.

‘Is this a dream?’

I clutched my aching head and slowly began to dredge up my memories.

‘Right. I definitely finished off Grebo. And then I collapsed from exhaustion.’

So, am I in my subconscious?

No matter how much I looked around, there wasn’t much to see.

‘My subconscious is really empty.’

Come to think of it,

if this is really my subconscious, does that mean I can control it as I please?

‘Let’s try it.’

I focused and imagined a piano.

Then…

– Poof.

A piano appeared in the empty white space.

“Ohh…!”

Then I,

at least in this space,

‘am the god of a new world…!’

Excited, I summoned various instruments.

Violins, cellos, oboes, trumpets….

As I was frantically filling the empty space,

I heard a voice from somewhere.

-…lena.

‘What is it?’

It sounds like a very familiar voice.

As I was searching my memory, I heard the voice again.

-…Serena.

This soft yet somehow mature voice is…?

“Flora?”

-Serena.

Flora’s voice, which soothed a corner of my heart, said.

-It’s time to wake up now.

* * *

-Flash.

“Huh!”

I shot up in bed.

Or, I tried to.

“Ouch, ouch, ouch…!”

The moment I tried to get up,

intense muscle pain struck my entire body, and I fell back into bed.

Well, I guess I pushed myself a bit too hard.

‘It was the first time I’d used such large-scale attack magic.’

Moreover, I had even used magic that exceeded my limits, so it was only natural that my body would react.

At that moment, I heard Flora’s voice next to me.

“Serena. You’re awake.”

Flora, who must have been nursing me,

had fatigue written all over her face.

But as if she didn’t want to show it,

she spoke to me in a deliberately bright voice.

‘She’s so kind.’

I also answered in an even brighter voice.

“Yeah. I slept so well that I feel refreshed.”

“That’s good. I thought you were in a dangerous condition when you collapsed.”

“Really? I just fainted from exhaustion.”

“Anyway. You’re so small, it scared me when you passed out like that.”

Flora gave me a scolding filled with worry and teasing.

I smiled sheepishly and said.

“Hehe. I won’t be so reckless in the future.”

“Not ‘won’t be so reckless’… ugh.”

As she spoke, she seemed annoyed,

and Flora gave me a cute flick on the forehead.

– Thwack.

“Ouch.”

“Anyway, tell me when you recover. We’re going to see the Chieftain.”

Only then, did something suddenly

come to my mind.

“Sister. What about the Tear of the World Tree….”

“Let’s go together and hear about that when you’re all better, okay?”

“Hmph….”

At Flora’s words, I forced myself to get up.

-Straining.

“I, I’m all better…!”

“Oh, you wanna get scolded?”

“I’m serious…! Ugh.”

I endured the screams of my entire body and got out of bed.

-Thump.

“See? I’m all better, right?”

“Oh, you’re impossible.”

In the end, Flora threw up her hands and led me.

“Let’s go together.”

“Okay!”

Just as we were about to leave the recovery room,

Flora suddenly asked a random question.

“By the way, Serena.”

“Yeah? Why?”

“The Chieftain’s daughter, what’s her name… Marina?”

“Yeah. Her name is Marina.”

“Right. Did you become close to Marina?”

A question with an unknown intention.

I nodded and asked.

“Yeah. We got close. But why?”

“Ah, well….”

Flora smiled slightly and told me the story of when I was unconscious.

Apparently, Marina also came to nurse me quite a bit.

‘Oh. It’s, it’s the Princess!’

‘Hello. Little miss.’

‘Hello!’

‘Was your name Marina?’

‘Yes! What’s your name, Princess?’

‘I’m Flora.’

‘I see!’

In the midst of such everyday conversations,

‘Marina, are you close to Serena?’

‘Ah! Yes… Hehe. I think Serena is really cool!’

‘Serena?’

‘Ah. Hehe. Serena said I can call her “Sister”.’

‘Hmm….’

She found out that Marina called me “Sister” and immediately started sorting out the honorifics.

‘Actually, Serena calls me “Sister”.’

‘Gasp. Th, then…!’

‘What should you call me from now on?’

‘Uh, um….’

After much deliberation, Marina’s answer was very cute and reasonable.

‘Big Sister…?’

‘That’s right.’

‘Then Serena is Little Sister…?’

‘Of course, of course. Our Marina is so smart.’

“So, Marina will call me Little Sister from now on?”

“You could say that.”

When I looked at Flora with a dumbfounded expression,

Flora said with a sly expression.

“You have to distinguish between superiors and inferiors, don’t you think?”

“You’re so like the Imperial Princess….”

I gave a helpless expression and left the room.

It’s time for the settlement of accounts.

* * *

Many people were gathered in the audience hall of the Elven Chieftain.

From the Elven elders to various high-ranking officials and academy students.

Fortunately, the atmosphere was generally more relaxed than before, probably because the incident had been resolved.

And more than anything, the way they looked at me was clearly different.

– Whispering.

“That child defeated Grebo?”

“Hmph. To think that such a young girl would achieve such a feat.”

“Indeed, they are a race with potential.”

“As expected of Her Highness the Princess. She brought back an amazing child.”

“Weren’t you sighing when you saw her?”

“Hey, hey. Keep it down. She’ll hear you!”

I already heard you guys.

Still, I felt a bit proud that my reputation had improved.

– Puffing up

“…Serena. You’re making a strange expression.”

“Ah. Ahem.”

Flora said something from the side, and I put on my usual expression again.

If it weren’t for Flora, I would have made a silly face in front of all these people.

‘I don’t want to have too silly of an image, ahem.’

As I returned my expression to normal,

the Chieftain called me.

“Serena Lier.”

At his calling, I stepped forward to the center of the audience hall.

– Step, step.

– Stop.

“Serena Lier. You played a key role in retrieving our stolen treasure, the Tear of the World Tree.”

The Chieftain, with a solemn voice, recited my achievements.

After that, a string of flowery words followed.

‘It’s definitely a formal occasion, so the speech is a bit long.’

Just as I was starting to get bored,

he finally started talking about what I wanted to hear.

“This deserves praise!”

‘Ohh!’

“We have decided to reward this achievement with one bottle of the Tear of the World Tree.”

‘Huh?’

A rather stingy reward compared to what I did.

‘No, more than that, that’s what I was supposed to get anyway.’

Is this really the end?

Despite it being a formal occasion, a dumbfounded expression was about to appear on my face.

And fortunately, I was not lowballed on the reward.

“Of course, this is a rather meager reward compared to the achievement.”

“Originally, we wanted to reward you with a larger amount of the Tear of the World Tree, but we apologize that it is difficult to provide more than this amount as too much has already been used.”

“Therefore, we have decided to give you the Sage’s Staff made from a branch of the World Tree.”

What.

‘A staff made from a branch of the World Tree?’

Branches of the World Tree were famous for containing various mystical powers.

From amplifying magic power to increasing affinity with spirits, and freely changing forms, not to mention guaranteeing the status of an honored guest among the elves.

An invaluable treasure beyond words.

A staff made from such a branch?

‘It’s definitely a scam.’

As expected, there was a huge reaction from the surroundings.

“No way! A staff made from a branch of the World Tree?”

“Has there ever been a case where a human received this?”

“This is really crazy.”

It seemed a bit excessive, but I also thought that it was worth receiving since I had prevented the appearance of the Great Demon.

‘I’m getting properly rewarded after all!’

Elves were a race that clearly distinguished between favors and grievances, ahem.

As the Chieftain gestured,

a high-ranking Elven priest, who looked like he was in a high position even at a glance, brought a staff wrapped in luxurious fabric.

– Stop.

The Chieftain, holding the staff in its fabric, handed it to me.

– Slide.

“Take it. We really owe you a great debt.”

I carefully took the staff and held it in my hand.

The staff was about the size that, if placed on the ground, its end would reach my nose.

It looked like an ordinary stick, but I felt an indescribable mystical energy.

As I held the staff,

I felt a resonance in my hand.

– Wooong…

‘Is it reacting to my magic power?’

As a test, I sent a little magic power into it,

and the staff resonated even more.

– Wooooong.

“Ooh….”

As I was amazed by the staff’s reaction,

the Chieftain said with a pleased expression.

“It seems the staff also likes you. Haha.”

I felt really good getting something so precious.

It seemed like the affair of the World Tree was coming to a heartwarming end,

but in fact, I still had something to say.

After skillfully shrinking the staff and putting it in my arms, I looked at the Chieftain and said.

“Chieftain.”

“Hmm? What is it?”

“Isn’t there something you still have to do?”

“Hmm?”

At my sudden words, not only the Chieftain but also the others showed question marks on their faces.

“Hmm. Have I left something out?”

“Yes.”

“Haha… I don’t particularly remember anything, but what is it?”

I looked him straight in the eye and said.

“You should apologize.”

“What?”

“I must receive an apology for treating the Imperial Princess of the Empire as a criminal without any evidence.”

It would be nice to end on a heartwarming note,

but I still have to get what I deserve.

‘I tend to hold grudges.’

Flora also showed signs of embarrassment.

Meanwhile,

the Chieftain initially widened his eyes, then stroked his chin for a while without saying anything.

At that moment, when everyone was swallowing and holding their breath,

suddenly a smile appeared on the Chieftain’s face, and he laughed loudly.

“Hahahahaha!!”

He laughed so loudly that I thought my eardrums would burst.

After laughing for a while, he opened his mouth.

“Yes. You are right. If you drive someone into a corner without any evidence, you must apologize.”

He bowed slightly from his seat and said.

“Imperial Princess. I sincerely apologize for rashly accusing you of being a criminal.”

At this point, Flora was rather embarrassed and waved her hands.

“No, it’s okay. I think it was a situation where you could have suspected me.”

“Hehe. It was a natural apology since I drove an innocent person into a corner.”

The Chieftain, with a smile on his face, said with a look as if he had remembered something.

“Lady Serena. Can we consider the favors and grievances between us settled with this?”

“Of course. Thank you for apologizing.”

“Then, would you be willing to grant me a personal request?”

A personal request?

What could the Elven Chieftain possibly want to ask me for?

He looked at Marina for a moment and said.

“Well, I heard a little about you from my daughter.”

“Aha.”

“You probably don’t know, but even though she’s like this, I’ve really… really put in a lot of effort to correct my daughter’s misguided thoughts.”

He frowned for a moment as if he was sick of just thinking about it, and continued.

“But that daughter of mine. Has returned worshiping humans.”

“From what I’ve heard, your music seems to be the cause.”

Ahem.

I’m pretty amazing, aren’t I.

With my shoulders puffed up, I nodded.

“That’s right. Music has the power to move hearts.”

“The power to move hearts. That’s so true.”

He agreed with my words and got to the main point.

“So, I was wondering, could I also listen to your performance?”

“Hmm….”

“Of course, I’ll make sure to reward you properly.”

He’s going to give me more rewards here?

‘Elves are a race like a high mountain peak.’

I immediately put on my business smile and asked.

“Of course. What kind of performance would you like to hear?”

“The performance I want to hear is definite.”

With a serious expression, he gave a unique answer.

“I was born and have never been afraid of anything.”

“Oh. That’s amazing.”

“There have been many times when I was embarrassed, but I can count on one hand the times I have felt the emotion of fear.”

He continued with a confident voice.

“So, if your performance has the power to move people’s hearts… would it also be possible to perform a song with a scary atmosphere?”

“A scary atmosphere.”

“Well, I’m not really telling you to scare me. After all, I’m an elf, so I have a lot of pride in music.”

The Chieftain said with expectant eyes.

“I want to feel what level human music has reached.”

A scary atmosphere.

“I happen to know a song with that kind of atmosphere.”

“Oh!”

He was overjoyed at my words.

“Then, would you be willing to play it for me?”

“Of course.”

‘I’ve got an additional reward quest.’

The sweet nectar of elves?

I’ll suck it dry until the end.

I already thought of what song to play.

‘I’m sure you’ll like it.’

Because this music is one of the best masterpieces.